Sikkim Flash Floods: At least 40 people have died in the Sikkim flash floods as the Army plotted helicopter rescues for thousands stranded in the deluge. Additionally, over 3,000 tourists are stranded, with 2,500 people already evacuated, and 6,000 relocated to relief camps. Here are key points regarding this significant incident:
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- The Sikkim government has issued a fresh alert for a possible glacial lake burst, urging tourists to delay their travel plans due to the risk of explosives and ammunition washed away from an army camp in the recent floods. Shako Cho lake near Lachen is under threat of bursting, and evacuations are underway for residents in the vicinity.
- Chief Secretary Vijay Bhushan Pathak of Sikkim stated that approximately 3,000 individuals are stranded in Lachen and Lachung, with an additional 3,150 motorcycle riders stuck due to the floods. The Army and Air Force are conducting helicopter evacuations to rescue those in need.
- Flash floods were triggered by a glacial lake burst in the upper reaches of Sikkim. This event led to flash floods and a glacial lake outburst, which released water from the Chungthang Dam, significantly raising the water level of the Teesta River and causing extensive damage in the Himalayan state.
- Mangan district has reported four fatalities and 17 missing individuals, while Gangtok has recorded five deaths and 22 individuals missing. In Pakyong district, ten people, including six soldiers, have lost their lives, and 59 individuals are still unaccounted for.
- The Army has been diligently searching for the 16 soldiers who went missing during the flash floods. Troops from the Trishakti Corps are providing medical assistance and telephone connectivity to civilians and tourists stranded in affected areas such as Chungthang, Lachung, and Lachen in North Sikkim.
- The government-owned hydropower company NHPC is making efforts to swiftly reopen its hydropower plants, with the Ministry of Power closely monitoring the situation in the Teesta basin following the flash floods. A comprehensive assessment of damage to hydropower projects in Sikkim will be conducted once floodwaters recede.
- Flash floods on the night of October 3-4 led to the submersion or destruction of all bridges downstream of the Teesta-V hydropower station, up to Tarkhola and Pamphok. As a result, the Teesta-V hydropower station is currently non-operational. NHPC has successfully evacuated all staff from its projects and relocated them to safer areas.
- A glacial lake burst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim triggered a flash flood in the Teesta River. This event caused extensive damage to power infrastructure at Chungthang Dam and inundated downstream towns and villages with a massive surge of water.
- Flash floods have caused significant destruction, including the loss of 11 bridges in Sikkim, with eight in Mangan district, two in Namchi, and one in Gangtok. Water pipelines, sewage lines, and 277 houses across four districts have also been damaged. NDRF teams in North Sikkim are prepared to assist in evacuations.
- Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang of Sikkim has called for solidarity and cooperation among the administration, local authorities, organizations, and individuals to address the immediate challenges posed by this calamity. Dedicated teams are working tirelessly to manage the situation and provide relief to those affected by the disaster.
- With inputs from agencies
