Sikkim: Heavy rainfall triggers landslide, disrupts water supply

The landslide caused by the heavy rainfall damaged the water supply lines in Gangtok in Sikkim in the wee hours of May 24^th, 2020 resulting in severe problems to the public.

The Public Health Engineering (PHE) department informed that field engineers restored it temporarily by last evening. However, water had high turbidity.

The water distribution source was also partially damaged by the landslide caused by the incessant rainfall. The engineers have been deputed for restoration, an official said.

Also read: Sikkim: 6 trekkers go missing in west part of state

Moreover, Assam and some parts of other Northeastern states have also experienced incessant rainfall resulting in public movement disruption.

On May 20, 2020, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Sikkim had said that the cyclone Amphan (pronounced UM-PUN) might hit the state with heavy to very heavy rainfall. The station director had said that the state might experience seven to twelve centimeters of rainfall.

The IMD had earlier said that the cyclone would not hit the state. But, looking at its intensity, the GN Raha, the station director said the cyclone may hit the state and neighbouring Darjeeling and Kalimpong.

Also read: Cyclone Amphan may hit Sikkim, meteorological department issues alert

Cyclone Amphan hit the coastal area of Kolkota with nearly 180 km per hour speed which was not expected during earlier forecast threat also looms over the Sikkim. In Sikkim, rainfall will be in East South and North District and tomorrow rainfall will be in West Sikkim. Seven to 12 cm of rainfall is expected in Sikkim while in neighborhood Darjeeling and Kalimpong it may go up to 20 cm, said Raha. 

The director also warned about the possibility of landslide due to rainfall. Sikkim was kept on an orange zone by the Meteorological department.

The IMD on May 18, 2020, issued a warning of heavy rainfall for six states till May 21 in the light of extremely severe cyclonic storm Amphan. The weather bureau said Odisha, West Bengal, and its sub-Himalayan parts, Sikkim, Assam, and Meghalaya will receive heavy rainfall till May 21.

Meanwhile, Sikkim has registered its first confirmed COVID-19 case on May 23^rd, 2020. The government has pulled up its socks to fight against the lethal virus. It has also installed its first COVID-19 testing laboratory. Earlier, Sikkim had used to send the sample to West Bengal for testing.

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