As a devastating flash flood continues to batter the state of Sikkim, the chief minister Prem Singh Tamang on Friday held the substandard construction accountable for the washing away of the Chungthang dam.

As per media reports,when asked about the devastating flood situation in the state, the chief minister said, "The dam was washed away because its construction was not done in a proper way."?

Tamang further added that the connectivity to the northern part of the state was entirely cut off as well owing to the catastrophic fash flood.

Of the 23 army personnel who were missing from the Burdang area, the bodies of seven were recovered from different areas downstream while one was rescued and the search is on for 15 missing jawans, the Chief Minister said.

Flood situation in Sikkim

The coudburst-triggered flash flood in the Teesta River led to the accumulation of huge quantities of water which later turned towards Chungthang Dam?destroying the power infrastructure.

Till now, the official count of death toll in Sikkim flash floods stands at 21.

According to the atest bulletin issued by the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA), so far, 2,411 people have been evacuated and accommodated at relief camps, while the calamity has affected over 22,000 people.

The flood so far has led to the destruction of 13 bridges across?the state, with eight bridges getting washed away in Mangan district alone and three bridges were destroyed in Gangtok while two in Namchi.