Gangtok, June 2
Three people lost their lives, four sustained injuries, and several remain unaccounted for after a massive landslide, triggered by relentless rainfall, struck an Indian Army camp at Chaten in Sikkim's Lachen district.
The disaster unfolded at around 7:00 p.m. on Sunday evening following continuous downpours that loosened the mud on the mountainside, sending debris crashing down onto the camp, the Trishakti Corps division of the Indian Army announced on Monday.
Those confirmed dead include Havaldar Lakhwinder Singh, Lance Naik Munish Thakur, and Porter Abhishek Lakhada. Their mortal remains have been recovered by emergency response teams.
Four personnel with minor injuries have also been rescued from the site. Rescue operations are still underway for six missing individuals, with efforts continuing despite the hazardous weather and rugged terrain.
Lieutenant General Zubin Minwalla, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Trishakti Corps, visited the site to personally oversee the ongoing rescue efforts.
The Indian Army has launched a large-scale search and rescue mission to trace the missing personnel, working around-the-clock under extremely challenging conditions.
Meanwhile, the broader flood situation across the northeastern states remains grim.