Sikkim flash floods: 14 dead, over 100 missing; Army, NDRF in rescue operations

Cars lie submerged in water after flash floods triggered by a sudden heavy rainfall swamped the Rangpo town in Sikkim, India, Thursday, Oct.5. 2023. (AP Photo)

Meanwhile, the Indian Army started three helplines for families of missing people in Sikkim, including soldiers. One of the 23 missing Army personnel was rescued Wednesday, while the rest are still reportedly missing.

Emergency services have been mobilised and Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang issued an advisory urging the public to avoid unnecessary travel at this critical juncture. The Sikkim government has also established helpline numbers to assist those in need. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday spoke to CM Tamang Wednesday to take stock of the situation in the state and assured him of all possible support.

Sikkim Chief Secretary VB Patha told the media, “The Lhonak lake received a cloud burst around 10.42 pm Tuesday night. Thereafter, the lake breached its embankment and made its course towards the Teesta river. Soon, different parts of the Teesta basin reported a rise in water, with particularly alarming levels in Chungthang, where the Teesta stage 3 dam was breached. There are 12-14 workers still stranded in the tunnels of the dam.”

He added, “Collectively across the state, 26 people have been reportedly injured and rushed to the hospitals. As of now, about 104 people are missing, including 22 Army personnel. They had a convoy vehicle which was parked adjacent to the highway that got submerged in the sludge. So far, 14 deaths have been reported.”

The Sikkim government has asked for three extra platoons of the National Disaster Response Force, which the Centre has approved. One platoon of NDRF is already in service in Rangpo and Singtam towns. One such upcoming platoon of the NDRF will be airlifted to Chungthang for rescue operations.

Necessities from Siliguri in West Bengal, Bailey bridges will be laid by the Indian Army and National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), informed the chief secretary.

The state government has set up 18 relief camps in Singtam, Rangpo, Dikchu and Adarsh Gaon, which have faced most of the damages. However, due to a lack of connectivity with Chungthang, the Indian Army and other paramilitaries are setting up relief camps there.

The South Lhonak lake in North West Sikkim witnessed a cloud burst Wednesday morning. The flowing flash flood made its way through the Teesta river sweeping Indreni Bridge in Singtam town, some 30 km from Gangtok, informed the Gangtok district administration. Another connecting bridge of Balutar hamlet was also swept away around 4 am.

A total of 14 bridges have collapsed in the wake of the disaster, with nine of them under the responsibility of the Border Roads Organization (BRO) and the remaining five under the state government. The National Highway 10, which connects Gangtok to Siliguri, has been completely washed away near the Likhuvir-Sijhora stretch. Urgent repair work will commence once the water levels in the Teesta river recede.

The Indian Army has initiated three helplines to aid families searching for their missing loved ones in Sikkim, including soldiers from their ranks. For assistance in North Sikkim, people can dial 8750887741, while the helpline number is 8756991895 for East Sikkim. A dedicated helpline has been set up for inquiries about the 22 missing soldiers at 7588302011.