H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Supplies to be resumed from Spiti route
SHIMLA, Sept 5 — The supply of essential commodities and other material to the Pooh area of flood-ravaged Kinnaur district will be resumed from the Spiti route with installation of a ropeway across the Malling Nullah tomorrow.

Sukh Ram group leader killed
MANDI, Sept 5 — An HVC leader of the Sukh Ram faction, Mr Rakesh Thakur (25) was stabbed to death last night at his village Chaleli in Cholthra panchayat of Sarkaghat sub-division. He was attacked while returning home after closing his PCO. His brother Avinesh Thakur who was accompanying him was seriously injured.

Reconstruct society teachers told
HAMIRPUR, Sept 5 — Mr Vishnu Kant Shashtri, Governor, today called upon the teachers to give a new direction to students. He was addressing a state-level Teachers’ Day function here.

• Two run over by train engine
  
  

• HP official dies in accident

Ministers stay away from offices
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Sept 5 — The secretariat wore a deserted look today as the Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, and many of his ministerial colleagues remained away from their offices, flouting the Cabinet decision that they shall be available there at least on every Tuesday for listening to grievances of the public.

Only two ministers, Mr Vidya Sagar and Mr Ravinder Ravi, of 21 ministers and three parliamentary secretaries, were in their offices in the secretariat in the morning. A couple of other ministers arrived around noon.

The corridors of the secretariat were also deserted as very few people came to air their grievances.

Upset over the frequent absence of ministers from the state headquarters, the BJP General Secretary, Mr Narendera Modi, who is in charge of the Himachal affairs, had recently asked them to be present in their offices at least once in a week on Tuesday so that people from farflung areas could be sure of finding them here for getting their grievances settled.

A meeting of the BJP office-bearers had recently taken a strong note of the absence of ministers and had asked them to be available in the secretariat once a week.

The Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal, left for a two-day tour of his home constituency, Hamirpur and Una this morning. The Health Minister, Mr J.P. Nadda, and the Education Minister, Mr I.D. Dhiman, were also out of the town because of some functions elsewhere. Both the health and education departments are considered important as more than half of the people visiting the secretariat have some or the other work related to these departments.

At least 14 ministers were out of the secretariat this afternoon. A close lieutenant of Mr Dhumal, Mr Parveen Sharma, who holds the excise and taxation portfolio, came to the secretariat around noon and was in his office till evening.

Mr Dhumal has reportedly been finding it difficult to make his ministerial colleagues regularly attend their offices. Sometime ago, he had asked the ministers to be available in the secretariat on three days in a week. However, these orders were mostly observed in defiance.

Supplies to be resumed from Spiti route
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Sept 5 — The supply of essential commodities and other material to the Pooh area of flood-ravaged Kinnaur district will be resumed from the Spiti route with installation of a ropeway across the Malling Nullah tomorrow.

Stating this while presiding over the meeting of the crisis management group here today, Mr A.K. Goswami, the Chief Secretary, said the commodities stored at Chango and Tabo would be transported to Kinnaur soon.

He directed the PWD officials to install a rope budget Balthrang near Kilba for the convenience of the people of Sangla valley.

Officials of the Horticulture Department informed that 1.71 lakh empty cartons had been sent to apple growing area of Kinnaur so far and more consignments were on way. In addition to this 40,000 apple boxes had been sold by the growers and procurement of fruit by the HPMC under the market intervention scheme had also started.

The Chief Secretary directed the Border Road Organisation to take necessary steps for expediting reconstruction work on the Wangtoo-Tapri road, besides installation of the Khab bridge at the earliest. The BRO officials disclosed that sufficient labourers and machinery had been deployed for reconstruction work in the flood affected area for opening the road.

Food and Supplies Department officials revealed that 22,000 quintals of essential commodities had been sent via Kunzam and stocked at Chango and Tabo which would further be supplied to entire Pooh sub-division. About 50 per cent of the total stock of essential commodities required for the winter in Kinnaur district had been stocked at these places.

The Chief Secretary asked the Food and Supplies officials to send adequate quantity of kerosene and diesel in addition to essential commodities.

Sukh Ram group leader killed
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, Sept 5 — An HVC leader of the Sukh Ram faction, Mr Rakesh Thakur (25) was stabbed to death last night at his village Chaleli in Cholthra panchayat of Sarkaghat sub-division. He was attacked while returning home after closing his PCO. His brother Avinesh Thakur who was accompanying him was seriously injured.

Mr Rakesh Thakur was the HVC President of Dharampur constituency which is represented by the PWD Minister Mr Mahinder Singh.

It is reported that seven to eight persons armed with knives pounced on Mr Thakur and his brother. While Thakur died on the spot his brother was seriously injured and was rushed to the Regional Hospital here.

Reconstruct society teachers told
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, Sept 5 — Mr Vishnu Kant Shashtri, Governor, today called upon the teachers to give a new direction to students. He was addressing a state-level Teachers’ Day function here.

He said while imparting education to students a good teacher should impart them with values, which was the need of the hour.

He urged the teachers to inculcate a sense of discipline, cooperation and self-reliance among the students in order to make them good citizens.

Two run over by train engine

PHAGWARA, Sept 5 (PTI) — Two migrant workers were crushed to death under a railway engine here today, the police said.

They were identified as Awadh Bihari Singh and Brij Bihari Singh of Bihar and UP respectively. They were workers in local factory.

They were crossing the railway track near local Gobindpura mohalla.

HP official dies in accident

MANALI (HP), Sept 5 (UNI) — Himachal Pradesh Industry Department General Manager R.L. Dharmani, posted at the industries centre at Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti district, was killed and his driver injured when their jeep rolled down into a gorge near Rohtang pass today, police said.

Police said he died on the spot. The injured driver was brought to Manali and admitted to a hospital.