at least 23 soldiers missing in flash floods in Himalayas

Powerful floods poured into a valley in the Himalayas in northeast India. “Due to sudden rainfall at Lhonak Lake, in the north of the state of Sikkim, flash floods occurred on the Tista River (…) 23 soldiers are missing” and vehicles were submerged, the armed forces reported on Wednesday October 4. “Research is underway”they clarified.

This remote, mountainous region of the Himalayas lies near India’s border with Nepal. Lake Lhonak is located at the foot of a glacier near Kangchenjunga, the third highest peak in the world. Due to an upstream dam that had previously released water, the level of the Tista River was 4.5 meters higher than normal, the Indian Army described. On social networks, images show a brown torrent pouring down, passing over roads and carrying away power lines in its path.

Floods and landslides are relatively frequent in India and cause a lot of damage, particularly during the monsoon period which lasts from June to September. But by October, the brunt of the monsoon is usually over. Experts report that climate change is making these disasters more frequent and larger. Melting glaciers also increase the volume of rivers, while unregulated construction in flood-prone areas can also worsen the damage.