In Sikkim, 14 people have died and 102 others, including 22 soldiers, are missing due to flash floods. The state government reports that 26 people have been injured and over 2,000 have been evacuated so far. The floods have caused significant damage, with 11 bridges washed away and over 22,000 people affected.
Multiple agencies, led by the Army and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), are conducting search operations in the affected areas. The Indian Air Force is also on standby. Disturbing visuals shared on social media highlight the extent of the devastation in the Northeastern state.
The district of Pakyong in east Sikkim has reported the highest number of deaths, with seven people killed. Additionally, 59 people, including 23 Army personnel, are missing in this district. The floods have also left over 3,000 tourists stranded in different parts of the state, a popular holiday destination.
According to Sikkim Chief Secretary VB Pathak, a cloudburst over Lhonak lake in northwest Sikkim caused water levels to rise. The overflowing lake resulted in water rushing towards the Teesta river, which passes through Sikkim and West Bengal before entering Bangladesh. This led to a rise in water levels in different parts of the Teesta basin, with the Teesta Stage 3 dam breached in Chungthang.
The destruction of roads and bridges has led to concerns about a shortage of food supplies. The Army is working to restore connectivity to the affected areas by assembling portable Bailey bridges. As the Teesta river flows downstream from Sikkim to Bengal, sludge from the floods has entered homes near the state border. NDTV visited the Teesta Bazaar area in Kalimpong district, where sludge has filled up homes and caused damage to trees. Some homes closer to the riverbank have been completely washed away.