3 dead, 23 army personnel missing in Sikkim flash flood, NH10 washed away

A sudden cloud burst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim on Wednesday, October 4, triggered a flash flood, resulting in the death of three and disappearance of 23 Indian Army personnel.

"Three bodies have been recovered from Teesta Barrage. They are yet to be identified," West Bengal Chief Secretary HK Dwivedi told news agency ANI.

The flash flood wreaked havoc in the Teesta River in Lachen valley, affecting numerous army establishments along its course.

What happened

The flood originated from a cloudburst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim, causing an abrupt surge in the Teesta River's water levels. The situation worsened with the release of water from the Chungthang dam, leading to a rapid rise in water levels downstream, reaching a height of 15-20 feet, as per reports from India Today.

This has led to the the disappearance of 23 army personnel and submersion of army vehicles parked at Bardang near Singtam.

Search operations are currently underway to locate and rescue the missing individuals.

Lhonak Lake is one of 14 lakes in India that are potentially prone to Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). GLOFs are caused by the sudden release of water from a glacial lake, and can be extremely destructive.

Roads washed away, bridges collapse

The flash flood has caused significant damage to several sections of National Highway 10, the crucial link connecting West Bengal to Sikkim.

Several sections of National Highway 10 were washed away and many roads were blocked or unserviceable.

Chungthang in Mangan district was cut off after the Toong bridge collapsed, according to the State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA). Six people have been reported missing after several houses in Phidang and Dikchu were washed away.

Over 500 people have been evacuated and shifted to relief camps in Namchi district.

High alert across the state

In response to this crisis, the Sikkim government has declared a high alert state-wide, urging residents to steer clear of the Teesta River. Furthermore, the Singtham footbridge over the Teesta River has collapsed due to the overflow.

Simultaneously, the Jalpaiguri administration in West Bengal has initiated the evacuation of residents from the lower catchment area of the river as a precautionary measure.