Gangtok: The death toll in Sikkim flash floods has climbed to 14 while more than 100 people, including 22 soldiers of the Indian Army, remained missing after a cloudburst over the Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim triggering flash flood in the Teesta River in Lachen Valley on Wednesday, a government official said on Thursday.
One out of the 23 missing soldiers has been rescued and his condition is stable, a defence official said.
A Sikkim government official expects the death toll to climb amid desperate search and rescue operations.
The Sikkim government has declared the calamity a Disaster Management Act.
“As of now, the death toll stands at 14, 26 people have been injured so far, while more than 100 people, including 22 soldiers of the Indian Army are missing and over 2,000 people have been evacuated to safer grounds so far,” the official said.
Apart from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Border Roads Organisation, and Sikkim civil administration are continuing with their search and rescue operations.
Moreover, search and rescue operation by troops of Trishakti Corps, Indian Army have been intensified to trace the 22 missing soldiers continues.
“The search for the missing persons is now focussing in the areas downstream of Teesta River. Continued efforts are on to dig out the vehicles submerged under the slush at Burdang near Singtam,” a defence official said.
Dzongu in North Sikkim is now totally cut-off from the rest of Sikkim as the two main connecting bridges – Phidang bridge and Sangakhlang bridge and a steel bridge at Singtam in Gangtok district were washed away by the raging Teesta River.
“Since Chungthang, Lachen and Lachung are totally inaccessible and cut-off from the rest of the State, restoration of telecommunication will be carried out at war footing. The Central government would be providing satellite phones to facilitate communication, as an immediate relief,” the official said.
He said restoration of NH-10 in Melli, a border town of Sikkim-West Bengal, which was also swept away by the swirling water of river Teesta , will be the most important consideration.
“The central government has issued instructions to the West Bengal government, BRO, and NHIDCL for restoration of NH-10,” the official said.
