Sudden cloud burst over Lhonak Lake in Sikkim caused flooding in Teesta River. There is news of 23 army soldiers missing.
The administration has asked people nearby to remain alert. The search operation is going on.
Some military establishments in the valley have been affected in the accident.
When a flood like situation arose after the cloud burst, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang reached Singtam and here he took stock of the situation.
Earlier in the morning there was news of 23 soldiers missing. Now a total of 30 people including 23 soldiers are reported missing.
Defence PRO in Guwahati had said in the morning, ‘There was sudden flood on Lhonak Lake in the north of Sikkim. 23 soldiers are missing. Due to release of water from Chungthang Dam, the water level downstream suddenly rose to a height of 15-20 feet. Due to this, army vehicles parked at Bardang near Singtam were affected. There is news of 23 army personnel missing and 41 vehicles submerged in mud.
BJP leader Ugyen Tsering Gyatso Bhutia said, “People’s lives are being saved by putting the government machinery in place, the report of which is yet to come. There is no loss of life or property but there has been damage to public properties in Singtam. Some people are missing. There is information that efforts are underway to locate them.”
Earlier, on August 18, an incident of cloud burst was reported after heavy rains in Tharali area of Chamoli in Uttarakhand.
After the cloud burst, the water level of Pranmati river started flowing above the danger mark and Pindar river also came in spate. Water from the rivers had entered people’s homes and the Shiva temple. This caused huge loss. Many houses are damaged.
