A decades-old monastery in North Sikkim was reduced to ashes and two neighbouring houses gutted after a major fire tore through Thangu Sertok Gumpa in Thangu, under Lachen, on the night of June 5, 2026. The blaze, which began at roughly 11:00 pm and intensified into the early hours, is reported to have been caused by an electrical short circuit. Local officials say the fire spread rapidly, leaving no time to salvage sacred objects or religious scriptures housed inside.
According to Lachen Pipon Cho Bandu Lachenpa, the flames moved swiftly through the wooden structure and engulfed adjoining residences before efforts could contain them. No casualties or injuries were reported, but the loss of property and irreplaceable artefacts has deeply affected residents.
Built around 1965, Thangu Sertok Gumpa had served for decades as a centre of worship and community life for people in Thangu and nearby areas. Its destruction represents not only a material loss but also the erasure of cultural and spiritual heritage that had been preserved there for generations.
Fire tenders were unable to reach the remote site because of inaccessibility, and locals led the response to bring the blaze under control. Authorities have not announced any recovery or restoration plans, and investigations into the exact cause are ongoing.
The incident has left the local community mourning the loss of a revered place of worship and calling attention to the vulnerabilities of remote heritage sites, particularly to electrical faults and limited emergency access.
Original Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/1965-built-monastery-thangu-sertok-gumpa-destroyed-in-sikkim-fire-religious-artefacts-damaged-11602615#publisher=newsstand
Category:
Tags:
Publish Date: 2026-06-07 13:32:00
