On Wednesday, the Indian army reported that 23 soldiers had gone missingfollowing a devastating flash flood triggered by heavy rainfall in themountainous northeastern state of Sikkim. The flood resulted from a suddencloud burst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim, causing the Teesta River tosurge. The army confirmed that 23 personnel were unaccounted for, and somevehicles were submerged in the slush. Search and rescue operations arecurrently in progress.
This remote region is situated near the Indian-Nepal border, with LhonakLake nestled at the base of a glacier amidst the snow-capped peaks thatencompass Kangchenjunga, the world’s third-highest mountain.
The army noted that the river’s water level was already more than 4.5meters (15 feet) higher than usual due to water released upstream from theChungthang dam.
Photographs released by the army depicted water engulfing the first floorof buildings and streaming through a town’s streets, where only the top ofa small construction crane remained visible.
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Local media also captured Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamangdiscussing the flood situation in the town of Singtam, which is downstreamfrom the area where the soldiers went missing, while holding an umbrelladuring heavy rainfall.
