Landslides, heavy rains wreak havoc in Sikkim

Army and IAF personnel have launched rescue operations in full swing in the badly affected areas.

Landslides triggered by heavy rains have killed more than 20 people, including Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Border Roads Organisation (BRO) personnel, in Sikkim over the weekend.

Official sources said that at least 21 bodies were found while eight persons were missing following flash floods and landslides in remote areas of North Sikkim.
Officials say, there have been around nine landslides which blocked the main road between Chungthang and Mangan in the northern district. Another landslide at an area about a kilometre from Mangan, the district headquarter town of North Sikkim, blocked NH 31-A leaving the northern side of the Himalayan state cut off.
Army and IAF personnel have launched rescue operations in full swing in the badly affected areas. Two helicopters of IAF, one helicopter of Army have been deployed for rescue mission.

The state government has declared a state of alert along the establishments located on the river banks right from Lachen, Lachung, Chungthang, Mangan, Dikchu, Singtam and Rangpo.