India searches for 23 missing soldiers as flash floods hit northeastern India
At least 10 people killed and 82 missing after heavy rainfall causes floods in parts of India’s Sikkim state
04 October 2023 - 19:14
bySubrata Nag Choudhury and Zarir Hussain
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
A general view shows flooding after torrential rains slammed the city, in the Bellandur district, Bengaluru, Karnataka state, India. Picture: REUTERS/NITIN KUMAR SRIVASTAVA
Guwahati/New Delhi — At least ten people were killed in India’s state of Sikkim and 82 others, including 23 army personnel, were missing after heavy rainfall caused the glacial Lhonak lake to overflow, spurring flooding in the region on Wednesday, officials said.
The northeastern state received 40.9mm of rainfall between Tuesday and Wednesday morning, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) — almost five times its normal rate of 8.6mm for this time of the year.
“So far, 10 bodies have been recovered from different locations. At least 82 more are missing and 22 people are injured, some of them seriously,” Sikkim chief secretary VB Pathak said.
A cloudburst — or an extreme amount of rain over a brief period of time — over Lhonak lake triggered the torrential flooding in the valley located about 150km north of Gangtok near the border with China.
“Intense rain has led to this catastrophic situation in Sikkim where the rain has triggered a glacial lake outburst flood and damaged a dam and caused loss of life and caused further damage to roads and infrastructure,” said Miriam Jackson, a senior cryosphere specialist at the Nepal-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development.
Heavy rainfall hampered the search for the Indian troops reported missing, with the capital city of Gangtok cut off by road, defence officials said.
“Twenty three personnel have been reported missing and some vehicles are reported submerged under the slush. Search operations are under way,” a defence ministry spokesperson said.
India’s weather department has warned of landslides and disruption to flights as heavy rain is predicted to continue over the next two days in some parts of Sikkim.
Jackson warned that such extreme events have become more frequent “as the climate continues to warm and takes us into unknown territory”.
The main highway linking Sikkim to West Bengal state had collapsed and Gangtok was totally cut off by road, according to army spokesperson Anjan Basumatary.
About 15,000 people living in the vicinity are likely to be affected and at least eight major bridges have been washed away along the banks of the Teesta river, officials said.
Media showed images of the river lashing through the hills and entering residential areas.
Some army bases and facilities along the valley were affected and rising water submerged vehicles following the release of water from a dam, a defence ministry spokesperson based in the neighbouring city of Guwahati said.
Intermittent rain and thunderstorms were hampering rescue operations in the area, an army official said on condition of anonymity.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
India searches for 23 missing soldiers as flash floods hit northeastern India
At least 10 people killed and 82 missing after heavy rainfall causes floods in parts of India’s Sikkim state
Guwahati/New Delhi — At least ten people were killed in India’s state of Sikkim and 82 others, including 23 army personnel, were missing after heavy rainfall caused the glacial Lhonak lake to overflow, spurring flooding in the region on Wednesday, officials said.
The northeastern state received 40.9mm of rainfall between Tuesday and Wednesday morning, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) — almost five times its normal rate of 8.6mm for this time of the year.
“So far, 10 bodies have been recovered from different locations. At least 82 more are missing and 22 people are injured, some of them seriously,” Sikkim chief secretary VB Pathak said.
A cloudburst — or an extreme amount of rain over a brief period of time — over Lhonak lake triggered the torrential flooding in the valley located about 150km north of Gangtok near the border with China.
“Intense rain has led to this catastrophic situation in Sikkim where the rain has triggered a glacial lake outburst flood and damaged a dam and caused loss of life and caused further damage to roads and infrastructure,” said Miriam Jackson, a senior cryosphere specialist at the Nepal-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development.
Heavy rainfall hampered the search for the Indian troops reported missing, with the capital city of Gangtok cut off by road, defence officials said.
“Twenty three personnel have been reported missing and some vehicles are reported submerged under the slush. Search operations are under way,” a defence ministry spokesperson said.
India’s weather department has warned of landslides and disruption to flights as heavy rain is predicted to continue over the next two days in some parts of Sikkim.
Jackson warned that such extreme events have become more frequent “as the climate continues to warm and takes us into unknown territory”.
The main highway linking Sikkim to West Bengal state had collapsed and Gangtok was totally cut off by road, according to army spokesperson Anjan Basumatary.
About 15,000 people living in the vicinity are likely to be affected and at least eight major bridges have been washed away along the banks of the Teesta river, officials said.
Media showed images of the river lashing through the hills and entering residential areas.
Some army bases and facilities along the valley were affected and rising water submerged vehicles following the release of water from a dam, a defence ministry spokesperson based in the neighbouring city of Guwahati said.
Intermittent rain and thunderstorms were hampering rescue operations in the area, an army official said on condition of anonymity.
Reuters
Typhoon Koinu bears down on Taiwan
Libya flood deaths expose climate chasm
Swiss glaciers have lost 10% of volume in past two years
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
MICHAEL FRIDJHON: Cry the beloved winelands
Australian state swings from flames to floods in 24 hours
WANDILE SIHLOBO: Floods wreak havoc in Western Cape as impact on grapes remains ...
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.