Residents of Lachen, a crucial border village in north Sikkim, gathered in Gangtok to demand immediate action for restoring road connectivity and increased government accountability. They expressed disappointment at Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang’s absence during their protest. The village has been isolated for about 16 months due to continuous road damage, causing severe economic distress as it heavily relies on tourism.
Villagers highlighted the risks they face due to deteriorating road conditions, making access to essential supplies dangerous. The prolonged disruptions have led to a significant impact on livelihoods, with tourism activities almost coming to a standstill. The economic losses are substantial, with over 120 hotels in Lachen alone suffering daily losses exceeding Rs 30 lakh, in addition to losses faced by taxi operators and other businesses.
Residents emphasized the urgent need for improved connectivity to prevent further economic decline and growing migration from the area. They described the challenging journey to Gangtok, where makeshift bridges had to be constructed to navigate washed-out stretches on foot. Repair work on a critical 20-meter road segment, cut off since April 5, has been progressing slowly, forcing residents to trek nearly 20 kilometers downhill during the monsoon to collect essential supplies like LPG cylinders.
In response to the protests, Lachen-Mangan MLA Samdup Lepcha acknowledged the severity of the situation and assured that the government was actively monitoring the restoration efforts. Due to repeated disruptions on the Taram Chu Road, residents are currently compelled to take a 241-kilometer bypass route to reach Gangtok. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has committed to making the road motorable by July 16 and is exploring temporary and long-term solutions to address the connectivity challenges. Lepcha urged against politicizing the issue and recognized the public’s frustration.
