A forest fire has been raging since January 20, 2026 in Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary near the Indo-China border in East Sikkim, affecting approximately 12 hectares of dense alpine and temperate forest land. The sanctuary, spread over 128 square kilometres at altitudes between 1,800 and 5,500 metres, is a critical biodiversity hotspot in the Eastern Himalayas and home to endangered species including the red panda, Himalayan black bear, musk deer, and several endemic bird species such as the blood pheasant and satyr tragopan.

The Sikkim Forest Department has deployed multiple fire-fighting teams, including forest guards and local community volunteers, to contain the blaze. However, difficult terrain, high altitude, strong winds, and limited road access have hampered containment efforts. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was put on standby for possible deployment if the fire spreads further toward inhabited areas.

Conservationists have raised serious concerns about the impact on the sanctuary's fragile ecosystem, particularly the bamboo understory that supports red panda populations. The fire is suspected to have been caused by dry leaf litter ignition during an unusually dry winter season. Sikkim recorded significantly below-normal rainfall in December 2025 and January 2026. The state government has ordered an investigation into the cause and announced compensation for any affected local communities.