Darjeeling or Gangtok: Which hilly escape fits your travel style?
Choosing between Gangtok and Darjeeling offers distinct Himalayan experiences. Gangtok presents a modern, youthful vibe with organized streets and expansive mountain vistas. In contrast, Darjeeling exudes timeless charm, featuring narrow lanes, historic architecture, and iconic Kanchenjunga views. Both destinations promise captivating scenery and unique adventures, catering to different travel preferences.
PCS Lodge General Diary Against Social Media Handler
Gangtok. Nov 24 : The Press Club of Sikkim has lodged an official complaint at The post PCS Lodge General Diary Against Social Media Handler appeared first on The Voice Of Sikkim .
CAP Holds Peaceful Dharna in Gangtok, Calls for End to Service Extensions in Government
Gangtok, Nov 22 : The Citizen Action Party (CAP) Sikkim organised a peaceful one-day The post CAP Holds Peaceful Dharna in Gangtok, Calls for End to Service Extensions in Government appeared first on The Voice Of Sikkim .
NCW Writes To Gangtok SSP Over Cyber Bullying Women On Social Media Platform
Gangtok, Nov 20 : The Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) has expressed appreciation to the National The post NCW Writes To Gangtok SSP Over Cyber Bullying Women On Social Media Platform appeared first on The Voice Of Sikkim .
Five Journalists Getting Awarded During National Press Day 2025 Celebration at Gangtok
Gangtok, Nov 21 : The National Press Day, observed annually on November 16 to recognise The post Five Journalists Getting Awarded During National Press Day 2025 Celebration at Gangtok appeared first on The Voice Of Sikkim .
Over 10,000 Women Sensitized: 7,200+ Participate in hrHPV Self-Testing 160+ Healthcare Workers Trained in Innovative Screening Techniques Field-tested Indigenously developed AI-Assisted Cervical Cancer screening device across multiple center s in Indian and across Bangladesh and Uganda Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) successfully convened the PRESCRIP-TEC Conference on November 1314, aligning with the Government of Indias Cervical Cancer Elimination Mission. MAHE's Manipal School of Information Sciences (MSIS), Prasanna School of Public Health (PSPH), and Kasturba Medical College (KMC, Manipal) organized the conference in Manipal. Transforming cervical cancer screening through collaboration: "PRESCRIP-TEC Conference" at MAHE The PRESCRIP-TEC consortium represents a powerful collaboration of global and national institutions including DBT, Tata Memorial Hospital, the University of Groningen (The Netherlands), and MAHE, which serves as the lead implementing partner in India. Together, they exemplify thought leadership and cross-sectoral partnership in advancing equitable womens health and Indias 2030 elimination target. The two-day event brought together national and international experts, policymakers, and healthcare professionals to discuss scalable innovations in cervical cancer screening under the Prevention and Screening Innovation Project Toward Elimination of Cervical Cancer (PRESCRIP-TEC), a global initiative jointly implemented by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the European Unions Horizon 2020 program. PRESCRIP-TECs Screen, Triage, and Treat model integrates community participation, digital health, and AI-enabled diagnostics. Across India, the project has sensitized over 10,000 women, facilitated 7,200+ hrHPV self-tests, and conducted 360+ AI-assisted Visual Inspections with Acetic Acid (VIA-AI) using the SAKHI Smart AI Kit for Healthcare Innovation. Over 100 community health workers and 60 medical professionals have been trained, reinforcing the models scalability and integration within primary healthcare systems. This approach, built on inclusivity and cost-effectiveness, serves as a replicable blueprint for cervical cancer elimination in low- and middle-income countries. A major highlight in PRESCRIP-TEC is Development and Field testing of AI Innovation Previously part of a Ph.D. at MAHE, Designed and refined at the Manipal School of Information Sciences, this indigenous AI-assisted decision-support system (AI-DSS) powers the VIA-AI component of the project, enabling accurate and affordable early detection in field settings. Currently undergoing validation across India, Bangladesh, and Uganda, the technology underscores Indias growing capability to develop and deploy homegrown digital health solutions of global relevance. Distinguished speakers included Dr. Abhishek Kunwar (WHO India), Dr. Anu Mary Oommen (CMC Vellore), Dr. Esmy P. Okkuru, Radiation Oncologist at CFCHC, Tamil Nadu and Dr. Bency Joseph (ICMR-NCDIR), alongside leading experts from across the world. Opening the conference, Dr. Keerthana Prasad, Professor and Director, MSIS, and Lead Principal Investigator of PRESCRIP-TEC , remarked, PRESCRIP-TEC represents a paradigm shift in how we approach cervical cancer screening in resource-limited settings. Through AI-assisted diagnostics and strong community engagement, we are transforming access to preventive healthcare and contributing to Indias 2030 elimination mission. The India implementation of PRESCRIP-TEC, involving MAHE, SDM College of Ayurveda (Udupi), Tata Memorial Hospital (Mumbai), Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute and Tata Medical Center (Kolkata), St. Johns Medical College (Bengaluru), and Sikkim Manipal University (Gangtok), concluded with actionable recommendations for integrating AI-based screening and cost-effective strategies into Indias national framework. By converging research, technology, and community action, PRESCRIP-TEC stands as a model for how collaborative innovation can drive national health transformation - placing India at the forefront of the global mission to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030. www.prescriptec.org About Manipal Academy of Higher Education The Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) is an Institution of Eminence Deemed-to-be University. MAHE offers over 400 specializations across the Health Sciences (HS), Management, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences (MLHS), and Technology & Science (T&S) streams through its constituent units at campuses in Manipal, Mangalore, Bengaluru, Jamshedpur, and Dubai. With a remarkable track record in academics, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and significant contributions to research, MAHE has earned recognition and acclaim both nationally and internationally. In October 2020, the Ministry of Education, Government of India, awarded MAHE the prestigious Institution of Eminence status. Currently ranked 3 rd in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), MAHE is the preferred choice for students seeking a transformative learning experience and enriching campus life.
As PM Modi visits Bhutan, Congress recalls Nehru's visit when he trekked to Paro
NEW DELHI: With Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarking on a trip to Bhutan, the Congress on Tuesday recalled India's first PM Jawaharlal Nehru's most unusual visit to that country that involved trekking for five days to reach Paro, and said that trip determined the course of the special relationship the two countries have had for almost seven decades. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said this extraordinary visit by Nehru was under very difficult conditions by a prime minister about to turn 69. The Prime Minister is in Bhutan today. Sixty seven years ago, India's first Prime Minister had made a most unusual visit to Bhutan. Accompanied by Indira Gandhi and a few officials like Jagat Mehta, Nari Rustomji, and Apa Pant, Nehru first flew to Bagdogra and then drove via Gangtok to Nathu La on a road that had just been constructed, Ramesh recalled. At Nathu La, the delegation was met with a dozen yaks, several ponies, and a pack of over a hundred animals, he said. It then trekked for five days covering fifty kms to reach Paro on Sept 23, 1958. There were times when the altitude touched 15,500 feet. Nehru and his team spent five days in Paro having a number of official meetings and cultural engagements, Ramesh said on X. Thereafter they trekked back to Nathu La along the same route they had taken to reach Paro, the Congress leader said. The Prime Minister is in Bhutan today. Sixty seven years ago, India's first Prime Minister had made a most unusual visit to Bhutan. Accompanied by Indira Gandhi and a few officials like Jagat Mehta, Nari Rustomji, and Apa Pant, Nehru first flew to Bagdogra and then drove via pic.twitter.com/UdlmhzfOgq Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) November 11, 2025 This extraordinary visit under very difficult conditions by a Prime Minister about to turn sixty nine was to determine the course of the special relationship that Bhutan and India have had for almost seven decades, he said. Mehta, Rustomji, and Pant have all left behind delightful accounts of the trek that created diplomatic history, Ramesh said. The Congress general secretary shared a video clip on Nehru's visit to Bhutan as well as Mehta's account of the trip. In his account, Mehta says, In retrospect, the significance of Nehru's journey cannot be underestimated. It was the last time that any Indian dignitary went to Bhutan through Tibet but that only underlines its happenstance importance. In the encounters, a lesser personality than Nehru could not have blended transparent sympathy and understanding with non-domineering counsel. A more coercive diplomatic style might well have ended in polite nods but hesitant follow-up, and delayed the slow strengthening of connections to the South (India). If Prime Minister Nehru had not succeeded in confidence-building and encouraged the graduated opening of communications, it is possible that the road into Thimpu may not even have started for many years and correspondingly delaying its completion, and Bhutan would have perforce remained largely economically dependent on the Tibet connection. The process of internal development and political emancipation would have got stultified or not have preserved Bhutan's cultural and religious personality, says Mehta. Prime Minister Modi is visiting Bhutan on Tuesday to join the 70th birthday celebrations of the fourth king of the Himalayan nation Jigme Singye Wangchuck.
GUWAHATI: Fans could not hold back their tears, both inside and outside theatre halls, after watching Roi Roi Binale , the last film featuring music icon Zubeen Garg, who died under mysterious circumstances while swimming in the sea in Singapore on September 19. The movie, directed by Rajesh Bhuyan and released on Friday, ran to packed houses across Assam and broke all opening day records, with most theatre halls scheduling up to five shows a day. The screening started as early as 4.25 am at several theatres. Tickets for all shows for the first week were sold out, and fans had booked the first three days tickets within an hour last week. The state is still grieving Gargs untimely demise, and there was an outpouring of emotion as fans thronged single-screen and multiplex theatres. In viral videos, some were seen seated long after shows were over, sobbing. As a mark of silent tribute, several theatre halls kept one seat reserved for Garg, 52. Roi Roi Binale was his dream project. For the first time in the history of Assamese films, a movie is being released in different parts of the country. It was screened in Patna, Ranchi, Dhanbad, Darjeeling, Gangtok, Mysore, Vellore, Visakhapatnam, Coimbatore, Dehradun, Lucknow, Jaipur, Vapi (Gujarat), Indore, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Raniganj, Maldah, Siliguri, Agartala, Dharmanagar, Cooch Behar, Raipur and Nagpur, said Siddharth Goenka, the films distributor. As a mark of silent tribute, several theatre halls kept one seat reserved for Garg, 52. Roi Roi Binale was his dream project. In cities like Bengaluru, Assamese films were earlier screened in only one or two theatres, but this time, it premiered in 17 theatres simultaneously. There will be 600 shows daily in Assam and the rest of the Northeast alone, which is unprecedented. Outside the Northeast, 96 halls would screen the movie with 170 shows daily, Goenka added. The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), a constituent of Assams ruling coalition, booked all 218 seats for a show at a multiplex in Guwahati. AGP ministers Atul Bora and Keshab Mahanta watched the film along with party leaders and workers. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said he would watch it privately. If I go to a cinema hall, it will cause inconvenience to people as I will be accompanied by my security personnel, he said. Garg plays the lead role of a blind musician in Roi Roi Binale , a musical love story that recounts the life and struggle of a visually impaired artist who experiences the world through sound, imagination and love. The film features 11 songs, all composed by Garg himself.
Four family members killed in Sikkim landslide; child survives
GANGTOK: Four members of a family lost their lives and one child was critically injured after a landslide, triggered by relentless rainfall, struck their home in Sikkims Gyalshing district late Thursday night, police said. The tragedy occurred in the Upper Rimbi area around midnight while the family was asleep. A senior police official confirmed that the landslide completely destroyed the residence. Gyalshing Superintendent of Police Tshering Sherpa said that Sikkim Police, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel and local residents responded swiftly to the scene and launched a rescue operation despite the continuous downpour. Three of the six family members died on the spot. Two injured women were rushed to the Gyalshing District Hospital, where one of them later succumbed to her injuries, Sherpa said. A seven-year-old boy was pulled out alive and has been admitted to the hospital for treatment. Despite difficult weather conditions, the rescue team acted promptly with the support of the local community. It has been a risky operation, but we have done our best to save lives. The operation is still underway, said SP Sherpa, who also expressed his gratitude to all those who assisted in the rescue efforts.
Womens Safety Report : Fear runs deeper than nos
NEW DELHI: The NARI 2025 National Annual Report and Index on Womens Safety, released by the National Commission for Women, offers the telling reality of the urban safety landscape. The survey covered 12,770 women across 31 cities and yielded a national safety score of 65%, which implies that four in 10 women (40%) consider themselves unsafe despite government assurances. Around 60% of women reported feeling safe, while 40% admitted they felt not-so-safe or outright unsafe. The anxieties deepen among younger women: while public harassment was reported by 7% of all respondents in 2024, the figure rose to 14% for those under 24, indicating that students and young professionals are disproportionately targeted in educational and recreational spaces. The report shows low levels of faith in redressal mechanism. Only one in three victims of harassment filed a formal complaint, and confidence in the system is strikingly weak: 75% of women said they did not believe authorities would resolve their complaints. Even when incidents are reported, only 22% are formally registered, and action is taken in a mere 16% of those cases, highlighting a pervasive cycle of silence. Harassment hotspots reveal vulnerabilities, with 38% of cases occurring within neighbourhoods and 29% in public transport systems. Workplace safety presents a paradoxical picture. A large majority91%described their office environment as safe, but nearly half of the respondents admitted they were unaware whether their organisation had implemented the mandated Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) mechanism. Among those who were aware, most found it effective, suggesting that awareness is as critical as legislation itself. The report stresses that womens safety cannot be reduced to physical protection alone but must include psychological, financial, and digital security that collectively shape womens access to mobility, opportunity, and dignity. It frames safety as a developmental issue rather than a law-and-order question. The sense of safety also varies with time and place. Women reported relative comfort in offices and campuses during the day, but confidence collapsed after dark, where poor street lighting and unreliable public transport left them exposed. City-level disparities are equally stark: Kohima, Visakhapatnam, and Bhubaneswar topped the index, followed closely by Aizawl, Gangtok, Itanagar, and Mumbai, where women expressed relatively higher perceptions of safety. In contrast, Patna, Jaipur, Faridabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Srinagar, and Ranchi occupied the bottom ranks. Ranchi recorded 44% feeling unsafe, while in Delhi and Faridabad the figure was around 42%. The numbers show a fractured urban landscape where geography shapes womens fears as much as governance.
NEW DELHI: Kohima, Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, Aizawl, Gangtok, Itanagar and Mumbai have emerged as the safest cities in the country for women, while Patna, Jaipur, Faridabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Srinagar and Ranchi were ranked the lowest, according to the National Annual Report & Index on Women's Safety (NARI) 2025. The nationwide index released on Thursday, based on a survey of 12,770 women across 31 cities, placed the national safety score at 65 per cent, categorising cities as much above, above, at, elow or much below this benchmark. Kohima and other top-ranked cities were associated with stronger gender equity, civic participation, policing and women-friendly infrastructure. At the other end of the spectrum, cities like Patna and Jaipur fared poorly due to weak institutional responsiveness, patriarchal norms and gaps in urban infrastructure. Kohima, Vishakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, Aizawl, Gangtok, Itanagar, Mumbai lead national safety rankings, often correlating with higher gender equity, infrastructure, policing, or civic participation while Ranchi, Srinagar, Kolkata, Delhi, Faridabad, Patna, and Jaipur scored lowest, correlating with poorer infrastructure, patriarchal norms, or weaker institutional responsiveness, the report said. Overall, six in ten women surveyed felt safe in their city, but 40 per cent still considered themselves ot so safe or unsafe. The study revealed sharp drops in perceptions of safety at night, particularly in public transport and recreational spaces. Educational institutions (86 per cent safe) especially in daylight, but safety perceptions fall sharply at night or off-campus. About 91 per cent of women reported safety, yet about half were unclear if their workplace had a POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) policy; those with such policies generally rated them as effective. Only one-fourth of women said they trusted authorities to act effectively on safety complaints. While 69 per cent said current safety efforts were somewhat adequate, over 30 per cent noted significant gaps or failures; only 65 per cent perceived real improvement over the years 2023-2024. Seven per cent of women said they experienced harassment in public spaces in 2024, with the figure doubling to 14 per cent among those under 24. Neighbourhoods (38 per cent) and public transport (29 per cent) were most often flagged as harassment hotspots. Yet, only one in three victims came forward to report the incidents. The report stressed that official crime data alone cannot reflect women's lived reality. Two out of three women do not report harassment, meaning NCRB misses the bulk of incidents, the study said, calling for integration of crime data with perception-based surveys like NARI. Launching the report, National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar said safety cannot be seen merely as a law-and-order issue but as one that affects every aspect of a woman's life whether it is her education, health, work opportunities and freedom of movement. She added that when women feel unsafe, hey limit themselves, and women limiting themselves is not only for their own development, but also for the development of the country. She emphasised that a safe environment was crucial for building a developed and inclusive India, pointing to four dimensions of women's security of physical, psychological, financial and digital nature. It is our responsibility to protect women not just from crimes on the streets but also from cybercrimes, economic discrimination and mental harassment, Rahatkar noted. Highlighting positive measures, she praised the growing presence of women police officers and female drivers in public transport as effective confidence-building steps. In many Union Territories, 33 per cent of police personnel are now women, and this has made a decisive difference in building trust, she said. She also lauded initiatives such as women's helplines, CCTV coverage in smart cities, and improved safety networks at railway stations and bus depots. At the same time, Rahatkar urged society at large to share responsibility. We often blame the system, but we must also ask what we have done. Whether it is using helplines, supporting awareness drives, or simply keeping public toilets clean, society's role is equally important, she said. The NARI index has been conceived by The NorthCap University and Jindal Global Law School and is published by the Group of Intellectuals and Academicians (GIA).
Kailash Manasarovar Yatra via Nathu La concludes with return of 48 pilgrims
GANGTOK, Aug 25: The Kailash Manasarovar Yatra via Nathu La Pass in Sikkim ended with the return of the 10th batch of 48 tourists from the pilgrimage site, officials said on Monday. On their return on Sunday, the 48 pilgrims were received by Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation (STDC) officials, and a valedictory function was held [] The post Kailash Manasarovar Yatra via Nathu La concludes with return of 48 pilgrims appeared first on Northlines .
Kailash Manasarovar Yatra 2025 Via Sikkim Route Ends With Return Of 48 Pilgrims: Officials
GANGTOK, Aug 25: The Kailash Manasarovar Yatra via Nathu La Pass in Sikkim ended with the return of the 10th batch of 48 tourists from the pilgrimage site, officials said on Monday. On their return on Sunday, the 48 pilgrims were received by Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation (STDC) officials, and a valedictory function was held to mark the successful conclusion of the Kailash Manasarovar pilgrimage for 2025. STDC chairman Lukendra Rasaily said the smooth conduct of the tour by around [] The post Kailash Manasarovar Yatra 2025 Via Sikkim Route Ends With Return Of 48 Pilgrims: Officials appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
ED arrests Karnataka Congress MLA in 'illegal' betting case
K C Veerendra, a Karnataka Congress MLA, faces arrest by the Enforcement Directorate. The arrest occurred in Sikkim related to an alleged illegal betting scheme. Authorities seized significant assets during raids across multiple states. The seized items included cash, gold, silver, and vehicles. Veerendra was in Gangtok for a casino leasing venture.
Sikkim University Student Sparks Row With 'Nepali' Remark, Taken Into Custody
A major controversy has erupted on the campus of Sikkim University in Gangtok over alleged derogatory remarks against the Nepali community and language by a student from Uttar Pradesh in a department WhatsApp group.
Sikkim University student arrested for insulting Nepali language
Gangtok: A Sikkim University student, who hailed from Uttar Pradesh, was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly making insulting remarks against the Nepali language which is widely spoken in the Himalayan state, officials said. Acting on a complaint lodged by some local students, a team from Rani Pool police station reached the university campus and took Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
After 7 years, red panda cubs born in Sikkim zoo
The captive red panda population at the Himalayan Zoological Park near Gangtok was nearly decimated by two outbreaks of canine distemper, a highly contagious and potentially fatal viral disease
Is arrested model-actress Shanta a Bangladeshi spy? Police investigates
KOLKATA: Activities of Bangladeshi model and actress Shanta Pal, who has been arrested in Kolkata, are reminiscent of the activities of Jyoti Malhotra, who was arrested on suspicion of being a Pakistani spy, police sources said. Shanta lived a luxurious life as Jyoti. She too travelled to many places in India, including the Nathula Pass, near the China border in Sikkim which raised suspicion about her, a Kolkata Police official said. Jyoti Malhotra is accused of spying for Pakistan. Is Shanta doing the same for Bangladesh? We have been trying to ascertain this in the investigation, the official added. According to police sources, Shanta Pal, a Bangladeshi citizen, came to India in 2023. Since then, she has been staying here. Both her visa and passport have expired. Bangladeshi model-actress held in Kolkata with Indian documents According to police sources, after questioning Shanta and searching her social media pages, it was found that she had become a consultant for others to obtain visas to India. After the upheaval in Bangladesh last year, when the situation between India and Bangladesh made it difficult for Bangladeshi citizens to get Indian tourist visas, Shanta had advised many of them to apply for medical visas. The investigators are checking how many people took her help to get Indian medical visas. Shanta, who has been residing in India, also used to live a colourful life. According to police sources, the Bangladeshi model-actress travelled from Digha in West Bengal to Gangtok in Sikkim and posted pictures and videos on social media. She even reached the Nathula Pass near the China border to create a travel vlog. According to police sources, Shanta was promoting her tourism business through a social media page called Asan Travels Kolkata and Bangladesh. Additionally, investigators are also investigating if she took a loan from an Indian state-owned bank to open a hotel, based on her Facebook post. On Wednesday, the Kolkata Police arrested Shanta in a fraud case from the Bikramgarh area in south Kolkata. She lived there in a rented flat with her parents and husband. The police recovered an Indian voter card, PAN card, and Aadhaar cards of two addresses, one in Kolkata and the other in Burdwan, issued in her name. The police have also recovered a Bangladeshi passport and Bangladesh Airways employee card from her possession. She used to work as a cabin crew for Bangladesh Airways. An admit card for Bangladesh's secondary examination has also been found.
