A strong wind and rain storm swept the Gangtok and its surrounding areas on Saturday evening. Two persons were killed and few others others injured in the storm that also damaged many structures including 25 residential houses across the Gangtok. 80 and more electricity poles also suffered huge damages and causing break-down in power supply for almost2 days in many parts of Gangtok.
The heavy rain-storm swept the area at 70 km speed and continued for about three hours, shattering normal life. The power towers and pillars were overturned. The supply-lines were cut under the impact of falling trees, leaving the entire Gangtok without electricity for next 24-36 hours.
Incessant rains that lashed Gangtok and surrounding areas yesterday evening have caused extensive damages.The sudden cloud burst, which occurred around 5 pm, was accompanied by strong winds followed by a thunderstorm.
According to the Meteorological Department, 51.4 mm of rainfall was recorded with wind velocity of 6 km per hour. The worst hit areas are Burtuk, Lower Sichey, Upper Sichey, Ranka, Thami Dara and parts of Rakdong Tintek constituency. The Statue of Unity, situated at MG Marg here was also toppled by the heavy downpour.
The thunderstorm left several trees and electric poles uprooted, over flowing jhoras and drains, temporary road blocks and cracks on houses. Several houses developed cracks in Lower Sichey after huge trees came crushing down upon them.
“My shop was flooded with 3 feet of water. We are very scared and nervous,” Ajay Kumar, a ration shop owner of Burtuk said. Worst was the scenario at Lower Burtuk, By-pass, where the entire house of Unika Subba was washed away by flood waters. “Apart from the clothes in our bodies, we couldn’t salvage any thing else. We are shattered”, lamented Unika.
Likewise, the houses of Savitri Chettri (at Helipad), Arjun Sherpa (Burtuk), Sherap Tshering Bhutia (Middle Sichey), TW Lepcha, Dhan Subba, Shova Rai, Banjila Gurung, JB Gurung and several other houses were ravaged by the storm.
A team of Forest officials headed by Additional PC CF ST Lachungpa today visited the affected sites and issued spot permission to fell the tilted trees and poles that are dangerous to both human life and property.
CS Rao, the Chief Conservator of Forest informed that 145 pole size trees were identified as potential danger out of which 59 are already fallen. 86 trees were granted permission to be removed from private holdings, road reserve and government lands in and around Gangtok.
Expressing anguish over the unplanned construction of jhoras, the residents of Thapa Golai informed that several times joint representations were made to the concerned department regarding the problem but it was ignored.
Gangtok and its suburbs spent a sleepless night on June 2, without power and cable TV supply. Some areas got back the power supply at around 10:30 pm last night but several areas were still reeling in darkness till today evening. “All the electric poles are affected severely along with the control rooms at Diesel Power House and other sub stations” informed the Divisional Engineer for Power, over the phone.
It was learnt that restoration work will commence for minor damages first. According to reports, it would take nearly a week for the department to restore the power supply for major damages (lower tension) as at Lower Sichey, Luing, Perbing, Ranka, Burtuk and other areas.
The District Collector, East accompanied by SP East and members of Civil Defense visited the affected sites and the extent of damage is being ascertained. “The affected families will be compensated as per norms of Natural Calamity Fund”, informed the DC. He also added that several cultivation fields were also affected by the rain.
The lightening and thunderstorm also claimed two lives at Raksey, under Rakdong Tintek constituency. According to the area MLA Norzang Lepcha, one Kanchi Lepcha (53) and Rinzing Choppel Lepcha (14) died on spot in their home after being hit by a lightening, whereas Phu Tshering Lepcha (15) sustained minor injuries.
A missing case was registered at the Sadar Police Station today. One Abhishek Kumar alias Johny of Balwakhani is reported missing since June 2. According to his family members, the boy had gone for a swim at Rey Khola on that day has not returned yet.
In the capital Gangtok it was quite a chaotic situation with people running for cover. The traffic came to a grinding halt as the trees fell on bye-pass road. The trees was humming with frightening wind-shocks.
Sikkim Police rescued 300 tourists, who were caught in the landslide caused by storm in the 3rd Mile area of J.N.Road at Maney Khola . Police & Travel Agencies, in a separate incident, rescued tourists vehicles returning from Changu Lake to the safety of hotels of tourist groups.A police party from Sherathang Outpost launched an operation immediately and rescued all stranded tourists in the area.
The heavy rain-storm swept the area at 70 km speed and continued for about three hours, shattering normal life. The power towers and pillars were overturned. The supply-lines were cut under the impact of falling trees, leaving the entire Gangtok without electricity for next 24-36 hours.
Incessant rains that lashed Gangtok and surrounding areas yesterday evening have caused extensive damages.The sudden cloud burst, which occurred around 5 pm, was accompanied by strong winds followed by a thunderstorm.
According to the Meteorological Department, 51.4 mm of rainfall was recorded with wind velocity of 6 km per hour. The worst hit areas are Burtuk, Lower Sichey, Upper Sichey, Ranka, Thami Dara and parts of Rakdong Tintek constituency. The Statue of Unity, situated at MG Marg here was also toppled by the heavy downpour.
The thunderstorm left several trees and electric poles uprooted, over flowing jhoras and drains, temporary road blocks and cracks on houses. Several houses developed cracks in Lower Sichey after huge trees came crushing down upon them.
“My shop was flooded with 3 feet of water. We are very scared and nervous,” Ajay Kumar, a ration shop owner of Burtuk said. Worst was the scenario at Lower Burtuk, By-pass, where the entire house of Unika Subba was washed away by flood waters. “Apart from the clothes in our bodies, we couldn’t salvage any thing else. We are shattered”, lamented Unika.
Likewise, the houses of Savitri Chettri (at Helipad), Arjun Sherpa (Burtuk), Sherap Tshering Bhutia (Middle Sichey), TW Lepcha, Dhan Subba, Shova Rai, Banjila Gurung, JB Gurung and several other houses were ravaged by the storm.
A team of Forest officials headed by Additional PC CF ST Lachungpa today visited the affected sites and issued spot permission to fell the tilted trees and poles that are dangerous to both human life and property.
CS Rao, the Chief Conservator of Forest informed that 145 pole size trees were identified as potential danger out of which 59 are already fallen. 86 trees were granted permission to be removed from private holdings, road reserve and government lands in and around Gangtok.
Expressing anguish over the unplanned construction of jhoras, the residents of Thapa Golai informed that several times joint representations were made to the concerned department regarding the problem but it was ignored.
Gangtok and its suburbs spent a sleepless night on June 2, without power and cable TV supply. Some areas got back the power supply at around 10:30 pm last night but several areas were still reeling in darkness till today evening. “All the electric poles are affected severely along with the control rooms at Diesel Power House and other sub stations” informed the Divisional Engineer for Power, over the phone.
It was learnt that restoration work will commence for minor damages first. According to reports, it would take nearly a week for the department to restore the power supply for major damages (lower tension) as at Lower Sichey, Luing, Perbing, Ranka, Burtuk and other areas.
The District Collector, East accompanied by SP East and members of Civil Defense visited the affected sites and the extent of damage is being ascertained. “The affected families will be compensated as per norms of Natural Calamity Fund”, informed the DC. He also added that several cultivation fields were also affected by the rain.
The lightening and thunderstorm also claimed two lives at Raksey, under Rakdong Tintek constituency. According to the area MLA Norzang Lepcha, one Kanchi Lepcha (53) and Rinzing Choppel Lepcha (14) died on spot in their home after being hit by a lightening, whereas Phu Tshering Lepcha (15) sustained minor injuries.
A missing case was registered at the Sadar Police Station today. One Abhishek Kumar alias Johny of Balwakhani is reported missing since June 2. According to his family members, the boy had gone for a swim at Rey Khola on that day has not returned yet.
In the capital Gangtok it was quite a chaotic situation with people running for cover. The traffic came to a grinding halt as the trees fell on bye-pass road. The trees was humming with frightening wind-shocks.
Sikkim Police rescued 300 tourists, who were caught in the landslide caused by storm in the 3rd Mile area of J.N.Road at Maney Khola . Police & Travel Agencies, in a separate incident, rescued tourists vehicles returning from Changu Lake to the safety of hotels of tourist groups.A police party from Sherathang Outpost launched an operation immediately and rescued all stranded tourists in the area.