AT LEAST 14 people have died and another 120 people have gone missing after a flash flood struck Northeast India.
A sudden “cloud burst” around midnight over Lhonak Glacier Lake caused a tremendous downflow of water along river Teesta.
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The list of missing people includes 23 Indian army personnel who are currently being searched for in different rescue operations.
A defence spokesperson said: “Twenty-three army personnel have been reported missing and some vehicles are reported submerged under the slush.
“At least 82 more civilians are missing.
“So far, 10 bodies have been recovered from different locations.”
Horrific images show the river lashing through the hills and entering residential areas in Lachung Valley.
Several army bases and facilities have also been damaged – it has been reported.
The flash flood has washed away the Teesta-III damn near Chunthang and caused at least six other bridges over river Teesta to collapse.
Indian National Highway 10 (NH10) has also been damaged in multiple areas.
Prabhakar Rai, director of Sikkim’s disaster management department, said: “ North Sikkim has been totally cut off from the rest of the state.
“The state of Sikkim faces serious connectivity issues because of the badly damaged NH10.”
The death toll is expected to rise sharply as at least 40 bodies have been recovered from different areas after the disaster struck – officials have confirmed
Sikkim’s Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang wrote on X: “We are aware of the recent natural calamity that has struck our state.
“Emergency services have been mobilised to the affected areas and help is being provided.”
About 15,000 people living in the vicinity are likely to be affected and at least eight major bridges have been washed away along the banks of the Teesta river – government officials have confirmed.
Meanwhile, four teams of the National Disaster Reserve Force (NDRF) are working in Sikkim and other bordering areas that fall near the banks of river Teesta.
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