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79 people missing in Indian lake flooding to be declared dead

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Overflow and rain from the Lhonak lake resulted in one of the region’s worst floods in over 50 years.

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Officials from the Indian states of Sikkim and West Bengal were reportedly working to reconcile the official death toll and eliminate double counting. (AP pic)

NEW DELHI:
India is set to designate as dead at least 79 people who went missing in floods unleashed by a Himalayan glacial lake outburst two weeks ago, a senior official said today, taking the death toll in the disaster to 179.

The floods triggered by torrential rain and overflow from the Lhonak lake were among the region’s worst in more than 50 years, washing away homes and bridges in the northeastern state of Sikkim, wedged between Bhutan, China, and Nepal.

The state government has begun the process for such a designation of those still missing, by seeking the federal government’s permission, since the law specifies an interval of seven years before a missing person can be declared dead.

“We have not called off the rescue efforts, but after two weeks it will be a miracle (to find them),” said state official Anil Rai.

Sikkim retrieved at least 40 bodies in the flood aftermath and the neighbouring state of West Bengal 60, said officials from the two states were working to reconcile the official toll and eliminate double counting.

As climate change warms high mountain regions, many communities face the risk of dangerous glacial lake outburst floods.

Lakes holding water from melted glaciers can brim over and burst, sending torrents rushing down mountain valleys.

More than 200 such lakes now pose a high hazard to Himalayan communities in Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan, research in 2022 showed.

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