Sikkim Flash Flood: A devastating cloudburst over Lhonak Lake in north Sikkim has resulted in flash floods, leading to the loss of 10 lives and leaving 82 people missing, including 22 Army personnel. The overflow of Lhonak Lake triggered flash floods in the Teesta river, causing extensive damage in the region. Additionally, 14 bridges have collapsed, and more than 3,000 tourists are feared to be stranded in various parts of the state.
Flash Floods in North Sikkim Leave 10 Dead
The cloudburst occurred during the early hours of Wednesday, and its aftermath swept away parts of a dam at Chungthang, which happens to be the state’s largest hydropower project. This unfortunate development exacerbated the flooding downstream.
In response to the calamity, the Sikkim government has declared it a disaster under the Disaster Management Act.
Amid the grim situation, there was a glimmer of hope when the Army reported that one of the 23 soldiers who had gone missing from Bardang near Singtam town had been rescued, and his condition is stable.
The senior official in the Sikkim government confirmed the tragic toll of 10 civilian lives lost and the ongoing search for 82 missing individuals. The flash floods caused extensive damage, with 14 bridges collapsing, including nine under the Border Roads Organisation and five under the State government. Around 14 workers who were at the Teesta Stage 3 dam in Chungthang, parts of which were swept away, are still stranded in tunnels.
Injuries and missing persons have been reported from various areas, including Chungthang in Mangan district, Dikchu, Singtam in Gangtok district, and Rangpo in Pakyong district. More than 25 people have been rushed to hospitals.
The flash floods have disrupted mobile networks and broadband connections in Chungthang and most of North Sikkim due to fiber cable lines being destroyed by the floods in Sangkalan and Toong in Mangan district. The police station in Chungthang has also been destroyed, further complicating rescue and relief efforts.
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