Sikkim disaster due to poorly-built dam, says CM: Report
The "inferior construction" of Chungthang dam was the reason this 1,200 MW hydroelectric project got washed away in the flash floods, which was triggered by a glacial lake outburst
The "inferior construction" of the Chungthang dam in Sikkim washed away this 1,200 MW hydroelectric project on October 4 in flash floods, which was triggered by a glacial lake outburst over South Lhonak Lake.
Sikkim chief minister Prem Singh Tamang told NDTV that "sub-standard" work by the earlier Sikkim Democratic Front government, which was in power for over 24 years, is what led to this "major disaster".
A cloudburst in Sikkim washed away the Chungthang dam, flooding entire towns and villages in an unprecedented devastation which caused the loss of 21 lives. More than 100 people are missing, including soldiers stationed in the hilly region that faces China in the north. Of the 23 army personnel who were missing from the Burdang area, the bodies of seven were recovered from different areas downstream while one was rescued and the search is on for 15 missing jawans, the Chief Minister said.
“I have to tell you, this is a major disaster. It is major," a visibly-shaken Tamang told TV channels, referring to the Chungthang dam.
According to Tamang, the dam is "fully damaged... washed out". The disaster in the lower belt is because the dam collapsed, he added. Though there was a cloudburst and the Lhonak Lake burst... "but because of inferior and sub-standard construction", the dam broke and even more floods hit Lower Sikkim with violence, he pointed out.
The chief minister said "major damage" had been reported from across the state and vast areas were cut off.
Deadly cloudburst
The cloudburst in Lhonak Lake caused huge quantities of water to accumulate, which turned its fury towards the dam, destroying it and a 1,200 MW power infrastructure before causing mayhem downstream.
Connectivity to the northern part of the state has been cut off.
The floods have destroyed 13 bridges in the state, with eight bridges getting washed away in Mangan district alone. Three bridges were destroyed in Gangtok and two in Namchi.
Media reports said 6,000 people have been evacuated and accommodated at relief camps while the disaster has affected 22,000 people, the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority said.
Chungthang town bore the maximum brunt of the flood fury. National Highway 10, considered Sikkim’s lifeline, has suffered extensive damage at several places.
Stranded tourists
Tamang said his government was working with the Centre to airlift relief and rescue teams but bad weather had hampered operations. "Our first priority is to rescue the 3,000 stranded tourists," he said.
The Sikkim government has warned of another potential glacial lake outburst. The Shako Cho Lake near Lachen is at risk and residents from surrounding areas are being hurriedly evacuated. The government has also warned of "stray explosions" after the floods hit an army ammunitions depot. Two people died after they were hit by explosives that were washed away.