Sikkim Flash Floods: Death Toll Reaches 40 as Rescue Operations Continue

Sikkim Flash Floods: Death Toll Reaches 40 as Rescue Operations Continue

VoM News Desk | October 6, 2023 | 04:02 PM IST | Breaking News, Floods/Landslides/Event, Sikkim | Follow on Google News

Sikkim Flash Floods: Death Toll Reaches 40 as Rescue Operations Continue

Sikkim Flash Floods: Death Toll Reaches 40 as Rescue Operations Continue

The death toll from flash floods in Sikkim has risen to 40, including seven Armymen, as rescue operations continue. Thousands of people are stranded in the affected areas, and authorities are utilizing helicopters from the Army and Air Force to evacuate them.

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang attributed the destruction of the Chungthang Dam to “inferior construction” by previous state governments, which exacerbated the disaster.

A glacial lake burst triggered flash floods and a glacial lake outburst, leading to the release of water from the Chungthang Dam and a significant increase in the Teesta River’s water level.

The government-owned hydropower company NHPC is working to reopen its hydropower plants, and the Power Ministry will assess the damage to hydropower projects in Sikkim once the floodwaters recede.

The flash floods caused extensive damage, including the destruction of 11 bridges, damage to water pipelines and sewage lines, and harm to numerous houses and infrastructure.

Climate scientists warn that such disasters are likely to increase in the Himalayan region due to rising global temperatures.

VoM News Desk

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