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The Chief Minister issued directives to every department. The Power Department must conduct emergency drills and raise public awareness on blackout preparedness.

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang has announced measures to tackle any problem arising because of the prevailing situation along the Pakistan border in India’s north and west, and also said the state will assess its preparedness for any potential crisis.

Mr Tamang said, “I convened a high-level meeting today attended by the Political Secretary to Chief Minister Shri Jacob Khaling, Cabinet Secretary Shri V.B. Pathak, Chief Secretary Shri R. Telang, Director General of Police (DGP) Shri Akshay Sachdeva and Heads of Departments (HODs) including officials from Health, Power, Food & Civil Supplies, Roads & Bridges, Land & Revenue departments, Sikkim Police and DCs & SPs of all districts.”

The Chief Minister issued directives to every department. The Power Department must conduct emergency drills and raise public awareness on blackout preparedness. 

The Roads and Bridges Department have to ensure all critical roads and bridges remain fully operational and structurally sound.

The health department is also on high alert, with hospitals being fully equipped and staffed with essential medical personnel on duty. The Food and Civil Supplies department has been asked to maintain an ample stock of essential items and fuel, ensuring uninterrupted distribution.

The fugure was revealed in the first-ever Snow Leopard Population Assessment Report, jointly presented by the Forest and Environment Department and WWF-India.

As Sikkim celebrates its golden jubilee of statehood on Friday, it has unwrapped a gift from the wild. 

The first-ever Snow Leopard Population Assessment Report, jointly presented by the Forest and Environment Department and WWF-India, has identified 21 endangered snow leopards in the high-altitude zones of north and west Sikkim.

The study involved two years of meticulous scientific tracking, using camera traps, across the Himalayan terrain.

To mark the occasion, the state has also introduced a new mascot, a snow leopard named “Kuzu”, which is meant to symbolise Sikkim’s commitment to wildlife protection and biodiversity.

“This is not just a scientific milestone, but a testament to Sikkim’s deeply rooted conservation policies,” Pradeep Kumar, who is the principal secretary of the Forest and Environment Department, said, emphasising that the state’s focused efforts are allowing forest life to thrive.

Mr Kumar also recalled a rare instance where a Royal Bengal tiger and a snow leopard were captured on the same camera trap, highlighting Sikkim’s unique ecological riches.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday greeted people of Sikkim on its statehood day, lauding its strides in diverse sectors.

He said on X, “Warm greetings to the people of Sikkim on their Statehood Day! This year, the occasion is even more special as we mark the 50th anniversary of Sikkim’s statehood!”

He added, “Sikkim is associated with serene beauty, rich cultural traditions and industrious people. It has made strides in diverse sectors. May the people of this beautiful state continue to prosper.”

Enjoying protectorate status under the Union of India after the country’s Independence in 1947, Sikkim became an Indian state in 1975 following a referendum, and the north east region has since made rapid strides on various socio-economic development parameters.

The Sikkim Cricket Ground in Mining marked a major milestone in the state’s sporting history with the installation of state-of-the-art high-mast LED floodlights, officially inaugurated on the evening of May 18

The Sikkim Cricket Ground in Mining marked a major milestone in the state’s sporting history with the installation of state-of-the-art high-mast LED floodlights, officially inaugurated on the evening of May 18 by Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang. This development makes the venue capable of hosting day-night matches and high-definition live broadcasts for the first time in Sikkim. The project, worth Rs 12.2 crore, was fully funded by the Government of Sikkim and executed by the Sikkim Cricket Association (SICA).

The work commenced in December 2024 and was completed on April 18. The lighting system features four 44-meter-high masts, each equipped with 64 high-powered LED floodlights, totalling 256 lights. Each light has a capacity of 1.2 kW, and the system provides an impressive 2800 lux illumination at the pitch well above the required standard for televised cricket.

Justice Biswanath Somadder, Chief Justice of the High Court of Sikkim, along with Cabinet Ministers, MLAs, the Chief Secretary, the Chief Administrator-cum-Cabinet Secretary, and senior department officials, were present at the grand inauguration.

SICA President Tika Subba expressed his gratitude to both the state government and the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) for making this dream a reality.

“Thanks to the government, with the help of the government as well as the BCCI, today we are able to install this historic floodlight,” he said.

Subba also pointed out the longstanding issue of poor lighting at the ground, which hindered match scheduling and overall gameplay.

To commemorate the occasion, a friendly match was held between the SICA President XI and the Chief Secretary XI. Batting first, the Chief Secretary XI posted 121/9 in their allotted 20 overs. In response, the SICA President XI chased down the target in 19.4 overs, winning the game with five wickets in hand.

The LED floodlights, built to meet international standards, come with a five-year manufacturer’s warranty and promise low maintenance, ensuring that Sikkim cricket takes a giant step forward in infrastructure and visibility.

Chief Minister Tamang also confirmed that preparations are underway for a potential visit from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“The Sikkim government has received confirmation regarding PM Modi’s visit. Several meetings have taken place…29th May is the tentative date, though it is not 100% confirmed yet,” Tamang said.

The development comes as Sikkim marks 50 years of statehood. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to celebrate in the statehood day celebrations, sources told NDTV earlier.

The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a religious pilgrimage undertaken by the Hindus to Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Lake in the Tibetan autonomous region of China, will resume through the Nathu La Pass in Sikkim.

The development comes as Sikkim marks 50 years of statehood. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to celebrate in the statehood day celebrations, sources told NDTV earlier.

The pilgrimage, which is set to resume after a gap of five years, is organised by the Ministry of External Affairs from June to September annually through two different routes – Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand and Nathu La in Sikkim. The yatra is undertaken by hundreds of people, and holds religious significance to Hindus as well as Jains and Buddhists.

A total of 10 batches are likely to undertake the yatra through the Nathu La Pass spread over 21 days for each batch. The estimated expense for each person is ₹2.83 lakh. The first batch of pilgrims will depart from Delhi on June 15 and cross through the Nathu La border on June 20. The last batch will depart from Delhi on August 7 and cross through the border on August 12. 

The Sikkim government has accelerated infrastructure development for the pilgrimage. Nathu La Pass is around 60 km from state capital Gangtok, and located under Bhutia’s Kabi-Lungchok constituency. 

Two acclimatisation centres are coming up to facilitate travel for yatris between Gangtok and Nathu La, while toilets, rest houses and other travel-related infrastructure are also being developed, officials said.

The acclimatisation facilities are required because of the freezing cold and thin air which can make people suffer from altitude sickness caused by the reduced air pressure and lower oxygen levels at higher altitudes.

The pilgrimage is open to Indian citizens, holding valid Indian passports. The government  does not provide any subsidy or financial assistance to those undertaking the yatra. 

Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation (STDC) CEO Rajendra Chettri said the body is the nodal agency for organising the yatra. “The programme starts on June 11 and the first batch of yatris will accordingly leave for Delhi. The STDC will have a team in Delhi, where the devotees will be taken for a medical test to the ITBP camp from June 11 to 14. After that, their passports will be collected and application for visas will be submitted with the Chinse embassy,” he said.

“The yatra falls in the TAR (Tibet Autonomous Region) and on June 15,  the yatris will commence their journey and come to Bagdogra where an STDC team will receive them. We have been allotted buses, and two buses will be carrying approximately 15 yatris to Gangtok. They will be briefed in the evening,” he added.

The yatra was suspended initially in 2020 because of Covid-19 and subsequently because of the military standoff between the two sides on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

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