Rainfall data (Darjeeling -Sikkim Himalaya) - August 2016

A number of low pressure areas developed in the Bay of Bengal in Aug 2016 but we received little rain from these systems and went deficient in rainfall from the first week till the end of the month. Early in Aug 2016, what has been described as local event dumped 95mm of rain on the Chungthang-Mangan highway at Lantha khola, it caused a major landslide which breached the road.
A photo of the same is placed below.

The major event of the month was the Dzongu landslide of 13Aug2016 which took place in North Sikkim and has been covered in an earlier blog

Praful Rao,
Kalimpong,
Dist Darjeeling

Update on landslide dam in North Sikkim (17Aug2016) : Satellite images from NRSC/ISRO

All images post by Dr SS Porwal on 'Landslide Management' WA group. I have sharpened the images and increased sizes in PS.

• Water level in the dam seem to be fluctuating, it had dropped 7' yesterday morning but increased by 5' later in the day.
•  GSI estimates the landslide, which is said to be a rock avalanche to be 1km long and width 572m. As per reports from the site, the slide is still active with large rocks still sliding down occasionally.
• The landslide dam has been breached and the outflow from the dam and water levels in the pondage are being monitored continuously.

Praful Rao,
Kalimpong,
Darjeeling

Update on Landslide Dam in North Sikkim (14Aug2016) :more images

Updates

1. No casualties so far.
2. Administration has started 'miking' along some areas of NH10 which might be affected if the landslide dam bursts or overflows, this entails passing the message on vehicle borne PA systems. The important thing here is to avoid creating panic.
3. NDRF has been dispatched to the area.
4.Geologists and Disaster Management officials will survey area today.
5. Info from locals - the Kanaka river has already overflown the dam (not verified)

Praful Rao,
Kalimpong,
Dist Darjeeling

Landslide dam in North Sikkim on Kanaka RIver (13Aug 2016)

From our side, we are in touch with representatives of the Govt both at the Centre and States and members of  the community in Dzongu, North Sikkim and continuously exchanging information.
Luckily, there is no rain in this region and those likely to be immediately impacted have been evacuated.

Praful Rao,
Kalimpong,
Dist Darjeeling