Gangtok, Oct 18: Doctor Pema Norden Lachungpa, a local hero, helped save over hundreds of people when tragedy struck in Sikkim, but now he is missing, and the rescue team has called off their search operation, but the NDRF team has stayed back to search for him.
Most rescue teams have called off their searches, except for a team of 31 rescuers who are still looking for one man, Dr. Pema Norden Lachungpa.
Lachungpa is missing after entering the dam to rescue trapped workers. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has stayed back to search for him.
The team, from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), has stayed back on the state government’s request to look for the 47-year-old doctor, who is said to have helped save over a hundred people, as tragedy struck Chungthang — one of the districts that bore the brunt of the devastating flash floods.
NDRF commandant Gurminder Singh, who is leading the search and rescue in Sikkim said Lachungpa, who was at home at the time, headed down to the dam’s residential quarters and helped evacuate 102 people to safety.
He then opened the dam’s floodgates to help minimise the damage from the onrushing waters.
The state government requested us not to stop the search. Lachungpa entered the dam that night to rescue the other workers,” said Singh.
“It wasn’t the first time Lachungpa had pulled off a heroic rescue.He also helped the local administration during the 2011 Sikkim earthquake,” said Singh.
At least 92 people have been confirmed dead, even as hordes of bodies continue to be recovered downstream in southern Sikkim, West Bengal, and even Bangladesh.
