Race Against the River: BRO’s Project Swastik Battles Teesta’s Fury in Sikkim

Image Source: IBG News

After a devastating cloudburst and relentless rain battered North Sikkim, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has launched Project Swastik to restore lifelines severed by the swollen Teesta River. The disaster, which struck on May 30, triggered landslides, washed away bridges, and left key tourist destinations completely cut off, stranding over 1,500 tourists and isolating entire communities.

Key Highlights:

The cloudburst and heavy rainfall caused the Teesta River to rise by up to 40 feet, destroying roads and bridges in Mangan district and beyond. Major routes to Lachen, Lachung, Gurudongmar, and the Valley of Flowers were left impassable.
Two crucial bailey bridges at Minsithang and Zeema were swept away, cutting off Lachen from both north and south. The Phidang suspension bridge was also critically damaged as the river eroded its base.
BRO teams are working around the clock to clear landslides, repair damaged stretches, and restore one-way connectivity, especially near the dangerous breach at Phidang. Their efforts have made it possible to begin evacuating stranded tourists via the Lachung-Chungthang-Shipgyere-Sanklang-Dikchu route.
Local authorities, the Army, and volunteers have joined the rescue and relief operations, setting up temporary camps for displaced families and searching for missing persons after landslides and vehicle accidents.
The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for Mangan, warning of more heavy rain and advising residents to avoid travel and stay clear of riverbanks and unstable slopes.

Restoration work continues as Sikkim faces ongoing rain and the challenge of reconnecting its remote mountain communities.

Sources: Economic Times Infra, Times of India, News9Live, Devdiscourse