As many as 23 army jawans have been reported missing after a flash
flood occurred in the Teesta River of Lachen Valley due to a sudden cloud burst
over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim, said officials.
The Defence Public Relations Officer (PRO) Guwahati informed, “Twenty
three 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.”
Giving information about the outburst, the Gangtok District
Administration said, “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.”
South Lhonark Lake, situated in North West Sikkim, had seen a cloud
burst causing incessant monsoon rainfall during the early hours of Wednesday.
The flowing flash flood made its way through River Teesta sweeping
Indreni Bridge in Singtam town, some 30 kilometres from Gangtok informed
Gangtok District Administration. Another connecting bridge of Balutar hamlet
was also swept away around 4 am.
As per information from Mangan District Administration, Chungthang
town, some 90 kilometres north of Gangtok, houses the Teesta Stage 3 dam. Upon
high alert, the local residents have been evacuated in the area.
“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.
Many homes near the River Teesta, situated in Gangtok’s Singtam
have been evacuated. Additionally, temporary relief facilities have been
established in the town’s Singtam Senior Secondary School, added officials.
ANI
