The Met Centre Gangtok of the Indian Meteorological Department’s daily and weekly rainfall data shows that the region hasn’t received much rainfall since August 8.Between August 8-14, there was 42% deficient rainfall. Notably, between August 15-20, there was also huge deficient rainfall ranging from 58% to 88%. However, on 19 August there was 38 mm of rainfall reported which is 100% more than normal.“Except on August 19, the area received deficient rainfall in the past two weeks,” Dr GN Raha, a scientist at Met Centre Gangtok told the TNIE. “Currently, we do not find any role of extreme weather incidents in this landslide,” he further said.The Nagaland University scientist Dr Manasi Debnath analysed the satellite images of the landslide site and highlighted the role of manmade reasons and not extreme weather events behind the event.“There was no presence of vegetation over the slid hills. The hill slope is inclined to more than 45 degrees showing the possibility of high soil erosion due to manmade activities (including NHPCs construction work) from both sides caused pressure over fragile phyllite stone” said Debnath who is researching GLOF in Sikkim.Besides, Debnath also underlined huge rainfall in the region in June and July would have also possibly triggered seepage through porous phyllite stone. It would have loosened the soil in the region which unsuitable for huge construction activities.
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