Assam: Students Stranded in Flood-Hit Sikkim Safely Return Home

GUWAHATI: Stranded students from Assam who were caught in the flood-ravaged areas of Sikkim have been successfully evacuated and returned to their home state, according to recent reports.

The operation involved the deployment of six buses from the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) to transport the students safely back to Guwahati. The majority of these students were reportedly enrolled at Sikkim Manipal University.

Earlier today, the Assam Chief Minister's Office confirmed the arrival of Assam government officials in Sikkim to oversee and facilitate the evacuation process.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had previously announced on October 6 that two senior officers were dispatched to manage the evacuation of 160 stranded students from Sikkim's Rongpo and Majitar areas.

CM Sarma took to platform X to state, "Due to the situation in Sikkim, we have dispatched two senior officers to oversee the evacuation of our 160 students from Rongpo and Majitar as soon as possible."

As per reports, approximately 130 students from Assam who were studying in the Himalayan state of Sikkim have returned to Assam. On Monday morning, Assam's Education Minister, Ranoj Pegu, welcomed these students. They were brought back from Sikkim by a team of Assam government officials led by Samir Sinha, the Principal Secretary to the Assam Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, the body of Mitu Kalita, a jawan of the Indian army who died in the recent flash floods in Sikkim, was brought to his native village, Hatkhola,near Ananda Bazar in the Baksa district, today. Mitu was on training in West Sikkim at the time of the disaster. On behalf of the State Government, Cabinet Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass paid floral tribute to the jawan, along with the officials of the Army, the Assam Police, and the local people. In the evening, the body was consigned to flames with military honour.

The flash floods occurred after the Lhonak glacier in the Sikkim Himalayas burst, leading to increased water levels in the Teesta River. The 1200 MW dam Teesta Stage III hydel power project in Chungthang village was commissioned in 2017.

The Sikkim Chief Minister has declared a relief package, allocating Rs 25 crore for Mangan District and Rs 15 crore each for the districts of Gangtok, Pakyong, and Namchi, in addition to aid from the state and central governments. Families of the deceased will receive an ex gratia payment of Rs 4 lakh, and those sheltering in relief camps will receive temporary relief of Rs 2000 each.

Also Read: Sikkim disaster victim jawan cremated in Baksa district

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