By Tsering Dhundup
DHARAMSHALA, Oct 11: In response to the recent devastating floods that have caused extensive damage in Chungthang, Sikkim, the Gangtok Tibetan Settlement Officer (TSO) has initiated an appeal for fundraising to support the affected communities.
Five Tibetan houses were reported to be completely washed away due to a flash flood in Chungthang, North Sikkim earlier this month. The force of the floodwaters has resulted in the destruction of these homes, leaving the affected families without shelter. No casualties have been reported as of now.
Speaking to Phayul, the Welfare Officer of Sikkim, Lhakpa Tsering, provided information regarding the situation in Chungthang. He confirmed the disruption in communication networks and transportation, and expressed the challenges faced in reaching out to the Tibetan residents in the affected area. Tsering mentioned that the road leading to Chungthang has been cut off, making it impossible for authorities and relief teams to reach the affected area. He further noted that other Tibetan settlements in the state of Sikkim have not been affected by the flood, and the disaster appears to be limited to the Chungthang area.
Recent media reports indicate that Chungthang town suffered the most significant impact, with approximately 80 percent of the town severely affected by the flood which began around 1 a.m. on October 4. Sikkim’s Chief Minister, Prem Singh Tamang, has confirmed that connectivity to the northern part of the state has been completely severed, exacerbating the challenges faced by the affected communities.
Speaking to the media, CM Tamang attributed the destruction of the Chungthang dam to substandard construction practices, stating, “The dam was washed away because its construction was not done in a proper way.” The flash flood in the Teesta River was triggered by a cloudburst in Lhonak Lake, leading to the accumulation of a large volume of water that subsequently targeted the Chungthang Dam. This resulted in the destruction of the dam and the power infrastructure, causing flooding in towns and villages downstream.
According to media reports, the flood wreaked havoc on Sikkim’s infrastructure, destroying a total of 13 bridges in the state. Mangan district bore the brunt with eight bridges being washed away, while three were destroyed in Gangtok and two in Namchi.
The death toll in the Sikkim flash floods has risen to 21. Seven bodies of the 23 army personnel who went missing from the Burdang area were recovered from different downstream locations, and one soldier has been rescued. The search is still ongoing for the remaining 15 missing soldiers, according to the Chief Minister. Till date, 2,411 individuals have been evacuated and provided shelter in relief camps. The disaster has affected over 22,000 people, as reported by the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority. Additionally, the NH-10, considered the state’s lifeline, has suffered extensive damage at multiple points due to the flood.
