Northeast Desk, 6th October: At least 40 lives were lost this week in Sikkim as a glacial lake overflowed, triggering devastating floods. Lhonak Lake, nestled in the mountainous state of Sikkim, overflowed due to torrential rains from a cloudburst and an apparent avalanche, causing significant flooding along the Teesta River. This catastrophe has affected approximately 22,000 people in Sikkim, just before the onset of the festive and tourist season in this picturesque region.
In a challenging turn of events, 25 NDRF personnel, who had come from Guwahati for rescue operations in Chungthang, had to return to Bagdogra due to unfavorable weather conditions preventing helicopter landings.
Simultaneously, the Sikkim government has issued another alert regarding potential glacial lake bursts and has advised tourists to postpone their travel plans due to the risk of explosives and ammunition being washed away from an army camp during the recent flash floods. Shako Cho Lake near Lachen is currently at risk of bursting, leading authorities to commence evacuations for residents in the surrounding areas.
Sikkim’s Chief Secretary, Vijay Bhushan Pathak, stated, “Around 3,000 people are stranded in Lachen and Lachung. Another 3,150 individuals who have traveled there on motorcycles are also trapped due to the floods. We are committed to evacuating all of them with the assistance of the Army and Air Force helicopters.”