Cloudburst in Sikkim

23 Armymen missing..

Gangtok: After a cloudburst caused flash floods along the Teesta River, 23 Army men are missing in Sikkim. The Army has said that a large search has been conducted to find the missing soldiers. 

The Eastern Command of the Army has reported that certain facilities in the Lachen valley have been impacted. They mentioned that the discharge of water from the Chungthang dam caused a rapid surge in water levels downstream, reaching heights of 15-20 feet. Consequently, this situation has had an adverse effect on Army vehicles stationed at Bardang near Singtam.

Currently, 23 personnel are unaccounted for, and several vehicles are believed to be submerged in the muck. Search and rescue operations are currently in progress to locate the missing individuals and recover the submerged vehicles.

During the night, Sikkim experienced intense rainfall. A cloudburst near Lhonak Lake in northern Sikkim resulted in its overflow, subsequently raising the water levels in the Teesta River. The Teesta River flows through both Sikkim and West Bengal before entering Bangladesh.

Residents in Sikkim have been put on high alert by the local administration. Videos filmed and shared by local residents vividly display roads being swept away and the river surging with force.

"Fortunately, there have been no injuries, but there has been substantial damage to public infrastructure. Additionally, there are reports of missing individuals in Singtam. Relief efforts are currently underway," stated Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang during his visit to an affected region.

As per the India Meteorological Department, the Teesta River has experienced increased water levels due to the overflow of a lake in Chungthang, Sikkim. The weather office issued a cautionary statement, highlighting the vulnerability of low-lying areas such as Gazoldoba, Domohani, Mekhaliganj, and Ghish. They advised residents to remain on high alert.