Today, early morning, on October 4, a cloudburst caused flash floods in Sikkim due to which three personnel from the Indian Army have lost their lives and 23 troops are reported to be missing.
Initial reports mention that the cloudburst which took place over Lhonak lake in north Sikkim broke the lake’s embankment which caused water to enter the residential areas in Singtam town which is at a distance of 30 kilometers from state capital Gangtok.
The flash flood has also put the Teesta river in spate and the areas on its banks have been put on high alert. The floods also swept away the Indreni bridge causing a major disruption in transport.
“Some army establishments along the valley have been affected and efforts are on to confirm details. 23 personnel have been reported missing and some vehicles are reported submerged under the slush. Search operations are underway,” a statement from the Defence PRO, Guwahati was quoted. Officials also informed Press Trust of India that the flash flood is believed to have started at 1:30 AM.
Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang has visited parts of North Sikkim to assess the damage. “We are all aware of the recent natural calamity that has struck our state. Emergency services have been mobilized to the affected areas, and I personally visited Singtam to assess the damages and engage with the local community,” he posted on Twitter.
“I humbly urge all our citizens to remain vigilant and refrain from unnecessary travel during this critical time. It is essential that we maintain composure and hope for a swift return to normalcy in our region,” Tamang added.
Meanwhile, VK Sharma, vice chairman of Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority told the press that the disaster has affected telephone and road connectivity on national highway 10, which connects Sikkim to West Bengal, at several places and the loss of life is yet to be confirmed.
This is a developing news; more details awaited.
