Sikkim flash floods: Rajya Sabha MP Hishey Lachungpa writes to PM Modi, seeks Centre’s help

Amid the catastrophic flash floods which are wreaking havoc in the Himalayan state of Sikkim, MP Rajya Sabha, Sikkim, Hishey Lachungpa has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singha and Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and sought centre’s help.

Around 12 to 14 workers working in the Teesta Stage 3 dam in Chungthang are stranded in the tunnels of the dam

So far ten people have died and over 82 have gone missing, including 22 Army men, 3000 tourists stranded and 24 bridges have collapsed.

In his letter, MP Hishey Lachungpa wrote, “It is with a heavy heart that I am necessitated to inform you that a large-scale catastrophic disaster has occurred in Sikkim due to heavy rainfall and a glacial outburst of Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim, the source of the Teesta River, at the midnight of 3rd October 2023.”

“North Sikkim, particularly, Indo-China Border Areas comprising of Lachung, Lachen, Chungthang, Naga Namgor and Dzongu under Mangan District have been completely cut off. Defence areas are affected by high casualties, establishments are washed off too. Major Bridges and portions of the National Highway have been washed away. 1200 MW Teesta Urja Dam has also been washed off. Settlements along Dikchu, Singtam, Rangpo and Melli areas in Sikkim and Melli and Teesta Bazaar under West Bengal have been gravely affected. People’s lives, households, National Highway and Bridges have been washed away.

Entire Sikkim has been physically cut off from the rest of the Country due to the onslaught of sudden flooding of River Teesta from its source.
I request you to urgently send a High-Level Central Team to inspect Sikkim and affected areas and prepare necessary and immediate Relief measures and long term solution to Sikkim, Teesta affected areas under Darjeeling and Kalimpong Districts of West Bengal,” the letter further read.

Earlier, one of the 23 missing Army personnel was rescued and the search for 22 Army men continues.

Also Read : Sikkim Flash Flood: One of the 23 missing Indian Army men rescued, search for others continue