Around 150 to 200 tourists are stranded in Chungthang after heavy rainfall triggered multiple landslides across North Sikkim, blocking key road links, officials said. District Collector Anant Jain confirmed that landslides have obstructed stretches of the Gangtok–Lachen and Chungthang–Lachen routes, leaving travellers bound for Lachen stuck midway.
The stranded visitors have been accommodated at an ITBP camp and a nearby gurdwara, where arrangements have been made for their stay and basic needs, authorities said.
Movement toward Lachen remains suspended because debris and road damage have made sections impassable. Officials said any decision to reopen the route will depend on weather conditions and safety assessments once the rainfall subsides.
The situation on the Lachung side has improved: roads there were cleared and tourists were safely escorted back to Gangtok. However, intermittent rain continues to hamper restoration work and increases the risk of fresh landslides.
Teams from local administration and disaster response units are monitoring the area closely, and authorities said updates will be provided as conditions evolve.
Earlier this month, adverse weather already disrupted essential services in parts of the state. A thunderstorm with hail damaged sections of the power network across Pakyong, Gangtok and Mangan districts. The state Power Department reported that a conductor on the 66 kV Rorathang–Rongli transmission line near Amba snapped, affecting supply to Rongli and Rhenock; a fault on the Marchak–Macleods line near Namli disrupted power to Nimtar, Topakhani and Singtam; and another line between LLHP and Sichey failed during trial charging.
Restoration efforts for roads and the power network are ongoing as authorities continue to respond to the impact of unstable weather across the region.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/sikkim/story/150-200-tourists-stranded-in-chungthang-as-landslides-block-north-sikkim-routes-1364944-2026-03-25?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2026-03-25 09:53:00
