At least 30 houses and government quarters were damaged after a landslide struck Rimbi village in Sikkim’s Gyalshing district late Thursday night, officials said. No casualties were reported.
The landslide also blocked the road linking Geyzing, the district headquarters, with Yuksom, disrupting traffic in the area. The administration had evacuated residents from vulnerable locations before the slope gave way, officials said. The situation has remained precarious in the Rimbi-Singlitam belt, where repeated landslides have been reported since September 6, as reported by the Hindustan Times.
Two houses had earlier suffered partial damage, while several other structures are now facing the threat of further slope movement.
With rainfall continuing, mud and debris have also been carried into low-lying areas around Mit Khola, affecting homes that had previously been considered relatively safe. The Rimbi-Khecheopalri road under the Yuksom-Tashiding constituency has been completely blocked, bringing vehicular movement to a halt, the NDTV highlighted. Two houses near the affected stretch are also reportedly at risk as the slope remains unstable.
Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, popularly known as P.S. Tamang-Golay, expressed concern over the situation and directed the administration to remain vigilant.
“The situation remains serious, and the safety and well-being of the people continue to be our foremost priority,” Tamang said in a social media post.
Authorities have been monitoring the affected areas as residents remain concerned about further slope failures, road closures, and damage to houses, farmland, and essential infrastructure.
“I understand the deep distress and uncertainty being faced by the residents,” Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang said.
“The government is closely monitoring the situation and will continue to take all necessary steps to protect our people,” he said.
Meanwhile, the impact of the adverse weather has also been reported in neighboring North Bengal. A rural hospital at Takdah in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district was hit by a landslide on Thursday night, leaving one patient injured. Minor landslides and rising water levels in several rivers were also reported from parts of North Bengal.
