Sikkim Flash Floods Leave 19 Dead, 103 Missing, and Thousands Affected

Sikkim witnessed a devastating flash flood that has claimed the lives of 19 individuals, as confirmed by the State Disaster Management Authority. Search and rescue efforts, led by Army and NDRF teams, persist for the third consecutive day in the Teesta river basin and downstream north Bengal to locate the 103 people still missing. These unfortunate events unfolded after a cloudburst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim triggered the catastrophic flash flood early Wednesday.

Source: https://pynr.in/ 

Sikkim witnessed a devastating flash flood that has claimed the lives of 19 individuals, as confirmed by the State Disaster Management Authority. Search and rescue efforts, led by Army and NDRF teams, persist for the third consecutive day in the Teesta river basin and downstream north Bengal to locate the 103 people still missing. These unfortunate events unfolded after a cloudburst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim triggered the catastrophic flash flood early Wednesday.

The calamity has left a profound impact, affecting a staggering 22,034 people, as reported by the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA). Remarkably, 2,011 individuals have been successfully rescued as of Thursday.

Amidst this crisis, over 3,000 tourists, including foreigners, find themselves stranded in various regions of Sikkim. The Indian Army has taken swift action, setting up a telecommunication facility to facilitate communication between these tourists and their concerned families. Plans have been set in motion to airlift them to Mangan, followed by road transport to Sikkim.

Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang conducted an on-ground assessment in Singtam, one of the hardest-hit areas. He called upon all stakeholders to unite, emphasizing collective efforts to address the immediate challenges posed by this calamity. Additionally, Chief Minister Tamang reached out to the Prime Minister, requesting essential support, particularly for the most severely affected regions.

Also Read: ISRO Satellite Images Reveal Lhonak Lake Burst Triggering Tragic Floods In Sikkim, 14 Lives Lost

The flood's impact has been extensive, resulting in the destruction of 11 bridges across the state, with eight of them swept away in Mangan district alone. Namchi and Gangtok each lost two and one bridge, respectively. Moreover, the calamity caused substantial damage to water pipelines, sewage lines, and a total of 277 houses, including both kuchcha and concrete structures, in the four affected districts.