Sikkim chief minister P.S. Tamang visited landslide-affected Rimbi in West Sikkim on Friday, meeting displaced families and announcing financial assistance, land allotment and house reconstruction measures after landslides and mudslides damaged 57 houses in Rimbi and Singlitam blocks.
Tamang reviewed the condition of the hamlet, which falls under the Yuksom-Tashiding Assembly constituency, and handed over cheques and cash assistance to affected families from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. The assistance was provided according to prescribed norms and the extent of damage suffered by each household.
Families who lost their homes will receive land allotment under the Sikkim Garib Aawas Yojana, or SGAY, through which the state government will also arrange the construction of replacement houses. The government will provide land for rehabilitation to affected families who do not own plots, according to official sources cited in the report.
“We are committed to ensuring that the affected families have a safe and secure place to call home. Accordingly, land allotment orders were provided under SGAY. Arrangements will be made for the construction of houses for those who have lost their homes,” Tamang said during the visit.
Rimbi is located under Yuksom sub-division, around 120 kilometres from Gangtok. The area became vulnerable after a landslide on August 13. Continued rainfall worsened conditions, with further mudslides reported from September 22. The administration subsequently evacuated residents from locations considered vulnerable.
Official figures cited in the report put the total number of damaged houses in Rimbi and Singlitam blocks at 57. The state has announced compensation of Rs 5 lakh each for three houses that were completely destroyed. It has also approved Rs 2 lakh each for two damaged kitchens. Damaged houses will be reconstructed under SGAY, alongside the rehabilitation arrangements for families whose homes can no longer be occupied.
The emergency has affected more than buildings. Residents have faced disruption to their livelihoods and daily lives as homes and property were damaged and families were moved away from vulnerable locations. The relief measures therefore combine immediate financial assistance with longer-term housing and land support.
Tamang said he was relieved that no lives had been lost, while acknowledging the impact on homes, property and the security of affected residents. “While I am relieved that no lives were lost, the damage caused to homes and properties, along with the disruption to the lives of the affected families, is deeply concerning,” he said.
The immediate next steps are the implementation of land allotments, reconstruction of damaged houses under SGAY and continued rehabilitation support for affected families. The administration’s evacuation and relief measures remain central to managing the consequences of the landslides and mudslides in the affected blocks.
