New Delhi/Gangtok: While 26 dead bodies have been recovered from various areas along the river Teesta in North Bengal and four bodies have been handed over by Bangladesh Border Forces, at least 142 persons are still missing after the flash floods in Sikkim on October 3-4, 2023. The Sikkim government stated today that the exact assessment of the damage was yet to be corroborated due to the inclement weather and incessant rains. The army said that 14 soldiers were still missing and the search operation for them “continues in full swing”. Indian Air Force helicopters are on standby to launch air rescue, subject to weather conditions, and an Inter-Ministerial Central Team will visit the State from Sunday, October 8 to take stock of the ground situation, assess the damages and provide assistance wherever necessary.
Out of the 26 recovered dead bodies, “eight have been positively identified as that of Indian Army soldiers”, the Ministry of Defence stated in New Delhi today. The Ministry confirmed today that a vehicle parking area at Burdang near Singtam was affected by the flash flood and 23 soldiers and 39 vehicles that were taking a temporary overnight transit halt were submerged in silt or swept away. On October 4 evening, one soldier was rescued by villagers from an area 18 km downstream of Burdang and the individual is now stable and under medical care.
The last rites of Naik Bimal Oraon hailing from Alipurduar were conducted on October 6 with full military honours. The mortal remains of four soldiers were being taken to their native places today by service and civil aircraft, for conduct of last rites in the presence of the family members. The post-mortem of two mortal remains was in progress, the army said.
“Indian Army deployed in the area has been affected with some of its camps along the Teesta River bank being damaged/ washed away,” the Ministry stated but claimed that the operational situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China continues to be stable after the flash floods ravaged the hinterland of Sikkim. It informed that the formations responsible for the Border Management Posture are maintaining a high state of readiness and are optimally stocked as per the sustainable operational logistics plan.
Approximately 1,500 tourists are assessed to be still stranded in the areas of Lachung and Lachen valleys in North Sikkim while search and rescue operations continued for the fourth day today. Along with the local administration, the Army, too, has been extending assistance to the stranded tourists and locals by providing food, medical aid and telephone connectivity through satellite terminals. Teams have collected data on all the tourists staying in various hotels and some of them have been accommodated in Army camps. Special helplines have been set up at the Indian Army’s Trishakti Corps Head Quarters and family members back home of all the stranded tourists have been informed about their wellbeing.
“Indian Army along with all agencies and Civil Administration continue their relentless Search and Rescue operations, while at the same time focusing on the resuscitation of communication and other infrastructure in a well-coordinated manner,” the Ministry stated.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Kumar Mishra, who reached Gangtok last night, chaired a meeting with the Chief Secretary and concerned head of departments of the State Government, and senior officers of the Army, ITBP, BRO, NHIDCL and NHPC at Gangtok, today morning. He said the Government of India was closely monitoring the situation in Sikkim and all the necessary support and assistance for the State is underway. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were in constant touch with the State Chief Minister with regard to the extent of damages and rescue and relief work.
At the site of the incident, silt and mud measuring up to 30-40 feet high has been deposited and most of the vehicles are buried underneath. A massive Search and Rescue operation was immediately launched by the Indian Army, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) along with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Relief Teams, Para Military Forces, Police, Civil Administration and local populace of Sikkim and North Bengal.
Dozers and plant equipment have been digging up the site of the incident at Burdang. Since October 6, Radars (Leo Life Detector Radar, REECO Radar) and Army dogs have also been employed. So far, 15 vehicles out of the total 39 missing have been recovered. Some ammunition, explosives and stores of the Indian Army from various camps swept away have been reported from various places along the downstream river banks. Indian Army has issued advisories through civil administration and deployed lookout teams along with State Police to warn the locals to report sightings of such items. Ammunition experts have been deployed to destroy the explosives recovered in a controlled manner.
National Highway 10 (NH 10), the lifeline of Sikkim, has been rendered unusable due to damages to the road surface and many bridges across the Teesta River. The opening/ widening of road stretch Rangpo – Singtam is under progress.
Alternate routes to Gangtok are available via East Sikkim, and, routes to West and South Sikkim are also available. However, in North Sikkim, roads beyond Mangan are currently cut off. Lieutenant General RP Kalita, General Officer Commanding-in-Charge, Eastern Command along with Lt Gen VPS Kaushik, GOC Trishakti Corps undertook an aerial survey on October 6 to assess the extent of damage and plan for the relief effort. The Director General BRO along with Indian Army Engineers, National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) and State Government officials are assessing the damage and surveying restoring the road connectivity. Meanwhile, efforts are on, to connect Chungthang with a footbridge. Helicopters of the Indian Army and Indian Air Force are undertaking emergency supply and evacuation sorties. However, the inclement weather and incessant rains have hindered the aerial operations.
It may be mentioned that a Glacial Lake Outburst in South Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim on the night of October 3-4 caused a devastating flood in Sikkim. The level of water in the Teesta River increased by about 50-60 feet in height which caused calamitous floods downstream. Large-scale damage to infrastructure, and property and loss of human lives have been reported, but the exact figures are yet to be ascertained.
Four teams of NDRF are deployed and they have also rescued 178 persons. ITBP has carried out rescue operations right from October 3 night itself and evacuated more than 175 persons, and they are running relief centres within their different camps. 40 persons were stranded in a totally cut-off area, they were rescued through highly dangerous terrain and evacuated through rough rivers through cables and ropes. Further 6 persons were rescued, who were trapped on the other side of the dam tunnel. 68 persons were stranded at Zanak, which is at 16,000 feet height, and everyone was rescued safely and brought to the ITBP camp at Goma. Four stranded families were brought to the Lachung Border Out Post of ITBP and they are camping there.
– global bihari bureau
