Sikkim Govt Preparing Memorandum for Permanent Repair of Infrastructure Destroyed in Flash Flood

While rescue and restoration efforts are underway in full force across the Himalayan state, the Sikkim government is working on preparing a memorandum for the permanent repair of government infrastructure destroyed in the October 4 Teesta flash flood. It plans to present it to the Indian government at that point.

According to sources, department-specific discussions are being held by top administrative authorities in Sikkim to finalize ideas for restoration in each department.

The state suffered significant damage from the flash flood, which carried away homes, bridges, buildings, and government facilities including clinics and police stations.

Chief Secretary V.B. Pathak met with representatives from the Gangtok departments of health and family welfare, rural development, and both on Wednesday.

A preliminary report for the reconstruction and repair of infrastructure, including roads, bridges, water supplies, rural footbridges, pathways, and community assets, was given by representatives of the department of rural development.

The Mangan district's healthcare needs were emphasized by the health department.

The water had broken the road connections connecting Mangan to Chungthang, Lachen, and Lachung.

42 people died and 77 are still unaccounted for in the state's updated report on fatalities and damage, which was released on Wednesday. 88,400 people in total were impacted. A source said that 920 stores and 3,600 homes were destroyed.

Thirty-three bridges in four regions werehed away by the overflowing Teesta. In Mangan alone, 26 of these bridges were washed away.

Restoring road connections is the mission of the Border Roads Organization (BRO), which reports to the Union Defense Ministry.

They are looking at other routes that would take them from Mangan to Chungthang, such as the Naga-Toong and Sangkalang roads. The source said, "The Chungthang-Lachen route has significant damage." Bailey suspension bridges are being installed by the BRO as well. In two or three days, one of these bridges at Sangkalang will open, providing road access to Pegong, which is close to Chungthang.