Inter-Ministerial Committee to visit flash flood hit Sikkim to assess damages & provide assistance; Death toll rises to 32

By  Firstdespatch Desk   Oct 08, 2023

In flash floods hit Sikkim, the death toll rises to 30 including 9 Indian army personnel. State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) confirmed that 81 people are still missing after the glacial-fed Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim which triggered a flash flood in the Teesta River basin on the 4th of October.

A total of 1320 houses were severely damaged. Till date, 2563 people have been rescued. Around 7,025 persons have taken shelter in 30 relief camps. Due to flash floods in the Teesta River basin, 13 bridges were washed away.

Yesterday, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Ajay Kumar Mishra chaired a meeting with Sikkim chief secretary, departments, Army, ITBP, BRO, NHIDCL and NHPC at Tashiling Secretariat in Gangtok. Addressing the meeting, Mr. Mishra said that the central government is closely monitoring the situation in Sikkim and all necessary assistance for the state is being provided. He said that the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister are in constant touch with Sikkim Chief Minister.

He informed that the central government has constituted an inter-ministerial committee comprising senior officers from five ministries, agriculture, road transport & highways, Jal Shakti, energy and finance. The committee will visit Sikkim from today, October 8 to take stock of the ground situation, assess damages, and provide assistance.
 
Mr. Mishra informed that the central government has granted an advance sanction of the allocated budget for NDRF and SDRF for 2023-24 to enable the state to carry out immediate rescue, relief, and restoration.

He assured that the central government will leave no stone unturned to restore normalcy in Sikkim. He urged state government officials to prepare short-term and long-term plans to effectively rebuild infrastructure.