India: At least 23 soldiers are missing in flash floods in the Himalayas

Indian authorities announced on Wednesday that at least five people were killed and dozens were missing, including 23 soldiers, in heavy floods in the lower Himalayan valley in northeastern India.

The Sikkim state government submitted this report, which states that three bodies have been found and more than a dozen civilians are missing.

“Due to sudden rains on Lake Lunak in northern Sikkim state, the Teesta River suddenly overflowed its banks (…) 23 soldiers were lost,” and vehicles were submerged in water. For their part, the armed forces denounced in a press statement. “Research is ongoing.”

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang said emergency services were working to help the victims, and urged residents to “remain vigilant.”

For his part, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he “ensures all possible support” for those affected.

The affected area, a remote mountainous region in the Himalayas, is located near the borders with Nepal and China. Located at the foot of a glacier near Kangchenjunga, Lake Lunak is the third highest peak in the world.

Due to an upstream dam that recently released water, the Teesta river level was 4.5 meters higher than normal, the Indian Army said.

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Bridges destroyed

Prabhakar Rai, the state’s disaster management official, said six bridges were destroyed, and the national highway linking Sikkim to the rest of India was also severely damaged.

A video clip posted by the army spokesman showed a brown torrent flowing through a forested valley, passing over roads and carrying power lines on its way.

In other photos shared by the military, we see buildings submerged up to the first floor in the city with the tip of a small construction crane emerging from the water.

“Heavy rainfall led to this catastrophic situation in Sikkim, where the rain caused a glacial lake to overflow, damaged a dam and caused loss of life,” said Miriam Jackson, a scientist specializing in monitoring ice in the Himalayas.

“We are observing that the frequency of these extreme events is increasing as the climate continues to warm and takes us into uncharted territory,” Ms. Jackson added, in a press release issued by the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).

Beijing claims part of Sikkim’s territory. According to New Delhi, a “minor confrontation” occurred in January 2021 between Indian and Chinese soldiers on the Naku La corridor, which connects Sikkim to the Tibet region.

Tens of thousands of Indian and Chinese troops are stationed on both sides of the long, disputed border between India and China.

The last major open conflict between the world’s two most populous countries dates back to the 1962 Blitz, which saw Indian forces quickly defeated by the Chinese army.

“Be vigilant”

In neighboring West Bengal, people were evacuated from Kalimpong, Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts to safer locations.

Floods and landslides are relatively frequent in India and cause a lot of damage, especially during the monsoon, from June to September. But by October, the monsoon usually ends.

Experts say climate change has increased the intensity of tropical storms, including heavy rains, causing flash floods.

Melting Himalayan glaciers are also increasing river sizes, while unregulated construction in flood-prone areas can expose local residents to disasters.

Between 2011 and 2020, Himalayan glaciers melted 65% faster than in the previous decade, according to a report published by the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development in June.

Based on current emissions trajectories, glaciers could lose up to 80% of their current size by the end of the century, estimates this intergovernmental organization headquartered in Nepal.