SUJAL PRADHAN, EOI, GANGTOK, JUNE 16, 2024 : Chief Minister of Sikkim Prem Singh Tamang on Sunday called upon the Centre to manage the stretch of the National Highway 10 from Sevoke to Rangpo. His demand followed his visit to the border town of Melli on Saturday where he assessed the significant damage caused by flash floods and the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood of October 3 last.
Talking to newspersons, the Chief Minister highlighted the critical condition of the 50-kmstretch of NH 10 running along the banks of the Teesta River in West Bengal. “The road from Sevoke near Siliguri to the Rangpo border in Sikkim, although part of NH 10,is maintained by the West Bengal Government. While the funding is provided by the Union government, Sikkim does not receive the necessary support under state management,” Golay said.
The Chief Minister pointed out that, in contrast, the road from Rangpo to Gangtok was managed as a National Highway by Central agencies. This allowed for better maintenance and support. He stressed that the current condition of the stretch of the road under the management of West Bengal was in adequate; particularly in view of its strategic importance.
“This road is vital for Sikkim and the Indian army, given Sikkim’s strategic border position.
Heavy vehicles struggle on these precarious roads, causing a rise in goods prices due to detours through Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts,” Golay explained
Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar accused West Bengal of experiencing a surge in extortion rackets reminiscent of 1990s Mumbai. He cited recent shootouts and dacoities, suggesting a deteriorating law and order situation, and highlighted violence against opposition party workers. Minister Firhad Hakim linked recent crimes to out-of-state miscreants.
PTI, 16 June, 2024, Kolkata : Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar on Sunday alleged that extortion rackets were thriving in West Bengal, drawing parallels to the notorious activities of Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Rajan gangs in Mumbai during the 1990s.
He claimed that instances of shootouts and dacoities in jewellery shops over the last couple of months prove that the “law and order situation in the state is not good.” Majumdar, also the state BJP president, alleged that these developments are reminiscent of past criminal activities in Mumbai, suggesting a worrying trend in West Bengal.
“I am reminded of the way Dawood Ibrahim, Chhota Shakil, Chhota Rajan gangs used to operate extortion rackets in Mumbai in the 1990’s. Similar rackets seem to have started in West Bengal,” Majumdar said.
He further alleged that opposition party workers have been subjected to attacks while such criminal activities continue unchecked.
Majumdar, who met with BJP workers claiming to be victims of post-poll violence perpetrated by supporters of the ruling party in West Bengal, highlighted an incident where motorbike-borne assailants shot at a businessman’s car on the busy B T Road here on Saturday.
In the early hours of Saturday, a shooting incident took place at Mirza Galib Street in central Kolkata. The incident stemmed from an altercation between two men, reportedly linked to a road rage incident the previous day.
West Bengal Minister Firhad Hakim attributed the recent dacoities in jewellery shops, including the latest one at Raniganj a few days ago, to miscreants from neighbouring states. In this connection, two persons were arrested from Jharkhand in a coordinated operation conducted jointly by the police forces of both states, officials said.
ANI, Gangtok June 15, 2024 : Following the incessant rains and landslides in Sikkim, which claimed nine lives and left 1,200-1,400 tourists stranded in the Mangan district, State Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang announced an ex-gratia of Rs five lakh each to the families of deceased and promulgated that the government would re-build the destroyed homes.
In the last three days, Sikkim has witnessed two natural calamities: a landslide in Namchi district in which three people lost their lives, and similarly, a landslide happened on the intervening nights of June 12 and 13 in Mangan district in which six people lost their lives. Around 1,200-1,400 tourists are also stranded in the Mangan district of the state.
“This is a sad incident, six people have died in the Mangan district, and in Majuwa, due to landslide three have lost their lives and several are injured. Several houses have also been damaged. A total of 67 families have been relocated. I have informed the central government about the extensive losses and have requested immediate funds to aid our response”, CM Tamang said while speaking to ANI.
“With road closures and the inability to move heavy vehicles, we are facing a surge in food prices and commodity shortages. We are taking these matters very seriously and have sought help from the centre…We are providing Rs 5 lakhs in compensation to the families of the deceased. We will also rebuild the homes of those whose properties have been destroyed or swept away”, he added.
The Chief Minister, earlier in the day, also took stock of the flood-affected areas of Yangang and Melli in Namchi where he was seen interacting with the affected families.
In a post on ‘X’, the Chief Minister wrote, “During my official visit to the landslide-stricken areas of Majhua, Yangang, in the Namchi District today, I had several key objectives: to assess the damage, oversee the disbursement of relief materials, and provide financial assistance to the affected residents. I visited several of the worst-hit areas and personally interacted with the affected residents. Listening to their concerns, I offered words of encouragement and assured them of the government’s commitment to their rehabilitation. We provided food supplies, water, sanitation, medical aid, and shelters where necessary.”
Affirming the Sikkim government’s commitment, the CM added, “To support the immediate and long-term needs of the affected families, I handed over cheques to the victims. The financial aid was categorized for immediate relief, covering emergency expenses and daily necessities. I emphasized the government’s commitment to providing long-term support to the affected areas and outlined a multi-phase plan that includes infrastructure rehabilitation.”
“My visit to Majhua, Yangang, was a significant step in addressing the immediate needs of the victims and laying the groundwork for long-term rehabilitation. The disbursement of relief materials and financial aid has provided much-needed support to the affected residents, and our commitment to ongoing assistance has instilled hope and confidence in the community. The government will continue to monitor the situation closely and ensure that all necessary resources are mobilized to aid in the recovery and rebuilding process”, stated CM Prem Singh Tamang.
Meanwhile, after tourists from West Bengal have been stuck in Sikkim due to heavy rainfall and landslides, the Bengal government has opened a help desk in Rangpo to assist tourists stranded in North Sikkim.
Due to recent heavy rain and landslides in Sikkim, many tourists from West Bengal have been stranded in Sikkim. In order to assist the stranded tourists, a Tourist Facilitation Help Desk has been opened at Rangpo, an order by the Office of the District Magistrate of Kalimpong said.
The order further provided the contact numbers of the concerned staff for the stranded tourists. People can contact:
Rabi Biswakarma – 8768095881
Puspajeet Barman – 9051499096
A day earlier, Sikkim Chief Secretary Vijay Bhushan Pathak said that they have sent a requisition for Air Force helicopters for the evacuation of tourists.
“We have sent the requisition for Air Force helicopters on behalf of the Sikkim government. As soon as the weather becomes suitable for flying, the evacuation of tourists will start,” he said.
“Gratuitous relief is being given to the families of deceased people. For those who are severely injured, their treatment is going on in hospitals,” the Chief Secretary added.
While the sub-Himalayan districts are facing disruption in a few areas owing to heavy rain, some districts in south Bengal are likely to experience heatwave and severe heatwave conditions for the next few days, the weather office said
PTI, Calcutta, 14.06.24 : The southwest monsoon is likely to advance into the whole of sub-Himalayan West Bengal and some parts of Gangetic West Bengal in the next four to five days, the Met Department said on Friday.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall at one or two places is very likely to continue over the state’s northern districts, which are reeling under relentless downpour for the past few days.
While the sub-Himalayan districts are facing disruption in a few areas owing to heavy rain, some districts in south Bengal are likely to experience heatwave and severe heatwave conditions for the next few days, the weather office said.
It also warned of landslides in the hilly areas of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts.
The water level is likely to rise in rivers flowing through the sub-Himalayan districts, including Teesta, Jaldhaka, Sankosh and Torsa, it said.
The Met Department recommended regulation of traffic and avoiding movement in landslide-prone areas in the hills.
In the past 24 hours till 8.30 am on Friday, Rongo in Kalimpong district recorded the highest rainfall in West Bengal at 150 mm, followed by Alipurduar (140 mm), Jhalong (140 mm), Dhupguri (120 mm), Sevoke (100 mm), Pundibari (100 mm) and Champasari (80 mm), it said.
The weatherman forecast heavy to very heavy rain in Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts in the next few days, with extremely heavy rainfall in Alipurduar district till Saturday.
Lachung, a town in the Mangan district of Sikkim, is currently facing a critical situation where 1,215 tourists are unable to leave due to heavy rain and road closures. C S Rao, Principal Secretary of Tourism and Civil Aviation, confirmed this today and stated that among the stranded tourists, 15 are foreigners with 10 from Bangladesh.
SNS | Siliguri | June 15, 2024 : Lachung, a town in the Mangan district of Sikkim, is currently facing a critical situation where 1,215 tourists are unable to leave due to heavy rain and road closures. C S Rao, Principal Secretary of Tourism and Civil Aviation, confirmed this today and stated that among the stranded tourists, 15 are foreigners with 10 from Bangladesh. However, Mr. Rao assured that all tourists are safe and secure. The local authorities have advised the stranded tourists to remain in their current locations for their own safety.
The Office of the Chief Secretary of Sikkim Government is in discussions with the relevant ministry to arrange for the airlifting of all tourists, as long as weather conditions permit. The Sikkim authorities have also devised a plan to transport them by land in the event that conditions improve. The Chief Minister of Sikkim, Prem Singh Tamang, led a high-level meeting at Mintokgang today to address the recent disaster that has significantly impacted the state. The main focus of this meeting was to strategize and coordinate our response efforts in order to restore normality and ensure the safety and well-being of the residents. During the meeting, officials presented detailed reports on the extent of the damages, with a particular emphasis on critical road disruptions and immediate challenges faced by affected individuals.
They evaluated the destruction of infrastructure, particularly key roads and bridges essential for transportation and relief operations. Meanwhile, engineers from the Irrigation and Waterways department in West Bengal are closely monitoring the situation following a weather forecast predicting heavy rainfall in Mangan and surrounding areas in Sikkim within the next 24 hours. The flow of water from the Teesta river has resulted in partial impacts on Kalimpong, Darjeeling, and Jalpaiguri. In response, the authorities of the Teesta Barrage Project have systematically opened almost all gates. Chief Engineer Debasish Moulik reported a discharge rate of 3,500 cubic metres per second yesterday. Kalimpong, Alipurduar, and Jalpaiguri districts are expected to receive heavy (7- 11 cm) to very heavy (12-20 cm) rainfall between 14 and 18 June, with Alipurduar potentially experiencing extremely heavy (20 cm) rainfall on 14 June.
In the past 24 hours, Hasimara, Banarhat, and Alipurduar have already seen significant rainfall, causing local rivers to reach danger levels. Hasimara received 151 mm while Alipurduar received 141 mm of rain during this period. A Flood Control Room has been established since 1 June of this year. Chief Engineer Krishnendu Bhowmick of North Bengal has reported that engineers are closely monitoring the situation based on reports from the Central Water Commission, specifically regarding rivers originating from Sikkim and neighbouring country Bhutan which flow through northern north Bengal.
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.
MP, 12 June 2024, Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee advocated zero-tolerance against illegal occupying of government land and directed the administration to take immediate measures for freeing such land.
Banerjee, while chairing her first administrative meeting after the Lok Sabha elections on Tuesday at Nabanna, sought a report from all government departments about respective lands belonging to them and ordered that if any such land is found to be illegally occupied, the police should take action and return it to the respective departments.
All ministers in her Cabinet, department heads and the district magistrates too were virtually present in the meeting.
The majority of the government departments have some quantity of land under them but in a good number of cases, due to lack of surveillance, such lands are being grabbed.
Sources said when a senior official of the Food Processing and Horticulture department (FPI&H) raised the issue of their land for the food processing hub at Bamanghata in Bhangar being illegally encroached upon, Banerjee ordered Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goel to take immediate measures for freeing the land.
The FPI & H department will set up a food processing unit– the first of its kind in the state at the government level at Bamanghata.
Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) will be executing the project which will have a four-storey building providing space for small food processing units and a market for processed food and vegetables.
It is learnt that the Chief Minister’s office (CMO) in the recent past has received complaints related to illegal occupation of land and in some cases, allegations have surfaced that the character of land has also been altered.
MP, 12 June 2024, Kolkata: Taking into account the allegations of post-poll violence and “apathy” of the state police administration in not tackling the situation, the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday directed that the Central Force deployment in the state should continue till June 21.
Two PILs were filed by the Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari and BJP leader Priyanka Tibrewal regarding safety, security, protection and the prevention of the violence.
In one of the PIL, prayer was made to extend Central Force deployment to ensure peace and safety while the other alleged inaction by state police administration in taking steps in several complaints filed through e-mail.
The Vacation Bench of Justice Kausik Chanda and Justice Apurba Sinha Ray had earlier directed both the state police and Central Forces deployed in the state by the Election Commission of India to take steps to safeguard the lives and property of victims based on complaints filed through e-mail addresses.
The Division Bench of Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya on Wednesday directed the state to file a comprehensive report on/or before June 14 disclosing the actions and steps taken upon the complaints made through e-mail.
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
PTI, JUNE 12, 2024 : The West Bengal Board of Secondary Education on Wednesday asked state-run and state-aided educational institutions to tailor school hours due to scorching heat prevailing in most parts of the state.
The West Bengal Board of Secondary Education, referring to a communique from the school education department on June 11, stated in its advisory that upper primary, secondary, and higher secondary schools can collaborate with “stakeholders” to adjust school hours without disrupting the academic calendar and mid-day meal programme.
The advisory emphasised the importance of considering “weather conditions” in their respective areas while making such decisions, WBBSE deputy secretary Rhitabrata Chatterjee said.
Cities and districts of south Bengal, including North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, Purnba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur, Purulia, Bankura, Jhargram, Purba Badhaman, Paschim Bardhaman, Birbhum, Murshidabad, and Nadia, have been experiencing hot and humid weather with temperatures ranging between 35 and 40 degree Celsius.
Although the advisory did not specifically mention any particular zone, a school education department official clarified that the communique aimed to address the difficulties faced by children attending classes in the extreme heat, often leading to illness.
The official further explained that many primary and upper primary schools had already adjusted their class schedules to morning hours.
“Many primary and upper primary schools have already rescheduled classes in the morning hours. We have enabled every institute, even at secondary and higher secondary level, to tweak class hours according to their convenience for the benefit of students and teaching/non-teaching staff till the weather condition improves,” the official added.
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.
PTI, Kolkata, Jun 11, 2024 : Senior TMC leader Saket Gokhale on Tuesday claimed that three BJP MPs from West Bengal are in touch with the party and the saffron party’s tally in Parliament would soon come down to 237.
The comments drew sharp reactions from the West Bengal BJP unit, which dubbed the claim as “baseless” and asserted that the state unit stands united.
The Trinamool Congress secured 29 out of 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal.
The BJP, in contrast, faced a significant setback, dropping to 12 seats from the 18 it won in 2019.
“As of today, the numbers in the Lok Sabha are BJP: 240 INDIA: 237. Three BJP MPs in West Bengal are in touch with us and there will be a nice surprise soon. After that, BJP: 237 INDIA: 240.
“Modi’s creaky coalition is a temporary structure which isn’t going to last very long,” Gokhale, a Rajya Sabha MP, posted on X.
In the just-concluded Lok Sabha polls, the BJP with 240 seats fell short of a majority but the NDA secured the mandate with 293 seats. The Congress bagged 99 seats while the INDIA bloc got 234 seats. Following the polls, two Independents who won have also pledged support to the Congress, taking the INDIA bloc tally to 236.
Reacting to Gokhale’s claim, BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said the TMC is “daydreaming”.
“Since 2014, the TMC has been daydreaming of becoming the pivotal force in the union government but its hopes were dashed not once but thrice. The BJP and NDA stand united. No BJP MP from Bengal is in touch with the TMC,” he said.
SNS, 11 June 2024 : The state government will include boys and girls belonging to the general category, minorities and OBC in its Yogyashree scheme that provides free coaching to students sitting for engineering and medical courses.
The scheme was so long applicable to the SC and ST categories.
In 2024, those who had received training in Yogyashree scheme, got 23 ranks, including 13 IIT seats in JEE Advanced, 75 ranks in JEE (Main),. Seventy five students had cracked JEE (Main) and 432 cracked WBJEE and 110 ranks in NEET.
The state government has increased the number of centres to 50 and 2000 aspirants will receive the coaching. The coaching will be given from students studying in Class XI onwards.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee in her X handle wrote: “We are proud that our Yogyashree scheme which we started to provide free-of-cost training to SC/ST students of the state for admission in engineering and medical courses has been yielding increasingly greater and greater benefits for our SC/ST boys and girls. Now, we shall include the boys and girls of minority, OBC and general categories also in this scheme.”
She said this would benefit the students coming from economically-challenged backgrounds immensely.
She emphasised this scheme would bring out engineers and doctors in large numbers from the weaker section of the society.
“Let our boys and girls from the weaker sections be engineers and doctors in larger numbers. We shall now include students of Minority, OBC, and General categories in this scheme. Kudos to them!,” she further posted.
The state’s budget also revealed an enhancement in financial assistance under the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme. General category households will now receive Rs 1,000, while SC/ST households are set to receive Rs 1,200.
Additionally, SC/ST women will been titled to Rs 1,200, and others will receive Rs 1,000 under the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme, effective from April 2024.
The West Bengal government on Tuesday said its ‘Yogyashree’ scheme for students will now include beneficiaries from the minority, OBC and general categories. The scheme was launched in January to provide free-of-cost training to SC and ST students of the state for engineering and medical courses.
“In consideration of the value of this critical training support to our disadvantaged boys and girls, we have increased the number of centres in the state now to 50, and number of our supported trainees to 2,000, and the training will be given from Class XI onwards for better preparation,” the Chief Minister said.
“Let our boys and girls from the weaker sections be engineers and doctors in larger numbers,” she added.
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