Around 1,500 tourists, along with nearly 169 vehicles and 79 motorcycles, are stranded in Lachen, Sikkim, after a road breach near the Tarum Chu Bridge led to the temporary closure of the Lachen route. Mangan District Collector Anant Jain stated that evacuation efforts began today, with authorities closely coordinating the operation. However, due to the blockage on the Lachen–Chungthang road, tourists cannot currently be evacuated through the usual route.

As an alternative, officials plan to move the stranded tourists via the Dongkya La Pass, situated at an altitude of over 17,000 feet, and then transport them towards Lachung and Gangtok. Snow clearance operations are actively underway on this route to make it safe for travel. The Mangan district administration confirmed that the Lachen route was shut due to damage near Tarum Chu Bridge. Multiple agencies, including the police, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Border Roads Organisation, and the Indian Army, are working together to speed up snow removal and ensure safe evacuation.

The state government has said that all road agencies are operating on a war footing to clear snow quickly. It has also advised people to stay cautious, remain indoors as much as possible, and follow instructions from local authorities. Earlier, on March 25, a similar situation occurred when around 150–200 tourists were stranded in Chungthang after heavy rainfall triggered landslides in North Sikkim. According to Anant Jain, landslides along key routes between Gangtok, Lachen, and Chungthang left travelers stuck while heading towards Lachen.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.