Agartala: Oct 05: “Sadly, this is the latest in a series of deadly flash floods that ricocheted across the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region this monsoon, bringing the reality of this region’s extreme vulnerability to climate change all too vividly alive,” said Pema Gyamtsho, director general of the Nepal-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development.
Twenty-one people have died in the Sikkim glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) that occurred at the Lhonak Lake in Chungthang area of North Sikkim. Two more bodies were recovered this afternoon from the Teesta Stage V Hydroelectric project site (510 MW) near Dikchu in East Sikkim.
The breached dam was one of the first projects commissioned under the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) in March 2008 for the cascade development of Teesta River.
Meanwhile, the search and rescue operation by Indian Army for the 22 missing soldiers continues. Out of the initial 23 missing persons, one person was recovered alive Wednesday evening, a statement by army Public Relations Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Mahendra Singh Rawat confirmed.
Troops of Trishakti Corps are extending medical aid and telephone connectivity to civilians and tourists stranded in the areas of Chungthang, Lachung and Lachen in North Sikkim.
Continued efforts are on to dig out the vehicles submerged under the slush at Burdang near Singtam. The search for the missing persons is now concentrated in the areas downstream of Teesta, the statement read.
The family members of the missing persons have been contacted and informed about the situation. All other Indian Army personnel posted in Sikkim and North Bengal are safe, but unable to contact their family members due to disruptions of mobile communication, the army official added.
Meanwhile, the Teesta stage-III dam of the 1200 MW Teesta Urja Hydroelectric Project has been completely destroyed, its powerhouse located at Singhik washed away. The dam was situated at the confluence of Lachen and Lachung, two tributaries of the Teesta river.
Anti-dam activists in Sikkim said they had long foreseen the tragedy due to the haphazard construction of dams in the name of development. The series of mega-hydroelectric projects had raised concerns about displacement of locals, the ecological sustainability of the region and other issues.
“People of Singtam, Rongpo in Sikkim, and parts of bordering West Bengal have been saved because of the dam. No one anticipated such a disaster,” said Lama.
Meanwhile, a high-level meeting was convened Thursday by Sikkim Chief Minister, Prem Singh Tamang at Mintokgang, his official residence, to assess the current situation and evaluate the extent of damages.
“I have issued instructions to all pertinent officials, departments, District Magistrates (DMs), and Superintendents of Police (SPs) to maintain a state of heightened vigilance and attend to the requirements of the affected public with utmost diligence. In order to ensure accurate and timely information dissemination, the Chief Secretary (CS) will provide daily updates to the press,” the Chief Minister apprised media persons.
The Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) has advised people not to go to the river line areas and take necessary precautions as the water level is said to be increasing in Chungthang area due to incessant rainfall in the higher regions of North Sikkim.
