By – Prakarsh Kastwar
Gurudongmar Lake, a high-altitude lake located at an elevation of 17,000 feet, is accessible via Lachen, while Yumthang Valley is accessible from Lachung.
More than 3,000 people, largely tourists, are still stranded in the Himalayan state’s Lachen and Lachung towns five days after flash floods hit Sikkim, according to officials.
“From the intersection where the road splits, one headed towards Lachen and the other towards Lachung, we have managed to reach Chungthang. Beyond Chungthang, however, these two towns are still unreachable to rescue and relief personnel. There are still about 3,000 trapped persons. The local government is assisting them, according to a senior Mangan district official.
Lachung is a stopover for travelers travelling to Yumthang valley, whereas Lachen is the starting point for travelers going to Gurudongmar Lake, a high-altitude lake at an altitude of 17,000 feet near to the Indo-China border.
At least 82 people were killed and at least 140 are still missing as a result of a flash flood that was brought on by an eruption in a glacier lake in north Sikkim on Tuesday night.
The two towns are situated in north Sikkim’s Mangan district, which was hardest damaged.
According to the most recent estimate from the Sikkim government, more than 30,000 people have been impacted and almost 50 villages and towns have been affected in the district alone.
In the area, at least four individuals have died, and more than a dozen are still missing.
“While a relief and rescue team made it to Chungthang for the first time on Friday night, the ITBP personnel saved 56 people on Saturday using a zip-line,” an official said.
To connect Chungthang and Pegong, the army and neighborhood volunteers constructed a temporary bamboo bridge. There, another bridge is being built by the troops.
The temporary bamboo bridge will make it possible to move locals and tourists who were stuck in Chungthang to the opposite side.
At least 10 Indian tourists who were stranded in Chungthang were led by a homestay owner through perilous hilly trails to Rangrang, from where they were picked up by the tourism department officials and brought to safety in the state’s capital, Gangtok, according to a senior official of the state tourism department.
Due to bad weather, airborne activities in the flood-affected areas couldn’t start until Sunday. On Sunday, it rained in Mangan. Even Gangtok experienced rain. We anticipate airborne activities to begin today, according to a representative.
A central inter-ministerial delegation is anticipated to arrive in Gangtok on Monday to evaluate the damage.
Later on Monday, the team will meet with state leaders.