The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Himachal Pradesh Edition

Train derails, 6 injured
Our Correspondent

Palampur, August 10
At least six persons were injured, one of them seriously, when a train on the Jogindernagar-Pathankot section derailed at Patti village, 5 km from here, this afternoon. Over 300 persons were travelling in the train when accident took place. The train was on its way from Pathankot to Jagindernagar.

Luxmi Devi of Villa Sikha Bag was seriously injured in the accident. All injured were taken to nearby hospitals.

The train driver said a wooden log supporting the track had cracked while he was negotiating a curve. This imbalanced the train and resulted in the accident. The track was waterlogged at various points due to heavy rain, he said.

Senior railway police officers reached the spot to supervise the relief and rescue operations. The track at the site of the accident was in poor condition and wooden logs had already lived their life. A railway official said the replacement of wooden logs had been due for the past around three years, but the same could not be done due to lack of funds.

This happened to be the second accident on this track in the past one month. An engine had derailed at Baijnath last week.

Naina Devi Stampede
Congress forms fact-finding panel
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 10
The Congress has decided to set up its own fact-finding committee to ascertain the reasons behind the Naina Devi stampede that claimed 147 lives and the role of the government agencies in dealing with the situation.

This was stated by Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Kaul Singh after visiting a family at Santokhgarh in Una district. The family had lost seven members in the Naina Devi stampede. The survivors told him that the mishap took place due to the laxity of government agencies responsible for taking care of the arrangements for the Shrawan Mela at the shrine, he said.

Keeping this in view, the party had decided to carry out its own probe for which a three-member fact-finding committee would be set up in a day or two, he said.

He said relief of Rs 1 lakh to the dependents of those killed in the mishap was meagre. Since the Centre had already announced Rs 1 lakh to the next of kin of each victim, the state government must give at least Rs 2 lakh. Besides, one member from each such family should be given government job.

He said the inquiry being conducted by the Mandi DC would not serve any purpose. He demanded a judicial probe by a judge of the high court.

1.5 lakh pilgrims visit Bajjreshwari temple
Our Correspondent

Kangra, August 10
More than 1.5 lakh pilgrims visited the Bajjreshwari temple during the past nine days of Sharad Navratras, that concluded today.

Temple officer R.S. Sharma said here today that there was no untoward event during Navratras. Devotees offered Rs 8.22 lakh in cash, 28 gm gold and 1 kg silver during the first eight days of Navratras at the temple, he added.

He said it was for the first time that devotees were not allowed to offer coconuts in the temple. The step was taken due to security reasons.

District police chief Atul Fulzele said he had been personally supervising the pilgrim traffic during the night at Jawalamukhi temple, where around 2 lakh pilgrims visited the shrine during the past nine days. He said tight security was maintained at all three major shrines, Bajjreshwari, Chamunda Devi and Jawalamukhi, in the district.

Metal detectors were also used for the first time at these shrines in view of the recent blasts in Ahmadabad and Bangalore.

Amarnath Land Row
Panel to hold dharna today
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 10
The joint action committee spearheading the agitation in the state against the withdrawal of land from the Amarnath Shrine Board has charged the UPA regime with adopting a dual policy on the issue to undermine the interests of Hindus. It has decided to hold a dharna in front of the Raj Bhawan tomorrow. It will be followed by “Rasta Roko” stir on August 13 from 9 am 11 am.

Addressing a press conference, members of the committee Ganesh Dut (BJP), Balram Sharma (VHP) and Ashutosh (Hindu Jagaran Manch) alleged that on the one hand the government had convened an all-party meeting to seek cooperation and on the other it was not prepared to give back the land to the board. It clearly reflected the anti-Hindu attitude of the government. Appeasing the muslins and insulting the Hindus seems to be the policy of the government that boasts of secular credentials.

The government had been providing subsidy for Haj and Haj bhawans were being constructed and maintained on government land, but the Hindus had never objected.

Earlier, the members submitted a memorandum to the Governor urging the government to give the land back to the shrine board and register cases of sedition against all those indulging in anti-national activities like burning the tricolour and raising pro-Pakistan slogans.

They alleged a raw deal was being given to the Hindu-dominated Jammu region that contributed 80 per cent of the state’s revenue. All Cabinet ministers were from Kashmir and the maximum portion of the funds was being spent in the valley.

Blasting by power Co. damages 35 houses
Our Correspondent

Palampur, August 10
Reckless cutting of hills and large-scale blasting of rocks by a private power company, executing a hydel project near Kandwari village, has damaged more than 35 houses in the past two days.

A team of mediapersons, who visited the village on the request of the village panchayat, found that 24 houses had developed big cracks and several other houses were on the verge of collapse.

The villagers are in the grip of fear. Some villagers said despite their repeated requests to the company, it continued blasting.

The company even turned a deaf ear to the requests made by the village panchayat.

They said due to rainy season the hill was sinking. Its ecological balance was disturbed because of mining and blasts. They said if timely action was not taken against the company, their houses would collapse in next few days.

General manager of the Subhash Project refused to talk and asked the mediapersons to move out of his office. The manager threatened to snatch their cameras.

Later a group of mediapersons, headed by Sanjiv Bagla, president of the Palampur Press Club, called on local SDM Ritesh Chauhan. They submitted a memorandum demanding action against the manager of the company for his derogatory remarks against the mediapersons.

Newsmen filed a complaint in the local police station and demanded for the registration of a criminal case against the manager of the company.

Health infrastructure in state among the best: CM
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 10
Despite facing acute shortage of specialists, the health infrastructure in Himachal is one of the best in the country with most of the health indicators being above the national average.

Stating this here on Thursday, Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal said despite geographical constraints and rugged topography, the government had been able to provide health facilities to people even in the remotest corners of the state. He was speaking at the inauguration of a three-day conference on ‘Instructional course in spine’, organised by the Association of Spine
Surgeons of India, here last evening.

Dhumal said the state had a vast network of health institutions and every citizen had access to health facilities within 5 km radius of his home. “Despite our best efforts, we have not been able to develop super-specialties due to shortage of specialists as most of them are not to keen to serve in the hill state,” he said.

He said holding of such an important conference on spine surgery had a great relevance for a state like Himachal where such injuries were far very common. “Doctors from the state will greatly benefit from the conference as it will help them in managing spinal injuries in a better way,” he stressed.

Dhumal said holding of such conferences was very essential as it helped the medical fraternity to keep abreast of the latest advancements in the medical field. “We are keen to improve the health infrastructure in the rural areas so that people do not have to travel too far to get medical aid,” he said.

He said it was after a great difficulty that the Health Department had been able to recruit 139 doctors so that the health institutions could have good doctors and other staff. “We have made a substantial increase in the remuneration to be given to MBBS doctors and specialists so that they are willing to serve in tribal and other difficult areas,” he said.

Health minister Rajeev Bindal said the government was encouraging public-private participation in opening health institution of par excellence along with setting up of medical colleges. He said a trauma centre would soon be set up at the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) so that accident victims and other serious patients could be treated properly.

President of the Association of Spine Surgeons of India Arvind Jayaswal said the members were willing to render help at any stage to the people of the state.

Mahila Cong flays BJP
Our Correspondent

Bilaspur, August 10
The district unit of Mahila Congress here has criticised the BJP for not giving tax concession on petroleum products. It flayed the government for giving tax concessions worth Rs 100 crore to liquor magnates in the state and burdening the common man by increasing the bus fares.

Pawana Sharma, district president, said the meeting of the district unit of the organisation was presided by state Mahila Congress president Kamla Prarthi Sharma, while it was addressed by state Mahila Congress in charge and Mahila Congress national secretary Sushil Gupta.

Gupta said women should propagate all policies and programmes of the Congress and make people aware of all benefits that the Congress had given to them. Sharma said the Mahila Congress was being strengthened in the state.

Contractor’s Murder
Efforts on to nab suspects
Tribune News Service

Mandi, August 10
The police has launched a massive hunt to nab two prime suspects, Sanju and Subhash, in the interconnected cases of benami royal property deal and alleged murder of money-lender-cum-contractor Tek Chand.

The investigation has established links between the 3 crore property deal and the alleged murder of Tek Chand.

The police has unearthed an agreement signed by Devinder Jamval who has the power of attorney from Indara Mahindra, the daughter of the last king of Mandi, with Sanju, who runs a shady business of car sale and purchase in town, in January 2007, much prior to registry of the deal which was finally done on April 24, 2008.

The investigation revealed “ as per the agreement, power of attorney would be given to Sanju, after he paid Rs 3 crore within a period of one year.

The registry was done in the district revenue office on April 24, 2008 in the name of Khub Ram, who served as a waiter at Shimla-based convent school.

The police found that Tek Chand was suspected to have invested Rs. 40 lakh to fund the deal as he knew both Sanju and his agent Subhash.

Chand was kidnapped on July 3 and his decomposed body was found at edge of the Sundernagar lake on July 26.

The police arrested Balbir, an associate of Sanju, and Subhash who gave some tips to the police.

Though Devinder has joined the police investigation, Khub Ram has been evading the police ever since, the benami registry came to light.

Khub Ram had been reported missing from the school and his family had shifted to some other place at Shimla, sources said.

SP Mandi M Chandra Sekhar said, the police had launched a hunt to nab the two suspects, Sanju and Subhash, who had been missing for the past one month.

Stir planned against pay panel recommendations
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 10
The central and state sector employees, college and schoolteachers coordination committee has decided to launch a struggle against the recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission which, according to the committee, has belied the hopes of employees.

The committee will organise a rally on August 12 at the Sabzi Mandi ground to formally launch its stir. It alleged the commission had downgraded the pay scales of class “D” and “C” categories and conveniently overlooked the 15th Indian Labour Conference norms to deny need-based minimum wages to them. Not only that, the commission had no hesitation in awarding higher benefits to the bureaucracy.

The extent of disparity could be judged from the fact that the lowest-paid employee would benefit by just Rs 990 per month, whereas the monthly increase would be as high as Rs 34,000 for the IAS cadre. Even the previous Punjab Pay Commission recommendations for time-bound promotions after four, nine and 14 years of service instead of eight, 16 and 24 years had not been implemented so far, committee members alleged.

Dhaula Kuan to have Met station soon
Our Correspondent

Nahan, August 10
A meteorological station would be set up at Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Dhaula Kuan, in Sirmaur district for the benefit of farmers.

This was stated by K.K. Katoch, director, extension education, and Chaudhari Sarvan Kumar, Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Palampur, while presiding over the 25th meeting of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the KVK, Dhaula Kuan, today.

Katoch said an automatic weather station would be soon set up at KVK, Dhaula Kuan, in association with the Indian Meteorological Department to forecast the weekly agro-meteorological conditions.

Scientists of the KVK, Dhaula Kuan, would send their scientific advice to the farmers through SMS. He said the Indian Council of Agricultural Research had already initiated the work on the project to link 200 KVKs of the country, including KVK, Dhaula Kuan.

Scheme for ‘fair average quality’ apple
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 10
The state government has given approval for implementation of the market intervention scheme (MIS) for procurement of “fair average quality apples” during current apple season in the state.

An official spokesperson said the MIS for apple would be implemented during the current year in collaboration with the central government. “A total of 54.5 metric tonnes of apple would be procured having a diameter of 51 mm, which should not be culled, damaged, punctured scab, ethereal sprayed, immature or over mature,” he said.

He, however, clarified that the average quality fruit having slight hail damage and brushing would be accepted. He said the procurement price under the MIS would be Rs 5.25 per kg and HPMC and HIMFED would be the procurement agencies and would receive handling charges of Rs 1.50 with assumed return of Rs 4 per kg.

He said the scheme would be implemented from July 21 to October 31.

Cloudburst damages houses, crops
Our Correspondent

Chamba, August 10
Six houses were damaged and crops washed in a vast area following a cloudburst in the remote Sechu panchayat of Pangi tribal subdivision in Chamba district yesterday.

Resident commissioner of Pangi G. R. Bharti said, as per initial reports, the loss was estimated to be over Rs 1 crore. Revenue officials had been directed to visit the affected area to carry out relief and rescue operations and to assess the exact loss, he added.

He said the cloudburst damaged houses and crops in Shechu, Shoon, Udeen and Leu villages. Water flowed down the hill and damaged many houses. Belongings of villagers were also washed away in the gushing water. Residents had to spend the night in the open.

Bharti said he had directed the SDM and the tehsildar of Pangi to supervise the rehabilitation work. An immediate relief of Rs 55,000 was distributed among the affected families so that they could arrange for their daily needs.

Water supply restored after six days
Our Correspondent

Nurpur, August 10
Two out of the three disrupted water supply schemes of the town were restored today after six days. The IPH breathed a sigh of relief. It had pressed its staff into service to repair the damaged water supply pipes.

Supply line of the Chakki water supply had buried and damaged in landslides on Tuesday night. The Harnora Ghat supply was also hit due to landslides.

Nurpur Sunil Chowdhary, executive engineer, IPH, Nurpur, said the supply line of the Chakki water supply was in a landslide prone area.

“The threat of landslides due to rain is always looming large for this water supply scheme,” he added.

High court directive to Nurpur SDM
Our Correspondent

Nurpur, August 10
The high court has directed the Nurpur SDM to supervise Janmashtami celebrations at the historical Brijraj Swami temple here. The SDM has been directed to appoint an officer, not below the rank of naib tehsildar, to remain present in the temple when the doors of the temple are opened for devotees.

Temple pujari Darshan Kumar Sharma has been asked to perform religious ceremonies on the occasion. A civil writ petition Shunktala v/s Amrit Sagar has been pending in the high court. The court has also permitted petitioner and respondent to take active part in the Janmashtami celebrations.

The SDM has been directed to keep a record of the offerings made at the temple and the expenditure on celebrations.

Sports meet begins
Our Correspondent

Solan, August 10
The second Sahodaya Schools Badminton and Table Tennis Tournament began at Pinegrove School, Subathu, today. Fourteen schools from Shimla, Solan, Mandi and Parwanoo are participating in the tournament.

In badminton, senior boys of Pinegrove School, Subathu, defeated Genius International School, Mandi, 2-0, in the opening match. Pinegrove’s Randip Saluja beat Girish, 21-6, 21-4. In the doubles match, Randip and Amritpal beat Girish and Vijay, 21-10, 21-5. In another match of the day, Laurete Public School, Shimla, defeated JNV, Theog, 2-1. Ankit Gupta beat Rohit Sharma, 21-17, 11-21, 21-18. Ankit and Gursharan lost to Rohit and Abhimanyu, 21-14, 21-14, while Gursharan beat Abhimanyu, 21-10, 21-10. In table tennis (junior girls category), DAV, New Shimla, beat the hosts Pinegrove School, Subathu, 3-2, while Durga Public School, Solan, humbled JNV, Theog, 3-0. Among senior girls, Durga Public School, Solan, beat DAV, New Shimla, 3-0; Eicher School, Parwanoo, beat Geeta Adarsh Vidyalaya, Solan, 3-0; and DAV, Lakkar Bazar, Shimla, beat JNV, Theog, 3-0.

Col Ram Avtar, group commander, NCC, HP, was the chief guest.

Girl performs last rites of father
Our Correspondent

Bilaspur, August 10
Once again women of the district have given a lead in breaking age-old tradition which disallows them from performing last rites of their nearest and dearest at cremation ghat.

Gorkha Ram Sharma (72) died of a heart attack at Panjgain village.

He had four daughters and one son but the son was away in the USA as he was working as a engineer there and could not come for the last rites. So, Gorkha Ram’s eldest daughter, Santosh Sharma, a lecturer, stepped forward and declared that her father never differentiated between the son and the daughters.

The elders had to agree and the eldest daughter performed the last rites of her father.

Mystery shrouds woman’s death
Our Correspondent

Kangra, August 10
A 50-year-old woman died under mysterious circumstances at Drang village last night. According to her son, she had gone to her bed at midnight, but was found dead in a khad in the morning.

Kangra SSP Atul Fulzele said the woman was identified as Kailashoo Devi. She was at her home with her son Balvant. Her husband Shakti Chand was away to Hamirpur. Balvant said his mother was with him till midnight as she was having toothache. Thereafter, she went to bed. However, in the morning, a passer-by informed Balvant that his mother’s body was lying in a khad.

Balvant suspected that his mother might have gone out in search of some medicine and fallen from the footbridge of the khad.