In the wake of heavy rain and devastating landslides in North Sikkim, the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Wednesday carried out urgent rescue and relief operations in the remote region of Chaten and evacuated 33 stranded people, including two US nationals, from the remote and rain-battered Chaten region of North Sikkim.

In a statement, the Indian Air Force said, “In response to the devastating landslides in Sikkim, Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopters rapidly launched Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Ops — dropping relief supplies, inserting NDRF teams, and evacuating 33 stranded individuals, including two US nationals, from the remote Chaten region.”

Meanwhile, the Indian Army has reached Lachen village on foot, navigating through dangerous terrain and extreme weather, where 113 tourists are stranded. A prior operation them had to be called off due to bad weather.