A deadly landslide struck the remote Chaten area of North Sikkim on Sunday evening, claiming three lives and leaving six security personnel missing. The disaster, triggered by incessant rains, has cut off the picturesque Lachen and Lachung valleys, stranding over 1,200 tourists and prompting large-scale evacuation efforts.

Local communities have stepped up as crucial first responders. Gyatso Lachungpa, president of the Lachung Hotel Association, told ANI, “We’ve been helping carry luggage, guiding families with children, and even providing food.” His coordination with police, forest officials, and villagers has been central to the ongoing relief work.

A fresh landslide in Shipgyer, Upper Dzongu, on Friday further delayed rescue operations. However, with the partial restoration of access routes, evacuations resumed on Monday. The General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) has also repaired the Phidang bridge to allow pedestrian passage, providing a critical lifeline to the affected Dzongu constituency.

Search and rescue efforts remain ongoing under hazardous conditions. Mangan district Superintendent of Police, Dechu Bhutia, confirmed to PTI that mobile phones and ID cards of the missing personnel had been recovered, but their vehicle and bodies are yet to be found. “A body was spotted on a cliff, but visibility and access remain impossible due to the swelling river,” Bhutia said.