<h5>What is the situation in Sikkim?</h5><p>On 4th October 2023, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.newsahoot.com/articles/flash-floods-drown-new-york-city">flash floods</a> occurred in Sikkim. It resulted in 14 deaths and caused 102 people to go missing. State data says that 26 individuals have been hurt, and nearly 2,000 have been evacuated. Eleven bridges have also been washed away.</p><p>Multiple organisations, including the Army and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), are conducting search and rescue operations in the impacted areas. The Indian Air Force is also ready to help the state's people.</p><p>Officials are concerned about a food crisis because many roads have been washed out and bridges destroyed. The Army is setting up temporary bridges to reestablish connectivity with the affected areas. Some areas in the neighbouring state of West Bengal have also been affected.</p><div class="raw-html-embed"><figure> <video width="100%" controls=""> <source src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/newsahoot.appspot.com/o/sikkim-faces-flash-floods%2Fsikkim%20flood%202.mp4?alt=media&amp;token=05493d00-9914-434c-8043-2c655f4724c5&amp;_gl=1*16t8r7x*_ga*MTIzNjQ0ODg2NS4xNjgzNzk5MjMy*_ga_CW55HF8NVT*MTY5NjU3ODE4Mi4yMjYuMS4xNjk2NTc5MTAzLjUwLjAuMA.." type="video/mp4"> </video> <figcaption>A video of the floods. Video by Press Trust of India.</figcaption> </figure></div><h5>What’s the reason behind the flash flood?</h5><figure class="image"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/newsahoot.appspot.com/o/sikkim-faces-flash-floods%2Fsikkim%20flood%203.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=18c8c514-4adf-41c7-a56f-2f86943ecc20&amp;_gl=1*1fubpc9*_ga*MTIzNjQ0ODg2NS4xNjgzNzk5MjMy*_ga_CW55HF8NVT*MTY5NjU3ODE4Mi4yMjYuMS4xNjk2NTc5MjQ2LjQ1LjAuMA.."><figcaption>Rescued people kept in a shelter. Photo by EasternCommand_IA.</figcaption></figure><p>The NDMA says that the main reason behind the flash floods is a combination of cloud bursts and a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) event that occurred at South Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim. It did, however, state that scientists are looking into the exact reason behind the flash flood.</p><p>The South Lhonak Lake (a glacial lake) burst due to constant rains, causing water to flow downstream. This caused the Teesta River's water levels to rise.</p><p>An official also said that massive amounts of water and debris came down from the lake and hit the Chungthang dam. A portion of the dam and the bridge connecting it to the power station have been swept away. The dam breach might be behind the sudden increase in water levels.</p><h5>What are glacial lakes and GLOF events?</h5><figure class="image"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/newsahoot.appspot.com/o/sikkim-faces-flash-floods%2FSikkim%20Flood%204.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=16c04cd0-8492-4e46-a30a-fc5db0d0ee4e&amp;_gl=1*ala4ys*_ga*MTIzNjQ0ODg2NS4xNjgzNzk5MjMy*_ga_CW55HF8NVT*MTY5NjU3ODE4Mi4yMjYuMS4xNjk2NTc5MzExLjQ4LjAuMA.."><figcaption>Destruction caused by the flash floods. Photo by All India Radio News.</figcaption></figure><p>Glacial lakes are large water bodies that form in front of, on top of, or beneath a melting glacier. Such lakes are generally blocked by unstable ice, loose rocks, and debris.</p><p>As glacial lakes grow in size, their unsteady border starts to fall apart. This causes massive amounts of water to rush down the mountains and flood the downstream areas. This is called a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood Event (GLOF). GLOF can happen due to earthquakes, unusually severe rainfall, ice avalanches, etc.</p><p>Glaciers in the Sikkim Himalayan region have been rapidly melting with rising global temperatures. This is creating new glacial lakes and enlarging existing ones.</p><p>Government officials have been monitoring South Lhonak Lake for some years. Reports say the lake's area has greatly increased during the last five decades. Officials in Sikkim decided to drain water from the South Lhonak Lake in 2016. They used three pipelines to do so. Still, the disaster happened.</p><p>Let’s hope the state of Sikkim recovers from this disaster soon.</p>

South Lhonak Lake’s outburst and heavy rainfall are said to have caused these floods.

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