BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 2nd June 2025: Following a tragic accident on May 29, in which a tourist van plunged approximately 1,000 feet into the Teesta River in Sikkim, two youths from Kailashahar in Tripura’s Unakoti district remain missing. The incident has prompted swift action from the Tripura Chief Minister, Prof. Dr. Manik Saha, who has personally reached out to the Sikkim government to ensure continuous rescue efforts.
The ill-fated vehicle was carrying 11 tourists, including Debajyoti Deb and Swapnil Deb from Kailashahar. According to a senior official from the Tripura government, the Chief Minister’s Secretariat was promptly alerted about the situation. Upon receiving the information, Dr. Saha’s office took immediate steps to coordinate with their Sikkim counterparts.
Dr. P. K. Chakraborty, Chief Minister’s Secretary, established contact with K. N. Bhutia, Secretary to the Chief Minister of Sikkim, to get the latest updates on the rescue operation. The Sikkim administration informed that heavy rainfall, challenging terrain, and strong river currents are hampering efforts to recover the vehicle and locate the missing passengers.
Despite these difficulties, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) continues its rescue mission with heightened vigilance. Encouragingly, two tourists from Odisha survived the accident, and some debris from the vehicle has been recovered.
Dr. Chakraborty has also been in direct communication with the family of one of the missing Tripura youths, providing support during this difficult time. Both families have traveled to Sikkim to assist in the ongoing search.
Unakoti District Magistrate Tamal Majumdar remains in close contact with the NDRF team to monitor developments. Presently, nine individuals—including the two Tripura youths—are reported missing in connection with the accident.
The Tripura government assures that it is maintaining continuous coordination with Sikkim authorities to facilitate rescue operations and provide assistance to the affected families.
