GANGTOK: Over 2,300 tourists from the villages of Lachen and Lachung in North Sikkim have been successfully evacuated, but a significant number of vehicles, including 238 tourist vehicles and around 20 trucks, remain stranded on the other side of the Pegong landslide. These vehicles and their drivers are currently camped at the Chungthang ground, as the drivers have refused to abandon their vehicles. Although 30 vehicles managed to move on Tuesday, there are hopes that more will be able to cross Pegong today.
One of the affected truck drivers, Ram Kumar, has been stuck in Chungthang since the road was blocked on June 15. He explained that while he reached Pegong on the following day, the road was already closed. Kumar and several other drivers have been sleeping in their vehicles, while a few have returned home. Initially, they purchased food from local restaurants, but now they are being provided with meals by a nearby Gurudwara.
The District Magistrate of Mangan, Hem Kumar Chettri, stated that temporary restoration work would be completed within three days. He mentioned that heavy rain on Friday hampered rescue efforts, but they were able to initiate operations on Saturday after a district-level meeting. The Army, Border Roads Organization, and Indo-Tibetan Border Police constructed a makeshift log bridge below the landslide area. Chettri added that when the rescue team began evacuating people, the state administration stepped in and arranged 20 buses and 200 smaller vehicles to transport the tourists back to Gangtok. By Saturday evening, all the tourists had been evacuated.
Regarding the stranded vehicles, Chettri assured that the Border Roads Organization (BRO) would construct a temporary road connecting Chungthang with Pegong within the next three days. This would facilitate the evacuation of the vehicles. However, a permanent solution is required for the recurring landslides at Pegong.
Chettri mentioned that the BRO would construct a Bailey bridge to connect the road, but it would take time, approximately 20-25 days, as an abetment needs to be constructed. He stated that the authorities would inform higher authorities about the need for a permanent solution, as the temporary road would likely be washed out during heavy rainfall.
Chettri emphasized that the villages of Lachung, Lachen, and Chungthang have sufficient ration supplies for the next 15 days, ensuring essential commodities are available. In terms of medical emergencies, there is a Primary Health Centre in Chungthang, and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has a hospital, which can cater to medical needs. If a serious emergency arises, the necessary arrangements will be made for immediate transportation.
Diki Lepcha, the President of the Chungthang GPU Panchayat, highlighted the recurrent nature of the Pegong landslide, stating that it occurs every 10-15 years and was particularly devastating in 2012. Furthermore, the main source of drinking water for Chungthang is disrupted due to the landslide. However, an alternative water source near Chungthang is currently supplying drinking water to the affected area.
Lepcha expressed concerns about the risk of future landslides in Pegong, explaining that heavy rainfall can cause water to flow down large rocks on the hills, triggering landslides. Lepcha suggested the construction of a steel bridge that avoids the Pegong stream as a solution to the ongoing issues faced by the local population.
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