Amar Singh Rai, former Darjeeling MLA, is 74 years old but he does not remember experiencing two consecutive days of snowfall in Darjeeling town till 2022.

“I cannot recollect two days of consecutive snowfall. Yes, there has been heavier snowfall, but for a day, and a few decades back,” said Rai.

Darjeeling town received snowfall on Friday and Saturday. The Saturday snowfall carried on for nearly three hours from 10.40am. It was heavier than one the February 14, 2007, the last time the town had been completely draped in white. The last time before now that Darjeeling town had experienced snow was on December 29, 2018, but briefly.

Apart from the two-day consecutive snowfall after many decades, Darjeeling hills received snow for the seventh time this winter.

Tourism stakeholders are delighted. “It was slowly being taken for granted that Darjeeling town would no longer receive decent snowfall anymore,” said Rajesh Rajak, general manager Pine Tree Spa and Resorts.

 The recent frequency of snowfall in Darjeeling has renewed hope among travel stakeholders though many agree that the only thing predictable about weather is its unpredictability. Telegraph photo

“During winters we have more visitors in Gangtok than in Darjeeling. This is basically because of a perception that there is more chance of snowfall in Nathula-Changu Lake and North Sikkim than Darjeeling,” said Navin Thapa, managing director of Muscatel Hotels, which runs hotels both in Gangtok and Darjeeling.

The recent frequency of snowfall in Darjeeling has renewed hope among travel stakeholders though many agree that the only thing predictable about weather is its unpredictability.

Kids eat snow in the Bulbulay area of Gangtok on Saturday. Telegraph photo

“With this year’s snowfall in Darjeeling hills and town, people will again start connecting Darjeeling with snowfall,” said Rajak.

Tourists and residents were excited. Snow-related pictures flooded social media. Rita Banerjee, a tourist from Calcutta, couldn’t contain her excitement. “I have come to Darjeeling many times but this experience (snowfall) has been great. I am wet and shivering but am forgetting everything because of this experience,” she said.

Weathermen said the snowfall was owing to the western disturbance. While the minimum temperature touched sub-zero in Darjeeling town, the maximum temperature was 3.6°C, 8.5°C lower than the normal maximum for Darjeeling on February 5 of any year.

The minimum temperature in Gangtok, too, touched 1.7°C, lowest for February in the last 14 years.

The Indian Meteorological Department has predicted another wave of snowfall in Darjeeling after two days, from Tuesday to Thursday.