NEW DELHI, Oct 4: Five persons have been killed and 43 others including 23 army personnel are reported missing in Sikkim after a cloudburst triggered flash floods in the Teesta river on Wednesday. A massive search has been launched to locate the missing people, the Army and the local administration have said.
A statement by the Army’s Eastern Command has said some establishments along Lachen valley have been affected. “Release of water from the Chungthang dam led to a sudden increase in water level up to 15-20 feet high downstream. This has led to Army vehicles parked at Bardang near Singtam getting affected. 23 personnel have been reported missing and some vehicles are reported submerged under the slush. Search operations are underway,” the statement said.
Five bodies have been recovered from the Golitar and Singtam regions, a Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority official said.
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 Teesta river. The Teesta river flows through Sikkim and West Bengal before entering Bangladesh.
The flood that started around 1.30 a.m. in Sikkim was made worse by the release of water from Chungthang dam, according to officials. The release of water from the Chungthang dam led to a sudden increase in water levels up to 15-20 feet high downstream, defence spokesperson Lt Col Mahendra Rawat said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he has spoken to the chief minister of Sikkim and assured him of support. The Sikkim administration has issued a high alert for residents. Videos recorded and shared by local residents show roads washed away and the river in spate.
“Nobody has been injured but there has been significant damage to public property. Some people have also been reported missing in Singtam. Relief operations are on,” said Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang during a visit to an affected area.
The India Meteorological Department has said Teesta was swollen after the lake in Sikkim’s Chungthang overflowed. “Low-lying areas such as Gazoldoba, Domohani, Mekhaliganj and Ghish may be affected. Please be alert,” the weather office said.
The Chief Minister visited Singtam to assess the damage caused by the flash flood. He also held a meeting with senior officials at the Singtam Nagar Panchayat office and asked them to keep vigil. The Sikkim government has notified the flash floods in low-lying areas of Teesta river basin as disaster.
Several bridges in the State have been washed away, while drinking water supply lines are reported to be totally damaged, as per the SSDMA. All government and private schools in Pakyong, Gangtok, Namchi and Mangan districts have been ordered to remain closed till October 8, 2023.
(Manas Dasgupta)