Sikkim, Oct 10: Former footballer Bhaichung Bhutia said on Monday said that they have started a relief campaign on Sunday named ‘Play for Teesta’ to raise some funds so that it can be sent to the people affected by the flood in Sikkim.

He said that ‘Play for Teesta’ will include the entire Teesta belt*, Sikkim, and West Bengal, because Teesta goes through Sikkim, through West Bengal, and out of India to Bangladesh.

While talking to reporters, he said, “We have just started a campaign yesterday ‘Play for Teesta’. This includes the entire Teesta belt*, Sikkim, and West Bengal, because Teesta goes through Sikkim, through West Bengal, and out of India to Bangladesh. So the entire belt* has been affected. We are trying to start a campaign to raise funds for relief work… So we have started a relief campaign from yesterday, where we are telling all people to play some sports, raise funds through those sports, and send those funds to the people affected by the flood…”

“This is the biggest national disaster in Sikkim (flash floods) after 1968…I pray for all the people who have lost their near and dear ones. Whenever such big calamities happen, the first thing is to rescue. I think the Government has been working on that. Local people have also been involved,” he said.

#WATCH | Gangtok, Sikkim | Former footballer Bhaichung Bhutia said, "We have just started a campaign yesterday 'Play for Teesta'. This includes the entire Teesta belt*, Sikkim, and West Bengal, because Teesta goes through Sikkim, through West Bengal, and out of India to…

— ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2023

Sikkim flash flood was triggered by a cloudburst in the early hours of October 4 over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim resulted in a flood like situation in the Teesta River in Lachen Valley and affected 60,870 people, said reports.

So far 33 bodies have been recovered from the slush and debris of the flash flood in the Teesta River, including 9 Army personnel and over 100 people are still missing.

Read: Mizoram: Kyrpad ka MNF, Congress ia ka ECI ban pynkynriah ia ka sngi niew vote

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