Cloudburst flash flood washes away 8 major bridges, 5 dead, 23 Army men went missing in Sikkim
Release of water from Chungthang dam leads to sudden increase in water levels up to 15-20 feet high downstream
Five persons died and 23 Army personnel went missing on Wednesday after a cloudburst over Lhonak Lake in north Sikkim triggered a flash flood in the Teesta River basin, officials said.
The flood that started around 1.30 am was made worse by the release of water from Chungthang dam, they said.
The flood that started around 1.30 am was made worse by the release of water from Chungthang dam, they said.
Five bodies have been recovered from Golitar and Singtam region, while three persons were rescued from Golitar,” Gangtok Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Mahendra Chettri said.
“A steel bridge at Singtam, known as Indreni bridge, 30 km from the state capital Gangtok has been completely washed away by Teesta river water early on Wednesday,” another official said.
5 dead, 23 Army men go missing as cloudburst triggers flash flood in Sikkim
Release of water from Chungthang dam leads to sudden increase in water levels up to 15-20 feet high downstreet,
5 dead, 23 Army men go missing as cloudburst triggers flash flood in Sikkim a flash flood occurred in the Teesta River in Lachen valley.
Gangtok, October 4, Five persons died and 23 Army personnel went missing on Wednesday after a cloudburst over Lhonak Lake in north Sikkim triggered a flash flood in the Teesta River basin, officials said.
The flood that started around 1.30 am was made worse by the release of water from Chungthang dam, they said.
“Five bodies have been recovered from Golitar and Singtam region, while three persons were rescued from Golitar,” Gangtok Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Mahendra Chettri said.
“A steel bridge at Singtam, known as Indreni bridge, 30 km from the state capital Gangtok has been completely washed away by Teesta river water early on Wednesday,” another official said.
Due to a sudden cloud burst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim, a flash flood occurred in Teesta River in Lachen Valley. Some army establishments along the valley have been affected and efforts are on to confirm details. 23 personnel have been reported missing and some vehicles are… pic.twitter.com/nDUTaHiWDj
— ANI (@ANI) October 4, 2023
The Sikkim government, in a notification, said the natural calamity has been declared as a disaster.
The release of water from the Chungthang dam led to a sudden increase in water levels up to 15-20 feet high downstream, defence spokesperson Lt Col Mahendra Rawat said.
“Twenty-three Army personnel have been reported missing and 41 vehicles submerged under the slush,” he said.
Another two bridges of Baluatar and Lanco Hydel power project have also been collapsed.
District administration had set up numbers of relief camps where hundreds of people are taking shelter, the official said.