A devastating landslide struck an army camp in Chhaten, near Lachen town in Mangan district, Sikkim, on Sunday, June 1, 2025, resulting in the death of at least three military personnel and leaving six others missing. The catastrophic event, triggered by relentless heavy rainfall in the region, occurred around 7 p.m.
The deceased have been identified as Havaldar Lakhwinder Singh, Lance Naik Munish Thakur, and Porter Abhishek Lakhada. Their bodies have been recovered, while rescue operations continue around the clock to locate the six missing soldiers. Four other soldiers were rescued with minor injuries.
The Indian Army has expressed profound condolences to the families of the deceased and is providing all necessary support. Rescue teams are facing extremely challenging conditions due to the difficult terrain and adverse weather. Lt Gen Zubin Minawalla, GOC Trishakti Corps, has visited the site to oversee the rescue efforts.
In addition to the tragedy at the army camp, other areas in North Sikkim have been severely affected by landslides and heavy rainfall. National Highway 10, a crucial link to Kalimpong in West Bengal, has been blocked, isolating North Sikkim. Towns like Dzongu, Chungthang, Lachen, and Lachung, popular tourist destinations, have been cut off from the rest of the country.
Approximately 1,600 tourists who had been stranded in Lachung since May 30 were rescued on Monday. However, around 150 tourists are still stranded in Lachen. The Tourism and Civil Aviation Department of Sikkim announced the restoration of the Chungthang-Phidang road in Mangan District, facilitating the safe evacuation of stranded tourists.
The state has experienced an alarming 54% excess rainfall between June 1 and June 13, with 250mm of rain recorded. A red alert was previously issued for Mangan district, and orange alerts remain in effect for Gangtok, Geyzing, and Mangan districts. The overflowing Teesta River has also caused significant damage, inundating the Melli Stadium in South Sikkim and displacing many people.
The Sikkim government has initiated relief measures, including setting up a relief camp at Pakshep for displaced individuals. Mangan District Magistrate Hem Kumar Chettri convened an urgent meeting with various department heads to coordinate mitigation efforts.
The Indian Army has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of its personnel, demonstrating resilience and dedication to duty despite the fury of nature.
