Sikkim flash flood: Toll rises to 22, search for 103 missing people still on

On Day 3 of holocaust that initiated a flash flood and wreaked havoc in Sikkim‘s Teesta basin, the number of bodies recovered from the embankments downstream rose to 22, which also includes seven army men.

The incident happened after a cloudburst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim in the early hours of Wednesday triggered the flash flood.

According to the latest update, out of the 23 army personnels who has gone missing from Bardang area after a cloud burst, seven bodies have been recovered and one recovered alive from the area. However, the search for the other people is still on in Sikkim and north Bengal through which Teesta River flows.

As per sources, out of seven bodies of deceased army personnel, four have been identified. They are Gopal Maddi of Binnaguri military station, Naik Bhavani Singh Chouhan of 64 Brigade, Bengdubi, Naik N G Prasad and Bimal Oraon of Madhubagan in Alipurduar.

The officials have confirmed that the bodies have been recovered from the Teesta River basin and its tributaries in Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar districts and Siliguri area of Darjeeling district in the northern part of West Bengal, which shares border with the Himalayan state.

According to an official statement, of the 22 deceased, 15 have been identified as men, 6 as women while the gender of another body could not be ascertained as it was deformed a lot. In addition to this, a total of 103 people, including the 15 jawans, remained missing.

As per latest bulletin from Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA), at least, 2,411 people have been trapped due to the flash floods have been evacuated. The floods have displaced altogether 7,644 people who have been sheltered at 26 relief camps in four affected districts.

Meanwhile, union home minister Amit Shah has approved release of Rs 44.8 crore to Sikkim to provide relief to flood-hit people.