State BJP team reaches out to landslide-affected villagers in Tumin-Lingee

GANGTOK,: Under the direction of BJP Sikkim president D.R. Thapa, a party delegation led by State general secretary Dinesh Nepal visited the landslide-affected areas of Middle Lingi, Sumsi, Maidam, Upper Lingi and adjoining villages under the Tumin-Lingi constituency to assess the extent of damage caused by the recent natural calamity and interact with the affected residents.

During the visit, the delegation was informed that following the visit and appeal made by BJP Sikkim on 3 July 2026, the concerned authorities under PMGSY and the Public Works Department (PWD) have mobilised six JCB excavators at different locations to restore road connectivity. The delegation welcomed this development and expressed hope that restoration work would be expedited to provide much-needed relief to the affected population, a State BJP press release on Wednesday informs.

The State BJP delegation also appreciated the extraordinary spirit of the people of Sumsi Ward, where villagers and Panchayat members have been voluntarily working for the past seven days to restore the damaged road without waiting for external assistance. Through their collective efforts, nearly three kilometres of road have already been made motorable, setting a remarkable example of community resilience, unity and selfless service.

“However, the villagers expressed deep disappointment that despite ten days having passed since the disaster, no senior official from the district administration had visited the area to assess their hardships or provide reassurance. They urged the administration to strengthen its presence in the affected villages during such emergencies,” said the State BJP.

The delegation was further informed that residents of the Sumsi–Maidam area continue to face severe hardship due to the closure of the road at Sukha Khola, which has completely disrupted transportation and the movement of essential supplies. The villagers appealed to the concerned authorities to immediately deploy heavy machinery and expedite restoration work to reopen this vital road link at the earliest.

As part of the party's relief efforts, the BJP delegation also distributed essential relief materials to families staying at the relief camps in Darakharka and Upper Lingi, while assuring the affected people that BJP Sikkim would continue to raise their concerns before the appropriate authorities until normalcy is restored, the release mentions.