On Thursday night, a tourist vehicle driving in Mangan, Sikkim, drowned in the Teesta River, with nine people still missing and two saved. Authorities say that the vehicle was heading from Lachen to Lachung when it met with an accident near Chubombu, a location where landslides and heavy rain are frequent.
Rescuers brought the two tourists out within a short time of the accident, according to Superintendent Sonam Detchu Bhutia. The rescue operations are still being carried out by the Indian Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, fire brigade and Sikkim Police, said Bhutia. However, he said the water was too high and the flow was too strong to reach and retrieve the person in the river.
Missing Persons agencies have identified the tourists as residents of Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and Tripura. All were apparently touring in the community’s famous North Sikkim area, which has amazing views and many challenges. The recent rain made the area’s rivers rise, which makes it dangerous to travel.
Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang used social media to express his sadness after the incident happened. It is with much sadness that I learned about the road accident near Chubombu on May 29 between Lachen and Lachung in Mangan district, he said. He also said all actions are taken to track down the missing individuals and provide help to their families.
The rescue is ongoing in challenging weather and river environments. Tourists have been advised by authorities to take extra precautions when going to the hills, as accidents and landslides become much more common in the monsoon season.
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