Northeast, 7th October: A flash flood in the Lachen and Lachung areas of Sikkim has left more than 3,000 tourists stranded, cutting off all road communications to safety. The Indian Air Force made multiple rescue attempts using Mi-17 helicopters, but inclement weather, low-lying clouds, and poor visibility prevented them from flying to Lachen and Lachung.
The roads to these areas have sustained damage, further complicating rescue efforts. An alternative route to Chungthang via Dzongu is being opened to facilitate rescue operations. Teesta Urja has also provided a chopper for rescuing tourists and delivering essential supplies to the Chungtang area.
Rescue and relief operations are underway, with an ITBP team in Chungthang conducting operations. However, the weather forecast indicates light to moderate rain in the coming days in Mangan district, along with generally cloudy to overcast skies in Lachen and Lachung.
NDRF teams and state agencies are actively involved in rescue operations in various areas, but reaching the upper reaches of North Sikkim, Chungthang, Lachen, and Lachung remains a challenge. Nevertheless, small teams from state agencies, accompanied by senior government officers, have trekked from Mangan to Chungthang, assessing damage and providing critical information to the state government.
Additional rescue teams, including personnel from the India Reserve Battalion, are en route to Chungthang, which bore the brunt of the flash flood in the Teesta River. This flash flood, triggered by a cloudburst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim, has resulted in casualties, damage to homes, and the destruction of bridges in the region.
So far, 27 people, including eight Army personnel, have lost their lives, and 141 individuals are reported missing. Over 1,200 houses have been damaged in this devastating event.