E-Paper
16 feared dead in Sikkim landslides
Sixteen persons are reported to have died in landslides caused by heavy rain in West Sikkim on Thursday night. One of the 16 was a three-month-old baby whose gender could not be established.
Sixteen persons are reported to have died in landslides caused by heavy rain in West Sikkim on Thursday night. One of the 16 was a three-month-old baby whose gender could not be established.
The landslides, which occured around tourism hot spots in Sikkim, have damaged roads and destroyed at least four houses. Among the victims are 11 members of a family.
West Sikkim district collector Shanta Pradhan confirmed 16 persons went missing. She said there were no tourists in the areas where the landslides took place.
The district had been witnessing non-stop rain for three days. On Thursday night, sensing danger, some locals and a group of daily wage labourers who were staying as tenants at a place 10 km from district headquarters took shelter in a two-storeyed wooden house. But the house was washed away and 14 persons became untraceable (the other two of the 16 were from other places). Only Indra Maya Gurung (45), the landlady, survived, said Jigme Bhutia, district disaster management officer.
Gurung, who suffered injuries, has been admitted to hospital. Talking to Hindustan Times, Bhutia said of the 16 persons feared dead, four were locals and the rest daily wage-earners from Darjeeling and Nepal.
