Nearly 1,500 tourists stranded in India as rains continue

Nearly 1,500 tourists were stranded in various parts of India's north Sikkim on May 31, as the main road was blocked due to landslides triggered by incessant rains, officials said, Report informs via The Hindu.

On the other side, the search for the missing eight tourists was disrupted by heavy rains, and it was finally suspended after the water level in the Teesta river increased, they said.

One person was killed, two injured, and eight others went missing when a vehicle in which 11 tourists were travelling plunged into the Teesta river in Mangan district on Thursday night. The vehicle plunged more than 1,000 feet into the river near Munsithang along the Lachen-Lachung highway.

Mangan's SP Sonam Detchu Bhutia said 115 tourists are stranded in Lachen and 1,350 tourists in Lachung.

"Since exit from both directions is closed due to landslides at multiple locations, the tourists have been advised to remain in their hotels, and once the roads are completely opened, they shall be shifted," he said.

Incessant rainfall lashed the district throughout the day, especially the Chungthang sub-division, officials said Power supply, which was snapped on Friday afternoon, was restored this evening, while efforts are underway to restore the drinking water supply by Sunday, they said.

The mobile connectivity was restored after nearly 24 hours, around 3 p.m., they said.

Due to heavy rainfall induced by cloud burst in the area, the water level in the river Teesta has increased, they added.

The Lachung road was restored this evening, but the road from Pegong (Chungthang) to Phidang via Shipgyer, Sangkalang is closed due to multiple landslides, an official said.

"No tourist permits have been issued today, and will also not be issued tomorrow for visiting north Sikkim," he said.

Mangan's District Collector Anant Jain said he is stationed at the site where the tourist vehicle plunged into the Teesta and is overseeing the rescue efforts.

The SP said, "A continuous heavy rainfall and a swollen Teesta river have hampered the search to locate the eight missing persons. The search will resume as soon as weather conditions improve."