Sikkim floods: Death toll rises to 30 as rescuers find 62 missing people alive, Central team set to visit on Sunday

livemint.com:

₹44.8 crore as an advance amount from the central share of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to Sikkim to provide relief to flash floods-affected people. Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Saturday visited the disaster-affected areas in north Sikkim and inspected damaged infrastructures. He also chaired a meeting with Zilla and ward members of Toong Naga Gram Panchayat Unit alongside representatives of GREF, BRO and officials of concerned departments.

During the meeting, it was decided to immediately establish a route for transportation to bring in relief materials by road. The chief minister inspected the spot of the Sankalan bridge (Dzongu) that has been washed away. A 55-metre-long Bailey bridge over the Sankalan river will be built soon to restore vehicular movement between Dzongu and Mangane, he said, adding that a zip line has been installed with the help of locals for quick transportation of groceries and other basic amenities towards Dzongu which is completely cut off at present.

A zip line is a cable or rope stretched between two points of different heights, down which a person or materials can slide with the help of a suspended harness, pulley or handle. National Highway 10, the lifeline of Sikkim, has been rendered unusable due to damage to the road surface and many bridges across the Teesta River. The opening and widening process of the stretch between Rangpo and Singtam is in progress.

Alternate routes to the state capital Gangtok are available via East Sikkim and routes to West and South Sikkim are also available. However, in North Sikkim, roads beyond Mangan are currently cut off. Tamang also visited a relief camp located at ITI Chadey where 32 families of the affected areas have been sheltered.