Gangtok: Five dead bodies have been recovered, even as search and rescue efforts are on to trace missing people following the flash floods triggered by cloudburst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim late on Tuesday night, officials said on Wednesday.
Over two -dozen Indian Army troopers are reportedly missing in the flash flood and some Army vehicles parked at Bardang near Singtam have also submerged under the slush. Sikkim’s capital Gangtok has been cut off by road.
“Five bodies have been recovered from Golitar, Singtam while three persons were rescued alive from the same spot,” a government official said.
“All affected people residing in Singtam area have been evacuated to safer grounds while residents of Dikchu village along the river belt have been evacuated to a nearby school,” the official said.
Four relief camps have been set up at Singtam and about 270 people have been shifted to the relief camp at Singtam Senior Secondary School. 150 people are rescued and sheltered in relief camp at Dikchu.
A substantial portion of the Chungthang Dam, the biggest hydropower project in Sikkim, has been washed away by the flood.
A steel bridge at Singtam in Gangtok district has been completely washed away by Teesta river water early on Wednesday.
A defence official said the release of water from the Chungthang dam led to a sudden increase in water level upto 15-20 feet high downstream.
The raging river water also swept away sections of the National Highway-10 in Melli, a border town of Sikkim-West Bengal.
The government has alerted people residing in the low-lying areas especially Sangkalang, Bringbong, Ohidang, Dikchu, Makha, Singtam, Rangpo and Melli to move towards safer locations.
Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang Golap, visited the affected areas in Singtam this morning and took stock of the situation. He appealed to the people to ensure their safety first.
Tamang met the people of Singtam Bazar and Golitar areas and met the affected citizens. He urged the people to stay alert and take shelter in safe locations for now.
The Chief Minister has assured the people that the government is making all necessary arrangements for evacuation and safe rehabilitation.
