Siliguri Corridor
India's "Chicken's Neck"
The Siliguri Corridor is a narrow strip of land — approximately 20–25 km wide at its narrowest point — connecting India's eight northeastern states (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, Sikkim) to the Indian mainland. Flanked by Nepal to the north, Bhutan to the northeast, and Bangladesh to the south, it represents India's most critical and most vulnerable land connectivity chokepoint. Any military or political disruption here could sever ~50 million people and the northeastern states from the rest of India. China could reach the corridor with an advance of approximately 130 km from its current positions.
- Siliguri Corridor width: 20–25 km at narrowest
- States connected: 8 northeastern states (~50 million people)
- Flanking countries: Nepal (north), Bhutan (northeast), Bangladesh (south)
- Distance: Chinese forces could reach corridor in ~130 km advance
- Lalmonirhat Airbase: WWII-era airbase in northern Bangladesh, ~135 km from Siliguri, reportedly being revived with Chinese involvement
- India's response: Deployment of Rafale jets, BrahMos missiles; underground railway tunnels under construction
● Tracked since March 07, 2026 · last seen August 22, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes