Landslide claims 5 at Mangchek in South Sikkim

RALONG, 02 Sept: Five people perished in landslides triggered by heavy rainfall and poor drainage here at Mangchek under Namlung-Ralong Gram Panchayat Unit, South District on Friday night. Rolling debris from a hill piled on a house at around midnight on Friday night claiming four members of a single family and a guest.
The bodies of the five deceased were recovered from the debris on Saturday. The victims are: Chandra Bahadur Chettri (62) and his wife Manipuri Kanchi (50), daughters Duka Devi Chettri (13), Tika Devi Chettri (7) and one Lall Bahadur Rai (15).
The only survivor from the family was the son, Devi Lal Chettri (15) who sustained grievous injuries and was brought to Namchi District hospital. Lall Bahadur Rai was a friend of Devi Lall Chettri.
SDM Ravangla, PK Rai informed that a team from Ravangla Sub Division, Namchi DRM Cell, Police and IRBn personnel with the help of locals undertook a rescue operation and managed to rescue the 15-year-old Devi Lall Chettri. The team also recovered all the 5 dead bodies.
He further informed that the landslide had also damaged several houses including the Ralong Secondary School. Many families have also taken shelter in the houses of relatives at safer locations.
Meanwhile the incessant rain has caused several other landslides under Ralong-Namlung GPU and rescue operations are being carried out throughout the day informed DPO DRM(S), Pempa Norbhu Sherpa. The road to Ralong has been completely damaged by several landslides including many houses. Moreover all essential supply lines have remained disrupted in the landslide-affected areas and torrential rains have also hampered rescue and restoration operations, informed.
Area MLA Sonam Gyasto Bhutia also visited the affected areas. The public of Ralong contend that heavy rainfall and poor drainage caused the landslides damaging their houses along with their cattle and farm land. They further said that water overflowing from the drains along the road is to be blamed for this landslide.