The sudden bout of snowfall in Sikkim on Wednesday blocked several strategically important roads in the Himalayan state that sits on the India-China border, prompting the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to engage their personnel and equipment to clear the snow and restore connectivity.
Sources in the BRO said that over the past few days the weather change in Sikkim led to heavy snow in its northern and eastern parts.
On Wednesday, around 500 tourists visiting Nathu-la, a popular tourist destination for tourists in Gangtok district of Sikkim, got stranded in snow. The Indian army rescued them and arranged their food, medical care and transport.
“On Thursday, tourists were not allowed to visit places like Chhangu (Tsomgo) Lake and Nathu-la owing to snow,” said a source.
As forecast by the regional Met office in Gangtok, some of the roads in upper reaches of the state got blocked because of huge ice deposits.
“Some of the strategically important roads along the Lachung and Lachen axis (in Mangan district, north Sikkim), the national highway to Nathu-la and Tamze (in east Sikkim) experienced exceptionally heavy snowfall. This disruption posed a challenge to all road users,” said a source.
The October 4 flash flood in Sikkim had damaged the road leading to the Lachen valley. Hence, the BRO took up the task to restore connectivity for the armed forces deployed in Lachen valley via Donkyala Pass, located at 18,200 feet, the source said.
A senior BRO official said that despite inclement weather, freezing temperatures, insufficient oxygen, high winds and blizzard, their personnel continued to work with
equipment such as excavators to ensure unhindered movement of vehicles in north and east Sikkim.
“Heavy machinery and manpower were mobilised for work to keep roads which lead to the (India-China) border open,” he said.
Weather experts said that similar conditions would prevail in Sikkim during the next couple of days.
In nearby north Bengal, it rained in several places, including Siliguri, on Thursday. The sky remained mostly overcast.
“Another fresh western disturbance is likely to affect the western Himalayan
region from February 24. There is also an alert for rain and snow in Gangtok and Mangan districts of Sikkim,” said a source in the IMD office, Gangtok.