A tragic accident in Sikkim’s Teesta River has led to the disappearance of the BJP Mahila Morcha Secretary and Jajpur leader, Itishree Jena.
The incident took place between Chungthang and Munshithang, resulting in one person dead and eight others missing.
Itishree was travelling with 11 family members in two vehicles when the vehicle carrying her and her son lost control and plunged thousands of feet into a river. Fortunately, two minors—her son and nephew—fell from the vehicle and were rescued in critical condition. They were admitted to a local hospital.
However, Itishree, her elder son, her younger brother Latu, and her sister-in-law remain missing. Despite the local police’s efforts to retrieve the vehicle from the river, they have not yet located the missing individuals.
Itishree’s elder brother, Sishir Kumar Nayak, who was present at the accident site, provided details about the incident. The family, originally from Umapada village in Bhubaneswar, had travelled to Sikkim two days prior for sightseeing near the Tibet border. The accident occurred around 8 PM on Thursday when their vehicle lost balance and fell into the river.
Concerned family members attempted to contact Itishree and the others but were unsuccessful, which led them to seek assistance from the local police. Due to the late hour, the police were unable to help immediately, but rescue operations began on Friday morning.
Rescuers, including the Sikkim Police, Army, ITBP, and local officials, are working tirelessly to locate the missing individuals, though challenges remain due to adverse weather conditions and strong river currents.
Odisha’s Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has extended support and initiated discussions with the Sikkim government to expedite rescue efforts. Families of the missing tourists are anxiously awaiting updates.
