3,000 tourists stuck as flash floods hit Sikkim's Pegong, NH10 blocked

The flash flood has caused severe damage to infrastructure along the highway, making it unsafe for any kind of vehicular movement, officials said

Heavy rains and a severe flash flood hit Sikkim, leaving an estimated 3,000 tourists stranded due to the closure of the highways. The Pegong region of North Sikkim has been particularly impacted, leading to the complete closure of National Highway No 10.

Numerous people were reported to be stranded on both sides of the national highway on Friday, according to reports.

The torrential rains have also led to landslides in parts of the state, which further exacerbated the situation. Several areas, including Lachung and Lachen, are currently cut off from the rest of the region. It is believed that 3,000 tourists are stranded in these locations.

"The flash flood has caused severe damage to infrastructure along the highway, making it unsafe for any kind of vehicular movement," officials told news agency PTI.

Meanwhile, the Sikkim government is making efforts to safely rescue those stranded.

A 90-year-old cattleman is suspected to have died in West Sikkim's Rimbi due to the Rimbi River's rising water level. 

Authorities have opened an investigation into the incident, and efforts are currently underway to locate the body.

Just a few days ago, a car full of tourists was stranded in the midst of torrential rain on the Singtam-Dikchu road. The inclement weather caused a section of the road to wash away, trapping the tourists. They were eventually rescued by the Border Roads Organisation.