Sikkim

An  earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter Scale shook Sikkim on 18 September, killing 40 alone in North Sikkim alone,  though many more are feared dead under the debris of buildings and houses.The earthquake in the landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayas, which borders West Bengal to the South, Nepal to the West, and Tibet and China to the north and East,  was located 68 km northwest of Sikkim’s capital Gangtok, at a depth of 19.7 km. According to the  Sikkim government Chungthan in North Sikkim was the worst affected area.[caption id="attachment_87814" align="alignleft" width="380" caption="The 6.8 magnitude earthquake in Sikkim, is the biggest quake in India since the Gujarat earthquake. Reuters"][/caption]Other parts of Sikkim that were affected were those in Western Sikkim and  Southern Sikkim  while Kalimpong in West Bengal was the other major town outside the state  that was severely damaged by the earthquake.The epicentre of the earthquake in Sikkim is Mangan, which is a lifeline for North Sikkim as it connects to the main highways that lead to the China border and the Nepal border. Mangan’s location  made it impossible for rescue operations  to be conducted on time  at distant villages as the connecting highways were blocked.Sikkim, which spans only 7000 sq km, was cut off after the quake  since the only national highway that connects the Himalayan state was closed after heavy rains followed by landslides.Although roads in Sikkim are often exposed to landslides and flooding by nearby streams, the roads, which are maintained by the Border Road Organisation, an offshoot of the Indian Army,  are significantly better than the equivalent in other Indian states.Sikkim is also one of the few states that has achieved   100 percent  rural electrification.Background:Sikkim gave up monarchy and became a state in the Union of India only  in April 1975Between 1947 and then, Sikkim was a special protectorate. The Indian government managed its external affairs, defence, diplomacy and communications, but the monarchy had autonomy in other matters.Sikkim is the least populous state in India and the second-smallest state after GoaSikkim’s accession to India is one of the biggest grievances China has against India because the former considered Sikkim a territory occupied by India till 2003.The opening of Nathu-la for cross-border trade with China in 2006 not only provided a fillip to the state’s economy but also helped thaw relations in the region.In recent years, the government of Sikkim has extensively promoted tourism, following which the state's revenue has increased 14-fold.Sikkim, because of its natural beauty is also known as a lover's paradise and an island of tranquil safety.Sikkim’s lifeline is the Teesta, which originates in Cholamu Lake in North Sikkim and unites with river Rangit, near Teesta Bazaar.