State-owned hydel unit Sikkim Urja lodged an insurance claim of ₹500 crore after unseasonal rains early in October caused the banks of the glacial South Lhonak Lake to breach, with a wall of water battering public infrastructure assets and drowning homes across a large swathe of urban Sikkim and the hilly reaches of West Bengal.
Sikkim flash floods: The toll in the flash flood in Sikkim mounted to 40 with the recovery of two more bodies, while 76 people are still missing about two weeks after the disaster, officials said.
Sikkim Schools Closed: The Sikkim government has directed schools to conduct online classes for students in classes 9 to 12 until October 15 in the flood-affected state. Check details here
The damage caused by the glacial lake outburst flood was compounded by the presence of a string of dams in the Teesta river basin in the Himalayan state.
Sikkim flash floods: The melting Himalayan glaciers will impact a vast region, affecting countries like India, China, Nepal, Bhutan, and Pakistan. They will also heighten the risk of natural disasters like floods and landslides and could lead to a huge water and energy crisis.