HIMACHAL PRADESH

BILASPUR
2 houses gutted: Property worth over Rs 3.5 lakh was burnt in a devastating fire which suddenly erupted into the houses of two brothers Rattan Lal and Brij Lal of Mukrana village, near Jhandutta, 45 km from here, late on Sunday evening. Firemen arrived late on the scene from Bilaspur town. Everything kept in these houses, including cash, jewellery, food grain and household articles were destroyed in the fire. The cause of fire has not been ascertained. Both families have been provided with an immediate grant of Rs 3,000 each and the revenue authorities are assessing the losses. 

HAMIRPUR
No power supply: Electricity supply to several areas of Hamirpur town would remain shut on Tuesday from 10am to 12am for necessary repairs of the 11 KV feeder. Assistant engineer, HPSEBL, RK Gautam said the electricity supply to Annukalan, DC office, telephone exchange, bus stand, Dankwali, SDM chowk, Nadaun chowk, government college, NIT and other areas would remain shut.

Scheme for moms: The state government has launched a scheme to help mothers in Hamirpur district as a pilot project under which expectant mothers are given an aid of Rs 4,000. DC, Hamirpur, Rajinder Singh Thakur said through the scheme the expectant mothers, over 19 years and above, after fulfilling certain health parameters, are given this amount in three installments beginning from second quarter of pregnancy till six months of the child’s birth. He said in the first phase of the scheme, Rs 30 lakh had been given to 804 women, besides providing Rs 40,000 to anganwari workers.

KANGRA
Office-bearers: The following persons were elected office-bearers of the Non-Gazetted Steno-Typist-cum-Stenographers’ Association, Health and Family Welfare Department. President - Prem Singh Thakur, senior vice-president - Vijay Laxmi, vice-president - Anita, general secretary - Amir Chand, joint secretary -Rajender, cashier - Anupama Jamwal, press secretary - Jagbir, office secretary -Ashwani Kumar and executive members Meera Bhatia, Satish, Sandeep Dogra and Dharm Pal. 

NURPUR
Woman dies: Pooja Devi, alias Kuka devi (23), of Bhadroya died after mistakenly consuming some poisonous substance on Monday morning. She was rushed to the local civil hospital where she died later. She is survived by two children. She took poison at her home in the absence of her in-laws and husband. DSP Rajinder Jaswal said her husband stated that she was not well and mistakenly took some poisonous tablet. 

Pensioners’ protest: Up in arms against the apathy of the state government towards the longstanding demands of the government pensioners, the local unit of the HP Government Pensioners’ Association has announced to hold a protest demonstration on June 22 here and submit its memorandum to the state government. 

JAMMU & KASHMIR

Srinagar
Al-Badr militant held in Sopore: A militant of the Al-Badr outfit was arrested by the police at Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district today. “The self-styled divisional commander of Al-Badr, Munir Ahmad Bukhari, was arrested during a search at Nowhamam, Sopore. He was operating under the code names Sajad Baloch, Hamza and Amir in north Kashmir,” a police spokesman said today. — TNS

DEHRADUN

Dehradun
Vikas Kumar Yadav appointed RO for byepoll: District Magistrate Ravinath Raman has appointed Vikas Kumar Yadav, Chief Agriculture Officer, as Returning Officer, and SP Singh, Block Development Officer, Dehradun, as Assistant Returning Officer for byelection of councillors of ward no 37, Mata Mandir ward, and ward 38,