DARJEELING,: Temperatures dipped in Darjeeling as Sandakhpu, about 61 km from
Darjeeling and standing at a height of 11,929 feet, along with its upper
reaches experienced unexpected snowfall from Thursday afternoon.
Locals there
maintained that snowfall there started around 2 pm with a thin layer of
snowfall accumulation there turning the area white.
"Snowfall
started around 2 pm in the afternoon with it falling for more than an hour. However,
we do not feel that it will stay in the
ground for long as this is not the time for snowfall and it being more warmer
then winters," said Anil Tamang of Singalila Land Rover Association which
plies tourists to Sandakhpu from Manenbhanjyang.
The last
snowfall in Sandakhpu, which falls under Singallila National Park this time
round, was on March 20 this year. Tourists had been stranded that time round
for a day.
This time
however though there are tourists there they are not expected to get stuck.
"About 30
vehicles had taken tourists to Sandakhpu with each carrying about 4 of them.
Then there are numerous trekkers there also but we do not feel they will get
stuck as there is not that much snowfall so vehicles can easily ply," said
Tamang.
On the other
hand, temperatures also dipped in Darjeeling town area with temperatures
dipping to 12 degree Celsius.
Snowfall has
evaded Darjeeling town for some time now with the last snowfall seen here on
December 29, 2021 with much snow however not accumulating then due to it
falling for a brief period with rainfall. However, Tiger Hill about 12 km from
Darjeeling and standing at a height of 2,560 metres had seen snowfall on
January 20, 2022.
