The Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee against hydel power project on the Rathung Chu

Gangtok, July 21: The Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (Siblac) today wrote to Union environment and forest minister Jayanthi Natarajan, objecting to the clearance granted to a 99MW hydel power project on the Rathung Chu, a river considered holy by the Sikkimese.

The committee contends that the clearance was given despite the ministry of environment and forests stating earlier that it had not received any proposal on the project.

Three power projects — Lethang (96MW), Ting Ting (99MW) and Tashiding (97MW) — had been planned over the Rathung Chu, a tributary of the Rangeet river. The Lethang project had been rejected by the standing committee for the National Board for Wildlife in October last year following objections from Siblac, which had pointed out that the proposed project would hurt the “religious sentiments” of Bhutias and Lepchas.

According to documents collected by Siblac, the ministry of environment and forests on July 4 communicated its environmental clearance to a private company that is developing the 99MW Ting Ting project, 140km from Gangtok.

This clearance, Siblac convener Tseten Tashi Bhutia said, was given within two-and-a-half months of then environment minister Jairam Ramesh saying his department was not aware of the Ting Ting project nor the other one proposed over the Rathang Chu.

On March 16, Ramesh had written to the National Commission for Minorities member from the Northeast, Spalze Angmo, saying of the three power projects initially proposed over the Rathung Chu, the 96MW Lethang project had been rejected by the standing committee of National Board for Wildlife. As far as the other two projects are concerned, the proposals had not been received by the ministry, Ramesh had said. Angmo had taken up the matter with the Centre on behalf of Siblac.

“Ramesh had stated categorically that his ministry was not aware of the Ting Ting and Tashiding projects. How come this controversial project got environmental clearance? We request an impartial probe,” said Tseten Tashi in his letter to Union environment and forest minister Jayanti Natarajan.

“We believe there is some communication gap within the ministry but we cannot allow our religious sentiments and history to be wronged by it. While giving the environmental clearance to the Ting Ting project, the ministry stated that there is no national park, sanctuary, biosphere reserve or historical monuments in the vicinity of the project area. But the proposed dam of all the three projects is located within 10km of the Kanchenjungha National Park,” said Tashi.

The Siblac convener has substantiated this claim before Natarajan with an RTI reply. The dam of the proposed 99MW Ting Ting and Tashiding power projects falls within 10km of the boundary of Kanchenjungha National Park, the state forest department had submitted in response to the RTI query

Himalayan Glacier Study reveals snow loss in Teesta basin

Gangtok June 17: A first-of-its-kind study to prepare an inventory of the Himalayan glaciers in the Indian sub-continent has revealed a loss in the glacial cover in the Teesta basin in the past fourteen years and the absence of snow in the sub-basins of the river like the Rangit.

The study named Snow and Glaciers of the Himalayas was conducted by the Union ministry of environment and forests in association with the Ahmedabad-based Space Application Centre of ISRO.

The aim of the project was to find out the trend of the glaciers in the Indian Himalayan region over a period of four years from 2004-05 to 2007-08.

“According to this inventory there are 32,392 glaciers in the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra basins that drain into India. It is for the first time that such a detailed inventory with the help of satellite data has been published that contains figures indicating the advance or retreat of glaciers,” sources at the ministry of environment and forests said.

In the course of the study, in which around 2,500 glaciers were monitored including 34 of the Teesta, it has been found that in 1990 the 34 glaciers used to cover an area of 305sqkm. But in 2004 the area of the glacial cover on the Teesta basin was reduced by 4sqkm and 23 of the glaciers showed trends of retreat.

While eight were found advancing, the coverage area of three glaciers remained unaltered.

The Teesta basin is part of the Brahmaputra basin.

According to experts, the basins of the eastern Himalayan region reflected less retreat than those in the western Himalayas.

Experts said the loss of glacial cover and their retreat may lead to dry rivers or floods in the area.

The findings of the study has also indicated the presence of several supra-glacial lakes on the Brahmaputra basin.

These lakes are formed because of the melting of glaciers during the summer months.

The study revealed that there are 474 supra-glacier lakes spread over an area of 70.02sqkm in the Brahmaputra basin. Of them, 61 are in the Teesta basin.

“Existence of supra-glacial lakes could be hazardous and might cause loss to human life and property. These lakes can create crevasse and the entire water would empty in a few hours causing sudden inundation in the downstream,” said Animesh Bose, an environmentalist from north Bengal, said.

While monitoring the Himalayan glaciers in selected sub-basins of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim, experts have found that in the Rangit sub-basin the extent of snow cover during certain months of the year, has shown trends of reduction in 2007-08.

“During the study, it was found that earlier the snow cover in the glacier that feeds the Rangit sub-basin existed till April. But in 2007-08, no snow cover was found after February,” a source said.

The Rangit sub-basin, which originates from Sikkim, is part of the Teesta basin.

The study shows the Teesta has supra-glacial lakes spread over an area of 10.37sqkm. It also has two moraine dam lakes fed by glaciers spread over an area of 2.79 sqkm.

Environmentalists and experts said the loss of the glacial cover, even though low when compared to other the basins of the country, has commenced in this region.

During the study 10,106 glaciers have been found on the Brahmaputra basin, 16,049 in Ganga basin and 6,237 in the Indus basin.

“Several glaciers feeding the Teesta are retreating and areas in the upper reaches of the Sikkim Himalayas are drying up with less snow cover,” Bose said.

According to him, to prevent the retreat of glaciers, trees should be planted. More trees will result in rainfall in the lower areas and snowfall in the higher altitudes.

“Unless massive afforestation is done in these areas it is tough to encourage the advancement of glaciers and there can be severe climatic conditions in future added to inundation as indicated by the presence of supra-glacial lakes,” he said.

(The Telegraph)

Surging Singtam River damages houses

GANGTOK, 07 June: Heavy overnight downpour, recorded at 118 mm over Gangtok on Sunday night, inundated the East district with a slew of slides and damages, and apart from damage to public and private property, also caused one fatality [in Lower Samdong, read accompanying report].

The district authorities were kept busy through the day today as its officials rushed from one affected location to the other.
Apart from the one death, a substantial hit was taken by Singtam where eight houses were damaged due to increase in the water level of the Rani Khola there. The site was visited by the SDM [East] Dr AB Karki and his team along with officials from the Irrigation Department.

SINGTAM TOWN

The SDM informs that increase in the water level of the river severely damaged four houses and another four have reported minor damages. The river was still flowing strong and hitting against the already compromised retaining wall raised from the bank itself.
He informed that the water level of the river is still higher than the normal and current strong, which was affecting the restoration works underway at the spot. This section, it may be recalled, was affected a few weeks back when portions of the retaining wall were carried away by the Rani Khola. Repairs are still underway here, and now a new problem.
He further informed that since the fast current was not allowing the repairs to continue smoothly, a team from the Irrigation Department is scheduled to visit the spot on Tuesday and try and “slightly divert” the flow to allow the repairs and restoration work to continue.
The affected families have shifted to safer places already.
The area MLA Am Prasad Sharma also visited the area and directed that proper lighting be ensured at the affected area for the safety of the people.

(Now Daily)

Forest is mother of rivers: Bahuguna

Gangtok,Nov14: Propounder of Chipko Andolan against construction of dam at Tehri garwal, Uttarakand , and mass deforestation in the 70s, environmentalist Mr. Sunder Lal Bahuguna is here at the capital with a message “Save Himalaya, Save Water, Save Lives”. He has come here with his wife Bimla Bahuguna and Kishore Upadhaya, another environmentalist from Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing a press conference Thursday he said, “No Himalayas, no water, no water no life”. He voiced against construction of big dams and mass deforestation. Small dams should be constructed so that environment and wildlife can be saved. Priority should be given to solar energy and wind energy, he said. Forest is mother of all rivers so they must be protected as river recharges ground water table, he said.
He had earlier met the governor in the morning and had discussions.

ARMY VEHICLE FALLS IN RANI KHOLA, NEAR TOPHAKHANI

Rani Khola Turns Into Water Grave for 4 Missing Jawans

SINGTAM, September 02: Four army men went missing today after their vehicle skidded off National Highway 31 between Tophakhani and Gangtok and fell into the Rani khola,a tributary of Teesta river.No jawans were rescued from the river, while it took few hours just to locate the Vehicle. It has not yet been hauled out of the river.The accident occurred around 8AM in Saturday morning when four army men were travelling from Sherwani to Gangtok.

“I could see some of the army men, struggling to stay afloat,” she said. “I found no rope to throw to them, but managed to get hold of some bamboo poles. There were not many other people around so it took a while when other local residents arrived on spot but there was no trace of anyone" a man said.

Another lady eye witness said she saw a Jawan standing on a Vehicle which was lying in middle of Teesta river shouting and screaming ,"Bachao Bachao" and she rushed back home to call other local residents and to bring a rope but when returned to spot , Jawan was swept away by force of Teesta river.

“The Vehicle in front of my eyes suddenly went off the road, broke through the parapet and hurtled into the river 200ft below,” another eyewitness said.

The case has been registered at Singtam Police station against the driver of the truck under section 279/304-A (driving or riding on a public way so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life and causing death by rash or negligent act) of the Indian Penal Code and is under investigation.

Within the next couple of hours, army officials ,GREF personnel's from Singtam reached the spot. One Indian Air Force choppers hovered over the area trying to locate the vehicle and the missing persons.“We have tied ropes to the vehicle to prevent it from being swept away. Today itself , we will try to get it out of the river, while the search for the missing persons will also continue,” Army Officer in-charge of Rescue added.

Fresh landslide blow to road repair on NH-31A

Siliguri, Aug. 29: The restoration of NH 31A received a setback after a fresh landslide struck Hatisuray, 26km from here, last night.
The road — the main link that connects the rest of Bengal to Kalimpong and Sikkim — has been closed since Saturday after the adjacent hillside with mud, rocks and uprooted trees came tumbling down at the same spot.
Engineers of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), who were present at the site, said even light vehicles will not be able to pass in a single file, though till yesterday it was expected that the highway would open today.
This morning, the Darjeeling district administration made it clear that the reopening of the highway would not be possible in the next 48 hours.
“We can only hope for the best,” said Rajesh Pandey, the district magistrate of Darjeeling. “We are in constant touch with the BRO and they have said the work of removing debris has been hampered because of fresh rain at Sevoke,” he added.
The landslide has been triggered by heavy rain. A minor accident had also taken place at the site of landslide when a truck had tried to cross the 500-metre stretch.
Prankrishna Das, the officer-in-charge of the Sevoke police outpost, said last evening that the driver of the vehicle had tried to cross the spot on his own just after it started raining. Earlier in the day, the police had tried to help some lighter vehicles pass the area, but stopped after some rocks came tumbling down.
“The wheels of the truck stuck to the mud while one side tilted towards the gorge. The driver jumped off and later the vehicle was pulled back on the road with the help of a crane,” said Das.
Some rocks and mud had also come down on NH 55 this morning around 7.30am. The landslide at 14th Mile near Paglajhora followed a heavy shower.
Though the road is open to traffic, the toy train ran up to Tindharia instead of Kurseong. Normal services will resume tomorrow.

TRUCK FALLS IN RIVER WHILE CROSSING LAND SLIDE ZONE

RETURN TO NORMALCY OF TRAFFIC ON NH 31A FURTHER DELAYED : BRO

Gangtok: The efforts of Border Road Organisation to clear the 25 meter high and 80 feet long landslide debris in NH-31A took a hit when a loaded truck tried to make way through the landslide zone and in process hitting the massive rocks lying in landslide area lost its balance and fallen 200 meters below on river area and damaging all the repairs work put up by BRO to restore the normal traffic on National Highway.The truck driver is missing and perhaps run away from the scene after the accident but his act has caused the further delay in the BRO efforts by atleast 2-3 days as per reports.

BRO has questioned on what ground truck was permitted to cross the landslide zone as it has prohibited even lighter vehicles through the work-area .

Although it has been three days after a landslide struck the National Highway 31A between Coronation Bridge and Kalijhora, 26 km from Siliguri, the traffic movement is yet to return to normalcy.
Debris consisting of rocks, mud and uprooted branches are yet to be cleared from the landslide area.
Officials of the Border Roads Organisation said that the work progress has been delayed due to the transshipment of passengers at the sliding area. “We are trying our best to restore traffic on the route,” BRO officials added.
Work was also delayed due to heavy showers in the past 48 hours.
Meanwhile, the Police have stopped all the vehicles at Rambhi from yesterday which is five kilometers from the sliding area. From Siliguri, the vehicles are plying up to Coronation Bridge only.
More than 20 gelatin sticks have been used to crack the struck boulders. With the closure of all vehicles from Rambhi, the works have speeded up and is expected to reopen latest by tomorrow evening.
Thousand of trucks have been stalled on both side of the sliding area loaded with fruits, vegetables, cement, hardware goods.
However, with the main road link to Sikkim and Kalimpong being cut off, passengers who are in hurry are paying double the rate to reach heir destinations. The three Thunder Miss Sikkim beauty pageant winners from Sikkim who were leaving for Guwahati to participate in the Mega-Miss North East would have missed their train if the Guwahati Bound Rajdhani Express was not delayed by 45 minutes, it is learnt.

Road to Sikkim still blocked

Siliguri, Aug. 28: The condition of NH 31A remains the same with no vehicle plying to Kalimpong and Sikkim from here through this route. However, the Darjeeling district administration is hopeful that small vehicles would be allowed to pass in a single file by tomorrow evening.
The road was blocked to traffic after a massive landslide struck at Hatisuray, 26km from here, on Saturday night.
“Since there has been no rainfall in the past two days, the chances of the road opening in the next 24 hours have improved. We had a discussion on the opening with Border Roads Organisation officials,” said Prankrishna Das, the officer-in-charge of the Sevoke police outpost.

Trouble In Paradise

Not this North-east policy

August 27, 2007:As we celebrate 60 years of India’s independence, a section of youth from north-east India are challenging the vision of ‘development’ being sold to them by the central and state governments. Since June 21, 2007, the Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) are on a satyagraha against a plan to build 27 large hydroelectric projects in Sikkim. Among the many concerns are the serious ecological impacts on the fragile and sacred Khangchendzonga landscape, including the Teesta river and the socio-cultural impacts due to the influx of large labour populations, particularly on the vulnerable Lepcha tribal community. Sikkimese youth from around the world have been writing proactively on the Internet (weepingsikkim.blogspot.com) expressing their concerns. The protest has also received support from the Buddhist lamas (monks) of Sikkim who have been offering prayers for the well-being of the satyagrahis and the natural landscape they consider sacred.
In many development debates around the country, we often hear that while the older generation is resisting forms of development that uproot them from their cultural roots, the youth are more amenable to sacrifice their cultural and natural heritage in their quest for short-term gains. Current examples such as those in Sikkim tell another story.
Further east, Arunachal Pradesh is experiencing a similar phenomenon. Since May 2007, student groups across the state have been up in arms against plans to build a staggering number of 104 large dams in the state to produce over 55,000 MW of electricity.

The state is a biodiversity hot spot and home to tribal communities that have been given constitutional and legal protection, particularly with respect to their land rights and restricted entry of outsiders. While Arunachal is considered ‘underdeveloped’ and the youth are certainly keen for economic activity and its associated livelihood opportunities, they are clearly worried about the sudden spurt of mega-dams proposed in this ecologically and geologically fragile, seismically active and culturally sensitive landscape.
For example, the Dibang Valley in Arunachal is home to the Idu Mishmi tribe with a population of only about 12,000 people and is in the news as 13 large hydroelectric projects are planned for the area. The All Idu Mishmi Students Union (AIMSU) has been raising serious concerns about the proposed developments and holding awareness meetings in the region. A major concern is the socio-cultural upheaval due to the influx of large labour populations from outside for long periods for the construction of these projects.
The Dibang Valley also contains some of the last large contiguous tracts of tropical, sub-tropical and temperate forests in India and is home to several rare species of flora and fauna. The cumulative environmental and social impacts of 13 large projects in the Dibang Valley has got the students worried.
“These mega dams are not the development we want,” says Tone Mikrow, a mechanical engineer and General Secretary of AIMSU. “We cannot allow such massive destruction of our rivers and submergence of our lands, which are intricately connected with our identity. Development activities need to keep in mind the absorption capacity of the region. We would rather go in for a few small hydro power projects which are relatively benign — they will involve small dams on some of the tributaries, minor influx of outside labour and will be finished in short periods. This can help us set up small-scale enterprises like horticulture processing bases, giving an impetus to the local economy and providing local employment.”
Two sentences used by AIMSU in its awareness posters against the mega-dams in the Dibang valley raise very basic questions that India at 60 cannot ignore: ‘Don’t violate fundamental rights under the guise of development’ and 'Economic development can never be a goal in itself.’ Will New Delhi listen to these people?

(By Neeraj Vagholikar is a member of Kalpavriksh, an environmental action group.)

SIBLAC SEE SIGNS OF GUARDIAN DEITIES'S ANGER

Nature's Fury Unleashed On North Sikkim

Gangtok , Aug27 :A press release from SIBLAC warns of dangers God's fury in context of recent flash flood in Lachen Chu just on the occasion of Pang Lhabsol as just another sign of nature's anger to kind of activities pursued by state government in North Sikkim with hydel project policy as the religious and sentiments on environment has been totally side tracked in the name of development.

It is also believed that the flash floods could have been caused due to the burst of Zemu glacier, which is an important glacier of Sikkim. The water level in Teesta river was risen to 40 feet's after floods on Saturday and now it has gone down by 30 feet's .There has been loss of lives as per animals is concerned but no loss of human lives is reported after the incidence.

Locals believe that the entire security of North Sikkim is being damaged by the up coming power projects. Meanwhile, the entire North Sikkim highway has been paralyzed and the road between Lachen and Guru Dongmar, Thangu area has been blocked. It has also disrupted communication between the Army and the civilians who live in the border areas.

This,a SIBLAC press release issued by its convenor Tseten Tashi Bhutia contends,' is apparently the symbol that indicates the wrath of the guardian deities subsequent upon to a different pollutant activities taking place across Sikkim and especially different power projects in Dzongu.

Environment abuse risks nature's revenge and the Dzongu flash floods incident following by LachenChu event should be seen also in light of religious sentiments and importance attached by local communities especially lepchas of Dzongu to Teesta river.

Press release informs that Government should take these strange incidence as warning of future perils that might be caused due to abuse of nature and not respecting historical religious significance therefore it request state government to come forward to on going hunger strike by ACT as it significantly relates to these very issues .

Meanwhile, in another separate communique,ACT echoed similar views and thoughts.

LACHEN CHU FLOODS

TWO BRIDGES WASHED AWAY BY TORRENT AT ZEMA VILLAGE

GANGTOK, August 26: In what can be termed as a repeat performance of the flash flood at Dzongu last week, the Lachen Chu River in North Sikkim suddenly flooded yesterday, causing much panic amongst the residents of the area.
According to preliminary reports reaching here, two bailey bridges across the Zemu River were washed away yesterday afternoon near the Zema village in North Sikkim after a landslide presumably triggered a flash flood.
Reports indicate that a sudden rise in the water levels of the Green Lake, part of the Zemu Glacier, which feeds into the Zemu Chu, one of the major tributaries of the Teesta River could have led to a flash flood that triggered the landslide. The landslide displaced a formation of boulders along the River creating a huge torrent, carrying with it large number of boulders and debris.
Two bridges towards the lower end of the Zemu Chu, which meets the Teesta River at the Zema Village, were washed away by the torrent. The incident happened between 4:30 to 5 pm in the evening, said North District officials have said. The said bridges, maintained by the Border Roads Organisation, are the main lifelines for the people residing in areas like Zema and Muguthang in North Sikkim.
No causalities have been so far reported.
The surging river, which then passes through the Lachen village, from where it is called the Lachen Chu, brought down with its huge amounts of boulders and debris, caused major panic amongst the villages downstream of the River. Residents of Lachen Village recalled hearing a loud roar which was followed by the sudden surge of the River, which cascaded down carrying with it boulders and debris. The River passes through a narrow gorge below the Lachen River.
The people had been warned by the authorities not to venture near the river till the flood ebbed. The level at Teesta River had increased by a minor margin of 10 to 15 cm.
Meanwhile, the State Police yesterday alerted the people residing near the banks of River Teesta including Dikchu, Singtam, Rangpo and Melli.
Meanwhile, rumours that the Teesta Stage V dam at Dikchu had been damaged by the flood quickly spread yesterday, causing panic amongst the people residing in lower areas like Singtam and Rangpo.
Later the residents breathed a sigh of relief when the water level subsided to the normal level.
Talking to journalists, the District Collector (North), TN Kazi, informed that a high alert has been sounded in the entire region along the course of the Teesta River. Hydel Power Projects on the Teesta, especially Teesta Power Project Stage V, have been put on high alert. The authorities in the Darjeeling Hills, especially the District Collector and Superintendent of Police of Darjeeling, have also been informed of the incident.
The District Collector (East), Vishal Chauhan summoned an emergency meeting the same evening with the Superintendent of Police, East and the members of Civil Defence here in Gangtok.
Officials of the Teesta Low Dams at 27th Mile Rambhi and Kalijhora in West Bengal have already shifted their important documents and machines to safer places.
A month earlier, property worth Rs 100 crore of the Rambhi power project was washed away by the Teesta when the level of the water rose following incessant rains.

update: Following the avalanche of Jema glacier of Lachung, many bridges of North Sikkim destroyed and the river Teesa rised high and high alert sounded from Sikkim to West Bengal across the Teesta basin. Sikkim Police has given warned soon after the incident. The incident took place on August 25 at 3.30 p.m. Some of the bridges and roads were badly damaged due to avalanche and in North Sikkim. However, the level of flow of river is now come back to normalcy.

Teesta Rescue team fails to make progress

Sevoke, Aug. 23: Daylong search operations along the Teesta today proved futile as none of the missing jawans could be traced.
A Sevoke-bound army truck carrying jawans skidded off NH 31 and fell into the Teesta between Sevoke Coronation Bridge and Mongpong, about 30 km from Siliguri, yesterday morning.
Five bodies were recovered from the river during the rescue operations yesterday. Six injured jawans had also been rescued. Police sources had said there were 18 people in the truck, but army officials today put the figure at 16.
All the army personnel in the truck were from the Sixth Maratha Regiment. The four bodies recovered late in the evening yesterday were identified as those of Sanjoy Nel, Amol Solanki, Baba Saheb Lalwa and Buket Pawar, all constables in the regiment, said Uday Tamang, the officer-in-charge of the Rambhi police outpost.
“We found the bodies about three to four kilometres downstream from the accident site,” said an army official monitoring the search operations.
This morning, an eight-member team of army divers from Jorhat in Assam started the search operations with members of the Teesta Bazaar-based Action Adventure and Rescue Group. Two rafts and a speedboat were pressed into service.
“We tried to retrieve the truck that had drowned, but it would not budge,” said Sukhbir Tamang, a member of the rescue team. “None of the missing men could be traced.”
The missing army personnel have been identified as S. Desai, Mithun, Deepak Nikam, Shailshankar and Ram Bahadur Thapa.
Residents and daily commuters of Bagrakote, Sevoke and Malbazar blamed the bad condition of the roads for the accident.
NHAI officials admitted the failings and said Rs 5.44 crore has been sanctioned for repairs.

Army vehicle falls into Teesta, 5 die

Sevoke, Aug. 22: Five army men died and seven went missing today after their truck skidded off National Highway 31 between Mongpong and Sevoke Coronation Bridge and fell into the Teesta.
Six injured jawans were rescued from the river, while it took almost seven hours just to locate the truck. It has not yet been hauled out of the river.
The dead include at least one junior commissioned officer, whose identity has been disclosed along with those of the rescued six. However, the army has remained tight-lipped about the names and ranks of the remaining 11.
It was around 8.30am when 18 army men — all from the Sixth Maratha Regiment — were heading for Sevoke from Binnaguri in Jalpaiguri district. Shankar Saha, a civilian, was travelling in another truck just behind the army vehicle when the accident took place, around 30km from Siliguri.
“The truck in front of us suddenly went off the road, broke through the parapet and hurtled into the river 300ft below,” Saha said.
Saha immediately jumped out of his truck, ran back towards a spot where the highway and the river are almost on the same plane and stopped at the water’s edge.
“I could see some of the army men, struggling to stay afloat,” he said. “I found no rope to throw to them, but managed to get hold of some bamboo poles. There were a few other people around and we held the poles out to the jawans. A couple of them got hold of them and scrambled to the bank.”
Within the next couple of hours, army officials from Sevoke, Bagrakote and Kalimpong reached the spot. Two Indian Air Force choppers hovered over the area trying to locate the vehicle and the missing persons, while a fire-engine from Malbazar, rafts from Teesta Bazaar in Kalimpong and members of NGOs from Siliguri launched a rescue operation.
Soon, the lifeless body of Parshuram Tandey, the junior commissioned officer, was hauled out of the river.
The six rescued jawans were identified as Tanvir Yadav, Jyoti Ba, Sandip, Malkar, Silvashankar and Pradip Gorkha, all constables in the regiment. They were taken to Binnaguri army hospital for treatment. The rescuers also recovered four INSAS rifles from the river, probably just a small portion of all the arms the jawans were carrying.
“According to preliminary investigation, the front left tyre of the truck had burst, throwing the vehicle out of control,” said the inspector-general of police (North Bengal), R.J.S. Nalwa.
The Teesta is quite deep at the spot and rescuers initially found it difficult to locate the truck. “We started our rescue and search operations at 10am and finally managed to locate the vehicle around 4.30pm,” said Santosh Lama of Action Adventure and Rescue Group, which pressed two rafts into service.
“We have tied ropes to the truck to prevent it from being swept away. Tomorrow, we will try to get it out of the river, while the search for the missing persons will also continue,” he added.
The incident held up traffic on the highway for a few hours.