4 dead and one critically injured after landslide strikes West Sikkim's Upper Rimbi

A devastating landslide struck Upper Rimbi in Yangthang Constituency at midnight on Friday, September 12, leaving four people dead and one critically injured.

According to Superintendent of Police (SP) Geyzing, Tshering Sherpa, three people died instantly when the landslide swept through the area. In a swift and high-risk rescue operation, police personnel, with the assistance of local villagers and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) forces, managed to evacuate two women who had sustained serious injuries.

The rescue team was forced to improvise under extreme conditions, building a temporary tree-log bridge across the swollen Hume River to transport the victims to the District Hospital. Despite their efforts, one of the injured women succumbed during treatment, while the other remains in critical condition.

“The terrain and weather posed severe challenges, but our team acted without delay. It was a risky operation, and I am deeply grateful to the local community and SSB personnel who stood with us in this crisis,” SP Sherpa said, acknowledging the collective effort behind the rescue mission.