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Another woman dies of swine flu
CM flays Virbhadra for remarks against govt
State equipped to tackle swine flu: Minister
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Majority of fish ponds non-functional
SBI told to pay Rs 28,000 compensation
Thalassemia drive on Dec 11
‘Technical varsity will be helpful’
No seed, fertiliser shortage: Govt
Dhumal seeks separate Himachal battalion
Mystery fever grips villagers
Part-III
Rohtang Pass draws more tourists
Charas seized from 3
‘Give govt scheme to pvt firm’
Man found hanging
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Another woman dies of swine flu
Shimla, December 7 A 22-year-old pregnant woman from the Janjhiali area of Mandi district today succumbed to swine flu after grappling with the infection at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) for the past four days. It was only yesterday that it was confirmed that she was suffering from swine flu as she had been admitted for treating pneumonia. In fact, due to her critical condition she had to be kept on the ventilator in the intensive care unit (ICU). With the woman being confirmed a swine flu patient only yesterday, the safety of other five occupants of the ICU has also been put to risk. IGMC sources said that following the death of the woman, all five patients in the ICU had been administered tamiflu tablets. The attendants of the five patients along with the doctors and other paramedical staff who treated the woman are also being traced. In fact, her death has resulted in fear gripping the five patients and their attendants who apprehend that they could be under grave threat. Prior to this a 46-year-old woman and an eight-year-old boy, both hailing from Solan district have fallen victim to swine flu in Himachal. With medical experts confirming that chances of swine flu infection spreading more during the winters, the authorities too are worried that the entire mechanism
to tackle any eventuality must be in place. “The victim who was admitted to IGMC on December 3 did not have any travel history or suggestive condition, which could lead to suspicion of swine flu,” said Dr Vivek Mehta, Nodal Officer. She had come to IGMC with complaint of pneumonia after having undergone treatment at Rampur and Kullu hospitals. IGMC sources said ideally a swine flu patient has to be quarantined but in this case since the woman required a ventilator, per force they put her in the ICU and moreover, at that time they did not suspect that she could have swine flu. “Seeing this particular case, we need to arrange for a separate ventilator even in the isolation ward as we cannot take further risk of keeping a swine flu patient in the ICU, where five other patients are there,” admitted a senior doctor. Even as senior health department officials maintained that there were enough tamiflu tablets, N-95 masks and other medicines, the IGMC authorities have sought additional material as a precautionary measure. |
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CM flays Virbhadra for remarks against govt
Jangal Beri (Hamirpur), December 7 Replying to a question about the allegation of amassing land by big leaders in the state while talking to mediapersons after laying the foundation stone of the fourth battalion complex of IRB here today, Dhumal said, “Virbhadra Singh has lost his balance and he himself does not know what he is saying and sometimes I do not feel like replying to issues raised by him”. He said: “After the defeat of the Congress candidate in the Rohru Assembly by-elections even party leaders are not taking his statements seriously and despite being knowing the working of the government while being the CM of the state for five terms he is casting aspersion on the working of the state government”. Refuting the Union Minister’s criticism of opening large scale universities in the state, Dhumal said, “The law to open the universities was passed during his regime only and they are being opened on merit and the IIT was opened in Mandi district (in the parliamentary constituency of Virbhadra Singh) without any discrimination”. “The Himachal police is one of the best police force in the country and we are providing all modern facilities to policemen, besides appointing lady constables and 5th lady battalion is being established which would be a completely women battalion with an intent to empower women,”he added. ISO certificates to 12 police stations in the state this year and best police station (PS) awards for 2008 to PS Chamba, PS Bhuntar and PS Chirgaon were also given by the Chief Minister on the occasion. IPH Minister Ravinder Ravi, DGP GS Gill and several other dignitaries were also present. |
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State equipped to tackle swine flu: Minister
Solan, December 7 Addressing the students on the inaugural day of the four-day awareness campaign, the health minister said it was important to create an awareness about this flu as precautions could help check
its spread. The minister was addressing the students at the ITI at the campaign organised by the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. He said the medicine tamiflu, which was prescribed for swine flu patients, was available in large quantity in the state and the IGMC, Shimla, and the hospital was equipped to conduct its testing within 12-24 hours. Himachal was the first state in the north which had set up these facilities, he added. The IGMC had received as many as 1,675 samples for testing out of which only 18 had tested positive for H1N1. Earlier, technical director, CRI Kasauli, Saurav Sharma, said they had a specialised laboratory which test results
within 24 hrs. The CRI had received as many as 123 samples from across the country out of which 21 had tested positive for H1N1. State Surveillance Officer for Swine Flu Dr Vinod Mehta while addressing the students apprised the students about the general precautions which could help prevent its spread. He said a toll free number 18001808004 was available for providing free information of the flu. |
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Majority of fish ponds non-functional
Shimla, December 7 An evaluation study conducted by the planning department on the recommendation of the Rural Planning Committee of the Vidhan Sabha to check the construction quality of fish ponds has revealed that only 56.25 per cent were functional. A majority of ponds were non-functional because of non-availability or lack of water supply in ponds, while some others had become defunct due to leakage, lack of proper maintenance or non-stocking of seed. All three ponds in Chamba district were non-functional and in Kangra four were functional and three non-functional. ponds. The percentage of non-functional ponds was on higher side in Mandi (75 per cent), Shimla and Solan (67 per cent each) The study covered all 32 ponds constructed during the 2002-03 to 2004-05 period, found that over 90 per cent of the ponds were less than 0.50 hectare in area, producing on average of 510 kg of fish annually. While 68.75 per cent were kutcha, 12.50 per cent semi-pucca, only 18.50 were pucca. The cost of construction in respect of 50 per cent of total sampled ponds ranged between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 1.5 lakh , 34 per cent cost less than Rs 1 lakh and 16 between Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 2 lakh. Average cost of production per pond came to Rs 10183 per annum and the average return was Rs 19,380. The net profit of Rs 9197 per annum shows that community fish pond venture is indeed a profitable proposition in the hill state. A majority of the ponds (53.12 per cent) were maintained by panchayat itself and the remaining by individuals on lease basis. Further, procurement of fish seed was done from the government source in 67 per cent of the ponds and from private source in 33 per cent. The fisheries department has since made seven of the defunct ponds functional and leased these out to the panchayats. However, it will not be possible to repair the remaining non-functional ponds which were either leaking or whose source of water has gone dry. |
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SBI told to pay Rs 28,000 compensation
Shimla, December 7 The forum headed by Sureshwar Thakur passed the order on a complaint filed by the complainant alleging that a cheque amounting to Rs 28,000 was presented by her with the SBI Branch, Summerhill, Shimla, for crediting its value to her account, which was sent by the SBI for collection to UCO Bank, Kandaghat, According to the complainant, the same was neither returned to her nor credited the value of the same to her account. The SBI contended that the cheque in dispute was sent to the UCO Bank, who did not return the same. The UCO Bank contended before the forum that courier did not delivered the cheque to them. While allowing the compliant, the forum held that since the cheque was presented by the complainant with the SBI Branch, hence, it was their
legal duty to have ensure that the cheque is received after collection from the bank and credited its value to the account of
the complainant, but they have failed to do so and is shifting their liability to each other, which not only amounted a deficiency in service, but also shows their
indulgence in an unfair trade practice. |
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Thalassemia drive on Dec 11
Shimla, December 7 Chairman of the foundation Ajai Srivastava said it would be the first programme in the state to focus on the rights of the children with thalassemia. Chief Minister PK Dhumal will formally launch the drive on December 11. He would inaugurate the first of the four voluntary blood donation camps during winters. The chief minister would also honour the children with visual disabilities for their achievements in sports. He said camps were being organised during winters as there was always an acute shortage of blood in the blood banks. The children with thalassemia along with other patients suffered because of non-availability of blood. The second camp would be organised on December 20 in association with YMCA, Shimla, at Christ Church on the Ridge. The third camp would be organised in 2010 on January 1. |
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‘Technical varsity will be helpful’
Hamirpur, December 7 Talking to mediapersons, here, today he said this would be the fourth university of the state which would be equipped with modern
technology. He said about 200 technical institutions were being run in the state and some of these were not fulfilling the norms for technical education that deprived the students of
quality education. The minister said Rs 10 crore and 37 posts had already been sanctioned to establish this university while we were locating 100 bighas land required for the university after which this university would be set up. He said technical education is very important for the growth of youths today and the state was already developing into a hub of education and we were making every effort to create more facilities for specialised education in the state.
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No seed, fertiliser shortage: Govt
Shimla, December 7 An official spokesperson said for the current Rabi season the requirement of 56,729 quintal of wheat seed was received against which 81,423 quintal had been supplied to farmers. Besides, about 10,000 quintal seeds of oil seeds, pulses, fodder, vegetables and potato had also been supplied during this season. The government supplied Rabi seeds on 50 per cent subsidy to provide relief to farmers in view of the consecutive crop failures. The Department of Agriculture arranged 25,000 quintal of additional wheat seed from various sources and at present, 600 quintal was still available with it. There were reports that even farmers who were having their own seed preferred to buy it from the department as it was very cheap. During the last Kharif season also the government provided 50 per cent subsidy on all seeds. In case of fertilisers, the requirement was assessed in consultation with the HIMFED and IFFCO at 75,000 tonnes which was further discussed and finalised in zonal conferences held in August in the Union Ministry of Agriculture. The state government had a limited role in fertilisers, to the extent of placing month-wise Indent with the Central government, on the basis of which
month-wise supply plan was issued by the Department of Fertilisers. However, suppliers were not providing the fertilisers as per plan owning to various reasons. |
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Dhumal seeks separate Himachal battalion
Dharamsala, December 7 He said the state had introduced an Ex-servicemen Contributory Pension Scheme for the welfare of the ex-servicemen and their wards in nine more stations. The Chief Minister paid floral tributes on behalf of the people of the state and the state government to martyrs who had made supreme sacrifice and attained martyrdom while protecting the national boundaries. He said the first Paramvir Chakra (PVC) winner after Independence Major Som Nath Sharma hailed from Kangra district. As many as 52 soldiers from the state sacrificed their lives during Operation Vijay to flush out the infiltrators from Kargil hills. The Chief Minister also said the state had 983 award winner serving soldiers and ex-servicemen who had been granted one-time award grant by the state government as a token of appreciation. The government had increased the old age pension from Rs 200 to Rs 330 per month while money to veterans of the Second World War was enhanced from Rs 200 to Rs 500 per month. He presented a draft of Rs 10 lakh grant to the wife of late Subedar Dhian Singh who had been awarded Shaurya Medal, Rs 23,750 to Sena Medal winner Col Rajesh Kumar Sharma of Una district; financial grant of Rs 15,000 to Ram Piari, wife of late Naik Piara Lal, and Rs 15,000 to ex-serviceman NK Gian Chand. He also gifted sewing machines, wheelchairs and hearing aids to ex-servicemen and their wards on the occasion. Dhumal was presented a draft of Rs 1 crore as contribution of the National Security Fund to the Chief Minister’s Sainik Welfare Fund by Dr Abhishek Jain, Director of the Sainik Welfare Department. |
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Mystery fever grips villagers
Mandi, December 7 As many as 11 patients have been rushed from Kalni to zonal hospital, Mandi, for treatment. They included Rot Ram, Dayavanti, Pralad, Chetru, Bhola Ram, Kundan Lal and Debu. Today, three more patients were admitted to the hospital here. The patients rued that they have not seen even a health worker to give them medicines at the dispensary. “We have come here after the condition deteriorated”, rued Chetru. Most of the patients belong to poor families and have no money to pay for medicines. “We had to borrow money from the villagers for treatment. We worked in NREGA for a month, but the government has not paid us money even after eight months”, rued the patients. According to the villagers, fever was spreading from Kalni to Ghat and Jhagar villages where several villagers have fallen sick. There is nobody to look after them at dispensary, they complained. CMO, Mandi, Dr D K Arora, said the patients suffered from viral fever to weather change. The fever had been diagnosed as viral bronchitis by the team sent to Kalni today, he added. Ruling out any possibility of swine flue, Dr Arora said the fever was characterised by a high-grade fever, cough and body aches. All the patients are out of danger, he added. Dr Arora said the team gave medicines to the villagers at Kalni today. “We are providing health workers at the sub-centre,” he claimed. |
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Part-III Lalit Mohan Tribune News Service
Majari, December 7 Those involved in drug trading have allegedly killed a cop and frequently attack those against the trading. They have also established links with criminals of other states for the trade. Though presently no such case has been reported, the officials are concerned that in future terrorists groups or other anti-national groups might use the villagers in narcotic trading that can have serious repercussions in the area. Since the villagers have narcotic trade links with residents of Jharkhand the police officials are suspecting that the Maoists might exploit these links. Of late there have been reports that the Maoists are trying to revive their dead links in northern states. The naxalite movement was at one time very strong in northern states. LK Yadav, senior Punjab police official, has prepared a report on the village. He is of the view that the “right thinking people” of the village would have to be associated to discourage drug trading. The initial information regarding drug trade in area was revealed when policemen were sent in plain clothes to gurudwara. With the help of information provided by the “right thinking people” many narcotics dealers have either been arrested or they have gone dormant fearing police action. However, the menace can only be curbed with active participation of society, he said. Sources here indicated that the lack of coordination between the Himachal and Punjab police has also facilitated drug trade in Majari. The Punjab police is not allowed direct raids in the village as it is under jurisdiction of Himachal. On the other hand Kot Kehleur police station under whose jurisdiction village falls has limited resources to carry out affective raids. If the police of both the states coordinate and carry joint raids to curb drug trafficking it can yield good results.
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Rohtang Pass draws more tourists
Manali, December 7 Tourists have started moving to Gulaba, Beas Nallah and Marhi to get the visual feast of the snow capped peaks. The tourists are attracted by the heavy snow in the vicinity. The point till where vehicular traffic is allowed is popularly known as “snow point”. A festive atmosphere again prevailed at places like Gulaba, Rahla Fall and Beas Nallah, about 32 km from here on the Manali-Rohtang Pass road, in the month of December, as tourist were seen enjoying skiing and playing in the snow. Tourists were in for a surprise here to see the entire area of the Rohtang region covered with the snow. Meanwhile, hundreds of tourists who have come to Kullu-Manali from all over the country rushed to enjoy snow at ‘snow point’ and were delighted to see the place covered with white blanket. |
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Charas seized from 3
Mandi, December 7 On checking a HRTC bus the police recovered 1.3 kg contraband from Dinesh and Dhan Raj, residents of Palbal and Mathura respectively. The duo was smuggling the consignments outside the state, the police said. —
TNS |
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‘Give govt scheme to pvt firm’
Sundernagar, December 7 He urged the government to assign the work of the Mid-day Meal Scheme to some private agency immediately in order to improve the quality of education. “If the work of the scheme is assigned to some private agency more than 17,000
teachers would resume their work who were otherwise looking after the work of the scheme”,
he said.
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Man found hanging
Kangra, December 7 Kishen Chand Shandel, SDPO, Dehra, said the teacher identified as Keshew Dutt, was serving in Beehin Nangal school. His sister Shardha Devi lodged a missing report with the Dehra police on November 30 that Keshew Dutt disappeared from the famous Chinoor Temple and did not return since November 28. —
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Jangal Beri (Hamirpur), December 7
