Over 1,200 tourists stranded in Sikkim; weather department forecasts more rain in north Bengal

A yellow alert has been issued for the protected and unprotected areas of the Jaldhaka River, along National Highway 31, on Sunday as well. Similarly, yellow alert has been issued in Teesta MekhliGanj Bangladesh border area. Due to heavy rains in Sikkim, North Bengal has  also been affected. Monsoon rains in north Bengal and Sikkim triggered the closure of National Highway 10, crippling the Bengal-Sikkim lifeline.

According to the Travel Agents Association of Sikkim (TAAS), all travel agencies, especially those whose tourists are stranded in north Sikkim, should reach Mangan before 10 am on Monday. Helicopter rescue is not possible due to inclement weather, sources said. After they reach Mangan, they will be shifted to a safer place, the sources said.

Meanwhile, the weather department has forecast that heavy to very heavy rain would continue in north Bengal. As per the weather department, the Northern Limit of Monsoon continues to pass through Islampur. Conditions are favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon into some parts of south Bengal, remaining parts of north Bengal during the next four-five days.

“…cyclonic circulation over north Bangladesh & neighbourhood now lies over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & neighbourhood and extends up to 1.5 km above mean sea level. East-west trough from northwest Bihar to east Assam now runs to Meghalaya across the cyclonic circulation over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal at 0.9 km above mean sea level,” read a bulletin issued by the weather department.

Due to the said system and strong moisture incursion from the Bay of Bengal, heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places with extremely heavy rainfall at one or two places very likely to continue over the northern districts of North Bengal, the bulletin said.

Also, heat wave along with hot and humid weather conditions are likely to prevail in the western districts of south Bengal during the next two days. Rain or thunderstorms and associated weather activity are likely to occur at few places over the districts of south Bengal, officials said on Saturday.