Sonakshi Sarkar - The Purbottar

16 Apr

Sikkim’s Nathula corridor closed after heavy snowfall

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

Heavy snowfall along the Nathula-Tsomgo Lake corridor in East Sikkim on Tuesday left hundreds of tourists stranded, prompting an urgent rescue response by district authorities and emergency teams. Officials confirmed that over 1,500 vehicles with valid permits were allowed to access the popular tourist route earlier in the day. However, the sudden intensification of snowfall, particularly near Changu Lake and Nathula Pass, caused severe road blockages and traffic congestion. Rescue operations were swiftly launched to aid the stranded tourists. Local authorities deployed road-clearing equipment and coordinated with police and paramilitary forces to evacuate people from affected zones. The priority remains…

16 Apr

Thousands protest in Assam over alleged police assault on innocent youth

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

A day that began in celebration of Bohag Bihu—the Assamese New Year—took a dramatic and violent turn in Duliajan, Assam, as thousands of protestors stormed the Naholia Police Station following allegations of police assault on a local youth. The unrest reportedly stemmed from a late-night confrontation involving a vehicle transporting cattle. According to local sources, the dispute escalated quickly, and in the confusion, an innocent youth was allegedly beaten by police personnel. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of April 15, quickly spread through word of mouth, triggering widespread anger among members of the local Adivasi community. By…

15 Apr

UK Faces Egg Shortage Due to Bird Flu and Brexit Costs

Sonakshi SarkarInternational

Supermarkets across the UK are witnessing a severe shortage of eggs due to a deadly outbreak of avian influenza combined with post-Brexit import disruptions. The British Poultry Council reported that nearly 2 million hens have been culled since January to contain the virus. Adding to the crisis, farmers have faced rising feed costs and labor shortages due to Brexit, which reduced access to seasonal migrant workers. As a result, egg production has dropped by 12% compared to last year. Major grocery chains like Tesco and Sainsbury’s have limited egg purchases per customer, while restaurants are reworking menus to reduce dependency…

15 Apr

France’s Far-Right Faces Blow in Paris Mayoral Election

Sonakshi SarkarInternational

In a surprising turn during France’s municipal elections, the far-right National Rally party led by Marine Le Pen faced a major defeat in the Paris mayoral race. Incumbent Mayor Anne Hidalgo’s centrist coalition secured a comfortable majority, blocking any serious advance by the far-right in the capital. The results are seen as a significant setback for Le Pen ahead of the 2027 presidential elections. Analysts say urban voters, especially youth and immigrants, rallied against her party’s anti-immigration rhetoric and nationalist policies. Outside Paris, National Rally gained ground in some rural areas but fell short of expectations. French President Emmanuel Macron’s…

15 Apr

The joy of new year echoes through Assam with Bihu celebrations

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

The Assamese New Year was welcomed with festive fervour by people across the state on Tuesday, with all praying for a prosperous and fulfilling year ahead. Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma wished the people on the occasion, hoping that the Rongali, or Bohag, Bihu celebrations will reaffirm the age-old harmony in the state. "I extend my heartiest greetings on the occasion of Rongali Bihu and Assamese New Year," Acharya said in a post on X.

15 Apr

India’s first live photo of female Kaiser-i-Hind butterfly captured in Sikkim

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

In a landmark moment for India's wildlife conservation efforts, the first-ever live photograph of a female Kaiser-i-Hind butterfly (Teinopalpus imperialis, Hope 1843) has been captured in Sikkim. The rare sighting occurred on January 3, 2025, at 2:30 PM in the temperate forests of Ravangla, situated at an altitude of 2,300 meters. The stunning photograph was taken by Dr. Chewang Norbu Bhutia and Dr. Hishey Ongmu Bhutia, a veterinary couple and residents of Ravangla. The Kaiser-i-Hind, known as the "Emperor of India," is a highly elusive and endangered species, protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022, highlighting…

15 Apr

Historic energy project to cement Assam’s role in national green strategy

Sonakshi SarkarAssam

In a landmark development for India’s northeastern region, Assam is set to become home to the Northeast’s first-ever Pumped Storage Project (PSP), a pioneering hydroelectric energy storage system aimed at stabilising the power grid and meeting peak electricity demand. The project is part of a massive ₹12,000 crore investment by Hyderabad-based renewable energy company Greenko Group, which has committed to developing large-scale energy infrastructure in Assam. The announcement marks a critical milestone in Assam’s journey towards clean, reliable, and sustainable energy systems. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took to social media to confirm that the state government has held a…

14 Apr

Sikkim commemorates 134th birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

The 134th Birth Anniversary of Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was commemorated today at a special function held at the Sikkim Legislative Assembly complex. The event was chaired by the Governor of Sikkim, Om Prakash Mathur, and Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang. It was attended by Speaker MN Sherpa, Cabinet Ministers, MLAs, Advisors, Chairpersons, and other dignitaries who gathered to pay tribute to the architect of the Indian Constitution.

14 Apr

Helicopter Crash in New York Kills Six

Sonakshi SarkarACCIDENT

A sightseeing helicopter carrying six people, including a family of Spanish tourists, crashed into New York City's Hudson River on April 13. The Bell 206 aircraft encountered mechanical failure shortly after takeoff and spiraled into the river. All six passengers, including three children, were pronounced dead at the scene despite rapid emergency response. The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash. This incident has reignited debates over the safety of aerial tours in heavily populated urban areas. Local officials are also facing scrutiny over licensing and oversight practices. The crash has deeply saddened…

14 Apr

Sikkim NGO under fire as 192 distributed goats d*e mysteriously

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

In a shocking incident from Sikkim's Gyalshing district, 192 goats distributed under a government-linked welfare scheme have mysteriously died, triggering an official investigation into possible procedural violations and negligence. The goats were handed over to beneficiaries in the Arithang-Chongrang GPU on March 4 by the NGO Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Nidhi (RGVN) and its local coordinators. According to Gyalshing District Collector-cum-District Magistrate Tenzing D. Denzongpa, the distribution was carried out without prior approval from the District Administration or the Animal Husbandry Department. “The goats were not quarantined or subjected to medical checks, as mandated by state regulations,” Denzongpa said in a…