Cyclone Amphan may hit Sikkim, meteorological department issues alert

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Cyclone Amphan (pronounced UM-PUN) may hit Sikkim with heavy to very heavy rainfall. The station director of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Sikkim, said that the state may experience seven to twelve centimeters of rainfall.

The IMD had earlier said that the cyclone would not hit the state. But, looking at its intensity, the GN Raha, the station director said the cyclone may hit the state and neighbouring Darjeeling and Kalimpong.

Also read: Cyclone Amphan: Assam, Meghalaya to witness moderate to heavy showers on May 21

Cyclone Amphan has already hit the coastal area of Kolkota with nearly 180 km per hour speed which was not expected during earlier forecast threat also looms over the Sikkim. In Sikkim, rainfall will be in East South and North District and tomorrow rainfall will be in West Sikkim. Seven to 12 cm of rainfall is expected in Sikkim while in neighborhood Darjeeling and Kalimpong it may go up to 20 cm, said Raha.

The director also warned about the possibility of landslide due to rainfall. Sikkim was kept on an orange zone by the Meteorological department.

The IMD on May 18, 2020, issued a warning of heavy rainfall for six states till May 21 in the light of extremely severe cyclonic storm Amphan. The weather bureau said Odisha, West Bengal, and its sub-Himalayan parts, Sikkim, Assam, and Meghalaya will receive heavy rainfall till May 21.