Sudden deluge in north Sikkim turns deadly, rips through military post in Chhaten near Lachen
A landslide ripped through an Indian Army camp in north Sikkim on Sunday evening, killing three and leaving six missing—including a senior officer, his wife, and their young daughter.
The incident unfolded around 7 PM near the remote town of Lachen in Mangan district. Torrential rain had pounded the region for days. Eventually, the soaked hillside gave way and collapsed onto the Chhaten military post. A section of the base was swallowed whole.
The Dead and the Missing
The scale of the destruction is still being assessed. But early reports confirmed the deaths of three individuals: Havildar Lakhwinder Singh, Lance Naik Munish Thakur, and a civilian porter named Abhishek Lakhada.
Thakur hailed from Sirmaur district in Himachal Pradesh. His family was informed late Sunday night.
Those unaccounted for include:
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Lt Colonel Pritpal Singh Sandhu
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Squadron Leader Arati B Sandhu (his wife)
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Their young daughter
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Three more Army personnel, whose identities are being withheld pending family notification
The Sandhus had been staying in residential quarters within the camp. Their block was located in the section that was directly hit.
Ground Rescue Efforts in Harsh Terrain
Rescue efforts began within an hour, but nightfall and unstable soil made operations dangerous. A rescue team of Army engineers and local administration officials began combing the site using sniffer dogs and handheld search equipment.
By Monday morning, four soldiers with minor injuries were rescued. They are recovering at a nearby Army medical post.
This one-sentence paragraph hits hard: Conditions remain too risky to deploy heavy equipment.
In such high-altitude zones, landslides are sudden and brutal. Army camps in these regions often face risks that most civilians never witness firsthand.
Not the First Time Sikkim Has Faced Nature’s Fury
Sikkim, nestled in the eastern Himalayas, is prone to frequent landslides—especially during the monsoon and pre-monsoon spells.
The Indian Meteorological Department had issued an alert about heavy rainfall over Sikkim and northeast states days before. But mountain weather is notoriously fickle.
The Army’s Quiet Battles Off the Battlefield
While most think of the military’s presence in Sikkim in strategic terms—close to the border with China—there’s a human side too. Soldiers are stationed in isolated high-altitude areas for months, living through avalanches, frostbite, and now, fatal landslides.
Their families often accompany them, especially in semi-permanent stations like Chhaten.
It’s not unusual for officers’ quarters to be just meters away from critical installations. That’s part of the reason the Sandhus were among the missing.
One senior Army officer posted in Gangtok said, “The terrain we serve in is unforgiving. We’re trained for enemy fire. But sometimes, it’s the mountain that hits first.”
Rain Doesn’t Let Up, Worsening Situation
As of Monday afternoon, light rain continued in parts of Mangan. That’s stalling search operations. The risk of another slide looms large.
Officials say they’re using drone surveillance to monitor the hillside. A special engineering unit from Siliguri has been called in for support. But time is slipping, and hope for survivors fades with each passing hour.
One rescue team member said bluntly, “There’s no way to bring in big machines right now. We’re digging with hands in some places.”
Still, no one’s backing down.
Shockwaves Felt in Himachal and Beyond
News of the tragedy reached families across the country. In Himachal’s Sirmaur district, relatives of Lance Naik Munish Thakur were devastated.
“He had just called two days ago. Said he was fine. Talked about the weather being rough. That’s all,” said his cousin over the phone.
Local Army veterans visited the Thakur household Monday morning. A wreath-laying ceremony is expected to be held in Paonta Sahib later this week.
Elsewhere, concerned families of missing soldiers are being flown to the Army base in Siliguri. The mood there is somber. No statements from the families yet.
Questions Around Camp Location and Safety Protocols
This isn’t the first time questions have surfaced about the safety of Army camps located near unstable terrain.
A retired Corps Engineer, who wished to remain unnamed, told us, “Some posts are built out of necessity, not choice. Proximity to the border matters more than safety in many cases. It’s a tragic balance we’ve dealt with for decades.”
There’s no official probe announced yet. But internal assessments are reportedly underway.
Meanwhile, local government officials have pledged all assistance. Mangan’s district magistrate visited the site late Monday afternoon. Army authorities have sealed off the impacted area.
