VIDEO: 23 Army personnel missing in flash flood after cloudburst in Sikkim

A powerful flash flood in India has led to the disappearance of 23 soldiers, following a cloudburst in the northeastern state of Sikkim, the Indian army said on Wednesday.

"Due to sudden cloud burst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim, a flash flood occurred in the Teesta River... 23 personnel have been reported missing and some vehicles are reported submerged under the slush," the army said in a statement, adding that search operations were underway.

Lhonak Lake lies at the base of a glacier in the snowy mountains that surround Kangchenjunga — the world's third highest mountain.

Prayers for #Sikkim

A #cloudburst followed by #flashfloods in North Sikkim last night has caused havoc in the state. Sleeping people have been washed away & homes destroyed. 23 army personnel have gone missing due to flash flood along the Teesta river triggered by a sudden… pic.twitter.com/8QJdc4kFzv

— Karnataka Weather (@Bnglrweatherman) October 4, 2023

"Some army establishments along the valley have been affected and efforts are on to confirm details," news agency ANI quoted a defense spokesperson as saying.