New Delhi, Oct 4 (IANS): Following the flood-like situation after a cloudburst in Sikkim, the National Disaster Response Force has deployed three teams there and has till now rescued seven people, officials said.

A NDRF official in the national Capital said that till now seven people have been rescued from the Singtam area in Sikkim where a cloudburst caused a flood-like situation on Wednesday morning.

He said that one of the teams of the NDRF is deployed at Gangtok and two teams are deployed in the adjoining areas of Sikkim in West Bengal.

At least 23 soldiers are reportedly missing after a sudden cloudburst took place over the Lhonak Lake in Sikkim on Wednesday and triggered a flash-flood in the Teesta River in Lachen Valley, a Defence spokesman said.

“The sudden increase in water level has led to Army vehicles parked at Bardang near Singtam getting affected and 23 personnel have been reported missing. Some vehicles are also reportedly submerged under the slush. Search operations are underway,” he said.