Sikkim Flash Flood: Death toll rises to 53 as search ops for 142 missing people continue

The death toll in the Sikkim flash flood has mounted to 53, including seven army personnel, as the number of missing people went up to 142. The flash flood, which was triggered by a cloudburst in the early hours of Wednesday, has affected over 25,000 people, damaged more than 1,200 houses and washed away 13 bridges, bringing the picturesque Himalayan state to its knees. Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Friday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the family of those who died in the flash floods. He also announced immediate assistance worth Rs 2,000 to people who are taking shelter in relief camps. So far, 2,413 people have been rescued from different areas and 6,875 people are taking shelter in 22 relief camps set up across the state, most of which have been cut off from the rest of the country. Bodies of seven Army personnel were recovered from different areas downstream of Teesta River. Meanwhile, bad weather in the northeastern state is hampering search and rescue operations, forcing the army and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel to trek and even take boats to the flood-affected regions of the state. The Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday constituted an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) to make an assessment of damages caused by the flash flood. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also approved the release of both the installments of central share of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to Sikkim, amounting to Rs 44.80 crores in advance, for the year 2023-24, to help the state in providing relief measures to the affected people. Apart from this, the Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) will visit the affected areas of Sikkim shortly. Based on the assessment of IMCT, further additional Central assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to Sikkim will be approved, as per the laid down procedure. With inputs from agencies