At least 14 individuals have lost their lives, while 102, including 22 military personnel, are reported missing in northeastern India today.
Heavy rainfall caused water levels to rise in a glacial lake, resulting in floods in a mountainous valley.
Authorities have revealed that this disaster, which has also caused damages to about 22,000 people, is the latest in a series of climate-related calamities plaguing the southern Asian mountain regions, all stemming from climate change.
A military spokesperson stated via the former Twitter platform “X,” “Search operations are underway amidst ongoing heavy rainfall and rapid water flow in the Teesta River, as well as road washouts and bridge collapses in several areas.”
A storm unleashed massive rainfall within a short span of time on Luna Lake Glacier on Wednesday, leading to sudden floods in the Teesta Valley, located nearly 150 kilometers north of Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim state, near the border with China.
The state’s disaster management agency reported that 26 individuals have been injured, while 102 remain missing as of the early hours of Thursday.
Furthermore, the floods have swept away 11 bridges.
The meteorological department has issued warnings of potential landslides and disruptions to air travel.
More rainfall is expected in the coming days in areas of Sikkim and neighboring states.
