Sikkim Flash Flood Tragedy: Death Toll Climbs to 14, 102 Still Missing

GANGTOK: In a heart-wrenching disaster, the death toll has risen to 14, and 102 individuals, including 22 army personnel, remain missing following a catastrophic cloudburst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim. This natural calamity triggered a flash flood that has inundated the Teesta river basin, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake, as reported by officials on Thursday.

The Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) disclosed that, to date, 2,011 people have been successfully rescued. However, the disaster, which unfolded on Wednesday, has affected a staggering 22,034 individuals.

To address this crisis, the state government has established 26 relief camps across the four hardest-hit districts, according to SSDMA. As of now, 1,025 people are taking refuge in eight relief camps situated in Gangtok district, while the number of occupants in the remaining 18 relief camps is not yet available.

The flash flood in the Teesta river, resulting from the Lhonak Lake cloudburst, led to a substantial accumulation of water that eventually surged towards the Chungthang dam, causing extensive damage to the power infrastructure before rushing downstream. The ensuing floodwaters engulfed towns and villages along its path.

The disaster wreaked havoc on 11 bridges across the state, with Mangan district alone losing eight bridges. Namchi and Gangtok also suffered the loss of two and one bridge(s), respectively. Additionally, water pipelines, sewage lines, and a total of 277 houses, both makeshift and permanent structures, have been devastated in the four affected districts.

Chungthang town bore the brunt of the flood, with a staggering 80 percent of it severely impacted. Furthermore, the lifeline of the state, NH-10, suffered extensive damage at various locations.

According to SSDMA, seven fatalities occurred in Pakyong district, four in Mangan, and three in Gangtok. Of the 102 missing individuals, 59 are from Pakyong, including army personnel, while 22 are unaccounted for in Gangtok, 16 in Mangan, and five in Namchi. A total of 26 people sustained injuries during the calamity.

Lt. Col. Mahendra Rawat, a spokesperson for the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), stated that the BRO is actively assisting in rescue operations in Chungthang and Mangan, where four critical bridges have sustained severe damage. Despite continuous heavy rainfall and adverse weather conditions, more than 200 individuals have been relocated to safer areas by the BRO.

"Search and rescue operations for the missing army personnel are still ongoing," he added.

The disaster has left approximately 10,000 people affected in Mangan district, with 6,895 in Pakyong, 2,579 in Namchi, and 2,570 in Gangtok, underscoring the urgent need for relief and support in the affected areas.

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