27 innocent lives were claimed by the natural catastrophe due to heavy rains in Gangtok, Sikkim. Among the dead were members of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, and the Border Roads Organization.  Just as the nation was recovering from the sad state of affairs in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh due to the floods, another attack of landslides has engulfed India in sorrow.

Officials mentioned that there were at least 21 bodies recovered in Gangtok and at least 8 people who were earlier reported missing after the flash floods have been traced in the northern and remote areas of Sikkim.

Full fledged rescue operations have already been started by the Army and IAF in the largely affected regions. There were 2 ITBP personnel along with 2 family members and 12 junior officers of the BRO. The rest of them were casual laborers. Rangma was the region which had the most number of casualties.

Since September 19th, incessant and unrelenting rains have lashed the state. Deputy Commissioner North district T W Khangsherpa mentioned that there were about nine landslides blocking the main road between Chungthang and Mangan in the district.

(AW-Anil)