Sanchita Aich Bag, MP, 14 June 2024, Siliguri: Owing to incessant rainfall in Sikkim, triggering landslides, different areas of North Sikkim have been cut off. Around 1,200 tourists are reportedly stranded in Lachung and Mangan district.
The Sikkim government, with the help of the government of India, is planning to evacuate the tourists from there.
“As per the ground report, around 1200 domestic and 15 foreign tourists (two from Thailand, three from Nepal and 10 from Bangladesh) are stranded in Lachung, Mangan district. They are all safe and sound. The local authorities have requested all the stranded tourists to stay put in their respective place of stay and avoid taking any risks,” stated CS Rai, principal secretary, tourism and civil aviation, Government of Sikkim, in a release issued on Friday.
“There is adequate stock of food supplies and rations to cater to all the stranded tourists. The office of the Chief Secretary, Government of Sikkim has already initiated talks with the concerned Ministry, Government of India for airlifting of all the tourists subject to clear weather conditions,” the release further stated.
“If required the tourists shall also be evacuated by road. Tourism and Civil Aviation department, Government of Sikkim is working in close co-ordination with the concerned district administration, Police department and the tourism official at Mangan,” the release said, adding: “Only Lachung is cut off from the state, all other parts of Sikkim are open and safe for travel.”
Meanwhile, the condition of Sikkim has affected the tourism industry. Vehicular movement has been restricted in many places on the National Highway (NH 10). Heavy vehicles are travelling through Lava-Gorubathan, which is a longer route.
The diversions to Sikkim are time taking and also costlier. Small vehicles are also charging double the amount, as the condition of the roads is very bad in some areas and detours have to be taken.
“Sikkim plays a very important role in the tourism business of this region. NH 10 closes down often owing to landslides and floods. This road needs to be repaired permanently or an alternate route so that such problems do not occur in future,” said Samrat Sanyal, secretary of Himalayan Hospitality and Tourism Development Network.
Siddhartha Soodh, president of Kalimpong Hotel Owners’ Association, said: “The closure of NH 10 is affecting tourism business in Kalimpong. The government should find a permanent solution to the problem.”
“I have booked a small vehicle from Siliguri Junction to go to Gangtok, which charges Rs 5500,” said Md. Ansul Mia, a tourist from Bangladesh who was in Siliguri on the way to Bangladesh.
PTI, Kolkata, Jun 14, 2024 : Following incessant rainfall causing devastation in neighbouring Sikkim resulting in overflowing of the Teesta river, the West Bengal Irrigation department issued an alert for the northern districts of the state, an official said on Friday.
The release of water from the barrages has resulted in rising the water level of the Teesta and because of that there is a threat of flood in areas on both sides of Teesta in Jalpaiguri district, he said.
Teesta is one of the major rivers of the state, and Jalpaiguri district is in the floodplain of this river. A barrage across the river was built at Gajoldoba in the district. Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts in the northern part of West Bengal share borders with Sikkim where rain-triggered landslides left a trail of destruction and six dead people on Thursday.
“The water of Teesta is rising because of the release of water from barrages in Sikkim. Teesta is coming down with great speed and an alert has been issued in this regard. We have taken all precautionary measures. Leaves of all the officials have been cancelled,” the official told PTI.
The Jalpaiguri district administration has been using public address system asking inhabitants near the Teesta to move to higher land, he said, adding that the fishermen were advised not to venture into the river.
“In several places, Teesta is almost getting into townships. So much water is coming down from the mountain that it is not possible for the barrage to stop that. As a result, plain lands will be affected. Irrigation department officials have been sent for on-site inspection,” he added.
When contacted, an official of the Jalpaiguri Sadar Sub-Divisional office said the alert has been sounded in all blocks.
“Everything from boats to rescue equipment has been kept ready. Residents have been asked to leave river banks,” he said.
On Thursday, a sub-divisional magistrate went to Maynaguri to review the flood situation of the Jaldhaka River, he said, adding that the administration is working to evacuate the villagers of Odlabari gram panchayat to a safe distance.
In neighbouring Sikkim, at least six people were killed and 1,500-odd tourists stranded as massive landslides triggered by incessant rainfall caused devastation in Mangan district on Thursday.
A newly-constructed bailey bridge at Sangkalang collapsed snapping the link between Mangan with Dzongu and Chungthang. Landslides blocked stretches of roads and several houses were inundated or damaged, while electricity poles were swept away.
YOWAN MOTHAY, EOI, KALIMPONG, JUNE 13, 2024 : There was panic in the flood affected areas of Teesta and Malli on Thursday, with the rise in the level of water of river Teesta following incessant rains in north Sikkim.
People in the flood-hit areas of Teesta and Malli were forced to move to other places with their important papers and other materials.
The road communication between Kalimpong and Darjeeling was disrupted as the road below Teesta Bazar connecting with Peshok Road was submerged by the rising water level of river Teesta.There was no traffic all day.
Kalimpong District Magistrate Balasubramaniam T, said due to heavy rains in the upper part of Sikkim, the water level in river Teesta River had increased and some places like Ravi Jhora and Teesta Bazar roads have been submerged under water.
Traffic had been stopped from Teesta Bazar and Peshok towards Darjeeling. The traffic from Malli to Chitre had also been stopped due to cracks on the road surface. Traffic diversions had been done accordingly.
People were worried in the absence of any effort on the part of the government to help the affected people. They were more worried as people were yet to get a by relief for the damage they suffered in the massive Teesta flood in October last year.
“Is there no administration or a government,” people were asking. “If such a situation occurs in the beginning of monsoon, what will happen in the coming days? Where do we go? It has been almost a year since the flood in Teesta and we haven’t received anything yet. Our houses had been swept away. We are staying at our son’s house. Even this house was flooded in today’s rain. We are remembered only when there is a vote. We have nothing to do with the government,” a flood victim of Teesta said, weeping.
The District Magistrate said, however, there was no major loss to any property. People were being constantly alerted and kept informed about the rising level of water. “All our flood shelters are ready, no one has moved into the flood shelter yet. Rainfall and water levels are being continuously monitored.”
He said that civil security personnel and special police teams had been mobilized at strategic locations for necessary monitoring and surveillance. Disaster management teams at districts and block levels were actively monitoring the situation and the control room was active 24 hours a day’ of voters.
PTI, Gangtok, 14 June 2024 : At least six people were killed and 1,500-odd tourists stranded as massive landslides triggered by incessant rainfall caused devastation in northern Sikkim’s Mangan district, officials said on Thursday.
A newly-constructed bailey bridge at Sangkalang collapsed snapping the link between Mangan with Dzongu and Chungthang. Landslides blocked stretches of roads and several houses were inundated or damaged, while electricity poles were swept away, they said.
Towns such as Dzongu, Chungthang, Lachen, and Lachung in Mangan district known for popular tourist spots like Gurudongmar Lake and Yunthang Valley have now been cut off from the rest of the country.
Three persons each died in Pakshep and Ambhithang villages,” Mangan District Magistrate Hem Kumar Chettri said.
A number of houses were damaged in Geythang and Nampathang. A relief camp has been set up at Pakshep for the displaced people, Chettri said.
The district magistrate also held a meeting with other officials to take stock of the situation following the incessant rainfall in and around Mangan District since Wednesday night and instructed them to carryout rescue and relief works.
Mobile network services were affected in North Sikkim even as a request was made by the district administration to send an SDRF team with ration to Mangan, the officials said.
Editorial, EOI, 12 June 2024 : The congratulatory message of Darjeeling M.P. Raju Bista to Chief Minister of Sikkim Prem Singh Tamang on the occasion of the swearing-in ceremony of the latter that people of Darjeeling and Sikkim are blood brothers is highly true.
Historically, the hills of Sikkim Darjeeling had been bound by the same umbilical cord that got separated in 1835 when the British obtained the title over the Darjeeling hills from the Chogyal of Sikkim to set up a health resort.
But there are numerous other ties between the two neighboring hill regions which it is not possible to severe.
One of the most important of them is the infrastructure. When a landslide occurs, for instance, on National Highway 10, Sikkim and Darjeeling suffer equally badly. The landslide near Singtam on Tuesday morning, for instance, had rendered the highway impassable, leading to extensive traffic disruptions and severe inconvenience for commuters.
There was a massive traffic jam, with the queue of vehicles extending to several kilometers. Though the disruption was in Sikkim, the impact was felt in the neighbouring West Bengal district of Kalimpong as well.
Equally, when a landslide on N.H. 10 occurs in some of the vulnerable stretches of the road in the Kalimpong district of West Bengal, commuters from Sikkim going to Siliguri to catch a train, a bus or a flight get equally caught in the disruption.
The disruption caused by the downpour in the Pakyong sub-division, too, affected the traffic flow from Sikkim to the Pedong area of Kalimpong. When the Elevated Highway Corridor from Balason to Sevoke Army Cantonment comes up, it will speed up the flow of traffic to Sikkim as well as the Kalimpong hills of West Bengal.
If the setting up of this road infrastructure attracts investments to north Bengal, both Sikkim and Darjeeling will also enjoy some benefits.
The on-going improvements in this road infrastructure will also increase the tourist flow to the hills of Darjeeling and Sikkim.
When the Buddha Air of Nepal begins its flight operations between Pakyong Airport and Kathmandu and Pakyong, it will help the people of Sikkim and Darjeeling equally. For, many people travel between Nepal and Sikkim and Darjeelng frequently and they have to undergo similar difficulties either by availing the land border between India and Nepal at Kakarvitta or circuitous routes when travelling by air.
For people of Darjeeling and Kalimpong it may be a shorter journey to Pakyong to take a flight than to Bagdogra.
At another level, the demand for recognition of the left-out Gorkha communities as scheduled tribes touches the people of Darjeeling and Sikkim equally; though in the case of Darjeeling it is 11 communities while in the case of Sikkim it is 12. When the Centre agrees to accept this demand, it may have to make it a package deal for Darjeeling and Sikkim.
For, the communities in question are the same and when their demand is accepted in Darjeeling it cannot be ignored in the case of Sikkim.
The two regions had got separated because of historical reasons and it may not be possible to reverse that reality because history, too, has its own momentum. But it is sure the hills of Darjeeling and Sikkim will share their joys and sorrows together
SUJAL PRADHAN, EOI, GANGTOK, JUNE 11, 2024 : A team from Buddha Air visited Pakyong Airport on Tuesday to conduct a feasibility study for launching flight operations between Kathmandu and Pakyong.
The visit included a presentation by the Air Traffic Controller and an airport tour led by Airport Director S.K. Singh.
The three-member team from Buddha Air included Uday Krishna Shrestha, Om Pradhananga, and Jiwan Basnett. Buddha Air plans to operate two daily flights: one from Kathmandu to Pakyong and another from Kathmandu to Pakyong via Guwahati.
The flight from Kathmandu to Pakyong will take about one hour, while the flight from Pakyong to Guwahati will take around 35minutes.
As per reports, the proposed fare for Kathmandu to Pakyong is expected to be between Rs. 6,000 and Rs. 7,000, but Singh has requested Buddha Air to reduce it to Rs. 5,000 to Rs 6,000.
The airline is confident there will be enough passengers on these routes. Buddha Air is already operating flights from Kathmandu to Varanasi and is seeking permission for a new route from Janakpur to Ayodhya.
The tentative timing for the new flights is between noon and1.30 pm. The flights will use ATR 500aircraft which can accommodate 85 to 90 passenger
Heavy rain, mudslide, cause devastation in Pakyong village
EOI, PAKYONG, JUNE 11, 2024 : The heavy rainfall on the night of June 10 in Thek village, Parakha Block, in Pakyong, has brought about devastating consequences, causing extensive damage to properties and endangering public safety.
The relentless downpour in the locality has triggered erosion along the river bank, compromising the structural integrity of many, rendering them unfit for human occupation. Two houses were completely destroyed and about 10 others wer
e badly damaged. Responding to the urgent need for assistance, two relief camps have been established to provide shelter and aid to the affected residents.
The Latuk Primary School and the house of Bishnu Maya Rai and Roshan Rai have been designated as shelters for the displaced people. The loss of livestock during the calamity has also been significant,
The destructive force of the floodwaters swept away three bridges along the Maltini River, snapping the only connection to Thek Village and isolating its inhabitants from essential services and support networks.
The land adjacent to the Maltini River has borne the brunt of severe erosion at multiple sites, causing significant alterations to the natural course of the river and posing further risks to the surrounding area.
A joint inspection was carried out on Tuesday under the directive of DC Pakyong to assess the extent of the damage and coordinate relief efforts. MLA Gnathang Machong Pamin Lepcha, members of the Zilla Panchayat and Panchay at Latuk Thek, SDM Pakyong and other senior officials were present.
Pamin Lepcha asked for the formation of an assessment group to examine the terrain uphill along the Maltini River from the National Highway and Infrastructure Development Corporation of India Road construction site. She also asked for the quick restoration of the water and electricity supplies, as well as the accessibility of the roads.
PSikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang (Photo: IANS)
SNS | Gangtok | June 10, 2024 : Prem Singh Tamang, the president of the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM), was on Monday sworn in as the Chief Minister of Sikkim for the second consecutive term.
This follows his party’s overwhelming victory in the recent assembly elections, where the SKM secured 31 out of 32 seats. The swearing-in ceremony, held at Paljor Stadium, was conducted by Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya and witnessed by a large crowd.
Tamang, 56, who successfully led the SKM to this decisive win, was also elected unanimously as the leader of the legislature party during a meeting on June 2.
Alongside him, a council of ministers consisting of 12 members, including the Chief Minister, was also sworn in.
To ensure the security of the event, the state government ordered the closure of all educational institutions in and around Gangtok on Monday.
Additionally, a half-day holiday was declared for all government offices and public sector undertakings (PSUs) located in the vicinity.
“In view of the swearing-in ceremony of the Hon’ble Chief Minister Designate and the Council of Ministers Designate…the state government hereby declares, 10th June, 2024 as a half working day till 12 noon, for all government offices and PSUs located in and around Gangtok,” Chief Secretary V B Pathak announced in a circular issued by the Home Department.
Tamang’s leadership has been pivotal for the SKM. Under his guidance, the party not only triumphed in the assembly elections but also secured the lone Lok Sabha seat in Sikkim.
He contested and won from both the Rhenock and Soreng-Chakung constituencies, showcasing his strong political influence and popularity.
The SKM’s victory marks a significant shift in Sikkim’s political landscape, further diminishing the influence of the opposition Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), which ruled the state for 25 consecutive years until 2019.
The SDF managed to win only one seat in the recent elections, highlighting the extent of SKM’s dominance.
Prem Singh Tamang has promised to continue working towards the development and prosperity of Sikkim.
His administration aims to address various issues facing the state, including improving infrastructure, healthcare, and education, while maintaining the cultural heritage and environmental sustainability of Sikkim.
Echoing the sentiment of the BJP allies in Darjeeling, Neeraj Zimba, Darjeeling MLA and secretary-general of Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), said that it was now long overdue that a Gorkha community member be represented in the Union ministry
Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, 10.06.24 : Discontentment brewed in Darjeeling hills and across the Gorkha diaspora in the country as no representative from the community found a place in Narendra Modi’s ministry announced on Sunday.
The BJP’s Raju Bista was re-elected as the Darjeeling MP in the just-concluded Lok Sabha polls.
Echoing the sentiment of the BJP allies in Darjeeling, Neeraj Zimba, Darjeeling MLA and secretary-general of Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), said that it was now long overdue that a Gorkha community member be represented in the Union ministry.
“The Gorkhas have been voting for the BJP since 2009 despite the BJP not having fulfilled any of its promises to the community. Our representative should be included in the ministry without us even demanding it,” said Zimba, who successfully contested the Assembly polls on a BJP ticket twice.
In the past, the BJP had promised a tribal status to 11 Gorkha communities and a permanent political solution (PPS) for the region. Although the BJP did not define PPS, most in the hills perceive it as statehood.
Both the tribal and PPS promises remain unfulfilled.
“Our representation in the Union ministry is long overdue now. We cannot always be taken for granted. Our Darjeeling MP Raju Bista won with one of the highest margins in Bengal and a better margin than our Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” said Zimba.
In 2019, Bista won by a margin of over 4 lakh. This year, the margin was 1.78 lakh. Modi won his Varanasi seat by a 1.52 lakhs this time.
The demand for a ministry for a Gorkha representative has come up strongly this year as the community has been increasingly feeling betrayed by the BJP for failing to address the community’s concerns. The drop in victory margin of Bista this year is an indicator, said an observer.
Not just Zimba and BJP allies, but even other hill leaders not directly linked with the BJP have sought a ministerial berth for Darjeeling MP Raju Bista.
“The BJP owes a debt to Darjeeling…. It is only fair that Raju Bista be included in the ministry,” said Binay Tamang, a well-known face in Darjeeling politics.
In this Lok Sabha, the Gorkha community is also represented by Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) MP Indra Hang Subba. The SKM is an NDA constituent.
However, the pitch is more for Bista, as Darjeeling is considered to be the epicentre for Indian Gorkhas in all aspects, from cultural to political.
In the previous Modi government, three BJP MPs from north Bengal were included in the cabinet as junior ministers — Nisith Pramanik, John Barla and Debasree Chaudhuri. None of them is an MP this time.Courtesy & source- The Telegraph
On one hand, they have initiated round-the-clock monitoring of rainfall and surge in water levels to pass alerts in advance
The Teesta river near Teesta bazar: File picture
TT Bureau, Siliguri/Jalpaiguri, 04.06.24 : The Bengal irrigation department and the Sikkim government have swung into alert mode at the onset of the southwest monsoon in the sub-Himalayan region and particularly after last year’s flash flood on the Teesta river.
On one hand, they have initiated round-the-clock monitoring of rainfall and surge in water levels to pass alerts in advance.
On the other hand, they have taken initiatives to mitigate the loss of lives and property in case there is a flash flood due to incessant downpours. Over the past few days, it has rained heavily in a number of areas of Sikkim and sub-Himalayan Bengal.
On June 1, the irrigation department opened a Supervisory Control & Data Acquisition (SCADA) room in Jalpaiguri. It will work round the clock throughout the monsoon months to gather data on rainfall and rise in water levels of the Teesta and other rivers through automated rain gauge stations and satellite, said Krishnendu Bhowmik, the chief engineer (northeast) of the department.
According to him, in sub-Himalayan Bengal and Sikkim, data on rainfall and water levels of rivers are collected from 30 rain gauges of the regional Met office of Gangtok, 28 rain gauges of the central water commission and 12 rain gauges of the Bengal irrigation department which have been installed in different locations of the region.
The official mentioned that due to the flash flood which occurred in the Teesta in October last year because of the outburst of South Lhonak Lake, there had been huge deposition of silt and debris downstream.
“As a result, the river bed has risen by one-and-half metres. If it rains heavily along the Teesta catchment areas of the hills and plains, there is a risk of flash flood. That is why we are putting all efforts to gather information in advance so that people living closer to the banks and in low lying areas, can be shifted in advance,” said Bhowmik.
This year, the department has also decided to issue primary (yellow) and secondary (red) alerts along both banks of the Teesta before the water level touches the necessary mark.
“As the river bed has increased, it is evident that the river will swell in a short time during the monsoons. Thus, the alerts would be issued in advance,” Bhowmik added.
Ahead of the monsoons, the department has carried out maintenance and repair works in the banks to prevent breach of embankments.
“However, for the long-term solution, we have to wait for completion of the survey that is being conducted by the River Research Institute (headquartered in Haringhata of Nadia). Only then, plans can be drawn for flood control,” said the official.
Meanwhile, in Sikkim, senior officials of Namchi and Pakyong districts, which are in the southern parts of the mountain state, have visited a number of locations which are on the banks of the Teesta to check out the situation.
“Last week, joint inspections were conducted in Melli, Rangpo Mamring, Adarsh Gaon, Balutar and some other areas to assess the situation. Some vulnerable spots have been identified and instructions were given to carry out immediate restoration works,” said a source.
The state water resources department has been directed to take preventive measures erecting Gabion baskets along the river bank to prevent flooding.
“To ensure that people don’t venture into vulnerable areas, the spots would be barricaded with red ribbons by local authorities. Further, official instructions have been passed to restrict access of people to areas on the Teesta river bank which can cave in because of rise in water levels,” the source added.
As a part of preventive measures, the forest department of Sikkim has mandated closure of quarries after 5pm to ensure the safety of workers.
“The Met office, state department and central agencies are regularly exchanging information to act well in advance,” said a source
The advisory, which was issued by Bandana Chhetri, an additional secretary of the department on Monday, mentioned that they have received complaints regarding fraudulent online travel agencies from tourists
TT Correspondent, Siliguri, 04.06.24 : The tourism and civil aviation department of Sikkim has issued an advisory for tourists, asking them to plan their trips only through travel agencies which are registered with the department.
The advisory, which was issued by Bandana Chhetri, an additional secretary of the department on Monday, mentioned that they have received complaints regarding fraudulent online travel agencies from tourists.
“To avoid such complications, it is advised that tourists intending to visit Sikkim should get their bookings done or plan their trips only with agencies which are registered with the department. The list of such agencies is available in the department’s website (www.sikkimtourism.gov.in),” said a source.
The selection of such agencies would also ensure the safety of tourists and they can have a satisfactory trip to the mountain state. “It will also mitigate the risk of falling victim to scams,” the source added.
Along with the advisory, the department has also published a list of 18 officers and employees of the department. They have been deputed as nodal officers in the six districts of Sikkim – Gangtok, Mangan, Pakyong, Namchi, Soreng and Gyalshing – to resolve tourism related grievances.
“This will help in resolving tourism related issues in a prompt manner. If required, the nodal officers can communicate with senior officials of the department to redress any issue,” said a source.
As per the data available with the department, 6,33,266 domestic tourists have visited the state from January to May 26 this year while 46,697 foreign tourists had been to Sikkim till April this year.
“The number of foreign tourists is on the rise in Sikkim over the past few years as in 2018, the restriction on Bangladeshi tourists has been withdrawn. Hundreds of Bangladeshis, who would earlier go to north India to enjoy a trip at the hill station, are swarming in Sikkim now,” said Debasish Chakraborty, general secretary, Eastern Himalaya Travel & Tour Operators’ Association.
Those associated with the industry however pointed out that road conditions should be improved in northern parts of the state.
PTI, Gangtok, Jun 2, 2024 : Much waters have flown down Teesta and Rangeet rivers since Prem Singh Tamang rebelled against the then Sikkim chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamling and subsequently formed his own party, the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha, in 2013.
Fifteen years after quitting the Sikkim Democratic Front in 2009, he decimated Chamling’s party, scripting history by winning 31 of 32 assembly seats in the Himalayan state in 2024. Only twice before, in 1989 and 2009, had political parties, the Sikkim Sangram Parishad and the SDF, respectively, registered such landslide victories.
Fifty-six-year-old Tamang, regarded as an able organiser, administrator and fiery politician, rode on a slew of development and welfare measures, besides his own personal charisma, to massively increase his party’s seats and vote share.
After having walked out of prison, where he was lodged for one year after being convicted in a corruption case, in 2017, Tamang had revamped his fledging party, which went on to unseat Chamling from power only two years later, winning 17 seats in 2019.
Although SDF had won 15 seats, two party MLAs had won two seats each and had to quit one seat each, effectively putting the party’s strength at 13 in the assembly.
Chamling suffered mass desertions of his MLAs, as 10 legislators joined the BJP, while the remaining two switched sides to the SKM, leaving him as the lone representative of his party in the assembly.
Tamang, on the other hand, went on to further consolidate his power and expand his party base and support, focusing on welfare schemes targeted at women and weaker sections and implementing development work with generous funding from the Centre as he stitched an alliance with the BJP. The coalition, however, collapsed ahead of the 2024 assembly polls over the seat-sharing issue.
Born to Kalu Singh Tamang and Dhan Maya Tamang on February 5, 1968, he had graduated from a college in Darjeeling in neighbouring West Bengal and became a teacher in a government school in 1990.
However, he quit his job only three years later and in 1994, co-founded the SDF, with which he remained associated for nearly 20 years, of which he was a minister for 15 years, before floating his party in 2013. The SKM won 10 seats in the 2014 assembly elections.
After having fallen out with Chamling, Tamang had ploughed a lonely furrow in Sikkim politics, inviting the wrath of his former mentor as he was booked in a corruption case in which he was convicted to one year imprisonment following which he was disqualified from the state assembly as an MLA from Upper Burtuk seat.
After winning the 2019 polls, the bar on him to occupy a public post was removed by the central government, following which he took oath as the chief minister on May 27 that year and won a by-election five months later from Poklok-Kamrang constituency, ironically a seat vacated by Chamling.
Five years down the line, the fortunes of the two leaders have changed drastically, with Tamang winning from Rhenock and Soreng-Chakung constituencies by thumping margins, while Chamling met his political waterloo by losing both seats, Namcheybung and Poklok-Kamrang.
The drubbings may mark the end of Chamling’s four-decade-long public life during which he had served as a five-term chief minister to leave Tamang as the new satrap of Sikkim.
The SKM boss, however, has also expressed his wish before the electorate to not remain in public life after serving two terms as the chief minister and to hand over the reins of the party to the next line of leadership.
KalimNews, Kalimpong, 2 June 2024: In a tragic incident today, an Innova vehicle veered off NH 10 near Likhubhir and plummeted into the Teesta River. The vehicle, registered under WB 76 7218, met with the accident around 5 pm while traveling from Siliguri to Gangtok, carrying three individuals, including the driver.
The victims have been identified as Yogesh Gurung (28 years old) from Rangbul, Darjeeling, who was driving at the time, and passengers Tamenana Satyanarayana (47 years old) and Badarla Veera Venkata Raman (57 years old), both from Secunderabad, Hyderabad.
Preliminary reports suggest that drowsiness may have overcome the driver, causing the vehicle to veer off course and plunge off the road into the riverbank below. The impact of the crash left all three occupants injured, necessitating emergency responders to transport them to Rambhi Rural Hospital for immediate medical attention.
The local community is deeply saddened by this tragic incident, underscoring the critical importance of adhering to road safety measures, especially during long-distance journeys.
Prem Singh Tamang wins from both Rhenock and Soreng-Chakung constituencies, SKM set for a second term
Sikkim Chief Minister and Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) chief Prem Singh Tamang speaks with the media after party’s victory in the State Assembly elections, in Gangtok: PTI
PTI, Gangtok, 02.06.24 : Sikkim Krantikari Morcha supremo Prem Singh Tamang on Sunday gave credit for the party’s landslide victory in the assembly election in the state to the hard work of the SKM cadre and the trust of the people in his government.
The SKM returned to power in the Himalayan state for the second time in a row by securing 31 seats in the 32-member assembly.
The lone winner Mr Tenzing Norbu Lamtha, of Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) from 23-Shyari (BL) Assembly Constituency won with 6633 votes.
After the landslide win, Tamang who is also the chief minister, congratulated the party supporters and the voters of Sikkim.
“It is because of the love and trust of the people which we have managed to secure in the past five years in government. Besides, party cadres worked very hard. Now we have the next five years to give our 100 per cent for the people of Sikkim,” he said at a gathering in Paljor Stadium in Gangtok.
Tamang won from both Rhenock and Soreng-Chakung constituencies that he contested.
In 2019, the SKM had won 17 seats and unseated the Sikkim Democratic Front party (SDF) which ruled the state for 25 years in a row.
SDF president and former CM Pawan Chamling lost from both the seats he contested elections.
“I also want to thank the opposition as it is because of them that our party became stronger and more organised,” he said.
Tamang asked the party workers to maintain calm in the aftermath of the landslide victory. PTI
IPR, Gangtok, June 2, 2024 : Counting of votes for Sikkim’s 32 assembly constituencies completed today. Mr Prem Singh Tamang led Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) party remained undefeated as SKM bagged 31/32 seats in the state legislative assembly.
Here is the full list of winning candidates:
Gyalshing district:
1. Mr Tshering Thendup Bhutia (SKM) from 01-Yoksam-Tashiding (BL) Assembly Constituency won with 8271 votes
2. Mr Bhim Hang Limboo (SKM) from 02-Yangthang Assembly Constituency won with 6621 votes
3. Mr Sudesh Kumar Subba (SKM) from 03-Maneybung-Dentam Assembly Constituency won with 8553 votes
4. Mr Lok Nath Sharma, (SKM) from 04-Gyalshing-Barnyak Assembly Constituency won with 5612 votes
Soreng district:
5. Mr Erung Tenzing Lepcha (SKM) from 05-Rinchenpong (BL) Assembly Constituency won with 9624 votes
6. Mr Mingma Norbu Sherpa (SKM) from 06-Daramdin (BL) Assembly Constituency won with 9404 votes
7. Mr Prem Singh Tamang (SKM) from 07-Soreng-Chakung Assembly Constituency won with 10480 votes
8. Mr Madan Cintury (SKM) from 08-Salghari-Zoom (SC) Assembly Constituency won with 5678 votes
Namchi district:
9. Mr Rikshal Dorjee Bhutia (SKM) from 09-Barfung (BL) Assembly Constituency won with 8358 votes
10. Mr Bhoj Raj Rai (SKM) from 10-Poklok-Kamrang Assembly Constituency won with 8037 votes
11. Mrs Krishna Kumari Rai (SKM) from 11-Namchi-Singhithang Assembly Constituency won with 7907 votes
12. Mr Nar Bahadur Pradhan (SKM) from 12-Melli Assembly Constituency won with 7904 votes
13. Mr Sanjeet Kharel (SKM) from 13-Namthang-Rateypani Assembly Constituency won with 8949 votes
14. Mr Bedu Singh Panth (SKM) from 14-Temi-Namphing Assembly Constituency won with 6759 votes
15. Ms Raj Kumari Thapa (SKM) from 15-Rangang-Yangang Assembly Constituency won with 6514 votes
Gangtok district:
16. Mr Samdup Tshering Bhutia (SKM) from 16-Tumen Lingi (BL) Assembly Constituency won with 8265 votes
17. Mr Nar Bahadur Dahal (SKM) from 17-Khamdong-Singtam Assembly Constituency won with 5882 votes
18. Mr Tenzing Norbu Lamtha, Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) from 23-Shyari (BL) Assembly Constituency won with 6633 votes
19. Mr Sonam Tsh. Venchungpa (SKM) from 24-Martam-Rumtek Assembly Constituency (BL) won with 8070 votes
20. Mr G.T. Dhungel (SKM) from 25- Upper Tadong Assembly Constituency won with 6209 votes
21. Mr Arun Kumar Upreti (SKM) from 26-Arithang Assembly Constituency won with 5356 votes
22. Mr Delay Namgyal Barfungpa (SKM) from 27-Gangtok (BL) Assembly Constituency won with 4440 votes
23. Ms Kala Rai (SKM) from 28-Upper Burtuk Assembly Constituency won with 6323 votes
Pakyong district:
24. Mr Lall Bahadur Das (SKM) from 18-West Pendam (SC) Assembly Constituency won with 6237 votes
25. Mr Prem Singh Tamang (SKM) from 19-Rhenock Assembly Constituency won with 10094 votes
26. Mr Puran Kumar Gurung (SKM) from 20-Chujachen Assembly Constituency won with 8199 votes
27. Mrs Pamin Lepcha (SKM) from 21-Gnathang-Machong (BL) Assembly Constituency won with 6676 votes
28. Mr Raju Basnet (SKM) from 22-Namcheybung Assembly Constituency won with 7195 votes
Mangan district:
29. Mr Thenlay Tshering Bhutia (SKM) from 29-Kabi-Lungchuk (BL) Assembly Constituency won with 5882 votes
30. Mr Pintso Namgyal Lepcha (SKM) from 30 Djongu (BL) Assembly Constituency won with 6402 votes
31. Mr Samdup Lepcha (SKM) from 31-Lachen-Mangan (BL) Assembly Constituency won with 3929 votes
Sangha:
32. Mr Sonam Lama (SKM) from Sangha Assembly Constituency won with 1919 votes
Counting started in the early hours of the morning in the centers spread across different venues in all six districts of the state.
The counting of votes began at 6 am amid tight security arrangements at the counting centers. Officials including Observers, Micro-observers, Returning Officers (RO)/ARO, Counting Supervisors, Counting Assistants and polling agents representing various political parties were involved in the counting process.
The votes were counted from polled EVMs, randomly selected VVPAT slips, Postal Ballot papers (including Home Voting), and Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS).
The counting centers were located at Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Kyongsa in Gyalshing district, Government B.Ed College in Soreng district, Government College, Kamrang in Namchi, DIET College Burtuk, DIET College Auditorium, SCERT Old Building and SCERT New Building in Gangtok district, Dikling Senior Secondary School in Pakyong district and District Administrative Centre, Pentok & District Election Office, Pentok in Mangan district.
Upon declaration of results, the Certificate of Election was presented to all the winning candidates by the respective Returning Officers. The entire counting process in the state was conducted peacefully with strict adherence to the election protocols.
It may be noted, Sikkim recorded 79.90% voter turn-out this time, excluding Postal Ballots, as it went to polls on April 19, in Phase 1 of Assembly Elections as well Lok Sabha Elections. Out of the total registered electors, 3,70,857 individuals exercised their voting right including 1,85,813 males an 1,85,042 females and 02 third gender voters.
Counting of votes for Sikkim’s lone Parliamentary Constituency (Lok Sabha) will take place on June 4.
Former India Football captain and SDF candidate Bhaichung Bhutia was trailing behind SKM rival Riksal Dorjee Bhutia by 4,012, votes in the Barfung Assembly seat
Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) members celebrate their lead in the Assembly polls, outside a counting centre: PTI
PTI, Gangtok, 02.06.24 : The ruling SKM won seven Assembly seats and was leading in 24 other constituencies, the Election Commission of India said on Sunday.
Counting of votes for 32 assembly seats in Sikkim began at 6 am on Sunday, amid tight security arrangements, officials said.
Samdup Lepcha of Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) won the Lachen Mangan Assembly seat defeating his nearest SDF rival Hishey Lachungpa by 851 votes, according to the Election Commission of India.
SKM candidate Puran Kumar Gurung won the Chujachen seat defeating his nearest rival Mani Kumar Gurung by 3,334 votes.
Pintso Namgyal Lepcha of SKM won the Djongu Assembly seat defeating his nearest rival Sonam Gyatso Lepcha of SDF by 5007 votes..
Chief Minister and Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) candidate Prem Singh Tamang was leading by around 7,044 votes over his nearest SDF rival Som Nath Poudyal from the Rhenock assembly constituency, while in the Soreng Chakung Assembly constituency Tamang is leading by 2,052 votes over his nearest SDF rival A D Subba.
Former CM and Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) supremo Pawan Kumar Chamling was trailing behind SKM candidate Raju Basnet by 1,852 votes in Namcheybung seat. In the Poklok Kamrang Assembly constituency Chamling was trailing behind Bhoj Raj Rai of SKM by 3,063 votes.
Former India Football captain and SDF candidate Bhaichung Bhutia was trailing behind SKM rival Riksal Dorjee Bhutia by 4,012, votes in the Barfung Assembly seat.
Sikkim BJP unit president Dilli Ram Thapa was trailing behind his SKM rival Kala Rai by 2,568 votes in the Upper Burtuk Assembly constituency.
SUJAL PRADHAN, EOI, GANGTOK, MAY 30, 2024 : In a Facebook post on Thursday, Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang highlighted the recent success of the assembly and 18th Lok Sabha elections in the state, calling them the most peaceful in the history of Sikkim. The Chief Minister also shared details of an important meeting he chaired with Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) party candidates at his official residence.
Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister highlighted the imperative of maintaining harmony and asked all SKM members to maintain peace. “It is our utmost duty to remain in a harmonious state, guide all members of our organization properly, and maintain peace, goodwill, friendship, and brotherhood,” he stated.
Reflecting on the recently concluded elections, Tamang praised the unparalleled peace and organization. “This 18th Lok Sabha and 11th Sikkim Legislative Assembly election have been the most peaceful in Sikkim’s history,” he stated. He extended thanks to various officials and departments for their contributions to the electoral process. Referring to the high voter turnout, the Chief Minister said a total of 462,456 voters participated; a turnout of 83.5percent which was two percent higher than in 2019. “This remarkable turnout sets a new record for the state, surpassing figures from other states across the country. The people of Sikkim are the true recipients of heartfelt thanks and congratulations,” he said.
The Chief Minister commended the participation of 146 Assembly candidates and 14 Lok Sabha candidates and appreciated the role of every individual in ensuring a peaceful election. He reiterated the government’s commitment to maintaining peace and security in the state.
“Our mission will continue in the coming days to ensure complete peace and security in the state for the benefit of the Sikkimese people,” he assured. The Chief Minister called for unity among the diverse communities of Sikkim. “Though we belong to different castes and communities, we are all children of the same mother, Sikkim. Mutual respect, love, and harmony among us are our foremost duties,” he said. The meeting commenced with a two- minute silence to pay tribute to the late Sonam Gyatso Bhutia, a former legislator and vice-president of the SKM central executive committee, who had passed away recently.
Editorial, EOI, 30 May 2024 : For the people of the hills of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Sikkim, landslides are of common occurrence. Now in the wake of the devastating landslide in the mountainous Enga province in Papua New Guinea late last week with estimates of the death toll varying between 670 and 2,000 the University of Sydney has offered some explanations as to what causes landslides and if landslides can be predicted to save lives.
As the Papua New Guinea experience has underscored, rescue is challenging in the event of a landslide. Secondary slides and rock falls hamper efforts in the search zone. Because of lack of access, it becomes difficult to move heavy digging machinery to the landslide zone. Roads need to be cleared or repaired for assistance and equipment to arrive. t is difficult to locate potential survivors as landslides carry away buildings and their occupants in an unpredictable manner.
Landslides happen when the pull from gravity exceeds the strength of the geomaterial forming the slope of a hill or mountain. Geomaterials can be as varied as rocks, sand, silt and clays. Then, part of this slope starts sliding downhill. Depending on where the slope fails, the material sliding down can be just a few cubic metres or a few million cubic metres in volume.
But why do slopes fail?
Most natural landslides are triggered by earthquakes or rainfall. Earthquakes shake the ground, stress it and weaken it over time. Rainwater can seep through the ground and soak it and add weight to the slope. The ground is often porous like a sponge.
Another adverse effect of water is erosion, causing slopes to fall. Groundwater can also dissolve rocks within slopes. Human activities also contribute to the chance of landslides. Deforestation has a negative impact on slope stability, as tree roots naturally reinforce the ground and drain water out. Mine blasts produce small earthquake-like ground vibrations that shake slopes nearby. It is difficult to predict and mitigate landslide risk effectively.
The thousands of deadly and costly landslides occurring every year worldwide suggest so. To warn people of a coming landslide, one would need a prediction for earthquakes and rainfall, in addition to a perfect knowledge of the slope-forming geomaterial.
Geomaterials may include multiple, entangled layers of various kinds of rocks and particulate materials, such as sand, silt and clays.
Their strength varies, and their spatial distribution dictates where the slope is likely to fail. To accurately assess the stability of the slope, a three-dimensional mapping of these materials and their strengths is needed. No sensor can provide this information, so geologists and geotechnical engineers must deal with partial information obtained at a few selected locations and extrapolate this data to the rest of the slope.
The weakest link of the chain, such as an existing fracture in a rock mass, is easily missed. This is an inevitable source of uncertainty when trying to predict how much material might slip. It is known that the larger the volume of a landslide, the farther its runout distance. But it is hard to gauge the exact size of a landslide, making predictions of runout distances and safe zones uncertain.
It is always uncertain when a landslide will occur. Mechanical analysis enables one to estimate the vulnerability of a slope in a particular scenario, including earthquake magnitude and distribution of groundwater. But predicting if and when these triggers will happen is a difficult task.
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