Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Saturday said that maximum damage in the flash floods in Teesta River took place after the 1200 MW dam in Chungthang in the State’s Mangan district broke alleging substandard construction work by the previous government in the State.
“The maximum damage took place after the Chungthang Dam broke. If the previous government had constructed the dam properly and if standard work had been done, the force of the water could have been controlled,” Chief Minister Tamang told ANI. The chief minister visited flood affected areas and relief camps at Naga Village in Mangan to assess the situation and interacted with people there this morning.
Chief Minister Tamang said that a committee will be formed and an investigation will be undertaken. “We will take help from the Central agency and make sure that the culprits are punished,” he said.
The Lhonak glacier in the Sikkim Himalayas burst and started to overflow breaching one side of the lake on October 3 leading to the rise in the water levels in Teesta and inundate several areas of the state.
The 1200 MW dam Teesta Stage III hydel power project in Chungthang village was commissioned in the year 2017. The Chief Minister said that he will also visit the areas severely affected by the calamity in Mangan and will also engage in discussions with the families affected in Naga, Rel, and Toong wards.
The Sikkim Chief Minister said that schools in Rangpo and Singhtham districts have been closed till october 15as these district are on risk zone. “We have not closed the schools of West Sikkim.” CM Tamang said that President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minster Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had called and enquired about the situation in the state.
“The Government of India is providing all possible help. Logistic support, Army, and financial aid for immediate relief are being provided by the government. The Centre is monitoring the situation closely. President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah called me to take stock of the situation,” Tamang said. The chief minister said that priority now remains to rescue those stranded and restore electricity and water supply.
“According to yesterday’s data, 19 bodies have been recovered, 103 are missing. Out of the 22 missing Army officials, 7 bodies have been found. Some more bodies were recovered late at night, we are counting the numbers. The total number of affected families is over 22,000 and we have rescued over 3900 people and have kept them at rescue camps. There are around 26 relief camps currently running in Sikkim,” the chief minister said.
As per the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) report released this morning of October 6 at midnight, the death toll was registered at 26. with 142 people still reported missing.It said 2413 people have been rescued, and 1203 houses have been damaged in the flash flood.
“A committee has also been formed to look into the scale of damage. After the committee assessment report, we will able to tell the actual loss” the Sikkim chief minister said.
A total of 1173 houses were severely damaged. 2413 people were rescued and 26 persons were injured. Due to flash floods in the Teesta River basin, 13 bridges were washed away. A total of 6875 people are living in 22 relief camps. 25,065 people have been affected by the flood read the statement from Sikkim Disaster Management Authority.
On Friday evening Chief Minister Tamang chaired a high-level meeting at his official residence in Mintokgang. The meeting was attended by Director General of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Lt. Gen. Raghu Srinivasan, Chief Secretary of the Government of Sikkim, VB Pathak, DGP Sikkim, AK Singh, Deputy GOC of the 17 Mountain Division, DIG of ITBP, Chief Engineer of BRO, Swastik, Deputy Commandant ITBP, and senior officers of the State government and the Army.
