Category Archives: States

Politics, Regional, Sikkim

Sikkim chief minister Prem Singh Tamang, GTA head Anit Thapa aim for stronger ties

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Golay and Thapa were invited by the Rai community for their Sakela Ubauli festival in Darjeeling on Sunday
Sikkim chief minister PS Tamang (Golay) greets people with folded hands, accompanied by GTA chief Anit Thapa (right) at the Kirat Khambu Rai Sanskriti Sansthan’s Sakela festival in Darjeeling on Sunday: Picture by Passang Yolmo

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, 27.05.24 : Sikkim chief minister Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) and the chief executive of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) Anit Thapa shared a dais at a public forum for the first time on Sunday.

Both Nepali-speaking leaders expressed their commitment to work together on community issues, keeping aside their political differences.

While Golay is aligned with the BJP, Thapa, who also heads the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha, backs the Trinamool Congress.

Golay and Thapa were invited by the Rai community for their Sakela Ubauli festival in Darjeeling on Sunday.

The two leaders walked together in a rally from near Darjeeling railway station to Chowrasta and shared the stage where both stressed the need to work together to get tribal status for the left-out Gorkha communities.

Golay reminisced his college days in Darjeeling from 1985 to 1989, when the hills were burning during the Gorkhaland agitation. He told the crowd how he also had to flee during police raids during the middle of the night.

“Today (Sunday), I have been invited as a chief minister of Sikkim and this is a huge honour for Sikkim too…. Politics is in its own place and we would not want to interfere, but we in Sikkim and Darjeeling also share very close cultural, community ties. We must work together on raising certain community-centric issues,” said Golay.

The Sikkim chief minister specifically pointed out the tribal status issue. “We must work together on tribal issues. While there are 11 communities in Darjeeling, there are 12 communities in Sikkim (demanding Scheduled Tribe status). We must work together and take this issue forward,” said Golay.

In Darjeeling, the 11 communities demanding ST status are Bhujel, Gurung, Mangar, Newar, Jogi, Khas, Rai, Sunuwar, Thami, Yakka (Dewan) and Dhimal. The Maji community in Sikkim is its twelfth.

The Sikkim chief minister stated that issues like the inclusion of the Nepali language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution succeeded when leaders of Sikkim and Darjeeling joined hands. Sikkim MP Dil Kumari Bhandari played a pivotal role in getting Nepali recognised in 1992.

Thapa, who spoke before Golay, said that the entire Nepali-speaking community must be proud of Golay.

“He is the only chief minister from our community and we must be proud of this fact,” said Thapa.

The GTA chief executive also requested Golay to take forward the tribal issue. “Politics is in its place. We can work (together) on our own issues. I request Golay sahib to take the lead on this issue,” said Thapa.

The BJP in its 2019 Lok Sabha poll manifesto promised a tribal status to the 11 Gorkha communities but in vain. There was no mention of it in the party’s 2024 manifesto.

Golay said a help desk was being set up in Gangtok hospitals for patients from outside Sikkim.

“Sikkim’s health facilities have improved a lot. Many patients from this region are coming to Sikkim. Medical expenses are one-fourth in Sikkim compared to private nursing homes in Siliguri,” said Golay. “We are setting up help desks for patients coming from outside the state.”
Northeast, Regional, Sikkim, West Bengal

Severe cyclonic storm ‘Remal’ weakens into cyclonic storm, more rain likely in several Bengal districts

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Flights services from the Calcutta airport resumed on Tuesday after remaining suspended for 21 hours in view of the cyclone Remal, an official said on Monday
An NDRF personnel removes an uprooted tree from a road after the landfall of Cyclone ‘Remal’, in South 24 Parganas district.: File

PTI, Calcutta, 27.05.24 :  Severe cyclonic storm ‘Remal’ weakened into a cyclonic storm on Monday morning, sustaining wind speeds of 80-90 kilometres per hour, following landfall around midnight of Sunday, the Met Department said.

The weather system, which lay 150 km northeast of Sagar Island at 5.30 am, brought torrential rain in Calcutta and the coastal districts of West Bengal overnight, it said.
It is likely to move northeastwards and weaken further, the department said in a bulletin.

Calcutta recorded a rainfall of 146 mm in the period between 8.30 am on Sunday and 5.30 am of Monday, it said.

The metropolis logged a maximum wind speed of 74 kmph, while Dum Dum in the northern outskirts of the city recorded maximum wind speed of 91 kmph, the weather office said.

Other places in south Bengal which received heavy rainfall during the period are Haldia (110 mm), Tamluk (70 mm) and Nimpith (70 mm), it said.

NDRF personnel remove an uprooted tree from a road after the landfall of Cyclone ‘Remal’ at Sagar Island
The weatherman has forecast more rain in Calcutta and the southern districts including Nadia and Murshidabad, with one or two spells of intense downpour, along with gusty surface winds till Tuesday morning.

Scenes of widespread devastation were evident across West Bengal’s coastal areas, with extensive damage to infrastructure and property, a day after Cyclone Remal tore through the coasts of Bangladesh and West Bengal with winds reaching speeds of 135 km per hour.

The cyclone ravaged adjacent coasts of the state and Bangladesh between Sagar Island and Khepupara, near the southwest of Mongla in the neighbouring country, after its landfall process began at 8.30 pm on Sunday, officials said.

Efforts to restore normality are underway, with emergency services working to clear debris and restore power in the affected areas.

The cyclone has led to significant disruptions in air, rail and road transportation in Calcutta and other parts of southern Bengal, they said.

Several suburban trains were cancelled in the Sealdah South section of Eastern Railway (ER), owing to the cyclone.

Train services in the section resumed at 9 am, an ER official said.

Flight services resume

Flights services from the Calcutta airport resumed on Tuesday after remaining suspended for 21 hours in view of the cyclone Remal, an official said on Monday.

The first plane to depart on Monday was IndiGo’s Calcutta-Port Blair flight at 8.59 am, while the first one to land in Calcutta was SpiceJet’s flight from Guwahati. It landed at 09.50 am, an Airports Authority of India (AAI) top official said.

Check-in was on for some other flights, the official said.

The last flight to depart from Calcutta airport on Sunday was at 12.16 pm.

Though the process of resuming flight operations has begun, it will take some more time for the situation to become normal, sources at the airport said.
National, Northeast, Regional, West Bengal

Cyclone Remal leaves devastation in its wake as it makes landfall in coastal West Bengal

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‘Remal’ flattened fragile dwellings, uprooted trees and knocked down electric poles. One person was injured after being hit by debris in the Gosaba area of the Sundarbans

PTI, Calcutta, 27.05.24 : With winds gusting up to 135 kilometres per hour, severe cyclonic storm ‘Remal’ made landfall between the coasts of Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal, bringing heavy rains that flooded homes and farmland, and leaving a trail of destruction.

The landfall process began at 8:30 pm on Sunday over the adjacent coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh between Sagar Island and Khepupara, near the southwest of Mongla in the neighbouring country.
‘Remal’ flattened fragile dwellings, uprooted trees and knocked down electric poles. One person was injured after being hit by debris in the Gosaba area of the Sundarbans.

More than one lakh people were evacuated from vulnerable areas in West Bengal before the cyclone struck.

“Severe cyclonic storm Remal made landfall between Sagar Island in West Bengal and Khepupara in Bangladesh on Sunday night with wind speeds reaching up to 135 kmph,” the meteorological office said.
News footage showed gigantic tidal waves crashing into a seawall in coastal resort town of Digha.

The vast coastline was blurred by thick sheets of rain as the cyclone made landfall, with surging waters sweeping fishing boats inland and inundating mud-and-thatch houses and farmlands in low-lying areas.

In Kolkata’s Bibir Bagan area, one person was injured when a wall collapsed due to a heavy downpour.

Reports from North and South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore districts stated roofs of thatched houses were blown away, electric poles twisted and trees uprooted in several areas.

Streets and homes in low-lying areas adjoining Kolkata were inundated.

1.10 lakh people moved to cyclone shelters

The West Bengal government shifted around 1.10 lakh people from coastal and vulnerable areas to cyclone shelters, schools and colleges by Sunday late afternoon.

Evacuation efforts focused on relocating people from South 24 Parganas district, especially Sagar Island, Sundarbans and Kakdwip, according to an official.

PM chairs review meeting

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting to review the response and preparedness for the storm, while West Bengal Governor Dr CV Ananda Bose monitored the situation closely.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged people to stay at home and assuring them of her government’s support.

KMC swings into action

Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) authorities evacuated people from high-rises and dilapidated buildings, according to Mayor Firhad Hakim.

Hakim mentioned that 15,000 civic employees were mobilised to address post-cyclone scenarios, with equipment ready for quick removal of large uprooted trees.

The cyclone caused light rains and winds in areas like Digha, Kakdwip and Jaynagar, which is expected to intensify on Monday.

Note from IMD

The India Meteorological Department’s eastern regional head Somnath Dutta indicated that southern Bengal districts would experience increasing winds and rainfall.

Fourteen National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams were deployed across districts in south Bengal, including Kolkata. The state government has readied SDRF teams and worked with the KMC. Relief materials and quick response teams were in place.

Flights, trains disrupted

Cyclone Remal has caused significant disruptions in air, rail and road transportation in Kolkata and other parts of southern Bengal.

The Eastern and South Eastern Railways cancelled some trains, and the Kolkata airport suspended flight operations for 21 hours, affecting 394 flights.

The Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata has also suspended operations.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ensured no loss of life or property at sea, with remote operating stations alerting vessels and ships. Nine disaster relief teams were on standby.

Indian Navy keeps an eye out

The Indian Navy has readied two ships equipped with Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and medical supplies, with aviation assets on standby for rapid response. Specialised diving teams and flood relief teams have also been prepared for deployment.

Red alert in Assam

A ‘red alert’ was issued for extremely heavy rainfall in seven districts of Assam, and an ‘orange alert’ in 11 districts, according to an official release.

The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) has alerted residents and authorities, emphasising safety measures as the cyclone, after hitting West Bengal and Bangladesh on May 26, is predicted to move towards the Northeast.

Bangladesh evacuates over 8 lakh people

On Sunday night, Bangladesh authorities evacuated over 800,000 people from vulnerable areas of the country’s low-lying southwestern coastlines to shelters.

“The cyclone has made landfall and started crossing the West Bengal coast in India through the south-west side of Mongla and Khepupara coast of Bangladesh around 8:30 pm (local time),” a met office spokesman told reporters.

Calcutta airport deserted

The terminal building of Calcutta airport wore a deserted look following the suspension of flight operations shortly after noon on Sunday due to the looming threat of ‘Remal’.

Such a sight was unprecedented, as the airport, typically teeming with activity like any other international hub, now stood deserted, save for security personnel, Airports Authority of India staff, and a handful of airline employees.

Saturday saw the airport authorities making the decision to halt flight operations for 21 hours starting from Sunday noon.
Economy, Sikkim

No footfall dip, visitors choosing rural homestays over Gangtok hotels: Sikkim government

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Tourism stakeholders, in recent months, have been stating that the poor condition of arterial highway NH10 and its frequent closures, as well as the closure of important tourist spots like Gurudongmar in north Sikkim and steep cab fares are deterrents to tourism in Sikkim at the moment
The Temi Tea Garden in Namchi district of Sikkim, a tourist destination famed for its pine trees and view of the mountains: Sourced by The Telegraph

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, 27.05.24 :  The Sikkim tourism department has argued that homestays and other smaller accommodations in rural areas are attracting tourists over Gangtok hotels to counter those claiming a steep decline in visitors to the Himalayan state.

Data available from hotels based in Gangtok suggested that tourist footfall declined this year compared to earlier years.
Negating the inference of Gangtok hoteliers, a senior Sikkim tourism official said: “During the first quarter (of 2024), 2.94 lakh tourists visited Sikkim. One should not think like the earlier days when tourists would come to Gangtok hotels first and from there go to other places in the state like Geysing and Namchi.”

“Because of good transport facilities, they (tourists) are nowadays going directly to Yumthang valley and other places through various other entry points (to Sikkim) like Melli, Rangpo, Ramman and Reshi, and not necessarily touching Gangtok,” the official added.

The official said he had recently spoken to elected rural representatives in Zuluk and adjoining areas about tourism. “They said homestays were attracting big crowds and doing evergreen business,” the official added.

According to the Sikkim official, these homestays only charged around ₹1,000 per head for food and accommodation. Homestays are making small profits but earning all year round. Honestly, homestay owners are happy…. It is their business strategy,” the official added.

Tourism stakeholders, however, refused to fully endorse the government’s argument that tourism had not dwindled and had shifted focus from hotels to homestays.

“While a lot of homestays have come up in Sikkim and the Darjeeling hills, we do not think Gangtok hotels are not doing well because of homestays. The flow of tourists in Darjeeling town is much higher at the moment than Gangtok. Although Darjeeling has as many homestays, its hotels are also doing well, which is not the case with Sikkim,” said a hotelier with properties both in Sikkim and Darjeeling.

There are some 1,700 registered homestays in Darjeeling hills and almost an equal number in Sikkim. Many homestays are not registered in both places.

Tourism stakeholders, in recent months, have been stating that the poor condition of arterial highway NH10 and its frequent closures, as well as the closure of important tourist spots like Gurudongmar in north Sikkim and steep cab fares are deterrents to tourism in Sikkim at the moment.

As recently as on May 13, the Union ministry of tourism had written to the Sikkim tourism and civil aviation department, expressing concerns that tourists visiting the state had complaints of “exploitative” cab and permit rates and lack of amenities for visitors, among other things.

The Sikkim government had then formed a high-level panel to look into the complaints.

On Friday, Sikkim tourism department issued an order stating that luxury cabs taking tourists to Nathula, Tsomgo and Baba Mandir from Gangtok cannot charge more than ₹7,000 and normal vehicles not more than ₹6,500, both inclusive of permit fees.
Crime, International, West Bengal

Bangladesh Police team arrives in Kolkata for MP murder probe

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MP, 26 May 2024, Kolkata: A team of Bangladesh Police led by the Additional Commissioner of Police (Addl. CP), Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Md. Harun Ar Rashid along with two other senior officers arrived in Kolkata on Sunday morning to investigate the gruesome murder case of a Bangladesh Member of Parliament (MP) Anwarul Azim. 

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Police has also got in touch with the INTERPOL to bring back the mastermind of the murder Akhtarujjaman alias Sahin and arrest him. 
On Sunday around 11 am, the Bangladesh Police team landed at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport. 
Before leaving the airport, Rashid met the media in Kolkata and said: “For the investigation we need to visit the Place of Occurrence (PO) as well. 
So far we have exchanged information with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). We are going to check the CCTV footage. Akhtarujjaman who is the mastermind is suspected to have fled to the USA. 
The plan was hatched in Bangladesh and the crime was committed here in West Bengal. We will seek assistance and cooperation from the CID and local police.” 
Sources informed that cops from Bengal went to Bangladesh and interrogated the persons who were arrested there for alleged murder of Azim. 
The Bangladesh Police may interrogate the accused Jihad Hawaladar who was arrested for the murder of Azim to corroborate his statement with the statements of the accused arrested in Bangladesh. 
On Sunday evening, the Bangladesh Police team met the CID officials and talked about the case. 
CID has reportedly come to know that another person was given the responsibility of dumping a few body parts of Azim. Cops are trying to find out the accused and the spot where the body parts were dumped. 
Meanwhile, on Sunday a search operation was conducted throughout the day at the Bagjola canal in Krishnamati area of Polerhat to find the body parts of the Bangladesh MP. But till evening nothing was found. 
Later the search operation was stopped owing to low light and bad weather conditions.

https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/cyclone-remal-civic-bodies-take-prep-measures-to-tackle-impact-565396?infinitescroll=1

Regional, West Bengal

HS Council to hold workshop with subject teachers from June

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MP, 26 May 2024, Kolkata: The West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) will start workshop involving subject teachers from June with the new semester system being introduced from Class XI from this year. 

However, the workshop for subject teachers will be in virtual mode. According to sources in the Council, these workshops will start from the second week of June after the MCC (Model Code of Conduct) in connection with the Lok Sabha elections get lifted. 
The Council will be hosting such workshops on the ‘Zoom’ platform. 
As many as 1,000 teachers from various parts of the state can join the platform at a time. There will be no time limit for one session which will speed up the process of equipping the teachers to teach under the semester system. 
This online workshop will go side by side with a similar programme with heads of institutions on the nitty gritty of the semester system, mostly in offline mode. “
There has been a significant change in academics and examination pattern at the Higher Secondary level with the introduction of the semester system. 
These workshops are meant for educating the headmasters and the subject teachers about this system so that the students do not face any difficulty in coping up with the new system. The workshops will be held both in online and offline mode,” said Chiranjib Bhattacharjee, president of WBCHSE. 
The workshop will inform the teachers of the evaluation system, the change in question pattern, among others. 
The MCQ pattern questions and how to set the same will also be discussed in detail. It will be a two-way communication as the teachers’ opinion will also be elicited during the workshop. The Council has already held workshops with heads of institutions in the first phase that involved all the districts of North Bengal and Kolkata. 
As many as 650 headmasters and headmistresses joined it. There are 25 educational districts under the Council among which 10 districts have already hosted headmasters’ and headmistress’ workshop. Similar initiative with the rest of the district schools will be completed in the month of June. 
Crime, West Bengal

Ramakrishna Mission ashram vandalism case: 2 more held

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MP, 26 May 2024, Siliguri: Bhaktinagar Police and Special Operation Group (SOG) of Siliguri Metropolitan arrested two more accused in connection with the vandalism of ‘Sewak Bhawan’, the ashram belonging to Ramakrishna Mission in Siliguri, which happened on May 19. 

Out of the two, one was arrested from Kolkata by SOG. The accused has been identified as Manoj Ghosh, a resident of Siliguri. 
According to police sources, Manoj was one of the masterminds in the vandalism case. He is involved in several land corruption cases. 
He fled from Siliguri a few days ago and was hiding in Kolkata. Based on secret information, a team of SOG raided several areas of Kolkata city and finally arrested him on Friday. 
On the same night, Bhaktinagar Police arrested another accused named Shivam Paswan, a resident of Prakash Nagar in Siliguri. 
On Friday, another Siliguri resident lodged a complaint against Shivam for demanding Rs 10 lakh and threatening him to take possession of his land. 
Manoj was taken into four days’ police remand and Shivam was sent into 14 days’ jail custody after they were produced at Jalpaiguri Court. 
Pradeep Roy, prime accused in the case, is still absconding and a search is ongoing.
Earlier five individuals have been arrested in connection with the recent vandalisation incident at the Ramakrishna Mission in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district. 
The arrests were made following a complaint from the Ramakrishna Mission, and the suspects have been identified as Shambhu Das, Debashish Sarkar, Shambhu Mahato, Samuel Baidya, and Rajiv. 
The incident involved alleged hooligans led by Pradeep Roy, who attacked the Ramakrishna Mission ashram, threatened and snatched articles, and damaged CCTV cameras.

https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/ramakrishna-mission-ashram-vandalism-case-2-more-held-565361

Politics, Regional, West Bengal

Even after over 3 months, 4 families yet to get Rs 1L ex-gratia each vowed by Governor

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Radhamadhab Saha, MP, 26 May 2024, Raiganj: With more than three-and-a-half-months having passed since four children died after being buried alive in an under-construction high drain at Chetnagauchh in Chopra, North Dinajpur, the affected families are yet to receive Rs 1 lakh ex-gratia each assured by C V Anand Bose, Bengal Governor, during his visit. 

The affected families have expressed their grievances and appealed to the Governor to live up to his commitment. Close to Dangi border outpost in Chopra, manned by the BSF, a high drain was being dug up with a JCB, without any precautionary measures. 
Four children between 6 and 11 years of age died from a mudslide from the construction of this high drain on February 12. Also Read – Cyclone ‘Remal’: Civic bodies take prep measures to tackle impact 
On February 19, Chandrima Bhattacharjee, minister of state in-charge of the Finance and Health department as well as the state TMC leaders met the bereaved families and declared Rs 2 lakh compensation from the end of the state government to each victim’s family.
She also announced Rs 3 lakh to each family from the end of the TMC committee. The families received both the amounts. Samirul Islam whose child died in this incident, said: “We have received the ex-gratia from the state government and TMC committee. 
The Governor had assured us an assistance of Rs 1 lakh to each family. However, even after over three months, we have not received the fund yet.” 
Kanaiyalal Agarwal, president of North Dinajpur TMC committee, said: “The four families are from the economically backward bracket. We urge the Governor to pay them as per his commitment.”

https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/even-after-over-3-months-4-families-yet-to-get-rs-1l-ex-gratia-each-vowed-by-guv-565358
Politics, Regional, Sikkim, West Bengal

Sikkim Chief Minister and GTA chief pledge to work together

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Amitava Banerjee, MP, 26 May 2024, Darjeeling: Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang and Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) chief Anit Thapa unanimously stated that they would work together for issues benefiting the Gorkha community. 

The issue pertaining to the inclusion of the 11 Gorkha sub-communities in the Scheduled Tribe list would be pushed by both. Sharing the stage for the first time, Tamang and Thapa attended the Ubhauli Sakela festival of the Kirat Rai community, in Darjeeling, on Sunday. 
Both took part in a colourful procession from Darjeeling Railway Station to Darjeeling Mall. “In the capacity of the Chief Minister of a state, the Gorkha community looks up to you as their guardian. 
We request you to take up issues concerning the Gorkhas, especially the inclusion of the 11 Gorkha sub-communities in the Scheduled Tribe list. You have to lead us. Whenever there is an issue pertaining to the welfare of the Gorkhas, Chief Minister P S Tamang will always find me by his side. 
Keeping aside politics we will all have to work together for our community,” stated Anit Thapa. 
Speaking in unison, the Sikkim Chief Minister stated: “Places have their own politics, Sikkim has its politics, Darjeeling has its own politics and so does Bengal. We do not interfere in each other’s politics. 
However, for the issues concerning all of us, we have to work together. 
In the case of inclusion of Nepali language in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution or inclusion of Limboo and Tamang communities in the Schedule Tribe list, both the states had worked together. Similarly regarding the inclusion of the left out Gorkha sub-communities in the ST list we have to work together. 
Already Sikkim and Bengal have sent recommendations to Delhi,” stated Tamang. Tamang stressed on Sikkim and Darjeeling being neighbours. “Neighbours always help each other. In times of crisis, neighbours are the first to extend a helping hand. Likewise, staying away from politics we should always help each other,” stated Tamang. 
The Sikkim Chief Minister stated that Sikkim was fast emerging as a medical and education hub. “Many from the Darjeeling and Kalimpong Hills come to the government hospital in Gangtok for specialised treatment. It is much cheaper than private facilities in Siliguri. Soon we will start a help desk at the hospital for the benefit of outstation patients,” stated Tamang. 
The two-day festival was organised by the Kirati Khambu Rai Sanskritik Sanghsthan, Darjeeling on May 25 and 26 at the Darjeeling Mall, attended by people from Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Sikkim and Dooars. 
The Rai’s are an ethno-linguistic group of the Kirat family residing in Bengal and Sikkim in India along with eastern Nepal and south western Bhutan. Sakela Ubhauli is a harvest festival and is celebrated in the month of Baisakh welcoming spring and starts on the full moon day. Courtesy & source- Millennium Post
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/sikkim-chief-minister-and-gta-chief-pledge-to-work-together-565357
Regional, West Bengal

Cyclone Remal makes landfall, authorities engaged in clearing uprooted trees in Kolkata amid rainfall

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 As heavy rain and gusty winds continue in Kolkata following the landfall of severe cyclonic storm ‘Remal’, the Kolkata Municipality team and Kolkata Police Disaster Management team are engaged in clearing uprooted trees in the Alipore area of the city.
Cyclone Remal makes landfall, authorities engaged in clearing uprooted trees in Kolkata amid rainfall: Visuals from the spot (Photo:ANI )

ANI | New Delhi | May 27, 2024 : As heavy rain and gusty winds continue in Kolkata following the landfall of severe cyclonic storm ‘Remal’, the Kolkata Municipality team and Kolkata Police Disaster Management team are engaged in clearing uprooted trees in the Alipore area of the city.


Late-night visuals showed workers trying to clear roads as rains continues to lash.
Priyabrata Roy, DC South Kolkata, said, “We are getting the information that in some places, trees have been uprooted, in those areas, Kolkata Municipality team, Kolkata Police Disaster Management team, have reached and work is underway. The uprooted trees will be cut and cleared soon so that the roads can be opened. By morning, situation will be okay…Police’s special unified control room is monitoring the situation throughout the night, in the wake of the cyclone. Municipality Control Room is also opened…”

The landfall process began at 8:30 pm on Sunday over the adjacent coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh between Sagar Island and Khepupara, near the southwest of Mongla in the neighbouring country.

‘Remal’ flattened fragile dwellings, uprooted trees and knocked down electric poles. The wind intensity of 110 to 120 kmph, gusting to 135 kmph. Visuals from outside the Raj Bhavan showed heavy rains and gusty winds lashing the capital city.
Talking about the landfall of the cyclonic storm Somnath Dutta, Eastern Region Head, IMD Kolkata said, “The landfall process started at 8:30 pm…over the Bangladesh and West Bengal coast. As per the observation at 10:30 pm, it shows that the landfall process is continuing…by 12:30 am the landfall process will be complete”.

Ahead of the impending landfall, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting to review the preparedness for cyclone “Remal” over the North Bay of Bengal at his residence.
Prime Minister was briefed that the National Crisis Management Committee is in regular touch with the Government of West Bengal. All fishermen have been advised not to venture into the South Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea.
National, Regional, West Bengal

Cyclone Remal: Rain lashes parts of city ahead of landfall

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 As the clock for the cyclone ‘Remal’ landfall ticked closer, the city got drenched with a rainfall of 13.5mm till 4.30pm.
Impact of Cyclone ‘Remal’ in Kolkata (Photo:ANI)
SNS | Kolkata | May 27, 2024 : As the clock for the cyclone ‘Remal’ landfall ticked closer, the city got drenched with a rainfall of 13.5mm till 4.30pm. At 2.30pm, the system was situated 160 km southeast of Sagar Islands, 190 km southsoutheast of Canning, 160 km of Khepupara (Bangladesh) and 220 km south of Mongla in Bangladesh with wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph prevailing around the cyclone centre. The storm, as per the forecast received till 6pm, was expected to move nearly northwards, intensify further and cross Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal coasts between Sagar Island and Khepupara, close to southwest of Mongla around 11pm as a severe cyclonic storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 110-120 kmph gusting to 135 kmph. With the cyclone heading towards land, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation braced for the upcoming cyclone. For monitoring the situation, the civic body opened a control room and cancelled the holiday for its staff.

The Drainage department decided to deploy manpower at all its block gates. It also kept two pick up vans on standby for rushing to the hospital in case of injuries or any mishaps. Manpower was also deployed at every borough to address issues of power cuts in any wards. According to the member-mayor-in-council for Drainage Tarak Singh, electrical contractors responsible for responding to issues of power supply were also alerted.

Like the KMC, the Eastern Railway and the Kolkata metro Railway also geared up for the cyclone. The city metro ran truncated services between Mahanayak Uttam Kumar and Dakshineswar in Blue Line were operated considering the inclement weather. Likewise, the Eastern Railway opened helpline numbers at Howrah and Sealdah for emergency assistance. The helpline numbers at Sealdah are- 033- 23508794 (DOT) and 033- 23833326 while that of Howrah is 033-2641366
Regional, West Bengal

Kalimpong gears up for rains: Administrative body set with residents safety measures

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 Sources in the administration said quick response teams (QRTs) had been formed in every block and rural areas to tackle the rain fury
The overflowing Teesta following the flash flood in Sikkim on October 4: -PTI picture

Bireswar Banerjee, TT, Siliguri, 26.05.24 :  The Kalimpong district administration has taken a series of measures for the safety of residents, especially those living along the banks of the Teesta and other rivers during the monsoon, keeping in mind the devastation caused by the flash flood in the Teesta in October last year.

Sources in the administration said quick response teams (QRTs) had been formed in every block and rural areas to tackle the rain fury. Also, discussions were held with residents of the vulnerable spots to boost their confidence and meetings were convened with representatives of several state government departments and the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA).

“We have decided to keep the QRTs ready in all blocks and rural areas in the district. These teams will be deployed throughout the monsoon season to respond to any emergency quickly,” said an official.

He said Tarkhola, Rangpo, Teesta Bazar and Melli had been affected by the deluge in October last year. “In these areas, we have already met the residents. Our teams will keep a close watch on these locations to ensure that people are shifted with their belongings in case there is a surge in water levels because of rainfall in the upper reaches of the hills,” the official said.

The administration has held meetings with representatives of different departments, including irrigation, forest, public works, and fire and emergency services and district disaster management.

The district has four blocks and 22 panchayats. Each QRT, sources said, will comprise eight members, including civic volunteers, ex-army personnel and representatives of the administration.

The flash flood, which had occurred on October 4 because of the outburst of the South Lhonak Lake in Sikkim, had damaged 550 houses in Kalimpong district. Three persons died and 11 went missing.

Courtesy & source: The Telegraph
https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/kalimpong-gears-up-for-rains-administrative-body-set-with-residents-safety-measures/cid/2022535
Sikkim

Royal Bengal tiger sighted in Sikkim’s Yali forest for first time, movements captured

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 Photos of the tiger were found in trap cameras installed at Yali, a reserve forest located around 25km away from Gangtok, jointly by the state forest and environment and the Global Tiger Forum (GTF) under its tiger habitat conservation project, the GTF announced

Bireswar Banerjee, TT, Siliguri, 26.05.24 : A picture of the royal Bengal tiger clicked at Yali reserve forest in Sikkim:  Picture courtesy: Global Tiger Forum

Photos of a royal Bengal tiger were recently clicked in the high-altitude Yali forest in the mountain state of Sikkim, making this the first time that a tiger was sighted in this forest.

Yali has no previous tiger sightings on record.

Photos of the tiger were found in trap cameras installed at Yali, a reserve forest located around 25km away from Gangtok, jointly by the state forest and environment and the Global Tiger Forum (GTF) under its tiger habitat conservation project, the GTF announced.

“Big news! Camera traps deployed by the Forest & Environment Dept, Govt of Sikkim, and Global Tiger Forum (GTF), under the ongoing project supported by IUCN-KfW, captured tigers in Pangolakha WLS, and for the first time, in Yali Reserve Forest! (sic)” stated the GTF on X.

In December 2023, a tiger was sighted at Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary, also in Sikkim.

In Sikkim, the GTF has been implementing a project called “Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme” in the Himalayan state of Sikkim. During the last two centuries, the tiger population in the region has been declining for several reasons, which include anthropogenic pressure, forest fragmentation, firewood collection, poaching and illegal trade.

“Sikkim is no exception to these anthropogenic pressures. The state is a critical corridor for the majestic big cat in the Eastern Himalayas. With increasing anthropogenic stressors, tiger conservation in Sikkim has become more pertinent for preserving the genetic diversity and long-term survival of tiger and its prey,” the GTF stated.

The GTF has been running its project, supported by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and funded by German Cooperation via KfW Development Bank for the conservation of tigers in Sikkim.

The project has been taken up at the Khangchendzonga National Park, Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary, Pangolakha, Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary and at the reserve forests of Lachen, Lachung, Chungthang, Phodong, Kabi, Tingda, Lagyap, Yali and Phadamchen forests.

According to the GTF, the project’s aim is to set up and standardise protocols for tiger monitoring and research in the state, reduce human-wildlife and human-tiger interface, increase the overall household income of local communities, strengthen institutional capacity and maintain an effective monitoring and patrolling regime, while also maintaining the sanctity of the environment.

Through the project, the GTF also intends to focus on the assessment and monitoring of species and their habitats, including the corridor within Sikkim, the Sikkim-Bengal state border and the Sikkim-Bhutan international border.

Tiger-specific training will also be imparted to at least 100 forest officials and frontline staff, sources said.

Courtesy & source: The Telegraph
https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/royal-bengal-tiger-sighted-in-sikkims-yali-forest-for-first-time-movements-captured/cid/2022539
Business, Sikkim

Taxi fare between Gangtok to Nathula fixed by Sikkim government to prevent overcharging by tour operators

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 The Tourism and Civil Aviation Department also made public its contact number and police check post if an issue arises out of charging of excess fare

PTI, Gangtok, 26.05.24 :The Sikkim government has fixed the taxi fare between Nathula and Gangtok to prevent overcharging by the tour operators.

According to an order issued by the Principal Secretary (Tourism & Civil Aviation Department) C S Rao, the fare for luxury and normal vehicles have been fixed at Rs 7,000 and Rs 6,500 respectively, including the permit charge, for round trip between Nathula and state capital Gangtok with immediate effect.

The Tourism and Civil Aviation Department also made public its contact number and police check post if an issue arises out of charging of excess fare.

The aggrieved visitors may contact the Tourism & Civil Aviation Department on 9434182178, Police Check Post on 7908081127 and Transport Department on 9434126851 for any issues related to charging of excess fares, it said.

Anyone found violating the above-mentioned rates shall be dealt with strictly in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Central Motor Vehicle Act 1988 & CMV Rules 1989 and Sikkim Motor Vehicles Rules 1991 by the Transport department, the order said.

The Tourism and Civil Aviation Department has also capped the limit of permits for Nathula to be issued by it at 800 vehicles up to June 30.

This Office Order was issued following the high-level meeting held under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary V B Pathak, attended by DGP A K Singh, besides the Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Tourism and Civil Aviation Department and Transport Department officials.

The central government had recently pulled up the state government for exorbitant taxi fare and travel permit being charged by tour operators from tourists visiting Sikkim.
National, Northeast, Regional, Sikkim, West Bengal

Cyclone Remal formed over Bay of Bengal, likely to make landfall on Sunday midnight

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PTI, 25 May 2024, Kolkata: A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a cyclonic storm, named Remal, on Saturday evening and is likely to turn severe before making landfall between the coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh on Sunday midnight, the IMDsaid.


Named by Oman, Remal, meaning sand in Arabic, is the first cyclone over the Bay of Bengal in this pre-monsoon season.

The weather system, moving at a speed of 12 kmph over the east-central Bay of Bengal, was 350 km south-southeast of Sagar Island in West Bengal at 5.30 pm on Saturday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

Moving in a northward direction, it is likely to concentrate further into a severe cyclonic storm by Sunday morning and cross West Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh coasts between Sagar Island and Khepupara with a wind speed of 110 to 120 kmph, gusting to 135 kmph, by midnight of Sunday.

The IMD warned of extremely heavy rainfall in the coastal districts of West Bengal and heavy to very heavy rainfall in north Odisha on Sunday and Monday owing to the weather system.

Extremely heavy precipitation is also likely in Assam and Meghalaya, and heavy to very heavy rains in the other northeastern states of Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura on Monday and Tuesday.

Storm surge of up to 1.5 metre is expected to inundate low-lying areas of coastal West Bengal and Bangladesh at the time of landfall.

The IMD warned fishermen not to venture into the sea in the north Bay of Bengal till Monday morning.

A red alert was issued for West Bengal’s coastal districts of South and North 24 Parganas and Purba Medinipur, and also for adjoining Kolkata, Howrah and Hooghly, where extremely heavy rain is likely on Sunday and Monday.

The South and North 24 Parganas are likely to witness the most impact of the cyclone with wind speeds reaching 110 to 120 kmph, gusting to 130 kmph, while the other districts are likely to experience wind speeds of 70 to 80 kmph, gusting to 90 kmph.

The IMD warned of localised flooding and major damage to vulnerable structures, power and communication lines, kutcha roads and crops in South and North 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal.

An orange alert will thereafter be in force in these districts till Tuesday morning, except in Purba Medinipur, it said.

The rest of the districts in southern West Bengal will experience wind speeds of 40 to 50 kmph, gusting to 60 kmph, it added.

In north Odisha, the coastal districts of Balasore, Bhadrak and Kendrapara will receive heavy rain on Sunday and Monday.

People in the affected areas have been asked to remain indoors and vacate vulnerable structures.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) said it has taken all pre-emptive measures to ensure there is no loss of life or property at sea.

ICG’s remote operating stations at Haldia and Paradip are alerting fishing vessels and merchant ships through VHF (very high frequency) broadcasts, a statement said.

“Bangladesh Coast Guard authorities have been informed for instituting needful preparation for a collective response to the developing situation,” it said.

The ICG said its ships and aircraft are kept at immediate notice to undertake search and rescue missions.

Nine disaster relief teams are kept on standby at Haldia and Fraserganj in West Bengal, and Paradip and Gopalpur in Odisha, it said.

The Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata said that it will suspend all cargo and container handling operations for 12 hours from 6 pm on Sunday till 6 am on Monday in view of the cyclone.
Education, National, Regional, West Bengal

शोधकार्य: डा कमल भुजेलले गरे नेगेटिव एब्जर्ब्सनको नयाँ खोज

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कालिमन्युज, कालेबुंग, २६ मई २०२४ : विभिन्न क्षेत्रमा हिमाली पहाडी भेक र अन्य स्थानका गोर्खा र अन्य युवाहरुले धेरै प्रगति गरिरहेका छन् । यसै बीच दिलाराम चिया कमान निवासी डा कमल भुजेलले आफ्नो शोध गर्ने क्रममा नेगेटिव एब्जर्ब्सन नामक एक नयाँ प्रक्रियाको खोज गरेका छन्। डा कमल भुजेलले गत वर्ष २०२३ मा मिजौराम विश्वविद्यालयको भौतिक विज्ञान बिभागबाट विद्यावारिधि प्राप्त गरेका हुन्। तिनको शोधको विषय थीन-फील्म पेरोव्स्काइट सोलर सेल रहेको थियो। 


तिनले यस शोधकार्यका अधिकांश भाग भारतीय प्राद्योगिक संस्थान-धनबाद (IIT-Dhanbad) को सोलर एनर्जी रिसर्च ल्याबमा प्राध्यपक राजालिंगम थंगवेलको अधीनमा गरेका हुन्। तिनले यसै सोलर सेल बनाउने क्रममा निक्कल अक्साइडको पत्ला परत (Thinfilm of nanometer thickness) एफटीओ (Flourine Doped Tin Oxide) माथि तयार पारेर त्यसबाट प्रकासका तरंग (Light wave from 200-3000nm) २००-३००० न्यानोमीटर फ्याकेर कति पार (Transmit) हुन्छ अनि कति सोस्छ (Absorb) भनेर जाँच गर्ने क्रममा इन्फ्रारेड (Infrared region) क्षेत्रमा अचम्मको प्रक्रिया देखा परेको जानकारी दिएका छन्। जसमा फ्याकिएको प्राकाशको मात्रा भन्दा निस्किएको प्रकासको मात्रा बढेर बेसी निस्किएको भेटियो, जुन प्रक्रियालाई त्यसै हेर्दा “ऊर्जाको संरक्षणको नियम” (Law of Conservation of Energy) को विपरित गएको देखियो जुन सम्भव नै छैन। यो प्रक्रिया निक्कल अक्साइडमा भने अहिले सम्म कसैले पनि भेटेका थिएनन्। 
सन १९२८ मा सी भी रमन र के एस कृष्णनले तरलमा एक्यरंग तरंग फ्याक्दा पनि यसै प्रकारको प्रक्रिया भेटेका थिए भने यस क्षेत्रमा धेरै कम मात्रामा मात्र शोध भएका छन्। डा कमल अनुसार यस प्रक्रिया हुनु पछाडीका ठोस् कारण भने अहिले नै किटान गरेर भन्न नसकिने भनेका छन्। तिनी भन्छन् यस प्रक्रियाको अस्तित्व छ भनेर यस शोधले ठोस् प्रमाण गरिसकेको भएता पनि यसका कारणहरू पत्ता लगाउनका निम्ति भने अझै गहनताका साथमा धेरै जाँचहरू गर्न पर्ने बताएका छन्। तथापी तिनले यस प्रक्रियाका सम्भावित कारण यसरी प्रष्टाएर भन्ने कोसिस गर्छन् कि फ्याकिएको प्रकास निक्लँदा आफै बढेर निस्किएका नभएर, एफटिओ र निक्कल अक्साइडको जुन परत निर्माण भएको छ त्यस जोडनमा इन्फ्रारेड तरंगले हिर्काउँदा त्यस क्षेत्रका अणु-परमाणुहरू उत्तेजित भएर उर्जामा परिणत भएको हुन सक्ने अढ्कल गरेका छन्।
यो प्रक्रिया स्थापित भइसकेपछि यसबाट नयाँ प्रकार पदार्थ मेटामटिरियलको (Metamaterials) निर्माण गर्न सक्ने सम्भावना पनि रहेको छ। साथै यसलाई ब्राह्मण्डमा पठाइने यानमा सोलर सेलको निर्माणमा प्रयोग हुन सक्ने छ। डा कमल भुजेललाई यस शोधमा आइ-आइ-टी- धनबाद, भौतिक विज्ञान विभागमा शोध गरिरहेकी दिपाली नायक र स्नाकोत्तर गरिरहेका किरण कुमारी पल र प्रितम सरदारले प्रयोगशालाका नमुना निर्माण (Sample preparation) मा सहयोग पुऱ्याएका थिए भने मिजौराम विश्वविद्यालयका प्रा सुमन राय अनि प्रा निंगथौजम सुरजकुमारसिंहले शोध लेखनमा सहयोग गरेका थिए। अनि यस शोधको सम्पूर्ण दिशा निर्देश प्रा थंगवेलले प्रदान गरेका थिए। 

वैज्ञानिक समुदायमा कुनै पनि नयाँ खोज पत्ता लागेमा त्यसलाई प्रमाण गर्नका निम्ति संसारकै स्तरीय अनि प्रसिद्ध जर्नलमा त्यस शोधलाई प्रकाशित गर्नुपर्ने हुन्छ। यस क्रममा डा कमल भुजेलले यस शोध कार्य २०२० देखि शुरु गरेर २०२२ सम्ममा सिध्याएका भएता पनि यसलाई जर्नलमा प्रकाशित गर्न २४ सम्म पर्खनु पऱ्यो। जसमा प्रथम जर्नलले केहि माप दण्ड नपुगेको भनेर अस्वीकार नै गरिदिएका थिए भने त्यस पछिका ७ वटा जर्नलहरूले आफ्नो क्षेत्र नमिलेर अर्को जर्नलको सुझाव दिएका थिए। अन्त्यमा भने एल्सीभर समूहको फिजिका बी-कन्डेन्स्ड म्याटर (Physica B: Condensed Matter) जर्नलमा २८ फरवरी २०२४ को दिन बुझाए अनि १० मईको दिन जर्नलबाट सोधिएका सम्पूर्ण प्रश्नहरूको उत्तर बुझाए र २० मईको दिन स्वीकृत गरिए पछि २१ मईको दिन अनलाईनमा प्रकाशित भएको छ। यसरी आफ्नो शोध प्रकाशित भएकोमा खुशी व्यक्त गर्दै सम्पूर्ण शुभचिन्तकहरूलाई कृतज्ञता प्रकट गरेका छन् भने, हाम्रा गोर्खा शोधकर्ताहरूलाई पनि यसरी आफ्नो शोधहरू अघि बढाउदै प्रगति गर्ने आग्रह गरका छन्।
National, Politics, West Bengal

BJP moves Supreme Court against Calcutta High Court order on advertisements during Lok Sabha polls

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The matter was mentioned for urgent listing before a vacation bench of Justice Bela M Trivedi and Justice Pankaj Mithal

PTI, Calcutta, 24.05.24: The BJP on Friday moved the Supreme Court, challenging a Calcutta High Court order that refused to interfere with a single-judge verdict directing the party not to publish any advertisement violating the Model Code of Conduct during the Lok Sabha election process.

The matter was mentioned for urgent listing before a vacation bench of Justice Bela M Trivedi and Justice Pankaj Mithal.
Advocate Saurabh Mishra, who mentioned the matter, told the bench that a division bench of the high court passed the order on May 22.

“Why don’t you move the next vacation bench?,” the bench asked.

The counsel told the bench that the high court has restrained the BJP from issuing advertisements during the Lok Sabha polls till June 4.

“Kindly have it on Monday (May 27),” the lawyer requested the bench.

“We will see,” the bench said.

On May 22, a Calcutta High Court division bench refused to interfere with a single-judge order in the matter.

Observing that a “laxman rekha” should be adhered to, the division bench had said there should not be any personal attack on the part of any political party.

Refusing to interfere with the May 20 order of the single judge, the division bench had said the BJP could move the single judge, seeking a review or recall of its order.

The BJP had moved the appeal before the division bench, claiming that the single judge passed the order without giving it any hearing.

The party’s counsel had also stated that the Constitution provided that the Election Commission was the appropriate authority for redress in case of any dispute during a poll process.

The high court on May 20 issued an injunction, restraining the BJP from publishing advertisements that violated the Model Code of Conduct until June 4, the day the Lok Sabha election process ends.

The court also restrained the BJP from publishing advertisements mentioned by the Trinamul Congress (TMC) in its petition, claiming unverified allegations against it and its workers.