Indian army reports 23 soldiers missing in flash flood
On Wednesday the Indian Army made a troubling announcement, revealing that 23 soldiers were unaccounted for following a powerful flash flood that occurred due to heavy rainfall in a valley located in the mountainous region of northeast Sikkim state.
The army issued a statement, explaining, 'As a result of a sudden cloud burst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim, a flash flood occurred in the Teesta River... 23 personnel have been reported missing, and some vehicles are believed to be submerged under the slush.'
The statement also noted that search and rescue operations were actively in progress.
The remote area where this calamity unfolded is in proximity to India's border with Nepal. Lhonak Lake sits at the foot of a glacier nestled within the snowy peaks that encompass Kangchenjunga, the world's third-highest mountain.
The Indian Army further reported that the water released upstream from the Chungthang dam had caused the river's water level to surge significantly, surpassing its usual levels by more than 4.5 meters (15 feet).
Experts have emphasized that the frequency and intensity of such flash floods are on the rise, largely attributed to the effects of climate change.
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