Flash floods toll in Sikkim, West Bengal climbs to 70
death toll in the flash floods in Sikkim and West Bengal has touched 70 even as Northern Sikkim still remains cut off. While 30 bodies were accounted for in Sikkim, 40 bodies were found on the Teesta river bed in neighbouring Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal.
Over 1,320 houses were severely damaged and 2,563 people were rescued.
Around 26 people, who sustained grievous injury, were hospitalised. Around 13 bridges downstream to the Teesta-V hydropower station were submerged or washed away, disrupting communication.
Over 3,000 tourists are stranded in Lachen and Lachung in Mangan district of Sikkim.
The Indian Air Force made multiple attempts to carry out rescue and relief operations using Mi-17 helicopters but was unable to fly from Bagdogra and Chaten due to inclement weather, low cloud cover, and low visibility conditions in the Lachen and Lachung valley in Sikkim.
As the bridges downstream the Teesta-V hydropower station have been submerged or washed out, communication to Northern Sikkim has been snapped. A state government official, who did not want to be named, said that relief and rescue teams have not been able to reach the upper reaches of North Sikkim, Chungthang, Lachen, and Lachung.
Those stranded in Mangan district have been asked not to panic as the evacuation process has started from October 6, subject to the weather condition.
Braving the harsh weather conditions, BRO personnel of Project Swastik have established first composite foot crossing over Teesta River at Chungthang facilitating rescue of 50 stranded tourists in Lachen Valley
In an advisory, the Sikkim government, however, stated that the tourist willing to visit Sikkim can go to the Western and Southern parts which are considered safe.
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