A total of 176 tourists were on Tuesday airlifted from North Sikkim, which has been ravaged by a flash flood in the Teesta river, Chief Secretary VB Pathak said.
Early warning sensors were installed in 2013, 2016 and even last month at the critical glacial lakes in Sikkim but none survived long enough to forewarn residents downstream.
ABSU president Dipen Boro appealed the Union government to provide special package to the flood victims with adequate relief and rehabilitation and to expedite the rescue operation in a speedy manner
At least 53 people, including seven soldiers, have died in the Sikkim flash floods, with 27 more dead bodies found in the Teesta river bed in neighbouring West Bengal over the last three days. Seven of these bodies have been identified.