Tag: Sikkim floods

  • Work on to restore connectivity in flood-hit Sikkim, evacuation of tourists to continue 

    By PTI

    GANGTOK: Work is on to restore connectivity in areas isolated by flash floods in north Sikkim by setting up temporary bridges and other means while evacuating stranded tourists will continue on Wednesday, officials said.

    Troops of the Army and various government agencies people are working to send essential commodities to the distressed people.

    Out of the approximately 1700 tourists stranded in north Sikkim, a total of 690 tourists, including 26 foreigners, have been rescued by air from Lachen and Lachung towns by the Indian Air Force (IAF) since Monday.

    The remaining travellers will be shifted on Wednesday as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast clear weather.

    Tourists evacuated by the Indian Air Force from flood-affected Lachen arrive at Ringhim Helipad, Mangan in Sikkim | PTI

    At Chungthang, the area worst affected by the flash flood, Army and BRO personnel cleared the sludge on the road through the town. A log bridge was completed with the help of ITBP and locals.

    More than 500 people including tourists crossed over the log bridge on Tuesday, officials said adding that army engineers are working on strengthening the bridge.

    Braving difficult terrain and inclement weather, a team of the army assisted 11 civilians isolated in the Chaten area with immediate food and medical aid. A helipad was created and they were rescued later, officials said.

    Earlier, a foot track had been opened to the isolated village of Rabom where 245 people had been stranded. Out of them, 129 are employees of the Kundan Hydel power project.

    Mobile phone connectivity has been restored in Lachung while that in Lachen Valley will be made soon.

    The IAF helicopters also transported nearly 58 tonnes of relief materials to North Sikkim for locals, and the Army and ITBP personnel posted there, the chief secretary said.

    A week after the flash flood, which happened in the early hours of October 4, 76 people are still missing.

    READ MORE | Soldier killed in Sikkim relief operations laid to rest

    So far, 36 bodies have been found in Sikkim, while 41 bodies have been found at various places along the river in neighbouring West Bengal, according to officials in the two states.

    A cloudburst in the Lhonak glacial lake led to the discharge of a huge quantity of water, which triggered a flash flood in the Teesta River, flooding towns and villages and affecting about 87,300 people.

    GANGTOK: Work is on to restore connectivity in areas isolated by flash floods in north Sikkim by setting up temporary bridges and other means while evacuating stranded tourists will continue on Wednesday, officials said.

    Troops of the Army and various government agencies people are working to send essential commodities to the distressed people.

    Out of the approximately 1700 tourists stranded in north Sikkim, a total of 690 tourists, including 26 foreigners, have been rescued by air from Lachen and Lachung towns by the Indian Air Force (IAF) since Monday.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The remaining travellers will be shifted on Wednesday as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast clear weather.

    Tourists evacuated by the Indian Air Force from flood-affected Lachen arrive at Ringhim Helipad, Mangan in Sikkim | PTI

    At Chungthang, the area worst affected by the flash flood, Army and BRO personnel cleared the sludge on the road through the town. A log bridge was completed with the help of ITBP and locals.

    More than 500 people including tourists crossed over the log bridge on Tuesday, officials said adding that army engineers are working on strengthening the bridge.

    Braving difficult terrain and inclement weather, a team of the army assisted 11 civilians isolated in the Chaten area with immediate food and medical aid. A helipad was created and they were rescued later, officials said.

    Earlier, a foot track had been opened to the isolated village of Rabom where 245 people had been stranded. Out of them, 129 are employees of the Kundan Hydel power project.

    Mobile phone connectivity has been restored in Lachung while that in Lachen Valley will be made soon.

    The IAF helicopters also transported nearly 58 tonnes of relief materials to North Sikkim for locals, and the Army and ITBP personnel posted there, the chief secretary said.

    A week after the flash flood, which happened in the early hours of October 4, 76 people are still missing.

    READ MORE | Soldier killed in Sikkim relief operations laid to rest

    So far, 36 bodies have been found in Sikkim, while 41 bodies have been found at various places along the river in neighbouring West Bengal, according to officials in the two states.

    A cloudburst in the Lhonak glacial lake led to the discharge of a huge quantity of water, which triggered a flash flood in the Teesta River, flooding towns and villages and affecting about 87,300 people.

  • Sikkim floods: Death toll rises to 30, state government to probe dam’s “substandard” construction 

    By Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: The Sikkim government will probe the “substandard” construction of Chungthang dam that was washed away by the flash floods and punish the culprits, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang said on Saturday.

    Built by the previous government, the Chungthang dam is part of the 1,200 MW Teesta Stage III Hydro Electric Project.

    Tamang told journalists that the loss of lives and damage to properties downstream was due to the dam’s collapse. 

    “After the cloudburst over Lhonak Lake, the Chungthang dam suffered the highest damage, causing maximum losses downstream. The force of water could have been controlled if the dam had been built well by the previous government,” the CM said.

    He said the government would get the dam’s collapse investigated by a central agency. 

    “We had such a disaster because of two or three people. They will have to be punished,” Tamang said.

    He said the government’s top priorities were locating the missing people and rescuing them, clearing debris, and restoring water, electricity supplies and road connectivity. Thirteen bridges were washed away by the flash floods disrupting road communication in North Sikkim.

    The number of human lives lost was 30, including eight Army personnel. 

    ALSO READ | Sikkim floods: Mortal remains of 8 Army personnel recovered

    “Deeply pained by the tragic loss of precious lives including eight Army personnel in the recent flash floods arising out of glacial lake burst in Sikkim. Out of the 23 missing soldiers, one was rescued while the mortal remains of eight brave soldiers were recovered. Their sacrifice, while being deployed in forward areas in the service of the nation, will not be forgotten. Search operations to rescue remaining 14 soldiers and missing civilians are underway,” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

    The Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority said 141 people were missing while 26 people, who sustained “grievous injuries, were hospitalised. A total of 25,065 people were affected in Mangan, Gangtok, Pakyong and Namchi districts. 

    So far, 2,413 people have been rescued. The authorities opened 22 relief camps where 6,875 people were lodged.

    The state government announced ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh for the next of kin of those who lost their lives and an immediate relief of Rs 2,000 each for all those taking shelter in camps.

    Students from some states of the Northeast were stranded in Sikkim after the disaster. Assam government sent two senior officers to oversee the evacuation of 160 students from the state.

    Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said a bus with 26 students from Meghalaya left Sikkim on Friday evening and was on its way to Shillong.

    GUWAHATI: The Sikkim government will probe the “substandard” construction of Chungthang dam that was washed away by the flash floods and punish the culprits, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang said on Saturday.

    Built by the previous government, the Chungthang dam is part of the 1,200 MW Teesta Stage III Hydro Electric Project.

    Tamang told journalists that the loss of lives and damage to properties downstream was due to the dam’s collapse. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “After the cloudburst over Lhonak Lake, the Chungthang dam suffered the highest damage, causing maximum losses downstream. The force of water could have been controlled if the dam had been built well by the previous government,” the CM said.

    He said the government would get the dam’s collapse investigated by a central agency. 

    “We had such a disaster because of two or three people. They will have to be punished,” Tamang said.

    He said the government’s top priorities were locating the missing people and rescuing them, clearing debris, and restoring water, electricity supplies and road connectivity. Thirteen bridges were washed away by the flash floods disrupting road communication in North Sikkim.

    The number of human lives lost was 30, including eight Army personnel. 

    ALSO READ | Sikkim floods: Mortal remains of 8 Army personnel recovered

    “Deeply pained by the tragic loss of precious lives including eight Army personnel in the recent flash floods arising out of glacial lake burst in Sikkim. Out of the 23 missing soldiers, one was rescued while the mortal remains of eight brave soldiers were recovered. Their sacrifice, while being deployed in forward areas in the service of the nation, will not be forgotten. Search operations to rescue remaining 14 soldiers and missing civilians are underway,” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

    The Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority said 141 people were missing while 26 people, who sustained “grievous injuries, were hospitalised. A total of 25,065 people were affected in Mangan, Gangtok, Pakyong and Namchi districts. 

    So far, 2,413 people have been rescued. The authorities opened 22 relief camps where 6,875 people were lodged.

    The state government announced ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh for the next of kin of those who lost their lives and an immediate relief of Rs 2,000 each for all those taking shelter in camps.

    Students from some states of the Northeast were stranded in Sikkim after the disaster. Assam government sent two senior officers to oversee the evacuation of 160 students from the state.

    Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said a bus with 26 students from Meghalaya left Sikkim on Friday evening and was on its way to Shillong.