Key Points
- Sikkim experiences unprecedented early snowfall with temperatures plunging below freezing; red alert issued for the next 24 hours
- Six fatalities reported in Telangana as Cyclone Montha triggers severe flooding across multiple districts
- Andhra Pradesh suffers infrastructure damage worth ₹5,265 crore; 13,000 power poles destroyed
- IMD issues yellow alert for 13 Jharkhand districts and orange alert for North Bengal regions
- Union Finance Minister’s visit cancelled due to adverse weather conditions
New Delhi: Multiple regions across India are grappling with extreme weather events as unseasonal snowfall blankets Sikkim’s high-altitude areas while Cyclone Montha continues to batter Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, claiming lives and causing massive infrastructure damage.
Sikkim Under Red Alert as Temperatures Plummet
Heavy snowfall blanketed the India-China border regions of Sikkim on Friday, with temperatures dropping several degrees below freezing point across strategic locations, including Nathula Pass, Kupup, and the popular Tsomgo (Changu) Lake. The sudden weather deterioration has led to complete traffic disruption in these high-altitude areas.
Climate experts attribute this unusually early snowfall—typically not expected until mid-November—to the accelerating impacts of climate change. The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert warning of further weather deterioration over the next 24 hours, urging extreme caution.
Border Roads Organisation teams have been deployed round-the-clock to clear snow from critical roadways. Tourism authorities have issued strict advisories asking visitors to postpone travel to high-altitude destinations until weather conditions stabilize.
Death Toll Rises in Telangana as Montha Unleashes Fury
Cyclone Montha has claimed six lives across Telangana through various rain-related incidents. In Siddipet district, a couple lost their lives while attempting to cross a swollen stream. Separately, a woman was swept away by strong currents in Jangaon district.
The torrential rainfall has submerged roads and inundated low-lying areas across Warangal, Hanamkonda, Karimnagar, Khammam, and Nalgonda districts. Rescue operations are ongoing in several flood-affected zones, with emergency services working to evacuate stranded residents.
Andhra Pradesh Faces Massive Infrastructure Crisis
Cyclone Montha has inflicted catastrophic damage to Andhra Pradesh’s power infrastructure. Energy Minister G. Ravi Kumar revealed that approximately 13,000 electricity poles have been damaged or destroyed, along with 3,000 kilometers of transmission cables and 3,000 transformers, leaving vast areas without power.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu assessed the total economic impact of the cyclone at approximately ₹5,265 crore. State authorities are coordinating restoration efforts, though complete recovery is expected to take several weeks given the extensive damage to critical infrastructure.
Weather Alerts Across Multiple States
The India Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for 13 districts in Jharkhand, including Chatra, Hazaribagh, Ramgarh, Koderma, and Bokaro, valid until November 1. Following this period, temperatures are forecast to drop by 3 to 5 degrees Celsius across the state.
Arunachal Pradesh is bracing for heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and lightning starting Saturday and continuing for two days. The districts of Tawang, West Kameng, and Anjaw are expected to receive particularly intense precipitation.
North Bengal Prepares for Montha’s Aftermath
An orange alert has been declared for several North Bengal districts, including Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, and Darjeeling, where moderate to heavy rainfall is anticipated as Cyclone Montha’s influence extends northward.
The severe weather conditions have disrupted high-level diplomatic schedules, with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s official visit to Bhutan, scheduled from October 30 to November 2, being cancelled due to safety concerns.
