Sudden Flash Floods Result in 14 Fatalities and Over 100 Missing in India’s Northeast Region

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Emergency response teams were actively engaged in locating more than 100 individuals on Thursday, following the catastrophic flash floods brought on by abrupt heavy rains that inundated various municipalities in northeastern India. These floods have resulted in a confirmed death toll of 14, according to governmental officials.

The Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority released a statement indicating that over 2,000 individuals were safely evacuated in the wake of the floods that transpired on Wednesday. The state government has also initiated 26 emergency relief centers to accommodate over 22,000 citizens adversely affected by the flooding event.

The Press Trust of India, citing authoritative state officials, disclosed that 102 individuals remain unaccounted for, while confirming the death of 14 individuals due to the floods.

Included in the list of missing persons are 22 military servicemen, as stated by governmental representatives. Reports from local media outlets indicate that one soldier, initially reported missing, was subsequently rescued. Numerous military encampments and vehicles found themselves enveloped in mud as a direct consequence of the floods.

The deluge led to the destruction of eleven bridges, inflicted harm upon utility pipelines, and resulted in the damage or complete ruination of more than 270 residential structures across four administrative districts.

The flooding was specifically concentrated around the Teesta River in Sikkim’s Lachen Valley and was exacerbated when sections of a dam gave way. Multiple towns within the Teesta River basin, including Dikchu and Rangpo, experienced severe flooding, prompting educational authorities to suspend academic activities in four districts until the coming Sunday.

Sections of a crucial highway connecting Sikkim’s capital to the broader Indian subcontinent were also obliterated by the floodwaters.

The office of Prime Minister Narendra Modi released an official statement affirming that the national government would collaborate with state officials to manage the repercussions of the flood.

Meteorologists attribute the flooding to cloudbursts, which are characterized by extremely concentrated rainfall—exceeding 10 centimeters within a 10 square kilometer area within the span of an hour. Such meteorological phenomena can lead to severe flooding and landslides, impacting vast numbers of people.

The Himalayan region where Sikkim is situated has already been subjected to heavy monsoon rains this season. This follows closely on the heels of flash floods and landslides in August in the neighboring state of Himachal Pradesh, which claimed nearly 50 lives.

Natural calamities like landslides and floods are unfortunately commonplace in the Himalayan regions of India, especially during the monsoon season from June to September. Scientific data indicates a growing frequency of such events, exacerbated by global warming affecting glacial melting in the region.

Jakob Steiner, a climate scientist associated with the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development, remarked on the event as a typical example of a “cascading hazard chain” whose impact intensifies downstream. Earlier this year, Steiner’s institution released a study suggesting that if global warming remains unchecked, up to 80% of Himalayan glaciers could be lost.

In February of last year, a flash flood event resulted in nearly 200 fatalities and extensive property damage in Uttarakhand, another northern Indian state.

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Contributions to this report were made by Sibi Arasu, reporting from Bengaluru, India.

This environmental and climate coverage is supported by multiple private foundations. The AP assumes full responsibility for all content.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Flash floods in northeastern India

More about Flash floods in northeastern India

• Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority Official Statement
• Press Trust of India Flood Report
• Meteorological Explanation of Cloudbursts
• Environmental Impact of Flash Floods in the Himalayan Region
• Office of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Statement on Flood Relief
• International Center for Integrated Mountain Development Study on Himalayan Glaciers
• Historical Data on Flash Floods and Landslides in Himachal Pradesh
• Uttarakhand State Flash Floods of February 2021: A Retrospective