The Sikkim government has officially confirmed that the recent flash flood in the region has claimed the lives of 14 individuals, with 102 people still reported as missing. All 14 of the deceased are civilians.
Injuries and missing persons have been reported from several areas, including Chungthang in Mangan district, Dikchu, Singtam in Gangtok district, and Rangpo in Pakyong district. According to official reports, more than 3,000 tourists are feared to be stranded in various parts of the state. Additionally, 12-14 workers who were working at the Teesta Stage 3 dam in Chungthang are still trapped inside the dam’s tunnels. The police station in Chungthang has also been destroyed. The flash floods have disrupted mobile network connections in Chungthang and most of North Sikkim, as the fiber cable lines have been damaged.
According to VB Pathak, the Chief Secretary of Sikkim, the flash flood occurred due to a cloud burst at Lhonak lake around 10:42 pm on Tuesday night. The lake breached its embankment and flowed towards the Teesta river, causing rising water levels in various parts of the Teesta basin. The breach of the Teesta Stage 3 dam in Chungthang was particularly alarming.
Pathak further mentioned, “There are 12-14 workers still stranded in the tunnels of the dam. Across the state, 26 people have been reported injured and have been rushed to hospitals. Additionally, 23 Army personnel in Bardang are still missing, as their convoy vehicle was submerged in the sludge.”
The state government has requested three additional platoons of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), which the Central government has approved. One NDRF platoon is already in service in Rangpo and Singtam towns.
Furthermore, there are concerns about ration shortages in the state, and the Indian Army and National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) will be laying Bailey bridges to transport essential supplies from Siliguri, as informed by the State Chief Secretary. Relief camps have been set up in Singtam, Rangpo, Dikchu, and Adarsh Gaon, which have witnessed significant damage. However, due to connectivity issues with Chungthang, the Indian Army and other paramilitary forces are establishing relief camps in that area.
The flash flood in North West Sikkim resulted from a cloud burst at South Lhonark lake, leading to persistent monsoon rainfall on Wednesday morning. The flash flood swept away the Indreni Bridge in Singtam town and another connecting bridge in Balutar hamlet, approximately 30 kilometers from Gangtok, according to the Gangtok District Administration.
