The search for the missing Indian Army personnel is a relentless operation. Meanwhile, the Indian Army is extending a helping hand to stranded civilians and tourists in North Sikkim by providing food, medical assistance, and communication facilities.
According to the PRO, Defence, Guwahati, the search for the missing Indian Army soldiers is focused downstream in areas around the Teesta Barrage. At the site of the incident in Burdang near Singtam, efforts are underway to recover army vehicles and supplies. Additional resources, such as teams from Tiranga Mountain Rescue (TMR), tracking dogs, and specialized radar equipment, have been mobilized to assist in the search operations.
In parallel, troops from the TriShakti Corps of the Indian Army have successfully accounted for 1471 tourists stranded in Lachen/Chatten, Lachung, and Chungthang. With improving weather conditions on October 6th, there is an opportunity for evacuating these stranded tourists using helicopters. The operation is a joint effort involving the State Government, Indian Army, and Indian Air Force.
Various agencies are conducting assessments to determine the extent of damage caused by the cloudburst and formulate plans for restoring road connectivity. Encouragingly, the road link between Singtam and Burdang has been partially restored, with one lane open for vehicular traffic.
In the aftermath of the cloudburst and flash floods that claimed 21 lives in Sikkim, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang attributed the collapse of the Chungthang dam to substandard construction. The flash flood, triggered by the cloudburst in Lhonak Lake, resulted in a massive influx of water that targeted the Chungthang Dam, leading to the destruction of power infrastructure and inundating downstream towns and villages. The northern part of the state remains cut off due to severed connectivity.
The flood has caused the destruction of 13 bridges in the state, with eight bridges lost in Mangan district alone. Additionally, three bridges in Gangtok and two in Namchi were also washed away. Tragically, the death toll from the Sikkim flash floods has reached 21 as of Friday.
Regarding the 23 army personnel initially reported missing in the Burdang area, seven bodies have been recovered from various downstream locations, while one individual has been rescued. The search effort is ongoing to locate the 15 remaining missing soldiers, as confirmed by the Chief Minister.
As per the latest update from the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA), a total of 2,411 people have been evacuated and are being accommodated in relief camps. The calamity has affected over 22,000 people, with the town of Chungthang bearing the brunt, suffering severe damage to 80 percent of its infrastructure. Furthermore, the vital lifeline of the state, NH-10, has incurred extensive damage at multiple points.