22 Army Jawans Missing in Sikkim Floods
On October 4, 2023, a cloudburst in Sikkim caused flash floods, resulting in casualties, stranded tourists, and relief efforts, possibly linked to a prior earthquake in Nepal.
On 4th October 2023, in Sikkim, there was a cloudburst over Lhonak Lake which led to flash floods. At least 14 people have died while 102 others, including 23 army personnel, went missing. One of the army personnel was rescued later. The floods have affected more than 22,000 people. So far over 2000 people have been rescued. After the tragedy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang to take stock of the situation and assured him of all possible support. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also prayed for the well-being of the missing army personnel. The flash flood in the Teesta River caused an accumulation of a huge quantity of water in the Chungthang Dam and then moved downstream, flooding towns and villages. The flood situation worsened as the water from the Chungthang dam was released. Due to this, over 3,000 tourists from various parts of the country were reported to be stranded in different parts of Sikkim. Several workers employed with the Teesta Stage III dam in Chungthang were also stranded in tunnels of the dam. Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang visited Singtam, urged the people to stay alert and take shelter in safe locations and assured that the government is making all necessary arrangements for their rehabilitation. The state government set up many relief camps. Several teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were pressed in for rescue and relief operations. Efforts were also underway to dig out vehicles submerged under the slush. 14 bridges collapsed, parts of National Highway-10, the main link between Sikkim and the rest of the country, were washed away. The Education department said that schools located in several districts will remain closed till 8th October. Petrol and diesel had already become scarce in the capital Gangtok but food was easily available. To deal with the shortage of ration and other essentials, the state government decided to construct Bailey Bridge with help from the Army and National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL). As the search and rescue operations continued, the Indian Army extended medical aid and telephone connectivity to tourists and locals stranded in different parts of the state. Scientists are exploring whether the strong earthquake that struck Nepal on 3rd October is responsible for cloudburst.
