Sikkim Floods: Sikkims Chief Minister, Prem Singh Tamang, ventured to Chungthang on Sunday, where a dam was swept away in the wake of flash floods that occurred on October 4. The visit aimed to evaluate the extensive damage caused by the collapse of the Teesta Stage III dam and the resultant flooding in the Teesta basin.Surveying the Extent of DestructionDuring his visit, the Chief Minister not only assessed the scale of devastation but also engaged with the affected families to oversee ongoing relief efforts. The flash floods in the Teesta River on October 4 led to the destruction of settlements in Sikkim, the Chungthang Dam, multiple bridges, and sections of National Highway 10. These catastrophic events claimed numerous lives, left many missing, and rendered thousands homeless.Repairing and Rebuilding Efforts ContinueSecurity forces remain dedicated to the extensive task of repairing roads and other vital connectivity infrastructure damaged by the flooding. The Indian Air Force and Indian Army have conducted numerous relief operations in Sikkim, undertaking search and rescue missions and restoring roads and bridges.Humanitarian ConcernsThe flood claimed the lives of at least 70 individuals, and others are still unaccounted for. The Indian Air Force, using helicopters such as Cheetah, Chinook, Mi-17 1V, and Mi-17 V5, has been instrumental in these relief operations. Their efforts have included transporting people from flood-affected areas to safe locations and delivering essential relief supplies to impacted regions.Government Aid for LabourersThe Sikkim government, in recognition of the challenges posed by the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood across the Teesta River Basin in Gangtok, extended a relief of Rs 10,000 each to labourers registered under the Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) Welfare Board. This announcement was made during an event held at Chintan Bhawan in Gangtok, where over 8,733 affected labourers received cheques from Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay as part of the distress relief assistance program.(With ANI Inputs)
