NEW DELHI: After the deadly landslide in North Sikkim’s Chatten on June 1, the army is carrying out non-stop rescue and relief work, battling heavy rain, rough terrain, and growing uncertainty over the fate of those still missing.Lachen village, a popular tourist spot now completely cut off, has been reconnected by foot thanks to the army. Troops have reached 113 stranded tourists, and efforts to evacuate them are in progress, though bad weather remains a major hurdle.On June 3, 33 tourists, including 2 US nationals, were safely airlifted by military helicopters, from the rain battered Chaten region in the north Sikkim. Supplies and national disaster response force (NDRF) personnel were also air-dropped as part of emergency operations.However, an early morning attempt to evacuate the remaining tourists from Lachen was aborted due to poor visibility. An Mi-17 carrying nine NDRF personnel from Pakyong Airport was forced to turn back mid-air.Meanwhile, the army is advancing its search for six people who went missing after the landslide wiped out part of a military camp. A rescuer stationed in the area confirmed that nine personnel lost their lives in the disaster.“Very, very heavy rains have been experienced in the area from May 30 onwards,” said the army personnel, deployed at the site. “The rains were so heavy that a huge waterfall had been created due to the landslide on the other side of the mountain. This never existed before. We carried out certain precautionary evacuations,” ANI quoted the official.However, nothing was anticipated on this side of the mountain, where 50-70 personnel were residing. Unfortunately, nature got the better of our nine personnel.”He added, “In the last three days, we have mobilised all our resources and have been able to recover three of the remains. We are constantly searching for the six personnel who remain missing.”The missing include Lieutenant Colonel Pritpal Singh Sandhu, his wife Squadron Leader Aarti Sandhu (Retd), their daughter Amayra Sandhu, Subedar Dharamveer, Naik Sunilal Muchahary, and Sepoy Sainudheen PK.Specialised search teams and engineering equipment have been deployed, but worsening weather, unstable soil, and the region’s high-altitude terrain continue to hamper efforts.Authorities say rescue and relief operations will continue round-the-clock until all stranded individuals are brought to safety and the missing accounted for.