Gangtok, Jan 27: Tourist movement in North Sikkim has returned to normal following the reopening of the Toong–Naga Road, a key route connecting the region to major tourist destinations, including Lachung. The road had remained closed after sustaining heavy damage during the October 2023 Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in the Teesta basin.
Nim Tshering Lepcha, chairman of the Sikkim Welfare Commission and a resident of Naga village, said the restoration of the road has significantly improved connectivity. According to him, around 400 tourist vehicles are now entering North Sikkim daily, indicating a steady revival of tourism activities. He stated that road conditions have improved and vehicular movement is currently smooth.
Restoration work is continuing to improve access to Lachen, another key tourist destination in the region. The Border Roads Organisation is constructing a bridge over the Taram Chu River, which is expected to be completed by early February. Once completed, it is expected to restore full connectivity to Lachen.
Meanwhile, rehabilitation efforts for families affected by the GLOF and subsequent landslides are progressing. A total of 125 families from Rel, Naga and Toong wards are set to be relocated to Upper Bojoghari in Gangtok. Officials said land allotment documents will be distributed on February 8, after which construction of permanent houses will begin.
The Toong–Naga area had suffered extensive damage during the October 2023 disaster, which destroyed roads and displaced several residents. Infrastructure restoration carried out by state and central agencies over the past several months has helped re-establish connectivity and support the return of tourism in the region.
In a related development, the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority and Lieutenant Colonel Seeta Ashok Shelke of the Indian Army have been selected for the 2026 Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar. The authority will receive the institutional award, while Shelke has been recognised for her role in leading humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations during the 2024 floods and landslides in Wayanad, Kerala. The awards are announced annually on January 23 to honour contributions in disaster management.
