Around 14 people are feared to be trapped in the tunnels of Chungthang in North Sikkim. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will be travelling to the remote areas of the region in a race against time to rescue the people trapped in the tunnels on Friday. A dozen-off people are feared being trapped in tunnels for 48 hours without food, water or any possible exit. It is also unsure whether these people are still alive or not.Between 6am and 6.30am on Friday, a team of 60 rescuers was said to deployed to rescue the ones trapped in the tunnels, as per media reports. The rescuer team will comprise land rescuers and scuba divers and will be armed with hammers, water guns, rock cutters, satellite phones, generator sets and lifesaving medical equipment. With an unknown outcome for this operation, the teams say they are hopeful.Our teams are ready and we hope they are all alive. By the time we reach, it will be more than 48 hours since the incident, But we are positive that they are alive,” said an NDRF official aware of the operation.Sikkim flash floodThe death toll of the Sikkim flash flood has risen to 19 with 103 more still missing, officials said on Friday. The Army and NDRF teams are working their way through the flood-ridden area in search of those who were swept away and are still missing, officials said.19 people dead, 103 missing in the Sikkim flash floods: State Disaster Management Authority— ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2023As many as 2,011 people have been rescued so far. According to the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA), the calamity has affected 22,034 people, reported news agency PTI.According to reports, over 3,000 tourists, including foreigners, are stuck in various parts of Sikkim. Officials said that the evacuation of the stranded tourists was a priority and it has been decided to airlift them up to Mangan, however, the bad weather conditions did not allow them to do so on Thursday.Due to the poor weather, sending out rescue teams was a challenge for the NDRF. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD showers will spare rain-wrecked north Sikkim on Friday.With the rain subsided rescue operations are to continue properly but the mission could be disrupted if the conditions are unconducive.As per reports, around 10,000 people have been affected by the calamity in the Mangan district, 6,895 people were affected in Pakyong, 2,579 in Namchi, and 2,570 people in Gangtok.
