Reuters —The death toll from flash floods unleashed by a glacial lake bursting its banks in India’s Himalayas climbed to 74 on Monday with 101 people still missing days after the calamity struck, according to provincial officials.
An analysis of the images shows more than 60% of the water held in the lake drained out after the extreme rainstorm triggered a glacial lake outburst.
This phenomenon happens when a glacial lake rises too high or the surrounding land or ice gives way and the lake bursts, sending water and debris rushing down mountains.
A woman holds a child inside a relief shelter after flash floods, caused by a lake burst in Singtam, Sikkim, India, October 8, 2023.
Known as the rooftop of the world, the ecologically sensitive Himalayan region is prone to flash floods and landslides, and flooding is not unusual in Sikkim.
Persons:
Sikkim’s, Vijay Bhushan Pathak, Prakash Adhikari, Shama, Francis Mascarenhas, Birat Rai, Mukesh Kumar, “, ”, Kumar, Baiju Sharma, ” Sharma
Organizations:
Reuters, Indian Army, Residents
Locations:
Sikkim, Lohnak, Gangtok, West Bengal, India, Jalpaiguri, Nepal, Bhutan, China, Singtam, Teesta, Kalimpong District, Rangpo