Fifty-nine tourists stranded in rain-ravaged north Sikkim were airlifted to Gangtok on Thursday morning as rescue operations resumed following a break in the weather, officials said.
The tourists were among 109 people stuck in Lachung for nearly a week. Two MI-17V5 helicopters took off from Pakyong airport near Gangtok and flew to Chaten. One helicopter returned with 39 tourists, and the other brought back 20, including two foreigners.
To help the rescued tourists travel onward, Sikkim Nationalised Transport (SNT) deployed buses to transport them to Siliguri in West Bengal. An additional helicopter is on standby at Pakyong airport for those opting to travel to Bagdogra by air.
The helicopters also carried personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Power Department, and Airtel engineers to restore essential services in the affected areas.
The tourists had been moved to Chaten for air evacuation and were staying at local hotels and a military camp. Bad weather had earlier suspended helicopter sorties on Wednesday, delaying the rescue.
Last Sunday, the region witnessed a tragic landslide in Chaten that killed three Army personnel and left six soldiers missing. Search efforts for the missing continue to be hampered by harsh weather, unstable ground, and the difficult high-altitude terrain.
Adding to the crisis, two crucial bridges over the Taran Chu river between Munshithang and Chaten were washed away, cutting off road access to Chaten from Lachen.
Earlier this week, 1,678 tourists were rescued from Lachung and Chungthang, while 33 others—including two US nationals—were airlifted before weather conditions halted further operations.
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