Gangtok / New Delhi , Oct 4 : As many as eight people are dead and 22 Army personnel are reported missing following a flash flood triggered by a cloud burst over Lhonak lake in north Sikkim, PTI reported officials as saying.
Rescue operations are underway and Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang has taken stock of the situation. “Some army establishments along the valley have been affected and efforts are on to confirm details,” a statement from the Defence PRO, Guwahati read. On Wednesday, PM Modi assured ‘all possible support’ to the CM amid the calamity.
The flash flood is believed to have started at 1:30 am on Wednesday, said officials. Meanwhile, the water level in the Teesta river was below the danger mark at 1 pm on Wednesday and there is no flood situation around it, according to Central Water Commission data. According to the CWC, the water level at three stations – Melli, Singtam and Rohtak – on the Teesta is below the danger mark but hovering near it.
Meanwhile, all schools located in Mangan, Gangtok, Pakyong and Namchi districts will remain closed till October 8, the education department said in a circular. The release of water from the Chungthang dam led to a sudden increase in water levels up to 15-20 feet high downstream. This has led to army vehicles parked at Bardang near Singtam getting affected, the officials said.
Meanwhile ,the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), under Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, met today and reviewed the situation in Sikkim.
The Chief Secretary, Sikkim joined the meeting through video conferencing and apprised the Committee about the latest situation in the state. He also briefed the committee about the efforts of the State government in carrying out relief and rescue measures. Home Secretary informed the Committee that the situation is being monitored 24×7 by the Central Government at highest level. Both control rooms of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) are monitoring the situation and all possible help is being extended.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has already deployed three teams and additional teams are on standby in Guwahati and Patna. Adequate number of teams and assets of Army and Air Force are being deployed to assist the state in rescue and restoration efforts.
Reviewing relief and rescue measures of the Central Agencies and Government of Sikkim, the Cabinet Secretary, Rajiv Gauba emphasized that the evacuation of people stranded in tunnel of Chungthang dam and tourists may be taken up on priority basis. He further observed that additional teams of NDRF should be deployed and connectivity of road, telecom and power must be restored in the shortest possible time.
The Cabinet Secretary assured the Government of Sikkim that all Central agencies are ready and will be available for assistance.
The meeting was attended by Union Home Secretary, Chief Secretary of Sikkim, Secretary, M/o Power, Secretary, M/o Road Transport & Highways, Secretary, D/o Military Affairs, Secretary, D/o Telecommunications ,Secretary, D/o Water Resources, RD & GR, Member Secretary, NDMA, CISC IDS, DG, IMD, DG, NDRF and senior officers from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
With Agency & PIB inputs
