Guwahati, May 30: One person died and eight others went missing after a tourist vehicle plunged over 1,000 feet into the Teesta River from the Lachen-Lachung highway in North Sikkim on Thursday night. Search and rescue operations were underway as of Friday, officials confirmed.
The tragic incident occurred near Munsithang in Mangan district, a region known for its treacherous mountain terrain. The vehicle was carrying 11 people — 10 tourists and the driver — when it veered off the winding road and fell into the surging river.
Rescue teams managed to recover one body and rescue two critically injured passengers from the wreckage. The remaining eight individuals are yet to be traced. The injured survivors were initially treated at the Chungthang field hospital and later shifted to STNM Hospital in Gangtok. Their condition remains undisclosed.
A massive multi-agency rescue operation was immediately launched, led by Mangan Superintendent of Police Sonam Detchu Bhutia. Teams from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), fire services, medical personnel, and local volunteers are continuing search efforts despite challenging conditions.
The Lachen-Lachung highway, a key tourist route in the region, is notorious for landslides, sharp bends, and steep cliffs. Authorities have now cordoned off the area and advised tourists to avoid the route until further notice.
Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang expressed his condolences in a Facebook post, terming the crash a “tragic road accident near Chubombu.” He assured that the state government is fully committed to supporting the victims and their families.
The identities of the deceased and missing are yet to be released. Authorities are investigating the cause of the accident as the search continues.
