Fear still runs deep in Teesta Bazaar, two years after GLOF

PANKAJ DHUNGEL

GANGTOK,: Nearly two years after the devastating Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) of October 4, 2023, life in Teesta Bazaar in neighbouring Kalimpong district in West Bengal along the banks of the Teesta and Rangeet rivers remains unsettled. Local residents say they continue to live with constant anxiety whenever water levels rise, despite compensation, rehabilitation, and safety measures from authorities.

The October 4 disaster - triggered by a GLOF in North Sikkim - sent a massive surge of water down the Teesta River, causing destruction in both Sikkim and West Bengal’s Kalimpong and Darjeeling districts. In Teesta Bazaar, houses, shops, bridges, and roads were washed away. Another episode of high water occurred on July 28, further unsettling the community.

“The damage from two years ago is still visible,” said Songmit Lepcha, panchayat president of Teesta Gram Panchayat Unit. “When it first happened, the river swelled to extreme levels, destroying homes and infrastructure. The July 28 flood wasn’t as severe as the first, but it deepened the damage. Many families have left the area. The ones who remain still face uncertainty.”

Lepcha said recurring floods have been part of local life for years, but the 2023 GLOF disaster was the worst in memory. While she acknowledged that the GLOF was a natural event, she noted that many residents suspect the presence of NHPC’s hydroelectric dams on the Teesta River in Sikkim could be aggravating flood intensity.

“NHPC has been doing protection work and has compensated affected families,” she said. “But the mental toll is huge. People panic whenever the water level rises.”

“The water came so fast, it was terrifying,” recalled local resident Kavita Karki. “It swept away homes, shops, and everything in its path. Every time the river rises now, people start moving to higher ground. The fear is always there.”

Karki said while officials have described the disaster as a natural calamity, locals believe sudden water releases from the dams in Sikkim, particularly NHPC projects, may have worsened the impact. “We don’t know the technical details, but we feel it in our lives. Even with compensation, the trauma doesn’t go away,” she said.

Relief and rehabilitation efforts have been ongoing. NHPC and government agencies have provided monetary assistance, and some families have been relocated to safer locations. Yet, many residents hesitate to rebuild their homes along the river, fearing another sudden surge.

Lepcha said the government’s land acquisition and resettlement process for affected families is still in progress. “We have to think about safety first. People cannot keep living in danger year after year,” she stressed.

Teesta bank residents demand urgent protection wall

Residents of Teesta Bazaar fear that their town could be wiped off the map if urgent protection measures are not taken following fresh damages from the recent heavy rains and dam releases.

According to Madan Chettri, president of Teesta Sangrakshan Samiti, “There have been similar incidents to the 2023 Glacial Lake Outburst Flood on 28 - 29 July. What happened this time is entirely due to the heavy rainfall and the dams are opened in Sikkim. Our livelihoods are affected and the public have to evacuate,” Chettri said.

In 2023, about 170 houses from Teesta to Nojak along the banks of Teesta River were damaged. Now, there are renewed risk due to landslides and silt deposits from NHPC dam operations.

Chettri explained that the riverbed has risen by at least 15 metres compared to earlier, increasing the threat of overflow during high discharge.

Authorities from West Bengal and engineers are currently conducting technical surveys to assess the damage and prepare compensation reports. However, locals complain that no concrete protection measures have been initiated yet.

“Despite the damage, people are still living here. Whether there will be rehabilitation elsewhere or reconstruction here — we want protection, compensation, and risk reduction. So far, the government has only given us some relief initially; after that, nothing,” Chettri said.

The Teesta Sangrakshan Samiti has renewed its demand for an immediate construction of a protection wall along vulnerable stretches of Teesta Bazaar. “We need a protection wall here urgently, otherwise Teesta Bazaar will disappear. If there is no protection wall, it will only remain in history,” Chettri warned.