North Sikkim tourist vehicle accident: Search and rescue efforts continue amid difficult weather

A major accident involving a tourist vehicle in North Sikkim has triggered a massive search and rescue operation. The incident took place near Munshithang in the evening hours of May 29, 2025. The vehicle, a MAX model, was carrying ten passengers, all of whom were tourists travelling in two related family groups from Lachung.

Superintendent of Police, Mangan, Sonam Detchu Bhutia, provided a detailed update on the rescue efforts and timeline of the accident. According to him, the incident occurred between 7:30 PM and 8:30 PM, though the exact time remains uncertain. The group had been split into two vehicles. One car was ahead, while the second car – which later met with the accident – was coming behind.

“When we reached the mountain top, everything looked normal. The road was clear and nothing was blocking the view. However, when we got to a junction, we realized that one car hadn’t arrived. A relative of the passengers, who was waiting at the junction, noticed that the car was missing. He turned back to check. When the vehicle didn’t show up, the drivers alerted the police,” Bhutia said.

The SP said he was in Gangtok at the time, visiting the Prime Minister’s Office, when he received the news. After being informed by the SDPO of Chungthang, he immediately coordinated with local authorities and rushed to the SDPO’s office to start the rescue operations. He also contacted the Indian Army and the ITBP for support.

Two passengers, Swayam Supratib Naik and Sairas Jena, were found injured and taken to a nearby hospital in Chungthang. They are being treated and will be shifted to STNM Hospital in Gangtok for further care.

According to the police, the vehicle had a total of ten passengers. Among the others were Ajit Kumar Naik, Sunita Naik, Dev Jyoti Dev, Swapna Nir Dev, Kausalendra Pratap Singh, Sahil Jena, Ankita Singh, and Kiteshri Jena. Most of the tourists are from Odisha, Chitrakoot, and Uttar Pradesh. They were on their way to Lhapa when the vehicle reportedly skidded off the road and fell nearly 1,000 to 1,800 feet down into a steep gorge.

Efforts to recover the vehicle and find the remaining missing passengers have been hampered by bad weather. SP Bhutia stated that heavy rainfall the night before caused further complications. The rising river has blocked the road, and water levels have risen by nearly four meters, making access to the accident site extremely difficult.

Multiple agencies including the Sikkim Police, SDRF, NDRF, and a team from the Bihar-based NDRF unit are involved in the operation. Despite all odds, the teams are continuing their efforts and hope to reach the site by early afternoon.

“The area is very dangerous right now. The river has overflown and flooded parts of the path. We are trying our best to reach the exact location of the fallen vehicle. It is not an easy task, but we are fully committed,” Bhutia said.

He also said that the case is under active investigation. Officials are looking into how the accident happened and whether there were any lapses in safety. The driver of the vehicle, who had a license for over 22 years is also missing.