Sikkim witnesses over 17 lakh tourist arrivals in 2025
Gangtok (PTI): Sikkim recorded more than 17 lakh tourist arrivals in 2025, up by over 82,000 in the previous year, but the number of foreign visitors declined sharply, an official said on Wednesday.
Compared to 2024, when the state had witnessed 15,40,421 domestic tourist footfalls, the number increased to 16,35,650 in the last year.
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The count of foreign visitors declined to 71,710 in 2025 from 84,710 in the previous year.
Tourism Department Additional Chief Secretary CS Rao said efforts are underway to attract more foreign visitors and strengthen sustainable and responsible tourism practices in the state.
Explaining the reason behind the drop in foreign tourist arrivals, he said extensive road damage in October, particularly along NH-10, had adversely affected the travel plans of visitors.
He further stated that if road conditions across the state, including NH-10, continue to improve and remain stable, Sikkim can expect nearly 20 lakh tourist arrivals in the current year.
Rao also attributed the growth in domestic tourist count to the growing preference of visitors for the Himalayan state.
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Bengaluru police debunks viral video claiming ‘zombie drug’; Here’s what they said ?
A viral video claiming the presence of “zombie drugs” in Bengaluru has been debunked following an investigation by the Bangalore City Police.
The video, which circulated widely on social media platforms, showed a man in a disoriented state and was shared with claims that a dangerous new drug had entered the city.
It was reportedly filmed near a college in the Bagalur area, where the individual was seen standing still with little response to his surroundings.
In a release, the police said the video had come to their notice, following which personnel from the Bagalur Police Station traced and secured the individual near Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology.
He was then subjected to a medical examination.
According to the police, medical reports showed that no known narcotic or psychotropic substances were detected.
The police said the individual is suffering from arthritis and had consumed prescribed pain medication along with alcohol, which led to his disoriented condition as seen in the video.
Further inquiry found that the individual had come to Bengaluru in search of livelihood and has been residing in the city for the past three months. Further investigation is ongoing.
The police urged the public not to share unverified or misleading information on social media, stating that such content can create unnecessary panic and harm individuals’ reputation.
They also warned that strict action would be taken against those spreading false information or rumours.
