Over the weekend, the Indian Meteorological Department issued a new warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall in north Bengal, raising fears of landslides and rising river levels, even as authorities in Sikkim urged tourists not to visit some of the Himalayan state's popular tourist destinations in the north.
Officials added that a few hundred visitors who became stuck in places like Lachen and Lachung in North Sikkim, where major tourist spots like Yumthang and Gurudongmar are located, were rescued and transported to safer locations.
"All tourists who were stuck in regions like Lachen and Lachung were taken back to Gangtok, which is a safer place." However, huge landslides have happened in Dzongo, Chungthang, Lachen, Lachung, and Dikchu, causing severe road conditions in the state's upper reaches," said AB Karki, district collector of Sikkim's Mangan district.
In comparison to 2020 and 2021, the amount of rain reported in Gangtok between June 1 and June 16 was the greatest this year. During the same period this year, the capital of Sikkim received 632.5 mm of rain, compared to 232.1 mm and 486.6 mm in 2020 and 2021.
Over the last few days, districts in north Bengal have also been hit by heavy rain. Some localities in the Alipirduar district, such as Buxaduar and Hasimara, received roughly 350 mm and 230 mm of rain in the last 24 hours. Rainfall totaled more than 50 mm in certain locations.
"Some districts in West Bengal's sub-Himalayan area, including Darjeeling and Kalimpong, may experience heavy to extremely heavy rain." According to the IMD's advisory, landslides may occur in the hills, and water levels in rivers such as the Teesta, Jaldhaka, Sankosh, and Torsa may rise even higher," said a senior official from the IMD's regional office in Kolkata.
S Poonambalam, Darjeeling's district magistrate, said there had been no reports of severe damage due to the torrential rains until Saturday afternoon.
The water level in several rivers, including the Torsa and Kaljani, has risen, and some low-lying areas in Alipurduar and Cooch Behar districts have been inundated.
On Saturday, the southwest monsoon moved further south, affecting districts such as Kolkata, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Hooghly, Howrah, and East Midnapore, among others.
"The monsoon is projected to cover the remaining regions of West Bengal in the next two to three days," according to GK Das, a scientist with the IMD's regional office in Kolkata.
