2023 Sikkim flash floods
The state of Sikkim within India | |
| Date | 4–5 October 2023 |
|---|---|
| Location |
|
| Cause | Outburst of the South Lhonak lake due to heavy rainfall |
| Deaths | 92+ |
| Property damage | 15 bridges, one hydroelectric dam destroyed |
On 4 October 2023, heavy rains caused the glacial South Lhonak lake in Sikkim, a state in northeastern India, to breach its banks, causing a glacial lake outburst flood. The flood reached the Teesta III Dam at Chungthang at midnight, before its gates could be opened, destroying the dam in minutes. Water levels downstream in the River Teesta rose by up to 20 feet (6.1 m), causing widespread damage.
It was the deadliest flood in the area after the 1968 Sikkim floods when around 1000 people were killed.