A flight carrying Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was compelled to make an emergency landing at Bagdogra Airport in Siliguri on Thursday, October 30th, en route to Bhutan. Adverse weather, including heavy rainfall and low pressure, led to the diversion. Sitharaman is safe and will be staying overnight in Siliguri under the protection of local security and administrative forces. Her planned onward journey to Bhutan is scheduled for Friday morning, dependent on the stabilization of weather conditions. The visit is crucial for fostering stronger economic ties and reviewing joint development projects. The pilot’s decision to land in Siliguri was a safety measure taken due to severe turbulence and poor visibility. Airport authorities responded promptly to the emergency landing. The current weather situation has caused disruptions to flights in the eastern region, affecting travel to Bhutan and Northeast India. An updated travel plan will be released on Friday after an assessment of meteorological forecasts.
