Seven people were saved by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) on Wednesday in Singtam, Sikkim, from the effects of a cloudburst that caused a situation resembling a flood. One team from the NDRF has been stationed in Gangtok, and two more teams are stationed in Sikkim’s surrounding regions.
“Our teams have rescued seven people from Singtam. We have deployed one NDRF team to Gangtok and two to adjoining areas of Sikkim in West Bengal,” the NDRF said.
The NDRF moved its teams soon after it got the information about the cloudburst that led to the flood-like situation in the region.
23 Indian Army personnel were caught in a flash flood in Sikkim late on Tuesday night and are now missing, in a tragic incident. They come from various units, the troopers. The sudden cloudburst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim caused a flash flood in the Teesta River in the Lachen Valley, which resulted in the reported disappearance of 23 army personnel, according to the Defence PRO in Guwahati earlier.
“Due to a sudden cloud burst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim, a flash flood occurred in Teesta River in Lachen Valley. Some army establishments along the valley have been affected and efforts are on to confirm details. A total of 23 personnel have been reported missing and some vehicles are reported submerged under the slush. Search operations are underway,” said the Defence PRO.
Residents of Dikchu village along the river belt have been evacuated to a nearby school, according to Sikkim government officials, and all affected residents of Singtam town have been taken to safe places.