Heavy Snowfall Along Indo-China Border
Fresh snowfall covered the higher areas of the Indo-China border, including Nathula Pass, on Friday, causing temperatures to plunge sharply across Sikkim. Several high-altitude regions experienced sub-zero temperatures, disrupting movement on key mountain routes.
Weather Conditions and Alerts
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported heavy to very heavy snowfall in and around Nathula, Kupup, and Tsomgo (Changu) Lake from early morning. The IMD issued a red alert for Sikkim, warning of severe weather conditions for the next 24 hours.
According to the IMD, "heavy to very heavy snowfall was recorded in and around Nathula, Kupup, and Tsomgo (Changu) Lake since early morning."
Local Response and Safety Measures
- Authorities advised tourists and transport operators to avoid higher elevations due to slippery roads from snow accumulation.
- Border Roads Organisation (BRO) teams are actively clearing snow to maintain essential connectivity.
- Residents have been urged to take necessary precautions amid the heavy snowfall.
- The state government has placed disaster response teams on standby for emergencies.
Officials noted that overnight temperatures in the Nathula region could drop further, marking one of the earliest and heaviest snowfalls this season.
Additional Environmental Update
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has released Rs 8.3 lakh to Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) in Uttar Pradesh and Sikkim under the Access and Benefit Sharing framework, as per the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change announced on Saturday.
The Ministry stated, "Rs 8.3 lakh has been released to Biodiversity Management Committees in Uttar Pradesh and Sikkim under the Access and Benefit Sharing framework."
Author's summary: Early heavy snowfall along the Indo-China border has led to a red alert in Sikkim, prompting safety advisories and active snow clearance, while environmental funding supports biodiversity committees in the region.