Four ITBP personnel killed in Sikkim landslide

"The bodies of four ITBP personnel have been recovered from the area. Four workers and 12 personnel of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) including officers have been missing in the landslides caused by heavy rain since September 19," Deputy Commissioner North district T W Khangsherpa told PTI.

There were about nine landslides blocking the main road between Chungthang and Mangan in North district of Sikkim, Khangsherpa said.

Army and IAF personnel today made an aerial survey in the affected area but they had to call off the operation due to bad weather, he said.

Several landslides blocked the main roads between Chungthang and Pegong. Houses along Lachen river between Rangma and Chungthang were washed away in flash floods alongt Lachen river.

The state government has declared a state of alert along the establishments on the river banks right from Lachen, Lachung, Chungthang, Mangan, Dikchu, Singtam and Rangpo, a government press release said.

Two helicopters of IAF and one of Army are deployed for rescue mission, the release said.