The first batch of tourists stranded in Sikkim's Lachen as flash floods wreak havoc in the region has been airlifted to safety and brought to the Ringhim Helipad in Mangan. Over 3,000 tourists were stranded in Lachen and Lachung in the Mangan district, PTI reported on Sunday after a sudden glacial lake burst swept houses, and roads as water tore through the state. The Indian Air Force tried to carry out rescue operations but was unable to fly from Bagdogra and Chaten due to inclement weather, low-lying cloud cover and low visibility in Lachen and Lachung Valley, IAF officials told PTI.
Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force has started humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations, a defence official informed the news agency on Monda.
So far, 33 bodies, including those of nine army jawans, have been recovered so from the debris, while the search is on for more than 105 people still missing. The Jalpaiguri district administration in adjoining northern West Bengal has said 40 bodies were fished out of the river downstream, PTI reported.
However, officials warned that the figures reported by Sikkim and West Bengal may have some duplication even as both states were keeping each other informed of their respective rescue efforts.
"The IAF commenced its humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations from Air Force Station Bagdogra for the flood victims of Sikkim on the Air Force Day," the Defence official said.
The official further said that the air force started carrying Garud commandos, communication equipment, fuel, medicines, search and rescue equipment by Chinook and MI 17 V5 helicopters to the state.
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