INDIAN ARMY AND AIR FORCE RESUMES EVACUATION OF STRANDED TOURISTS FROM NORTH SIKKIM.

Evacuation of balance tourists stranded in North Sikkim resumed on 12 Oct 23. Troops of Indian Army along with other agencies and Civil Administration facilitated the evacuation of tourists by Indian Air Force Helicopters. A total of ¬¬¬¬¬284 tourists were evacuated by air on 12th Oct that includes 203 from Lachen and 81 from Lachung. Earlier, a total of 674 tourists were evacuated by air, 518 on 9 Oct and 156 on 10 Oct. Due to inclement weather, air evacuation could not take place on 11 Oct. Thus, a total of ¬¬¬¬958 tourists have been evacuated by air so far from North Sikkim. It is reported that approximately 500 tourists crossed the Foot Bridge at Chungthang and moved out of North Sikkim. Thus, out of the approximate 1793 tourists stranded in North Sikkim, approximate 335 tourists including 62 at Lachung and 273 at Lachen are balance to be evacuated. 

Meanwhile, troops of Tri Shakti Corps Indian Army, ITBP, BRO, NDRF, State Disaster Management Authority, other government agencies and locals are undertaking number of actions to restore connectivity to areas isolated after the flash floods.   

Troops of Trishakti Corps continued the efforts on creating the new foot track to Rabom village and continued to provide for sustenance of the 116 civilians stranded there. 

A Civil Military Liaison Conference was held at Chungthang. The conference was attended by officials from the Indian Army, Police, ITBP and Civil Administration. Various coordination issues for rescue, reconstruction and restoration were discussed in detail. Indian Army has assured the civil administration that all assistance be provided.  Detailed modalities have been worked out for actions on sighting of unexploded explosives. Contact number of Response Team have been shared with all. 

 On 11 Oct 23, Troops of Indian Army reached out to 100 distressed citizens including children at Govt Sr Secondary School Singtham and provided them with much-needed relief, food, and medical aid. 

Lt Gen VPS Kaushik, GOC Trishakti Corps visited Rangpo on 12 Oct and interacted with officials of the civil administration and locals. The GOC assured that all assistance will be provided by TriShakti Corps Indian Army. Based on request received, a medical camp was organised at Rangpo on 12 Oct 23 and a total of 300 persons including women and children were provided with medical aid. Another medical camp is planned to be organised at Singtham on 13 Oct Indian Army will also assist in preventive measures to prevent spread of epidemic in the area.  

The search for the missing 12 Army persons continues. The teams deployed along the Teesta River are methodically searching both banks of the river and carrying out disposal of all unexploded devices in a controlled manner.