Over 3,500 tourists including Bangladeshis rescued in Sikkim

The Indian Army has rescued over 3,500 individuals after they became stranded due to landslides and flash floods in North Sikkim. The rescued tourists include residents from several Indian states, as well as citizens of Bangladesh and the US.

In a statement, the country's army said they worked tirelessly in adverse weather conditions to create a temporary crossing over the flash flood area and conducted an overnight operation. Their efforts allowed over 2,000 tourists to be safely rescued till Saturday evening.

Most tourists were stranded in hotels. However, some also became stranded in vehicles. Due to the lack of food and water for a long time, many of them became ill. Some even suffered breathing difficulties. They were offered warm food, medical attention and tents after rescue.

The focus now is on restoring road connectivity in the affected areas, while the evacuation of tourists continues. Tents and medical aid posts have been set up to cater to the needs of the stranded individuals.

Continuous heavy rainfall since Friday triggered flash floods in North Sikkim, leading to the closure of highways and leaving numerous tourists stranded. Initially, it was estimated that around 2,000 tourists were stranded in several hotels. However, the number was later found to be nearly 3,500.

Troops from the Indian army's Striking Lion Division, Trishakti Corps SSB, ITBP, and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) joined in to rescue the tourists. 

/KN/