MASSIVE: Centre announces opening up of Siachen for tourism & tourists

In a major move on Monday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has announced that the Siachen area is now open for tourists. Taking to Twitter, the defence minister said that Ladakh has tremendous potential in Tourism and informed that the area from the base camp of Siachen to Kumar post has been opened for tourism. He also expressed his hope that better connectivity in Ladakh will help in enhancing Tourism in Ladakh.

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Here is his tweet: 

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Rajnath Singh inaugurates Bridge at Shyok River

The defence minister visited Ladakh from Delhi on Monday. He also visited the forward areas with the Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS), General Bipin Rawat. Additionally, he inaugurated the Shyok River bridge. According to reports, the bridge is built over the Shyok River between Durbuk and Daulat Beg Oldie in eastern Ladakh. The purpose of the bridge is to reduce travel time by about half and help in the development of border areas and villages across the Shyok River. It is 45 km east of Line of Actual Control with China and is built at an altitude of 14,560 feet in the forward area of Ladakh region. Further, the bridge is built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). It is named after late Colonel Chewang Rinchen, a decorated officer of the Indian Army from Ladakh. Col Chewang Rinchen was awarded Maha Vir Chakra in 1952.

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Abrogation of Article 370

On August 5, the Government of India abrogated Article 370 that provided special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Additionally, the Narendra Modi-led-government bifurcated the state into two Union Territories, namely, Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh. Both Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh will officially acquire the status of UTs on October 31. 

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