R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

DEHRADUN

Dehradun
Guv, CM extend Children’s Day greetings: Uttarakhand Governor Margaret Alva has greeted children on the occasion of Children’s Day, paying tributes to the first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. She said Nehru was popular among children as “Chacha Nehru” due to his great love for them. The Governor said not only on Children’s Day but throughout the year, programmes and schemes for students should be implemented, especially for the underprivileged children. Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister BC Khanduri has also greeted children on the occasion of Children’s Day. — TNS

Kumaon Briefs

Surprise checks in seed outlets:A team of officials from the Horticulture and Agriculture Departments carried out surprise checks in outlets selling seeds, chemical fertiliszers and insecticides in the Ramnagar and Bailpadav areas of Nainital district. The team collected 14 samples that have been sent for verification with regards to their purity. The checks were carried out to prevent the sale of spurious seeds and fertilisers during the Rabi season. The checks followed orders given at the district level on November 8 to carry out surprise checks across the district. Two teams have been constituted to carry out these checks.

3 teachers missing during raid: District Education Officer (DEO) Jeevan Singh Hyanki during his surprise visit to a government school in Bhimtal area on Saturday afternoon was shocked to find less than 15 students present out of the total strength of 277. These students too were not found to be studying. The DEO also found to his dismay that there was no clue about three teachers of the schools while those teachers present were also not engaged in teaching activities. Hyanki has sought an explanation from the erring teachers and the Block Education Officer.

Overbridge construction delayed: The incomplete construction of an overbridge near Hapur is causing delay in the rail traffic between Kumaon and the national capital. Some of the trains coming from Delhi are running late on this account. In fact, Ranikhet Express has been running late by several hours for the last two days. On Saturday, it arrived almost 11 hours late causing extreme hardship to the passengers wishing to travel to the hill areas of the region. The delay in plying of trains on the route is expected to be over in the next couple of days.

People threaten stir over power crisis: Residents of the Okhalkanda area of Nainital district are reeling under a power crisis on account of the low voltage. According to reports, several villages are undergoing unscheduled power cuts, others are experiencing a low-voltage power supply which is as good as a power cut since appliances are unable to function. Things have come to a pass that in several villages, people are resorting to lighting candles in the evening because the voltage is so low. The people residing in this remote area have threatened to launch an agitation if things do not improve soon.

(Compiled by Rajeev Khanna)