"STATEMENT | International Rivers statement on Teesta dam disaster in Sikkim", 5 Oct 2023

As of October 16, more than 30 people are confirmed to have been killed by the resulting floods and over 70 people still missing. The flood waters washed away several bridges and sections of the main National Highway 10, which cut off access for multiple villages...Glacial lake outburst floods occur when a glacial lake overflows and bursts. These events become a more regular occurrence as climate change has accelerated glacial melt, and are particularly concerning in South Asia where they pose a significant threat to dams and communities that live downstream... Climate change and extreme weather events are making mega-infrastructure in the ecologically sensitive Himalayas more dangerous. We strongly urge the governments of India, Sikkim, and all those concerned to reconsider the building of large dams in regions prone to earthquakes, landslides, and glacial melting...