Sikkim flash floods: 47 dead, CM announces Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia to families of deceased, travels on foot to meet affected people

The CM announced an immediate relief of Rs 2,000 each for all those taking shelter in the camps. Around 6,875 people are taking shelter in 26 relief camps set up

Damaged roads, buildings, bridges and buried properties under flood silt bear the testimony of the devastation caused by a glacial lake outburst in Sikkim which is one of the worst so far ever in the history of the Himalayan state.

1. So far 47 persons have been confirmed dead in the disaster while the figures are likely to go up since 150 more are still missing. Among those missing also include 15 Army personnel (one has been rescued, 7 others found dead).
2. Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang today visited Naga, Rel and Toong areas in Mangan in Northern Sikkim. Lieutenant General Raghu Srinivasan, BRO Chief along with other officials from Delhi also accompanied the Chief Minister to oversee roads restoration work in the cut off areas. Roads are cut off to Chungthang, Lachen, Lachung areas which share borders with China.
3. The Sikkim government has expedited efforts to restore surface communication. Officials comprising cabinet minister Samdup Lepcha, DIG (North & East Range) Sikkim Police, Commanding Officer, ITBP and SDM, Chungthang were the first people to reach Chungthang after the disaster hit the area severely. Construction of log bridge to reconnect Chungthang is still in the works, as the totally washed out region has limited access to resources and man power. Road restoration works are also going on in North Sikkim. Ropeways have been built at Dzongu for communication as well as supply of essentials to the cut off areas.
4. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Kumar Mishra met Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya at the Raj Bhavan and discussed about the prevailing situation in the Himalayan state. The Union MoS Home assured all possible assistance from the Centre in dealing with the situation. He also held meetings with the Chief Secretary and other senior Sikkim government officials today.
5. Numerous officers, personnel from the NDRF, and Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA), and dedicated volunteers are tirelessly engaged in rescue and relief operations.
6. Harsh weather conditions has hampered operations to evacuate around 3,000 tourists and 800 taxi driver stuck in North Sikkim. IAF Mi 17 choppers could not take off due to inclement weather, reports said. Low cloud cover, and low visibility also hampered aerial rescue operations in Lachen and Lachung valleys.
7. Around 25,000 people have been affected and 1,173 buildings have been damaged. Almost 900 vehicles have been washed away. As per inputs 2,143 persons have been rescued so far.

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