Thirty-four bodies—including those of 10 army jawans—have been recovered so far from the slush and debris of the flash flood in Teesta river that devastated Sikkim, while the search continued for the over 105 people who are still missing, officials said on Monday. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has begun rescue and relief operations in the Himalayan state, airlifting the first batch of stranded tourists from Lachen to Mangan in North Sikkim.
Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang held a review meeting with Chief Secretary VB Pathak, Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pande, and other officials for coordinated relief and rescue operations along with armed forces. Apart from the 34 fatalities reported in Sikkim, the Jalpaiguri district administration in adjoining northern West Bengal said that 40 bodies have been fished out from downstream Teesta. However, officials have issued warnings that there might be some duplication in the toll reported by the two states.
In Sikkim, Pakyong district reported the maximum number of fatalities at 22, including 10 army personnel, followed by six in Gangtok, four in Mangan and two in Namchi. A total of 105 people have been missing since a cloudburst over Lhonak Lake caused an upsurge in the Teesta River six days ago. The event has caused flooding inseveral towns on the river basin across four districts in the Himalayan state. Of the missing people, 63 are from Pakyong, 20 from Gangtok, 16 from Mangan and six from Namchi. As many as 3,432 houses have been damaged, while 5,327 people have been rescued and evacuated and 14 bridges have been either washed out or submerged.
A total 6,505 people have been rendered homeless and sheltered at 26 relief camps in four districts. The number of people affected stands at 85,870. The IAF in its first batch of operations rescued stranded tourists from Lachen to Mangan aboard a helicopter, a Defence official said. It also carried emergency service personnel and essential supplies to Lachen. The exact number of tourists rescued in the first batch is not immediately known but the MI-17 helicopter used in the operation has a capacity to transport 25-30 people.
The Met Department on Monday forecast light to moderate rain in many places accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning in sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim over the next five days. Meanwhile, the Jalpaiguri district administration in West Bengal has said they have so far recovered 40 bodies from the downstream of the Teesta River. Officials said 10 bodies have so far been identified. Since bodies are still being found from the slush and debris left behind by Teesta in both states, the exact toll will be clear in the next few days officials said.