Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Gangtok: Eight residents of East Sikkim are safe in Tibet after flash floods hit the region. They were trekking the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra when disaster struck. The pilgrims crossed the Nepal-China border on August 25. They were stuck in Saga County by August 26. A glacial lake outburst flood disrupted the area. “The eight people from East Sikkim have been contacted and found to be safe,” the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority stated on Friday.
Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang called the group on Thursday. He confirmed their well-being. Despite this, movement in the region remains stalled. The state government formed a task force to help affected residents. Director Prabhakar Rai leads this new team. They are working with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy. A 24/7 helpline is open for families at 03592-201145, 03592-202461, and 03592-2025256.
The situation in Nepal is dire. An ice-rock avalanche sparked the chaos on Wednesday. It caused a massive glacial collapse near the Tibet border. Mud, water, and debris ripped through central Nepal. The torrent destroyed homes, roads, and bridges. Several hydropower projects took significant damage.
Search efforts are in their third day. Authorities have deployed 7,451 security personnel. This includes 2,391 soldiers from the Nepal Army. The Nepal Police report the death toll is rising as crews find more bodies. Estimates of the dead vary, with reports citing between 469 and 538 fatalities. Officials have rescued 1,545 people. Roughly 84 survivors remain in Kathmandu hospitals. Rescuers operate with caution. A new lake formed by avalanches threatens fresh flooding.
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