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Congress MLA Gets Bail in Illegal Online Betting Case
ED sleuths arrested K.C. Veerendra, representing Chitradurga Assembly seat, in Gangtok, Sikkim before he was ferried to Bengaluru on transit remand.
Tragic Road Mishap in North Sikkims Dzongu Claims One Life, Four Injured
Gangtok, Dec 30: A tragic road accident was reported on Tuesday afternoon in North Sikkims The post Tragic Road Mishap in North Sikkims Dzongu Claims One Life, Four Injured appeared first on The Voice Of Sikkim .
Young Woman from Dzongu Loses Life After Domestic Dispute in Marchak; Police Arrest Partner
Gangtok, Dec 30 : A 22-year-old woman from Dzongu in North Sikkim died on Monday The post Young Woman from Dzongu Loses Life After Domestic Dispute in Marchak; Police Arrest Partner appeared first on The Voice Of Sikkim .
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.
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 .
Over 10,000 Women Sensitized: 7,200+ Participate in hrHPV Self-Testing 160+ Healthcare Workers Trained in Innovative Screening Techniques Field-tested Indigenously developed AI-Assisted Cervical Cancer screening device across multiple center s in Indian and across Bangladesh and Uganda Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) successfully convened the PRESCRIP-TEC Conference on November 1314, aligning with the Government of Indias Cervical Cancer Elimination Mission. MAHE's Manipal School of Information Sciences (MSIS), Prasanna School of Public Health (PSPH), and Kasturba Medical College (KMC, Manipal) organized the conference in Manipal. Transforming cervical cancer screening through collaboration: "PRESCRIP-TEC Conference" at MAHE The PRESCRIP-TEC consortium represents a powerful collaboration of global and national institutions including DBT, Tata Memorial Hospital, the University of Groningen (The Netherlands), and MAHE, which serves as the lead implementing partner in India. Together, they exemplify thought leadership and cross-sectoral partnership in advancing equitable womens health and Indias 2030 elimination target. The two-day event brought together national and international experts, policymakers, and healthcare professionals to discuss scalable innovations in cervical cancer screening under the Prevention and Screening Innovation Project Toward Elimination of Cervical Cancer (PRESCRIP-TEC), a global initiative jointly implemented by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the European Unions Horizon 2020 program. PRESCRIP-TECs Screen, Triage, and Treat model integrates community participation, digital health, and AI-enabled diagnostics. Across India, the project has sensitized over 10,000 women, facilitated 7,200+ hrHPV self-tests, and conducted 360+ AI-assisted Visual Inspections with Acetic Acid (VIA-AI) using the SAKHI Smart AI Kit for Healthcare Innovation. Over 100 community health workers and 60 medical professionals have been trained, reinforcing the models scalability and integration within primary healthcare systems. This approach, built on inclusivity and cost-effectiveness, serves as a replicable blueprint for cervical cancer elimination in low- and middle-income countries. A major highlight in PRESCRIP-TEC is Development and Field testing of AI Innovation Previously part of a Ph.D. at MAHE, Designed and refined at the Manipal School of Information Sciences, this indigenous AI-assisted decision-support system (AI-DSS) powers the VIA-AI component of the project, enabling accurate and affordable early detection in field settings. Currently undergoing validation across India, Bangladesh, and Uganda, the technology underscores Indias growing capability to develop and deploy homegrown digital health solutions of global relevance. Distinguished speakers included Dr. Abhishek Kunwar (WHO India), Dr. Anu Mary Oommen (CMC Vellore), Dr. Esmy P. Okkuru, Radiation Oncologist at CFCHC, Tamil Nadu and Dr. Bency Joseph (ICMR-NCDIR), alongside leading experts from across the world. Opening the conference, Dr. Keerthana Prasad, Professor and Director, MSIS, and Lead Principal Investigator of PRESCRIP-TEC , remarked, PRESCRIP-TEC represents a paradigm shift in how we approach cervical cancer screening in resource-limited settings. Through AI-assisted diagnostics and strong community engagement, we are transforming access to preventive healthcare and contributing to Indias 2030 elimination mission. The India implementation of PRESCRIP-TEC, involving MAHE, SDM College of Ayurveda (Udupi), Tata Memorial Hospital (Mumbai), Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute and Tata Medical Center (Kolkata), St. Johns Medical College (Bengaluru), and Sikkim Manipal University (Gangtok), concluded with actionable recommendations for integrating AI-based screening and cost-effective strategies into Indias national framework. By converging research, technology, and community action, PRESCRIP-TEC stands as a model for how collaborative innovation can drive national health transformation - placing India at the forefront of the global mission to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030. www.prescriptec.org About Manipal Academy of Higher Education The Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) is an Institution of Eminence Deemed-to-be University. MAHE offers over 400 specializations across the Health Sciences (HS), Management, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences (MLHS), and Technology & Science (T&S) streams through its constituent units at campuses in Manipal, Mangalore, Bengaluru, Jamshedpur, and Dubai. With a remarkable track record in academics, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and significant contributions to research, MAHE has earned recognition and acclaim both nationally and internationally. In October 2020, the Ministry of Education, Government of India, awarded MAHE the prestigious Institution of Eminence status. Currently ranked 3 rd in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), MAHE is the preferred choice for students seeking a transformative learning experience and enriching campus life.
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.
