Death toll rises to 40 in Sikkim flash floods, 76 people still missing

Gangtok (Sikkim) [India]: The death toll in the Sikkim flash floods increased to 40, and 76 people are still missing in the disaster-hit state, an official statement said on Tuesday.

According to the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority, 4418 people have been evacuated from all four affected districts to date.

“A total number of people were evacuated in Mangan (2705) Gangtok (1025), Pakyong (58) Namchi (630) however there are 40 casualties, with Pakyong facing the most deaths (15),” an official statement said.

SSDMA said that currently, 1852 people are residing in 19 relief camps across four districts in the state.

Earlier the Sikkim government declared Rs 10,000 each for labourers registered under the building and other construction workers (BOCW) welfare board on Sunday as a relief after the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood across the Teesta River Basin in Gangtok.

Over 8,733 labourers affected by South Lhonak Lake GLOF were handed cheques by Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay at the awareness and distribution of distress relief

assistance event in Chintan Bhawan in Gangtok.

Meanwhile the Indian Army’s Trishakti Corps continues relief work in the area.

According to the Trishakti Corps the Sappers continue to rebuild & reconnect areas cut off during the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood . Working under adverse weather conditions, the Sappers constructed a foot suspension bridge over Mighty Teesta river in North.

Troops of Trishakti Corps also mounted a rescue mission in North Sikkim from October 7 to 13. Cutting through treacherous terrain, the troops reached the people stranded in the village of Rabom, North Sikkim.

The troops provided food & medical aid to stranded people. Despite poor weather conditions the Trishakti Corps troops were able to build a rescue route evacuating 97 workers of the Kundan Hydro Power Project and several locals of Rabom village. A helipad was also constructed by the Army in the village to provide troops better access.

The Lhonak glacier in the Sikkim Himalayas burst on October 3, breaching one side of the lake leading to the rise in the water levels in Teesta and inundating several areas of the state, leaving dozens dead and tourists in thousands stranded.

Sikkim suffered significant disruptions due to the recent flash floods that inflicted damage on footbridges, roads, and other infrastructure.