Eight Army personnel have lost their lives in the flash floods that followed a glacial lake burst in Sikkim this week, while search efforts to locate 14 missing soldiers are continuing, the Indian Army said on Saturday, adding that the operational situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is stable.
“Out of the 23 missing soldiers, one was rescued while mortal remains of eight brave soldiers were recovered. Their sacrifice, while being deployed in forward areas in the service of the nation, will not be forgotten. Search operations to rescue remaining 14 soldiers and missing civilians are underway,” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on X (formerly Twitter).
While the hinterland of Sikkim has been affected, the operational situation along the LAC in Sikkim continues to be stable, the army said in a statement. “The formations responsible for the Border Management Posture are maintaining high state of readiness and are optimally stocked as per the sustainable operational logistics plan,” it said.
Last rites
The statement said that the last rites of Naik Bimal Oraon, hailing from Alipurduar, were conducted on October 6 with full military honours. The mortal remains of four other soldiers were being taken to their native places on Saturday by service and civilian aircraft for the conduct of last rites in the presence of their family members, it added.
On the search and rescue efforts, the army said that bulldozers and plant equipment have been digging up the site of the incident at Burdang. Since Friday, radars and army dogs have also been employed in the search. So far, 15 vehicles out of the total 39 missing have been recovered, the statement said.
Ammo swept away
“Some ammunition, explosives and stores of the Indian Army from various camps swept away have been reported from various places along the downstream river banks,” the army said. Advisories have been issued through the civil administration and look-out teams have been deployed along with State police to warn local residents about any reporting sightings of such items. Ammunition experts have been deployed to destroy the explosives recovered in a controlled manner, it added.
The South Lhonak lake in northern Sikkim burst its bounds on the intervening night between October 3 and 4, and caused a devastating flood. The water level in the Teesta River increased by about 50 to 60 feet, causing calamitous floods downstream.
Some of the Army camps along the Teesta River bank were damaged or washed away . A vehicle parking area at Burdang near Singtam was affected by the flash flood, and 23 soldiers and 39 vehicles that were taking a temporary overnight transit halt have been submerged in silt or swept away, the army said.
Supply and evacuation support
National Highway 10, the lifeline of Sikkim, has been rendered unusable due to damages to the road surface, as well as to many bridges across the Teesta River. The opening and widening of stretch of road between Rangpo and Singtam is under progress, the army said.
The army is also assisting the civil administration in evacuating stranded civilians, and providing food, medical aid, and telephone connectivity through satellite terminals. Some of them have been accommodated in army camps.
“Helicopters of Indian Army and Indian Air Force are undertaking emergency supply and evacuation sorties. However, the inclement weather and incessant rains have hindered the aerial operations,” the army said, adding that an exact assessment of the damage is yet to be corroborated due to the inclement weather and incessant rains.
