Death Toll Climbs to 47 Following Devastating Glacial Flood in Northeastern India

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Rescue teams continued their laborious search through icy waters and muddy debris in a quest to find survivors following the rupture of a glacial lake dam in the Himalayan region of northeastern India. The ensuing flood destroyed residential structures and bridges while displacing thousands.

Early Saturday morning, authorities confirmed the retrieval of six additional bodies by the large contingent of rescue personnel, elevating the number of confirmed fatalities to 47. The whereabouts of at least 150 individuals remain unknown.

The calamitous flood originated just after midnight on Wednesday when a glacial lake exceeded its banks, resulting in the rupture of Sikkim state’s largest hydroelectric dam. The resulting torrent of icy water tore through downstream communities, causing multiple deaths and transporting some victims several kilometers away, eventually to be located in the adjacent state of West Bengal and even as far as Bangladesh, according to law enforcement agencies.

Authorities report that nearly 4,000 tourists found themselves trapped in two northern locales, Lachung and Lachen, due to impassable roads washed out by the floodwaters. Adverse weather conditions further complicated rescue operations, making aerial assistance via helicopters unfeasible.

As of Saturday, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang disclosed that approximately 3,900 individuals were taking refuge in 26 emergency camps established by the state. Seven Indian army soldiers, initially among the missing, have been confirmed deceased.

The precise catalyst for the catastrophic flood in Sikkim remains unidentified, marking another severe event in a year already marked by abnormal monsoon activity in northeastern India. Flash floods and landslides claimed close to 50 lives in neighboring Himachal Pradesh state just last August, while unprecedented rainfall resulted in over 100 fatalities in a two-week span in July in northern India. Experts have indicated that Tuesday’s 6.2 magnitude earthquake near Nepal and heavy rainfall may have contributed to the disaster.

The tragedy also highlights ongoing environmental debates surrounding the safety of dam construction in the Himalayan region versus the government’s renewable energy objectives. The six-year-old Teesta 3 dam, Sikkim’s largest, faced scrutiny from its inception. A 2019 study from the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority designated Lhonak Lake as “highly vulnerable” to flooding that could compromise dam integrity, risking lives and causing extensive property damage. Despite these concerns, India’s federal government is committed to boosting the nation’s hydroelectric capacity by 50% to 70,000 megawatts by the year 2030.

The frequency of disasters involving landslides and floods is increasing during the June-September monsoon season in India’s Himalayan territory, according to scientific data. This trend is exacerbated by global climate change, which contributes to glacier melting in the region. A report from the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development warns that up to 80% of Himalayan glaciers could disappear if global warming remains unchecked.

Last month, the city of Derna in Libya experienced significant damage due to dam failures triggered by Storm Daniel. Additionally, in February 2021, flash floods resulted in nearly 200 fatalities and the destruction of residential structures in Uttarakhand state in northern India.

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Reporting contributed by Hussain from Gauhati, India.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Glacial Flood in Northeastern India

More about Glacial Flood in Northeastern India

• Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority Report
• International Center for Integrated Mountain Development Climate Report
• Indian Government’s Renewable Energy Goals for 2030
• Scientific Data on Himalayan Monsoon Trends
• Uttarakhand Flash Floods 2021: A Case Study
• Effects of Climate Change on Himalayan Glaciers
• Global Trends in Natural Disasters and Climate Change
• Dam Safety and Environmental Considerations: A Review