05 June, 2025:
The evacuation drive for stranded Chaten tourists kicked off on Thursday at Pakyong Greenfield Airport. According to a release, the two MI 17 helicopters have successfully completed its first evacuation operation, transporting 39 tourists from Chaten to Pakyong Greenfield Airport. Additionally, four passengers were safely evacuated using the Cheetah Helicopter.
Fifty-nine tourists were brought back to Gangtok from the rain-ravaged north Sikkim on Thursday morning as the rescue operations resumed after the weather cleared, officials said.
A senior official involved in the search and rescue operation said, “All 109 tourists stranded in Lachen have been moved to Chaten. They are now safely housed in nearby hotels and the Army camp in Chaten, awaiting air evacuation when weather conditions improve. There are no longer any tourists remaining in Lachen.”
According to a release, the aircraft comprises nine personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), along with their equipment, to provide support for ongoing disaster relief.
In order to provide convenience to the tourists to commute to Siliguri, the Government of Sikkim has further arranged SNT buses for their ease.
An additional helicopter has been kept on standby at Pakyong airport for those who want to travel to Bagdogra near Siliguri by air. The two helicopters flew to Chaten with personnel from the NDRF and Power Department, and engineers of Airtel, who would work in the region for restoring essential services, officials said.
Meanwhile, relentless bad weather grounded all helicopter sorties from Pakyong Greenfield Airport, stalling further evacuation efforts. Two MI-17 V5 helicopters remain stationed at the airport, ready for deployment as soon as weather permits.
With bridges washed away and air operations suspended, the Sikkim government is now working on a phased transshipment plan to evacuate stranded tourists via an alternative ground route, officials said.
