Nirmala Sitharaman’s Bhutan Visit Delayed by Emergency Landing in Siliguri

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s official visit to Bhutan was temporarily halted on Thursday, October 30th, as her flight made an emergency landing at Bagdogra Airport in Siliguri. The diversion was due to inclement weather, including heavy rains and a low-pressure system, which created hazardous flying conditions over the Himalayan region. Sitharaman is secure, and local administration is facilitating her overnight stay in Siliguri. Her departure for Thimphu is planned for Friday, provided the weather improves sufficiently. This visit is designed to deepen bilateral cooperation across economic and developmental spheres. The pilot made the decision to land at Bagdogra as a precautionary measure following significant turbulence and reduced visibility. All safety protocols were observed. The adverse weather is impacting flight operations across the region, causing delays for travel to Bhutan and Northeast India. The Finance Ministry is closely tracking the weather and will announce any revised schedule on Friday.