Inundații de proporții în nord-estul Indiei după revărsarea unui lac glaciar. Cel puțin 14 morți și peste 100 de dispăruți

Cel puțin 14 oameni au murit și alte 102 sunt date dispărute în statul Sikkim, o zonă muntoasă din nord-estul Indiei, în urma unor viituri provocate de spargerea malurilor unui lac glaciar. Armata indiană a declanșat o amplă operațiune de salvare, pe măsură ce apele acoperă zone întregi, transmite The Guardian.

Lacul glaciar Lhonak s-a revărsat miercuri, 4 octombrie, după ploile abundente care au căzut în ultimele zile în regiunea izolată din Himalaya.

Dezastrul a afectat deja peste 22.000 de persoane, potrivit autorităților, iar 22 de militari se numără printre oamenii dați dispăruți. De asemenea, oficialii au spus că peste 3.000 de turiști au rămas blocați de ape în diferite părți ale statului.

În tot statul, sute de ofițeri de salvare au fost mobilizați într-o cursă contra cronometru pentru a căuta oamenii dispăruți.

„Operațiunile de căutare sunt întreprinse în condiții de ploi neîncetate, viituri pe râul Teesta, drumuri și poduri luate de ape în multe locuri”, a declarat un purtător de cuvânt al armatei din India, pe Twitter.

Inundaţiile au provocat distrugeri în mai multe districte ale statului. Drumurile din regiune au fost avariate, la fel și casele oamenilor și podurile, potrivit imaginilor surprinse de la fața locului.

Praying for Sikkim ? pic.twitter.com/27Y4qpdROm

— Rishi Bagree (@rishibagree) October 5, 2023

Autoritățile au avertizat că operațiunile de salvare vor fi dificile, deoarece în zilele următoare sunt prognozate mai multe ploi, iar liniile de telecomuncații au început să fie afectate.

Inundațiile din Sikkim reprezintă cel mai recent incident dintr-o serie de evenimente meteorologice extreme din fragila regiune montană Himalaya din sudul Asiei, puse pe seama schimbărilor climatice.

Aproximativ 250 de oameni au murit în statul muntos Himachal Pradesh în timpul musonului, după ce ploile abundente fără precedent au măturat porțiuni de drumuri și au provocat alunecări de teren catastrofale, notează The Guardian.

Flood waters inundate buildings along the Teesta river in Sikkim, India, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. Twenty-three Indian army soldiers are missing after a cloudburst triggered flash floods in the northeastern state of Sikkim. The flooding occurred along the Teesta River in Lachen valley, a statement from India’s army said Wednesday, adding that search efforts were underway.,Image: 810769322, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: This content is intended for editorial use only. For other uses, additional clearances may be required.
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AP PROVIDES ACCESS TO THIS PUBLICLY DISTRIBUTED HANDOUT PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE INDIAN ARMY
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A vehicle that got washed away lies atop a submerged building after flash floods triggered by a sudden heavy rainfall swamped the Rangpo town in Sikkim, India, Thursday, Oct.5. 2023. The flooding took place along the Teesta River in the Lachen Valley of the north-eastern state, and was worsened when parts of a dam were washed away.,Image: 811023533, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: This content is intended for editorial use only. For other uses, additional clearances may be required., Model Release: no
This handout photograph released by the Indian Ministry of Defence and taken on October 4, 2023, shows residents being evacuated on a backhoe loader in Muguthang, in India’s Sikkim state following a flash flood caused by intense rainfall. The Indian army said October 4 that 23 soldiers were missing after a powerful flash flood caused by intense rainfall tore through a valley in the mountainous northeast Sikkim state.,Image: 810746660, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO / Indian Ministry of Defence- NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS, ***
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Buildings are inundated after flash floods triggered by a sudden heavy rainfall swamped the Rangpo town in Sikkim, India, Thursday, Oct.5. 2023. The flooding took place along the Teesta River in the Lachen Valley of the north-eastern state, and was worsened when parts of a dam were washed away.,Image: 811024953, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: This content is intended for editorial use only. For other uses, additional clearances may be required., Model Release: no
A vehicle is seen partially submerged in water after flash floods triggered by a sudden heavy rainfall swamped the Rangpo town in Sikkim, India, Thursday, Oct.5. 2023. The flooding took place along the Teesta River in the Lachen Valley of the north-eastern state, and was worsened when parts of a dam were washed away.,Image: 811026424, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: This content is intended for editorial use only. For other uses, additional clearances may be required., Model Release: no
Cars lie submerged in water after flash floods triggered by a sudden heavy rainfall swamped the Rangpo town in Sikkim, India, Thursday, Oct.5. 2023. The flooding took place along the Teesta River in the Lachen Valley of the north-eastern state, and was worsened when parts of a dam were washed away.,Image: 811025872, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: This content is intended for editorial use only. For other uses, additional clearances may be required., Model Release: no

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