Sikkim-Bengal Floods LIVE: Central Team To Visit Flood-Hit Sikkim To Assess Damage, Says MoS

Sikkim-Bengal Floods LIVE: Please follow this space for all the latest updates on Sikkim-Bengal floods.

Background

Sikkim-Bengal Floods LIVE: Follow this space for all the latest updates on the floods in Sikkim and Bengal.So far, at least 25 people have lost their lives and 143 are reportedly missing after the flash flood struck River Teesta during the early hours of Wednesday. The Indian Army and the NDRF are leading the search and rescue operations in the Himalayan state.Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang has announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the next of kin of those who died in the state due to the flash floods. He also declared an immediate relief of Rs 2,000 to each person who is being sheltered in relief camps right now. There has been damage worth at least thousands of crores.At least 26 students from Meghalaya were stranded in Sikkim after flash floods impacted connectivity by damaging the roads and bridges in Sikkim, said officials on Friday. All 26 students have now been rescued successfully. Out of 31 students from Meghalaya, who were studying in Sikkim, five returned to their hometowns earlier, leaving 26 who now have been rescued.Earlier, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Thursday said the ecology is being destroyed in the name of development. Bose maintained his stance that specific studies need to be undertaken in order to mitigate disasters like this. While speaking to reporters on the way to the flood-struck areas of northern West Bengal, he said that a permanent solution must be found so that such calamities do not strike again.Various areas in Kalimpong, including Teesta Bazar and Rampu, were hit by floods. National Highway 10, which connects Siliguri with Gangtok, was closed near Kalimpong, reported ABP Ananda. A red alert was issued in areas near the banks of the Teesta, including Ghazaldoba, due to a rise in the water levels.West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee earlier said that 10,000 people were rescued and kept in 190 relief camps in nine districts in the southern and northern parts of the state.

07/10/2023 22:11:55

Operational Readiness Along LAC Sikkim Sector Stable: Army

Flash floods in hinterland of Sikkim not affecting operational readiness along LAC Sikkim sector and it continues to be stable, Army officials said. "Army, other agencies continue search, rescue ops; also focusing on resuscitation of communication, other infrastructure," the Army said in a statement, as reported by PTI.  

07/10/2023 19:12:01

Central Team To Visit Flood-Hit Sikkim To Assess Damage, Says MoS

An inter-ministerial central team will visit flood-hit Sikkim to assess the damage, Union Minister Ajay Kumar Mishra said, as reported by PTI.

07/10/2023 19:09:48

Odisha Guv, CM Patnaik Pay Tributes To State's Army Jawan Killed In Sikkim Flash Floods

Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday paid tributes to Indian Army jawan Saroj Kumar Das, who lost his life in the Sikkim flash flood, after his mortal remains arrived in Bhubaneswar, PTI reported. He was also accorded a guard of honour in the state capital.

07/10/2023 16:38:20

Sikkim Flash Floods: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Expresses Grief Over Death Of Civilians, Army Personnel

On Sikkim flash floods, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted, "Deeply pained by the tragic loss of precious lives including eight Army personnel in the recent flash floods arising out of glacial lake burst in Sikkim. 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."

07/10/2023 16:33:56

Sikkim Flash Floods: 150 Labourers At Railway Construction Site Have Narrow Escape

Around 150 labourers engaged in constructing tunnels for Indian Railways near the Sikkim-West Bengal border had a narrow escape as they were rescued minutes before the raging Teesta waters washed away their camp and almost all of their belongings, PTI reported. 

07/10/2023 15:32:34

Sikkim Flash Floods: Over 3,000 Tourists Stranded In Lachen, Lachung

Over 3,000 tourists are stranded in Lachen and Lachung in Mangan district of Sikkim after the flash floods, PTI reported. The Indian Air Force made several attempts to carry out rescue operations by Mi-17 helicopters but was unable to fly from Bagdogra and Chaten due to the inclement weather, low-lying cloud cover and low visibility conditions in Lachen and Lachung valley.

07/10/2023 13:19:48

Sikkim-Bengal Floods LIVE: Search Operation Continues

Search operations are ongoing to find the 142 people who are reported missing in the flood-hit regions of Sikkim, reported PTI.

07/10/2023 10:58:20

Sikkim-Bengal Floods LIVE: Sikkim CM Meets Flood-Affected People In Naga Village

Sikkim CM Prem Singh Tamang meets people in the flood-affected areas of Naga Village in Mangan.

07/10/2023 10:55:59

Sikkim-Bengal Floods LIVE: 'Centre Is Providing All Possible Help', Says Sikkim CM Prem Singh Tamang

On Sikkim flash floods, CM Prem Singh Tamang says "Government of India is providing all possible help. Logistic support, Army, and financial aid for immediate relief are being provided by the government. The Centre is monitoring the situation closely. President Droupadi Murmu, PM Modi, and Union HM Amit Shah called me to take stock of the situation..."

07/10/2023 10:47:19

Sikkim Floods LIVE: 22,000 Families Hit By Disaster, Says CM Tamang

Sikkim CM Prem Singh Tamang while talking to ANI said, "Our priority is to rescue the stranded people and restore electricity and water supply. According to yesterday's data, 19 bodies have been recovered, 103 are missing. Out of the 22 missing Army officials, 7 bodies have been found. Some more bodies were recovered late at night, we are counting the numbers. The total number of affected families is over 22,000 and we have rescued over 3900 people and have kept them at rescue camps. There are around 26 relief camps currently running in Sikkim."

07/10/2023 10:30:12

Sikkim-Bengal Floods LIVE: 26 Stranded Students In Sikkim Get Rescued Successfully

Twenty-six students from Meghalaya who were left stranded in the flood-struck Sikkim have now been evacuated successfully. They are on their way to Shillong, an official told news agency PTI on Saturday. These students left Sikkim's Majitar in five vehicles, then they reached West Bengal's Siliguri around Friday midnight. A bus was then arranged for their transport from Siliguri to Shillong on Friday night itself, reported PTI.

07/10/2023 09:30:30

Sikkim-Bengal Floods LIVE: 3rd Indian Reserve Batallion Troops En Route For Rescue Mission

The 3rd Indian Reserve Batallion are now en route to the flood-struck regions of North Sikkim to conduct rescue operations, reported ANI.

07/10/2023 08:49:32

Sikkim-Bengal Floods Live: 26 Dead, 142 Missing Amid Flash Floods

State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) told ANI that so far, 26 people have died and 142 were reported missing in the Sikkim flash floods.