Gangtok: A powerful thunderstorm accompanied by heavy rain, hail and strong winds swept across several parts of Sikkim on Sunday evening, leaving one woman dead, injuring eight people and causing widespread damage to roads, houses and power infrastructure across multiple districts.
A 55-year-old woman died after being struck on the head by a falling tree during the storm. The deceased has been identified as Kala Devi Chettri, a resident of Rakdong Kafer in Gangtok district. She is survived by her son Som Bahadur Acharya and daughter Chandra Maya Chettri. The family belongs to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category.
In another incident, eight persons were injured in Chota Singtam in Pakyong district after a tree fell on a taxi vehicle during the storm. Four of them sustained critical injuries and all the injured were rushed to the Central Referral Hospital for treatment.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), an orange warning was issued twice between 4:50 pm and 5:02 pm, alerting residents about thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds of 30-40 kmph, hail and intense spells of rain across Gangtok, Gyalshing and Namchi districts. The storm system was later witnessed in parts of Mangan district in North Sikkim.
The IMD has also issued yellow warnings for March 16 and 17, forecasting thunderstorms, hail and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph in Gangtok, Pakyong, Mangan and Namchi districts.
The storm triggered multiple incidents of tree fall and road blockages across Gangtok district. Several stretches along the Ranipool-Gangtok highway were affected after trees and debris fell on the road, disrupting traffic movement. Some vehicles parked along the roadside were also reportedly damaged.
Affected locations included areas near Mayfair, Ramada Hotel at Deorali, the ICAR complex, Chota Singtam, Secretariat Gate in Gangtok, Ranipool checkpost, Panihouse, Amdo Golai and near Enchey Monastery. Tree fall incidents were also reported near the DGP Bungalow at Deorali Chorten and along the road above Mintokgang leading to Enchey Monastery.
Strong winds also caused several trees to fall along National Highway-10 on the Ranipool-Gangtok stretch. The Forest Department, assisted by the Roads and Bridges Department using JCB machinery, carried out clearance operations to restore vehicular movement.
A tree fall at Sichey Cooperative led to a road blockage and a power pole collapse in the area. Clearing work enabled the restoration of movement for small vehicles at several affected points, including Samdur.
Preliminary reports indicate damage to several residential properties across the district. One house was reportedly damaged at Samdur, while in Nandok Maley Gaon the roofs of four houses were blown away due to strong winds. Damage to houses has also been reported from Malay Gaon, Busuk area, Rakdong Tintek, areas above Mayfair Hotel and Kharel Gaon at 5th Mile, Tadong, where one house was severely damaged.
In the VIP area of Gangtok, the roof of a Class IV government quarter was damaged after a tree fell on the structure. Field officials are currently conducting detailed damage assessments under the respective Block Development Officers (BDOs). Relief assistance will be provided to affected families as per SDRF norms following verification.
Meanwhile, the Power Department reported disruptions in electricity supply in parts of Pakyong, Gangtok and Mangan districts following the severe thunderstorm and hailstorm. Several 66 kV transmission lines tripped during the storm.
In Pakyong district, one conductor of the 66 kV Rorathang-Rongli transmission line snapped near the Amba area, affecting power supply to Rongli and Rhenock. In Gangtok district, sparking accompanied by a loud noise was reported near Namli on the 66 kV Marchak-Macleods transmission line, affecting power supply to Nimtar, Topakhani and Singtam. The 66 kV LLHP-Sichey transmission line also could not be sustained during trial charging.
However, electricity supply to Gangtok town remained normal as the city is currently being fed through a ring main system.
In Mangan district, heavy sparking and loud noise were observed near the G.B. Pant Wildlife Sanctuary during trial charging of the 66 kV Perbing-Phodong transmission line, resulting in disruption of power supply in the district.
The department said transmission teams have been deployed and patrolling of the affected lines will begin early Monday morning to identify faults and carry out restoration work on priority.
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Officials said multiple departments including the Forest Department, Police, Fire Services and Roads & Bridges responded to emergency calls and carried out clearance operations at affected sites.
Gangtok Fire Station received a special service call at 5:13 pm regarding a tree fall near the DGP Bungalow at Deorali Chorten, and a fire crew was dispatched within minutes to undertake response operations.

