Massive landslides triggered by flash floods have killed at least one and left over 1,500-odd tourists stranded in the Indian state of Sikkim's Mangan district. At least three are reportedly missing as incessant rainfall continues to wreak havoc in the north-eastern state.

Sikkim flood: 9 dead, 1,500 tourists stranded; restoration of road communications to take one week

Tragedy has struck the northeastern state of Sikkim as flash floods and cloudbursts have wreaked havoc, resulting in the loss&nbsp;of at least 53 lives, including seven soldiers.

Additionally, 27 more bodies were discovered in the Teesta riverbed in neighbouring West Bengal over the past three days.&nbsp;

Over 140 people&nbsp;are still missing, while thousands have been displaced by the calamity.

The Sikkim government reports extensive damage to 1,173 houses and the successful rescue of 2,413 people.

The floodwaters have submerged or washed out all bridges downstream to the Teesta-V hydropower station, severely disrupting communication to North Sikkim, as reported by ANI.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/sikkim-flash-floods-central-water-commissions-study-alerted-authorities-about-lake-outburst-in-2015-643502">Sikkim flash floods: Central Water Commission’s study alerted authorities about lake outburst in 2015</a>

<h2>Government initiatives and relief efforts</h2>

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang has taken charge of the crisis, leading high-level discussions to formulate rescue, relief, and restoration strategies.

Immediate attention has been given to reestablishing road connectivity to Chungthang, with plans to construct the road from Naga to Toong as soon as suitable land becomes available.

Families of the deceased will receive compensation of ₹4 lakh each ($4,812 each).

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts light to moderate rainfall in most areas of Mangan district over the next five days, posing challenges to the evacuation of over 3,000 stranded tourists.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has faced difficulties in conducting rescue operations due to adverse weather conditions, including low cloud cover and visibility in the Lachen and Lachung valleys. Aerial rescue operations are expected to resume once the weather clears.

Flash floods and cloudbursts have caused widespread destruction in Sikkim, affecting more than 25,000 people, damaging nearly 1,200 homes, and destroying 13 bridges.

While rescue efforts have saved 2,413 individuals, 6,875 people remain displaced and are taking shelter in 22 relief camps across the state, which is now largely isolated from the rest of the country.

The flash floods were triggered by a glacial lake burst, leading to the release of water from the Chungthang Dam, resulting in a sudden rise in the Teesta River's water level.

Chief Minister Tamang attributed the catastrophe to "inferior construction" by previous state governments, emphasising the need for improved infrastructure.

Recent reports indicate that a Parliamentary Committee had previously highlighted a severe shortage of meteorological and monitoring stations in Himalayan regions.

Also watch |&nbsp;Esha's gold-silver feat at Hangzhou Asian Games | The India Story

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Sikkim has been informed that it possesses 694 glacial lakes and eight flood forecasting stations, raising questions about the adequacy of monitoring and early warning systems.

An Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) has been formed by the Home Ministry to visit the affected areas and assess the extent of damage, signalling the government's commitment to addressing this calamity.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Tragedy has struck the northeastern state of Sikkim as flash floods and cloudbursts have wreaked havoc, resulting in the loss of at least 53 lives, including seven soldiers.

Tragedy has struck the northeastern state of Sikkim as flash floods and cloudbursts have wreaked havoc, resulting in the loss of at least 53 lives, including seven soldiers. Additionally, 27 more bodies were discovered in the Teesta riverbed in neighbouring West Bengal over the past three days. Over 140 people are still missing, while thousands have been displaced by the calamity. The Sikkim government reports extensive damage to 1,173 houses and the successful rescue of 2,413 people. The floodwaters have submerged or washed out all bridges downstream to the Teesta-V hydropower station, severely disrupting communication to North Sikkim, as reported by ANI. Also read | Sikkim flash floods: Central Water Commission’s study alerted authorities about lake outburst in 2015 Government initiatives and relief efforts Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang has taken charge of the crisis, leading high-level discussions to formulate rescue, relief, and restoration strategies. Immediate attention has been given to reestablishing road connectivity to Chungthang, with plans to construct the road from Naga to Toong as soon as suitable land becomes available. Families of the deceased will receive compensation of ₹4 lakh each ($4,812 each). The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts light to moderate rainfall in most areas of Mangan district over the next five days, posing challenges to the evacuation of over 3,000 stranded tourists. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has faced difficulties in conducting rescue operations due to adverse weather conditions, including low cloud cover and visibility in the Lachen and Lachung valleys. Aerial rescue operations are expected to resume once the weather clears. Flash floods and cloudbursts have caused widespread destruction in Sikkim, affecting more than 25,000 people, damaging nearly 1,200 homes, and destroying 13 bridges. While rescue efforts have saved 2,413 individuals, 6,875 people remain displaced and are taking shelter in 22 relief camps across the state, which is now largely isolated from the rest of the country. The flash floods were triggered by a glacial lake burst, leading to the release of water from the Chungthang Dam, resulting in a sudden rise in the Teesta River's water level. Chief Minister Tamang attributed the catastrophe to "inferior construction" by previous state governments, emphasising the need for improved infrastructure. Recent reports indicate that a Parliamentary Committee had previously highlighted a severe shortage of meteorological and monitoring stations in Himalayan regions. Also watch | Esha's gold-silver feat at Hangzhou Asian Games | The India Story Sikkim has been informed that it possesses 694 glacial lakes and eight flood forecasting stations, raising questions about the adequacy of monitoring and early warning systems. An Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) has been formed by the Home Ministry to visit the affected areas and assess the extent of damage, signalling the government's commitment to addressing this calamity. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Sikkim flash floods: 53 killed, 27 bodies recovered from Teesta river

A research conducted by the Central Water Commission back in 2015 has now grabbed headlines after flash floods in India’s northeastern state of Sikkim wreaked havoc claiming lives of at least 22 people.

As per news agency PTI reports, the study had clearly warned the state government that most of the hydropower projects on the Teesta river are extremely prone to such events.

A Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF), which took place in parts of Lhonak Lake, lead to a rapid rise in water levels with very high velocities downstream along the Teesta River Basin in the early hours of Oct 4.

The CWC analysis, titled “Glacial Lake Outburst Flood–South Lhonak System in Teesta River Basin”, was aimed at studying the impact of GLOF in vulnerable areas and the hydropower projects on the river.

CWC investigators found out that GLOFs in glacial lakes in the river basin could lead to extreme flash floods downstream, affecting areas like Lachen, Chungthang, Dikchu, Singtam, Manipal, Rangpo, Bara Mungwa villages, and the entirety of hydropower projects Teesta I to VI along a 175-km stretch of the river.

The 2015 research also predicted a probable increase in the river’s water level by 4.45 metres due to a GLOF at South Lhonak Lake.

Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/explained-is-sikkim-flash-floods-a-result-of-cloud-burst-or-glacial-lake-outburst-642897"> Explained | Is Sikkim flash flood not caused by cloud burst but glacial lake outburst?</a>

It assessed that the lake could release water at a rate of 6,210 cubic metres per second, which could reach Chungthang and the Teesta III projects within two hours.

Surprisingly, the study had also underlined the need for the hydropower project authorities to take the findings into consideration and accordingly develop mechanisms for close monitoring of the lakes.

According to news agency PTI reports, experts say that despite issuing multiple warnings, the authorities failed to install early warning systems.

“Multiple studies, including one by the commission, had cautioned the state authorities about the GLOF hazard in the upper Teesta River region. We currently have one flood forecasting station 20 km upstream of Chungthang. More stations can be installed if the state submits a proposal,” a CWC official said on condition of anonymity.

According to the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA), the disaster has killed at least 22 people, including seven army jawans, whereas 103 others are missing.

(With inputs from agencies) 
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A research conducted by the Central Water Commission back in 2015 has now grabbed headlines after flash floods in India’s northeastern state of Sikkim wreaked havoc claiming lives of at least 22 people.

A research conducted by the Central Water Commission back in 2015 has now grabbed headlines after flash floods in India’s northeastern state of Sikkim wreaked havoc claiming lives of at least 22 people. As per news agency PTI reports, the study had clearly warned the state government that most of the hydropower projects on the Teesta river are extremely prone to such events. A Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF), which took place in parts of Lhonak Lake, lead to a rapid rise in water levels with very high velocities downstream along the Teesta River Basin in the early hours of Oct 4. The CWC analysis, titled “Glacial Lake Outburst Flood–South Lhonak System in Teesta River Basin”, was aimed at studying the impact of GLOF in vulnerable areas and the hydropower projects on the river. CWC investigators found out that GLOFs in glacial lakes in the river basin could lead to extreme flash floods downstream, affecting areas like Lachen, Chungthang, Dikchu, Singtam, Manipal, Rangpo, Bara Mungwa villages, and the entirety of hydropower projects Teesta I to VI along a 175-km stretch of the river. The 2015 research also predicted a probable increase in the river’s water level by 4.45 metres due to a GLOF at South Lhonak Lake. Also read: Explained | Is Sikkim flash flood not caused by cloud burst but glacial lake outburst? It assessed that the lake could release water at a rate of 6,210 cubic metres per second, which could reach Chungthang and the Teesta III projects within two hours. Surprisingly, the study had also underlined the need for the hydropower project authorities to take the findings into consideration and accordingly develop mechanisms for close monitoring of the lakes. According to news agency PTI reports, experts say that despite issuing multiple warnings, the authorities failed to install early warning systems. “Multiple studies, including one by the commission, had cautioned the state authorities about the GLOF hazard in the upper Teesta River region. We currently have one flood forecasting station 20 km upstream of Chungthang. More stations can be installed if the state submits a proposal,” a CWC official said on condition of anonymity. According to the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA), the disaster has killed at least 22 people, including seven army jawans, whereas 103 others are missing. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Sikkim flash floods: Central Water Commission’s study alerted authorities about lake outburst in 2015

Flash floods in India’s northeastern state of Sikkim have so far claimed 21&nbsp;lives, while more than 100 still remain missing, including 23 army personnel.&nbsp;

The floods were caused by a slew of factors, including a cloud burst, a breach in the South Shonak lake and the release of water from the Chungthang dam. &nbsp;This caused mayhem in at least four districts of the state.

Disaster authorities are also looking into the possibility of a breach in the lake triggered by an earthquake in neighbouring Nepal.&nbsp;

<h2>7,000 tourists safe</h2>

The state government Thursday (Oct 5) said the 7,000 tourists stuck in the floods were safe and getting help from the Indian army and rescue authorities.&nbsp;

The evacuation process is likely to start on Friday (Oct 6), given weather remains calm.

"All visitors to Lachen, Lachung and other places are safe. Though phone and mobile lines are down, Army officers are helping them communicate with their families back home, using the voice-over-internet protocol," said Sikkim chief secretary V B Pathak.&nbsp;

"The road beyond Mangan is devastated and Chungthang has suffered the most. As a result, Lachen and Lachung have been cut off from the rest of Sikkim. Only Lachung-Chungthang road is still motorable. We are trying our best to restore the road connectivity," said Tashi Wangyel, spokesperson for Sikkim Police.

<h2>Contact with&nbsp;Chungthang established</h2>

Hem Kumar Chettri, District Collector of Mangan District&nbsp;said Friday that authorities were successful in establishing contact with&nbsp;Chungthang Thursday night. The official said, "We were able to establish contact with Chungthang last night. We came to know that the entire town was full of slush. So, they have engaged machinery to clear the town. So far, there is no report of anyone missing from Chungthang town."

"But the damage has been extensive. People have been shifted to the BOP area. Today, we were supposed to take a helicopter to Lachung and come down to Chungthang. But because of the weather conditions, the helicopter may not come. So, we have decided to send a team on foot...One team will reach Chungthang today and will assess the actual situation...No casualties from Chungthang so far. There are reports of people missing from different areas but we have no report of anyone losing their life. Property damage has been extensive," he added.

Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas: The Great Himalayan meltdown | Flash floods batter Sikkim

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He further said that till evacuation begins, the tourists are being provided with essentials through choppers.&nbsp;“Once the helicopter service begins, tourists from Lachung and Lachen will be brought to Mangan district headquarters. From there, they will be brought to Gangtok by road. Their journey ahead will be taken care of,” Wangyel added.

<h2>Crackdown on hoarding and overpricing</h2>

Meanwhile, the state authorities on Wednesday (Oct 4) issued directives to prevent illegal hoarding and overpricing.&nbsp;

The state food and civil supplies department in a notice on Wednesday said petrol pumps across Sikkim should not sell more than 20 litres of diesel and 15 litres of petrol to a single individual.

“Fuel pumps have been advised to stock around 1,500 litres of both petrol and diesel for emergencies,” said a source to Telegraph India.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/explained-is-sikkim-flash-floods-a-result-of-cloud-burst-or-glacial-lake-outburst-642897">Also read:&nbsp;Explained | Is Sikkim flash flood not caused by cloud burst but glacial lake outburst?</a>

Senior government officials also talked to customers to ensure they were not charged extra amid fears of a shortage of essential supplies.

“Senior government officials also held talks with various trade bodies to ensure that there was no shortage of essential supplies. Plans have been drawn up to bring such items into the state through alternative routes as the NH10 is closed now,” a source was quoted as saying by Telegraph India.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Flash floods in India’s northeastern state of Sikkim have so far claimed 21 lives, while more than 100 still remain missing, including 23 army personnel. The floods were caused by a slew of factors, including a cloud burst, a breach in the South Shonak lake and the release of water from the Chungthang dam.

Flash floods in India’s northeastern state of Sikkim have so far claimed 21 lives, while more than 100 still remain missing, including 23 army personnel. The floods were caused by a slew of factors, including a cloud burst, a breach in the South Shonak lake and the release of water from the Chungthang dam. This caused mayhem in at least four districts of the state. Disaster authorities are also looking into the possibility of a breach in the lake triggered by an earthquake in neighbouring Nepal. 7,000 tourists safe The state government Thursday (Oct 5) said the 7,000 tourists stuck in the floods were safe and getting help from the Indian army and rescue authorities. The evacuation process is likely to start on Friday (Oct 6), given weather remains calm. "All visitors to Lachen, Lachung and other places are safe. Though phone and mobile lines are down, Army officers are helping them communicate with their families back home, using the voice-over-internet protocol," said Sikkim chief secretary V B Pathak. "The road beyond Mangan is devastated and Chungthang has suffered the most. As a result, Lachen and Lachung have been cut off from the rest of Sikkim. Only Lachung-Chungthang road is still motorable. We are trying our best to restore the road connectivity," said Tashi Wangyel, spokesperson for Sikkim Police. Contact with Chungthang established Hem Kumar Chettri, District Collector of Mangan District said Friday that authorities were successful in establishing contact with Chungthang Thursday night. The official said, "We were able to establish contact with Chungthang last night. We came to know that the entire town was full of slush. So, they have engaged machinery to clear the town. So far, there is no report of anyone missing from Chungthang town." "But the damage has been extensive. People have been shifted to the BOP area. Today, we were supposed to take a helicopter to Lachung and come down to Chungthang. But because of the weather conditions, the helicopter may not come. So, we have decided to send a team on foot...One team will reach Chungthang today and will assess the actual situation...No casualties from Chungthang so far. There are reports of people missing from different areas but we have no report of anyone losing their life. Property damage has been extensive," he added. Watch: Gravitas: The Great Himalayan meltdown | Flash floods batter Sikkim × He further said that till evacuation begins, the tourists are being provided with essentials through choppers. “Once the helicopter service begins, tourists from Lachung and Lachen will be brought to Mangan district headquarters. From there, they will be brought to Gangtok by road. Their journey ahead will be taken care of,” Wangyel added. Crackdown on hoarding and overpricing Meanwhile, the state authorities on Wednesday (Oct 4) issued directives to prevent illegal hoarding and overpricing. The state food and civil supplies department in a notice on Wednesday said petrol pumps across Sikkim should not sell more than 20 litres of diesel and 15 litres of petrol to a single individual. “Fuel pumps have been advised to stock around 1,500 litres of both petrol and diesel for emergencies,” said a source to Telegraph India. Also read: Explained | Is Sikkim flash flood not caused by cloud burst but glacial lake outburst? Senior government officials also talked to customers to ensure they were not charged extra amid fears of a shortage of essential supplies. “Senior government officials also held talks with various trade bodies to ensure that there was no shortage of essential supplies. Plans have been drawn up to bring such items into the state through alternative routes as the NH10 is closed now,” a source was quoted as saying by Telegraph India. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Sikkim flood: 21 dead, above 100 missing, 7,000 tourists stranded; evacuation to start today

In pics | Sikkim flash floods: ISRO satellite images show before & after of South Lhonak Lake

The Sikkim flash floods have highlighted the threat posed by glacial lakes. How many glacial lakes are there in India? Which Indian cities could be at risk? How can we prevent them from overflowing? Priyanka Sharma brings you a report.

Gravitas: The Great Himalayan meltdown | Flash floods batter Sikkim

A flash flood alert has been issued in the northern and eastern districts of India's Sikkim state. The floods have reportedly occurred due to a sudden cloud burst over Lho-nak Lake in the state's Mangan district.

Sikkim flash floods: How Sikkim Flash Flood Happened

Flash floods in the India's northeastern state of Sikkim have claimed at least 14 lives in the state while over 100 remain missing in the region, including 22 army personnel. The national disaster response force teams have also been deployed. The Indian army has started three helplines for families of the missing.

Sikkim flash floods: over a dozen dead, hundreds missing

The flash floods triggered by glacial lake burst has left a trail of destruction in India’s northeastern Sikkim state. More than 25,000 people are affected while 14 people are dead, with at least 100 people, including 22 army men, still missing.

The Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim — a glacial lake situated in the state’s northwest at 17,000 feet — burst, unleashing a flood of water that eventually rose the water levels of Teesta River to alarming levels.

The rise of water levels in river flooded at least four districts, including Mangan, Gangtok, on Wednesday (October 4), the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) said.

“The lake outburst in portions of Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim caused a rise in water levels with very high velocities near about 15m/sec, crossed the&nbsp;CWC&nbsp;(Centre Water Commission) Melli site measuring 227 m, near about 3m above Danger Level, at 0600 am,” it added.

The lake outburst also resulted in the breach of the Chungthang dam, which is the largest hydropower project in Sikkim.

The National Remote Sensing Centre, one of the ISRO’s arms which conducted a satellite-based study on the lake outburst, said, “It is observed that Lake is Burst and about 105 hectares area has been drained out (28 September 2023 image).”

The National Disaster Management Authority believes that the possible cause of the flash flood in Sikkim could be a combination of excess rainfall and a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) event at South Lhonak lake in North Sikkim.

Though an official statement from the Sikkim government is awaited over the cause of the lake outburst, the latest episode has turned the attention towards the GLOF incident in Uttarakhand’s Kedarnath in 2013 where a sudden burst of floods killed thousands of people. The GLOF was caused by the Chorabari Tal glacial lake.

<h2>What is GLOF?</h2>

Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) is a type of catastrophic flood that happens when the dam containing a glacial lake fails, releasing a large volume of water.

This type of flood is&nbsp;typically caused by rapid melting of glaciers or the buildup of water&nbsp;in the lake due to heavy rainfall or the inflow of meltwater.

As the volume of the glacial lake grows, so does the pressure on the dam containing it. Failure of the dam can also occur due to internal processes, such as water seeping through the structure.

Occurrences of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) have become increasingly frequent and caused a lot of havoc for the people living in the Himalayan foothills.

The formation of these lakes, which vary in size from 5 to 10 hectares, has been primarily attributed to global warming, climate change and local factors.

<h2>Was Sikkim flood&nbsp;a result of GLOF?</h2>

Sikkim, which lies on the foothills of the Himalayas, is house to an estimated 300 glacial lakes.

One of those lakes is the South Lhonak. Indian Express newspaper, which cited a report by the Sikkim Forest and Environment Department, stated that the glacier lake has been under the observation of the officials for the past five decades.

A report published by the Sikkim Forest and Environment Department found that the lake’s area had significantly increased in the past five decades, the newspaper reported.

<h2>Did the state govt take any action?</h2>

The Indian Express reported that the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority and Sikkim’s Department of Science and Technology and Climate Change, among others, immediately took note and tried to siphon off the lake water.

The authorities installed three eight-inch wide and 130-140 metres long High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipes in the lake to take out the water. They siphoned off 150 litres of water per sec, the Sikkim SDMA said.

While it is difficult to pinpoint the Sikkim flash floods to the GLOF incident, the state government has maintained that it was caused by cloud burst.

<h2>What happened in Uttarakhand’s Kedarnath?</h2>

In the early hours of June 17, 2013, a flash flood came bursting through the overflowing banks of the Chorabari lake in Uttarakhand.

The floods happened due to an unusual amount of rainfall June 13 and 17, which resulted in the melting of the Chorabari glacier, and the Mandakini river erupted due to excess water.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/sikkim-floods-dalai-lama-expresses-grief-as-14-dead-102-missing-over-3000-stranded-in-flash-floods-642752">Sikkim floods: Dalai Lama expresses grief following devastation</a>

The floods rocked large parts of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Western Nepal.

According to figures provided by the Government of Uttarakhand, more than 5,700 people were "presumed dead." The death toll was later revised to 6,054. Most of the dead were pilgrims.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-india-relations-may-get-worse-us-amb-to-india-warns-state-department-report-642846">‘US-India relations may get worse,’ Garcetti warns State Department</a>

The heavy rainfall caused massive flash floods and landslides resulting in the death of residents and tourists as well as extensive damage to property. Reportedly the worst hit was the Kedarnath valley popular for the 8th century temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The flash floods triggered by glacial lake burst has left a trail of destruction in India’s northeastern Sikkim state. More than 25,000 people are affected while 14 people are dead, with at least 100 people, including 22 army men, still missing.

The flash floods triggered by glacial lake burst has left a trail of destruction in India’s northeastern Sikkim state. More than 25,000 people are affected while 14 people are dead, with at least 100 people, including 22 army men, still missing. The Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim — a glacial lake situated in the state’s northwest at 17,000 feet — burst, unleashing a flood of water that eventually rose the water levels of Teesta River to alarming levels. The rise of water levels in river flooded at least four districts, including Mangan, Gangtok, on Wednesday (October 4), the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) said. “The lake outburst in portions of Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim caused a rise in water levels with very high velocities near about 15m/sec, crossed the CWC (Centre Water Commission) Melli site measuring 227 m, near about 3m above Danger Level, at 0600 am,” it added. The lake outburst also resulted in the breach of the Chungthang dam, which is the largest hydropower project in Sikkim. The National Remote Sensing Centre, one of the ISRO’s arms which conducted a satellite-based study on the lake outburst, said, “It is observed that Lake is Burst and about 105 hectares area has been drained out (28 September 2023 image).” The National Disaster Management Authority believes that the possible cause of the flash flood in Sikkim could be a combination of excess rainfall and a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) event at South Lhonak lake in North Sikkim. Though an official statement from the Sikkim government is awaited over the cause of the lake outburst, the latest episode has turned the attention towards the GLOF incident in Uttarakhand’s Kedarnath in 2013 where a sudden burst of floods killed thousands of people. The GLOF was caused by the Chorabari Tal glacial lake. What is GLOF? Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) is a type of catastrophic flood that happens when the dam containing a glacial lake fails, releasing a large volume of water. This type of flood is typically caused by rapid melting of glaciers or the buildup of water in the lake due to heavy rainfall or the inflow of meltwater. As the volume of the glacial lake grows, so does the pressure on the dam containing it. Failure of the dam can also occur due to internal processes, such as water seeping through the structure. Occurrences of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) have become increasingly frequent and caused a lot of havoc for the people living in the Himalayan foothills. The formation of these lakes, which vary in size from 5 to 10 hectares, has been primarily attributed to global warming, climate change and local factors. Was Sikkim flood a result of GLOF? Sikkim, which lies on the foothills of the Himalayas, is house to an estimated 300 glacial lakes. One of those lakes is the South Lhonak. Indian Express newspaper, which cited a report by the Sikkim Forest and Environment Department, stated that the glacier lake has been under the observation of the officials for the past five decades. A report published by the Sikkim Forest and Environment Department found that the lake’s area had significantly increased in the past five decades, the newspaper reported. Did the state govt take any action? The Indian Express reported that the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority and Sikkim’s Department of Science and Technology and Climate Change, among others, immediately took note and tried to siphon off the lake water. The authorities installed three eight-inch wide and 130-140 metres long High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipes in the lake to take out the water. They siphoned off 150 litres of water per sec, the Sikkim SDMA said. While it is difficult to pinpoint the Sikkim flash floods to the GLOF incident, the state government has maintained that it was caused by cloud burst. What happened in Uttarakhand’s Kedarnath? In the early hours of June 17, 2013, a flash flood came bursting through the overflowing banks of the Chorabari lake in Uttarakhand. The floods happened due to an unusual amount of rainfall June 13 and 17, which resulted in the melting of the Chorabari glacier, and the Mandakini river erupted due to excess water. Also read | Sikkim floods: Dalai Lama expresses grief following devastation The floods rocked large parts of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Western Nepal. According to figures provided by the Government of Uttarakhand, more than 5,700 people were "presumed dead." The death toll was later revised to 6,054. Most of the dead were pilgrims. Also read | ‘US-India relations may get worse,’ Garcetti warns State Department The heavy rainfall caused massive flash floods and landslides resulting in the death of residents and tourists as well as extensive damage to property. Reportedly the worst hit was the Kedarnath valley popular for the 8th century temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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