Sandakphu receives season's first snowfall

SNS, DARJEELING. 30 JANUARY 21 : Darjeeling Hills witnessed its first snowfall for this winter season and this year at Sandakphu, around 61 km from here and standing at a height of 3636 metres.

It is leant that tourists visiting the place were stuck at different points due to the sudden snowfall.

Many vehicles at different places on way to Sandakhpu were also stuck owing to the snow

fall which was experienced till Tumling below Sandakhpu.

"Snowfall started suddenly at around 12.30 in the afternoon today and it lasted there for an hour or so," the coordinator of the Singalila Land Rovers Association (SLRA),Anil Tamang said.

According to sources, 15 vehicles with tourists had reached Sandakhpu before the snowfall, while seven had decided to go down to Tumling, located around 6 km below, but via the Nepal route.

"Most vehicles moved from the Nepal side as the Indian side till Sandakhpu was covered with snow. Therefore, the vehicles had to take the route from the Nepal side down to Tumling"  Mr Tamang said. The last time it snowed in Sandakphu was in February 2020, which was the same year that Tiger Hill also experienced snowfall.

On the other hand, Darjeeling town experienced snowfall for a brief period on January 29, 2019.