23 Army Personnel Missing In Sikkim As Flash Flood Wreaks Havoc, Washes Away Military Vehicles & Roads
Srishti B Dutta | Oct 04, 2023, 10:03 IST
23 soldiers of the Indian army have been reported missing in Sikkim after a flash flood wreaked havoc in Sikkim. The Indian Army said on Wednesday that a powerful flash flood caused by intense rainfall tore through a valley in northeastern state of Sikkim. The flash flood occurred on Tuesday night in the river Teesta in Sikkim's Lachen valley.
23 soldiers of the Indian army have been reported missing in Sikkim, after a flash flood wreaked havoc in Sikkim. The Indian Army said on Wednesday that a powerful flash flood caused by intense rainfall tore through a valley in northeastern state of Sikkim.
The flash flood occurred on Tuesday night in the river Teesta in Sikkim's Lachen valley.
"Due to sudden cloud burst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim, a flash flood occurred in the Teesta River... 23 personnel have been reported missing and some vehicles are reported submerged under the slush," the army said in a statement.
![The Teesta River swells in Sikkim]()
Further, the release of water from Chungthang Dam exacerbated the situation, and the water level rose to as much as 15-20 feet high downstream.
Search operations are on for the 23 missing personnel.
There was also damage to several Army establishments along the Lachen Valley, the extent of which is yet to be assessed.
![Flash floods in Sikkim]()
This is how movement in Sikkim has been impacted due to flash floods:
- The Singtham footbridge over river Teesta collapsed due to the overflowing Teesta River.
- Several sections of National Highway 10 connecting West Bengal to Sikkim were washed away.
- Many roads were blocked.
The Sikkim government has sounded a high alert in the state. People have been asked to stay away from the Teesta river.
![High alert sounded in Sikkim after flash flood]()
Further, as a precautionary measure, the Jalpaiguri administration in West Bengal has started evacuating people from the lower catchment area of the river.
Earlier, on June 15, heavy rains and the subsequent flash flood in North Sikkim district had resulted in the submersion of National Highway 10 at Pegong.
Areas such as Lachen and Lachung were cut off from the rest of the state, and heavy damage to the highway's infrastructure cut off any movement.
The flash flood had left tourists stranded in the region, and the Army was called in for rescue operations.
For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
River suddenly flooded due to cloud burst in Sikkim😭😭
— KUMAR ANSHUL (@kumar_anshul123) October 4, 2023
23 army soldiers missing due to sudden flood🙏🏼🙏🏼
Praying to God for everyone's well being🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼#Sikkim#Sikkim#Sikkim#Sikkimpic.twitter.com/HpLfOEXkX3
The flash flood occurred on Tuesday night in the river Teesta in Sikkim's Lachen valley.
How did the flash flood occur, and what is the impact?
"Due to sudden cloud burst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim, a flash flood occurred in the Teesta River... 23 personnel have been reported missing and some vehicles are reported submerged under the slush," the army said in a statement.
Image credit : The Teesta River swells in Sikkim
Further, the release of water from Chungthang Dam exacerbated the situation, and the water level rose to as much as 15-20 feet high downstream.
Search operations are on for the 23 missing personnel.
There was also damage to several Army establishments along the Lachen Valley, the extent of which is yet to be assessed.
Image credit : Flash floods in Sikkim
This is how movement in Sikkim has been impacted due to flash floods:
- The Singtham footbridge over river Teesta collapsed due to the overflowing Teesta River.
- Several sections of National Highway 10 connecting West Bengal to Sikkim were washed away.
- Many roads were blocked.
How has the government responded?
The Sikkim government has sounded a high alert in the state. People have been asked to stay away from the Teesta river.
Image credit : High alert sounded in Sikkim after flash flood
Further, as a precautionary measure, the Jalpaiguri administration in West Bengal has started evacuating people from the lower catchment area of the river.
Recent flash flood in June
Earlier, on June 15, heavy rains and the subsequent flash flood in North Sikkim district had resulted in the submersion of National Highway 10 at Pegong.
Areas such as Lachen and Lachung were cut off from the rest of the state, and heavy damage to the highway's infrastructure cut off any movement.
The flash flood had left tourists stranded in the region, and the Army was called in for rescue operations.
For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
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