Issuance of travel permits to Lachen and Lachung to resume today

GANGTOK, 03 Jan: A team of Lachung Drivers Association led by Travel Agents Association of Sikkim [TAAS] president, Lukendra Rasaily, called on the Tourism Secretary and IGP Check Posts to request that permits for tourists wishing to travel to Lachung, suspended after the area received heavy snowfall recently, be resumed.

Issuance of Permits to travel to Lachen and Lachung and beyond were suspended by the Check Posts as the road from Lachung to Yumthang has been closed due to heavy snowfall for the past 3 days. This decision was taken as a precautionary measure to avoid placing visiting tourists in any kind of risk.
However, with the clearing of snow, the road is now accessible for vehicular traffic, and hence the stakeholder seeking that the issuance of permits be resumed.
During the meeting, the team apprised the Tourism Secretary about the latest road conditions and requested the authorities to allow permits.
Later in the day, the team also met the IG Check Post and again apprised him about the present road conditions communicated by some people who had travelled from Lachung.
It is learnt that the IG in his interaction mentioned that although snow has been cleared and roads opened for vehicular traffic, safety remains a matter of concern. He stressed that the system of safety and security of tourists and locals has been given top priority.
He also urged the TAAS and Lachung drivers to come forward in support of tourists and locals in case of any unfortunate incidents.
The IG also agreed to provide passes to tourist vehicles to Lachung and Lachen from Wednesday onwards. However, he stressed that the safety and security of the travelers should be kept in mind understanding the vulnerability of the road conditions.