Soon after the alarming rise in water levels of the Teesta River, an overnight flash flood situation was witnessed in the north and east districts of Sikkim on Wednesday.
The Sikkim administration was quick to issue a “high alert” to the residents of the two districts as a sudden rise in the river’s water was initially witnessed after Tuesday night.
Several visuals recorded by locals showed a large section of a road washed away by the raging river waters.
According to the state disaster authority, the flooding in the river occurred after a cloudburst in the northern part of the state’s Mangan district.
“Flooding of the Teesta River Basin has occurred due to a cloudburst in the northern part of Mangan District. All are advised to stay alert and avoid travel along the River Basin,” the alert message by the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority said.
Due to the rise in water levels, connectivity to Chungthang town in North Sikkim has also been affected after a bridge linking the town to its surrounding areas was damaged.
Currently, an alert has been issued to all police stations in low-lying areas to ensure the safety of all the residents. Those living on the banks of the Teesta River have also been advised to evacuate their homes to ensure their safety. Notably, twenty-three Army personnels are missing as per the latest reports.
