- Twenty-three Army personnel are missing in Sikkim after a cloudburst triggered flash floods in Teesta River.
- Sikkim has received heavy rain through the night. A cloudburst over Lhonak Lake in north Sikkim caused it to overflow and pushed up the water levels in the Teesta River.
- Army vehicles swept away
- Army installations and personnel impacted
- Sikkim government issues high alert
Sikkim has received heavy rain through the night. A cloudburst over Lhonak Lake in north Sikkim caused it to overflow and pushed up the water levels in the Teesta River. The Teesta River flows through Sikkim and West Bengal before entering Bangladesh.
The rapid surge in the Teesta River water level led to the submersion of Army vehicles stationed near Bardang in Singtam, resulting in the disappearance of 23 military personnel.
This catastrophe has also impacted several army installations in the region, with ongoing efforts to ascertain the full extent of the damage. The release of water from the Chungthang dam resulted in a rapid surge in water levels downstream, reaching heights of 15-20 feet. Consequently, Army vehicles stationed near Singtam, particularly at Bardang, have borne the brunt of this deluge.
As a consequence, 23 military personnel have been reported missing, with some vehicles believed to be submerged beneath the slush. Intensive search and rescue operations are currently in progress to locate and aid the missing individuals and assess the overall situation.
“Due to sudden cloud burst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim, a flash flood occurred in the Teesta River… 23 personnel have been reported missing and some vehicles are reported submerged under the slush,” the army said in a statement.
The army vehicles parked near Singtam at Bardang were swept away by the raging floodwaters, resulting in the disappearance of military personnel. Search and rescue operations are in full swing to locate the missing individuals, while the severity of the situation continues to unfold.
The flash flood’s impact extends to several Army establishments situated along the vulnerable Lachen Valley. Authorities are actively engaged in assessing the comprehensive damage incurred in this disaster.
Further compounding the crisis, the Singtham footbridge spanning the Teesta River has collapsed under the pressure of the surging waters. In response, the Jalpaiguri administration in West Bengal has initiated the evacuation of residents from the river’s lower catchment areas as a precautionary measure.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the Sikkim government has issued a high alert across the state, urging residents to steer clear of the Teesta River and its vicinity as the region grapples with this natural calamity.
(With inputs from agencies)
