Sikkim floods toll rises to 25, explosives & firearms warning issued: Top points

Soldiers and relief workers have been working round the clock to rescue survivors in Sikkim after a sudden bout of heavy rainfall caused a glacial lake to burst. At least 25 people have been killed so far, including seven soldiers, because of flash flooding in the state, the disaster relief agency has said. Close to 150 people, including many soldiers, are still missing.

Here’s what we know so far about the incident, its aftermath and the relief efforts undertaken by the government

143 people, including 15 army personnel, remain missing

After the cloudburst in North Sikkim in the early hours of Wednesday, 103 people, including 15 people remained missing. According to the latest bulletin released by the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA), 2,411 people trapped due to the flash flood have been evacuated so far. Additionally, 7,644 people displaced by the floods have been provided shelter at 26 relief camps set up in four affected districts.

25, including seven army jawans, lose their lives

The SSDMA also said that as many as 22 bodies, including those of seven army jawans, have been recovered by the rescue forces, while the search operation is currently underway. News agency PTI reported Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang as saying that road connectivity between districts had been cut off, with bridges being washed away.

Sikkim CM announces Rs. 4 lakh ex-gratia to kin of deceased

Sikkim Chief Minister Tamang announced an ex-gratia compensation of Rs. 4 lakh to the kin of those who have lost their lives in the floods. He also announced an immediate relief of Rs 2,000 each to all those who are being sheltered in relief camps, news agency PTI reported. Tamang said that this was temporary aid provided by the state government, while the actual damage caused by the floods was being looked into.

Military equipment, including firearms, carried away by Teesta waters

Military equipment, including firearms and explosives, were carried away by the Teesta river, leading to the Ministry of Defence, Guwahati, releasing an urgent notice. The Public Relations Office (PRO) of the Guwahati wing took to X (formerly Twitter), urging the public to report any "unfamiliar objects, crates, packages, firearms or any suspicious items seen floating in the water to the nearest police station."

Damages worth thousands of crore of rupees, says CM Tamang

Chief Minister Tamang said that the state had incurred damage worth thousands of crores of rupees due to the flash flood. The CM visited flood-affected areas in Rangpo town in Pakyong district, assuring the displaced who have been provided temporary shelter in the relief camps of government help. "There have been damages worth thousands of crores of rupees. We cannot give exact details about damages, it will be revealed once a committee is formed and it completes its analysis. Our first priority is to save those who are stranded and provide them immediate relief," Tamang told PTI.

Centre assures Sikkim of all possible help

The central government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is standing shoulder to shoulder with Sikkim, an official statement released by the Centre said. As per PTI, Chief Minister Tamang also said that he has spoken with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, President Droupadi Murmu and other Union ministers and discussed the situation. "They have assured me that all necessary assistance will be provided to the state," he said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah approves release of 44.8 crore to the state

Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah approved the release of Rs. 44.8 crore, an advance amount from the central share of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), to the flood-hit state. Shah approved release of both instalments of the fund's central share in advance for 2023-24 for the people affected in the flash floods.

MHA forms Inter-Ministerial Central Team for assessment of damage

As per the directive issued by Home Minister Shah, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has formed an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT). An official statement said that the team 2will visit the flood - affected areas of Sikkim to make an assessment of the damage caused due the GLOF, cloudburst and flash flood, PTI reported.

Previous study warned state government of severe flooding

A study conducted by the Central Water Commission in 2015 warned the state government that the hydropower projects on the Teesta river are highly vulnerable to such events, according to PTI. The study mentioned that a GLOF in glacial lakes could cause flash floods in rivers downstream. The study had also urged the state government to inform local bodies and hydropower project authorities about GLOFs.

Assam government sends senior officers to rescue 160 stranded students

The Assam government has sent senior officers to the flood-affected areas of Sikkim for the return of 160 students from Assam who remain stranded in the state. "Due to the situation in Sikkim, we have dispatched two senior officers to oversee the evacuation of our 160 students from Rongpo and Majitar as soon as possible," Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on X (formerly Twitter).

From the homepage