Trekker, 45, Dies on Sikkim’s Goechala Route as Safety Demands Intensify

Overview

• Suraj Kumar Tiwari of Uttar Pradesh died on the Goechala trail during an eight-day expedition inside Khangchendzonga National Park.
• He became ill near the Kokchurong campsite with paralysis-like symptoms, received first aid, and was carried downhill toward Yuksam but later died near Phedang.
• His body was taken to Gyalshing District Hospital on Friday for a post-mortem and was handed over to his family on Saturday after legal formalities.
• Co-trekkers reported a suspicion of low blood pressure as the cause, which has not been established by authorities.
• This was the third death on the route in 2025, prompting tourism stakeholders in Yuksam to urge upgrades to medical facilities, emergency response, and rescue infrastructure along the Dzongri–Goechala corridor.