Rainfall data of July2017 for the Darjeeling - Sikkim Himalaya

July is the month that monsoon rainfall peaks in this region and it did just that. We had normal rainfall in Darjeeling and Kalimpong with Kurseong (as usual, taking the cake).

As stated earlier, the entire Darjeeling/Kalimpong districts have been under lock down for the past 60 days with an indefinite strike in progress here because of the ongoing political turmoil. 
Life has been paralyzed with vehicular traffic off road, tea gardens, schools and colleges closed, hydro-electric stations shut down and internet banned.
Under these altered circumstances, STH, like everyone else has confined to barracks and as such the absence of posts or data on this blog. 
Do bear with us.

Praful Rao,
Kalimpong district
Darjeeling- Sikkim Himalaya

From the newspapers today : Landslide victims call a strike today in Mirik.

STH has reported on the landslides in Mirik here
Technically, as per IMD, 'March' heralds in the pre-monsoon season (Mar/Apr/May) when we will start getting our first rains.
8 months after the tragedy, it is pity that the victims of the landslides in Mirik have remained uncompensated and have to resort to a strike to highlight this issue.
What is sadder, is that with the WB State Assembly elections looming ahead, absolutely nothing is likely to be done till the monsoons hit us again around Jun2016.
The Telegraph has covered the story here.

Praful Rao,
Kalimpong,
Dist Darjeeling