The Bengal Story Bureau: KOLKATA: The Indian Army has successfully concluded ‘Operation Him Setu’, a large scale evacuation mission in North Sikkim that rescued 1,321 tourists and 84 local residents stranded by a major landslide. The Trishakti Corps executed the operation within 48 hours despite severe weather conditions and heavy snowfall in the region.
The crisis began when a massive landslide completely severed road connectivity between Lachen and Chungthang. A newly built bridge near Tarum Chu also collapsed following heavy storms, leaving hundreds of visitors trapped at high altitudes. Responding to the emergency, troops from the Eastern Command activated alternative routes and cleared critical mountain passes to reach the stranded individuals.
Coordinated Evacuation Efforts
The Army worked in close coordination with the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the civil administration. Military engineers constructed a temporary footbridge over the washed out road sections to enable safe pedestrian crossing. Army recovery vehicles were deployed to tow civilian cars across the steep, snowbound stretches of the terrain.
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According to a Defence spokesperson, the evacuation was carried out in phases, with medical emergencies and elderly individuals given immediate priority. Among those rescued was an 80-year-old ailing tourist. Special buses were arranged to transport the evacuees from Chungthang onwards to the state capital, Gangtok.
Relief Infrastructure Deployed
To support the stranded visitors during the clearance work, the Army established reception centres at key locations. These facilities provided emergency food, shelter, and medical care to the evacuees. The BRO continued snow removal and road restoration work simultaneously to restore permanent vehicular access to the border region.
Following the successful completion of the mission, Sikkim Social Welfare Minister Samdup Lepcha met with military and BRO officials to express his gratitude. He noted that the joint effort and community support made the swift rescue possible despite the extreme logistical challenges presented by the terrain.
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