The Prem Singh Tamang government in Sikkim has made an urgent appeal to tourists planning to visit the Himalayan state to postpone their travel plans until the situation normalizes in the wake of a devastating flash flood that has claimed at least 14 lives, with 102 individuals still missing.
The state government is also reassuring those stranded in the flood-affected Mangan district not to panic, as evacuation efforts are set to commence on Friday. Over 3,000 tourists, including foreigners, are reportedly stuck in various parts of the state.
In response to the unfolding crisis, the Tourism and Civil Aviation Department has issued an advisory urging all tourists planning to visit Sikkim to delay their travel until conditions improve. The department also noted that the state government would extend all possible assistance and support during the evacuation process, which is scheduled to begin on October 6, subject to weather conditions.
This advisory was issued shortly after Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang instructed officials to stop issuing permits to tourists for popular destinations such as Tsomgo Lake, Baba Mandir, and Nathula starting from Friday.
According to the Tourism and Civil Aviation Department, all tourists stranded in the Lachung and Lachen areas are safe, and there have been no reports of adverse incidents concerning them.
In another advisory, the state government appealed to hoteliers, travel agents, tourist taxi drivers, and other stakeholders in the tourism sector to come forward and provide support to the stranded travelers in light of the flood situation in the Teesta river basin. The department urged taxi drivers and stakeholders to offer necessary assistance to tourists by maintaining normal and reasonable fares for taxis and accommodations during this time of distress.
Earlier in the day, the Indian Army facilitated the provision of satellite phones for stranded tourists, enabling them to communicate with their families from inaccessible locations in northern Sikkim, which has been severely impacted by the flash flood in the Teesta river basin.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with Indian Army and NDRF teams working diligently to locate individuals swept away by the flash flood. As of now, 14 bodies have been recovered, while 102 people, including 22 army personnel, remain missing following the cloudburst over Lhonak Lake in north Sikkim.
The flash flood occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, triggering a calamity that has affected 22,034 individuals, as reported by the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA). A total of 2,011 people have been successfully rescued from the affected areas, and efforts continue to locate those missing and provide assistance to those in need.
The Sikkim government’s advisories and measures aim to prioritize safety and the well-being of tourists and residents during this challenging time.