|
|
|
|
|
Student’s body recovered from Pandoh dam
Govt flayed for clean chit to Larji dam staff
Shanta demands case against Larji officials
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Rain for third day triggers landslides, mercury dips
Thunderstorm, hail hit power supply in Palampur
Farmers hail pre-monsoon showers
Showers bring respite from blistering heat
Downpour brings cheer to farmers, locals in Kangra
Supreme Court puts counselling on hold
Bus fell into gorge after steering part broken, says report
HPU non-teaching employees defer stir
2 arrested under NDPS Act
Nauni varsity staff on the warpath
England resident held in Dharamkot
IG inspects murder scene
Minor boy electrocuted
Special facilities for promoting tourism
Mild tremors in Kangra district
Tikkam Singh Negi conferred with Bharat Jyoti Award
|
|
Holiday horror in Mandi Dharam Prakash Gupta Tribune News Service
Pandoh (Mandi), June 18 The body of P Venkata Durga Tarun was seen floating on the surface of the water in the Pandoh dam, while the body of an unidentified person was located near the Khoti Nallah in the upstream of the river. With the recovery of the body of another student, after 24 students and a tour co-coordinator were swept away in the Beas after the sudden release of water from the Larji dam on June 8, nine bodies have been recovered ,while 15 students and a co-tour coordinator are still missing. Additional District Magistrate (ADM), Mandi, Pankaj Rai said, “The body of the student was seen floating in the dam and was brought out by the search team.” The body was identified by staff members of the college at the dam site and has been sent to the Andhra Bhawan in New Delhi. The kin of the student left for their native place yesterday, where they were informed about the recovery of the body. The ADM said, “The unidentified body seems to be of an adult person and not linked with the mishap.” The parents of the victims have already requested the Telangana Government to complete their DNA tests in Hyderabad so that the bodies beyond recognition could be identified. The search operation continued in the Pandoh dam.
|
|
Govt flayed for clean chit to Larji dam staff
Kangra, June 18 State secretary Sandeep Minhas and joint secretary Vishal Deep of the Himalaya Niti Abhiyan took an exception to this decision and said, “It is most inappropriate and embarrassing decision. It is a straight case of murder of 24 students by the dam authorities.” The state government had also constituted an investigation committee. So how could the government give a clean chit to the dam authority even before the submission of the committee report,
they said. They charged the state government for indirectly supporting the dam officials for the incident. |
|
Shanta demands case against Larji officials
Dharamsala, June 18 He said the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board’s clean chit to the officials involved in the incident was irresponsible. Tourism in Himachal Pradesh had been badly affected due to the incident. Besides this, bus accidents had become common. There was something wrong with either the policy of the government or governance, Shanta alleged. Shanta, who is in charge of the BJP in Punjab, said the defeat of the SAD-BJP alliance was expected. There was anger among people of Punjab against the government. Before elections, he had suggested to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal that both BJP and SAD should sack two ministers each. This would have helped in beating the anti-incumbency factor. However, it was not done. He had submitted the report to party president Rajnath Singh before election that there was anti-incumbency against the SAD-BJP alliance in Punjab. It was a matter of concern for the SAD-BJP that while the NDA had swept elections across the country, it had faced a debacle in Punjab. They had formed a committee under BJP leader Balramji Dass Tandon to look into the reasons. The committee would also look into the reasons as to why the urban voters in Punjab had distanced itself from the BJP. The report would be submitted to the party high command, he said. When asked if there would be reshuffle of BJP ministers in Punjab, Shanta said it was possible. Shanta Kumar also said the BJP would work in coordination with the Congress government in the state for the development. There should be no bitterness on the issue of development. When asked about his being inducted in the Cabinet, Shanta Kumar said he was not aiming for the post. He was happy that the BJP had got a historic mandate and voted to a majority on its own. Shanta held a meeting of BJP workers at Dharamsala for the first time after being elected as MP. He thanked the voters for giving him a historic mandate.
|
|
|
Rain for third day triggers landslides, mercury dips
Shimla, June 18 Rain triggered landslides in Shimla as a huge tree was uprooted between Oakover, official residence of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Chotta Shimla, blocking the road and causing inconvenience to people. Intermittent heavy showers lashed state capital Shimla which was wettest in the region with 57 mm rain while Palampur, Jubarhatti and Mandi recorded 36 mm, 35 mm and 30 mm rains till evening. Sundernagar and Jogindernagar in Mandi district recorded 24 mm and 19 mm rain while Renukaji received 18 mm rain, followed by Chail 17 mm, Pandoh, Dharamsala and Solan 16 mm each, Bhuntar 12 mm and Fagu and Rajgarh 11 mm each. While monsoons were expected to arrive by the end of the month, scattered rain at isolated places would continue for the next four days while heavy rain would lash the state on June 24 and 25, said Manmohan Singh, director, local Met office. The maximum temperatures dropped by a few notches and Una, which was hottest in the region, recorded a high of 39.8°C against 42°C yesterday while Bhunter registered a maximum temperature at 29°C against 36.4°C yesterday, a drop of 7.4°C. Sundernagar recorded the day temperature at 33.9°C, followed by Nahan 33.7°C, Solan 32.5°C, Dharamsala 30.4°C, Shimla 27.4°C and Kalpa 24.4°C, a fluctuation of two to three degree since yesterday. However, the minimum temperature stayed above normal and Una was warmest during the night with a low of 26.6°C, followed by Sundernagar 21.8°C, Dharamsala 21.2°C, Bhuntar 20.5°C, Nahan 20.2°C, Solan 19°C, Palampur 18.5°C, Shimla 17°C and Manali 15°C. Kalpa recorded a minimum temperature at 14.2°C while Keylong recorded a high of 12.4°C, eight degrees above normal.
|
|
|
Thunderstorm, hail hit power supply in Palampur
Palampur, June 18 Several parts of the town remained without power for 10 to 12 hours as heavy trees fell on power lines at different places. HPSEBL executive engineer VS Thakur said engineering staff worked round the clock and power supply was restored in all parts of the town by morning. Residents welcomed the first monsoon shower and heaved a sigh of relief from the scorching heat. Rain would help the IPH Department in reducing water crises in lower areas of Palampur where a number of water sources had gone dry. A spokesman of HP Agriculture University said with timely rain, sowing of maize and paddy would pick up in the hills. He said pre-monsoon showers were likely to continue for another two days in the region.
|
|
|
Farmers hail pre-monsoon showers
Kullu, June 18 The sudden onset of pre-monsoon showers has flooded many tributaries of the Beas. The rain did not hamper the movement of tourists at Manali and Marhi. The rain was welcomed by orchardists as they claim that mild showers during this period were beneficial for vegetables and fruits. The flights from the Kullu airport at Bhuntar were also delayed due to bad weather while operations by both Air India to Delhi and Himalayan Bulls to Chandigarh were carried out smoothly. |
|
|
Showers bring respite from blistering heat
Kangra, June 18 Trees were uprooted, roofs were damaged and sign boards were damaged by the winds. The morning was sunny, hot and humid, but dark clouds overcast the sky by afternoon. Deputy Commisioner, Kangra, C Palrasu said there was no loss of life or property anywhere in the district due to rain and storm. The Kangra valley also experienced heavy rain last night. The power supply was disrupted for few hours. Reports of rain were received from Dharamsala, Gaggal, Palampur, Maranda, Nagrota Bagwan, Dehra, Jwalamukhi and Shahpur. Normal life disrupted
in Mandi
Mandi: Torrential rain and strong winds in Balh area disrupted life today. Several trees were uprooted and fell on the national highway No. 21 at Kansa Chowk disrupting vehicular movement for some time. The traffic on the Dadaur–Chail road remained closed for two hours. Rain also damaged tomato crop in the area. |
|
|
Downpour brings cheer to farmers, locals in Kangra
Nurpur, June 18 The present rain is considered to be beneficial
for the sowing of maize crop. The sowing of maize crop is likely to begin
from tomorrow. Farmers waiting for the pre-monsoon showers cheered the downpour. Reports of sufficient
rain have been received from Nurpur, Kandwal, Jassur, Rehan, Fatehpur,
Jawali, Bharmar and Gangth. Meanwhile, SS Rana, Associate Director, Regional Horticulture Research Centre, said the rain was beneficial for
the mango crop and would minimise the attack of mango hopper. “Apart from mango, the rain will be beneficial for citrus fruits, litchi and amla crops. It will increase the size and quality of the fruit,” he said. |
|
|
HP medical admission R Sedhuraman Legal Correspondent
New Delhi, June 18 Taking note of the fact that the counselling had begun on June 11 on the directives given by the Himachal Pradesh High Court in its May 28, 2014, judgment, an apex court Bench comprising Justices Vikramajit Sen and Shiva Kirti Singh said, “Counselling shall be held in abeyance till further orders.” The summer vacation Bench of the SC also stayed the operation of the HC verdict till the next date of hearing of an appeal challenging the HC ruling. The apex court issued notice on the appeal filed by Anurag Thakur and others and directed the government and the colleges to file their response within two weeks. The HC had quashed the counselling held by the two colleges under the 66.6 per cent quota meant for in-service candidates and directed holding of fresh counselling strictly in order of merit based on the state-merit list. “The candidates belonging to both sub-groups, that is, regular GDOs and contractual GDOs (including appointees of RKS) shown in the merit list shall be called for counselling one-by-one in order of their merit,” the HC had ruled.
|
|
|
2 die as bus rolls into gorge
Shimla, June 18 The bus ferrying 11 passengers was on its way from Kathiyana to Shimla and most of the passengers were office goers. The deceased were identified as Hansraj Katoch (48), the driver of the bus, and Achharoo (56). The injured were immediately rushed to IGMC hospital. Another passenger Yashpal received severe head injuries. The CM also expressed grief and said magisterial probe would be ordered. Dinesh Malhotra, DC, Shimla, has announced Rs 25,000 to the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 10,000 to each injured person.
|
|
|
Bus fell into gorge after steering part broken, says report
Shimla, June 18 At least, 15 passengers were killed and 59 injured. The second factor that added to the accident was overloading as 74 passengers were travelling in the bus. Beside the inquiry report, the site inspection also revealed that the Sainj-Balghar-Chopal road is a single lane, narrow and full of blind and black spots and there was no parapet and crash barrier at the site of the accident. The victims also told the inquiry officer that old buses were sent on the Theog-Chopal area. The inquiry was conducted by Theog SDM MR Bhardwaj who submitted the report to Deputy Commissioner, Shimla, Dinesh Malhotra, for further action. The inquiry examined the statements of 40 victims and witnesses and examined the ill-fated bus. The roof separated from the bus mid-air and passengers, including more than 30 school students, fell into the nearby bushes that acted as life-saver, the inquiry found. While the conductor died in the accident, the driver was injured and he was reported to be unwell and th einquiry officer could not quiz him.
|
|
|
HPU non-teaching employees defer stir
Shimla, June 18 The panel had served an ultimatum to the university to fill vacant posts of teachers and non-teaching employees and had sought the intervention of the Chief Minister to end financial crunch JCC president Hiteshwar Singh Thakur, said: “We will wait for the outcome of the EC meeting. In case nothing positive comes out of it, the JCC will meet again on June 26 to announce future plan.” The JCC took up the excerpts of the Executive Council meeting, headed by Vice-Chancellor ADN Bajpai, with Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh last week and apprised him of the financial crisis gripping the university. The CM had assured help. Hiteshwar said the future action would depend on the outcome of the EC meeting and response of the government to the demands of the university. He said the vacant posts of teachers and non-teaching staff should be immediately filled through promotion and fresh recruitments be made against the posts falling vacant. With 14 teachers scheduled to retire on June 30 next, the number of vacant posts of teachers would go up to 246, while 62 non-teaching employees are in line for retirement. Non-teaching employees’ leader, Chaudhry Waryam Singh Bains, who is also the elected member of the Executive Council said: “The government grant should be increased to
Rs 95 crore from Rs 69 crore. Also a mechanisim should be evolved for statutory funding of the university keeping in view its committed recurring financial requirements.” “The university is not a commercial organisation but a public service body for imparting quality education to the students at low cost. In case the government drags its feet, the survival of the university will become difficult,” Waryam said. “Even the examination wing is facing acute staff crunch and no efforts are being made to provide staff as per the recommendations of Wilson Committee,” he said. “The university has also dithered in strengthening the International Centre for Distance Education and Open Learning (ICDEOL), which is the main earning department,” he said. Other demands, included formulation of uniform transfer policy, one time relaxation for promotion to left-out categories, creation of posts of joint and additional registrar, construction of residential accommodation for non-teaching staff, grant of secretariat pay scale or to revive UGC pay structure and scrapping of outsourcing system.
|
|
|
Guv administers oath to new CJ
Shimla, June 18 He took over as the Acting Chief Justice of the HP HC on November 27, 2013. Justice Mir hails from Rajpora village in Pulwama district of Jammu & Kashmir. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, Cabinet ministers, Judges of the High Court, senior officers of the state and members of the Bar were present on the occasion.
|
|
|
2 arrested under NDPS Act
Kangra, June 18 The police sources said Sunil Kumar alias Sonu, a resident of Kaswa Kohasan, was nabbed at the Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Chowk, Nehran Pukher. About 135 gm charas was recovered from his possession. In another case, the Kangra police, on a tip off, raided the residence of Puneet Kumar on the outskirts of this town on Monday evening. He was arrested for indulging in charas trade and 105 gm charas was recovered from his possession. Mohinder Singh Manhas, Kangra Station House Officer (SHO) said following the tip off a police party, headed by him, laid a trap in the Bhatta Road locality and found Parveen indulging in the charas trade. Manhas said he was produced before the court of Judicial Magistrate, First Class, here yesterday and was remanded to police custody till June 20. Both were arrested under Sections 20-61-85 of the NDPS Act. |
|
Nauni varsity staff on the warpath
Solan, June 18 JCC chairman OP Thakur said: “Since our demands have remained unfulfilled for the past one year and none of the executive bodies have been invited to redress our grievances, we have now given 10 days’ time to the authorities to accept our demands failing which we will hold a rally in protest.” The main demands, included release of secretarial pay to all eligible university employees on the analogy of the state secretariat and HP University, Shimla, withdrawal of notification of surplus staff and grant of revised retirement gratuity of 10 lakh along with the release of pending dues of arrears of DA/HRA, 4-9-14 scale, pending since past 50 months. The employees also demanded additional funds for Pension Corpus Fund and asserted that no funds were available under this head presently as no contribution had been made since January this year. Issues such as filling up vacant posts of ministerial and technical staff, DPCs for promotions and review of decision regarding clubbing of departments of both colleges also fared on their agenda. The employees lambasted the university authorities for their failure in taking up the case of grim financial health of university with the state government effectively. They said wasteful expenditure such as buying an Innova and installing ACs and LCDs at the VC’s bungalow had further strained the university at a time when the pending arrears of 50 months were yet to be paid. The committee members said as much as ~70 crore were yet to be paid to employees.
|
|
England resident held in Dharamkot
Dharamsala, June 18 Earlier also, many foreigners have been found staying in Dharamkot area even after the expiry of their visa. They were deported by the orders of a local court. One held with charas
The Dehra police have arrested Sunil Kumar, a resident of the Nehran Pukher area, and recovered 135 gm charas from him. He has been booked under the NDPS Act. |
|
IG inspects murder scene
Una, June 18 While the police declined to comment on the line of investigation, SP Anupam Sharma said some vital clues had come to light. He, however, said the forensic examination of the body, conducted at the Tanda medical college, was still awaited. The SP said the IG had given specific line of investigation to be followed in the case. Virender Singh, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), also accompanied the IG during investigations. Nisha Devi’s body was found in semi-burnt condition on Monday evening. Her body also bore injuries, reportedly inflicted by a sharp weapon. The victim was married, but was living with her parents for the last four years.
|
|
Minor boy electrocuted
Kangra, June 18 His body was handed over his relatives after the postmortem. The police are investigating the case under Section 174, CrPC. |
|
Special facilities for promoting tourism
Shimla, June 18 Bharmauri said they would explore the possibilities of providing funds under the Skill Development Allowance and MNREGA schemes for imparting training to local youth. He said the government was committed to exploiting eco-tourism potential in the state and various incentives and facilities were being provided for the purpose. But it would be ensured that the precious environment of Himachal was not disturbed. Kewal Singh Pathania, Vice-Chairman, HP State Forest Development Corporation, said the services of consultants should be taken for the promotion of eco-tourism in a systematic and planned way. |
|
Mild tremors in Kangra district
Kangra, June 18 Dr Susheel Kumar, Head, Geophysics Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, said tremors were felt at 11.01 pm. The epicentre of the earthquake was in south of Chamba. He said it was a mild earthquake with its geographical location 32.2 N, 76.2 E and lasted for a few seconds. Tremors were felt at Palampur, Dharamsala, McLeodganj, Chamba, Holi and higher reaches of the Dhauladhar mountain range, besides Kangra valley and Chamba. A mild earthquake was felt in the valley at 7.30 am today which lasted for a few seconds. Kangra DC C Palrasu said no loss of property had been reported, but panic spread among residents. Some houses in higher reaches of Kangra and Chamba developed cracks.— OC |
|
Tikkam Singh Negi conferred with Bharat Jyoti Award
Shimla, June 18 The award was presented to Negi by former governor of Tamil Nadu and Assam Dr Bhishma Narain Singh at a seminar on Economic Growth and National Integration in Delhi on June 12 for his outstanding service, achievement and contribution in the field of education, social service, environment protection and preservation of art and culture. Born in Chhitkul, the last border village of India at a height of 11,320 metre, Negi was the first graduate and post-graduate from his area. As an educationist, he was instrumental in starting Information Technology education at schools. He equipped the schools with ICT labs to enhance the teaching-learning process and encouraged tribal and students of weaker sections to join professional colleges for which government offers attractive scholarships. As an environmentalist, Negi opposed cutting of trees by villagers and Army men deployed in border areas for their fuel needs after faces strong opposition. He wrote to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest and HP Vidhan Sabha to prevent the illegal practice. As a result, the government started supplying kerosene and coal to the Army and para-military force in that region.
|
|
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
Two bodies, one of a student of the VNR Vignana Jyothi College of Engineering and Technology, Hyderabad, washed away in the Beas on June 8, and another of an unidentified person, were recovered.
MP from Kangra Shanta Kumar has termed the death of 24 engineering students from Andhra Pradesh as murder.
Most parts of the state received moderate to heavy rain as pre-monsoon showers lashed the region for the third day today, causing marginal fall in the mercury.
Rain triggered landslides in Shimla as a huge tree was uprooted between Oakover, official residence of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Chotta
Shimla, blocking the road and causing inconvenience to people.
Palampur and its adjoining areas experienced first
pre-monsoon showers accompanied by high-velocity winds and thunderstorm yesterday night.
Several parts of the town remained without power for 10 to 12 hours as heavy trees fell on power lines at
different places. HPSEBL executive engineer VS Thakur said engineering staff worked round the clock and power supply was restored in all parts of the town by morning.
