Over 1,500 tourists stranded in Sikkim due to landslides
Nearly 1,500 tourists remained stranded in north Sikkim due to severe flooding and landslides. The Sankalang bridge has collapsed, blocking a key road, while the main feeding bridge towards north Sikkim has also been closed due to damage.Mangan SP Sonam Detchu Bhutia said 115 tourists are stranded in Lachen and 1,350 tourists in Lachung. "The exit route is closed due to landslides at multiple locations. Tourists have been advised to remain in their hotels, and once the roads are opened, they will be shifted," he said.The death toll in northeastern states has risen to 28 since Thursday due to flooding and landslides in Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura. According to the state disaster management authority in Assam, three people have died in the last 48 hours due to floods while five others died due to landslides in different parts of Guwahati.A critical relief mission was launched by Indian Air Force early on Sunday in response to a request received from the state administrations of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Fourteen people stranded in the middle of flooded Bomjir river in the Lower Dibang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh, cut off from mainland, were safely rescued. The operation was undertaken by Mi 17 helicopter.The flood situation is becoming grim in Assam. Central Water Commission department's data indicated that water levels of the Brahmaputra river Burhi Dihing, Barak and some other rivers are flowing above danger level with reports of water level rising at many places.In June last year, around nine people died as excessive rainfall triggered massive landslides across North Sikkim. At least 179 people died in 2023 in Sikkim when a Himalayan glacial lake outburst triggered floods. The flash floods in the Teesta, triggered by a glacial lake burst in north Sikkim, had left roads and bridges extensively damaged across the mountain state.Union home minister Amit Shah posted on X, "Spoke with the chief ministers of Assam, Manipur, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh... Also assured them of every possible help to tackle any situation. The Modi government stands like a rock in support of the people of the Northeast."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
Himachal may vanish into thin air if tourist inflows unchecked: SC
. New Delhi: Reminding Centre and the states that earning revenue should not be prioritised over the ecology and environment, Supreme Court has expressed deep concern over uncontrolled constructions and inflow of tourists in Himachal Pradesh, saying the day is not far when the Himalayan state may vanish from the map of the country if remedial action is not taken on time. A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadev said that in recent years, the state witnessed many natural disasters, and it is humans, not nature, who are responsible for floods, continuous landsliding of mountains and soil, collapsing of houses and buildings, and road subsidence in which hundreds of people perished. These disasters are man-made and it is not right to blame nature for it, the court said. It appealed to Centre and the state government to intervene and stem the rot on an urgent basis. Revenue can't be earned at cost of environment: SC SC said, 'Nature has given abundant beauty to the state of HP... Taking advantage of this natural beauty, the government started constructing four-lane roads to promote it as a tourist destination. To build these roads, heavy machinery and explosives materials were used according to various reports to cut the mountains, due to which the natural balance of the place has started to deteriorate.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Knee Pain? Start Eating These Foods, and Feel Your Pain Go Away Click Here Undo 'We want to impress upon state government and Union of India that earning revenue is not everything. Revenue cannot be earned at the cost of the environment and ecology. If things proceed the way they are as on date, then the day is not far when the entire state of HP may vanish into thin air from the map...,' it said. 'The pace of infrastructure development in Himachal has intensified in recent years, driven by the twin goals of connectivity and tourism... In many cases, hill slopes are cut steeply, unscientifically, without adequate stabilisation measures, and natural watercourses are obstructed or diverted. This not only alters the local hydrology but also makes the terrain more vulnerable to landslides and flash floods. 'The 2023 and 2025 monsoon season, for example, saw widespread devastation in the Kullu, Mandi, Shimla and Chamba districts, partly attributed to such unscientific construction. Despite having been an environmentally rich state, its own people are today responsible for such blind pursuit of development, to their own detriment,' the court said.
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
Army's Central Command flags off 2000km Himalayan motorcycle expedition to celebrate Op Sindoor
Dehradun: The Indian Army 's Central Command on Friday flagged off a 25-member motorcycle expedition, covering a distance of around 2000 km, to remote areas of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand. The rally celebrates the success of Operation Sindoor and aims to share stories of Kargil heroes with students and youths to motivate and encourage them to join the armed forces. Central Command's General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Lt Gen Anindya Sengupta launched the second edition of the 13-day expedition, named Integrated Himalayan Motorcycle Expedition-II (I-HiMEx-II), from Dehradun in the presence of senior Army officers, secretary of Uttarakhand tourism department, and officials from Indian Oil Corporation Ltd and Royal Enfield. Public relations officer (Defence), Dehradun, Lt Col Manish Srivastava said the expedition will cover several Himalayan areas – including Gauchar, Joshimath, Rattana Kona, Mana, Niti Pass, Rimkhim, Kurktui, and Thagla – and conclude in Roorkee. "The expedition endeavours to pay tributes to our fallen heroes while showcasing the uncharted beauty of the Himalayas. It aims to honour the Kargil war heroes, celebrate the success of Operation Sindoor, and inspire local youth to join the Indian armed forces. The team will organise interactions en route to share tales of valour from Operation Vijay and Operation Sindoor, reinforcing the spirit of patriotism and service," said Lt Col Srivastava. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo He added, "Prior to the flag-off, GOC-in-C Lt Gen Sengupta interacted with the expedition team and handed over the official expedition flag to the team leader. The participants expressed great enthusiasm to undertake this challenging journey alongside Indian Army personnel."
Indian Express
10 hours ago
- Indian Express
Amarnath Yatra suspended to carry out ‘maintenance of urgent nature' after heavy rain
The annual Amarnath pilgrimage to the Himalayan cave shrine in south Kashmir has been suspended, with the government taking up 'maintenance works of urgent nature' on both routes to the shrine 'following heavy rain'. Divisional Commissioner Kashmir V K Bhiduri said the annual pilgrimage, scheduled to end on August 9, has been suspended along both the Sonamarg-Baltal and Pahalgam-Chandwanri routes. 'There have been recent heavy rains in the Shri Amarnathji Yatra area on both Pahalgam and Baltal axis. Maintenance works of urgent nature are required to be carried out…,' Divisional Commissioner Bhiduri said in a statement. He said that the 'repair and maintenance works are already being carried out' on the Pahalgam route of the Yatra. 'Due to the recent heavy rain, repair and maintenance works are required to be undertaken on the Baltal Axis of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra route. In the interest of safety of the yatris, no yatra will be allowed on August 3 from the Baltal route also. Further updates will be issued in due course of time,' he said. Officials said yatra convoys from Jammu's Bhagwati Nagar towards the Valley have been stopped. Bhiduri said more than 4.05 lakh yatris 'have paid obeisance at the Holy Cave of Shri Amarnathji this year'. Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter. ... Read More
