The Indian Himalayan region has been severely affected by flooding after the waters from the glacial South Lhonak lake ruptured a hydroelectric dam. This catastrophe, which started on Wednesday, caused flash floods in the mountainous state of Sikkim, specifically affecting towns and villages situated along the Teesta River in the Lachen Valley. Official counts indicate that around 22,000 residents are affected, with approximately 100 individuals still unaccounted for, which includes 22 soldiers. By Thursday, an official death count stood at 18 in Sikkim, while 22 more bodies were discovered downstream in the adjacent West Bengal state.
In the wake of the disaster, relief camps have been initiated to assist the affected residents. Additionally, the Indian army has announced plans to airlift about 1,500 tourists stranded due to the flood. The deluge washed away eleven bridges, severely damaged pipelines, and either damaged or entirely destroyed more than 270 homes across four districts.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office has pledged to assist state governments during the flood’s aftermath. Notably, waters from the South Llonak Lake have been consistently rising over recent years, a consequence of global warming causing the glaciers feeding the lake to melt. The sudden, intense downpours, known as cloudbursts, are suspected to have initiated the dam’s breach, though the exact cause is yet to be officially determined. These extreme rainfall events have become alarmingly frequent in the Himalayan regions, leaving experts concerned.
This flood disaster is not isolated; northeast India has experienced a series of flood-related tragedies this year due to unusually severe monsoon rains. Previously, both the Himachal Pradesh state in August and northern India in July suffered massive damages, with the latter’s record rainfall resulting in over 100 casualties.
