At least four people lost their lives and three remain missing after a landslide struck Upper Rimbi in Gyalshing district of West Sikkim around midnight, officials confirmed on Thursday.
Superintendent of Police Tshering Sherpa said three people were killed instantly when the landslide hit. Rescue teams, working alongside local villagers and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel, evacuated two injured women from the affected area by building a temporary log bridge over the flooded Hume River.
Both victims were rushed to the district hospital, but one succumbed to her injuries during treatment. The other remains in critical condition. Search operations are underway for the three missing individuals.
Meanwhile, earlier this week, the Indian Army’s PARA (Special Forces) and the Indian Navy’s MARCOS commandos completed a joint high-altitude scuba and combat diving exercise in Sikkim. Conducted from August 30 to September 5 at 17,000 feet, the training included open and closed-circuit diving, night operations, and extreme cold-water tasks to enhance operational readiness and inter-service coordination.
Officials said the exercise demonstrated the adaptability, endurance, and professionalism of India’s elite forces while preparing them for diverse battlefield environments, from the high Himalayas to deep-sea missions.
