Bhubaneswar, May 30: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday directed the immediate dispatch of a special team to Sikkim following reports that several Odisha residents were involved in a tragic road accident in the Himalayan state.
According to sources from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), Majhi spoke with Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang to inquire about the condition of the Odisha tourists who were traveling in the vehicle that plunged into the Teesta River in Mangan district. He expressed deep concern over their safety and the provision of medical care.
The Chief Minister also instructed state officials to arrange for the safe return of all Odisha residents involved in the incident.
The accident occurred on Thursday night when a tourist vehicle carrying 11 people fell over 1,000 feet into the Teesta River near Munsithang along the Lachen-Lachung highway. Police confirmed that one person died, two were injured, and eight others remain missing.
Political leaders across Odisha have responded to the incident with concern and sympathy.
Leader of Opposition and BJD president Naveen Patnaik posted on X, stating, “I have learned that many Odia passengers were on the tourist bus that met with an accident in the Teesta river in Sikkim. May Lord Jagannath give strength to the families to face this challenging time. I pray for the speedy recovery of those affected by the accident.”
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das also expressed his sorrow over the tragedy and urged the state government to provide all necessary assistance to the affected families.
