Troops of the 72nd Battalion, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Yuksam, demonstrated exemplary promptness, courage and humanitarian commitment by acting as first responders following significant landslides in the Karmatar and Upper Bultang areas of West Sikkim on Monday.
An official statement said the landslide occurred at about 10.20am directly beneath a local school in Karmatar village.
Under the operational supervision of Rambeer Singh Yadav, Deputy Commandant, (Officiating Commandant), a dedicated disaster rescue team led by Company Commander Inspector Sewang Dorjee—comprising one subordinate officer and seven personnel equipped with rescue and relief gear—was mobilised immediately to the spot.
No loss of life or injury was reported.
Working in close coordination with the local civil administration—including Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Dentam, N. K. Kshetry, Additional Director, Ram Bahadur Kshetry, Zilla Panchayat representative Maya Kshetry, and local villagers—the SSB team evacuated citizens from vulnerable residential houses situated directly above the landslide zone as a precautionary measure.
The area remains under continuous monitoring by SSB personnel.
Following operations at Karmatar, residents alerted the team to a second landslide impacting the roadway in Upper Bullung. The SSB Company Commander and SDM Dentam inspected the site immediately.
While the road remains blocked to vehicular traffic, no casualties or loss of property occurred. Heavy earth-moving machinery has been requisitioned by the civil administration to clear debris and restore traffic flow at the earliest.
The civil administration and local residents commended the SSB for their rapid response, operational readiness, and vital assistance in safeguarding the community during the emergency.
