Page 2 - Sikkim

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.

PM Modi speaks to Northeast leaders on floods, assures full support

Sikkim CM Prem Singh Tamang also shared a post on X, thanking PM Modi for his concern about the flood and landslide situation in the state

NDRF team rushed to Sikkim's Chhaten to search for six missing soldiers

A team of 23 NDRF personnel were rushed to Chhaten in North Sikkim from here on Tuesday for rescue and search operations for six soldiers missing after a landslide hit an army camp, officials said. The NDRF team is equipped with satellite phones and essential emergency equipment, the official said. A helicopter carrying the NDRF team left for Chhaten on Tuesday from Pakyong Airport here. Three army personnel were killed and six soldiers went missing after a landslide hit a military camp at Chhaten. The landslide, which occurred at 7 pm on Sunday near Lachen town in Mangan district, was triggered by heavy rainfall in the area. "... A catastrophic landslide occurred following intense and continuous rainfall in the region causing the death of three combatants, identified as Havaldar Lakhwinder Singh, Lance Naik Munish Thakur, and Porter Abhishek Lakhada," an official statement said. Bodies of the personnel have been recovered, while four other soldiers were rescued with minor injurie

Northeast floods worsen; 36 dead, over 550,000 affected across states

Three army personnel killed, nine missing after a landslide swept away a military camp in Mangan district of Sikkim; over 1,600 tourists stranded in Lachung and Chungthang evacuated

More than 100 stranded tourists evacuated safely from Sikkim's Lachung

The evacuation of the stranded tourists from Lachung began this morning with coordinated effort from the local administration

1,500 tourists stranded in North Sikkim, rains halt search for missing

At least 500 tourists were stranded in various parts of North Sikkim on Saturday as the main road was blocked by landslides due to incessant rains, officials said. On the other side, the search for the missing eight tourists was disrupted by heavy rains, and it was finally called off after the water level in the Teesta river increased, they said. One person was killed, two injured, and eight others went missing when a vehicle in which 11 tourists were travelling plunged into the Teesta river in Mangan district on Thursday night. The vehicle plunged more than 1,000 feet into the river near Munsithang along the Lachen-Lachung highway. As multiple landslides have struck the main road connecting Chungthang to Lachen and Lachung, at least 500 tourists are stranded in various parts of North Sikkim, an official said. "No tourist permits have been issued today, and will also not be issued tomorrow for visiting north Sikkim," he said. The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has .

One dead, 2 injured, 8 missing as vehicle falls into Teesta river in Sikkim

One person was killed, two injured and eight others missing when a vehicle carrying 11 tourists plunged into the Teesta river in North Sikkim's Mangan district, police said on Friday. The tourist vehicle plunged more than 1,000 feet into Teesta river near Munsithang along the Lachen- Lachung highway on Thursday night. Two critically injured persons have been rescued and one body recovered, they said. Eight tourists are still missing, said Superintendent of Police, Mangan, Sonam Detchu Bhutia. Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang in a Facebook post said, "I am deeply saddened by the tragic road accident that occurred on the night of May 29 near Chubombu, Mangan district, where a tourist vehicle fell into the Teesta river while travelling from Lachen to Lachung. My heartfelt prayers are with the victims and their families during this extremely difficult time." The CM said that rescue operations began immediately under the supervision of SP Mangan, with the dedicated efforts of the

PM virtually inaugurates projects in Sikkim, unveils Atal statue

Modi unveiled the statue of Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Atal Amrit Udyan in Sangkhola, Gangtok District, honouring the legacy of the former Prime Minister

PM to attend Sikkim's statehood celebrations today, launch several projects

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the golden jubilee celebrations of Sikkim's statehood at Paljor Stadium here on Thursday, officials said. This will be Modi's second visit to the Himalayan state as the prime minister. "PM will attend a programme - Sikkim@50: Where progress meets purpose and nature nurtures growth - on Thursday morning," the officials said. Enjoying protectorate status under the Union of India after the country's Independence in 1947, Sikkim became an Indian state on May 16, 1975, following a referendum. Hoardings and banners with welcome messages to the prime minister have been put up in the state's capital, Gangtok, and its surrounding areas. During his two-hour visit, the PM will release a commemorative coin, souvenir and stamp to mark the completion of 50 years of Sikkim as a state, the officials said. The PM will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for several projects, including a 500-bed district hospital worth over Rs 750 crore in Namchi, a ...

PM Modi to launch development projects worth over ₹70K cr across 4 states

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh on May 29 and 30, during which he will inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone of multiple projects

NITI Aayog meeting: PM calls for faster development, states back Op Sindoor

At the NITI Aayog meeting, PM Modi urged states to develop future-ready cities and one world-class tourist spot each to help achieve the goal of a developed India (Viksit Bharat) by 2047

PM Modi likely to visit Sikkim on May 29 for 50th statehood anniversary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Sikkim on May 29 to take part in the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of its statehood, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang said. He said the final confirmation from the Prime Minister's Office about the proposed visit is yet to be received, but all other formalities have already been completed. "Around 1 lakh people will be present at the Paljor Stadium to greet the PM that day. Earlier, we planned the programme at Manan Kendra, but that place could not accommodate such a large crowd, so we changed the venue," Tamang told reporters on the sidelines of a programme on Sunday. "The PM wholeheartedly wants to visit the state to greet the people on the historic occasion. More or less, the confirmation has come. It is a historic occasion for the state as well as the country, which is why the PM will definitely visit," he said. A high-level meeting was held on Saturday to review preparations for the PM's proposed visit. It was chaired

India enriched enormously by integration of Sikkim, says Jairam Ramesh

On the 50th anniversary of Sikkim's statehood, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday said India has been enriched enormously by the integration of Sikkim and the state has a number of impressive achievements to its credit. The Congress general secretary in-charge communications said the 36th Constitution Amendment Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on April 23, 1975, and by the Rajya Sabha three days later. Subsequently after the President's assent, the 36th Amendment was enacted and on May 16, 1975--exactly fifty years ago--Sikkim became the 22nd state of India with special provisions for it and its people enshrined in Article 371-F of the Constitution, he recalled. "The Republic of India has been enriched enormously by the integration of Sikkim. The state has a number of impressive achievements to its credit," Ramesh said. P.N. Dhar's book called Indira Gandhi, the 'Emergency' and Indian Democracy (2001) is the topmost insider's account of how the merger happened, he said. "My

Sikkim: When the 'Kingdom' took a beneficial, timely call 50 years ago

Since Sikkim merged into India in 1975, it has made rapid strides in indicators of economic and social wellbeing, writes Indivjal Dhasmana

Centre approves final location survey for new railway line in Sikkim

The final location survey for a new line in Sikkim, from Melli to Dentam via Jorethang and Legship, has been approved by the Railway Ministry, an official statement said. The survey, to be executed by Northeast Frontier Railway, has been approved at a cost of Rs 2.25 crore, it said. This move marks a major step forward in expanding rail connectivity to the southern and western regions of Sikkim, it added. The proposed route aims to bridge a vital infrastructure gap, linking remote towns like Dentam, located near the India-Nepal border at Chiwabhanjyang, with the national railway network. The new line, estimated to have an approximate length of 75 km during the initial feasibility survey, is envisioned as a strategic extension of the under-construction Sivok-Rangpo railway line, which is expected to be operational by 2027. Melli, a key entry point to southern and western Sikkim, is likely to serve as a junction for the proposed extension, thereby ensuring seamless integration of th

Over 200 stranded vehicles evacuated safely after sudden snowfall in Sikkim

As a precaution, no permits have been issued for travel to Nathula, located on the Indo-China border

Over 1,100 tourists rescued in landslide-hit Sikkim, 1,800 stranded

Around 1,100 tourists stranded in north Sikkkm's Chungthang town following landslides were evacuated by the authorities on Friday, while 1,800 others are awaiting rescue from two other popular hill stations in Mangan district, officials said. The administration is bringing the evacuated travellers to the state capital Gangtok, around 100 km from Chungthang. Those tourists, who spent Thursday night in a gurdwara, left in about 200 vehicles, officials said. From Chungthang, the vehicles reached Mangan, the district headquarters, via a reconstructed bailey bridge at Sangkalang which was opened for traffic movement. Officials said that efforts were also on to clear the roads as fast as possible to evacuate around 1,800 other tourists stuck in Lachung and Lachen. Roads to Lachen and Lachung remained closed due to mudslides caused by heavy rainfall on Thursday evening. Tourists need to travel via Chungthang to reach Lachung and Lachen, hill stations known for their natural beauty and .

Over 1,000 tourists stranded as landslides hit Sikkim, permits suspended

Relentless rain triggered massive landslides in North Sikkim, stranding over 1,000 tourists; travel permits suspended as roads remain blocked

Tourism accounts for 10% of Sikkim's GSDP, has growth scope: CM Tamang

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang said tourism contributes nearly 10 per cent of the gross state domestic product (GSDP) of the Himalayan state with a strong potential for further growth. He said his government is focused on eco-tourism, cultural tourism, and community-based models that empower local economies. "With over 1,000 homestays, initiatives like 'Mero Rukh Mero Santati' and 'Shishu Samriddhi Yojana' reflect our commitment to future generations and climate action," Tamang said at the inauguration of the three-day Internation Youth Conclave for tourism development at Yangang, a small hamlet in Namchi district, on Saturday. The youth conclave is being organised by Yangang Tourism Development Committee and the Tourism Department. Around 176 representatives from different countries are participating in the event. The event is being organised to mark 50 years of statehood. The chief minister said the conclave is more than just an eventit is a platform for collaboration, .