The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Traffic disrupted on Hindustan-Tibet road Kulwinder Sandhu Tribune News Service Ribba (Kinnaur), May 7 The Hindustan Tibet road passing through an overpass bridge built over a natural waterfall caved in near Ribba village in Pooh subdivision of Kinnaur, district this afternoon. Traffic on this highway was disrupted and many vehicles, including buses and trucks were stranded on both sides of the road. The blocked point near Ribba village is on the Reckong Peo-Pooh-Kaza road, 23 km from the Kinnaur district headquarters. When this correspondent reached the blocked site, people left out by the buses and other private transport vehicles on both sides of the road were seen going on foot. Although most of the passengers were from the nearby villages but a few of them were on the way to Pooh, Reckong Peo and other places also. Meanwhile, the General Reserve Engineering Force (GREF) has begun an exercise to cut rocks from above this point and pave the way for the construction of a diversion road to divert traffic from the upper side. When the last report was filed traffic on the Hindustan-Tibet road at this point remained blocked. However, efforts to restore the diversion road from upper side was still continuing by GREF engineers. Construction material for the assembling of Akpa Bailey bridge situated beyond this point is being transported through this road. The construction work on this bridge is going on war-footing by the GREF. The bridge is supposed to be launched by next week as the flow of water in Sutlej is increasing day-by-day with a sudden change in temperature resulting into melting of snow in higher reaches. On the other hand, traffic on this road a few km before the Kharo bridge also remained blocked for hours in the morning and afternoon as blasting exercise was in progress on the old Hindustan Tibet road. Rocks fell from the upper side blocking the traffic on the road. The government has initiated an exercise to widen the old Hindustan Tibet road so that it could be used for diverting traffic from the Hindustan Tibet road in an emergency of floods.
	Rohtang Pass opens to traffic Tribune News Service Shimla, May 7 After remaining cut off from the rest of the world for over six months, the 13,050 feet Rohtang Pass was opened for light vehicles on Friday, bringing cheer to the tribal people of Lahaul and Pangi. It was on January 2 earlier this year that the Rohtang Pass was closed for vehicular traffic following heavy snowfall. Barring the occasional helicopter service provided by the state government for ferrying the employees and the local people, the area remained cut off. The helicopter service was provided between Kullu-Lahaul-Killar-Chamba-Bharmour and Spiti. The rescue posts at Koksar and Marhi were established on March 7 to help pedestrians cross the Rohtang Pass and save lives of people who could have been caught in a blizzard. The Deputy Commissioner, Lahaul Spiti, Mr R. Selvam, said that approximately 15 feet of snow was recorded at the district headquarters of Keylong, while Rohtang Pass experienced almost 30 feet snow. He said this year there was less snow in Keylong due to its late arrival at a time when the temperature had risen considerably.
	50 workers rescued from Sutlej tunnel Our Correspondent Sundernagar, May 7 In a major rescue operation, the Kol Dam Hydro project authorities saved the life of 50 workers, who were doing routine maintenance work in a diversion tunnel, when there was a sudden increase in the water level in the Sutlej last evening. In order to construct the 800-MW Kol dam on the Sutlej, the project authorities had diverted the river through twin-diversion tunnels — Lav and Kush . Both these tunnels faced the flood of the Parchu in June 2005. In order to do routine maintenance work in one of the tunnels, the river was diverted through one of them. At present, the river is flowing through the tunnel Kush. As per the information received, the work of maintenance was about to be completed in the coming couple of days. Yesterday the work was going on as per the schedule and 50 workers were working along with machinery in the Lav tunnel, but suddenly the water level began to go up in the adjoining tunnel due to which the water began entering the tunnel. Smelling danger, the officials immediately instructed the labourers to come out of the tunnel along with the machinery. All vehicles along with manpower were removed to safer places with the help of workers, officials of the Safety Department and fire brigade officials. All this was done with in just half an hour. Mr K.M. Parshant, Public Relations Official of the Kol Dam Hydro project, said the water flow was about 300 cubic metres per second which increased to 550 cubic feet per second in just one hour. He further said that the capacity of the tunnels was 6,500 cubic metres per second ( a single tunnel could discharge 3,250 cubic metres of water per second. But at present, the water discharge was about 550 cubic metres. Today the water discharge was expected to be 650 to 700 cubic metres per second, and now there was nothing to worry. The increase in temperature would further increase the flow in the river in the coming days, he further added. Mr K.K Sharma, General Manager, Kol Dam Hydro Project, said the 90 per cent of the maintenance work had been completed and further work was stopped due to the sudden increase in water flow. The maintenance work will begin during the lean season (winter season) now.
	Kumarhatti areas hit by water crisis Schools face unscheduled vacation Our Correspondent Kumarhatti, May 7 Water crisis in the Banasar area and its surrounding panchayats of Pratha and Chammu has worsened following the failure of the Irrigation and Public Health Department to restore water supply for the past 16 days. The alleged casual approach of the department to rectify a minor fault in a motor meant to lift water has made situation tough for over 1,500 villagers of the area, who are virtually battling for water. Not a single drop of water has trickled down the taps in the area in the past two weeks thus forcing villagers to declare a water emergency themselves. All other issues have taken a back seat as arranging potable water has emerged as a big challenge for every household in the area. Moreover, drought like situation and more stress on natural water sources for daily need have made villagers fearful of hard days ahead when summer would reach its peak. The IPH Department has taken the matter lightly. The department has failed to find a permanent solution to the problem, points Mr Upender Sharma, former pradhan of Banasar panchayat. The seven government schools in the area can face unscheduled holidays due to the paucity of potable water in these schools. Due to the lack of drinking water the mid day meal scheme meant to serve ‘khichari’ as lunch to children has been baldy affected in these schools. There is no water to drink what to think of preparing lunch for children, questions a teacher in Government Primary School, Naya Gram. The children in these schools have been advised to carry drinking water for themselves. The school has no water to offer to its children. The schoolchildren’s plight does not end here, as they have to trudge one kilometre daily to have drinking water from a hand pump on the Bhojnagar - Parwanno route. The post of a water carrier in the school has been lying vacant since long. Other schools also face the similar problem. The worried villagers are now asking their wards not to go to school till the water problem is solved. At Jathiyan village, the water supply has been suspended for the past 11 months.
	HPCC to direct party men against going to Press Pratibha Chauhan Tribune News Service Shimla, May 7 With the utterances made by former Tourism Minister Vijai Singh Mankotia, causing major embarrassment to the Congress government in the state, the HP Congress Committee will be issuing fresh directives to all party men, including ministers and MLAs, to desist from taking party matters to the media. The decision was taken at a meeting of the HPCC office-bearers here yesterday. Sources said that a discussion was held on the Mankotia issue and the verbal duel between him and Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. Even though a majority of the party men were unanimous that statements being made by Major Mankotia were damaging the party, it was finally decided to strictly deal with anybody who takes party matters to the Press. “Since the Chief Minister, ministers and MLAs are party men, the HPCC decision that party matters should only be raised within the party rather than going to the media applies to all of them,” remarked an office-bearer. It is learnt that the HPCC will be writing to all the MLAs and the District Congress Committees (DCCs) directing them to refrain from going to the Press on internal matters of the party. Interestingly, despite Mr Virbhadra Singh stating that the HPCC should take notice of the utterances made by Major Mankotia as it was an act of indiscipline, the HPCC refrained from taking any action against him. The four-member committee headed by Mr Kuldeep Rathore, HPCC spokesperson and general secretary, yesterday submitted its report on the reasons for the defeat of the NSUI in the college elections. The committee in its report pointed out that one of the major reasons for the poor performance of the NSUI despite the Congress party being in power was lack of coordination between the state unit and the college bodies. “Since the NSUI is a student outfit of the party, if the state leadership, including those in the government, does not give patronage and assistance to the activists how can it expect them to do well,” remarked an office-bearer. While giving suggestions for strengthening the NSUI, the committee has said that the age criterion should be strictly adhered to and non-students should not be either its members or office-bearers. It was pointed out that many office-bearers of the NSUI, including the state body, have crossed the age of 27 and yet continue to hold posts.
	Computers, furniture worth 10 lakh gutted by fire Tribune News Service Mandi, May 7 Fire broke out in the computer room of the district revenue office located above the office of the Deputy Commissioner at around 10.20 am today. Computers and furniture worth Rs 10 lakh were destroyed in the fire. The watchman on duty said he came to know about the fire when a person, who was repairing electric wires on the floor, came rushing down and informed him about smoke coming out from the computer room. “I went up to the third floor and saw that smoke was coming out of the room which was locked from outside as it was Sunday today. Two months ago also fire had broken out on the same floor and I had apprised the staff of it”, he informed. The watchman told The Tribune that he came down and informed the police and office staff about the fire. The fire tenders reached the spot within five to ten minutes. But flames had engulfed the whole room before the fire tenders arrived and as a result 25 computers, 25 CPUs, 50 chairs and tables and three 3 UPS were completely burnt. Thick smoke was coming out of the windows when the fire tenders started dousing the flames. “The firemen, policemen, staff of DC office and locals gathered there and it took them about one and a half hours to douse the fire”, said eyewitnesses. The Deputy Commissioner of Mandi, Mr Subhasish Panda, who rushed to the spot said fire was controlled in time and the computerised land records had already been transferred to the tehsils and original land records were safe. The fire probably started due to an electric short-circuit and no foul-play is suspected, he added, saying that wire replacement work was in progress in the office for the past few days. The DSP, Headquarters, Mr K.C Shandilya, said the police was investigating the case.
	1 dead as fire engine falls into gorge Our Correspondent Sundernagar, May 7 One person died and six others were seriously injured in an accident of the fire brigade of the Kol Dam project, which fell in to 20-metre- deep gorge at Kangoo. According to information, the fire engine of the Kol Dam project was going to Mandi to extinguish fire in the DC Office but it fell near Kangoo, about 15 km from here. All seven injured were immediately taken to the Civil Hospital in Sundernagar, one of them Roop Singh ( Barti, Bilspure) died at the hospital. The four persons, Ranbir (Una), Ramnik ( Una), Hosiyar ( Dharamshala) and Vijay Singh (Una) were in a serious condition and referred to the Zonal Hospital, Mandi. Then they all were referred to the PGI, Chandigarh, in a serious condition. Yogeshwar and Ranvir (both from Una) are admitted in the Civil Hospital here. Spot inquiries made by this correspondent reveal that the driver of the fire tender could not control the vehicle which resulted in an accident. According to the police, a case under Sections 279,37,338 and 304 A of the IPC has been registered against the driver of the fire tender, Ramnik, and the body has been sent for post mortem examination. According to spokesman of the Kol Dam project, every type of help was being extended to the victims and necessary compensation would be given to them.
	CT scan facility at Nahan hospital soon Our Correspondent Nahan, May 7 Mr G.R. Musafir, Speaker, Vidhan Sabha, while presiding over a district-level workshop of PARIKAS, a public health advisory committee of the district, at the SFDA hall, said CT scan facility would be provided at the Nahan district hospital soon. The state government had sanctioned Rs 1 cr for the purpose, he said. Mr Musafir said a new X-ray unit was being set up in the district hospital with an investment of Rs 8 lakh, while Shillai hospital had been declared as a referral unit. The hospital will have 30 beds and six specialist doctors. The Speaker said the Centre had selected the state under the National Rural Health Mission and sanctioned Rs 51.40 crore for the improvement of the health services in the state. During the three-year rule of the Congress government, Rs 52 crore had been invested in building roads in Sirmaur district, he said. Another Rs 77 crore had been spent on providing drinking water and Rs 31 crore under the DRDA programme. Mr Musafir said his priority was to keep all MLAs informed about the new legislations passed by Parliament. Mr D.K. Oberoi, Chief Medical Officer, Sirmaur, welcomed the chief guest and discussed the programme chalked out for the Parivar Kalyan Advisory Samiti (PARIKAS). Members of the Zila Parishad, block samiti, and panchayats participated in the workshop.