In a grim turn of events, the Indian army has reported that 23 of its soldiers are currently missing following a formidable flash flood triggered by intense rainfall that ravaged a remote valley in the mountainous region of northeast Sikkim state. This catastrophic incident unfolded due to an abrupt cloud burst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim, resulting in a flash flood that surged into the Teesta River. The army has confirmed that some vehicles have been submerged under the slush, and they have initiated search operations to locate the missing personnel.
This remote area is in close proximity to India’s border with Nepal, and Lhonak Lake is nestled at the foothills of a glacier, surrounded by the lofty peaks that encompass Kangchenjunga, the third-highest mountain in the world.
Furthermore, it has been revealed that water discharged upstream from the Chungthang dam had already elevated the river’s water level to more than 4.5 meters (15 feet) above its usual levels.
Release of water from the #Chungthang dam led to a sudden increase in water level upto 15-20 feet high downstream.#SikkimFlood@indiatvnews pic.twitter.com/RMXQ8abIpT
— Manish Prasad (@manishindiatv) October 4, 2023
A video released by an Indian army spokesperson depicts a turbulent torrent of muddy water surging through densely forested valleys, causing roads to vanish and power lines to be torn asunder.
Flash floods, a recurring occurrence during the monsoon season, typically commencing in June and receding from the Indian subcontinent by the end of September, have taken on an alarming frequency and severity, attributed in part to the influence of climate change.
Notably, additional images shared by the army portray water inundating the first floors of structures, submerging streets in a town, with only the apex of a diminutive construction crane discernible above the deluge.
Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang was seen in local media, standing beneath an umbrella amid a downpour, earnestly discussing flood-related issues in the downstream town of Singtam, situated farther from the location where the soldiers went missing.
The monsoon phenomenon transpires when the summer heat raises the temperature of the subcontinent’s landmass, prompting the ascent of air and the influx of cooler Indian Ocean winds, resulting in copious rainfall. Regrettably, this season also invariably brings widespread destruction in the form of landslides and floods. The exacerbation of such disasters is exacerbated by the melting glaciers, compounded by unchecked construction in flood-prone zones.
A dire consequence of climate change is the accelerated melting of Himalayan glaciers, which now pose an escalating threat to vulnerable communities, rendering them susceptible to capricious and exorbitant calamities. A report issued by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in June disclosed that glaciers receded 65 percent more swiftly from 2011 to 2020 compared to the preceding decade. If current emissions trends persist, these glaciers could forfeit up to 80 percent of their present volume by the close of this century, as cautioned by the report.
