Houses stand half-submerged in the Flooded Teesta river in North Sikkim on October 4. An unexpected cloudburst over Lhonak Lake triggered a swift flood in the Teesta River, affecting Lachen valley. (IANS Photo)
Gangtok/New Delhi, October 4 (MExN): A cloudburst-induced water surge that occurred in the early hours of October 4 has caused extensive damage to life and property in four districts of Sikkim, including the breakdown of road networks and communication in the Himalayan State.
According to the 'Cumulative Report' updated by the Government of Sikkim, as of 10 PM, the natural calamity has resulted in the death of 14 persons, with 102 reported missing. Additionally, it caused injuries to 26 others.
The worst affected district was Pakyong, where 7 deaths were reported, and 59 individuals, including 23 army personnel, were missing. Twenty-one injuries were also reported from the district, informed by the update issued by the Secretary-Cum-State Relief Commissioner of the Land Revenue & Disaster Management Department, Sikkim.
It was followed by Mangan with 4 casualties and 16 missing individuals.
In Gangtok district, 3 persons lost their lives, while 33 were missing. A total of 3 individuals were also reportedly injured.
Five people were reported missing in Namchi district.
Meanwhile, the cloudburst, now declared a disaster by the State Government, has affected approximately 22,034 people, stated the update. By 10 PM on Wednesday, around 2,011 people had been evacuated. A total of 22 relief camps have been set up by the State Government in the four districts.
Additionally, a total of 11 bridges were washed away, with the highest number in Mangan at 8.
Losses and damages to infrastructure reported until 10 PM included extensive damage to the National Highway-10 and the submergence of the NHPC dam in Gangtok district.
Furthermore, the Chungthang Sikkim Urja Dam, the biggest hydropower project in Sikkim, has been washed away, and 80% of the Chungthang Town has been severely affected, informed the update.
Earlier in the evening, the PIB Gangtok updated on X (formerly Twitter) that one soldier out of the 23 missing due to the flash flood has been rescued. His condition is stable and is under medical care, it added, citing Defence PRO.
A State Disaster Control Room has also been set up by the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) to monitor and cordinate the rescue effort.
A disaster, SSDMA declares
Meanwhile, in a notification, the SSDMA has declared the natural calamity a "disaster in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 22(2)(b) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 (53 of 2005)."
In a notification, the Sikkim Chief Secretary and Chairman of SSDMA, VB Pathak, stated that the cloudburst-induced water surge around the Lhonak area led to flash floods in low-lying areas of the Teesta basin, "causing a rise in water levels with very high velocities downstream within the states of Sikkim and West Bengal in the early hours of October 4."
Besides causing extensive damage to life and property, including the breakdown of road networks and communications, several important bridges connecting to the forward border areas and within Sikkim were washed away due to the flash floods in Mangan, Gangtok, Pakyong, and Namchi Districts, it added.
Accordingly, the catastrophe was declared a 'disaster.'
NCMC reviews status
Meanwhile, the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC ), chaired by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, met today to review the Sikkim situation.
Sikkim Chief Secretary Pathak also virtually joined the meeting and briefed the committee on the state's current situation.
He provided an update on the State government's relief and rescue efforts, as per an official statement from the Union Cabinet Secretariat via PIB Delhi.
The Home Secretary informed the Committee that the Central Government is monitoring the situation round the clock at the highest level. Both control rooms of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) are actively monitoring, and all possible assistance is being provided.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed three teams, with additional teams on standby in Guwahati and Patna. Army and Air Force assets and teams are also being deployed to support the state in rescue and restoration efforts.
Meanwhile, the IPR informed that reviewing relief and rescue efforts, the Cabinet Secretary Gauba stressed the priority of evacuating people stranded in the Chungthang dam tunnel and tourists.
He also emphasided the need to deploy additional NDRF teams and restore road, telecom, and power connectivity as quickly as possible, assuring the Government of Sikkim that all Central agencies are prepared and available for assistance.
According to the State IPR, the meeting noted that Chungthang, Lachen, and Lachung are entirely inaccessible and cut off from the rest of the state and called for urgent efforts will be made to restore telecommunication.
The Central Government will provide satellite phones for immediate communication relief. Restoration of NH10 is a top priority, and instructions have been issued by the Central Government to the West Bengal Government, BRO, and NHIDCL, it added.
PM Modi assures all necessary assistance
Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang has been in constant touch with the Central leadership and also spoke to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the phone and apprised him of the situation in the State.
As per the IPR, Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang has been in constant touch with the Central leadership and also spoke to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the phone and apprised him of the situation in the State.
The Prime Minister assured all necessary assistance to Sikkim to address the challenges posed by the disaster, it said.
Meanwhile, due to road blockages and disrupted transportation, the Urban Development Department on Wednesday appealed all wholesalers and essential goods vendors to maintain ample stock and sell items at reasonable rates to the public, anticipating shortages in essential supplies.
In a notification, it also instructed Municipal Executive Officers of Urban Local Bodies and relevant officials to closely monitor the market and regulate commodity prices to prevent public hardships.
Nagaland CM expresses concern
Kohima, October 4 (MExN): Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has expressed concern over the flash flood in Sikkim on October 4, resulting in loss of lives and injuries, missing individuals, damages to properties, and the disruption of roads and other networks.
"Deeply concerned about the flash flood in Lachen valley, Sikkim, which led to the breach of Chungtham Dam affecting military establishments and resulting in the disappearance of several army personnel," he posted on X, formerly twitter.
"Praying for the safety and well-being of the residents," he added.
