Gangtok: The death toll in the flash flood in Sikkim mounted to 26, including seven soldiers of the Indian Army and 143 remained missing, even as Sikkim authorities have started evacuating residents from the banks of Shako Cho lake, as the lake is one the verge of bursting n the northern part of the state.
Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang Golay said seven bodies of the 23 soldiers, who were missing from the Burdang area, were recovered from different areas downstream, while one was rescued and the search is on for 15 missing soldiers.
So far, 2,413 people have been evacuated and nearly 7,000 accommodated in relief camps, and over 22,000 people were affected by the flash flood triggered by the glacial lake burst in North Sikkim’s South Lhonak lake on October 4, the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority said.
On Thursday evening, Gangtok District Magistrate issued an advisory to evacuate residents from the river belt as the Shako Cho Lake, near Lachen is on the verge of bursting
The Shako Cho glacial lake is located near the village of Thangu. The lake is 1.3 km long and is located 12 km from Thangu.
The National Disaster Response Force, the Army, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Border Roads Organisation and Sikkim civil administration intensified their search and rescue operations through slushy earth and fast flowing water in the Teesta river for third day.
The Army has brought in additional resources in terms of teams of Tiranga Mountain Rescue, tracker dogs, and special radars have been brought in, to assist in the search operations.
“The search operation for the missing soldiers continues with the focus now on the downstream areas of Teesta Barrage,” a defence official said, adding that the army vehicles are being dug out and stores are being recovered at the site of the incident at Burdang near Singtam.
Moreover, the Indian Army has issued a statement advising people not to touch certain military equipment including firearms and explosives were carried away by the Teesta river, but inform the nearest police station if the firearms or explosives were spotted
The alert comes after two people died and six were injured after they tried to touch a mortar floating in the river in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister has announced an ex-gratia compensation of Rs. 4 lakh for the families of individuals who lost their lives in the flash flood and immediate relief of Rs. 2,000 has also been given to those in shelters.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has approved 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.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has constituted an Inter-Ministerial Central Team to assess damages caused due to a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) leading to a surge in flows in the Teesta river causing flash flood in Sikkim
