Press Release
Press Release from District Administrative Centre, Gangtok
Information & Public Relations Department
Site Inspection Conducted for Installation of Sensor-Based Landslide Early Warning System at 13th Mile, JLN Highway.
Gangtok, 13 May 2026:
A site inspection for the proposed installation of a Sensor-Based Landslide Early Warning System (LEWS) was conducted on 13 May 2026 at the vulnerable landslide zone near 13th Mile along the Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Highway. The location experiences recurring landslides every year, posing significant risks to the movement of the Indian Army as well as tourists travelling to Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La.
The inspection was carried out as part of a collaborative initiative aimed at strengthening real-time landslide monitoring and establishing an effective early warning mechanism for landslide-prone areas in the region. The proposed system is expected to enhance disaster preparedness, improve response time, and help mitigate risks associated with slope instability along this critical strategic and tourist corridor.
Field implementation activities for the project are planned in the forthcoming months.
Prior to the site inspection, the District Collector, Gangtok, Shri Rohan Agawne (IAS) interacted with the inspecting team (scientists and experts from CBRI & IIT Roorkee) through a video conference in the morning before they proceeded for the field inspection.
The following officials and experts were present during the inspection:
1. Shri Sonam Wongyal Lepcha, Joint Director, DDMA, Gangtok
2. Dr Pratik Chaturvedi, Scientist F, DGRE-DRDO
3. Dr D. P. Kanungo, Chief Scientist, CBRI
4. Dr R K Panigrahi, Professor, IIT Roorkee
5. Shri Abhijit Chettri, BO Forest (T), along with his team
6. Shri Sherap Zangpo, RI (Revenue)
The initiative reflects the continued commitment of concerned agencies and technical institutions towards enhancing disaster resilience and ensuring safer movement along vulnerable stretches of the JLN Highway.
Gangtok, 13 May 2026:
A site inspection for the proposed installation of a Sensor-Based Landslide Early Warning System (LEWS) was conducted on 13 May 2026 at the vulnerable landslide zone near 13th Mile along the Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Highway. The location experiences recurring landslides every year, posing significant risks to the movement of the Indian Army as well as tourists travelling to Tsomgo Lake and Nathu La.
The inspection was carried out as part of a collaborative initiative aimed at strengthening real-time landslide monitoring and establishing an effective early warning mechanism for landslide-prone areas in the region. The proposed system is expected to enhance disaster preparedness, improve response time, and help mitigate risks associated with slope instability along this critical strategic and tourist corridor.
Field implementation activities for the project are planned in the forthcoming months.
Prior to the site inspection, the District Collector, Gangtok, Shri Rohan Agawne (IAS) interacted with the inspecting team (scientists and experts from CBRI & IIT Roorkee) through a video conference in the morning before they proceeded for the field inspection.
The following officials and experts were present during the inspection:
1. Shri Sonam Wongyal Lepcha, Joint Director, DDMA, Gangtok
2. Dr Pratik Chaturvedi, Scientist F, DGRE-DRDO
3. Dr D. P. Kanungo, Chief Scientist, CBRI
4. Dr R K Panigrahi, Professor, IIT Roorkee
5. Shri Abhijit Chettri, BO Forest (T), along with his team
6. Shri Sherap Zangpo, RI (Revenue)
The initiative reflects the continued commitment of concerned agencies and technical institutions towards enhancing disaster resilience and ensuring safer movement along vulnerable stretches of the JLN Highway.
