Sikkim Mail

Gangtok, March 6, 2012

Cold wave conditions remained across Sikkim despite the festive season of Holi round the corner. Harsh weather conditions and cold wave has thrown the normal life completely out of gear as winter chill continued in the state on Tuesday, with Gangtok shivering at 8.2 degrees celsius. Mangan, North Sikkim continued to reel under a cold wave with the mercury plunging by a 6.2 and Namthang South Sikkim by 5.0 degrees celsius.

With chilled weather dense fog enveloped the capital as well as several other parts of the state, and visibility fell to nearly zero even during afternoon. Monday maximum temperature recorded was 10 degree celsius and the minimum 8 degree celsius. The rainfall recorded for 24 hours on Monday and Tuesday was 18mm. Since three-four days the temperature of the state has remained the same. Later part of the afternoon also witnessed drizzling of rain in most part of the state including the capital.

As per the metrological department of Gangtok, the similar kind of weather will linger for next 10-12 days and sunshine may be seen partly. The met department also said that the extreme part of north Sikkim will witnessed severe freezing weather with snowfalls till March and April first week.

The reason behind the freezing, foggy and drizzling weather condition in Sikkim is because of the western disturbances. The western disturbance on its way from Kashmir via Himachal Pradesh is passing over Sikkim and will travel to Arunachal Pradesh inform the department sources. Most of the lakes and water bodies in the extreme North Sikkim is said to be frozen at the margins on Tuesday morning.

The month of March is supposed to be much warmer with the arrival of spring, but it seems like people can hardly part with their winter clothes. This unexpected unfavorable weather conditions has brought much inconvenience to the people from all walks of life from commuters, students and the office goers. Students having the exam were seen an hour before the actual time, along the road side just to ensure to reach at the right time for the examination as fog may disrupt the transportation.

 

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