Adverse Weather Forces Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Cancel Sikkim Visit, Virtual Inaugurations Planned
Gangtok: Adverse weather conditions in Sikkim have forced Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to cancel his planned visit to the region on October 11. Singh, who arrived at Bagdogra airport earlier, was unable to travel to Sikkim by helicopter as scheduled due to unfavorable flying conditions.
Despite the disruption, Singh will inaugurate several important defence-related projects in Sikkim virtually from the Sukna Military Base in Siliguri. Among the projects to be inaugurated is the Prerna Sthal in Bardang, Pakyong District, a memorial honoring 22 Army personnel who tragically lost their lives during the *Glacial Lake Outburst Flood on October 4, 2023.
Singh had originally planned to attend an Army Commanders Conference at the headquarters of the 17 Mountain Division in Gangtok and personally inaugurate the memorial. Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay is expected to participate in the virtual inauguration of the Prerna Sthal, and a dinner that was planned at Samman Bhawan hosted by Golay for the minister is now uncertain due to the changed circumstances.
On *October 12, Singh was scheduled to inaugurate 75 Border Roads Organisation (BRO) projects from *Sherathang, near the Indo-Tibet border at Nathula Pass. The defence minister’s office has yet to confirm how these plans will be adjusted in light of the ongoing weather-related disruptions.
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