23 Army personnel go missing in flashfloods in Sikkim, rescue operations underway

23 army personnel go missing in Sikkim as sudden cloud burst triggers massive flash floods in the Teesta River on Wednesday. Sikkim saw heavy rain throughout the night. A cloudburst over Lhonak Lake in northern Sikkim caused it to overflow, raising water levels in the Teesta River. Settlements along the Lanchen Valley have severely been affected. Search operations are underway.

"Release of water from the Chungthang dam led to a sudden increase in water level upto 15-20 feet high downstream. This has led to Army vehicles parked at Bardang near Singtam getting affected. 23 personnel have been reported missing and some vehicles are reported submerged under the slush. Search operations are underway," reads a statement released by the Army’s Eastern Command.

A high alert has been issues to the citizens by the state authorities. Videos captured by the locals that have surfaced on social media show chunks of the national highway that have been washed away in the floods. Electric poles have been toppled over and vehicles are reportedly submerged under slush.

During his visit to the affected area, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang said, "Nobody has been injured but there has been significant damage to public property. Some people have also been reported missing in Singtam. Relief operations are on.”

The India Meteorological Department has issued a warning asking the people of the low-lying areas of Gazoldoba, Domohani, Mekhaliganj and Ghish to stay alert.