Fourteen people have died and 102 others, including 22 army personnel, were missing after the cloudburst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim triggered a flash flood in the Teesta river basin, officials said on Thursday. Pics/PTI and AFP
Updated On: 2023-10-05 02:22 PM IST
Compiled by : Asif Ali Sayed
So far, 2,011 people have been rescued, while the calamity that happened on Wednesday affected 22,034 people, the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) said in its latest bulletin
The state government has set up 26 relief camps in the four affected districts, it said
A total of 1,025 people are taking shelter in the eight relief camps in Gangtok district, while the number of inmates at the 18 other relief camps was not available immediately
Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang visited Singtam, one of the worst affected areas, and took stock of the situation
He urged the people to stay alert and take shelter in safe locations, and assured that the government is making all necessary arrangements for their rehabilitation
After visiting the affected areas, Tamang also chaired an emergency meeting at the Singtam Community Centre
"I want to assure you that the government is fully committed to providing all necessary assistance and relief to those in need. We understand the magnitude of the situation and are mobilising all available resources to ensure the safety and well-being of our citizens," he said
"Our dedicated teams are working day and night to address the immediate concerns and challenges posed by this calamity. I urge the administration, local authorities, all organisations, and individuals to join hands in a spirit of solidarity and cooperation. Together, we can make a significant difference in providing relief to those affected and rebuilding our communities," he added
The flash flood in the Teesta river, triggered by the cloudburst in Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim, caused accumulation of huge quantity of water, which turned towards Chungthang dam destroying the power infrastructure before moving downstream in spate, flooding towns and villages