Dam-burst threat after landslide on Teesta, thousands evacuated
Pinak Priya Bhattacharya | TNN | Aug 14, 2016, JALPAIGURI: Thousands of homes near Rongpo on the Bengal-Sikkim border are at risk after a massive landslide created a dam on Kanka river in Sikkim on Saturday morning. Water is rising in this blocked-up lake, which may break its banks any time of the night, releasing a huge amount of water into the Teesta and flooding settlements, fear the authorities.
An alert has been sounded in the low-lying areas on both sides of the border and entire villages are being evacuated through the night, say sources. The threat looms on Dikchu, Makha, Singtam and Rangpo. If the dam breaks, Teesta Bazaar and 29 Mile will also be affected. An official said once the dam starts leaking, the thousands of residents of Teesta Bazaar and 29 Mile will have barely three to three-and-a-half hours to get to safety. Evacuating these densely populated areas will be a logistical nightmare.
The dam, about 150ft wide, has been formed just above the Teesta Low Dam Project V of NHPC. The reservoir has been emptied as a precaution and machines have been shut down. Kanka bridge is already submerged and about 300 metres of road washed away.
The landslide occurred at Dzongu on Saturday afternoon, dumping tonnes of debris on Kanka river, which is a tributary of the Teesta. Mentam village is right next to it. Five houses were immediately submerged and the authorities evacuated Mentam in the evening. The rising water was about to touch the 4th Mile bridge, said residents of Lingthem late in the evening. In Bengal, the Darjeeling administration evacuated settlements at Mantam and Passong. The district magistrate of North Sikkim surveyed the landslide-hit area and said there are no human deaths or injuries so far.
The inhabitants of Mantam 4th have been asked to evacuate. Police have been alerted at Sangkalang, Bring Bong and Phi Dang in Sikkim. The North Sikkim DM was on his way to the spot at the time of filing this report. Two relief camps have been set up at Mentam.
Sad state of affairs...lack foresight..!!!
ReplyDeleteThe NHPC needs to be blamed for this potential catastrophe.. perhaps it is divine power that protected the helpless people this time but they may not be lucky next time. the NHPC should have constructed shelters for emergencies knowing that such a dangerous possibility exists. It is high time ( and its not too late) that the people demand proper rescue facilities and well equipped relief camps in case of an emergency.
ReplyDelete