Tourists being evacuated safely, road to Lachung being cleared, says Mangan District Collector

In a video message from the Sangkalan Bailey bridge location, District Collector of Mangan, Anant Jain, IAS, provided an important update regarding the ongoing situation in the Lachen and Lachung water blocks. Present alongside him were SP Mangan, Sonam Detchu Bhutia, SPS, and DPO DDMA, Karma Dorjee Wazarlingpa.

Addressing the situation, Jain mentioned that on the previous day, the water levels in both the Lachen and Lachung blocks had risen significantly, leading to a blockage on the roads. As a result, tourists traveling to Lachen and Lachung found themselves stranded at two key locations: one before Chungthang and the other at various shelters like Yudhwara, the ITBP camp, and nearby localities.

To ensure the safety of the stranded tourists, local authorities swiftly coordinated efforts to provide shelter, with the assistance of the local community and security forces. “All those people who were stranded at Chungthang have been safely evacuated and are returning,” said Jain.

The road between Mangan and Gangtok via the Sanklang bridge has now been cleared, allowing for the safe return of several tourists who had been waiting at Chungthang. However, some visitors remain stuck at Lachen and Lachung. The authorities are actively working to clear the route to Lachung, with the General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) reportedly working round the clock to open the roads. "We have received information that the road will likely be cleared by evening," Jain added.

While the situation remains tense, the district administration has ensured that all stranded tourists are safely confined to their respective hotels in Lachen and Lachung. "We have instructed the local police and SDMs to maintain a secure environment for the tourists," said Jain. The tourists are advised to remain in their hotels until the roads are completely cleared. Once the roads are open, they will be evacuated in a safe and orderly manner.