The death toll due to the flash floods in Sikkim has risen to 26, while 142 people remain missing, the State Disaster Management Authority has informed. The number of deceased include at least five Army personnel, according to district authorities of West Bengal's Jalpiguri.

The bodies of all those who have lost their lives so far were recovered from the stretch of Teesta river flowing through West Bengal’s Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling districts.

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Of the 23 Army personnel who were reported missing in the immediate aftermath of the glacial burst that caused the ongoing flooding, five have been confirmed dead. One of the missing soldiers was rescued on Wednesday night, hours after the tragedy struck Sikkim.

Here Are The Top Updates: 

- "The bodies of 27 victims have been found in West Bengal districts so far. Of them, at least five are army personnel," Shama Parveen, district magistrate of Jalpaiguri, was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times. As of now, there is a slight difference between the death toll reported by the Sikkim government and the number of bodies recovered by authorities in downstream areas of Teesta river in West Bengal.

- The deluge in Sikkim caused a large amount of military equipment, including weapons and explosives, being carried away in the Teesta River, defence officials said on Friday. A notice urging the public to exercise caution has been issued by authorities of West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district, officials added.

- On Friday, as many as 68 people trapped at an altitude of 16,000 ft were rescued by ITBP personnel in North Sikkim, officials said. The stranded people were "totally cut off for the last 3 days", the ITBP informed.

- Union Home Minister Amit Shah approved the release of both the instalments of Central Share of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to Sikkim, amounting to Rs 44.80 crore in advance, for the year 2023-24, to assist the state government in providing relief measures to the people affected by the calamity, the Centre said in a statement.

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- According to the Sikkim government, nearly 3,000 people including tourists, drivers and motorcyclists were initially stranded in Lachen and Lachung areas in wake of the outburst of the glacial lake on October 4.

- The Union Home Ministry has constituted an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) to assess damages caused by the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) that took place on October 4.

- The Sikkim government has set up 18 relief camps in Singtam, Rangpo, Dikchu and Adarsh Gaon which have bore the maximum caused by the flash floods.


(With inputs from agencies)