• Youth's death: mob blocks traffic
• 2 held under Forest Act
• One killed in brawl

18 bridges damaged in flash floods
From Our Correspondent

KULU, Oct 20 — A loss of more than Rs 25 crore was caused by flash floods triggered by a cloudburst on the night of October 16 in this district and reports of more damages are still pouring in.

This was stated by Mr R.D. Dhiman, Deputy Commissioner, here today.

Eighteen bridges, include one on the national highway on Kulu-Manali road, were either washed away or damaged. The Deputy Commissioner said over 100 houses were reported to be damaged in Kulu district, 26 mini flour mills, 18 flow irrigation scheme and 13 water supply scheme projects were badly damaged. The town remained without drinking water for the fourth consecutive day today as the supply line from the source was washed away by the Sarwari Nullah.

The maximum damage was reported from the cloudburst hit zone from the Lug valley to the Shirar area or this district. It was learnt that a cloudburst happened somewhere on the mountain top which caused heavy floods in the Sarwari, Randrol and Shira nullah.

The Deputy Commissioner said agricultural land about 2000 acres was totally washed away. Electricity lines and poles in the Lug valley were reported to be washed. The worst hit areas are Lug valley, Randrol, Benchi, Raison, Shirsr Panchayat, Jalora, Sijnni and Khargaon in the district. More than 20 dwelling units were washed away in the Shirar panchayat.

The Deputy Commissioner said the administration had distributed Rs 2 lakh as immediate relief to victims and essential commodities were also being supplied. The revenue authorities are yet to assess the losses. The Deputy Commissioner said Rs 10 lakh had been allocated to the Department of Public Health and Irrigation to restore the drinking water supplies. However, no loss of life has so far been reported. The road and telecommunication link to Manali has been restored today. The link roads in the Lug valley, Kharahal valley, Pah Nullah valley and Manikaran valley are still blocked at many places, the Deputy Commissioner said.

The district administration has approached the Himachal Pradesh Government to grant aid to carry out repair works.

Mr Yuv Raj Faquiru, central secretary of the Himachal Pradesh BJP Tribal cell said that he had approached Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal to seek the immediate help.

According to a UNI report from Shimla, 24 persons, including five Army jawans, were stranded on the 16000-feet Leh-Manali road near the Baralacha pass in tribal Lahul-Spiti district following heavy snowfall for the last three days.

They were going in a truck from Leh to Manali. The GREF tried to rescue them, but due to heavy snowfall the stranded people were unable to proceed beyond Zing-Zing bar.

The district administration has requested the state government to arrange a helicopter to airlift them.

Forum orders Rs 15000 relief to farmer
From Our Correspondent

NAHAN, Oct 20 — The Sirmaur District Consumer Forum has directed the Himachal Agriculture Department and a private firm of Chandigarh to pay compensation of Rs 15000 as damages to Mr Asharam Sharma a farmer of Nainidhar village of the district for damage to his maize crop. Rs 5000 would also be paid as compensation for unsatisfactory services and Rs 1000 as litigation charges to Mr Asharam Sharma. Mr Sharma had complained to the forum that impressed by the advertisements and publicity by respondents he purchased maize seed variety known as "100 PG 2495" and sowed it in 10 bighas of his land. But after sprouting maize plants shrivelled up and most of them died. The plants which survived did not bear maize corns but black powdery substance appeared on them.

An examination at the Regional Research Centre of the HP Krishi Vishwavidyalaya Dhaula Kuana established that maize plants were afflicted by a disease known as turcicum. Mr Sharma alleged that seeds were of inferior quality and not immunised against disease. The department and the supplier firm contested his claim saying that nothing was wrong with the seed. Disease was contracted by maize as excess water got pooled in the fields due to heavy rain, they added.

The forum, however, rejected their pleas and concluded that it relied upon certificate issued by the gram pradhan of Nainidhar panchayat.

The certificate said that farmers of the same area, who sowed traditional varieties of seed had got a good yield of maize crop while Mr Asharam Sharma, who sowed PG 2495" variety of seed in his 10 bighas had to bear total loss of maize. The forum chairman Mr Gainda Singh and member N. Shaikh ordered the payment of damages and litigation charges within 30 days. The forum also clarified that the Agriculture Department could later make a claim for recovery of their part of damages from private firm of Chandigarh.

Woes of angora rabbit breeders
From Our Correspondent

KULU, Oct 20 — Officials of the Himachal Pradesh Wool Federation have been bleeding the coffers of the Federation and the angora rabbit breeders dry.

This was stated by Dr Kamal Kishore, President, Kulu Angora Rabbit Breeders Association, here in a press release. He alleged that the vested interests of a few officials have sidelined the interests of angora rabbit breeders. The continuous decline of wool prices from Rs 1000 to Rs 925 to Rs 850 was a matter of concern, he said.

It was learnt that the federation has accumulated 80 quintals of angora wool procured at the above given rates and now planning to dispose that off at the rate of Rs 700 a kilogram.

Dr Kishore said that production cost of one kg of wool was Rs 700 and if the federation sells the wool at that amount the farmers might have to close their farms.

MP seeks lake in Bilaspur
From Our Correspondent

BILASPUR, Oct 20 — The BJP state unit president and MP from the Hamirpur constituency, Mr Suresh Chandel, in a letter to the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal has urged him to take steps to create a permanent lake here to boost tourism in the district.

He said the state government should take up the matter with the Central Government. The state government should take up the issue of developing the sport complex being constructed here at Luhnu ground so that the complex, which would provide water sports, paragliding and parasailing facilities was developed at the earliest.

Mr Chandel urged the Chief Minister to explore possibilities of starting a cafeteria at the sports complex and to earmark land to ACC cement factory, Barmana, near here as the factory management had agreed to develop an artificial lake and construct a park in the town.

ABVP supports medicos' stir
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Oct 20 — The state unit of the ABVP has supported the agitation of students of Tanda Medical College and urged the government to take up the matter with the Medical Council of India and the Centre.

In a statement here today, the ABVP said though the college was started by the previous government without providing any infrastructural facilities, it was the duty of the BJP-led government to fulfil its commitments and provide facilities as per the norms of the MCI for securing recognition.

The parishad urged the government to take action against the officials and politicians who had jeopardised the future of the students.

Himachal doctors refute charges
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 20 — The Himachal Medical Officers' Association today refuted the allegations that it was "boycotting" the family planning operations.

The joint secretary of the association, Mr Harmohinder Singh, also thanked the Himachal Government for agreeing to review the case of Dr Sushma Sood, allgedly involved in a family planning case.

He claimed that the government had assured a delegation of the association that in future it would pay full compensation in such cases.

One killed in brawl
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Oct 20 — Kanhaya Lal of Nagehad village was allegedly murdered following a brawl last night.

According to Mr K.C. Sadyal, SP, the victim along with his friend, Sushil Kumar, also of Nagehad village in Baijnath, were attacked allegedly by two brothers, Hardeep Katoch and Harveer Katoch, after a brawl near the Community Hall.

Sushil Kumar has been admitted to the local Zonal Hospital in a critical condition. A case has been registered.

In another incident, the police seized 49 tins of resin and 50 logs of wood from two trucks near Indora. Five persons have been arrested and the vehicles impounded.

Mahinder Singh and Parveen Singh have been booked under the Excise Act after they were arrested when 270 pouches of liquor were seized from their van.

Minister detects irregularities in purchases
From Our Correspondent

UNA, Oct 20 — Mr Ramesh Chand Chaudhary, Himachal Irrigation and Public Health Minister said here on Saturday that record of Mechanical Division of IPH Gagret which was taken a few days ago in possession by him had revealed large-scale irregularities in the purchases by the officials posted there. He said that certain items purchased by them were four times more costly than available in the market. He said that in this regard action against officials concerned would be taken in a day or so.

Mr Chaudhary said that a Superintending Engineer and an Executive Engineer and an SDO of IPH Rampur Bushahar are now in vigilance net as they floated a firm in the name of their sons from where government vehicles were got repaired and these officials spent money on repair of vehicles more than the price of the vehicle. The minister said that the suspension of IPH Superintending Engineer on eve of his retirement was justified as many irregularities in the laying of drinking water supply pipes was done by him by buying substandard water pipes while payment was made of good quality water pipes. He said that he has also ordered an enquiry into the Jawalamukhi temple water supply scheme.

2 held under Forest Act
From Our Correspondent

UNA, Oct 20 — The Una police has arrested Satish Kumar and Jeet Singh from Ajouli and Santoshgarh, respectively, while carrying 36 logs of shisham in a tractor No. PB07A-2417 at Santoshgarh village. A case under the Forest Act has been registered against them.

In another case Mastan Singh, the driver of truck (No. HP20-5955) was arrested for carrying three logs of deodar at Pandoga Bassiar.

In yet another case conductor of the bus (No. PB12B-9614) was arrested with 6 bottles of Indian made foreign liquor and a case under the Excise Act was registered against him.

Youth's death: mob blocks traffic
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Oct 20 — An irate mob blocked traffic at Sanjauli here today demanding action against the Health Department authorities following the death of a youth after consuming "corex", a cough syrup.

The youth, Bimal Sharma, reportedly bought the medicine from a chemist's shop along with three others. He fell ill and was taken to Indira Gandhi Medical College Hospital, where he died.

Residents of the area have been complaining against chemists selling such medicines without prescription. There have been cases when youths consumed this medicine for getting intoxicated.