The death toll in the flash flood in Sikkim has mounted to 22 with authorities on alert as the Shako Cho glacial lake near Lachen in Mangan district shows signs of bursting which could result in further tragedy. As per authorities, a breach warning is in place as an abnormal increase in glacial temperature has been recorded above Shako Cho, which could prompt a sudden discharge of water into the lake.
As a precautionary measure, authorities are evacuating residents from the banks of Shako Cho. So far, the entire Golitar area in Singtam in Gangtok district, Dikchu in Mangan district, and Rangpo IBM area in Pakyong district have been cleared by the authorities, according to a report by NDTV.
Glacial Lake Breach Warning
According to Gangtok district magistrate Tushare Nikhare, satellite data showed an abnormal increase in temperature above the glacial lake.
It won’t be an issue if the temperature stabilises. However, as a precautionary measure, an evacuation advisory has been issued, the officer said
“Since silt has been deposited, any sudden discharge of water will be at an elevated level over deposited debris and can cause damage,” Nikhare was quoted as saying in the NDTV report.
Mortar Shell Carried by Floodwaters Explodes In West Bengal
A mortar shell, reportedly carried by the floodwaters of the Teesta River, exploded in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri on Thursday night, killing at least two persons and injuring four others. The mortar shell is believed to belong to the Army, which was carried away by floodwaters flowing down from the hills following the cloudburst and flash floods in Sikkim on Wednesday.
Due to flash floods following the cloudburst on Wednesday, military equipment, including firearms and explosives were washed away by the floodwater in the Teesta river.
Rescue Op Underway
Meanwhile, Army and NDRF teams are working their way through slushy earth and fast-flowing water in the Teesta river basin and downstream north Bengal for the third day in search of those who were swept away and are still missing.
A total of 103 people, including the 15 jawans, remained missing after a cloudburst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim in the early hours of Wednesday triggered the flash flood, according to the State Disaster Management Authority.
Of the 23 army personnel who were missing from Burdang area, the bodies of seven have been recovered from different areas downstream while one was rescued, Chief Minister P S Tamang said.
Of the civilian deaths, six were reported in Gangtok, and four each in Mangan and Pakyong. A total of 103 people were missing after the incident. Of them, 59 people were reported missing in Pakyong, 22 in Gangtok, 17 in Mangan and five in Namchi.
At the site of the incident at Burdang near Singtam, the army vehicles are being dug out and stores are being recovered. Additional resources in terms of teams of TMR (Tiranga Mountain Rescue), tracker dogs, and special radars have been brought in, to assist in the search operations.
Twenty-six people have suffered injuries and were undergoing treatment at various hospitals across Sikkim.
So far, 2,411 people have been evacuated and accommodated at relief camps, while the calamity has affected over 22,000 people, the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) said in its latest bulletin.
Over 3,000 Tourists Stranded
Chief Secretary V B Pathak said that he was informed by officials of the Army’s 27th Mountain Division that the tourists who were stranded in Lachen, Lachung and adjoining regions in North Sikkim are safe. According to estimates, over 3,000 tourists, including foreigners, are stuck in various parts of Sikkim.
Meanwhile, Troops of TriShakti Corps Indian Army have been able to take account of 1471 tourists present in the areas of Lachen/Chatten, Lachung, and Chungthang.
Pathak said that the Army activated their telecommunication facility and got many tourists to speak to their worried family members.
The evacuation of the stranded tourists was a priority and it has been decided to airlift them up to Mangan, from where they will be brought to Sikkim by road. The Chief Secretary said if the weather holds good, the stranded tourists in Lachen and Lachung will be evacuated from Friday.
NDRF platoons are also ready in North Sikkim to start the evacuation process for the local people.
A survey is also being carried out by all agencies to assess the damage and plan restoration of road connectivity. The road link between Singtam and Burdang has been restored with the clearing of a single lane for vehicular traffic.
Water, Electricity Infrastructure Restored
Referring to the situation in Singtam town, hit badly by swelling in the Teesta river, Pathak said that the restoration of water and electricity infrastructure has been completed in Singtam and IBM, the industrial belt nearby.
The flash flood in the Teesta River, triggered by the cloudburst in Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim, caused an accumulation of a huge quantity of water, which turned towards Chungthang dam destroying the power infrastructure before moving downstream in spate, flooding towns and villages.
Centre to Assess Damage to Hydropower Plants After Flood Water Recedes
The central government will make a detailed assessment of damage to hydropower projects in Sikkim after the flood water recedes, the Ministry of Power said on Thursday.
The state-owned hydro power giant NHPC is taking all possible measures to get the hydropower projects operational at the earliest, the ministry said, adding that the Ministry of Power is continuously monitoring the situation arising out of flash floods in Teesta Basin.
Due to flash floods in the Teesta Basin on the intervening night of 3rd and 4th October 2023, all the bridges downstream to Teesta-V Hydropower Station up to Tarkhola/ Pamphok have been submerged/ washed out thus severely affecting commutation and communication in these areas.
The flood water overtopped the Dam of Teesta V Power Station (510 MW). All connecting roads to the project sites as well as parts of the residential colony have been severely damaged.
Presently, the power station is under shutdown and not generating electricity. NHPC has timely evacuated manpower from all its projects and ensured that they are shifted to safer places. However, one casualty was reported from the Teesta V power station.
Ongoing works of under construction hydro project Teesta VI (500 MW) of NHPC have also been disrupted. The flood water had entered the powerhouse and transformer cavern. Bridges connecting the right and left banks at the barrage as well as the Power House have also been washed out.
Sikkim Govt Asks Centre’s Help
Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang wrote to the prime minister, and sought necessary support, especially for areas that needed immediate intervention.
The flood destroyed 11 bridges in the state, of which eight bridges were washed away in Mangan district alone. Two bridges were destroyed in Namchi and one in Gangtok. Water pipelines, sewage lines and 277 houses, both kuchcha and concrete, have been destroyed in the four affected districts.
About 10,000 people have been affected by the calamity in the Mangan district, while 6,895 people were affected in Pakyong, 2,579 in Namchi and 2,570 people in Gangtok.
The Central Government has, meanwhile, assured all possible help to the Government of Sikkim. Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah has approved the release of both the installments of Central Share of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to Sikkim, amounting to Rs 44.80 crore in advance, for the year 2023-24, to help the State in providing relief measures to the affected people.
