Sikkim Flash Floods: 3 Dead, 23 Army Jawans Missing After Cloudburst

As many as three people were dead and 23 Army personnel have gone missing due to flash flood in the river Teesta in Sikkim's Lachen valley on Wednesday night, officials said.

This flood was caused by an abrupt cloudburst above Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim, which caused an abrupt surge in the Teesta River's water levels. The situation was further exacerbated by the discharge of water from the Chungthang dam, causing downstream water levels to rise significantly, reaching heights of 15-20 feet.

The raging floodwaters swept away Army vehicles parked near Singtam's Bardang area. Search and rescue efforts are currently underway to locate the missing personnel.

The flash flood has also inflicted damage on various Army facilities in the Lachen valley. Ongoing efforts aim to assess the complete extent of this damage.

Additionally, the Singtham footbridge spanning the Teesta River collapsed due to the overflowing river. As a preventive measure, the Jalpaiguri administration in West Bengal has initiated evacuations of individuals residing in the lower catchment area of the river.

The government of Sikkim has issued a high alert across the state and urged residents to avoid the Teesta River as a safety precaution.