Sikkim

Govt committed to 'Act East, Act Fast' for northeastern states: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said his government was not only committed to its 'Act East' policy but was resolved to 'Act Fast' for the eight northeastern states, which he described as India's 'Ashtalakshmi' -- representing the multifaceted nature of prosperity, wealth, and auspiciousness. Asserting that tourism was the mainstay of Sikkim's economy, Modi said his government's focus is on boosting the state's connectivity, which would increase tourist inflow. "The government is committed to augmenting Sikkim's infrastructure, including building an expressway from West Bengal's Bagdogra, and a ring road in Gangtok to increase tourist inflow," Modi said during his 35-minute speech at a grand function at Paljor Stadium here to mark the conclusion of the year-long celebrations of 50 years of Sikkim's statehood. He also said that ropeway and skyways projects are on the anvil for the state, while an expressway would be built in Nathula to ensure more tourist inflow. "The ...

PM Modi unveils development projects worth ₹4,000 crore in Sikkim

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched development projects worth over Rs 4,000 crore in Sikkim while attending the closing ceremony of the state's 50 years of statehood celebrations. The projects span a wide range of sectors such as infrastructure, connectivity, healthcare, education, power, urban development, environment, tourism and agriculture, the officials said. These projects are aimed at accelerating holistic and inclusive development in Sikkim. The PM's visit marks an important milestone in the golden jubilee year of Sikkim's statehood and reflects the government's "continued commitment to the rapid and sustainable development of the Himalayan state", the officials said.

North Sikkim landslides: Army rescues 135 tourists, many still stranded

A total of 135 stranded tourists have been rescued by the Army from North Sikkim, where multiple landslides have snapped road connectivity, officials said on Thursday. Around 1,000 tourists remain stranded in Lachen, with sustained efforts underway to ensure their rescue at the earliest, they said. The rescue operation is being carried out by the Trishakti Corps under the Eastern Command amid heavy snowfall, they added. Critical passes have been opened and alternate routes activated to facilitate the rescue mission, named 'Operation Him Setu', officials said. A total of 32 light vehicles and 10 motorcycles have been moved out so far, with Army vehicles deployed to tow civilian vehicles across steep, snowbound stretches, they said. Medical emergencies and those requiring immediate assistance are being prioritised, officials said. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is working in close coordination with the Army, undertaking continuous road clearance, snow removal and restoration o

Sikkim govt raises DA, DR by 5% for employees, pensioners from July 1

The Sikkim government has announced a 5 per cent hike in the dearness allowance (DA) and dearness relief (DR) for its employees and pensioners, respectively, an official notification said. The hikes will come into retrospective effect from July 1, 2025. As per the revised rate, the DA for employees and DR for pensioners drawing pay under pre-revised structure have been raised from 252 per cent to 257 per cent, the financial department circular issued on Wednesday said. For employees and pensioners under the revised pay structure, the DA and DR rates will go up from 55 per cent to 58 per cent, the circular added. The DA at these rates will also be admissible to the employees appointed on a contract basis.

Sikkim's Pakyong Airport to renamed after freedom fighter Trilochan Pokhrel

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Thursday announced that the Pakyong Airport, the lone such facility in the Himalayan state, will be renamed after freedom fighter Trilochan Pokhrel. Trilochan Pokhrel, popularly known as "Gandhi Pokhrel" and considered the first independence activist from Sikkim, was actively involved in the Non-Cooperation Movement, the Civil Disobedience Movement and the Quit India Movement, spearheaded by Mahatma Gandhi. Tamang made the announcement while addressing the 31st Foundation Day celebration of the 'Akhil Sikkim Khas Chettri Bahun Kalyan Sangh', a tribal organisation at Rangpo ground close to the West Bengal border. "The Pakyong Airport will be renamed Trilochan Pokhrel Airport in honour of the freedom activist who belonged to the Khas, Chettri, Bahun community," the chief minister said. Pakyong Airport was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 24, 2018. On the 31st Foundation Day of the organisation, Tamang said this miles

2 earthquakes rattle Sikkim, no causalities or damage reported so far

Two earthquakes of magnitude 4.6 and 3.5 jolted Sikkim on Thursday, officials said. The first quake, of 4.6 magnitude, hit the state at 11:24 am. The epicentre of the quake was 4 km northeast of Yuksom in Gyalshing district at a depth of 10 km, according to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS). The second earthquake of 3.5 magnitude jolted Mangan district at 12:17 pm. The epicentre was 11 km northwest of Gangtok, also at a depth of 10 km. Officials said that there was no immediate report of any loss of life or damage to property in the two quakes.

Over 2,700 tourists rescued after heavy snowfall near Sikkim's Tsomgo Lake

Over 2,700 tourists stranded due to heavy snowfall near Tsomgo Lake in East Sikkim were rescued, officials said on Wednesday morning. Heavy snowfall in the higher reaches of Sherathang and adjoining areas led to road blockages, leaving 541 tourist vehicles stranded between 15th Mile and Tsomgo Lake, they said. Through coordinated efforts, all vehicles with 2,736 tourists onboard were evacuated safely and systematically, with the operation concluding on Tuesday night, they added. The Tourism Department advised tourists and tour operators to strictly follow weather advisories and ensure that vehicles are properly equipped, including mandatory snow chains, while travelling during snowfall conditions.

Earthquake of magnitude 4.0 strikes Namchi district in south Sikkim

The quake occurred at a shallow depth of 5 km beneath the Earth's surface at 3.11 am in the early hours of Friday

Best of BS Opinion: Dhurandhar marks India's newfound soft power ambitions

Today's Best of BS Opinion examines Labour's growth dilemma, the rise of Nitin Nabin, Dhurandhar's political messaging, and how AI-driven content excess is reshaping culture and power

'All tourist accommodation providers in Sikkim must contribute to TSD fund'

The Sikkim government has ordered all tourist accommodation providers in the Himalayan state to contribute to the Tourism Sustainable Development (TSD) fund, an official said. The Tourism and Civil Aviation department of the state government, in an order, directed all tourist accommodation providershotels, resorts, homestays, bed and breakfast establishments, and service apartmentsto contribute Rs 50 per tourist to the TSD fund or face punitive action, the official said. Accommodation providers collect Rs 50 fee from each tourist during check-in and remit it to the government, which monitors the payment through the Atithi Guest Information System. The Sikkim government started collecting money under the Tourism Sustainable Development Fund in March 2025 to support sustainable tourism development, including improving tourism infrastructure and facilities like roads and connectivity. Additional Director, Tourism, Tenzing Gelay Bhutia said that it has come to the notice of the departm

Battlefield spots Doka-La, Cho-La in Sikkim to open for tourists from Oct 1

The Sikkim government has decided to open the battlefield destinations of Doka-La and Cho-La for domestic tourists from October 1, officials said. In a notification earlier this week, Chief Secretary R Telang said Indian tourists carrying voter identity cards would be allowed to visit the two sites under strict guidelines for security and environmental protection. The decision was taken under the Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan initiative, the notification said. Doka-La and Cho-La are located near the India-Bhutan-China tri-junction. According to the notification, tourists will be required to obtain permits from the tourism and civil aviation departments through registered tour operators or travel agencies. "Permits shall be issued only upon submission of one-night homestay booking confirmation from designated areas along the Silk Route Kupup, Gnathang, Zuluk or Padamchen," the order stated. Tourists will be required to pay a permit fee of Rs 1,120 per person, which includes wildlife .

Indian Army, Navy hold high-altitude combat diving training in Sikkim

During the training, participants carried out open circuit air diving, closed circuit pure oxygen diving, dives up to a depth of 17 metres in extreme cold-water conditions, and combat night diving

Sikkim's fisheries sector thriving, has engaged over 2,000 families: CM

The fisheries sector in Sikkim is thriving, with over 2,000 families engaged in pisciculture, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang said on Thursday. In his message on National Fish Farmers' Day, Tamang said the sector has become a significant contributor to self-employment, food security, and the local economy. The government's initiative to promote sustainable fisheries has led to the adoption of modern aquaculture technologies like Recirculatory Aquaculture Systems and biofloc, he said. "The youth of Sikkim are showing increasing interest in adopting modern aquaculture technologies, indicating a promising future for the fisheries sector. The government's plan to introduce Organic Fish Farming aligns with the state's organic vision and will create new market opportunities for farmers," he said. "The government's support for fish farmers has enabled them to emerge as torchbearers of innovation and resilience. Fish farming has become a profitable and sustainable livelihood for many, ...

Cong leader's reference to Sikkim as neighbouring country draws criticism

Congress leader Ajoy Kumar's reference to Sikkim as a "neighbouring country" has drawn widespread criticism from various sections of the society, including political parties, in the Himalayan state. Kumar, during a press conference on Tuesday, had referred to the state as a neighbouring country in the same frame alongside Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. However, with the issue snowballing into a controversy, the senior Congress leader on Tuesday apologised, stating it was a "slip of the tongue". "Yesterday, in my press conference on 'SAIL 400 crore scam', when I was speaking on the deteriorating relations with our neighbouring countries, I accidentally took the name of a state for which I sincerely apologise as it was just a slip of the tongue... BJP looks for small mistakes of the opposition leaders," he added. Sikkim's lone Lok Sabha MP Indra Hang Subba said Kumar's remark was "irresponsible and insulting", and a "grave affront to the people of the state, who have always stood w

Rains cause landslides on NH-10 connecting Sikkim with Bengal, traffic hit

Several landslides triggered by incessant rains for the last few days occurred along National Highway 10, disrupting traffic movement on the road that connects Sikkim with West Bengal, officials said on Tuesday. Roadblocks have been reported along the 52-km highway stretch, which connects Sevoke in West Bengal with Rangpo in Sikkim, causing inconvenience to travellers, they said. The roadblocks were reported from 29 Mile, Kali Jhora, Seti Jhora, Selfie Dara, Birik Dara, Likhuveer, Melli and Bhalu Khola in West Bengal's Kalimpong district, they said. Officials of the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) said operations related to the clearing of debris and restoration of the road are underway. Heavy machinery has been deployed to clear roadblocks due to multiple landslides, they said. "One-way traffic movement has started in some areas. Traffic jams are inevitable as landslides continue in some areas regularly. The debris will be cleared soon

Sikkim govt rescues stranded tourists, locals, and taxi drivers in Chaten

The helicopter sortie began this morning from the Pakyong Greenfield Airport, with the first sortie taking off towards Chaten to initiate the evacuation process

59 tourists airlifted from north Sikkim as rescue ops resume

Fifty-nine tourists were brought back to Gangtok from the rain-ravaged north Sikkim on Thursday morning as the rescue operations resumed after the weather cleared, officials said. They were among the 109 tourists stranded in north Sikkim's Lachung for nearly a week. Two MI-17V5 helicopters left for Chaten in north Sikkim from Pakyong airport near state capital Gangtok in the early morning after the weather cleared. While 39 tourists returned on one copter, 20 returned on another, officials said. Among those rescued were two foreigners, they said. Sikkim Nationalised Transport (SNT) has deployed buses to help these rescued tourists reach Siliguri in West Bengal. An additional helicopter has been kept on standby at Pakyong airport for those who want to travel to Bagdogra near Siliguri by air. The two helicopters flew to Chaten with personnel from the NDRF and Power Department, and engineers of Airtel, who would work in the region for restoring essential services, they said. These

IAF evacuates 33 people, including 2 US nationals from Sikkim landslides

The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Wednesday said it has deployed its assets as part of its humanitarian-assistance efforts in the wake of devastating landslides in Sikkim, and evacuated 33 people, including two US nationals, from the remote Chaten region. In a post on X, the IAF also shared photos of the rescue operation. "In response to the devastating landslides in Sikkim, #IndianAirForce Mi-17 helicopters rapidly launched #HADR Ops -- airdropping relief supplies, inserting NDRF teams, and evacuating 33 stranded individuals, including two US nationals, from the remote Chaten region. #IAF remains committed to saving lives. #SavingLives #HarKaamDeshKeNaam #HADROps," it said. Earlier in the day, officials said the Indian Army is working relentlessly under extreme weather and hazardous terrain conditions to assist local residents and stranded tourists. Army personnel have established a walkway to north Sikkim's Lachen village, which was completely cut off due to multiple landslides ...

Sikkim landslide: Rescue ops hit by bad weather, chopper aborts mission

A chopper with 9 NDRF personnel took off from Pakyong at 6 a.m. but returned mid-air due to poor visibility near Mangan and Chaten, making flying conditions unsafe

Massive floods & landslides in Northeast India | 38 dead; latest updates | Assam | Sikkim | Manipur

Northeast India has been hit hard by floods and landslides that have claimed at least 38 lives with lakhs displaced. Watch the video for the latest updates.