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More than 100 people are missing in India\u2019s northeast after heavy rain caused a glacial lake to burst, leading to flash floods which ripped through the Himalayan state of Sikkim Wednesday, killing at least 19 and washing away roads and bridges, according to the state government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A \u201csudden cloudburst\u201d over Lhonak Lake, in the northern part of the state, sent fast-moving torrents of water surging down the Teesta River in Sikkim\u2019s Lachen valley, raising water levels 15-20 feet higher than normal, the Indian Army said in a statement. A cloudburst is a very sudden and destructive rainstorm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chungthang Dam, also known as the Teesta 3 dam and part of a major hydropower project in the state, was \u201cwashed away,\u201d according to a statement issued by the National Disaster Management Authority on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Drinking water supplies and sewage treatment plants have been \u201ctotally damaged\u201d across affected districts, according to the state government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Video from the north of the state shows a muddy deluge rapidly overflowing the river, and flooded houses caked in dirt and debris, while images show search teams using excavators to uncover army vehicles buried deep in the mud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rescue and restorations operations are underway with both state and national disaster personnel involved, the government said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Known as the rooftop of the world, the ecologically-sensitive Himalayan region is prone to flash floods and landslides, and flooding is not unusual in Sikkim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n