North Sikkim Road to Lachen Reopens After Four-Month Closure

Gangtok: Crews reopened the vital Taramchu Bridge road in North Sikkim on August 29. The route connects Lachen to Mangan and Chungthang. Minister for Social Welfare and Lachen MLA Samdup Lepcha cut the ribbon after a quick religious ceremony. Locals lived in isolation for four months after the April 5 collapse. Workers cleared the wreckage to restore the path.

The General Reserve Engineer Force labored through the summer to finish the job. Lepcha praised the team for completing the high-risk repairs without a single injury. He also thanked the Lachen Dzomsa and residents for their help. This road stays open for now. It remains a lifeline for the region.

The closure hit the local economy hard. Tourism dried up in gateway towns leading to Gurudongmar Lake and Chopta Valley. Homestay owners, taxi drivers, and mountain guides lost their steady income during the shutdown. Officials hope this reopening brings visitors back to the area.

Engineers are not done yet. Project Swastik Chief Engineer Brigadier Amit Sakhre plans to start heavy reinforcement in October along a 100-metre section. Workers will install rock bolts, retaining walls, and high-tensile ropes to prevent future slides. Regarding the safety of the route, Brigadier Amit Sakhre said, "further reinforcement work would begin in October along the vulnerable 80-100 metre stretch."

Mangan District Collector Anant Jain and State Medicinal Plants Board Chairman Sonam Gyatso Lachenpa joined the Minister for the reopening. The government now aims to keep the mountain pass resilient against the next storm.