Sikkim had little to cheer about in 2011 as a devastating earthquake snuffed out lives of over 80 people and caused heavy loss to property and infrastructure even as the state witnessed a dip in tourist arrivals and insignificant border trade. The 6.8 magnitude earthquake on September 18 caused an estimated loss of Rs 7,000 crore. During his visit, Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh assured the state a Rs 1000 crore rehabilitation package.

Gangtok, Nov. 16: The National Commission for Minorities today urged the Sikkim government to review the two hydel projects on the Rathong Chu as the river was considered holy by the Buddhists.
The appeal came from commission member Spalzes Angmo, who looks after the interests of the Buddhists in the country on behalf of the panel.

Low-intensity tremors, which have continued to rock North Sikkim since a 6.8-magnitude earthquake devastated the region on September 18, killed two people in Dzongu on Saturday morning, delayed reports said.

A 3.2 magnitude tremor killed an 85-year-old resident at Nung and a 27-year-old man hailing from Lingdem Basti.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced on Thursday assistance of Rs.1,000 crore to Sikkim to meet the requirements of relief and rehabilitation in the wake of the earthquake that ravaged the Himalayan State on September 18 claiming 60 lives (official estimates provided earlier have since been revised) and causing injuries to hundreds and leaving behind a devastating trail of destruction.

Scientists say more tremors overdue in region
GANGTOK, 25 SEPT: Geologists in Sikkim warn that another earthquake in the region might lead to topographical and morphological changes in the region and may even affect the course of Teesta, the major river flowing through this region.
Even as the state is yet to recover from the devastating 18 September tremor measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale, scientists say that more earthquakes in the seismic region are overdue.

Evacuation continues, army drops food ration
Gangtok, Sept. 25: A landslide at 32 Mile on National Highway 31A today cut off Sikkim’s sole road link with the rest of the country for six hours.
The highway, near Singtam in East district, was cleared of debris a little after noon.

GANGTOK, Sept 21 – The loss from Sunday’s devastating earthquake in Sikkim is estimated to be around Rs 1 lakh crore, Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling said today, while urging the Centre to grant a special package.

“I think loss and damage will be not less than Rs 1 lakh crore. We will assess thoroughly the loss of properties,” Chamling said at a press conference here.
“We are trying to assess the (exact) loss. We will do it in about 10 days and will submit a report and ask for a special package from the Centre,” Chamling said.

There is still no trace of 120 residents of Bay village in North Sikkim, located between Lachung and Chungthang, after Sunday’s powerful quake even as a flash flood at Lachung poses a fresh threat of landslides.

“We find no trace as yet of 120 people living in 14 huts at Bay village as the area is totally devastated. There is a lot of debris ... and the residents have gone missing,” said National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team in-charge Nisith Upadhyay.