Voice 9, North-East Bureau and PTI: At least ten
people have tragically lost their lives, and an additional 80 individuals,
including 22 army personnel, are currently unaccounted for following a
cloudburst over Lhonak Lake in north Sikkim. This cloudburst has resulted in a
flash flood in the Teesta River basin, as confirmed by officials.
The deceased individuals, all civilians, have
been identified, with three of them being discovered in north Bengal. It is
worth noting that one of the 23 missing army personnel was successfully rescued
later in the day. According to officials, the flood in Sikkim, which commenced
at approximately 1:30 a.m., was further exacerbated by the release of water
from the Chungthang dam.
Reports indicate that over 3,000 tourists from
various regions of the country are currently stranded in different parts of
Sikkim. V. B. Pathak, the Chief Secretary of Sikkim, has acknowledged this
situation. Furthermore, downstream areas of North Bengal have also been
severely impacted, as the swollen Teesta River has inundated sections of
Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Cooch Behar, and Jalpaiguri districts.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has
stated that 10,000 individuals have been rescued and are currently being
accommodated in 190 relief camps across nine districts in the southern and
northern regions of the state. Additionally, numerous workers employed at the
Teesta Stage III dam in Chungthang find themselves stranded within the dam's
tunnels, as mentioned by Pathak.
Rajeev Bhattacharya, 25, a tourist from
Kolkata who was on a trek from Gangtok towards Singtem, told PTI over phone:
"We saw a huge wave of water rushing at great speed through the valley and
mangled remains of structures being swept away. Luckily, my friends and I were
on high ground and not affected by the flash flood. We are now making our way
back to Gangtok."
The Chief Secretary of Sikkim has highlighted
the extensive damage inflicted upon the road infrastructure due to the flooding.
Specifically, 14 bridges have collapsed, with nine belonging to the Border
Roads Organisation (BRO) and the remaining five under the state government's
jurisdiction.
As previously mentioned, downstream areas of
North Bengal have also been severely affected, with sections of Darjeeling,
Kalimpong, Cooch Behar, and Jalpaiguri districts being inundated by the swollen
Teesta river.
There have been reports of numerous individuals
missing and injured in Chungthang, Mangan district, as well as Dikchu, Singtam
in Gangtok district, and Rangpo in Pakyong district, according to Pathak.
Another official stated that a total of 166 people have been rescued thus far,
including army personnel. "
The health condition of the rescued soldier is
currently stable," stated Defence Spokesperson Lt Col Mahendra Rawat.
Rescue personnel have recovered bodies, including that of a child, from the
flood plains of the Teesta River at Golitar in Singtam, as reported by
officials.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Chief
Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Wednesday to assess the situation in the state and
assured him of all possible assistance. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also
expressed his prayers for the well-being of the missing army personnel. The
Sikkim government has officially declared the natural calamity a disaster.
According to the defense spokesperson, the release of water from the Chungthang
dam resulted in a sudden increase in water levels downstream, reaching heights
of 15-20 feet.
"Twenty-two army personnel have been
reported missing, and 41 vehicles have been submerged under the slush," he
added. A defense official stated that all other Indian Army personnel stationed
in Sikkim and North Bengal are safe, although they are currently unable to
contact their family members due to disruptions in mobile communication.
"Teesta river water has completely washed
away the Indreni bridge, also known as the steel bridge, located 30 km from the
state capital Gangtok in Singtam," stated another official from the Sikkim
government. Furthermore, several towns situated in the Teesta basin, including
Dikchu, Singtam, and Rangpo, have also experienced flooding due to the surge in
the river. Meanwhile, the education department has announced the closure of all
schools in Mangan, Gangtok, Pakyong, and Namchi districts until October 8.
Photo Credit: PTI
