Sikkim floods: Death toll reaches 30, rescue workers find 62 missing alive, central team to visit on Sunday


The death toll in the floods in Sikkim rose to 30 as four more bodies were found on Saturday, while 62 people who were reported missing earlier were found alive in the state to be identified. An inter-ministerial team from the central government will visit. loss

The Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) said in its latest bulletin on Saturday evening that the number of missing persons now stands at 81 for whom search operations are in full swing. Floods triggered by a cloudburst early Wednesday affected 41,870 people in four districts of the Himalayan state, with Mangan bearing the brunt of the disaster as a population of about 30,300 was affected. The other three affected districts are Gangtok, Pakyang and Namchi. Of the 30 deaths – four in Mangan, six in Gangtok district, 19 in Pakyong and one in Namchi. The report said that nine army personnel were among the 19 people killed in Pakyong. Twenty-three soldiers went missing on October 3 and one of them was rescued earlier.

The army is continuing to search for the remaining missing personnel. Special radars, drones and army dogs have been deployed for this task. Officials said that 15 of the 39 army vehicles that went missing that day have been recovered so far from under several feet of mud. Union Minister Ajay Kumar Mishra said a team comprising senior officials from five Union ministries — agriculture, road transport and highways, water resources, energy and finance — will visit the northeastern state from Sunday to assess the damage caused by the floods. could

“The team will visit Sikkim from tomorrow to assess the situation on the ground, assess the extent of damage and provide assistance where necessary,” Union Minister of State for Home Affairs told reporters here.

Mishra asked the state government officials to prepare short-term and long-term plans to effectively carry out the task of rebuilding the damaged infrastructure in the shortest possible time.

The release has been approved by the Centre. 44.8 crore as an advance from the central portion of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to provide relief to the flood-affected people of Sikkim. Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Saturday visited the disaster-hit areas in North Sikkim and inspected the damaged infrastructure.

He also chaired a meeting with district and ward members of Tonga Naga Gram Panchayat unit along with representatives of GREF, BRO and officials of concerned departments. During the meeting, it was decided to immediately establish a route for transporting relief goods by road. The Chief Minister inspected the site of Sanklan Bridge (Zongo) which has been swept away. He said that a 55-meter long bailey bridge would soon be constructed over the Sinkalan River to restore vehicular traffic between Zhongo and Mangane, adding that the local people would use it for immediate transportation of groceries and other basic amenities. A zip line has been installed with help. On the Dzongu side which is now completely cut off.

A zipline is a cable or rope stretched between two points of different heights, down which a person or material can slide by means of a suspended harness, pulley or handle.

National Highway 10, Sikkim’s lifeline, has been rendered unusable due to damage to the road surface and several bridges across the Teesta River. The opening and widening of the stretch between Rangpo and Sangtam is in progress.

Alternative routes to the state capital Gangtok are available via East Sikkim and also via West and South Sikkim. However, in North Sikkim, roads beyond Mangan are currently cut off.

Tamang also visited a relief camp located in ITI Chade where 32 families from the affected areas have been sheltered.

He also handed over financial assistance to the family members for emergency purposes.

Tamang had earlier announced ex gratia. 4 lakhs and immediate relief for the next of kin of the deceased 2000 per person for all persons taking shelter in the camps. So far, 2,563 people have been rescued from different areas and 6,875 people have taken shelter in 30 relief camps across the state, most of whom are cut off from the rest of the country. The floods also damaged more than 1,320 houses and washed away 13 bridges in four districts of the picturesque Himalayan state, the report said. More than 3,000 tourists stranded after floods in Lachan and Laching in Mangan district of Sikkim are safe, officials said on Saturday.

The Indian Air Force made several attempts to carry out rescue and relief operations by Mi-17 helicopters but were unable to fly from Bagdogra and Chittan due to bad weather.

The army along with the local administration is providing assistance to stranded tourists and locals by providing food, medical aid and telephone connectivity through satellite terminals.

Officials said the teams have collected data of all the tourists staying in various hotels and some of them were staying in army camps.

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This story was republished from a wire agency feed without editing the text. Only the title has been changed.

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