Around 800 Tourists Stranded in Sikkim’s Lachen After Road Breach

Nearly 800 tourists are stranded in Lachen , located in Sikkim’s Mangan district , after the road linking it to Chungthang was closed due to a breach near the Tarum Chu bridge , officials said on Sunday.

The Mangan district administration has issued a public advisory regarding the temporary closure , urging tourists to remain in place and avoid any movement for the night due to unsafe weather conditions and potential risks along the route. Authorities emphasised that staying put is essential to ensure the safety of stranded tourists .

An evacuation operation is scheduled for Monday morning, subject to improvement in weather and successful snow clearance along the Dongkya La axis . The proposed route for evacuation will be Lachen–Dongkya La–Lachung–Gangtok . Officials confirmed that all necessary precautionary measures are being taken, and tourists will be moved only when conditions are deemed safe .

The administration is coordinating closely with multiple agencies, including the police , ITBP , Border Roads Organisation (BRO) , and the Indian Army , to ensure a safe and timely evacuation . Road restoration and snow clearance efforts are being carried out on a war footing , though the exact timing of the evacuation will depend on real-time assessments of weather and road safety.

Officials appealed for patience and cooperation from tourists and local residents, noting that safety remains the highest priority . Authorities will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as conditions evolve.