Lieutenant General Harpal Singh, Director General Border Roads (DGBR), visited Sikkim to review ongoing road restoration and resilience measures in the aftermath of the 2023 Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF). The visit comes as the Centre continues to focus on rebuilding damaged infrastructure and improving all-weather connectivity in the Himalayan state.
During his visit, Lt Gen Singh held meetings with Lieutenant General Man Raj Singh Mann, General Officer Commanding (GOC) Trishakti Corps, and Sikkim Chief Secretary Ravinder Telang. Discussions centred on strengthening coordination between civil authorities and the armed forces to speed up infrastructure recovery, improve disaster preparedness and ensure sustainable connectivity in the state’s difficult terrain.
Officials reviewed the progress of road repair works damaged by the GLOF and discussed measures to strengthen vulnerable stretches. These include slope stabilisation, better drainage, and construction of protective structures to withstand extreme weather. Emphasis was also placed on adopting climate-resilient engineering practices to reduce risks from future disasters.
Recalling the immediate response after the 2023 flood, Army units under Trishakti Corps played a key role in relief operations. Troops were deployed to assist in evacuations, provide medical aid, clear debris and restore road connectivity to cut-off areas despite challenging terrain and adverse weather. Engineer units also established temporary routes to ensure the movement of essential supplies and services.
As recovery efforts moved into a longer-term phase, Trishakti Corps has continued to work closely with the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the Sikkim government. Focus areas include strengthening existing infrastructure, exploring alternate road alignments and putting in place disaster mitigation measures. The Army has also maintained logistics support, medical assistance and community outreach in affected regions.
The visit highlighted the continued commitment of the Indian Army and the BRO towards infrastructure rebuilding, disaster preparedness and strengthening connectivity in Sikkim, underlining the importance of sustained civil–military coordination in addressing future challenges.