Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Wednesday to take stock of the situation in the state following flash flood in the Teesta river, and assured him of all possible support.
“Spoke to Sikkim CM Shri @PSTamangGolay and took stock of the situation in the wake of the unfortunate natural calamity in parts of the state. Assured all possible support in addressing the challenge. I pray for the safety and well-being of all those affected,” Modi said on X.
At least 14 people have been killed and 104 are missing following flash floods triggered by a lake outburst in north Sikkim. As many as 2,011 people have been rescued since disaster struck early Wednesday, the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) said. Rescue operations are underway. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the situation on Wednesday night, assuring all possible support to the chief minister.
Among those missing are 22 Army soldiers — one was rescued on Wednesday night. Over 20,000 people have been affected by the natural disaster. More than 3,000 tourists are feared to be stranded in different parts of the state. About 12-14 workers working in the Teesta Stage 3 dam in Chungthang are still stranded in the tunnels of the dam.
What happened? A glacial lake situated in the state’s northwest at 17,000 ft — burst due to incessant rains, leading to the release of water in downstream areas. This caused the rise of water levels in Teesta river that flooded at least four districts, including Mangan, Gangtok, Pakyong and Namchi on Wednesday (October 4), according to Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA). The flood in Sikkim that started around 1.30 am was made worse by the release of water from Chungthang dam, officials told PTI. Central Water Commission (CWC), in a post on X, suggested that the lake burst could have been caused by the earthquake in Nepal on Tuesday, but did not elaborate.
