Meanwhile, around 109 tourists stranded in Lachen in north Sikkim for nearly a week due to landslides were brought to Chaten on Wednesday for air evacuation, as and when the weather permits, officials said.Despite damage to connectivity, approximately 109 stranded tourists have successfully reached Chaten from Lachen through coordinated efforts of the state government, Indian Army and local support teams, they said.All tourists have been safely accommodated in nearby hotels and at the Army camp in Chaten and are being prepared for air evacuation, as and when the weather permits, they said.No tourists are stranded in Lachen anymore, officials added.Due to constant bad weather in the region, helicopter sorties from Pakyong Airport could not take place during the day, they said.Two MI-17 V5 helicopters remain stationed at Pakyong on standby for immediate deployment once flying conditions improve, they said.Earlier in the day, Relief Commissioner-cum-Secretary Mingma T Sherpa, SSDMA Director Prabhakar Rai, his deputy Rajiv Roka visited Pakyong airport during the day to assess the situation and oversee preparedness for the resumption of rescue and relief operations.The ongoing relief operations in north Sikkim faced a critical setback after two key bridges over the Taran Chu River, situated between Munshithang and Chaten, were confirmed to have been washed away earlier due to incessant rain, severing motorable access to Chaten from Lachen.The loss of infrastructure has intensified the logistical challenges of the ongoing disaster response.In view of the washed-away bridges and suspension of aerial sorties, the state government is exploring an alternative ground-based evacuation route using a phased transshipment strategy.The officials said that the state government remains fully engaged in managing the disaster response by ensuring continuous coordination with central agencies and the armed forces to safeguard lives and provide essential relief.The restoration of connectivity and timely evacuation remain top priorities as the authorities continue to navigate through adverse terrain and weather conditions.The state administration is actively coordinating with local authorities to provide relief and facilitate evacuations in Mangan district, the officials said.The district administration has also appealed to the public to stay alert and cooperate with local authorities and the army.
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