At least 40 people are dead and dozens more are missing after a dam in the Indian state of Sikkim collapsed on Friday, October 6, 2023. The disaster is believed to have been caused by poor construction work at the Chungthang Dam.
The dam was destroyed by a flood caused by heavy rainfall. The floodwaters swept through several villages, destroying homes and businesses. Rescue workers are still searching for survivors, but the death toll is expected to rise.
The Chief Minister of Sikkim, Prem Singh Tamang, has blamed the previous Sikkim Democratic Front government for the disaster. He said that they used poor quality materials in the construction of the dam.
"The previous government is responsible for this tragedy," Tamang said. "They used cheap materials and cut corners in the construction of the dam. This is the result of their negligence."
The Sikkim Democratic Front government has denied any wrongdoing. They say that the dam was properly constructed and that the flood was caused by an unprecedented amount of rainfall.
The Indian government has announced that it will provide financial assistance to the victims of the disaster. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and has promised to help rebuild the affected areas.
The Chungthang Dam disaster is a reminder of the importance of investing in quality infrastructure. Poor construction work can have devastating consequences, as this tragedy has shown.
