In Sikkim, 16 people, including 12 Border Roads Organisation personnel, were killed in flash floods. Official sources said, five ITBP Jawans are still missing. The incident occurred at Pegong, about 162 kilometres from Gangtok on Friday. The deceased security personnel were deployed in Chungthang Sub Division of North District when the mishap took place.

Major roads connecting North Sikkim to rest of the state is still blocked. The rescue and relief operation is in progress. The District Administration has asked people to move to safer places.

Meanwhile, the flood situation in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh has deteriorated. Incessant rain has paralysed normal life in most parts of Assam. The River Brahmaputra and some of its tributaries are maintaining a rising trend. Surging water disrupted surface communication at many places. Around 900 villages are reeling under the flood waters. Our correspondent reports that the Army, the National and State Disaster Response Force and the Air Force will resume rescue and relief works in affected areas today.

In Arunachal Pradesh, flood waters submerged new areas forcing the people to shift to safer places. Heavy rain over past two weeks resulted in landslides causing disruption in road communication in eastern district. Road links in Dibang Valley, Anjaw, Upper Siang, West Siang, East Siang and Lohit districts have been disrupted as inter district roads and highways were either blocked by landslides or swept away by flood waters. More than 2,300 people have taken shelter in 16 relief camps in the district.