GANGTOK: According to an IAF spokesperson, the Indian Air Force evacuated 176 people from the flood-affected state on Tuesday, including 16 foreign nationals. 9400 kg of relief supplies were also air-landed in the state by the IAF, according to an official. According to IAF sources, the Indian Air Force has positioned its Mi-17 V5, CH-47 Chinooks, and Cheetah helicopters to help with relief efforts in flood-affected Sikkim by evacuating people stuck in isolated locations and delivering supplies to cut-off areas. The recent flash floods that damaged footbridges, roads, and other infrastructure severely disrupted Sikkim’s daily life.A total of 523 tourists were left stranded in the Lachen village amid the disaster in the northeastern state of Sikkim after the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in South Lhonak Lake wreaked havoc across the Teesta basin in Sikkim and North Bengal, an official said on Tuesday. Out of these, two tourists suffered injuries. “Lachen’s circumstance is a terrible one. Two persons were hurt, but everyone else is okay.We are unable to travel because of the road’s disconnectivity.As directed by the state and federal governments, the majority of the tourists and their loved ones have been airlifted with the assistance of the army, said Samdup Lepcha, MLA for the Lachen (Mangan) seat.
