HIMACHAL PRADESH

JAMMU & KASHMIR

Jammu
Rotary Club holds rally:The Rotary Club, Akhnoor, today organised a rally to spread the message that for the overall development of the nation, everyone should restrict the size of his or her family. A large number of ASHA workers, female health workers, anganwadi workers and many local residents took part in the rally. 

Leh
Stomach cancer cases on rise in Leh: “Cases of stomach cancer in Leh district are increasing and there is need to do research on it,” Dr P Tsering, Medical Superintendent of SNM Hospital , which is the only district hospital in Leh district, said here on Friday. He was speaking at the inaugural session of the two-day conference of the J&K State Chapter of Association of Surgeon of India. Dr Tashi Mutup, organising secretary, said the conference was being held for the first time in Leh district. 

Srinagar
Amarnath yatra suspended briefly: The Amarnath yatra was suspended briefly on both the Chandanwari and Baltal routes on Friday due to bad weather. However, it was resumed after the weather showed some improvement. “Due to widespread rain in the yatra area, the movement of the yatris towards the cave shrine on both the Chandanwari and Baltal routes could start only around 9:30 am today,” a spokesman for the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board said. He said the movement of the yatris was now reported to be progressing satisfactorily. The intending pilgrims could check the weather forecast on the website of the Indian Meteorological Department (www.amssdelhi.gov.in). 

Contractual teachers meet Governor: A deputation of the All-Jammu and Kashmir College Contractual Teachers Association called on Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan here on Friday and submitted a memorandum of their demands to him. The demands included the urgent formulation of a policy for the regularisation of the services of those contractual college teachers, who had put in between two and 14 years’ service and continued to receive poor remuneration. 

Udhampur
Gang of sapphire smugglers busted: The police on Friday busted an international gang of smugglers of precious gems in Kishtwar, home to world famous sapphire mines, with the arrest of three Sri Lankan nationals and the recovery of sapphires worth lakhs from them. 

DEHRADUN

DEHRADUN
Enrolment centre: The first Aadhaar UID enrolment centre was inaugurated at Kaulagarh on Friday. District Magistrate Sachin Kurve became the first citizen of the city to get his enrolment done. The DM said all citizens of the city should report at the enrollment centre to get a 12 digit number that would help them access a number of facilities. To get the enrolment done, the citizens will have to come with documents pertaining to the ID proof. 

Newborn care unit: The much awaited sick newborn care unit has begun functioning at Doon Female Hospital. The unit equipped with phototherapy units can accommodate 24 newborn babies. The chances of the survival of premature babies suffering from complications are more if these kinds of facilities are there at government hospitals. “We need some more staff, especially the nursing staff, to discharge duties round the clock at the unit. At present, we have just one nurse,” said Dr Archana Srivastav, joint director. A similar unit will also be set up at Base Hospital, Haldwani, for which the Central Government is providing assistance. 

Date extended: HNB Garhwal University has extended the last date for the submission of BEd entrance exam form till July 25. According to Dr US Rawat, Registrar, HNB Garhwal University, this has been done taking into account delay in the sale of BEd entrance exam forms at certain post offices. These delay has been reported at Srinagar, Garhwal and Dehradun post offices. Earlier, the last date for the submission of forms was July 20. 

Kumaon Briefs

RTE Act: Private schools to face action: District Magistrate, Udham Singh Nagar, BVRC Purshottam, has ordered immediate action against private schools that are showing reluctance in implementing the Right to Education (RTE) Act. He was reacting to instances where private schools have been dilly-dallying on the issue of admissions of the identified beneficiaries from marginalised sections against 25 per cent seats. At a meeting held in Rudrapur on Friday, Purshottam made it clear that as of now, the schools would be providing books and uniforms to these students and the expenses would be reimbursed by the government later. He expressed his dissatisfaction over the performance in Kashipur and Jaspur with regard to the implementation of the Act and has asked the nodal officers at these places to improve upon their functioning.

Elephant creates ruckus at Aamdanda gate: An elephant created a ruckus at the Aamdanda gate on Thursday evening. The animal, Albeli, destroyed a tea stall and hoardings along the roadside. Following this, the Kashipur-Buakhal road remained blocked for sometime. The animal started creating the trouble after it was tied to a tree with a wire by its mahout. It even tried to dislodge a handpump.

One killed, 3 hurt in accident: One person was killed and three others sustained injuries in a collision between two motorcycles in Haldwani on Thursday afternoon. The deceased has been identified as 22-year-old Mohan Singh Mehra of the Gorapadav area. He was coming towards Haldwani when his motorcycle collided head-on with another one coming from the opposite direction. The accident took place near Teenpani. While Mehra died on the spot, three persons on the other vehicle sustained injuries after their vehicle hit a moving car.

Woman commits suicide in Chandmari area: A woman ended her life by setting herself ablaze in the Chandmari area near Katyhgodam on Thursday afternoon. The deceased, Kamlesh Tewari (25) was a patient of depression and was being treated for the disease at Sushila Tewari Memorial Hospital for past two years. Her mother tried to save her, but Kamlesh died on the spot.

(Compiled by Rajeev Khanna)