Sikkim Issues Advisory Over Explosives Found Near Teesta River After Flooding

DAINIK NATION BUREAU :
The Sikkim government has issued a warning on Thursday regarding the potential presence of explosives and ammunition along the banks of the Teesta river. This advisory follows an incident where flash floods impacted an army ammunition depot in the northern part of the state a day earlier.

The advisory emphasized the dangers associated with these explosives and ammunition and urged the local population not to handle or attempt to pick up any such items due to the risk of explosion and potential serious injuries.

An official from the disaster management department revealed that the advisory was issued in response to a request from the army. The army expressed concern about the presence of these hazardous materials in the Teesta Basin area, particularly following the flooding incident near Chungthang in north Sikkim.

The local police administration has also been notified about the potential existence of explosives or ammunition along the riverbank.

In a tragic incident, a seven-year-old boy named Sahinur Alam lost his life in an explosion when he, along with some others, attempted to disassemble a mortar they discovered along the Teesta river on Thursday. This unfortunate incident resulted in the boy’s immediate death, while five others sustained injuries, according to P K Barma, Trinamool Congress legislator from Jalpaiguri.

This warning comes in the aftermath of severe flash floods that struck a remote region of Sikkim, causing extensive damage, including the loss of at least 18 lives and over a hundred individuals reported as missing. These devastating floods were triggered by the overflow of a glacial lake after heavy rains, leading to the destruction of homes, highways, and a critical dam that provides power to the region.