Author: LiveMint | Date: 28 February 2024 | : 54

On Friday, the Indian Army successfully rescued approximately 400 tourists who were stranded in north Sikkim due to heavy rains causing landslides and road blockages. As per a report by The Telegraph, troops from the Trishakti Corps, stationed in the upper regions of the Himalayan state near the India-China border, took prompt action to save the stranded tourists in Chungthang. The tourists were en route to the popular destinations of Lachen and Lachung in northern Sikkim when their journey was interrupted by adverse weather conditions. “The tourists were shifted to three different army camps and given hot meals and clothes. Troops posted in the camps vacated their barracks for the tourists and make them comfortable for the night," said a source. Among those who were rescued were 216 men, 113 women and 54 children. Similar to certain areas in the sub-Himalayan region, Sikkim experienced rainfall in recent days. On Friday, north Sikkim encountered heavy rainfall accompanied by landslides occurring in certain areas. “As a result, the roads connecting Lachen and Lachung got blocked. Tourists in vehicles got stuck," the source added. After the tourists were rescued and taken to the camps, three medical teams conducted examinations on all of them and determined that they were in stable condition. However, late at night, a woman who had visited Gurudongmar Lake earlier in the day reported experiencing intense headaches and dizziness. “A medical team led by a lady medical officer from the field hospital was rushed to the location. The team detected signs of acute mountain sickness in the tourist who then got intensive medical care.... She was stable by Saturday morning," said an army officer. While acknowledging the commendable efforts of the army, Samrat Sanyal, the general secretary of the Himalayan Hospitality and Tourism Development Network, emphasized the importance of tourists checking the weather forecast prior to visiting Sikkim.