Sikkim - The Purbottar

08 Apr

Authorities Begin Regulated Rescue from Lachen as Road Damage Blocks Taram Chu

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

The rescue and evacuation of stranded tourists in North Sikkim began on Wednesday under a regulated movement plan issued by the District Magistrate of Mangan, as authorities stepped up efforts to bring back those stuck in the Lachen sector. According to the plan, around 30 vehicles were scheduled to leave Lachen early in the morning and move towards Thangu. Officials said the vehicles would proceed further to Donkyla only after receiving clearance from the Army, as part of a coordinated and carefully monitored rescue operation. All other vehicles have been asked to remain on standby at Lachen until fresh instructions…

08 Apr

Rescue Teams Mobilize; Hundreds of Tourists Safely Moved Amid Taram Chu Road Breach

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

The evacuation of tourists stranded in North Sikkim has started, bringing relief to hundreds who had been stuck for the past few days due to a damaged road.District Collector Anant Jain confirmed the development while speaking to Sikkim Chronicle. He said that rescue and evacuation teams have already begun moving people out from the affected areas in a phased manner.According to officials, around 170 vehicles and nearly 70 bikes have so far reached Donkela as part of the ongoing operation. These vehicles are being used to transport tourists safely from the stranded locations. Nearly 1,200 tourists had been stuck in…

08 Apr

Indian Army Opens Blocked Roads in Sikkim, Evacuation Underway

riya EditorSikkim

Stranded tourists in Lachen, Sikkim, are being evacuated through a cleared route by the Indian Army following heavy snowfall. This operation began on Wednesday morning and involves the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in collaboration with the District Administration and local officials. The evacuation is executed in batches to handle the challenging terrain effectively. Key officials, including District Collector Anant Jain and SP Mangan LB Chettri, supervised the process on-site. Officials praised the resilience and community spirit of Lachen's residents during this challenging time, noting the strong response from local organizations and stakeholders, which has garnered appreciation from the tourists and…

07 Apr

Heavy Snow Disrupts Lachen–Donkyla Route, Evacuation Efforts Ongoing

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

Efforts to clear heavy snow along the Lachen–Donkyla–Shiv Mandir stretch continued on Monday, but authorities could not fully restore the route due to bad weather conditions, officials said. A joint operation involving the Indian Army, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), and the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) was carried out to remove thick snow deposits and open the road for stranded tourists in Lachen. However, continuous snowfall and harsh weather made the task difficult, forcing teams to halt operations before completion. Officials said the clearance work will begin again early Tuesday morning, depending on weather conditions.Several tourists remain stranded in…

07 Apr

New Three-Year Contract Boosts Army Supply Chain in Sikkim

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

A delegation of the Denzong Agricultural Co-operative Society (DACS) held a high-level meeting with officials of the Indian Army at the Eastern Command headquarters in Kolkata on April 6 to finalise supply rates for the current financial year.The DACS team was led by Satish Chandra Rai and included senior officials of the cooperative and the state government. The meeting was chaired by Major General Sandeep Sinha of the Army Service Corps (ASC), Eastern Command, and attended by senior officers and finance officials from the Ministry of Defence.Officials said the main focus of the meeting was to negotiate rates for the…

07 Apr

Tourists Evacuated from Snow-Blocked Routes in North Sikkim

riya EditorSikkim

Authorities have launched a coordinated operation to evacuate tourists stranded from snow-blocked routes by clearing he thick layer of snow along Lachen- Donkyla-Shiv Mandir axis in north Sikkim However, the work could not be completed on Monday owing to adverse weather conditions, delaying immediate restoration of connectivity. “Despite best efforts by the Indian Army and Border Roads Organization (BRO) in coordination with the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) and local stakeholders, the route could not be cleared for safe passage of tourists lodged in Lachen,” officials said. The efforts to clear the snow are being resumed from Tuesday, it was…

02 Apr

CM seeks peace, strength and prosperity for Sikkim during temple visit

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Thursday joined Governor Om Prakash Mathur to offer prayers at Hanuman Tok on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti, seeking blessings for the people of the state.The Chief Minister said he visited the temple in the morning and took part in prayers in a calm and spiritual setting. He said the occasion was important and gave an opportunity to pray for strength and guidance. In a message shared after the visit, Tamang said prayers were offered for courage to face challenges, wisdom to follow the right path, and the ability to serve people with…

02 Apr

School shutdowns may hurt access for poor students, calls decision “short-sighted”

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

A social activist has strongly criticised the Sikkim government’s recent decision to shut down 17 government-run primary schools, saying the move could harm access to education for children from weaker sections.In a press statement, Pravin Sharma (Upreti), a social activist, said the decision does not reflect the ground realities faced by students, especially those from disadvantaged families who depend on government schools not only for education but also for basic support.He said the government appears to have taken the step without a proper and detailed assessment of the reasons behind low student enrollment. According to him, issues such as poor…

28 Mar

Tourism Leaders Focus on Sustainable Growth and Regional Branding at Week-Long

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

The North East India Tourism Confederation successfully concluded its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Tourism Convention 2026, held from March 22 to 27 across Namsai, Anini, and Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh. The week-long event brought together tourism stakeholders from all eight Northeastern states with a common aim to promote the region as a major global tourism destination. The AGM, held on March 22, saw participation from 24 Executive Committee members representing different states. During the meeting, key organisational matters were discussed, and a new leadership team was elected through a democratic process. Tsering Wange was elected as President, while E.…

27 Mar

Indian Railways Begins Final Survey for Gangtok–Nathu La Railway Line

Sonakshi SarkarSikkim

Indian Railways has started the final location survey for a proposed railway line that will connect Gangtok with Nathu La in Sikkim, marking another step in expanding rail connectivity in the Himalayan state. The latest survey comes after the completion of a similar exercise for the 34.7 km Rangpo–Gangtok railway section. Officials said the new study will help determine the exact alignment, technical feasibility and cost estimates for the Gangtok–Nathu La stretch, which is seen as strategically and economically important. According to a report by The Times of India, construction work on the proposed line is expected to begin within…