Lhonak Lake’s catastrophic overflow triggers flash floods in Teesta valley, leaving over 22,000 affected and rescue operations hindered by ongoing rains.

At least 14 people have been killed and 102 are still missing in the north-eastern Indian state of Sikkim after a glacial lake burst its banks, triggering flash floods and devastating the region. The catastrophic event occurred on October 4, when intense rainfall caused Lhonak Lake to overflow, breaching a dam and sending torrents of water cascading down the Teesta Valley.

The floods have left more than 22,000 people affected, with at least 22 army personnel among the missing. Rescue efforts have been complicated by incessant rains, fast-flowing water in the Teesta River, and washed-out roads and bridges. Over 3,000 tourists have been stranded, with many unable to return to safety after the main highways were destroyed.

The disaster followed a cloudburst that dumped five times the usual rainfall on the area, causing widespread damage. The surge of muddy floodwaters swept through towns, villages, and army bases, collapsing homes and submerging infrastructure. Authorities have warned that the ongoing rain, coupled with blocked communication lines, is hampering search and rescue operations.

The incident highlights the growing vulnerability of the Himalayan region to extreme weather events exacerbated by the climate crisis. This is the latest in a series of deadly floods and landslides that have ravaged the region, including Himachal Pradesh, where at least 250 people died during the monsoon season due to record-breaking rains and landslides.

Pema Gyamtsho, director general of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, emphasized that this tragedy underscores the extreme vulnerability of the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region to climate change. The region has seen an increase in unseasonable rainfall, flooding, and landslides, devastating local communities and infrastructure.