Braving harsh weather, forces airlift 17 tourists from north Sikkim
The MI-02 helicopter successfully carried out the first evacuation of the day, airlifting 17 tourists, both men and children, who were stuck at Chaten since May 29 when massive landslides followed by cloudbursts and torrents cut off the last village, about 130 km north of Pakyong.
"The same helicopter has been deployed again to evacuate the remaining stranded persons," a government communique said. "Evacuation operations will continue depending on weather conditions and logistical arrangements," the communique added. On Thursday, two helicopters were pressed into service, while one successfully brought the stranded travellers, the other had to return to Chaten with the tourists on board.
To ensure smooth onwards travel to Gangtok, the SNT (Sikkim Nationalised Transport) buses have been stationed at the airport for the evacuees' convenience. A medical team from the health and family welfare department, Pakyong, was at hand at the airport to carry out preliminary health screenings for the arriving evacuees.
With the 17 evacuations of the day, the armed forces have airlifted 80 stranded tourists, two of them American citizens, since the aerial rescue operation began on June 3 after foot bridges were washed away, creating piles of rubble and huge boulders.
The government officials said around 50 more travellers were stranded and awaiting airlifting.
The travellers are from almost all the states of the country, according to the list of stranded tourists.
UNI PC ARN PRS
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
31 minutes ago
- Mint
Attention flyers! Now get new direct flights to Thailand, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan — check details
Frequent flyers in India can celebrate some new international routes effective from September 2025, as airlines announced multiple new direct flights to Thailand (Akasa Air), and Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan (IndiGo). Meanwhile, Air India has stopped a direct flight to Washington DC (US), due to fleet retrofit. We bring you all the details, to keep track. In its first foray into Southeast Asia, low-cost carrier Akasa Air has launched direct flights from Mumbai to Phuket in Thailand, effective from September 20, 2025. Notably, this is the sixth international destination for the three-year-old airline which began operations on August 7, 2022. It currently flies to Abu Dhabi (UAE), Doha (Qatar), Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Kuwait City (Kuwait), and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia). Domestic carrier IndiGo has announced new international routes from next month, with four weekly flights each from Mumbai to Tashkent and Mumbai to Almaty. This comes after the airline launched Mumbai to Tbilisi (Georgia). In an official release on August 12, IndiGo said that it will fly four weekly direct flights connecting Mumbai to Tashkent in Uzbekistan and Almaty in Kazakhstan, effective from September 1 and 2, 2025 respectively. These routes had been previously suspended in April following operational constraints due to the Pakistan airspace closure. Air India will suspend flights between the Indian and US national capitals Delhi to Washington DC from September 1, due to non-availability of Boeing 787 Dreamliner planes amid a retrofit drive, PTI reported. The route had five weekly flights, which will be impacted. The airline said the move comes due to a 'combination of operational factors to ensure reliability of its overall route network'. The retrofit of the legacy 26 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner planes is expected to be completed by July 2027. Air India said that passengers with bookings to or from Washington DC beyond September 1 will be contacted and offered alternative travel arrangements, including re-booking on other flights or full refunds, as they prefer. per their individual preferences. The statement from AI said that customers will continue to have options of one-stop flights to Washington DC via four US gateways — New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Chicago, and San Francisco.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
India's tourism sector sector has the unique power to create jobs like no other: FAITH chairman Puneet Chhatwal
Federation of Associations in Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH), India's apex tourism policy and strategy think tank of the national associations is holding its national tourism conclave on August 12 - 13 August at Hotel Taj Palace, New Delhi. FAITH members include the Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ATOAI), Federation of Hotels & Restaurants Associations of India (FHRAI), Hotel Association of India (HAI), Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) and India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB) besides other industry bodies. Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 4 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 3 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals By Vaibhav Sisinity View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 2 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass Batch-1 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program The industry body said all the FAITH Associations are 'deeply committed' to the sustainable development of Indian tourism and its contribution to the nation's economic progress. FAITH shared its Tourism Vision 2047 roadmap of a $3 trillion tourism economy driven by 100 million foreign arrivals and 20 billion domestic visits leading up to 200 million tourism jobs (directly and indirectly). The industry body said the roadmap is aimed to double tourism's GDP share by 2047 to 10% which is aligned with the Govt's vision. "Tourism is not just an industry, it is the heartbeat of nations, driving economies and uniting cultures. Its power lies in its soft influence, whether through business, medical, or spiritual tourism, and its ability to shape a nation's global presence," said FAITH chairman, and IHCL MD and CEO Puneet Chhatwal. "Despite facing challenges, India's tourism sector has shown an invincible spirit. This sector has the unique power to create jobs like no other, with one in four new jobs globally coming from tourism, aviation and hospitality," he added. Chhatwal said, even today, 7-9% of all global employment comes from this sector, and in the years ahead, that number is sure to hit double digits. "It is this vast, interconnected ecosystem of employment that makes tourism not only a driver of growth but a true multiplier of livelihoods. As we move forward, we must harness this spirit, fuel its growth and unlock its true potential to create a brighter, more prosperous future for all," he added. The industry body said the FAITH conclave 2025 aims to build on this vision and identify tangible milestones. FAITH said the key objectives are creating a path to a $3 trillion tourism economy, laying out the roadmap of enhancing employment in tourism from approximately 5 crores currently to almost 20 crores (both directly and indirectly), and positioning India in the top five tourism rankings of the World Economic Forum's (WEF), Travel & Tourism Development Index. Enhancing the foreign exchange earnings from tourism from approximately $30 billion currently to approximately $ 400 billion, and positioning tourism as an essential socio-economic engine of growth by enhancing the domestic tourism visits from almost two billion currently to 20 billion are among the other objectives of the enclave, the industry body said in a statement.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Which Animal's Meat Is Eaten The Most In Dubai?
Dubai is a multicultural city where people from various countries live and work, including a large Indian community. While many visit Dubai as tourists, a significant number come for employment, contributing to the city's diverse population and a sizable Hindu community. Known worldwide for its luxurious lifestyle, iconic architecture, and vibrant food scene, Dubai is also one of the places with the highest meat consumption globally. But which type of meat do people in Dubai eat the most? (News18 Hindi) 3/8 5/8 Camel: While camel meat is used in some traditional recipes, it is far less common than mutton or chicken. (News18 Hindi) Beef: Beef enjoys popularity, especially among expatriates and in restaurants, though its demand is somewhat lower than mutton and chicken. (News18 Hindi) Fish and Seafood: Coastal areas of Dubai favour seafood such as fish and shrimp, commonly grilled or fried. (News18 Hindi) Halal Meat: Due to Islamic dietary laws, only halal meat is consumed in Dubai, and pork is strictly prohibited. Special occasions often feature mutton and chicken dishes like Mandi, Haris, and Al Haris. Reflecting Dubai's diverse population, chicken and beef dishes are also popular in many Western and Asian restaurants. (News18 Hindi)
