Atleast 23 Indian Army soldiers went missing in Northeast state
Shares
On Wednesday, the Indian army reported that 23 soldiers had gone missing following a devastating flash flood triggered by heavy rainfall in the mountainous northeastern state of Sikkim. The flood resulted from a sudden cloud burst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim, causing the Teesta River to surge. The army confirmed that 23 personnel were unaccounted for, and some vehicles were submerged in the slush. Search and rescue operations are currently in progress.
This remote region is situated near the Indian-Nepal border, with Lhonak Lake nestled at the base of a glacier amidst the snow-capped peaks that encompass Kangchenjunga, the world's third-highest mountain.
The army noted that the river's water level was already more than 4.5 meters (15 feet) higher than usual due to water released upstream from the Chungthang dam.
Photographs released by the army depicted water engulfing the first floor of buildings and streaming through a town's streets, where only the top of a small construction crane remained visible.
Local media also captured Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang discussing the flood situation in the town of Singtam, which is downstream from the area where the soldiers went missing, while holding an umbrella during heavy rainfall.
