Sikkim flash floods | 14 dead, more than 100 missing, 3,000 tourists stranded

The flash floods in north Sikkim have resulted in the deaths of 14 civilians, and 102 people are reported missing, including 22 army personnel. A cloudburst over Lhonak Lake in north Sikkim triggered a flash flood in the Teesta river basin on Wednesday (October 4), officials said.

In an update, a government official said that 14 bridges have collapsed and more than 3,000 tourists could be stranded in various regions of the state.

The Army on Wednesday evening (October 4) said that one of the 23 soldiers who had gone missing near Singtam town has been rescued and his condition is stable.

The Sikkim government has declared the calamity a disaster under the Disaster Management Act.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said the possible cause of the flash flood in Sikkim could be a combination of excess rainfall and a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) event at South Lhonak lake in North Sikkim.

In a statement, the NDMA also said the Himalayan ranges are host to many glacial lakes, estimated through remote sensing techniques at about 7,500 and, of these, Sikkim has around 10 per cent, of which nearly 25 are assessed to be at-risk.

Giving details of the incident, the NDMA said in the early hours of Wednesday, there was a sudden surge in water flow in the Teesta, which washed away several bridges, parts of NH-10, the Chungthang Dam, and has impacted several small villages, towns, and infrastructure projects in the upper reaches of the river valley.

The main affected districts are Mangan, Gangtok, Pakyong, and Namchi.

Satellite images received from the ISRO at 6am on Wednesday reveal the draining out of more than half the lake, most likely as a result of an avalanche from the ice-capped feature.

Thousands stranded

The flood in Sikkim, which started around 1.30 am, was worsened by the release of water from Chungthang dam, the officials said.

Over 3,000 tourists from various parts of the country, were reported to be stranded in different parts of Sikkim, Sikkim Chief Secretary VB Pathak said.

Several workers employed with Teesta Stage III dam in Chungthang were also stranded in tunnels of the dam, Pathak said.

The Sikkim Chief Secretary said that the road infrastructure has suffered extensive damage due to flooding as 14 bridges have collapsed with nine of them being under Border Roads Organization (BRO) and five others belonging to the state government.

Scores of people missing and injured have been reported from Chungthang in Mangan district, and Dikchu, Singtam in Gangtok district, and Rangpo in Pakyong district, Pathak said.

Another official said some 166 people have so far been rescued, including the army man. “The health condition of the rescued soldier is stable,” Defence Spokesperson Lt Col Mahendra Rawat said.

Bodies, including that of a child, were fished out from the flood plains of the Teesta at Golitar in Singtam by rescue personnel, the officials said.

Prayers for Sikkim

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Wednesday to take stock of the situation in the state and assured him of all possible support.

“Spoke to Sikkim CM Shri @PSTamangGolay and took stock of the situation in the wake of the unfortunate natural calamity in parts of the state. Assured all possible support in addressing the challenge. I pray for the safety and well-being of all those affected,” Modi said on X.

President Droupadi Murmu, in a late-night post on X, wrote: “I pray for the safety of all missing persons and extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families.”

“The devastation and loss of lives due to flash floods in Lachen valley caused by cloudburst in Lhonak Lake of Sikkim is distressing,” Murmu’s post added.

Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, also expressed his solidarity with the people of Sikkim in the wake of flash floods claiming at least ten lives.

In a letter to the Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, the Tibetan spiritual leader, who has hundreds of thousands of followers in the Himalayan state, expressed solidarity with the people of Sikkim. He is scheduled to visit Sikkim next week at the request of the Chief Minister.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also prayed for the well-being of the missing army personnel.

State disaster

The Sikkim government, in a notification, said the natural calamity has been declared as a disaster.

The release of water from the Chungthang dam led to a sudden increase in water levels up to 15-20 feet high downstream, a defence spokesperson said.

“Twenty-two army personnel have been reported missing and 41 vehicles submerged under the slush,” he said.

All schools located in Mangan, Gangtok, Pakyong, and Namchi districts will remain closed till October 8, the education department said.

Parts of National Highway-10, the main link between Sikkim and the rest of the country, were washed away, the officials said, adding, a flood alert has been issued for North Bengal and Bangladesh through which the Teesta flows.

Chief Minister P S Tamang visited Singtam and took stock of the situation. He also held a meeting with senior officials at the Singtam Nagar Panchayat office and asked them to keep vigil.

“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. Our dedicated teams are working day and night to address the immediate concerns and challenges posed by this calamity,” Tamang said.

Fearing a shortage of ration and other essentials in Sikkim, the state government has decided to construct Bailey bridges with help from the Army and NHIDCL. The state government has set up 18 relief camps in Singtam, Rangpo, Dikchu and Adarsh Gaon to house the displaced people.

Downstream, North Bengal was badly affected, too, as water from the swollen Teesta inundated parts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Cooch Behar, and Jalpaiguri districts.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said that 10,000 people have been rescued and kept in 190 relief camps in nine districts in the southern and northern parts of the state.

(With agency inputs)