As of the latest reports, over 3,000 tourists who were stranded in the areas of Lachen and Lachung, situated in Mangan district of Sikkim, have been confirmed to be safe. The reason for their predicament was a flash flood that struck the region. Despite the challenging circumstances, efforts have been made to ensure their well-being.
The Indian Air Force embarked on multiple attempts to conduct rescue and relief operations using Mi-17 helicopters. Unfortunately, these efforts were hampered by adverse weather conditions, characterized by inclement weather, low-lying cloud cover, and poor visibility in the Lachen and Lachung valley, which prevented the helicopters from taking off from both Bagdogra and Chaten.
Furthermore, the roadways connecting Lachen and Lachung have been damaged due to the natural disaster. To address this challenge, work is underway to open an alternative route to Chungthang via Dzongu, which will enable the rescue teams to advance towards the affected areas.
Teesta Urja has also extended support by providing a helicopter for the purpose of rescuing stranded tourists and delivering essential supplies to the Chungthang region.
Presently, a team from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has reached the area and is actively engaged in relief and rescue operations in Chungthang. The India Meteorological Department has issued a weather forecast for the Mangan district, indicating the likelihood of light to moderate rain in most areas of the district over the next five days. Additionally, generally cloudy to overcast conditions are anticipated in Lachen and Lachung during this period.
While the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, in conjunction with state agencies, are actively involved in rescue operations in areas such as Singtam, Bardang, and Rangpo, it's important to note that they have yet to reach the upper regions of North Sikkim, specifically Chungthang, Lachen, and Lachung.
To address this limitation, smaller teams comprising state agency personnel, including senior government officials, have undertaken treks from Mangan to Chungthang. These teams are assessing the damage and providing crucial information to the state government.
Additional rescue teams, including personnel from the India Reserve Battalion based in Mangan, are en route to Chungthang to bolster ongoing efforts.
Chungthang, in particular, bore the brunt of the flash flood in the Teesta river. Reports from the rescue teams that have reached Chungthang indicate that approximately 80% of the town has sustained damage as a result of the flash flood.
This unfortunate natural disaster was triggered by a cloudburst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim, which occurred during the early hours of Wednesday. Tragically, this event resulted in the loss of 27 lives, including eight Army personnel, with 141 people reported as missing. The flash flood also caused extensive damage, including the destruction of over 1,200 houses and the washing away of 13 bridges in the picturesque Himalayan state.
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