New Delhi:

Sending a technical team by India to Bangladesh soon for a mega project to conserve and manage Teesta river, moving ahead to start negotiations on a comprehensive trade pact and boosting defence ties were among major outcomes of talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina on Saturday.

The two sides signed 10 agreements providing for bolstering ties in a range of critical areas such as digital domain, maritime sphere, blue economy, railways, space, green technology, health and medicine.

Both sides also firmed up a “futuristic vision” for bringing transformative cooperation between the two “trusted” neighbours in a raft of new areas.

A major focus of the talks between the two prime ministers was to explore ways to shore up India-Bangladesh cooperation in digital and energy connectivity even as both sides resolved to work towards peaceful management of borders between the two countries.

In his remarks to the media, Modi, describing people-to-people contacts as the foundation of ties between the two nations, said India will launch an e-medical visa facility for people from Bangladesh coming to India for medical treatment.

India has also decided to open a new assistant high commission in Rangpur.

In the talks, Modi and Hasina also resolved to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation including in areas of defence production and modernisation of Bangladeshi armed forces and agreed to enhance engagement on countering terrorism and radicalisation.

The issue of Rohingya refugees as well as the situation in Myanmar and boosting regional cooperation under the framework of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) grouping also figured in the talks.

“We have decided to start negotiations at the technical level for the renewal of the 1996 Ganga Water Treaty,” Prime Minister Modi said.

“On the conservation and management of the Teesta river in Bangladesh, a technical team will soon visit Bangladesh for talks,” he said in his media statement, The mega project assumed significance as China too apparently showed interest in it. Under the project, it is envisaged to build large reservoirs and related infrastructure to manage and conserve Teesta river water.

The move on the project comes amid a long-pending proposal to have a pact on sharing of Teesta water between the two countries.

The deal was set to be signed during the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Bangladesh in September 2011, but it was postponed at the last minute due to objections by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

At a media briefing, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said India plans to undertake conservation and management of the Teesta River inside Bangladesh with suitable Indian assistance.

In his remarks, Modi said Bangladesh is India’s largest development partner and New Delhi attaches highest priority to its relations with that country.

“Bangladesh is situated at the confluence of our Neighbourhood First policy, Act East policy, Vision SAGAR and Indo-Pacific vision.

India has been cooperating with the countries of the Indian Ocean region under the broader policy framework of SAGAR or Security and Growth for all in the Region.

“We have kept our focus on connectivity, commerce and collaboration. In the last 10 years, we have restored the connectivity that existed before 1965,” Modi said.

“Now we will emphasise more on digital and energy connectivity. This will give impetus to the economies of both countries,” he said.

“To take our economic relations to new heights, both sides have agreed to start negotiations on CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement),” he said.

The prime minister said both sides decided to expand defence cooperation as well.

“We had extensive discussions on further strengthening defence cooperation, from defence production to modernisation of armed forces,” he said.

“We have decided to strengthen our engagement on counter-terrorism, de-radicalisation and peaceful management of borders.” “We share a common vision for the Indian Ocean region. We welcome Bangladesh’s decision to join the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative,” he said.

In her remarks, Hasina described India as Bangladesh’s major neighbour and a trusted friend.

“India is our major neighbour, trusted friend, and regional partner. Bangladesh greatly values our relations with India, which were born out of the War of Liberation in 1971,” she said.

“I recall with gratitude the contribution of the government and the people of India to Bangladesh’s independence,” she said.

Hasina also paid homage to the “brave fallen heroes of India” who sacrificed their lives in the 1971 war.

“Today, we had very productive meetings where we discussed cooperation in areas of security, trade, connectivity, sharing of water from common rivers, power and energy, and regional and multilateral cooperation,” she said.

The Bangladesh prime minister began her two-day visit to India on Friday.

It is the first incoming bilateral state visit by a foreign leader after the formation of the new government in India following the Lok Sabha elections.

In the morning, Hasina visited Rajghat and paid rich tributes to Mahatma Gandhi.

Ahead of the talks, the visiting leader was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the fore-court of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Officials said the focus of the Modi-Hasina talks would be to impart a new momentum to the bilateral ties including in areas of trade, connectivity and energy.

Hasina was among seven top leaders from India’s neighbourhood and the Indian Ocean region who attended the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union council of ministers on June 9.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Gangtok:

The toll in the flash flood in Sikkim mounted to 40 with the recovery of two more bodies, while 76 people are still missing about two weeks after the disaster, officials said.

The flash flood in the Teesta river, triggered by a cloudburst in the early hours of October 4, devastated the state, affecting about 88,000 people.

Sikkim has a population of about 6.10 lakh people, the lowest for any state in India, according to the 2011 census.

Most of the bodies were found in Pakyong. Among the 26 bodies found in the district, 15 were of civilians while 11 were of armymen, according to the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA).

Four bodies were found in Mangan, eight bodies in Gangtok and two in Namchi, it said in a bulletin.

Several bodies have been found in neighbouring West Bengal as well, carried by the Teesta to the downstream areas, the officials said.

Of the 76 people missing, 28 were from Pakyong, 23 from Gangtok, 20 from Mangan and five from Namchi.

At present, 20 relief camps are operational in the state where 2,080 people are taking shelter, the SSDMA said.

According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), a combination of excess rainfall and a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) event at South Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim could have triggered the flash floods.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Kolkata:

The Indian Air Force has started humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations in Sikkim, devastated by a flash flood in Teesta river, a Defence official said on Monday.

Thirty-three bodies, including those of nine army jawans, have been recovered so far from slush and debris left behind by the flash flood that devastated Sikkim, while the search continued for more than 105 people who are still missing, officials in the Himalayan state said.

The Jalpaiguri district administration in adjoining northern West Bengal has said 40 bodies were fished out of the river downstream.

Officials warned that the figures reported by Sikkim and West Bengal may have some duplication even as both states were keeping each other informed of their respective rescue efforts.

“The IAF commenced its humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations from Air Force Station Bagdogra for the flood victims of Sikkim on the Air Force Day,” the Defence official said.

The air force started carrying Garud commandos, communication equipment, fuel, medicines, search and rescue equipment by Chinook and MI 17 V5 helicopters to the state from Sunday, he said.

Stating that the Eastern Air Command is coordinating the humanitarian aid and disaster relief (HADR) operations, the official said that the IAF is fully geared up to reach out to the victims of the flash floods that left the small Himalayan state in disarray.

“The helicopters are kept ready to transport the stranded tourists and local residents to safer locations as soon as the weather conditions improve,” the Defence official said.

The Met Department on Monday forecast light to moderate rain at many places accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning in sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim over the next five days.

Meanwhile, the Jalpaiguri district administration in West Bengal has said they have so far recovered 40 bodies from the downstream of the Teesta River. Officials said 10 bodies have so far been identified.

Since bodies are still being found from the slush and debris left behind by Teesta in both states, the exact toll will be clear in the next few days after collating the details, officials said.

The flash flood, which was triggered by a cloudburst in the early hours of Wednesday, has affected 60,870 people. So far, 2,563 people have been rescued from different areas of the state, most of which have been cut off from the rest of the country, according to the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA). 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Guwahati:

With North Sikkim cut off by a raging Teesta river, rescue efforts are in progress on a war-footing. A temporary bamboo bridge has been built at Chungthang connecting it to Pegong.

Beyond Pegong, roads and bridges connecting north Sikkim to the rest of the state has been washed away.

After the devastation, Chungthang was completely cut off from Pegong.

The construction of the temporary bridge was a priority, as it will enable transportation of stranded tourists and locals to the other side from Chungthang.

People involved in the Project Swastik of the Border Roads Organisation have established the first composite footbridge over Teesta river at Chungthang, facilitating the rescue of 50 stranded tourists from disaster-hit Lachen Valley today, BRO sources added.

Braving the harsh weather conditions, BRO personnel of Project Swastik have established first composite foot crossing over Teesta River at Chungthang facilitating rescue of 50 stranded tourists from disaster affected Lachen Valley@SpokespersonMoD@adgpi@BROindia@PIBGangtokpic.twitter.com/ZMybJktAqx

— PRO, GUWAHATI, MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, GOVT OF INDIA (@prodefgau) October 8, 2023

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police rescued 56 civilians at Chungthang via a zip line. Of the 56 civilians rescued, there were 52 men and four women.

New Delhi:
At least 19 people, including six soldiers, have died in the Sikkim flash floods, and 103 people, including 16 soldiers, remain missing. Over 3,000 tourists are stranded, 2,500 people have been evacuated and 6,000 have been moved to relief camp.

Here are 10 points on this big story:

New Delhi:

Nearly 65 per cent of Sikkim’s Lhonak Lake – around 105 hectares – has been drained after a cloudburst forced the water body to overflow and trigger flash floods in the Teesta River.

Temporal satellite images (referring to before-and-after) released Wednesday evening by space agency ISRO show dramatic changes in the volume of water in the lake; photos taken on September 17 and September 28 show the bullet-shaped lake holding 162.7 and 167.4 hectares, respectively.

An image taken at 6 AM Wednesday morning – after the cloudburst and flash flood wreaked havoc in the state, washing away large parts of a hydroelectric project and leaving 49 people missing – shows the lake reduced by more than half and with only an estimated 60.3 hectares of water in it.

READ | Cloudburst In Sikkim Triggers Flash Floods, Soldiers Among Missing

“Temporal changes in the lake area – as on September 17, September 28, and October 4. It is observed the lake is burst and about 105 hectares has been drained out, which might have created a flash flood downstream… will continue monitoring the lake using the satellite data,” ISRO said.

The floods have killed at least eight people, news agency PTI said citing unnamed officials who also said three bodies were found hundreds of kilometres downstream in north Bengal. The other five were found in the state’s Golitar and Singtam areas, Gangtok district officer Mahendra Chettri said.

23 soldiers are among those missing. The Army and local officials have launched a joint rescue op.

45 people have been rescued, of whom 18 have suffered injuries, PTI reported.

There was heavy rainfall in Sikkim overnight; the weather department said the northern part of the state, where the lake is, received nearly 50 mm from Sunday – 48 per cent more than normal.

READ | Parts Of Teesta River Dam Washed Away After Cloudburst In Sikkim

Other parts of the state received even more rain; eastern areas saw 315 per cent unseasonal rainfall while South Sikkim got a massive 943 per cent more. West Sikkim got 50 per cent extra rain.

The cloudburst over Lhonak Lake not only caused that to overflow but also pushed up water levels in the Teesta, which flows through Sikkim and Bengal before entering Bangladesh.

The overflowing Teesta also swept away parts of a dam at Chungthang, which is the state’s largest hydropower project. The Army said the level of water flowing through the dam led to a sudden increase of 15-20 feet downstream.

Visuals also showed catastrophic floods in North Sikkim’s Mangan district.

A steel bridge at Singtam, which is 30 km from Gangtok, was completely destroyed.

Sections of National Highway 10 were washed away and several other roads were damaged, making access to Gangtok, Pakyong, Namchi, Gyalshing, Soreng and Mangan districts extremely difficult.

Residents in low-lying areas of Chungthang and Singtam have been evacuated.

“Nobody has been injured but there is significant damage to public property. Relief operations are on,” Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang said during a visit to affected areas.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he had spoken to the Chief Minister Tamang and assured him of support.

Kolkata:

A flash flood alert has been issued in the north and east districts of Sikkim on Wednesday after the water levels of the Teesta River rose to an alarming level overnight, authorities said.

The Sikkim administration has issued a high alert to the residents of the two districts as a sudden rise in the river’s water was witnessed after Tuesday night.

As per the state disaster authority, the flooding in the river occurred after a cloudburst in the northern part of the state’s Mangan district.

“Flooding of Teesta River Basin has occurred due to Cloud Burst in the Northern Part of Mangan District. All are advised to stay alert and avoid travel along the River Basin,” an alert message by Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority said.

As the water levels rose, connectivity to Chungthang town in North Sikkim has also been affected after a bridge linking the town to its surrounding areas was damaged.

An alert has been issued to all police stations in low-lying areas to ensure safety of all the residents. Those living on the banks of the Teesta river have also been advised to evacuate their homes to ensure their safety.