The Sikkim government has sounded a high alert in the state and has asked people to stay away from the river Teesta.
The Jalpaiguri administration in West Bengal has started evacuating people from the lower catchment area of the river as a precautionary measure.
A flash flood in the river Teesta in Sikkim’s Lachen valley last night has left 23 Army personnel missing, officials said.
The flood was caused by a sudden cloudburst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim, which led to a sudden increase in water levels in the Teesta.
The release of water from the Chungthang dam further exacerbated the situation, causing the water level to rise up to 15-20 feet high downstream.
Army vehicles parked at Bardang near Singtam were swept away by the raging floodwaters. Search operations are underway to locate the missing personnel.
