At least 10 people died and over 80 people are missing due to flash floods in India

The Indian Army said that sudden heavy rains in the Lhonak Lake area caused the water level of the Chungthang Dam upstream to rise, forcing the authorities to release water downstream. This caused flooding and flash floods in the lower Teesta River area, near India's borders with Nepal and China. Search and rescue operations are currently underway.

Flash floods are common during India’s monsoon season, which runs from June to late September. Typically, heavy rains stop in the country by October. However, experts say climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of monsoon rains in the country.

Along with heavy rains causing floods, melting glaciers also release large amounts of water, while unplanned construction in flood-prone areas makes the damage from natural disasters even worse. Himalayan glaciers are melting faster than ever due to global warming, leaving communities exposed to unpredictable disasters.

Last June, the International Center for Mountain Development (ICIMOD) released a report showing that from 2011 to 2020, the rate of glacier loss was 65% faster than in the previous decade.