High-altitude areas see snow, hail

SNS, Kurseong 2 January 2017: High altitude areas of Sandakphu in Darjeeling hills recorded snowfall and hail stones fall, last night. At the same time, in the morning today at around 11 am the nature also offered its gift in the form of mild snowfall mainly hailstone fall in the high altitude areas of Sukhia Pokhari as thick hailstone was reported in the areas of Lepcha-jagat in Sukhia Pokhari in Darjeeling hills. 

However, snowfall and hailstone fall have not occurred yet at other high altitude areas of Darjeeling hills, like in Jorebunglow, Ghoom and Tiger hill. But, as per the present climate reports in Darjeeling hills,there is a possibility of snowfall and hail in these areas too, within a few days. Despite the chill and cold wave, some tourists and children were also seen at Lepchajagat areas making several statues of different shapes and sizes with hailstone. Tourists are also seen busy in photo sessions with their friends and family there. 

A local tourist from Kakarbhitta Nepal, who was enjoying hailstone with her friends at Lepchajagat areas on the highway of Sukiapokhari said that they had visited Darjeeling in the morning today.But on the way,while returning, they were amazed to see heavy hailstones which carpeted the Sukhia Pokhari highway.