Two killed in Sikkim Thunderstorm

Gangtok, Sikkim: Two persons were killed when a thunderstorm struck the hill state around 4 pm yesterday.

Incessant rain accompanied by gusty winds uprooted trees, damaged buildings and left parts of Gangtok and its suburbs in darkness. Hand in hand, water supply to the state capital was also snapped. The supply, however, was restored in most places today.

Kanchi Lepcha, 53, and Rinchen Chopel Bhutia, 14, were killed when lightning hit a house in Rakshey village in the Tintek area of East district. While both of them died on the spot, a third person was badly injured and had to be admitted to Sir Thutob Namgyal Memorial Hospital. The state government today announced an ex-gratia of Rs 50,000 for the next of kin of those killed.

As many as eight houses were damaged in Burtuk, Sichey, Ranka, Swastik, Luing and Rumtek — all suburbs of Gangtok. Minor landslips were also reported from this area.

Being a Sunday, official estimates of damages to property and crops were not available today.

Vishal Chauhan, the district collector of East Sikkim, and other senior administrative officials visited some of the affected locations on the outskirts of Gangtok today to take stock of the situation.

“We have ordered some families to be evacuated from partially damaged houses. Others who were not shifted have been told to be careful,” said Chauhan.

It will take a couple of days to restore power supply to all the areas. “The task we have in hand is big as uprooted trees have damaged transformers and feeder lines. We are also trying to restore water supply by today,” said Naveen Chhetri, additional district collector, East Sikkim.

In Gangtok, the Statues of Unity were partially damaged. Located in Thakurbari above M.G. Marg, a crack appeared in the middle of the structure, after a tree came crashing down on it.

Source: The Telegraph