Sikkim: Woman found dead in Gangtok zonal water tank

Sikkim: A viral video being shared over WhatsApp in Sikkim shows the dead body of a woman lying in one of the zonal water tanks at Bulbulay, above Gangtok Captial Region. The body was found on Thursday morning.

Confirming the incident, officials from the water supply department have said that the zonal water tank is one of the main sources of water supply for a large section of people in Gangtok.

However, about the number of hours the body was lying in the water tank is yet to be known.

Sources informed that the body was taken out on Thursday afternoon in presence of representatives from Sikkim Police.

Meanwhile, the water tank will be cleared and clean properly. Refilling and re-supply of clean water is expected to be revived only after proper cleaning of the tank, sources added.

What is alarming is the said tank was supplying water till the dead body was found. However, the water supply has been stopped soon after the detection of the body.

Sources in Sikkim Police have claimed it to be a case of suicide. Preliminary investigations have revealed that the deceased (27), who was reportedly not fit, had a history of epilepsy for the past nine years.

On September 17 morning, some villagers claimed to have seen the deceased going towards the water reservoir at Bulbulay. Later, the body was taken out from the water reservoir with the help of State Disaster Relief Force personnel.

Meanwhile, Bindeshwari Prasad, secretary, water supply, said, “The water tank, which has the capacity of 11 lakh litres, has already been cleared and clean properly. Through smaller pipelines, it supplies water to entire Gangtok area. Since it’s a zonal tank, some parts of the area have got water while the rest haven’t received water. It appears that the body was there for some hours only. The water supply was stopped as soon as the incident came to the light.”