Sikkim flash floods: 30 dead, 118 missing, as army and NDRF search for survivors

A sudden cloud burst above Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim caused a devastating flash flood in the Teesta River, particularly in the Lachen Valley, on October 4th.

This natural disaster has claimed the lives of at least 30 individuals to date, while 118 people remain missing.

The flood worsened when water was released from the Chungthang dam.

Relief camps

• The Indian Army's TriShakti Corps has established a Help Centre/First Aid Camp at Bardang in Sikkim to assist civilians and stranded tourists.
• The Sikkim government has set up 18 relief centers in the areas that have suffered the most damage, including Singtam, Rangpo, Dikchu, and Adarsh Gaon.

Fatal Blast: Army mortar shell discovery in Jalpaiguri river

• Local people found an Army mortar shell that had come from Sikkim and got stuck in the river.
• A seven-year-old child lost their life, and five others sustained injuries when a mortar exploded in Chapadanga.The explosion occurred after some children discovered a mortar floating on the Teesta River and brought it to their home.
• Upon attempting to open it at home, the shell exploded, resulting in six injuries, including one child's fatality.
• Jalpaiguri MLA Pradeep Kumar Barma called it a very unfortunate situation.

Also Read: Why the Sikkim flash flood was a catastrophe waiting to happen

Search for missing Indian army personnel

• The search for the missing Indian Army personnel is ongoing, with added help from resources like Tiranga Mountain Rescue teams, tracker dogs, and special radars to aid in the search efforts.
• At the same time, the Indian Army is also providing support to civilians and tourists stranded in North Sikkim.

Chungthang relief efforts hindered by adverse weather

• Sikkim's Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang says the Chungthang dam was washed away due to poor construction.

• Bad weather prevented a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team from landing in Chungthang, one of the hardest-hit areas in northern Sikkim.

• The team was bringing communication equipment because Chungthang is currently isolated from the rest of the state.

• Many search and rescue teams are working all over the state, and places near the river are being extra cautious.

• Over 22,000 people have been impacted by the floods, and many of them are stuck in Lachen and Lachung in northern Sikkim.

• The floods have also caused problems with mobile phone signals in the area.

Bodies of 7 army personnel found

• The Chief Minister, PS Tamang, shared that they found the bodies of 7 army personnel, rescued 1, but 15 are still missing after the floods in the Burdang area.
• Businesses in hundreds of shops along NH-10 near Rambi in Kalimpong district have worsened due to a lack of customers, affecting the region's connectivity.

Loss of infrastructure

• Flash floods in Sikkim are causing significant damage to Teesta River hydroelectric projects.
• The flood's impact is felt 90 km downstream at the Teesta-V Dam.
• Floods have caused extensive damage to Sikkim's roads, leading to the collapse of 14 bridges.
• Nine of these bridges belong to the Border Roads Organization (BRO), and five are under the state government's control.
• The main link between Sikkim and the rest of the country, National Highway-10, has suffered damage.
• Water levels at the dam have surged 19 meters above the usual levels due to a sudden inflow increase.

What happened

• A flash flood in Sikkim, triggered by a cloudburst at Lhonak Lake, led to a sudden Teesta River water surge.
• The release of water from the Chungthang dam exacerbated the flood, resulting in water levels rising up to 15-20 feet.
• The flood emergency began at approximately 1.30 am, with the dam's water release compounding the situation.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has formed a team to assess the damage caused by a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) that led to a sudden rise in Teesta river flows and triggered a flash flood in Sikkim on October 4.

Helpline numbers

The Indian Army issued some helpline numbers in the wake of flash floods in Sikkim.

Army Helpline for East Sikkim - 8756991895

Army Helpline No for North Sikkim - 8750887741

Army Helpline for missing persons - 7588302011

Read More: In Sikkim flash flood, 3000 tourists stranded, and scary new images of Lhonak Lake