Photos: At least 14 dead, 102 missing after Indian glacial lake bursts bank in heavy rain

11 bridges have been washed away and a population of over 22,000 has been affected

Published: October 05, 2023 08:26 Compiled by Lekshmy Pavithran, Assistant Online Editor , Reuters and ANI

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At least 14 people were killed and 102, including 22 army personnel, were missing in northeast India on Thursday after heavy rain caused a glacial lake to burst its banks, triggering flash floods down a mountain valley, officials said. Image Credit: ANI

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The disaster, which has affected the lives of 22,000 people, authorities said, is the latest in a series of deadly weather events in South Asia's mountains blamed on climate change. Image Credit: ANI photo

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A cloudburst dropped a huge amount of rain over a short period on the Lhonak glacial lake on Wednesday, triggered flash floods down the Teesta valley, about 150 km (93 miles) north of Gangtok, capital of Sikkim state, near the border with China. Image Credit: ANI

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The state disaster management agency said 26 people were injured and 102 were missing, as of early Thursday. Image Credit: ANI

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Eleven bridges were washed away. Video footage from the ANI news agency, showed flood waters surging into built-up areas where several houses collapsed, army bases and other facilities were damaged and vehicles submerged. Image Credit: ANI

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The weather department has warned of landslides and disruption to flights as more rain is expected over the next two days in parts of Sikkim and neighbouring states. Image Credit: AFP

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The State government has asked for three (3) extra platoons of the National Disaster Response Force, which the Central government has approved. There is one platoon of NDRF already in service in Rangpo and Singtam towns. Image Credit: ANI

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One such upcoming platoon of NDRF will be airlifted to Chungthang for rescue operations. It is assumed that over 3,000 domestic and foreign tourists are stranded in the State currently. Similarly, food and civil supplies will be taken to Chungthang once the weather improves for air connectivity, as per the official report. Image Credit: ANI

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Meanwhile, the State officials feared ration shortages in the State. Necessities from Siliguri, Bailey bridges will be laid by the Indian Army and National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), informed the State Chief Secretary. Image Credit: ANI

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Even the police station in Chungthang has been destroyed. Chungthang and most of North Sikkim have disrupted mobile network connection as the fibre cable lines were also being destroyed by the flash floods in Sangkalan and Toong in Mangan district, according to the official report. Image Credit: ANI

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The State government has set up 18 relief camps in Singtam, Rangpo, Dikchu and Adarsh Gaon which have faced most of the damages. However, due to a lack of connectivity with Chungthang, the relief camps there are being set up by the Indian Army and other paramilitaries. Image Credit: ANI

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South Lhonark lake, situated in North West Sikkim, witnessed a cloud burst causing incessant monsoon rainfall on Wednesday morning. The flowing flash flood made its way through River Teesta sweeping Indreni Bridge in Singtam town, some 30 kilometres from Gangtok informed Gangtok District Administration. Another connecting bridge of Balutar hamlet was also swept away around 4 am. Image Credit: ANI

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Photos: At least 14 dead, 102 missing after Indian glacial lake bursts bank in heavy rain

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Photos: At least 14 dead, 102 missing after Indian glacial lake bursts bank in heavy rain

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