Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's visit to Bhutan has been postponed due to bad weather. Her aircraft made a safe emergency landing at Bagdogra Airport. Sitharaman will stay in Siliguri and resume her journey once the weather improves.
New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's visit to Bhutan was unexpectedly disrupted at its outset. Sitharaman's plane, which departed for Bhutan on Thursday afternoon, had to make an emergency landing at Bagdogra Airport. This step was taken due to inclement weather and low pressure in the sky. According to reports, shortly after the plane took off, the weather suddenly deteriorated, and for safety reasons, the aircraft had to be landed at Bagdogra Airport in Siliguri, West Bengal.
At the time of the incident, the Finance Minister was accompanied by her officials and security personnel on the flight. The comforting news, however, is that the landing was completely safe, and all passengers are secure.
Finance Minister to Stay Overnight in Siliguri
The Meteorological Department has warned of heavy rain and b winds for the next few hours. Consequently, Nirmala Sitharaman has decided to stay in Siliguri for the time being. Administrative sources stated that if the weather normalizes by Friday morning, the Finance Minister will depart for Bhutan again.
Sitharaman's visit was pre-scheduled and was meant to take place from October 30 to November 2, 2025. During this trip, she was scheduled to participate in several important meetings with the objective of further strengthening India's economic relations with Bhutan.
Objective and Schedule of the Bhutan Visit
Nirmala Sitharaman is leading the Indian delegation on this visit. The delegation was scheduled to hold bilateral discussions with the Government of Bhutan under the Department of Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Finance. This visit is considered extremely important for economic, financial, and development cooperation between the two countries.
The Finance Minister was to participate in several programs in Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. She was to begin her official visit at the Sangchen Chokhor Monastery. This monastery was established in 1765, and today, more than 100 Buddhist monks still study and meditate here. It is an important center of Bhutan's religious heritage.
Proposed Meetings with Bhutanese King and Prime Minister
Nirmala Sitharaman's schedule also included meetings with His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan and His Excellency Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay. These meetings were intended to review the ongoing cooperation programs between India and Bhutan.
Furthermore, she was also scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Bhutan's Finance Minister, Lekey Dorji. This meeting was to discuss new avenues for trade, investment, and financial cooperation between the two countries. The progress of several major development projects undertaken by India in Bhutan was also to be reviewed during this visit.
Planned Discussions on UPI and Digital Connectivity
India's digital presence in Bhutan is continuously growing. During her visit to Bhutan, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was scheduled to review the expansion of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and the use of the digital transaction system.
After Bhutan's adoption of the Indian UPI system, a b partnership has been formed between the two countries regarding digital payments. Sitharaman's objective was to deepen this digital partnership.
Visit to Cottage and Small Industries (CSI) Market Also Scheduled
During her four-day program, the Finance Minister was also scheduled to visit Bhutan's Cottage and Small Industries (CSI) market. Here, she was to inspect projects operating with Indian assistance.
Several schemes are underway between India and Bhutan to promote small industries and local entrepreneurs. Nirmala Sitharaman's visit was considered to give a new direction to the commercial cooperation between the two countries.
Bad Weather Poses Obstacle, New Plan Under Consideration
According to sources from the Ministry of Finance, several of Sitharaman's programs have been postponed for now due to the weather. A new framework will be prepared once the situation normalizes. The Ministry also stated that the purpose of the Finance Minister's visit is to strengthen economic partnership with Bhutan, and therefore, the visit will not be cancelled but rescheduled.
