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State for felling of khair trees on govt land
Industrial areas fast turning into residential hubs
Delay in Construction of Auckland Tunnel Bridge |
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Supporters want Mankotia to contest from Shahpur
CM inaugurates tech university office
CPM wants HPU VC censured
Tourism in Kasauli suffers for want of facilities
CPM wants 3 degree colleges notified
11,356 get benefits under social security schemes
Flame of Truth
Cong observer meets party workers in Nurpur
Probe ordered into rights violations at old-age home
One killed, 16 injured in road accidents
SJVN achieves breakthrough
Implement Shetty panel report, say judicial staff
Speaker opens panchayat ghar
Stop privatisation of education, says SFI
Thieves decamp with jewellery
Nepalese arrested with nag chhatri
Man dies of sting
Teacher dies while addressing seminar
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State for felling of khair trees on govt land
Shimla, July 25 Member secretary of the Central Empowered Committee MK Jiwrajka, in a letter to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests RS Gupta recently, conveyed the decision of the committee to allow private landowners to fell khair trees as per the 10-year felling programme. He said the Forest Department was at liberty to allow “extension period for felling of khair on private land”. “Since the Supreme Court has taken a lenient view on the issue, we have decided to approach the Central Empowered Committee and seek a clarification. The committee can extend permission to fell khair trees on government land as well,” said Sudripta Roy, Chief Secretary. He added that the issue was vital for the economy of the low-lying areas where khair was found in abundance. Gupta said the decision of the Central Empowered Committee had come as a big relief to private landowners of the low-lying areas as for them khair was a major cash crop. “With khair trees having a maturity period of only 20 years, ban on their felling was resulting in a major national loss with the growers getting severely affected,” he said. Gupta said the Himachal Government would soon move the Supreme Court to seek permission for felling of khair trees on government land also. “If permission is granted by the Supreme Court, it will not only bring in huge revenue to the government but will generate employment opportunities for the people in these areas,” he said. The recent decision of the Central Empowered Committee, constituted by the Supreme Court, allowing an “extended working period” to fell khair tress on private land has brought relief to thousands of farmers who were totally dependent on felling of khair. Private landowners and contractors had moved court against the High Court’s decision. Khair wood, which is used in the “kathha” industry, was rotting due to the ban on its felling, resulting in a loss of crores of rupees. Khair trees lose their utility and commercial value and ultimately turn into firewood if not cut every 10 years. As such a 10-year felling plan is followed so as to exploit its full herbal value and ensure good return to the farmers. |
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Industrial areas fast turning into residential hubs
Mandi, July 25 In some cases, plot owners have sold industrial plots, which are now being used for commercial trade or retail business and stores, said sources. Many industrial areas near highways and towns have turned into residential hubs with plot owners building big houses there. In the central region, the Industries Department has declared Sauli khad (151 plots) in Mandi town, Rati (31 plots) in Balh, Bamvla (51 plots), Sarkaghat and Shamshi in Kullu as industrial areas. However, many plot owners have made residences on these, some others have made shops for rent and some have even sold the plots as a real estate venture, making big money in the bargain. Though the Industries Department has no mechanism to check violations or ascertain which unit is sick or which unit employs how many people, industrialists say more than 40 per cent of the units are either sick or the plot owners have built houses on these. Officials said units doing well in the region included those dealing in steel, furniture, cedar wood oil, mineral water, spices, soap and quilts, and flour and dal mills, vehicle service stations and hotels. The story was no different in Bilaspur, Shimla, Kangra, Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, Chamba and Una, where owners got plots and subsidies, the sources said. “People get plots on political connections. No wonder that more than 40 per cent units are either sick or the plot owners have built houses on these in the region,” said industrialists requesting anonymity. The industrialists said the industrial package had not brought in industries to the central region because big houses did not prefer the interior region due to
shortage of raw material and heavy transport cost in the light of lack of railway connectivity. General Manager, Industries, Amarnath Dhiman said the department had been issuing notices to plot owners for violations as they could not build houses on industrial plots. However, they could use a part of the unit for residence purposes for workers or for themselves. Director, Industries, JS Rana said the department undertook a survey from time to time to check violations and to ensure that plots were allotted on merit. “A few violations have come to our notice in main industrial hubs,” he added. |
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Delay in Construction of Auckland Tunnel Bridge
Shimla, July 25 It further directed him to state in the affidavit the maximum time required, starting from today, for making the bridge motorable. While passing these directions, the court observed that July 16, 2012, was the deadline undertaken by the contractor himself for completion of the bridge. It appears that there was no satisfactory progress in the work. Apparently, “the contractor is not serious enough in providing sufficient labour and material”. It further directed him that the affidavit would be filed after getting the due approved from the Executive Engineer, HPPWD, within a week. During the hearing of the case the Executive Engineer, HPPWD, and contractor Sanjay Sharma were present in the court. It also directed the Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Shimla, to ensure that sufficient lights were provided inside the Oakland tunnel at the upper layer. It also directed the SP (Traffic) to check that traffic at the IGMC hospital at the end of the tunnel was properly regulated so that there was free movement of vehicles in the area. The SP was asked to file an affidavit on the status report within three weeks. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice RB Misra passed these orders on a petition filed by Tarlok Chauhan on the issue of non-implementation of plans under the Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) in Shimla town. In the petition, the petitioner stated that the state government and its agencies were lacking in coordination to implement the projects identified under the JNNURM. The petitioner added that the Centre had sanctioned crores of rupees for Shimla town in 2006. The petitioner said the detailed project reports prepared by different departments of the state were gathering dust. The petitioner has made special reference of the slow work being carried out in the construction of the Auckland tunnel in his petition. |
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Supporters want Mankotia to contest from Shahpur
Dharamsala, July 25 Onkar Rana, an ardent supporter of Mankotia, while talking to mediapersons at Dharamsala today, said they had issued an appeal to Mankotia to contest from Shahpur. “He is a leader of impeccable integrity. The country and the state needs leaders like him. So we have urged Mankotia to contest from the Shahpur constituency either on some party platform or as an Independent,” he said. Rana had earlier contested as an Independent from the Shahpur constituency with Mankotia’s support and had secured about 16,000 votes. Mankotia said his supporters had gathered at
his residence in large numbers about three days ago. They had urged him to contest from the Shahpur
constituency. “The people of the area are fed up with sitting BJP minister from the area Sarveen Chaudhary. I shall respect the sentiments of my supporters. However, I have asked them to give me a few more days to decide the future course of action,”
he added. Asked about his return to the Congress, Mankotia ruled out the possibility. He said as long as Virbhadra Singh, former Chief Minister, remained at the helm of affairs in the Congress, it would be disastrous for him to join the party. “I have been fighting against him over issues of corruption and bias against lower areas. I cannot
comprise on these issues,” he said. Mankotia is on a trip to Delhi these days. Sources said he was in touch with leaders of parties other than the Congress to make a political comeback in the forthcoming Assembly elections. Mankotia has strong support among the Rajput community in Kangra district. He made a difference in the results of the last Assembly elections by making his supporters contest as candidates of the BSP. After the elections, he announced retirement from active politics. However, he remained politically active by carrying out his campaign primarily against Virbhadra Singh from the Adalat-e-Awam (people’s court), an organisation floated by him. Now, with the elections approaching, Mankotia is likely to enter the political arena from the Shahpur constituency
that was earlier represented by him. Sources said besides Virbhadra Singh, the senior Congress leadership from Kangra was also averse to Mankotia’s return into
the party. However, in case Mankotia decides to enter the fray as an Independent from Shahpur, the Assembly constituency is likely to witness an interesting contest. |
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Choice of constituency: Dhumal keeps his supporters guessing
Hamirpur, July 25 Dhumal, who is to opt for a new Assembly constituency, after disintegration of the Bamsan constituency during the delimitation exercise, not only attended party programmes in both constituencies, but also did not give any indication about contesting from Hamirpur or Sujanpur constituencies, despite a demand by a section of party workers from Hamirpur Mandal. Addressing BJP meetings at Toani Devi and Hamirpur, Dhumal said, “Workers are the backbone of the party and now time has come to work for the party.” |
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CM inaugurates tech university office
Hamirpur, July 25 Talking to mediapersons here today, the Chief Minister said, “The new Assembly in the state is to be constituted by January 14, 2013, but keeping in view the last precedent to hold simultaneous elections in the three tribal constituencies of Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur and Bharmour, along with other parts of the state, can be held anytime during this period as snowfall period has been extended due to climatic changes.” In reply to a question, the Chief Minister said, “Former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has an old habit of approaching the ECI with complaints. He had made such a complaint during the last Assembly elections, but the Congress had to face defeat in the elections.” He said, “If Virbhadra Singh has any grudge against any officer he can approach the ECI and we will abide by the decision of this constitutional body. We are sure the ECI will hold free and fair elections in the state.” Earlier, Dhumal also inaugurated a new office of HP Technical University and laid the foundation stone of the extension of a hotel, Hamir, in Hamirpur today. While inaugurating the HPTU office, he said the HPTU was soon starting a fee waiver scheme for students of the IRDP category pursuing an engineering course, and students doing a degree course will be exempted from paying the tuition fee. Local MLA Urmil Thakur and several other dignitiries were present at the function. |
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CPM wants HPU VC censured
Shimla, July 25 In a statement issued here today, Tikender Panwar, member, state secretariat of the CPM, urged the Election Commission of India to take into its possession the entire video-recording of the three-day function and scan it thoroughly, which would substantiate allegations of bias in favour of the BJP. “The apprehensions expressed by us stand vindicated as we had asked the Election Commission to appoint an observer for the function fearing that it would be used to galvanise the political campaign of the BJP for the forthcoming Assembly elections,” he said. He alleged that the stage was utilised to boast of the achievements of the BJP government and to seek support for it. Slogans like Narender Modi will be the next Prime Minister of India, Shiv Raj Chauhan will continue to be the Chief Minister in Madhya Pradesh and the chief patron of the function announcing the “mission repeat” slogan of the BJP in the official function of the HPU was a clear example of how the function was used to undertake BJP propaganda, he said. Panwar condemned the VC’s statement where he stated that both teachers and students must be disarmed politically, whereas simultaneously he was “himself carrying out the most pernicious political agenda of the
BJP”.
VC refutes charges
Himachal Pradesh University Vice-Chancellor ADN Bajpai has refuted the charges levelled by the CPM regarding politicising the function. “I am not propagating any particular ideology or party as the Governor, who is the Chancellor of the university, and the Chief Minister were invited,” he said. He added that High Court judges, academics, scholars and noted journalists were invited, which in no way amounted to promoting a particular ideology. “Everything is transparent and anybody with an objective and unbiased mind can assess for himself that the function was totally non-political,” he said. |
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Tourism in Kasauli suffers for want of facilities
Solan, July 25 Greeted by two barriers at Parwanoo and Kasauli, a tourist has to shell out Rs 100 per vehicle for coming here. Even after paying the barrier fee at Kasauli, tourists fail to find adequate designated parking places, especially on weekends when the flow of tourists is the maximum. Hoteliers lament that the Tourism Department has failed to organise any summer festival for this cantonment town which is
preferred for its clean and green environs. They add that as is done in Shimla, an annual summer festival showcasing the culture of Himachal and food festivals can add a lot to enhance tourism flow. With airlines offering cheaper packages to various South-East Asian countries, tourist flow from Delhi, Gujarat and Kolkata has been sharply hit and a majority of the visitors are weekend tourists confided another hotelier. The biggest bottleneck is the traffic influx at Garkhal where huge traffic jams inconvenience the visiting tourists, especially on weekends. General Manager, Kasauli Resorts, Gurpreet Singh, expressing concern at the frequent traffic jams, said corporate houses shy away from visiting Kasauli due to traffic congestion at Kasauli and they faced difficulty in driving through the narrow Dharampur-Kasauli road after driving on the National Highway-22. He added that being a cantonment town, no modern eating place had come up in the main bazaar and this dissuaded tourists from visiting the town. Though the Chief Minister had announced Rs 10 lakh for the preservation of all the three churches situated in the town after laying the foundation stone of Rs 8.66-crore HPTDC Hotel and National History Museum and Geo Park at Kasauli in June last year, work was yet to begin as the cantonment board had not accorded its due permission. |
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CPM wants 3 degree colleges notified
Mandi, July 25 CPM district general secretary Bhupender Singh said the party had hailed the announcement of the Chief Minister regarding the opening of the three degree colleges in the district. But it was the CPM that had launched a long struggle to start these colleges. He charged that the Chief Minister had announced the same during the election rally to get votes ahead of the Assembly poll. The government had failed to value the struggle launched by residents under the banner of the Himachal Kisan Sabha over the years in which the government also registered cases against protesters, he said. The CPM claimed that the government must implement the announcements and issue notification to this effect in view of the high court direction. “If it does not find solution to this issue, these announcements will remain election stunts only and the CPM will raise the matter among people,” it warned. |
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11,356 get benefits under social security schemes
Solan, July 25 She said besides, the Women and Child Welfare Department would spend Rs 34 lakh on various departmental schemes. She was addressing a meeting of the District Welfare Committee in Solan today. Giving details, the DC said under the social security pension schemes in the district, 11,356 eligible persons were being benefited and the department was spending Rs 5.22 crore in the district on various social security schemes. All eligible cases had been extended benefit of the scheme and there was no pendency under it and 245 new pension cases had also been approved. With a view to facilitating these categories, the department is providing Rs 48,500 as housing subsidy for persons belonging to the SC, ST and OBC communities whose income is less than Rs 17,000 per annum. Besides, Rs 1.80 crore will be spent on providing housing subsidy to 371 persons in the district. The DC directed officials to mobilise officials of other departments as well so that more and more people could be benefitted by these schemes. The department is also providing scholarship to physically challenged
students and Rs 4 lakh has been allocated for this purpose. The Women and Child Welfare Department will spend Rs 34 lakh on welfare schemes for the women and children in Solan district. Under Chief Minister’s Kanayadan Yojana, Rs 11 lakh will be spent on marriage of needy girls, while Rs 11,000 was provided as assistance for the marriage of girls whose fathers have expired or are bedridden. The administration has sanctioned 21 cases under this scheme in this year in Solan district. |
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Power generation: NHPC (Region-II) exceeds target
Dalhousie, July 25 With this, the corporation has set an excellent record in power generation from all the four power stations operating in the district. Stating this here today, NHPC’s Region-II Executive Director SC Sharma said this region had achieved the highest power generation of 18,683 million units (MUs) so far against a target of 18,606 MUs fixed for the current year from the four power stations. By exceeding the highest MoU target of power generation, the NHPC showed the persistent endeavours of the corporation being the leader organisation in the hydropower development, the Executive Director said. Sharma said the NHPC (Region-II) comprised four power stations with an installed capacity of 1,251 MW power being produced from the 180-MW Baira-Siul, 540-MW Chamera-I, 300-MW Chamera-II and 231-MW Chamera-III power stations operating in Chamba district, the Executive Director said, adding that the state government was getting a royalty of 12 per cent free power from these projects. Sharma said the NHPC had been executing environment management plans, reinforcing the banks of the Ravi by spending over Rs 56 crore, which also included the major component of the catchment area treatment plan. Moreover, the NHPC had been spending adequate funds continuously on the well-being and the uplift of local residents and other development activities in the environs of its hydropower projects under corporate social responsibility, the Executive Director said. “The NHPC is a ‘Mini Ratna’ category-I enterprise of the Central Government. With an authorised share capital of Rs 15,000 crore and an investment base of about Rs 48,998 crore, the NHPC is ranked as a premier organisation in the country for the development of hydropower,” the Sharma added. |
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Flame of Truth
Dharamsala, July 25 The northern leg of the torch relay was inaugurated by Rigzin Palbar, Chief Executive Councillor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, on July 6 in Leh, coinciding with the 77th birthday of the Dalai Lama. The torch then travelled to Kargil, where members of the Tibetan Muslim community along with other Tibetans organised campaigns. In a press note issued here, the Dharamsala Tibetan Settlement Office said it would organise a full-day signature campaign, a peace march and a candlelight vigil on July 26 as part of the Flame of Truth relay. The torch relay, initiated by the Tibetan parliament-in-exile to express solidarity with monks committing self-immolation inside Tibet, began simultaneously from three different locations; Cochin in south India, Shillong in the North-East and Leh in north India. A number of prominent Indians had signed the petition urging the United Nations to discuss the issue of Tibet based on its earlier resolutions, to send an independent international fact-finding delegation to Tibet and to take special responsibility to ensure that the basic aspirations of the Tibetans inside Tibet were fulfilled, the press
note said. The relay, after travelling across various cities all over the world, will conclude on December 10, the World Human Rights Day, with the submission of the petitions simultaneously to the UN Headquarters in New York City, the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva and the UN information office in
New Delhi. |
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Cong observer meets party workers in Nurpur
Nurpur, July 25 A rousing reception was accorded to the party observer by local Congress workers. Pleading his claim for the party ticket, Mahajan, who had also contested last Assembly elections from here, said being in the opposition he was receiving a tremendous response in his door-to-door campaign in the area and he hailed from a traditional Congress family. “I am a disciplined party worker and abide by any decision of the party high command,” he said. He also appealed to the party observer to pass actual aspirations of the party’s rank and file and people of the area to the high command. He expressed gratitude to party workers who had stood like a rock with him even in adverse situations. Addressing party workers, Mir exhorted party workers to fight unitedly against the ruling BJP in the Assembly poll and disseminate the UPA government’s pro-people policies and programmes at grass-roots level. He assured that he would raise the voice of workers for the party ticket before the high command. He also advised other aspirants for the party ticket to first learn to sacrifice and work in the interest of the party before claiming the ticket. A former minister and octogenarian Congress leader, Sat Mahajan, who had retired from electoral politics, also spoke in support of Mahajan and alleged that those who had opposed him in the last Assembly elections were never Congress voters in the past. Mir also met workers of Shahpur and Jawali Assembly segments in the district. He will conclude his assessment tomorrow by visiting Indora and Fatehpur Assembly seats. |
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Probe ordered into rights violations at old-age home
Shimla, July 25 The Additional District Magistrate, Shimla, will conduct the probe in which chairman of the Umang Foundation, an NGO, Ajai Srivastva, who raised the issue, will also be associated along with officials of the Social Welfare Board, which manages the home, and other departments concerned. Governor Urmila Singh had sought a report from the government on the complaint of the NGO, which had demanded a judicial probe in the matter. The NGO in its complaint explained the pitiable condition of inmates in the home. It had earlier raised the issue in April, but no corrective steps were taken. Besides the plight of inmates, the NGO had also drawn attention to the raw deal being meted out to the staff deployed at the home. The underpaid staff of
the home had not been paid salaries for the past four months. It wanted the government to fix the responsibility for the messy state of affairs in this institution and take action against the guilty. |
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One killed, 16 injured in road accidents
Bilaspur, July 25 He said the injured also belonged to the same place and were all bound for Manali as tourists. All injured were admitted to Primary Health Centre at Suharghat. The police has registered a case under Sections 279, 337 and 304-A, IPC, and is investigating. In another road accident, Sandip Singh (20) of Mauda village, Sunam tehsil, Sangrur district, Punjab, was injured seriously when his motor cycle (No. PB-13-T-0584) hit against Innova car (No. PB -32-C-0084) near Maakadi near Naina Devi, 95 km from here, yesterday. The 12 occupants of the car also received injuries. The car veered round and fell some 200 foot into a chasm from the road. Sandip was immediately referred to the PGI, Chandigarh. The SP said those injured were admitted to the Community Health Centre, Naina Devi. The driver of this car fled from the scene of
the accident. |
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SJVN achieves breakthrough
Shimla, July 25 RP Singh, Chairman and Managing Director of the SJVN, said the final breakthrough was accomplished in the face of poor rock conditions encountered in excavations. The tunnel now stands fully connected, while 57 per cent of concrete lining and 80 per cent of benching of tunnel has also been achieved. He said the construction works at other major components of the project were going on in full swing and were likely to be completed on schedule. RP Singh said the first generating unit shall be boxed up by December 2012 and the project was scheduled for commissioning in September 2013. |
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Implement Shetty panel report, say judicial staff
Chamba, July 25 Vice-president Anil Soni and general secretary Bhagat Singh Bhardwaj of the district unit of the association alleged that lower-rung employees of the judiciary were being meted out a stepmotherly treatment by depriving them of their pay scales as per the recommendations of the Shetty Commission. They said the association had already apprised the government of their demands several times. However, the government appeared to be reluctant to resolve issues pertaining to the pay scales of the judicial staff. |
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Speaker opens panchayat ghar
Chamba, July 25 The Speaker said the Public Works Department (PWD) had to deposit Rs 26 lakh with the Forest Department for seeking clearance for the Chadei-Baloth road. He distributed uniforms among primary schoolchildren under the Atal Uniform Yojana. He sanctioned Rs 15,000 for students who presented a cultural
programme. |
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Stop privatisation of education, says SFI
Kangra, July 25 Vikram Singh, state general secretary, SFI, said this while addressing a press conference at MCM DAV College, Kangra, today. He said the state government was creating an atmosphere for genuine and poor students to discontinue their education due to the exorbitant fee hike in colleges and university. Vikram said the SFI would hold a 24-hour dharna on July 27 throughout the state against the fee hike and privatisation and commercialisation of education. He said Vice-Chancellor Bajpai was also encouraging the RSS element. He said on July 31, protests by the SFI would be held against the Vice-Chancellor and his effigies would be set ablaze. He said on August 6, the SFI would observe a “Black Day’ in protest against police atrocities committed on the SFI cadre in HPU
last year. Vivek Rana, state joint secretary, SFI, and Vishal Deep, Kangra district president, SFI, were also present at the press conference. |
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Thieves decamp with jewellery
Bilaspur, July 25 Reports said all the thefts were detected on Monday morning when families woke up. The police rushed to the spot and registered a case. Later, SP Santosh Patial also visited the spot and assured the families that steps would be taken to nab the culprits. A dog squad was also pressed into service, but could not lead the police anywhere. There has been a chain of thefts, one after another, in this district since last year and not a single theft has been detected till now. |
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Nepalese arrested with nag chhatri
Bilaspur, July 25 The nag chhatri was being carried without any permit and its market cost was assessed at Rs 7,31,000. The accused was residing at house-cum-hotel Chinese Dish, near the bus stand at Bhunttar in Kullu. |
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Man dies of sting
Bilaspur, July 25 Panchayat president Namita Sharma said Besariya Ram was taken to a government hospital at Sundernagar where he died as the poison had spread in his body. Village elders doubt the spider theory and say the victim might have died of snakebite.
— OC
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Teacher dies while addressing seminar
Mandi, July 25 Spokesperson, Himachal Teachers Union, Sanjeev Thakur said Jamval was rushed to Mandav Hospital in the town, but doctors declared him brought dead. He was president of the District Teachers Union. The police is awaiting his post-mortem report from the zonal hospital.
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