Darjeeling: The bodies of four residents of Lingdok in East Sikkim, who had been missing since Friday, were recovered from an SUV pulled out of the Teesta River near Coronation Bridge at Sevoke on Sunday morning, reports Roshan Gupta.
Victims Identified
The deceased were identified as Smarika Neupaney, a nursing lecturer at Sochyagang Nursing College; Sabiya Neupaney, a junior engineer in the Sikkim government; Tika Maya Dahal, an employee of the horticulture department; and Dahal's young daughter, Ditiya Chettri. Smarika and Sabiya were sisters.
Incident Details
The family was travelling to Siliguri on June 5 when heavy rain triggered a landslide, sweeping their vehicle into the swollen Teesta River. The SUV was submerged and missing for two days before being located and retrieved by rescue teams.
Official Response
Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) expressed his condolences, stating, "It is with deep sorrow that we mourn the tragic loss of the four residents of Lingdok, who lost their lives in this unfortunate incident." He also assured that the government would provide all necessary support to the bereaved families.
The recovery operation involved local police, disaster response teams, and divers. The vehicle was found approximately 500 meters downstream from the landslide site. Authorities are investigating the exact circumstances of the accident.
This tragic event highlights the dangers of monsoon season in the Himalayan region, where landslides and flash floods are common. Residents are advised to avoid travel during heavy rainfall and to heed weather warnings.
