Governor returns to capital

Gangtok, Mar 9 (UNI) Sikkim Governor V Rama Rao today returned to the state capital here after spending around three months in his winter residence at Rampo on the Sikkim-West Bengal border.

Official sources here said the Governor would reside in the Circuit house.

In a notification, the government today ordered that the circuit house would serve as the official residence of the Governor till further order as the Raj Bhawan was badly damaged in the February 14 earthquake and declared unfit for the Governor to reside.

UNI BD SJC CA36 FOREST FIRE Forest fire damaged valuable medicinial plants in west Sikkim Gangtok, Mar 9 (UNI) Valuable medicinal plants spread over two hectare of land were damaged in a forest fire that erupted close to Tashiding monastery in West Sikkim district.

Official sources here said the fire, which occurred at around 10 AM yesterday, was controlled at 1500 hrs today.

The fire also damaged bushes and small trees spread over 80 hectare of land. However, there was no report of death of any wildlife in the fire.

This year more than 30 f incidents of forest fire have so far been reported due to the lack of rain keeping the forest officials on their toe.

UNI BD SJC AKP1851