One person has died, two are injured, and eight remain missing after a vehicle carrying 11 tourists plunged into the Teesta river in North Sikkim’s Mangan district, police reported on Friday (May 30, 2025). The accident reportedly took place on Thursday night (May 29, 2025) while the vehicle was traveling from Lachen to Lachung. It fell nearly 1,000 feet into the river at a dangerous bend along the mountainous route, a known accident-prone area. “So far, two critically injured individuals have been rescued, and one body recovered,” said the authorities.

Superintendent of Police Sonam Detchu Bhutia confirmed that eight tourists are still missing. The injured have been transported to STNM Hospital in Gangtok for treatment. At present, the origins of the tourists are not confirmed, police added.

Upon learning of the incident, rapid response teams including the Indian Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sikkim Police, and local officials quickly mobilized for late-night rescue operations under difficult terrain and weather conditions. Rescue efforts are ongoing as teams work to reach the crash site and locate the vehicle in the deep gorge. Divers and high-altitude rescue squads have also been deployed.

Information about the deceased, the injured, and the cause of the accident is still awaited. Authorities have sealed off the area and advised tourists to avoid traveling on this route until further notice.