At least 23 soldiers were lost in flash floods in the Himalayas

Powerful floods poured into a valley in the Himalayas in northeastern India. “Due to sudden rainfall on Lake Lunak, north of Sikkim, flash floods occurred in the Teesta River (…) 23 soldiers were lost.” The armed forces reported on Wednesday, October 4, that vehicles were submerged in water. “Research is ongoing”They explained.

This remote mountainous region is located in the Himalayas near India’s border with Nepal. Located at the foot of a glacier near Kangchenjunga, Lake Lunak is the third highest peak in the world. The Indian Army described that due to an upstream dam that had previously released water, the Teesta river level was 4.5 meters higher than normal. Pictures on social media show a brown torrent flowing, passing over roads and carrying power lines on its way.

Floods and landslides are relatively frequent in India and cause a lot of damage, especially during the monsoon period, which lasts from June to September. But by October, the brunt of the monsoon usually wears off. Experts point out that climate change is making these disasters more frequent and larger. Melting glaciers also increase the size of rivers, while unregulated construction in flood-prone areas can also exacerbate damage.