34 Evacuated from Landslide-Hit Chaten in North... ... Northeast Reels Under Deluge

In a major rescue operation in landslide-hit Chaten, North Sikkim, 34 people—including 27 tourists and seven family members of army personnel—were airlifted to safety by two MI-17 V5 helicopters on Tuesday, officials said. This marks the first successful aerial evacuation under the state's emergency response plan following heavy rains that triggered a deadly landslide on Sunday, killing three army personnel and leaving six missing. The NDRF has deployed a 23-member team to assist with search operations and explore alternate routes, while the Army has established a vital foot route to aid further evacuations. Persistent rain hampered further helicopter sorties, and the state has officially declared the situation a natural disaster.