Operation Him Setu: 135 tourists evacuated from North Sikkim amid landslides, 1,000 remain stranded

The Indian Army has evacuated 135 tourists from Lachen in North Sikkim under a massive rescue mission after severe landslides and heavy snowfall disrupted road connectivity, officials said on Thursday. The evacuation forms part of Operation Him Setu , launched by the Trishakti Corps of the Eastern Command amid extremely challenging weather and terrain conditions.

Around 1,000 tourists remain stranded at Lachen since the road linking Lachen and Chungthang collapsed near the Taram Chu bridge , and sustained rescue efforts are underway to bring them to safety at the earliest, officials added.

The rescue is being conducted in phases with priority given to those facing medical emergencies or needing urgent assistance. So far, 32 light vehicles and 10 motorcycles have been evacuated, and Army vehicles are being used to tow civilian vehicles across steep, snowbound stretches .

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is working closely with the Army and district authorities to clear blocked routes and open alternate mountain passes such as Dongkya La, Shiv Mandir, Zero Point and Yumthang to facilitate the evacuation in batches.

The route to Lachen was cut off after a road section near the Taram Chu bridge caved in, forcing the district administration to advise tourists to remain in place amid adverse weather before evacuation began. Authorities are also supervising efforts to restore permanent connectivity once weather improves.

Local officials, including Mangan’s District Collector Anant Jain and SP LB Chettri , are overseeing operations on the ground to ensure smooth coordination among rescue teams and civilians.

An Army spokesperson reiterated that ensuring the safety and well‑being of every tourist is the foremost priority, and efforts continue despite persistent snowfall and unstable terrain.