Shimla, January 28
The long-term transport plan formulated by the Town and Country Planning Department seeks to improve connectivity within the state by upgrading some of the existing roads and building new longitudinal roads and laying more rail lines.

The existing national highways are mostly latitudinal, running from the west to east and that leaves inner parts of the state with scanty road connectivity. The main objective of the plan is to shorten distances and ensure equitable distribution of roads with respect to population density by hierarchical rationalisation of the road network. As many as 21 roads have been proposed to be upgraded, mostly providing connectivity across the Shivaliks, outer Himalayas and central Himalayas.

The interior areas are proposed to be connected by boring tunnels across the Greater Himalayan ranges. In all five tunnels have been proposed under Sungari hill on the Aut-Gushaini-Baggipul-Nirmand - Rampur- road, under the Minikiani Pass across the Dhauladhar ranges on the McLeodganj-Kareri- Lam Dal-Darkund- Bhtog-Chamba road , under the Sach Pass on the Chamba-Koti-Tisa-Taraila-Satrundi-Brindabani- Killar road, under the Sajori Pass on the Palampur-Holi-Bharmour-Chhatrari-Bhatog road and under the Babbu Pass on the Jogindernagar-Ghatasani-Jhatingari-Barot-Sarwari -Kulu road.

The rail network is proposed to be strengthened by laying six news tracks, namely Pinjore-Baddi-Nalagarh-Ghanauli Solan-Bilaspur, Bhanupali-Bilaspur-Rampur, Jogindernagar-Mandi-Barmana,Una-Hamirpur-Bilaspur, and Hamirpur-Ranital. These will help connect some of the most populated areas and also provide links to the existing network.

The roads to be upgraded include Shimla-Jabbarhatti-Kunihar-Ramsehar-Nalagarh-Rupnagar, Bhararigaht-Kunihar-Dharampur-Sarhan-Nahan-Paonta Sahib-Yamuna Nagar, Pinjore-Nararaingarh-Kala Amb-Nahan, Pinjore-Baddi-Nalagarh-Swarghat, Shah Talai-Barasar-Dhneta-Nadaun,Ranital-Guler-Jwali-Nurpur, Una-Barsar-Bhota-Bhambla-Rewalsar-Mandi, Mehatpur- Una-Amb-Chintpurani-Nainpukhar-Dehra-Ranital, Pathankot-Banikhet-Chamba-Bharmour, Darla Mor-Beri, Ghaghas-Kandraur-Chalehli-Bhambla-Sarakaghat-Dharampur-Jogindernagar, Ghambar Khad-Ramsehar (bypass for passenger traffic), Sundernagar-Churag-Tattapani-Kufri-Chail-Kandaghat, Mandi-Karsog-Sainj, Chhaila-Neripul-Yashwantnagar-Oachghat-Kumarhatti, Ghandal-Basantpur-Kingal and Bhaderwah-Pangi-Kelylong-Kaza-Kaurick.

To provide logistic support the increasing number of vehicles plying in the state transport hubs have been proposed at Nauni near Bilaspur, Ghumarwin, Barmana, Shahtalai, Darlaghat, Bhota, Shimla, Jahu, Baddi, Hamirpur, Paonta, Nadaun, Una, Baijnath, Jasoor, Kulu, Chamba and Kotgarh.

Shimla, January 28
Five persons were killed and three seriously injured in two accidents in this district last evening.

Three persons were killed when a van (HP-06-2360) skidded off the road near Kufri last evening. While two persons, Bar Chand and Mela Ram, were killed on the spot, Rama Nand died at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC).

In another accident a truck (HP-063-7796) met with an accident at Rattanpur, near Jhakri, last evening. Two persons, Shishu Pal and Gopal Singh, died on the spot while Sanjeev, Fakir and Dharam Pal received serious injuries. The truck was on its way from Kumarsain to Mashobra when the mishap took place.

Bilaspur: Tractor-trolley driver Manoj Kumar was killed on the spot and two others Ashraf Ali and Jamaldin were injured seriously when their vehicle went out of control and suddenly turned turtle on the road and fell down into the gorge near Panjpiri, Suharghat, on National Highway-21 on Sunday.

Reports said the driver belonged to Jharkhand and the injured were from West Bengal. The tractor trolley was loaded with angle irons and was going to Darlaghat.

The injured have been rushed to the regional hospital here and a case has been registered.

Dharamsala, January 28
Hill state continues to be in the grip of cold wave despite a marginal increase in the minimum temperatures even as the higher altitude areas were still experiencing intermittent snowfall.

Overcast conditions were prevailing in the entire mid and lower hill areas of the state. Few areas of the tribal districts of Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti and Kullu districts received mild intermittent snowfall, early this morning.

Shimla and adjoining areas were under a thick layer of clouds throughout the day today after a bright sunny day, yesterday. In Dharamsala, the morning was greeted by sunshine but as the day progressed thick clouds engulfed the sky.

The Met office said Reckong Peo and Kalpa in Kinnaur district recorded a slight increase in the night temperatures at minus 9.8°C as compared to minus 12.6°C recorded yesterday

The minimum temperature at Shimla rose to 0°C from yesterday’s low of minus 2.6°C while it recorded a high of 6.7°C. The figures of temperature in Dharamsala were not known but practically the cold wave was almost the same as in the last two days. McLeodganj was engulfed with thick fog throughout the day. The Dhauladhar range received snowfall unabated.

Sundernagar recorded a minimum of 2.6°C and Bhuntar 3.2°C. In the lower areas Una was coldest at 0.5°C.

Met officials said the northwesterly winds blowing across the state were responsible for the biting cold wave conditions. These winds were also expected to bring mild snowfall at several places in the state that may also further intensify cold wave conditions.

Shimla, January 28
Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan arrived here today for the second phase of shooting of his film “Shoe bite”.

He will be here for about a week during which he will shoot at various locations in and around the state capital.

In the first phase the film was shot at Manali. As per original programme he was to arrive here yesterday. However, he went straight to UP to inaugurate a college opened at Barabanki in the name of his daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai. He came by road from Chandigarh and stopped at Barog for lunch.

He checked into Oberoi Cecil and did not have any engagements today. He will be seen in the role of a trekker in the film directed by Sujit Sirkar. Diya Mirza, who is playing the female lead role in the film, is also expected to arrive shortly.

Shimla, January 28
Governor V.S. Kokje today inaugurated the National Winter Games for special children with about 800 participants from 21 states across the country.

Inaugurating the championship Kokje said efforts must be made to encourage people with disabilities to take part in routine activities so that they could also lead a close-to-normal life. “We must try and provide them a congenial atmosphere where their abilities can be honed and they feel integrated with the rest of society,” he remarked.

The Governor lauded the Special Olympics, Bharat, for organising such events as these provided a useful forum for these special children to exhibit their talent, besides realising their potential and build their self-confidence. It was a very healthy sign that such activities were being organised for special children.

Special children from India had done very well at the Olympics in the past and hoped that they would win many more medals. Speaking on the occasion, Air Marshal Denzil Keelor, chairman, Special Olympics, Bharat, said that these special children must be accepted and respected in society so that they too could share the gifts of life with everyone.

“More than money what they want is that their abilities and not disabilities are recognised,” he remarked. Efforts would be made by Special Olympics, Bharat, to reach out to the rural areas as the ministry would provide more funds.

Mallika Nadda, chairperson, Special Olympics, Himachal Pradesh, said this was a movement in which every member of society must contribute with total commitment. She said that the national team for Special Olympics World Winter Games-2009 would be selected on the basis of the performance in the winter games national championships.

It is for the first time that India will send its team for winter sports like alpine skiing and speed skating at the Special Olympics World Winter Games-2009 to be held at Idaho, USA. Till now the Special Olympics, Bharat, had been sending its team only for the floor hockey discipline.

Despite the biting cold children from states like Orissa, Sikkim, Jharkhand, Bihar, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu took part in floor hockey games. A coaching camp will be held at Narkanda for alpine skiing, figure skating, snow board, snow showing and speed skating as India will send teams in these disciplines for the first time for the World Olympics.

Bilaspur, January 28
Himachal transport, housing, town and country planning minister Kishan Kapur has announced that all Himachal road transport corporation (HRTC) buses henceforward would provide reserved seats for journalists also, which were up till now meant and reserved for MLAs, MPs and freedom fighters. He said this would save journalists from the trouble of standing in queues in front of ticket counters on bus stands.

Kishan Kapur ordered officers of the HRTC to ensure that proper bus services should be available from Shimla to Bilaspur and back and also near by areas as the journalists complained that no bus service was available at evening hours.

He said the former Congress government has left behind the HRTC in a very bad shape and its economy is totally destroyed and it would take some time before this organisation is brought on the rails and it begins to serve the purpose for which it is actually meant. He said he has held a detailed meeting with high officers of the corporation and has asked them to take all possible steps to improve upon the present situation at the earliest.

Kapur agreed that most of the bus stands in the state were in very bad shape and some of them even lacked cleanliness and basic amenities but this has happened as the former government did not bother to provide facilities to common people and was only interested in benefiting a handful to individuals.

He said this had happened as the Bus Stand Management Authority had been totally neglected but now it would be revived and put into action to ensure much better maintenance and upkeep.

He gave an instance of BOT based Dharamsala bus stand and said that permission was granted for construction of a bus stand and car parking but actually a hotel and a commercial complex were built. He said this matter is now under investigation of the Central Empowered Committee and whatever decision this committee takes, would be acceptable to all.

He also said that in case any irregularity is found in any purchase or agreement done during the Congress regime, it would be properly investigated and action would be taken according to enquiry reports. He said in future the HRTC plans to run its own buses and the arrangements of lease based Volvo buses would be ended at the earliest.

Mandi, January 28
The police today conducted raids to arrest sub-contractor G.K. Rai (Sonu) engaged in the work of 2,051-MW Parbati hydro project in Kullu in connection with the recent murder bid on G. Lavilla, vice-president of the project-executing firm Gammon India Limited. The raids were conducted on the basis of clues provided by one of the three suspects arrested in connection with the case.

Meanwhile, the three suspects arrested earlier, Devender, Chuni Lal and Tajesvi, were produced before a judge in district courts today. The judge remanded them in judicial custody till February 11. Vinod Kumar, who was arrested earlier, was remanded in judicial custody till February 10.

During investigation, one of suspects revealed the name of Sonu. The disclosure has lent further credence to the “conspiracy theory”.

Mandi SP M. Chander Sekhar said, “The police has launched a manhunt to arrest Sonu. Rajinder Singh and the driver of the car are also being questioned.”

Mandi, January 28
The HPSEB Takniki Karamchari Sangh has accused the board management of large-scale bungling in the purchase of electronic meters and other machineries. But board has failed to provide the basic safety equipment for the linemen while the top-heavy management continues to spend lavishly at the cost of the board’s financial health, sangh alleged.

Addressing the press conference here he urged Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal to probe “all alleged scams and bungling committed in the board during the Congress regime.”

President of the takniki sangh Dev Raj Sharma alleged that board management purchased substandard meters and equipment at the cost of board’s exchequer during the last Congress regime, which had hit the board and consumers badly. The board had become top-heavy with eight chief engineers and over six legal advisers etc while it has just 15,000 technicians whereas it needs 25,000 for the proper functioning, they claimed.

They alleged that the board had been spending lavishly on purchase of substandard machinery and maintenance and other expenses of the top-heavy management while the field staff and linemen face the danger of electrocution, as they were not provided with basic safety protective gloves and other equipments in the state. Three to four cases of electric shocks are reported in the state everyday, involving linemen, Sharma added.

The leaders demanded that their TNP allowance should be brought at par with that of JEs at Rs 200 per month and all vacancies should be filled.

They warned the UPA and the state government that the sangh would oppose the trifurcation and privatisation of the board at any cost and demanded the repeal of the Electricity Act, 2003.

Sundernagar, January 28
The Community Health Centre, Ratti, witnessed a hectic activity today. The reason: Every visitor to the health centre wanted to see Jai Singh, a resident of Baggi who killed a leopard yesterday. Hundreds of persons from different walks of life descended on the hospital to have a glimpse of the braveheart. Jai Singh and members of his family were seen attending and narrating the whole episode to everyone who visited them.

Jai Singh is a lecturer in history at Government Senior Secondary School, Dalas, in Kullu district.

He said he was going to fetch water from a pond when a leopard attacked him. “I caught hold of the jaws of the animal and put my left hand into its mouth and thrust it as deep as I could,” he said. The animals inflicted injuries on other parts of his body during the fight. It took about 10 to 15 minutes to overpower the animal, he said. During the fight, the head of the animal was banged by him on a hard surface which ultimately led to its death.

A team of Forest official, headed by Sundernagar range officer Rajeev Sharma, also met Jai Singh at the hospital. The team assured him that he would be given compensation as per government norms. The interim instalment would be released after getting the medical report tomorrow.

A post-mortem examination was conducted on the body of the dead animal at Baggi Veterinary Dispensary. Later on, it was cremated in the presence of members of the committee formed as per the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act at Baggi village.

As per the post-mortem report, it was a five-and-half-foot-long male animal, weighing 30 kg, around 2 years in age. It was confirmed in the report that all teeth and nails of the animals had been removed from the body.

The range officer said there was a possibility that the crowd might have removed the teeth and nails of the animal. An FIR has been registered at the Balh police station under the Wild Life Protection Act.