Army establishment and local people cut off from North Sikkim

Gangtok, Aug 26 (UNI) At least five hundred families and a major army column were cut off in the extreme North Sikkim border area when two vital bridges linking it with the rest of the state was washed away following a cloud burst.

The water level in the river Zema Chu (a tributary of River Teesta) rose considerably yesterday evening washing away the two bridges at Zema, four kms away from Lachen on the road that connects Thangu and Gurudongmar lake close to the Chinese border in north Sikkim.

One of the bailey bridge was recently upgraded by the army. While the other bridge was an old one.

The Indian Army has a big establishment at Thangu area while Indo-Tibet Border Police (ITBP) has a outpost at Kerang further up on the India-China border.

According to Cho Rabzor Lachenpa, the Pipon (headman) of Lachen village, at least five hundred families living on the higher reaches have been cut off. He added that a considerable number of animals and cattle were washed away during the flash flood.

North District officials maintain that a cloudburst over the area could have caused landslides along the river upstream triggering flash floods and rise in the water level.

They are also of the view that there could be a breach in the Green Lake located in the upper regions of the area. However, the exact cause of the flooding of the river is yet to be ascertained while an enquiry is already being conducted.

Repair works to the lifeline to the frontiers could take at least a month while work on temporary restoration has already begun by the Border Roads Organization (BRO). A portion of the road formation along the ends of the bridges was also washed away by the surging river.

North district official visited the area early this morning for an inspection and to oversee relief and rescue operations. Meanwhile, the General officer commanding of the 17 Mountain Division K V S Lalotra also reached Lachen today to take stock of the situation.

It was also learnt that the army has decided to conduct an aerial survey area to find the cause of the sudden flooding subject to the weather conditions.

The district administration has asked the army to assist relief and rescue works for the affected families in case of any emergency.

Meanwhile, the army could also press into service helicopters for relief and supplies for their own establishments cut off by the sudden deluge.

Soon after the bridges were washed away yesterday, a high alert was sounded and there was panic at Chungthang, a subdivisional town further downstream. Some livestock had been washed away in the river above Chungthang while no human casualties have been reported. Some families living along the rivers were evacuated.

The North district administration has also asked the Indo Tibetan Border police (ITBP) posted in the area for any emergency and relief and rescue operations. The district administration along with the army and the BRO are also scouting for alternative routes to connect the areas, official sources said.

UNI