Government of Sikkim
High water levels in the Teesta River in Sikkim, India, Wednesday, October 4, 2023. Twenty-three Indian Army soldiers are missing after a cloudburst triggered flash floods in the northeastern state.
CNN –
Five people have died and 23 Indian army personnel are missing in the northeastern Indian state of Sikkim after a cloudburst caused flash floods.
The flooding occurred in the Teesta river in Lachen Valley, Sikkim, due to a “sudden cloudburst” over Lhonak Lake in the northern part of the state, the Indian Army said in a statement. A cloudburst is a very sudden and destructive rainstorm.
The river’s water level rose very quickly, reaching about 15 to 20 feet higher than normal, the Army said, adding that 41 of its vehicles were submerged under the resulting slush.
Indian Army/AP
Floodwaters inundate buildings along the Teesta River in Sikkim, India, Wednesday, October 4, 2023.
Government of Sikkim
People inspect damage caused by flash floods in Sikkim, India, on Wednesday, October 4, 2023.
According to a statement from the Sikkim government, five bodies have been recovered. A search and rescue operation is underway and three people have been rescued.
According to the Sikkim government, at least three bridges have collapsed and around 420 people from two districts have been shifted to relief camps.
Floods are not uncommon in Sikkim, a Himalayan state, but scientists are clear that extreme weather events such as storms are becoming more frequent and severe as the human-caused climate crisis accelerates.