Sikkim flash flood death toll increases to 54 including 8 Army soldiers
Sikkim and West Bengal. The death toll includes eight Indian Army soldiers in Sikkim, while 27 bodies were recovered in West Bengal over the last three days.
More than 140 people are still missing.
According to the Sikkim government, 1,173 homes have been severely damaged and 2,413 people have been rescued.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh said on microblogging platform X, «Deeply pained by the tragic loss of precious lives including eight Army personnel in the recent flash floods arising out of glacial lake burst in Sikkim.
Out of the 23 missing soldiers, one was rescued while mortal remains of eight brave soldiers were recovered. Their sacrifice, while being deployed in forward areas in the service of the nation, will not be forgotten.
Search operations to rescue the remaining 14 soldiers and missing civilians are underway».
Sikkim CM Prem Singh Tamang said rescue operations are underway and that relief teams are putting all efforts to ensure that the displaced families are put on the path to normalcy at the earliest. Tamang announced ex-gratia of ₹4 lakhs each to the families of the deceased.
