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Sikkim Weather Alert: Heavy Rain, Thunderstorms Claim Life Till March 17

The India Meteorological Department has issued a special weather bulletin warning of heavy rainfall and thunderstorm activities across Sikkim from March 15 to 17. The severe weather has already resulted in one fatality, with a woman killed by a falling tree in Rakdong Kafer. Widespread power disruptions have been reported in Pakyong, Gangtok, and Mangan districts due to tripped transmission lines. Authorities have advised residents and tourists to exercise caution and stay updated with official advisories.

Key Points: Sikkim Heavy Rainfall Warning: IMD Issues Alert Till March 17

  • IMD issues heavy rainfall warning
  • One fatality reported in Rakdong Kafer
  • Yellow alert for all Sikkim districts
  • Power disruptions across multiple districts
2 min read

Sikkim: IMD warns of heavy rainfall, thunderstorms till March 17

IMD warns of heavy rain and thunderstorms in Sikkim till March 17. One woman killed, power disrupted. Yellow alert issued for all districts.

"A 55-year-old woman, identified as Kala Devi Chettri, died after a tree fell on her during a thunderstorm - Gangtok district police"

Gangtok, March 15

Parts of Sikkim are experiencing strong winds, heavy rainfall and hailstorms. Several areas witnessed intense rain accompanied by hailstones, leading to difficult travel conditions and temporary power disruptions in some places. The India Meteorological Department, Gangtok, issued a special weather bulletin warning of heavy rainfall and thunderstorm activities across Sikkim from today to 17th March due to a Western Disturbance passing over the region and moisture incursion from the Bay of Bengal. According to the forecast, light to moderate rain is likely across districts, including Gangtok, Gyalshing, Namchi and Soreng, while higher altitude areas of Mangan and Pakyong may experience rainfall along with snowfall. Gangtok has been experiencing heavy rainfall since the afternoon and is now facing stormy winds. A yellow warning has been issued for all districts of Sikkim for today and tomorrow with the possibility of heavy rain, thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds. Authorities have advised residents and tourists to remain cautious and stay updated with official weather advisories.

Due to the severe weather condition across the state, one woman was killed and three others sustained injuries when trees fell during strong winds and heavy rainfall in Sikkim.

The deceased, identified as Kala Devi Chettri, lost her life after a tree collapsed on her in Rakdong Kafer under the Tumin-Lingi Constituency amid a thunderstorm.

According to the Gangtok district police, "A 55-year-old woman, identified as Kala Devi Chettri, died after a tree fell on her during a thunderstorm and heavy rainfall in Rakdong Kafer, under Tumin-Lingi Constituency. The strong winds and rain caused the tree to collapse, striking her on the head and resulting in her death. The incident occurred as severe weather affected several parts of the state, causing disruptions in different areas."

Furthermore, power supply disruptions in many areas after a severe thunderstorm accompanied by a hailstorm that occurred today across several parts of Pakyong, Gangtok, and Mangan districts led to tripping of several 66 kV transmission lines.

The Power Department has deployed transmission teams, and patrolling of the affected lines will commence early tomorrow morning to identify the faults and carry out restoration works on priority. All efforts are being made to restore normal power supply at the earliest.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Western Disturbance meeting Bay of Bengal moisture – a classic recipe for extreme weather in the hills. IMD's forecast seems accurate. Hope the power department teams stay safe while restoring the lines. These disruptions hit tourism and daily life hard.
D
David E
Visiting Gangtok next week. Should we reconsider our plans? Are flights to Bagdogra getting affected? Authorities advising caution is well and good, but tourists need more specific, real-time information.
A
Aman W
Very tragic incident. May her soul rest in peace. This shows how important it is for municipal corporations to regularly trim old trees before monsoon or such severe weather hits. Proactive measures can save lives.
S
Shreya B
Stay safe, everyone in Sikkim! ❤️ The yellow warning is for a reason. Hope the snowfall in Mangan and Pakyong doesn't block roads. Our hill states face such challenges every year.
N
Nikhil C
While the IMD warning was timely, the response on the ground, especially regarding tree safety near habitations, seems lacking. A respectful criticism: we need better disaster preparedness at the local ward level, not just advisories. Condolences to the family.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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