Update on the Cloudburst Incident in Sikkim

14 dead, 102 missing

On October 4, a tragic event occurred as a cloudburst over Lhonak Lake in north Sikkim led to the loss of at least fourteen lives. Additionally, 102 individuals, among them 22 army personnel, were reported missing due to the flash flood it triggered in the Teesta River basin, according to officials.

The cloudburst-induced lake outburst incident also led to the breach of the Chungthang dam, which happens to be the largest hydropower project in the state.

Sikkim flood Updates:

The National Remote Sensing Centre, an institution under ISRO, carried out a satellite-based study of the South Lhonak lake outburst in Sikkim. They obtained sequential satellite images, one before and one after the incident (specifically, images from September 28, 2023, and October 4, 2023). According to a statement from ISRO released on Wednesday, their analysis confirmed that the lake had burst, resulting in the drainage of approximately 105 hectares of land. This significant drainage is believed to have played a role in the subsequent flash flood downstream.

Cloudbursts and Their Link to Climate Change:

The National Disaster Management Authority stated on Wednesday that the flash flood in Sikkim might have been caused by a blend of excessive rainfall and a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) event at South Lhonak lake in North Sikkim. This situation prompts a closer examination of cloudbursts and their potential connection to climate change.