Over 1,500 tourists stranded in Sikkim due to landslides
Nearly 1,500 tourists remained stranded in north Sikkim due to severe flooding and landslides. The Sankalang bridge has collapsed, blocking a key road, while the main feeding bridge towards north Sikkim has also been closed due to damage.Mangan SP Sonam Detchu Bhutia said 115 tourists are stranded in Lachen and 1,350 tourists in Lachung. "The exit route is closed due to landslides at multiple locations. Tourists have been advised to remain in their hotels, and once the roads are opened, they will be shifted," he said.The death toll in northeastern states has risen to 28 since Thursday due to flooding and landslides in Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura. According to the state disaster management authority in Assam, three people have died in the last 48 hours due to floods while five others died due to landslides in different parts of Guwahati.A critical relief mission was launched by Indian Air Force early on Sunday in response to a request received from the state administrations of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Fourteen people stranded in the middle of flooded Bomjir river in the Lower Dibang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh, cut off from mainland, were safely rescued. The operation was undertaken by Mi 17 helicopter.The flood situation is becoming grim in Assam. Central Water Commission department's data indicated that water levels of the Brahmaputra river Burhi Dihing, Barak and some other rivers are flowing above danger level with reports of water level rising at many places.In June last year, around nine people died as excessive rainfall triggered massive landslides across North Sikkim. At least 179 people died in 2023 in Sikkim when a Himalayan glacial lake outburst triggered floods. The flash floods in the Teesta, triggered by a glacial lake burst in north Sikkim, had left roads and bridges extensively damaged across the mountain state.Union home minister Amit Shah posted on X, "Spoke with the chief ministers of Assam, Manipur, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh... Also assured them of every possible help to tackle any situation. The Modi government stands like a rock in support of the people of the Northeast."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Standard
6 hours ago
- Business Standard
How Go4Explore Is Powering the Gen Z Travel Revolution in India
VMPL New Delhi [India], August 20: Travel has become more than a leisure activity for India's youth--it has become a lifestyle, a statement, and a path to self-discovery. Riding this wave of change, Go4Explore has emerged as one of the most dynamic youth-centric travel platforms, inspiring Gen Z to explore the world in ways that are adventurous, meaningful, and community-driven. Founded with the vision of making authentic travel experiences accessible to all, Go4Explore is bridging the gap between traditional travel agencies and the new-age demands of young travelers. From budget-friendly backpacking adventures to immersive cultural experiences and curated group trips, the platform is enabling Indian youth to embrace the freedom of exploration without the constraints of conventional travel. Transforming the Travel Culture for Gen Z Unlike older generations who prioritized luxury or convenience, Gen Z seeks authenticity, connections, and memorable stories. Go4Explore has tapped into this cultural shift by: * Curating Offbeat Journeys - From hidden Himalayan villages to unexplored coastal escapes, the company takes travelers beyond the usual tourist map. * Fostering a Vibrant Community - Through group expeditions, treks, and digital communities, Go4Explore connects like-minded travelers, transforming solo journeys into lifelong friendships. * Balancing Affordability with Experience - Understanding that Gen Z values smart spending, the platform offers cost-effective packages without compromising on adventure or safety. * Promoting Sustainability - By encouraging eco-conscious practices, local collaborations, and responsible tourism, Go4Explore is building a travel culture that respects both nature and communities. Building India's Youth Travel Movement Go4Explore has grown from being just a travel brand into a youth movement. Today, thousands of young Indians choose Go4Explore not just for its trips, but for the sense of belonging it creates. Be it solo backpackers discovering themselves, students looking for quick getaways, or professionals seeking to break away from urban chaos, the platform caters to diverse travel aspirations. A spokesperson from Go4Explore shared, "Travel is no longer about ticking destinations off a list--it's about experiences that shape identity, relationships, and perspectives. Gen Z is at the heart of this shift, and Go4Explore is proud to be their trusted partner in making every journey count." Looking Ahead With India witnessing a surge in experiential and youth-led travel, Go4Explore is scaling rapidly. The company is expanding its itineraries across India and international destinations, offering flexible travel plans and strengthening its digital presence. Its community-first approach ensures that every trip becomes more than a journey--it becomes a story worth sharing. As the travel industry evolves, Go4Explore's focus on authenticity, inclusivity, and sustainability positions it as a trailblazer for India's Gen Z travelers. By redefining the meaning of exploration, the brand is not just organizing trips--it is powering a generational revolution in travel. About Go4Explore Go4Explore is India's ultimate youth travel partner, specializing in adventurous, offbeat, and community-driven travel experiences. With a mission to inspire Gen Z to explore the world on their own terms, the platform blends affordability, safety, and unforgettable memories. From backpacking across India to global expeditions, Go4Explore is creating a movement that celebrates freedom, exploration, and community.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Time of India
U'khand sees 30% surge in disaster toll, deadliest in recent yrs
Dehradun: Uttarakhand has seen an over 30% rise in disaster-related casualties this year, making 2025 the deadliest in recent years even as the monsoon is far from over, according to data from the state emergency operation centre (SEOC). So far, 239 people have been affected—61 confirmed dead, 84 missing, and 94 injured. The toll has already surpassed last year's 110 casualties (82 dead and 28 missing) and exceeded the figures from 2023, when nearly 100 lives were lost in weather-related incidents. The figures are now approaching those of 2021, when 298 people died and over 50 went missing in natural calamities. That year, a flash flood in Chamoli, triggered by a rock-ice avalanche, killed 204, making it the second-worst disaster after the 2013 Kedarnath tragedy, when thousands perished. Experts warn that while the Himalayan terrain makes the state inherently disaster-prone, the rising scale of loss underscores shortcomings in planning and preparedness. "Landslides, cloudbursts and other heavy rain-linked disasters will continue in the hills due to the topography. What is important is whether we are learning from these incidents and adopting mitigation measures to minimise human loss," said disaster adaptation expert and former Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) executive director Piyoosh Rautela. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo One of this year's worst calamities was the Aug 5 flash flood in Dharali, a village near the Gangotri highway in Uttarkashi. Triggered by an extreme weather event in the upper catchment, it destroyed homes, fields and infrastructure. Official records confirm one death, but around 68 remain missing, including 25 Nepali workers who were engaged in local projects. Rescue efforts have been hampered by huge boulders, unstable slopes and a temporary lake in Harsil that continues to pose risks of breaching. Calling Dharali a "classic example" of misplaced habitation, Rautela stressed the need to enforce a flood zonation plan in "true letter and spirit" to prevent such tragedies. With the monsoon still underway, officials fear the toll could climb further, accentuating the urgency for stronger disaster management in the Himalayan state. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Economic Times
10 hours ago
- Economic Times
When mountains trap storms: The deadly mechanics of cloudbursts which have killed over 700 in Pakistan
Synopsis Pakistan is reeling from one of the deadliest monsoon seasons in recent memory, with more than 700 people killed since June. Flash floods triggered by cloudbursts have flattened homes, swept away farmland, and paralysed Karachi. Scientists link these disasters to rising temperatures and unstable weather patterns fuelled by climate change. From glacial melt in the Himalayas to torrential rains in Sindh, the human and economic toll is growing. Authorities warn more intense downpours could hit until mid-September. ANI Pakistan's Karachi reels under unprecedented monsoon rains; six killed, flights hit Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported that 706 people have died in rain-related incidents since 26 June. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remains the worst affected with 427 deaths, followed by Punjab with 164, Sindh with 29, Balochistan with 22, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir with 56, and eight in than 25,000 people have been rescued so far, NDMA chief Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik said. The agency has warned that heavy monsoon spells are likely to continue until 10 September. In Karachi, torrential rains over two days inundated major roads, broke drainage systems, and left large parts of the city without power and internet. At least eight people were killed in separate incidents, including electrocutions and house Murtaza Wahab declared a rain emergency and urged residents to remain indoors. 'It is expected to rain again from 2pm onwards. I would request people to avoid movement and if it starts to rain, please stay put where you are whether it is your office or residence,' he at Jinnah International Airport were delayed, cancelled, or diverted. Authorities deployed 26 de-watering pumps to clear standing water, while several bypasses and main roads were closed. Addressing a press conference, Wahab acknowledged the scale of the crisis. 'Climate change is a reality. If you want to make someone a target of criticism and say whatever you want, you can. But, you can see how huge a challenge climate change is for any government, state, or administration around the world.'The devastation has been worsened by cloudbursts, sudden downpours that unleash more than 100 millimetres of rain in an hour over a small area. These events are often described as 'rain bombs' because of their explosive nature.'Mountains create conducive conditions where the rapid updraft movement of air happens,' said Dr Sandeep Pattnaik, Associate Professor at the School of Earth, Ocean and Climate Sciences, IIT Bhubaneswar.'Because atmospheric instability is often caused by the mixing of different air masses, particularly over the northwestern Himalayan mountainous region, it leads to the rapid and large-scale accumulation of water vapour over certain locations.'He explained that when this water vapour builds up beyond a threshold, the clouds collapse. 'Once the excess accumulation of this water vapour and associated hydrometeors, called water loading, exceeds a certain threshold, the cloud is no longer able to hold that water, hence it releases large amounts of water over a short period.'As reported by Reuters, Fahad Saeed, a senior climate scientist at Berlin-based Climate Analytics, said that in the mountains of northern Pakistan, the warm monsoon system coming from the east was meeting colder air coming from the west, from the subtropical jet stream - a high-altitude weather system that originates in the warming is pushing this jet stream further south in summer, he said, where it can now combine with the lower-level clouds of the monsoon in Pakistan, forming a tower of clouds which then generatesg intense intense rainfall, though triggered by different local factors, takes place around the world, such as the floods in Texas in July, when more than 300 mm of rain fell in less than an hour, sending a wall of water down the Guadalupe Buner district, a single cloudburst claimed as many as 300 lives. Flash floods and landslides destroyed entire villages, while boulders crashing down steep slopes reduced homes to one case, 24 members of a family in Qadar Nagar died on the eve of a wedding when their house was swept away. Umar Khan, the head of the family, said he survived only because he was not home at the time. Four of his relatives are still India has faced similar disasters this season. Uttarakhand was struck by a cloudburst earlier this month, flooding the Himalayan village of Dharali. The event revived memories of the 2013 Uttarakhand floods, which killed more than 6,000 people and affected over 4,500 a cloudburst happens over flat land, the rainfall spreads over a wide area, so the impact is less severe, said Pradeep Dangol, a senior hydrology research associate at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, based in in steep mountain valleys, the rain is concentrated into narrow streams and slopes, with the potential to trigger flash floods and landslides, he Himalayas, Karakoram, and Hindu Kush mountain ranges combine with moist monsoon winds to create conditions ripe for cloudbursts. Scientists say these events are becoming more frequent as the atmosphere warms.'Whenever an event happens, it is a multidimensional issue. One thing is very sure, because the atmosphere gets warmer, erratic patterns develop. A rise in temperature leads to holding more water vapour, and it will lead to more rainfall,' Dr Pattnaik told India Khan, a former special secretary for climate change in Pakistan, warned: 'Rising global temperatures have supercharged the hydrologic cycle, leading to more intense and erratic rainfall. In our northern regions, warming accelerates glacier melt, adds excessive moisture to the atmosphere, and destabilises mountain slopes. In short, climate change is making rare events more frequent, and frequent events more destructive.'Cloudbursts remain almost impossible to forecast. Asfandyar Khan Khattak, an official from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, admitted: 'There was no forecasting system anywhere in the world that could predict the exact time and location of a cloudburst.'Even in areas with early warning systems, such as Buner district, the sudden intensity of the rainfall struck before alerts could be organisations in northern Pakistan advise residents to avoid building near rivers or valleys, to keep emergency kits ready, and to postpone travel in hilly regions during heavy rains. They also stress the importance of afforestation and widening riverbanks to absorb excess warming has already breached the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold set in the Paris Agreement. The Himalayas could lose up to 80 per cent of their glaciers by the end of this century if current trends Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast further heavy rainfall in Sindh, Balochistan, and parts of Punjab in the coming days, warning of possible urban flooding in Karachi, Thatta, Badin, Tharparkar, and rains continue and floodwaters rise, Pakistan's struggle underlines a larger truth. The monsoon is shifting, becoming less predictable and more destructive, and its impacts are falling hardest on those least prepared to withstand them.
