23 Indian soldiers vanished after a cloudburst on Wednesday caused a flash flood in the northern state of Sikkim, according to a defense spokesperson who spoke to Reuters.
The state capital of Gangtok, which is located close to the border with China, is 150 kilometers (93 miles) to the north of the valley where the flood occurred.
Following a catastrophic flood in an Indian state, 23 Indian servicemen are missing
The spokesperson, who was headquartered in Guwahati, said that several military stations in the valley were affected and that efforts were being made to learn more about the circumstances.
The spokesperson located in the city of Guwahati stated that “some army establishments along the valley have been affected” and “efforts are on to confirm details.”
Following the release of water from a dam, some vehicles were submerged by rising water, the spokeswoman noted.
Under the condition of anonymity, an army official told Reuters that intermittent rain and thundershowers were impeding rescue efforts in the region.
The river was already about 4.5 meters (15 feet) higher than typical, according to the army, due to water released upstream from the Chungthang dam.
An Indian army official shared a video that showed a thick torrent of furious brown water sweeping down a densely forested valley, washing away roads and tearing down power wires.
The monsoon season, which starts in June and often ends by the end of September, is when flash floods frequently occur. The heaviest monsoon rains often end around October.
Experts claim that both their frequency and severity are rising because to climate change.
Prem Singh Tamang, the chief minister of Sikkim, was seen in local media talking to officials about flooding in the town of Singtam, which is further downstream from where the soldiers are missing, while holding an umbrella during a rainfall.
The monsoon occurs when the subcontinent is warmed by summer heat, forcing the air to rise and draw in cooler breezes from the Indian Ocean, which then generate copious amounts of rain.
However, it also brings yearly devastation in the form of floods and landslides.
