Gangtok: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Sikkim on April 27 and 28, according to Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang Golay.
As per the Chief Minister, the Prime Minister will arrive at Libing Army Helipad around 3 PM on April 27 and stay at Lok Bhawan.
A padyatra is scheduled from the helipad to Lok Bhawan on the same day. On April 28, the Prime Minister will address a public gathering at Paljor Stadium.
PM Modi had earlier attempted to visit the State in 2025, but due to inclement weather conditions, he was unable to land and instead addressed the people virtually from Siliguri in West Bengal.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department has indicated that prevailing weather conditions remain unsettled across the State. IMD Gangtok Director Gopinath Raha stated that Sikkim has witnessed continuous rainfall over the past 15 days.
“Over the last 15 days, there hasn’t been a single day without rain. At the very least, there has been light rain, and at times it has been moderate. In some instances, there has also been fairly significant rainfall,” Raha said.
He added that for April 27 and 28, the weather is expected to remain predominantly cloudy, with a higher likelihood of overcast conditions on April 27, along with chances of light to moderate rain. He also pointed out that reduced visibility due to cloud cover and fog remains a concern, particularly for helicopter operations.
“One of the main characteristics of Sikkim’s weather is that fog and low visibility often occur in such conditions. Previously, due to poor visibility, helicopters were unable to land or take off, particularly flights operating from Bagdogra,” Raha said.
Highlighting rainfall data, IMD noted that precipitation levels across Sikkim during the ongoing pre-monsoon period have been significantly above normal. From March 1 to April 17, the State recorded around 1,007 mm of rainfall against a normal of 478 mm.
District-wise, Mangan has received around 643 mm of rainfall against a normal of 264 mm, while Gangtok recorded about 420 mm compared to 263 mm. Pakyong has reported around 243 mm against a normal of 100.8 mm.
Namchi has received nearly 201 mm against 115 mm, marking about 74% excess rainfall. Soreng recorded around 110 mm against a normal of 102 mm, while Gyalshing reported around 100 mm against a normal of 141 mm.
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