KALIMPONG/KOLKATA/DARJEELING: A devastating landslide triggered by heavy rainfall swept through an Army camp in Sikkim’s Mangan district late Sunday, claiming the lives of two Army personnel and a civilian porter. Six others, including four soldiers and two family members, remain missing.
The incident occurred around 7pm in Chaten, approximately 3 km from Lachen in the Chungthang sub-division. The victims have been identified as Havaldar Lakhwinder Singh, Lance Naik Munish Thakur, and porter Abhishek Lakhada. Their bodies were recovered from the debris on Monday. Four others were rescued with minor injuries.
Among the missing are Lt Col Pritpal Sandhu (GSO-I), his wife, retired Squadron Leader Arati B. Sandhu, and their daughter, Amaira Sandhu. Also unaccounted for are Subedar Dharamveer, Sepoy Sainuddin P.K., and Sepoy Sunilal Muchahary.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with teams battling difficult terrain and inclement weather in the hope of locating the missing.
“The Indian Army expresses its deepest condolences to the families of the bravehearts who lost their lives in this unfortunate incident. Every effort is being made to support the bereaved families in this hour of grief,” said an Army spokesperson.
Lance Naik Munish Thakur, one of the deceased, hailed from the Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh and was attached to the Dogra Regiment. Further details about Havaldar Lakhwinder Singh were yet to be confirmed at the time of reporting.
