Gangtok/Siliguri, June 7: A large-scale multi-agency search operation ended in tragedy on Saturday after the bodies of four members of a Sikkim-based family were recovered from a submerged vehicle in the Teesta River along National Highway-10.
The victims were identified as Smarika Neopaney (28), Shaibya Neopaney (27), Jika Dahal (27) and five-year-old Ditya Chettri. All four were found inside a Tata Nexon that had plunged into the river while travelling on the highway.
The family, residents of Lingdok in Kabi Lungchok, East Sikkim, had departed from Gangtok on June 5 en route to Siliguri to visit relatives undergoing medical treatment. Their last known contact was made between 3.30 pm and 4.30 pm near the Rambi area on NH-10, after which communication was lost.
Following concerns raised by relatives, a missing report was filed on June 6, prompting a coordinated search operation involving the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Sikkim Disaster Response Force (SDRF), West Bengal Police, traffic police, the Teesta River Rescue Team and local volunteers. The search was also supported by local leaders and coordinated efforts involving Darjeeling MP Raju Bista and social worker Vikram Rai.
Initial suspicions suggested the vehicle may have fallen into a gorge near Baghpool, an area known for difficult terrain and weather-related disruptions. The search was further guided by the recovery of vehicle parts, including a battery and bumper, from a landslide-affected stretch of the highway.
By Saturday evening, the submerged vehicle was located deep inside the Teesta River. However, recovery operations were suspended overnight due to strong currents, poor visibility and water depth. The operation resumed on Sunday morning, when rescuers retrieved all four bodies from inside the vehicle.
Authorities have initiated an investigation into the circumstances of the accident. Preliminary indications suggest that adverse weather conditions, landslides and the fragile condition of NH-10 may have contributed to the mishap.
The incident has cast a pall of grief across Sikkim, particularly as all three adult victims were government employees. Condolences have poured in from across the state, with officials acknowledging the efforts of rescue teams and local volunteers involved in the operation.
The tragedy has once again raised serious concerns over the safety and stability of NH-10, a crucial lifeline connecting Sikkim with the plains of West Bengal, which remains highly vulnerable to landslides and flooding, especially during the monsoon season.
