Sikkim
Guwahati, Oct 5: A devastating cloudburst and flash floods in Sikkim have left at least 14 people dead, with 102 individuals currently missing. The disaster struck the region, causing significant destruction along the Teesta River.
Reports of missing persons have emerged from various areas, including Chungthang in Mangan district, Dikchu, Singtam in Gangtok district, and Rangpo in Pakyong district. The situation was exacerbated by the release of water from the Chungthang dam, triggering widespread flooding.
The calamity resulted in the destruction of 11 bridges throughout the state, with eight of them being washed away in Mangan district alone. Additionally, two bridges were swept away in Namchi, and one in Gangtok. The infrastructure damage extended to water pipelines, sewage lines, and a total of 277 houses, comprising both makeshift and concrete structures, were decimated across the affected districts.
Several towns, notably Dikchu, Singtam, and Rangpo, located within the Teesta basin, experienced severe flooding due to the rising river levels. Chungthang town bore the brunt of the disaster, with 80 percent of it suffering severe damage. The critical NH-10, considered the lifeline of the state, sustained extensive damage at multiple locations.
Currently, over 3,000 tourists find themselves stranded in various parts of Sikkim, while 166 people have been successfully rescued, including a member of the armed forces.
Sikkim's Chief Secretary, VB Pathak, provided critical information about the incident. He explained, "The Lhonak lake experienced a cloudburst around 10:42 pm on Tuesday night, subsequently breaching its embankment and diverting towards the Teesta river. Consequently, various parts of the Teesta basin reported rising water levels, with particularly alarming conditions in Chungthang, where the Teesta Stage 3 dam was breached."
Pathak continued, "Approximately 12-14 workers remain stranded in the tunnels of the dam. Statewide, 26 individuals have reportedly sustained injuries and have been rushed to hospitals. Moreover, 23 Army personnel in Bardang are currently missing, as their convoy vehicle was submerged in sludge adjacent to the highway."
In response to the crisis, the State government has requested three additional platoons of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), which have been approved by the Central government. Currently, one NDRF platoon is already providing assistance in Rangpo and Singtam towns.
Meanwhile, the Tibetan spiritual leader, Dalai Lama, expressed his condolences over the tragic events in Sikkim in a letter to Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang. The Dalai Lama wrote, "His Holiness the Dalai Lama expressed his sadness about the loss of life and widespread damage to property that has occurred in Sikkim as a result of the flash flood that took place in the Teesta River Valley last night."
"I offer my condolences to families who have lost loved ones…as well as others affected by this disaster, and pray for their welfare," wrote the Tibetan spiritual leader.