Car falls into Teesta, Odisha BJP leader among 9 missing

NINE people, including a woman BJP leader from Odisha, were reported missing in Sikkim after a tourist vehicle in which they were travelling fell into the Teesta river, 800-1,000 ft below the road, late Thursday evening.

- PRASANTA MAZUMDAR @Guwahati

The accident occurred at a place between Chungthang and Munshithang along Chungthang-Lachen highway, police said.

The vehicle had 11 occupants, including the driver. Two were rescued and hospitalized. Two groups of tourists from Odisha and West Bengal had reportedly hired the vehicle.

"Out of the 11 occupants, two have been rescued and referred to STNM Hospital, Gangtok, after preliminary treatment at Chungthang field hospital. Search is still on for the remaining nine people," an official statement said.

Another official statement said, "Swimmers have been deployed to check for the vehicle wreck in the river. Extensive search operation is underway."