Here is an Essay on Sikkim Flash Flood. With its pristine landscapes and beautiful vistas, Sikkim stands out as a jewel in the northeastern part of India’s geographically diverse tapestry. The story of untamed natural forces that shook the very foundations of life in this lovely state, however, is tucked away within its peaceful embrace. The Sikkim Flash Flood, which left its mark on recent environmental history, is a somber reminder of nature’s erratic power.
Understanding such ecological phenomena becomes more than just a subject of academic interest as students navigate the educational corridors under multiple boards like WBBSE, WBCHSE, CBSE, and ICSE. It also becomes a vital exploration into the complicated dance between humans and their environment. This essay aims to explain the Sikkim Flash Flood’s complexities by providing a thorough narrative designed for pupils in classes 9, 10, 11, and 12. Our investigation aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the effects of climate-related disasters, from comprehending the geological elements that caused the calamity.
Join us on this educational journey through Sikkim’s recent past as we uncover the complexities of cause and effect and obtain insights that go beyond what is taught in textbooks. With the help of this essay, we hope to equip pupils with information that goes beyond the classroom and promotes environmental stewardship. So buckle up as we explore the Sikkim Flash Flood’s origins, solving its mysteries and looking for takeaways that go beyond the realm of scholarly discourse.
Sikkim Flash Flood
Introduction
Heavy rains on October 4, 2023, in Sikkim, a state in northeastern India, led the glacial South Lhonak lake to burst its banks, resulting in a glacial lake outburst flood in the Teesta River. Before its gates could be opened, the flood reached the Teesta III Dam near Chungthang at midnight, and it quickly destroyed the dam. Up to twenty feet of water level rise in the River Teesta downstream resulted in extensive devastation.
Information on the effect
On Saturday, 56 people had died as a result of the significant flash flood in Sikkim. Thirty bodies have been discovered in the Teesta River basin in West Bengal, while 26 have been recovered from Sikkim thus far. In Sikkim and the northern regions of West Bengal, where the Teesta runs, there are at least 142 individuals missing, including Army personnel.
As many as 41,870 persons were impacted by the flash floods that occurred in the early hours of October 4 in four districts of the Himalayan State, with Mangan bearing the brunt of the tragedy due to its population of about 30,000 being affected, it stated. The three other districts that are impacted are Gangtok, Pakyang, and Namchi.
In the four districts of the scenic Himalayan State, the flood also destroyed 13 bridges and caused damage to more than 1,320 homes, according to the study. According to officials, more than 3,000 visitors who were left trapped in Lachen and Lachung in Sikkim’s Mangan district after a flash flood ravaged the area are safe.
Causes
The primary reason for the abrupt surge looks to be a likely mix of excessive rainfall and a GLOF (Glacial Lake Outburst Flood) occurrence at South Lhonak lake in North Sikkim, while scientists are still determining the actual source of the flash flood.
When a dam fails, glacial lake water is said to suddenly and quickly travel downslope, causing a glacial lake outburst flood, or GLOF. Most likely, unstable ice or sediment made up of loose rock and debris is what is damming the South Lhonak Lake.
A GLOF may result from increased water pressure, ice and rock avalanches, earthquakes, erosion, and other natural calamities. According to reports, South Lhonak Lake has been on the government’s radar for some time. According to a report released by the Sikkim Forest and Environment Department, the lake’s area has grown dramatically during the previous 50 years.
Not just the Sikkim government, but also a number of unaffiliated scholars have expressed concern about the South Lhonak Lake’s vulnerability to GLOF as a result of its melting glacier. Due to the increase in global temperatures, the glaciers in the Sikkim Himalayan region have been melting quickly. As a result, the area of numerous glacial lakes in the mountainous area is expanding swiftly.
According to a research by Mongabay, 10 out of 300 glacial lakes in the Sikkim Himalayan region are currently susceptible to outburst. Another hypothesis, however, is that the GLOF was compelled by the recent earthquake in Nepal. According to an article in India Today, specialists who visited the scene think that the earthquake could have been the cause of the calamity.
Rescue work (Essay on Sikkim Flash Flood)
Around 2,413 people have been saved, according to the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA), and 1,203 homes have been damaged. It also stated that 6,875 people had been relocated to relief camps, bringing the total number of catastrophe victims up to 25,065. Roads and bridges have also sustained damage. On Saturday, the Indian Army offered its condolences for the deaths of eight Armymen..
Conclusion (Essay on Sikkim Flash Flood)
Flooding is common in Sikkim. It is located in the ecologically delicate Himalayan region known as “the rooftop of the world,”. Sikkim is prone to flash floods and landslides. It is undeniable among scientists that the pace of the human-caused climate disaster is hastening the occurrence and intensity of extreme weather.
According to the researchers, it is “critical” that state disaster management departments are adequately equipped to handle such disasters. They can’t handle also that policymakers implement climate change adaptation strategies. It is because heavy rainfall events can cause lakes to suddenly expand, putting glacial outburst floods at risk.