Flash Floods and Landslides Hit Sikkim, Causing Widespread Devastation
As many as 43 individuals, including army personnel and civilians, are reported missing following a glacial lake outburst at South Lhonak Lake in North West Sikkim. This natural disaster, triggered by incessant rainfall, led to flash floods that caused significant damage to properties, with over 150 houses affected in the Industrial Belt (IBM) area at Rangpo, situated along the banks of the River Teesta. The flash flood, which swept through River Teesta, resulted in the loss of the Indreni Bridge in Singtam town and the destruction of a connecting bridge in the Balutar hamlet. Educational institutions, including the Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology and the Advanced Technical Training Centre, also reported flash floods entering their premises. Efforts to rescue and evacuate affected individuals are currently underway, with relief camps set up in Rangpo to provide support. The Teesta Stage 3 Dam in Chungthang town and the Teesta Stage 5 dam at Dikchu in Mangan district have been closely monitored, and local residents have been evacuated as a precautionary measure. The control room of the Teesta Stage 5 dam sustained severe damage. The disaster has prompted calls for unity and assistance to overcome the destruction, with authorities and local communities mobilizing to address the crisis.