Gangtok : Over 3000 tourists to Sikkim have been stranded due to flash floods that wrecked havoc of whom around 3000 are tourists from West Bengal and a little over hundred from other states. Several are stranded unable to make contact owing to internet and phone outages in the region. 102 persons including 23 soldiers are reported missing from flash floods at Teesta river that occurred Wednesday. 14 bodies have been recovered so far.
Several roads and bridges have been swept away. Army camp is submerged under water. Chungtang Dam collapsed. Military vehicles are reported missing. Officials informed that tourists were safe, adding that, helicopters would be pressed into rescue operations, there being no other way to reach North Sikkim. However, those stranded in gangtok can reach Siliguri via Darjeeling, Jortang and Namchi.
About 4000 people were evacuated from Rangpo. Around 4000 people were evacuated from Rangpo and adjoining areas on Wednesday. Search and rescue operations headed by the National Disaster Response Force continue for missing persons.
