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Indian rescue teams are actively searching for 102 individuals who remain missing following a catastrophic flash flood. This disaster was triggered by the sudden breach of a high-altitude glacial lake, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 10 lives, according to officials.
The occurrence of violent flooding from glacier lakes obstructed by loose rock has grown in frequency as global temperatures continue to rise and ice melts. Climate scientists have sounded the alarm about the escalating threat this phenomenon poses throughout the expansive Himalayan mountain range.
Prabhakar Rai, the director of the Sikkim state disaster management authority, reported, “We have confirmed at least 10 casualties, and 102 individuals are currently unaccounted for.” This statement comes in the aftermath of a massive surge of water rushing down the mountainous valley in northeastern India.
Authorities have reported severe damage to roads, and 14 bridges have been washed away in the wake of this disaster. Rescue teams are working tirelessly to assist those affected by the flood. Communication infrastructure has been disrupted across vast areas, and roads are impassable, further complicating relief efforts.
“Floodwaters have wrought havoc in four districts of the state, sweeping away individuals, roads, and bridges,” stated Himanshu Tiwari, a spokesperson for the Indian Army, in a communication with AFP.
Among the missing individuals, the army has reported that twenty-two soldiers are unaccounted for, though one previously missing soldier has been successfully rescued.
The army is currently engaged in efforts to restore telephone connectivity and offer medical assistance to both tourists and local residents who find themselves stranded, as indicated in an official statement.
This surge of water was triggered by intense rainfall that led to the bursting of the high-altitude Lhonak Lake, situated at the base of a glacier within the peaks surrounding the world’s third-highest mountain, Kangchenjunga.
Himalayan glaciers are experiencing accelerated melting due to the impacts of climate change, posing a growing threat to communities, as reported by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) research group.
The consequences of this glacier melt are severe, with water surging downstream, compounding the already-swollen river caused by monsoon rains. This destructive force has resulted in significant damage, including the destruction of a dam, the sweeping away of houses and bridges, and causing widespread devastation, as reported by the Sikkim state government.
The devastation extended over 120 kilometers (75 miles) downstream, prompting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to pledge “all possible support” to those affected.
Satellite images from the Indian Space Research Organisation reveal that Lhonak Lake has diminished by approximately two-thirds of its original size, equivalent to an area roughly the size of 150 football pitches or 105 hectares.
Miriam Jackson, a scientist specializing in ice who monitors Himalayan regions in collaboration with ICIMOD, attributed this catastrophic situation in Sikkim to intense rainfall triggering a glacial lake outburst flood and damaging a dam, leading to the loss of lives. She emphasized that such extreme events are becoming more frequent as global temperatures continue to rise due to climate change.
The Earth’s average surface temperature has increased by nearly 1.2 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times, but high-mountain regions worldwide have warmed at a rate twice as fast, according to climate scientists.
Sikkim is situated near India’s borders with Nepal and China, with a significant military presence. India has been watchful of China’s growing military assertiveness, and their shared 3,500-kilometer (2,200-mile) frontier has been a persistent source of tension, with parts of Sikkim being claimed by Beijing.
