Over 100 people are still unaccounted for as a result of the flooding in Sikkim, where heavy rain is continuously falling

 Over 100 people are still unaccounted for as a result of the flooding in Sikkim, where heavy rain is continuously falling

Sikkim floods: According to officials on Saturday, Indian rescue teams are having a hard time getting to flood-affected districts in the northeastern state of Sikkim, where more than 140 people are still missing. 

After a cloudburst sparked severe rains and what appeared to be an avalanche, which resulted in significant flooding in the Teesta River, the Lhonak Lake burst its banks on Wednesday.

The chief secretary for the state, VB Pathak, stated, "We are waiting for temperatures to improve as only then Air Force and other rescue teams may go into the flood-hit areas."

The number of fatalities has increased to 44, up 2 from Friday, according to a government official in Gangtok in charge of rescue efforts, according to Reuters. 

A cloudburst in Lhonak Lake generated a flash flood in the Teesta river, which diverted towards the Chungthang dam and destroyed the power infrastructure before moving downstream in spate and devastating towns and villages.

Over 25,000 people have been affected by the flood, which was caused by a cloudburst in the early hours of Wednesday. It has also destroyed over 1,200 homes and washed away 13 bridges, bringing the scenic Himalayan state to its knees.

Prem Singh Tamang, the chief minister, declared a 4 lakh rupee ex-gratia for the relatives of the deceased and a 2,000 rupee emergency help for everyone taking refuge in the camps.

Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, has authorized the transfer of 44.8 crore as an advance payment from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to assist those in need.

13 bridges were destroyed by the flood in the state, eight of which were lost in the Mangan district. Two bridges in Namchi and three in Gangtok were both destroyed.

Before extending to other risky lakes, the Indian government intended to start the first early warning systems for glacier floods at Lhonak Lake and another close at Shako Cho in Sikkim.