Lagatar24 Desk
Gangtok, Oct 4: Officials have reported that three persons died and 23 army personnel are currently missing following a flash flood in the Teesta River of Lachen Valley. The flood was triggered by an abrupt cloudburst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim.
The Defence Public Relations Officer (PRO) Guwahati reported the occurrence on X and posted, “23 army personnel have been reported missing due to a flash flood that occurred in Teesta River in Lachen Valley after a sudden cloud burst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim.”
Providing information about the incident, the Gangtok District Administration stated, “The flash flood made its way through River Teesta sweeping Indreni Bridge in Singtam town, some 30 kilometres from Gangtok. A connecting bridge of the Balutar hamlet was also swept away around 4 am.”
In the early hours of Wednesday morning, a cloud burst caused nonstop monsoon rainfall on South Lhonark Lake in North West Sikkim.
Gangtok District Administration informed that the swift flash flood travelled down the River Teesta, resulting in the sweeping away of the Indreni Bridge located in Singtam town, which is situated roughly 30 kilometres from Gangtok. Additionally, at around 4 am, another connecting bridge in the Balutar hamlet was also carried away by the flood.
According to details provided by the Mangan District Administration, the Teesta Stage 3 Dam is located in Chungthang town, some 90 kilometres north of Gangtok. In response to a heightened state of alert, the inhabitants of the region have been evacuated.
“Similarly, the Teesta Stage 5 dam at Dikchu in Mangan district was opened up for water disbursement after a high alert. It is reported that the control room of the dam has been severely damaged,” they informed.
In Gangtok’s Singtam, many homes close to the River Teesta have been evacuated. Officials added that the town’s Singtam Senior Secondary School has created temporary relief facilities.
