Dehradun, June 19
One person was killed, while the other is battling for life, after they were asphyxiated while cleaning a sewer near Ashley Hall, here this morning. The deceased has been identified as Ashish, a labourer, whereas the other person is yet to be identified.

The mishap occurred after some shopkeeper near Ashley Hall had employed both of them for cleaning the sewer. The shopkeeper, whose identity has yet not been disclosed by the police, employed private labourers for cleaning the sewer without mandatory permission from the Jal Sansthan.

According to Abdul, a Vikram driver, who helped in the rescue operation, when Ashish did not came out of the sewer for several minutes, the other one jumped inside to look for him.

“Because of the poisonous gases, the other labourer also fell unconscious. I immediately entered the sewer and brought both of them out. While Ashish had died by then, the other one survived,” said Abdul.

Meanwhile, after receiving information police rushed to the spot. EMRI 108 ambulances and the fire brigade were also pressed into service.

The injured labourer was initially admitted to Doon Hospital from where he was referred to Mahant Indresh Hospital, where his condition is stated to be critical.

Kotwali SHO JP Juyal said after inquiry action would be initiated against anyone found guilty.

Dehradun, June 19
Finally, the "resignation drama" by former Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshiyari from his Rajya Sabha seat in a bid to pressurise the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) high command to oust Chief Minister BC Khanduri has fizzled out.

Koshiyari had resigned on Wednesday claiming that he wanted to work for strengthening of the party at the grassroots level in preparation for 2012 assembly polls, following the stunning defeat of BJP in the Lok Sabha elections.

However, the sudden rush of blood by Koshiyari shocked BJP Central party leaders. Damage control exercises were immediately started, with party president Rajnath Singh, considered close to Koshiyari, asking him to take back his resignation. 

According to party sources, Koshiyari was even threatened with disciplinary action for his unilateral act, which finally forced him to take back his resignation.

The episode has eventually given another reprieve to Khanduri who had been battling dissidence led by Koshiyari ever since he took over the reigns of the state following February 2007 assembly polls.

Koshiyari even took more than 20 party legislators to BJP high command to complain against the style of functioning of Khanduri in August 2008.

As a compromise formula, Koshiyari was sent packing to Rajya Sabha while Khanduri was asked to change his style of functioning.

However, this did not work out and BJP lost all the five Lok Sabha seats, which gave Koshiyari another chance to rally against the Chief Minister.

The statement by Khanduri owning moral responsibility for the defeat further emboldened Koshiyari and his group of legislators to sharpen their attack.

However, party observers believe that the false move by Koshiyari to submit his resignation not only annoyed the party leadership but also took the wind out of sails of the dissidents' game plan to pressurise the party high command to force a change in the state leadership.

After forcing Koshiyari to take back his resignation, senior party leaders have announced in New Delhi that Khanduri would continue to be the CM, putting an end to all speculations.

On the other hand, Khanduri, who was also in New Delhi today, refused to comment on the developments but was happy at the turn of events.

Reacting to the developments, senior Congress leader Suryakant Dhasmana, said while people of the state are reeling under severe water and power crisis, and state government employees are on strike, BJP leaders are involved in their own power struggle.

"This is a most unfortunate situation where the entire Khanduri ministry and state unit has been involved in fighting against each other at the cost of the common man," he said.

Meanwhile, amidst all these political developments, Khanduri today met senior BJP leaders LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Venkaiiah Naidu.

According to an official press release, Khanduri called upon these leaders on his way back from Nagpur where he had gone to attend the "Thervian" ceremony of his elder brother who died in Nagpur recently.

Dehradun, June 19
As many as 43 employees of local bodies, including seven women, courted arrest seeking Sixth Pay Commission benefits, here today. All-India Trade Union Congress district president Jeet Singh led the employees to the Gandhi Park.

He said the local bodies employees would continue with the agitation till state government met their demands.

Reports of local bodies employees courting arrest have also been received from Kumaon region of Uttarakhand.

Meanwhile, while potable water arrangements improved in the region, sanitation was in a sorry state.

Members of various local bodies, including the Jal Sansthan, Dehradun Municipal Corporation and Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority, have been holding a demonstrations seeking sixth pay panel benefits for quite some time now.

Dehradun, June 16
The bullish trend spurred by the parliamentary polls outcome made Kuldeep Dobriyal, a manager in a local pharma company, confident to invest Rs 1.50 lakhs in stocks whose prices have risen after yearly lows. He is now looking up to coming union budget to expand his investment portfolio.

Several small retail investors like him are thinking along same lines. For them, infrastructure, power, banking, petroleum sectors could be the favourite hunting territories if the UPA government’s reported pre-budget priorities figure in the actual budget on July 6. “Infrastructure stocks for last one month are pulling retail investors towards valuation, which is looking attractive.

The stocks of small banks are also likely to get boost in case of their merger with established ones as well as due to measures like reducing the interest rates. The government is reportedly thinking about this,” said Deepak Chawla, of city-based consortium securities.

Dobriyal, who has already put money in stocks of Tata Steel, ONGC and Hindlaco, expected the government to announce major stimulus in infrastructure sector. “Naturally the step will push demand of steel. I think it may be a profitable investment. So, I am waiting to invest more in this sector after the budget announcement.

The stocks of petroleum sector too have gained momentum since the government has started talking about opening up this sector. After budget, this could be another preferred area for me to invest in,” he said.

Sanjeev Bajaj of stock broking firm Globe Capital Marketing to shares the investors’ hope of a favourable budget. He too confirmed the prevailing preference of investors in stocks mentioned above. “More government support in infrastructure, railways as well as power sectors is expected.

Banks could be another attraction because the cutting of prime lending rate will boost housing loans, which in turn spur infrastructure in terms of increased construction activity,” he said.

Unlike Dobriyal, there are investors who have decided to take the plunge only after the budget announcement. They are the ones who suffered big losses after unprecedented stock market crash in 2008.

Dehradun, June 19
Cantt Blues team defeated Nagar Nigam by 2-0 during a match in the District Football League, which got underway at the Pavilion Ground here today.

The Nigam pushed their opponents on the backfoot in the initial quarter of the match, but its forward line failed to capitalize on the chances created.

Cantt Blues later took control of the match and narrowly missed a goal-scoring opportunity in the 25th minute. At the end of the first half both teams were goal-less.

However, Cantt Blues came out strongly in the second half and scored two successive goals. The first goal was scored in the 45the minute by Chetan.

The second goal came barely six minute later, when their forward Charchill placed the ball in the net.

Dehradun, June 19
Garhwal Sports Academy registered a 55-run victory over DAV School at the ongoing Krishna Devi Garg Memorial Cricket Tournament being held at the Survey Ground, here today.

Batting first, Garhwal Sports Academy team piled up a mammoth 171 runs in the allotted 20 overs.

Openers Gopal and Mohd Samad gave their team a fine start and contributed 38 runs in the first fours overs. Gopal smashed 18 runs of 17 balls with three fours, whereas Samad hit 11 of 7 balls.

First-down batsman Lakshya scored 31 runs off 34 balls.

Gaurav supported him well on the other end to hit 24 runs of 16 balls. Another batsman Nitin also chipped in with a useful 21 runs of 18 balls. For DAV School, Sumit, Saurab and Anuj claimed two wickets each.

Chasing a victory target of 172 runs, DAV School team was all out for 116 runs in 14 overs. Despite a fine start, they kept on losing wickets at regular interval.

However, resistance came from lower order batsmen Shankar and Sanjay. Shankar made 20 runs whereas Sanjay contributed 18 runs.

For Garhwal Sports Academy, Nitin claimed three wickets, whereas Shiva took two wickets. 

Dehradun, June 19
The much-awaited facelift for the Pavilion Ground main stands here would start soon. The District Municipal Corporation (DMC) has released Rs 15 lakh for the purpose.

Established in 1939, Pavilion Ground has witnessed many glorious years of football in Dehradun. It original name was Lala Mansuk Pavilion Ground.

Some year back, the DMC handed over the possession of the ground to the sports department, but the stands still belongs to Municipal Corporation.

However, condition of the ground has gone from bad to worse over the years. Minor renovation work that use to take place earlier was stopped in 2005, which led to further deterioration.

With time, condition of the main stand meant of VIPs has also gone from bad to worse. A major part of the damage was brought about by monkey troupes. Two months ago, Dehradun Mayor Vinod Chamoli had announced Rs 5 lakh for renovation of the pavilion. The amount has now been raised to 15 lakh.

“Existing facilities at the ground are insufficient. But renovation will start soon,” said JS Rawat, vice-president of District Football Association.

“Entire floor of the main stand along with the badly damaged areas will be repaired. There are also plans to construct proper parking slots as well as new toilets at the ground,” he added.