Indian Army’s Trishakti Corps troops rescued 245 people stranded in Rabom village due to the flash flood in Sikkim, officials said on Sunday. Trishakti Corps have been undertaking rescue operations in villages cut off from the rest of the state following the flash flood. In a statement issued by Trishakti Corps on Sunday, the rescue mission went on from October 7 -13. “Troops of Trishakti Corps conucted a rescue mission in north Sikkim from October 7-13. Moving through mountainous terrain with thick jungles and undergrowth in challenging weather, the troops reached the 245 persons stranded in the village of Rabom in North Sikkim. The troops shared food and medical aid with the stranded people," Trishakti Corps wrote on its ‘X’ handle. “The soldiers carved a 14.8 km route and rescued 97 workers of Kundan Hydro Power Project and 80-100 locals. The troops have created a helipad in the village, created a safe foot track and continue to assist the stranded people of Rabom, Menshithang and Chubinbin,” it further said. Earlier, an Indian Air Force statement informed that over 1,700 persons have been evacuated from various flood-affected areas of Sikkim. As per the statement, Indian Air Force's Chinook and Mi-17 V5 helicopters continue operations in the flood-affected areas of Sikkim, with the induction of over 200 personnel to boost the relief efforts. “The IAF helicopters have also delivered nearly 99 tonnes of relief material in the 200 sorties flown till date. Operations shall continue till the requirements exist,” it said. The Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) reported that as on October 11, the death toll due to the flash flood stood at 37, while 78 were reported to be missing. On October 3, a glacier in Lhonak lake burst and breached one side of the lake leading to the rise in the water levels in Teesta river. The flash flood in Teesta inundated several areas of Sikkim, leaving dozens dead and thousands of tourists stranded.
