The evacuation was carried out in four helicopter sorties using MI-02, MI-39, and MI-49 helicopters, with landings and departures coordinated from Pakyong Greenfield Airport. The airlift rescued 63 tourists and 17 local residents who had been stranded for days due to road blockages and continuous rain.
In a determined effort to rescue those stranded in the flood-affected region of Chaten, North Sikkim, the state government on Friday completed a critical round of air evacuations. Braving adverse weather conditions and challenging terrain, helicopters lifted 80 individuals to safety, marking a successful conclusion to the day’s operations.
The evacuation was carried out in four helicopter sorties using MI-02, MI-39, and MI-49 helicopters, with landings and departures coordinated from Pakyong Greenfield Airport. The airlift rescued 63 tourists and 17 local residents who had been stranded for days due to road blockages and continuous rain.
In the second round of the day’s rescue, 44 people were brought to safety from Chaten, including 17 locals. Each sortie was executed with precision under the close supervision of state authorities, prioritizing the safety and well-being of all passengers.
To ensure a smooth continuation of their journey, the state government arranged Sikkim Nationalised Transport (SNT) buses for the evacuees from the airport to Gangtok.
With this operation, all stranded tourists have now been successfully evacuated from Chaten. The administration has officially called off evacuation sorties for the day.
