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Army jawan dies as raft capsizes in Sikkim's Teesta river
GANGTOK: An Army jawan died after a raft capsized in the Teesta river during a training exercise in Sikkim's Pakyong district, police said on Tuesday. The accident occurred during an annual rafting training programme for soldiers on Monday when a raft struck a damaged structure of a bridge and capsized in the river, and the jawan was swept away, a senior officer said. The iron bridge was damaged and fell into the river during the 2023 floods. An operation was immediately launched by the Army along with a team from Teesta Rescue Centre, he said. The body was recovered from the downstream of the river at Tar Khola under the Kalimpong district of West Bengal, and was sent for post-mortem examinations, the officer said. The deceased was identified as Lance Naik Rajasekhar of the 191 Artillery Regiment, he said. The rafting was underway between Bardang and Rangpo Mining when the accident occurred, he said.
SRM University Faculty Member Arrested on Sexual Assault Charges; Remanded to Judicial Custody
Gangtok , Dec 19 : An Assistant Professor affiliated with SRM University has been arrested The post SRM University Faculty Member Arrested on Sexual Assault Charges; Remanded to Judicial Custody appeared first on The Voice Of Sikkim .
India-China conflict sites in Sikkim are now tourist attractions
Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang flags off 25 motorcycles and vehicles in Gangtok to mark the opening of Cho-La and Dok-La for visitors under the Bharat Rannbhoomi Darshan initiative
Bisleri International Pvt. Ltd., Indias leading packaged drinking water company, organized a Mega Cleanliness Drive in partnership with the Katalytic Charter Educational Foundation (KCEF) . The activity was held across three charter schools and brought together total approximate 125 participants, students, teachers, volunteers, Bisleri representatives, and collected around 560 kg of waste across a stretch of 11 kms. The drive is part of the ongoing collaboration between Bisleri and KCEF to encourage students to build simple, everyday habits around waste management and recycling. Bisleri International and Katalytic Charter Educational Foundation came together to conduct a Mega Cleanliness Drive The event was attended by Mrs. Chimi Donka, Chief Education Officer, Gangtok District, Mr. Anugrah E Rai, Joint Director, School Education, Education Department, Mr. Tshering Yangchen Joint Director, IT, Education Department, Mr. N. B Chettri, Assistant Director, SE, Education Department and Ms. Choeki CEO of Katalytic Charter Educational Foundation, Community members were also present and encouraged students to look after the environment around them. The day began with a short opening ceremony, followed by the distribution of cleanup kits. Volunteers then spent two hours collecting and sorting waste from selected areas. Students were provided with gloves, masks, trash bags, and safety kits. The event included a small discussion on plastic waste management, and a photo session with students, followed by distribution of certificates to all the participants for their involvement. Speaking about the activity, Mr. K. Ganesh, Director Sustainability & Corporate Affairs, Bisleri International Pvt. Ltd , said, At Bisleri, we try to involve young people and communities in simple actions that build long-term habits. This drive with KCEF is another step in that direction. We want students to feel confident about taking small but meaningful steps for the environment. Commenting on the initiative, Mrs. Chimi Donka, Chief Education Officer, Gangtok District said, "I am delighted to see students taking such an active role in promoting cleanliness and environmental awareness. Initiatives like this not only instils a sense of responsibility among young minds but also inspire our communities to embrace sustainable practices. I commend Bisleri International and KCEF for their continued efforts in nurturing a cleaner and greener Sikkim." The collaboration reflects Bisleris wider work on responsible plastic use, recycling, and community participation. Together with KCEF, the company aims to nurture a sense of shared responsibility and encourage young people in Sikkim to lead by example. AboutBisleri International Pvt. Ltd. With a legacy of over 50 years, Bisleri International Pvt. Ltd. has grown to become one of the largest premium beverage businesses in India. Being the makers of the country's largest-selling packaged drinking water, Bisleri follows a stringent process of 114 quality tests and a 10-stage purification. It remains true to its core value of providing consumers with pure, safe and healthy water. Bisleri International has a strong presence with 128 operational plants and a robust distribution network of over 6,000 Distributors and 7,500 Distribution Trucks across India and UAE market. It offers a range of beverages that are produced for all occasions. Whether it is the promise of goodness, trust, and purity with Bisleri packaged drinking water, or a daily dose of health offered through Vedica Himalayan Spring Water. Besides, Bisleri International has ventured into fun-filled refreshments with a diverse range of carbonated drinks available in multiple flavours, such as Bisleri Limonata, Bisleri Rev, Bisleri Spyci Jeera, Bisleri Pop and Bisleri Soda. These Bisleri products are also available on the e-commerce platform - Bisleri@Doorstep. This D2C platform reassures customers that they will receive a safe and uninterrupted supply of their most trusted brand at their doorstep. The core values of Bisleri International lie in yielding growth and embedding sustainability by being responsible in all aspects of the business. The organization has unveiled Sustainability 2.0 with Bisleri Greener Promise that focuses on creating greener future for all through implementing initiatives under the program of recycling, water conservation and sustainability. For more information on Bisleri International, our people, brands, and OSR initiatives, visit www.bisleri.com .
Army operationalises 3D concrete printing tech for quick construction of bunkers, sentry posts
GANGTOK, Dec 7: The Indian Army, in collaboration with IIT Hyderabad, has operationalised on-site 3D concrete printing technology for quick construction of bunkers, sentry posts and protective structures in forward areas of Sikkim, a Defence statement said. The capability already proven in other operational areas earlier has been effectively employed by the Trishakti Corps in the Himalayan state, it said. The indigenous robotic 3D concrete printer, equipped with a robotic arm, circular mixer, piston pump and generator, is [] The post Army operationalises 3D concrete printing tech for quick construction of bunkers, sentry posts appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Darjeeling or Gangtok: Which hilly escape fits your travel style?
Choosing between Gangtok and Darjeeling offers distinct Himalayan experiences. Gangtok presents a modern, youthful vibe with organized streets and expansive mountain vistas. In contrast, Darjeeling exudes timeless charm, featuring narrow lanes, historic architecture, and iconic Kanchenjunga views. Both destinations promise captivating scenery and unique adventures, catering to different travel preferences.
Sikkim CM Prem Singh Tamang stable, under observation: Hospital bulletin
GANGTOK: Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, who was undergoing treatment at a hospital following nose bleeding and high blood pressure, was stable on Friday morning, a bulletin issued by the health facility said. Tamang was brought to the Central Referral Hospital on Thursday, following a minor episode of nose bleeding and elevated blood pressure, the bulletin said. He received immediate medical attention and his condition was promptly stabilised, it said. The chief minister is currently under observation and remains stable, the CRH Medical Superintendent said, adding that there is no cause for concern at this time. The hospital will continue to monitor his condition as per standard protocol, and he will be discharged soon, the bulletin added.
As PM Modi visits Bhutan, Congress recalls Nehru's visit when he trekked to Paro
NEW DELHI: With Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarking on a trip to Bhutan, the Congress on Tuesday recalled India's first PM Jawaharlal Nehru's most unusual visit to that country that involved trekking for five days to reach Paro, and said that trip determined the course of the special relationship the two countries have had for almost seven decades. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said this extraordinary visit by Nehru was under very difficult conditions by a prime minister about to turn 69. The Prime Minister is in Bhutan today. Sixty seven years ago, India's first Prime Minister had made a most unusual visit to Bhutan. Accompanied by Indira Gandhi and a few officials like Jagat Mehta, Nari Rustomji, and Apa Pant, Nehru first flew to Bagdogra and then drove via Gangtok to Nathu La on a road that had just been constructed, Ramesh recalled. At Nathu La, the delegation was met with a dozen yaks, several ponies, and a pack of over a hundred animals, he said. It then trekked for five days covering fifty kms to reach Paro on Sept 23, 1958. There were times when the altitude touched 15,500 feet. Nehru and his team spent five days in Paro having a number of official meetings and cultural engagements, Ramesh said on X. Thereafter they trekked back to Nathu La along the same route they had taken to reach Paro, the Congress leader said. The Prime Minister is in Bhutan today. Sixty seven years ago, India's first Prime Minister had made a most unusual visit to Bhutan. Accompanied by Indira Gandhi and a few officials like Jagat Mehta, Nari Rustomji, and Apa Pant, Nehru first flew to Bagdogra and then drove via pic.twitter.com/UdlmhzfOgq Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) November 11, 2025 This extraordinary visit under very difficult conditions by a Prime Minister about to turn sixty nine was to determine the course of the special relationship that Bhutan and India have had for almost seven decades, he said. Mehta, Rustomji, and Pant have all left behind delightful accounts of the trek that created diplomatic history, Ramesh said. The Congress general secretary shared a video clip on Nehru's visit to Bhutan as well as Mehta's account of the trip. In his account, Mehta says, In retrospect, the significance of Nehru's journey cannot be underestimated. It was the last time that any Indian dignitary went to Bhutan through Tibet but that only underlines its happenstance importance. In the encounters, a lesser personality than Nehru could not have blended transparent sympathy and understanding with non-domineering counsel. A more coercive diplomatic style might well have ended in polite nods but hesitant follow-up, and delayed the slow strengthening of connections to the South (India). If Prime Minister Nehru had not succeeded in confidence-building and encouraged the graduated opening of communications, it is possible that the road into Thimpu may not even have started for many years and correspondingly delaying its completion, and Bhutan would have perforce remained largely economically dependent on the Tibet connection. The process of internal development and political emancipation would have got stultified or not have preserved Bhutan's cultural and religious personality, says Mehta. Prime Minister Modi is visiting Bhutan on Tuesday to join the 70th birthday celebrations of the fourth king of the Himalayan nation Jigme Singye Wangchuck.
GUWAHATI: Fans could not hold back their tears, both inside and outside theatre halls, after watching Roi Roi Binale , the last film featuring music icon Zubeen Garg, who died under mysterious circumstances while swimming in the sea in Singapore on September 19. The movie, directed by Rajesh Bhuyan and released on Friday, ran to packed houses across Assam and broke all opening day records, with most theatre halls scheduling up to five shows a day. The screening started as early as 4.25 am at several theatres. Tickets for all shows for the first week were sold out, and fans had booked the first three days tickets within an hour last week. The state is still grieving Gargs untimely demise, and there was an outpouring of emotion as fans thronged single-screen and multiplex theatres. In viral videos, some were seen seated long after shows were over, sobbing. As a mark of silent tribute, several theatre halls kept one seat reserved for Garg, 52. Roi Roi Binale was his dream project. For the first time in the history of Assamese films, a movie is being released in different parts of the country. It was screened in Patna, Ranchi, Dhanbad, Darjeeling, Gangtok, Mysore, Vellore, Visakhapatnam, Coimbatore, Dehradun, Lucknow, Jaipur, Vapi (Gujarat), Indore, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Raniganj, Maldah, Siliguri, Agartala, Dharmanagar, Cooch Behar, Raipur and Nagpur, said Siddharth Goenka, the films distributor. As a mark of silent tribute, several theatre halls kept one seat reserved for Garg, 52. Roi Roi Binale was his dream project. In cities like Bengaluru, Assamese films were earlier screened in only one or two theatres, but this time, it premiered in 17 theatres simultaneously. There will be 600 shows daily in Assam and the rest of the Northeast alone, which is unprecedented. Outside the Northeast, 96 halls would screen the movie with 170 shows daily, Goenka added. The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), a constituent of Assams ruling coalition, booked all 218 seats for a show at a multiplex in Guwahati. AGP ministers Atul Bora and Keshab Mahanta watched the film along with party leaders and workers. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said he would watch it privately. If I go to a cinema hall, it will cause inconvenience to people as I will be accompanied by my security personnel, he said. Garg plays the lead role of a blind musician in Roi Roi Binale , a musical love story that recounts the life and struggle of a visually impaired artist who experiences the world through sound, imagination and love. The film features 11 songs, all composed by Garg himself.
Four family members killed in Sikkim landslide; child survives
GANGTOK: Four members of a family lost their lives and one child was critically injured after a landslide, triggered by relentless rainfall, struck their home in Sikkims Gyalshing district late Thursday night, police said. The tragedy occurred in the Upper Rimbi area around midnight while the family was asleep. A senior police official confirmed that the landslide completely destroyed the residence. Gyalshing Superintendent of Police Tshering Sherpa said that Sikkim Police, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel and local residents responded swiftly to the scene and launched a rescue operation despite the continuous downpour. Three of the six family members died on the spot. Two injured women were rushed to the Gyalshing District Hospital, where one of them later succumbed to her injuries, Sherpa said. A seven-year-old boy was pulled out alive and has been admitted to the hospital for treatment. Despite difficult weather conditions, the rescue team acted promptly with the support of the local community. It has been a risky operation, but we have done our best to save lives. The operation is still underway, said SP Sherpa, who also expressed his gratitude to all those who assisted in the rescue efforts.
Womens Safety Report : Fear runs deeper than nos
NEW DELHI: The NARI 2025 National Annual Report and Index on Womens Safety, released by the National Commission for Women, offers the telling reality of the urban safety landscape. The survey covered 12,770 women across 31 cities and yielded a national safety score of 65%, which implies that four in 10 women (40%) consider themselves unsafe despite government assurances. Around 60% of women reported feeling safe, while 40% admitted they felt not-so-safe or outright unsafe. The anxieties deepen among younger women: while public harassment was reported by 7% of all respondents in 2024, the figure rose to 14% for those under 24, indicating that students and young professionals are disproportionately targeted in educational and recreational spaces. The report shows low levels of faith in redressal mechanism. Only one in three victims of harassment filed a formal complaint, and confidence in the system is strikingly weak: 75% of women said they did not believe authorities would resolve their complaints. Even when incidents are reported, only 22% are formally registered, and action is taken in a mere 16% of those cases, highlighting a pervasive cycle of silence. Harassment hotspots reveal vulnerabilities, with 38% of cases occurring within neighbourhoods and 29% in public transport systems. Workplace safety presents a paradoxical picture. A large majority91%described their office environment as safe, but nearly half of the respondents admitted they were unaware whether their organisation had implemented the mandated Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) mechanism. Among those who were aware, most found it effective, suggesting that awareness is as critical as legislation itself. The report stresses that womens safety cannot be reduced to physical protection alone but must include psychological, financial, and digital security that collectively shape womens access to mobility, opportunity, and dignity. It frames safety as a developmental issue rather than a law-and-order question. The sense of safety also varies with time and place. Women reported relative comfort in offices and campuses during the day, but confidence collapsed after dark, where poor street lighting and unreliable public transport left them exposed. City-level disparities are equally stark: Kohima, Visakhapatnam, and Bhubaneswar topped the index, followed closely by Aizawl, Gangtok, Itanagar, and Mumbai, where women expressed relatively higher perceptions of safety. In contrast, Patna, Jaipur, Faridabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Srinagar, and Ranchi occupied the bottom ranks. Ranchi recorded 44% feeling unsafe, while in Delhi and Faridabad the figure was around 42%. The numbers show a fractured urban landscape where geography shapes womens fears as much as governance.
NEW DELHI: Kohima, Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, Aizawl, Gangtok, Itanagar and Mumbai have emerged as the safest cities in the country for women, while Patna, Jaipur, Faridabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Srinagar and Ranchi were ranked the lowest, according to the National Annual Report & Index on Women's Safety (NARI) 2025. The nationwide index released on Thursday, based on a survey of 12,770 women across 31 cities, placed the national safety score at 65 per cent, categorising cities as much above, above, at, elow or much below this benchmark. Kohima and other top-ranked cities were associated with stronger gender equity, civic participation, policing and women-friendly infrastructure. At the other end of the spectrum, cities like Patna and Jaipur fared poorly due to weak institutional responsiveness, patriarchal norms and gaps in urban infrastructure. Kohima, Vishakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, Aizawl, Gangtok, Itanagar, Mumbai lead national safety rankings, often correlating with higher gender equity, infrastructure, policing, or civic participation while Ranchi, Srinagar, Kolkata, Delhi, Faridabad, Patna, and Jaipur scored lowest, correlating with poorer infrastructure, patriarchal norms, or weaker institutional responsiveness, the report said. Overall, six in ten women surveyed felt safe in their city, but 40 per cent still considered themselves ot so safe or unsafe. The study revealed sharp drops in perceptions of safety at night, particularly in public transport and recreational spaces. Educational institutions (86 per cent safe) especially in daylight, but safety perceptions fall sharply at night or off-campus. About 91 per cent of women reported safety, yet about half were unclear if their workplace had a POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) policy; those with such policies generally rated them as effective. Only one-fourth of women said they trusted authorities to act effectively on safety complaints. While 69 per cent said current safety efforts were somewhat adequate, over 30 per cent noted significant gaps or failures; only 65 per cent perceived real improvement over the years 2023-2024. Seven per cent of women said they experienced harassment in public spaces in 2024, with the figure doubling to 14 per cent among those under 24. Neighbourhoods (38 per cent) and public transport (29 per cent) were most often flagged as harassment hotspots. Yet, only one in three victims came forward to report the incidents. The report stressed that official crime data alone cannot reflect women's lived reality. Two out of three women do not report harassment, meaning NCRB misses the bulk of incidents, the study said, calling for integration of crime data with perception-based surveys like NARI. Launching the report, National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar said safety cannot be seen merely as a law-and-order issue but as one that affects every aspect of a woman's life whether it is her education, health, work opportunities and freedom of movement. She added that when women feel unsafe, hey limit themselves, and women limiting themselves is not only for their own development, but also for the development of the country. She emphasised that a safe environment was crucial for building a developed and inclusive India, pointing to four dimensions of women's security of physical, psychological, financial and digital nature. It is our responsibility to protect women not just from crimes on the streets but also from cybercrimes, economic discrimination and mental harassment, Rahatkar noted. Highlighting positive measures, she praised the growing presence of women police officers and female drivers in public transport as effective confidence-building steps. In many Union Territories, 33 per cent of police personnel are now women, and this has made a decisive difference in building trust, she said. She also lauded initiatives such as women's helplines, CCTV coverage in smart cities, and improved safety networks at railway stations and bus depots. At the same time, Rahatkar urged society at large to share responsibility. We often blame the system, but we must also ask what we have done. Whether it is using helplines, supporting awareness drives, or simply keeping public toilets clean, society's role is equally important, she said. The NARI index has been conceived by The NorthCap University and Jindal Global Law School and is published by the Group of Intellectuals and Academicians (GIA).
Kailash Manasarovar Yatra via Nathu La concludes with return of 48 pilgrims
GANGTOK, Aug 25: The Kailash Manasarovar Yatra via Nathu La Pass in Sikkim ended with the return of the 10th batch of 48 tourists from the pilgrimage site, officials said on Monday. On their return on Sunday, the 48 pilgrims were received by Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation (STDC) officials, and a valedictory function was held [] The post Kailash Manasarovar Yatra via Nathu La concludes with return of 48 pilgrims appeared first on Northlines .
Kailash Manasarovar Yatra 2025 Via Sikkim Route Ends With Return Of 48 Pilgrims: Officials
GANGTOK, Aug 25: The Kailash Manasarovar Yatra via Nathu La Pass in Sikkim ended with the return of the 10th batch of 48 tourists from the pilgrimage site, officials said on Monday. On their return on Sunday, the 48 pilgrims were received by Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation (STDC) officials, and a valedictory function was held to mark the successful conclusion of the Kailash Manasarovar pilgrimage for 2025. STDC chairman Lukendra Rasaily said the smooth conduct of the tour by around [] The post Kailash Manasarovar Yatra 2025 Via Sikkim Route Ends With Return Of 48 Pilgrims: Officials appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
