Ladakh Announces Sankoo as Its Eighth District

The administration of Ladakh has revealed the establishment of Sankoo as the eighth district within the Union Territory. This decision was ratified by Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena. The announcement was made on 16 October, fulfilling a long-held demand from residents in the Sankoo area of Kargil district. The initiative is in line with the vision of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas', as articulated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Lieutenant Governor Saxena announced this via a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. The administration also expressed gratitude for the constructive participation of various local organisations that supported the change. This development is seen as a significant milestone for the local population that has long aspired for this administrative shift. The Lieutenant Governor highlighted the pivotal role of leaders from local organisations such as Anjuman-e-Sahib Zaman, specifically acknowledging Syed Mohammad Razvi, Sheikh Sadiq Balaghi, and others for their contributions. Prior to this announcement, on 27 April, Saxena had given the green light for the formation of five additional districts—Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar, and Drass—bringing the total number of districts in Ladakh to seven. Ladakh became a Union Territory in 2019 following the implementation of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, which bifurcated the state into two distinct Union Territories. The region is renowned for its rich historical heritage, including numerous prehistoric rock art sites that provide insights into thousands of years of human activity.