Race against time to save 102 missing in India floods
Indian authorities are racing against time to rescue people after flash floods in the north-eastern state of Sikkim left 102 people missing, including 22 army personnel.
Fourteen people are known to have died after a Himalayan glacial lake burst its banks, triggering massive floods.
Officials said more than 3,000 tourists had been stranded in different parts of the state.
Hundreds of search and rescue personnel have been deployed across the state.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he spoke to Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Wednesday and assured him of all possible support.
The state’s Lhonak lake breached its embankment on Tuesday night after heavy rain. It led to an alarming rise in water in the Teesta river in Lachen Valley.
The flood worsened after water was released from a nearby dam into the river. A defence spokesperson said there was a sudden increase in water levels up to 15-20 ft high downstream.
Nearly 14 people had been trapped in the tunnels of the dam, a state official said.
Satellite images shared by Isro, India’s space agency, showed dramatic changes in the volume of the lake. On September 28, the lake was seen spanning 167.4 hectares which diminished to 60.3 hectares on 4 October.
The Indian army has launched a massive search operation to find and rescue those missing. Officials said one soldier had been rescued on Wednesday night and was in a stable condition. —BBC
