All villagers safe and unharmed, confirms Lachenpa flown to Gangtok

IGP [Law & Order] SD Negi meets Lachenpas outside the monastery at Lachen. The IGP flew into Lachen on Sunday after three frustrating days of aborted flights due to inclement weather. All Lachenpas are safe and no one injured although buildings have taken a bad hit. 

Lachenpas in prayer at the Lachen Monastery

CONTACT ESTABLISHED WITH LACHEN
GANGTOK, 25 Sept: IGP SD Negi, landed at Lachen today, establishing face-to-face contact with the cut-off village in North Sikkim. While there had been much heartburn because no official statement had been issued yet on the situation at Lachen, it was confirmed today that this North district town has come out of the 18 Sept earthquake unscathed in as much as no casualties are reported from there even as 18 houses have been substantially damaged here and other structures have suffered damage as well.
The IG spent around half an hour conferring with the people at Lachen at the monastery where everyone has gathered and where special prayers were being held today.

A Lachen resident, Palzen Lachenpa, was air-lifted to Gangtok today. Addressing the media this evening, he confirmed that no casualties took place in Lachen. Two army personnel however died at Chaten nearby, he informed, adding that houses in Lachen have been substantially hit.
He informed that all the residents of Lachen have been staying at the monastery and spending time in prayers.
“We, the people of Lachen, want to request the media to disseminate right information as students from Lachen studying outside the state and people of the area staying away from Lachen are in panic due to wrong information being circulated about the condition there,” Mr Lachenpa urged.
The State Government spokesperson, IPR Secretary, KS Topgay, further informed that army helicopters dropped off four Lachenpa to Lachen and seven Lachungpa from Gangtok to Lachung today. This group was keen to return home and see the situation there with their own eyes.
He further informed that the SDM [Chungthang], Tashi Chopel, who had walked it to Lachung from Chungthang yesterday was still at work in Lachung.