A spokesperson for the Indian Ministry of Defence announced today, Wednesday, October 4, 2023, the loss of 23 soldiers after sudden floods and heavy rains in the northeastern state of Sikkim.

The rains fell on a valley about 150 kilometers north of Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, which is located on the border with China.

This isolated mountainous area is near the border of India with Nepal and the Lunak Lake extends at the base of a glacier near Mount Kangchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world.

The spokesperson, based in the city of Guwahati, said, "Some army institutions along the valley have been damaged, and efforts are ongoing to verify the details."

He added that high waters have submerged some vehicles after breaching one of the dams.

India often experiences floods and landslides that cause significant damage, especially during the monsoon season from July to September.