Darjeeling: After a gap of 10 months, Sandakphu, the highest point in the state, witnessed the season’s first snowfall on Saturday evening. Though the snowfall lasted briefly and did not accumulate, it brought excitement among tourists and renewed optimism for stakeholders dependent on tourism.However, the region typically experiences snowfall between Dec and Feb. The snowfall raised hope among Singalila Land Rovers Owners’ Association (SLROA) for an improvement in tourist footfall. Locals believe that the region may witness further snowfall over the next two to three days. SLROA president Chandan Pradhan said the snowfall was mild and did not affect road connectivity. “Tourists can still travel by vehicle as movement remains normal,” he said. “Only seven vehicles travelled to Sandakphu on Saturday, carrying around 35 tourists. We expect numbers to rise during upcoming festive period and long weekends,” Pradhan added. Local resident Pemba Sherpa said the snowfall lasted for around half an hour.
