A day after cloudburst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim caused a flash flood in the Teesta River basin killed 14 people, search and rescue operations have resumed to find more than 100 people who went missing, including 22 soldiers.
According to News 18 report, Sikkim Chief Secretary VB Pathak said that 15 bridges have been destroyed, of which 9 were made by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the remaining 8 by the government. So far, ten bodies have been found, and 19 relief camps have been established to assist the stranded.
“As of now, 104 people are missing of which 22 are from the army. The situation has improved as water has started receding. Phone lines have been hit and we are trying to restore them. Twenty-six people are injured and some of them have been admitted to the government hospital.”
On responding to question over briefing with centre Pathak said, “We apprised them of the ground situation and requested for more platoons of NDRF who can be air-lifted to Chungthang. Some tourists are stranded in Lachem and we have discussed the situation with them. The bridges have been washed away so it is difficult to rescue the stranded tourists. Once weather improves, we will work with them.”
All the 10 people who died in the flash flood including 3 who were washed in north Bengal have all been confirmed to be civilians. One of the 23 army personnel who had vanished in the morning was later found.
According to officials, the release of water from the Chungthang dam exacerbated the flood that began in Sikkim at 1:30 am.
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