Shimla, January 9
The Himachal government has sought Rs 74 crore from the National Horticulture Board for setting up of a Modern Terminal Market for flowers at Parwanoo besides initiating the process for the setting up of an advisory group who can help give a boost to cultivation of exotic flowers in the state.

This is stated to be an effort towards addressing the problems plaguing the floriculture sector, which has failed to catch the fancy of the growers despite being very lucrative. The flower terminal market is proposed to have all the latest facilities and above all, the growers will be saved from the rigours of looking for buyers in various markets like Delhi and Chandigarh.

“We have sent a detailed Rs 74 crore proposal to the National Horticulture Board for funding. Having a terminal market will help give a big fillip to floriculture as many farmers have taken to flower cultivation, but considering the marketing constraints, problems were being faced,” said Vineet Chaudhary, Additional Chief Secretary, Irrigation and Public Health and Horticulture.

Though Himachal ventured into the floriculture sector long back, absence of marketing facilities has hampered its growth. Even now, many farmers in Sirmaur, Shimla, Bilaspur, Solan, Kangra and Chamba districts are into floriculture but considering the problems, they have put all expansion plans on hold.

They are growing roses, tulips, lilium, carnations, marigold, gerbera and gladiolus.

“I have been into floriculture for the last decade, but with near absence of marketing facilities, I have faced so many problems that at times, I regret having set up poly houses,” laments Neeraj Thakur of Rajgarh.

He admits that having a terminal market will be a big relief and encouragement for growers as returns are good, provided marketing problems are taken care of.

While the terminal market at Parwanoo will, to a great extent, solve the marketing and transportation problem, experts could guide the farmers regarding the varieties of flowers, right plant material, seeds and growing techniques.

“We are already in the process of formulating a Floriculture Advisory Group so that we have a team of specialists comprising technical experts, growers and others who will formulate and suggest a strategy for guiding the growers,” he said.

The proposed flower terminal will have cold storage, temperature controlled warehouse and ripening and packing chambers, to be set up at a cost of Rs 15 crore.

A sum of Rs 12 crore will be spent on setting up collection centres and Rs 10 crore on refer vans so that growers do not face problems in sending their produce across to the terminal market.

Another important component of the Flower Terminal will be setting up of a Framer Hostel-cum-Centre of Excellence where farmers can be given farm training regarding the adoption of latest and right techniques while undertaking floriculture on a commercial scale.

The experts will suggest to the farmers selection of the right variety of flowers, depending on the agro-climatic conditions, soil quality and other factors. They could also suggest import of the right plant material and seeds of flowers suited for Himachal.

Manali, January 9
The intense cold wave sweeping the entire Kullu valley has further tightened its grip with higher reaches in the Manali region receiving a fresh spell of snowfall.

Higher reaches in the Manali region, including the 13,050-ft-high Rohtang Pass, the Pir Panjal ranges Gulaba, Kothi and Brighu and Hamta ski slopes received fresh snowfall. The famous ski slopes of the Solang valley also had snowfall. Owing to fresh spell of snowfall, the vehicular traffic between Palchan and the Solang valley was disrupted this morning inconveniencing tourists.

A long queue of vehicles on both sides of the road was seen between Palchan village to Solang today. Meanwhile, tourists were seen walking from Palchan to Solang ski slopes to enjoy the snow. Some of them went horse riding. Orchardists and agriculturists of the region have welcomed the snow and rain. They say it is beneficial for the apple crop in the upper region and the standing crops in lower areas.

Shimla, January 9
With snow and rain eluding local residents and tourists in the capital city today, the local Meteorological Department has predicted rain or snowfall in higher hills of the state and dry weather in plains and lower hills in the next 48 hours.

The city had a sunny day accompanied by a dry chill. Bharmour in Chamba district recorded the lowest temperature at -15 degrees Celsius in the state, while Solan recorded the highest temperature at 17.5°C, informed the MeT office.

The rain and snow were reported at isolated places in mid or higher reaches of the state due the western disturbance. Shimla recorded a minimum temperature of 7°C, Kalpa -3°C, Reckong Peo -5.1°C, Manali 0°C, said the Met office. 

Shimla, January 9
Even as voters in the state have registered an increase of 1.4 per cent since the last Assembly polls, there are 62,133 first-time voters in the age group of 18 to 19 years who will cast their ballot in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.

The state Election Department has updated its electoral rolls for the entire state up to January 6. As per the latest data available with the department, there are 47.39 lakh voters in the state, out of which 93,638 voters have got their names enrolled after December 2012.

“We have revised the electoral rolls, but anyone keen to get himself registered as a voter can do so even 15 days before the polling dates for the Lok Sabha elections,” said Narender Chauhan, Chief Electoral Officer.

He confirmed that there were 62,133 voters who would get an opportunity to cast their vote for the first time in the Lok Sabha polls.

Of the total electorate of 47,39,388, the number of men voters is higher. The number of men voters is 23,90,117 while that of female voters is 22,84,070. The total number of deletions that have been made on various grounds like transfer, duplication in rolls or due to death of a voter is 41,552. The number of voters who died since the last elections is 22,887, those transferred out is 19,434 and those whose name had been entered twice in the electoral rolls was 957.

As per the latest revision of electoral rolls, the number of services voters in the state is 65,201. This includes those serving in the Army and other paramilitary forces and who normally cast their ballot through post. In fact, these service votes make a significant difference in the outcome of the polls in some of the Assembly segments in Kangra, Hamirpur and Bilaspur districts as many people hailing from here are serving in the Defence forces.

The chances of elections in the three tribal Assembly segments of Kinnaur, Lahaul Spiti and Bharmour with the rest of the state are high. Officials concerned feel that unless it snows in April, there should be no problem in holding the elections.

Solan, January 9
Confusion is prevailing in private universities in the state over course approval and increase in the seat intake after scrapping of the HP Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Commission in October last year.

While some managements have applied to the Department of Higher Education, as was the earlier practice prior to setting up of the Regulatory Commission in 2010, the others are taking this as an opportune time to operate as they wish. A Vice-Chancellor of a private university, when contacted, said in the absence of any clear information, some university managements had not applied to any authority for approval of new courses or undertaking increase in the seat intake for the next academic sessions as no such notification had been issued after scrapping of the commission while some had applied to the Principal Secretary, Higher Education.

As per the earlier practice, any permission for adding new courses or undertaking seat increase is supposed to be applied for by December 31. In case no correspondence is received from the authorities for three months, the permission is deemed to have been granted.

Cases of universities and private institutions violating admission norms had also come to the fore last year wherein the results of such students had been withheld by Himachal Pradesh Technical University while in case of private universities, no action has been taken by the state government after scrapping of the regulatory commission which had imposed penalties on them.

The apex court had directed all regulatory bodies to frame a time schedule to ensure grant of time-bound clearances as it had come to their notice that some institutes had to wait inordinately for getting such approvals.

The measure is also aimed at ensuring the completion of admissions in a time-bound manner according to the apex court directions. There are 16 private universities in the state and their working has remained in the eye of a storm during the tenure of the former BJP government wherein the Opposition Congress had been levelling allegations of various irregularities including non-compliance with the academic calendar.

Shimla, January 9
Attendants of patients needing blood, mainly the A and B and negative blood groups, for transfusion at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya (Ripon) Hospital, are running from one hospital to another in the city to get blood for surgeries. The Ripon Hospital had cancelled a blood donation camp recently, while the IGMC is yet to organise a blood donation camp, said local NGOs.

The blood banks at Kamla Nehru Hospital and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya (Ripon) Hospital are facing the burden for the A and B blood group from the IGMC, while doctors here claimed they had enough blood storage.

The IGMC is referring patients for blood to Kamla Nehru Hospital and Ripon Hospital as these hospitals also cater to the blood need of private and government hospitals in the peripheries. The IGMC needs 30-40 units of blood every day even as certain non-emergency surgeries have been postponed as many senior doctors have proceeded on winter vacation, said insiders.

The patients admitted to Ripon Hospital are calling them as they are not getting blood in the city hospitals, said Ajay Srivastva, Chairman, Umang Foundation, whose blood donation camp was cancelled by the hospital, citing non-availability of doctors there as reason.

"But we have stocked enough storage of blood by organising different blood donation camps in the recent past," claimed Dr Kanchan, in charge, Blood Bank, Kamla Nehru Hospital. "We give about 15 units of blood to the IGMC these days and we need 5-10 units of blood in the hospital per day as well," she added.

The in charge of the blood bank at the Ripon Hospital said they had shortage of blood of the A and B blood groups while the hospital had enough stock of O blood group blood as the replacement by voluntary donation was not enough. "We give 2-3 units of blood to IGMC every day and a stock of 13 units in the bank," he said.

In charge of the IGMC Blood Bank, Dr Madan Kaushal, claimed they were organising the blood donation camp next week with the help of the Umang Foundation. "In winter, we face some blood shortage, but we have stores for the daily needs of patients. No specific complaint from a patient has come to our notice," he said.

Nurpur, January 9
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh lamented that a media trial to defame him had been launched, and cautioned mediapersons to refrain from it.

He was addressing a gathering here yesterday after inaugurating the newly built Mini Secretariat building on which Rs 4.68 crore had been spent. The Mini Secretariat will house 19 offices under one roof.

He said he would not spare the mediapersons who were involved in the malicious propaganda against him.

Denying the corruption charges levelled by former CM PK Dhumal and his sons, he said they were indulging in “wrong means and dirty politics”, but he would not succumb to such pressure of false propaganda.

The Chief Minister said Dhumal and his sons were feeling the heat of the ongoing investigations into the chargesheet of the Congress which had been submitted to the President of India and Himachal Pradesh Governor Urmila Singh when Dhumal was the Chief Minister.

“At that time I was the Union Minister and was neither a member of the chargesheet committee nor had I accompanied Congress leaders when it was submitted. As Chief Minister, I was supposed to order an inquiry into the allegations narrated in that chargesheet. But Dhumal and his sons are now upset as the inquiry is nearing completion and they have started levelling false allegations against me,” he asserted.

Virbhadra reiterated that his government had never resorted to political vendetta against his opponents.

The Chief Minister sanctioned two parking lots in the town and announced the upgradation of seven government schools in the Nurpur Assembly constituency.

Earlier, Virbhadra inaugurated a CT scan machine worth Rs 1.5 crore set up at the Civil Hospital under the private-public participation scheme. Agriculture Minister Sujan Singh Pathania, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Neeraj Bharti and Jwalamukhi MLA Sanjay Ratan were present on the occasion.

Dharamsala, January 9
The Congress today tried to tap ex-servicemen and their families in the state, ahead of the rally planned for them by the BJP in Hamirpur district next month that would be addressed by the party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

The ex-servicemen have a sizeable presence, especially in Kangra, Una and Hamirpur districts of the state, and can swing the fortunes of any political party in the forthcoming Parliamentary elections.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh promised to take up the issue of one-rank one-pension scheme for ex-servicemen with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi. He said, "I will try that the Union Government implements the one-rank one-pension scheme before the code of conduct for the Parliamentary elections is announced."

He also termed as unfortunate the Union government's decision to allow recruitment in the Army on the basis of population of respective states and said he would take up the matter with the PM. "After the implementation of the quota system, the number of youth going into the Army from Himachal has decreased," he said.

The Chief Minister, who addressed a function organised by the Himachal Ex-servicemen League of Himachal at Kangra Polytechnic College here announced the filling of all posts of Deputy Director in the Sainik Welfare Department within one month and the allotment of two kanal land for the office of the league at Dharamsala.

He also restored a financial grant of Rs 2 lakh per annum to the league that was allegedly stopped by the previous BJP government.

Lt-Gen KS Jamwal (retd), speaking on the occasion, said the Indian Army was among the best in the world.

The biggest problem being faced by Indian ex-servicemen was unemployment after retirement from the Army.

Vijay Singh Mankotia, president of the league, said the CMs of Himachal, J&K and Uttarakhand should jointly take up the matter of removing quota restriction on their respective states for recruitment in the Army.

He said the Forest Department was planning to disband the ecological force under which about 300 ex-servicemen were employed due to paucity of funds. The CM should intervene and save the jobs of ex-servicemen there.

The ex-servicemen submitted a memorandum of their demands to the CM. They demanded that posts of Deputy Director in the Sainik Welfare Department be filled and their salary be increased from the present Rs 15,000. The state government was contributing just Rs 4,000 to the salary of Deputy Directors, they stated.

The ex-servicemen demanded the revival of a high-powered committee in the state to look after implementation of development schemes for ex-servicemen. They demanded that the Central University Himachal Pradesh be named after the martyrs from Kangra district.

Shimla, January 9
Taking the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) president Anurag Thakur head-on in the ongoing war of words on corruption charges, the state Youth Congress and the National Students Union of India (NSUI) today declared a war against Dhumal and sons, saying they would stage statewide protests from Hamirpur on January 11.

The NSUI and Youth Congress have demanded the arrest of those involved in the Bamloe and HPCA land transfer scams, said Vikramaditya Singh, state Youth Congress president and son of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, while talking to The Tribune here today.

"The HPCA has become a monopoly of the Dhumal family as most members of the family are its life members with the voting rights as the constitution of the HPCA was changed on their whims and fancy. Should public of Himachal and media not question them as to why they did so?" he charged.

According to the Youth Congress and NSUI leaders, the protest rallies would be targeted at Anurag-led HPCA and former CM PK Dhumal, who had been levelling "wild baseless allegations against Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and his family in the media".

Vikramaditya said the allegations against them were baseless as the state government had turned the heat on the HPCA which had allegedly transferred the government lands on a nominal lease for 99 years at Lalpani and Dharamsala, that smacked of a big scam being probed by the state Vigilance.

"The HPCA was registered as a society. It was then registered as a company after the land was leased to it. Do Anurag Thakur and PK Dhumal not owe an explanation to the state's people?" he questioned.

Bilaspur, January 9
Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) national president Anurag Thakur today started his Bilaspur tour from the Ghumarwin constituency and led a massive BJP demonstration outside the Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) office here yesterday.

Leaders, led by MLAs Rikhi Ram Kaundal and Randhir Sharma and former MP Suresh Chandel, marched towards the DC office from the Circuit House here raising slogans against the government and later presented a memorandum to the Governor through the DC demanding the removal of the Chief Minister.

Addressing a dharna, Anurag mocked Rahul Gandhi by saying that his repeated announcements regarding “zero tolerance” against corruption were hollow.

He said had he been serious, there was no reason why he should have not asked Virbhadra to resign and face charges. He said if the Chief Minister had not done anything wrong, why he was hesitating to order a CBI enquiry into the allegations against him and his wife.

He said the BJP would continue its statewide agitation against Virbhadra till he resigned. He urged all BJP leaders and activists to fan out in villages and inform every household in their areas regarding all charges against the Chief Minister.

Una, January 9
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president Satpal Singh Satti today led a district-level ‘Virbhadra Hatao-Himachal Bachao’ (oust Virbhadra-save Himachal) campaign at the district headquarters here, which was attended by hundreds of party workers.

After addressing a public meeting near the municipal park, activists marched towards the Mini Secretariat, raising slogans against UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, while demanding the resignation of the latter on charges of corruption. The BJP leaders later presented a memorandum addressed to Himachal Pradesh Governor through Additional Deputy Commissioner Darshan Kalia.

Earlier, Satti charged that Virbhadra’s lust for power was so intense that he was clinging on to the CM’s chair. He said Virbhadra had even been lobbying in Delhi through two of his lieutenants.

Referring to the news about a Japanese firm hired by the Congress to boost the image of Rahul Gandhi, he remarked, “Rahul should take action against his corrupt party leaders to boost his image.”

Former minister and party spokesperson Parveen Sharma, zila parishad chairperson Rani Ranaut, BJP district president Balbir Bagga and media in-charge Hari Om Bhanot were also present on the occasion. 

Nurpur, January 9
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said Rajya Sabha member and senior BJP leader Shanta Kumar was levelling false allegations against him due to his political compulsion.

He was reacting to the yesterday’s statement of Shanta Kumar at Dharamsala in which he had sought his resignation owing to corruption allegations. While interacting with Nurpur Press Club members, Virbhadra said the BJP leadership in the state was fighting for their political dominance.

Talking on the selection of party candidates for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections, he said the selection process was in the final phase and the party high command could announce the candidates at any time in the near future.

The club sought to provide health insurance cover to all journalists under the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY). The Chief Minister said he would take up this issue with the state Health Department and if feasible, the facility would be granted to the beneficiaries.

Shimla, January, 9
The HP High Court today dismissed the election petition filed by Chairman, HP State Pollution Control Board, Kuldeep Singh Pathania, who contested the 2012 state Assembly election on Congress ticket from Bhatiyat in Chamba.

In the petition, Pathania had challenged the election of BJP candidate Bikram Singh Jaryal on the grounds that due to the mala fide attitude of the presiding officers appointed to conduct the election, he lost the election and suffered a defeat by just 111 votes.

As many as six candidates, including the petitioner being a Congress candidate and Bikram Singh Jaryal sponsored by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fought the election. Jaryal, who got 18,098 votes, won the election by 111 votes and the petitioner polled 17,987votes.

While dismissing the petition , Justice VK Sharma observed: “The petition is lacking in material facts and does not disclose any cause of action and is accordingly liable to be dismissed without being put to trial and is accordingly dismissed with costs of Rs 25,000.”

Mandi, January 9
With the demand for employing locals in the Employee State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Medical College, Ner Chowk, gaining momentum, the issue of adopting the state government's policy in recruiting the staff here has come to the fore.

The ESIC Medical College, which is in its final stage of completion and will start functioning this year by starting classes for the first session, will have to fill up hundreds of posts of different categories.

According to information, about 1,000 Class III and IV employees will be required to make the college functional. Besides, there are numerous technical posts, recruiting for which will begin soon.

Since many locals are aspiring for employment in the college, a few organisations and residents are seeking preference for locals in recruitment against different posts.

If recruitment in the college is done as per ESIC recruitment rules, many locals will be debarred from employment as only candidates between the age of 18 to 25 years will then stand a chance.

Locals say, "Since the ESIC Medical College has been set up in Himachal Pradesh and is getting linked with the Zonal Hospital, Mandi, recruitment in the college should be done as per the state government's recruitment policy, otherwise a large number of local candidates will be debarred from getting a chance to get employed in the college."

The HP Government's policy allows candidates between the age of 18 to 45 years to get employed against different posts.

Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur said, "We have taken up this issue with the Union Labour Minister and after notification regarding linkage of the Zonal Hospital, Mandi, with the ESIC Medical College, it is imperative that recruitment in the college is done as per the HP Government's recruitment policy to give chance to locals in employment here."

Una, January 9
Industry Minister Mukesh Agnihotri yesterday said a foreign trade centre with the assistance of the Union Ministry of Commerce would be set up at Shimla.

He said the deliberations with Union Minister for Commerce Anand Sharma were in the final stages and the issue would again be taken up during a meeting to be held in Dehi on January 11.

Agnihotri said the proposed centre would provide trade-related technical assistance for export promotion, assistance for strategic partnership with overseas companies, joint ventures, technology transfer, setting up industry, merger and acquisitions, besides promotion of bi-lateral trade with foreign partners and outbound investment.

The minister said the agenda for the meeting included seeking capital subsidy for three new proposed industrial areas of the state - Rs 106 crore Kandrori industrial area at Kangra, Rs 100 crore Pandoga industrial area at Una and the Dabota industrial area at Solan, the detailed project report (DPR) for which was being finalised.

The minister said the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) under the Union Ministry of Food Processing had also been approached to render its services in the state to probe the export prospects of processed fruit products. 

Shimla, January 9
With tentative dates for the Lok Sabha polls being announced, every section of society has started demanding its due. Over 25,000 contractual employees of the state seem to have taken the lead by coming out with a booklet “Memorandum for General Elections-2014”.

The memorandum issued by the HP Contract Employees titled “Cancer of Contract” has primarily been issued to draw the attention of the government and people in general towards the problems being faced by contractual employees and their families. The contractual employees include doctors, engineers, teachers, horticulturists and agriculture officers, all highly qualified and recruited through the State Public Service Commission or the State Subordinate Services Selection Board.

“The contractual arrangement in government service is nothing less than apartheid as it leads to a radical divide at a workplace, soaked as it is in discrimination, humiliation and exploitation,” says Dr Harsh Vardhan Singh Khimta, president of the HP Government College Contract Teachers Association.

He says the government must address the grievances of contractual employees, some of whom, in their 40s, have been suffering the agony for the last many years.

The memorandum makes a mention of the fact that the only relief that has come their way so far during the BJP regime is the reduction in years of service for regularisation from eight to six years and grant of 10 days medical leave.

“We should be regularised within three years and the contract be treated as service period. We should be given dearness allowance (DA) as we are the ones who suffer the maximum brunt of price rise,” they contest.

The initiative to bring about a memorandum in the form of a booklet, both in Hindi and English, includes the launch of a website and its distribution not only to the Chief Minister, ministers, MLAs, bureaucrats and senior leaders of all political parties but to anyone who is willing to listen.

“Barring the 12 days casual leave and only 84 days maternity leave, we are not entitled to any earned, paternity and study leave,” the contractual employees rue.

Well aware of emerging political alternatives like the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the members of the association say they are no longer willing to take this kind of "step-motherly treatment".

They do not deny the fact that if the Congress and the BJP do not regularise their services, they would exercise their political option by supporting AAP.

“The Dhumal regime also announced reduction in period for regularisation from eight to six years, just two months before the Assembly elections. It now remains to be seen when the Congress will fulfil its election promise of issuing a notification to reduce it to five years,” say the contractual employees.

Chamba, January 9
Despite heavy snowfall on the timberline of Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh bordering Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), there has been no let up in strict security arrangements and security forces are on their toes to maintain a vigil on any of the clandestine activities of suspects.

Superintendent of Police (SP), Chamba, Jagat Ram said this here today adding that for the safety and security of inhabitants, security personnel of the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) had been deployed on the border area of Chamba district adjacent to J&K, which had been divided into four sectors.

The SP said at present 10 outer check-posts (OCPs) and two barrier check-posts (BCPs) had been set up to keep surveillance on the border regions of the district so that security forces could maintain a vigil on the movement of suspects and anti-national elements.

Besides, the local militia, including 467 special police officers (SPOs), who were fully trained in weaponry, and 159 village defence committees (VDCs) having 1,437 trained members from local areas had been actively participating with security forces in close coordination with daily inputs about strangers, the SP said.

“To reinforce sentiments of security and communal harmony among residents of the border villages, security forces have been persistently carrying out day and night patrolling thereby boosting the morale of border residents,” the SP said, adding that all possible steps had been taken for their wellbeing.

Chamba, January 9
The government has set a target of sterilising around 2,000 monkeys in Chamba district during the current year to curb monkey menace.

According to official sources, an estimated expenditure of Rs 15 lakh has been earmarked for sterilisation of monkeys so that farmers and schoolchildren, who were the most affected, could get some relief.

The work to sterilise monkeys has been undertaken and 11 monkeys have been sterilised so far. — OC

Shimla, January 9
A man, Om Parkash (42), killed his two sons Rishu (10) and Kaku (5) and stabbed his wife Rita (30) with a sharp-edged weapon at his house in Badain village, 7 km from the Dhalli police station, here today.

His wife allegedly consumed poison after sustaining fatal injuries while defending her children from a sudden attack by her husband, the police said.

She was rushed to the IGMC for treatment where she was declared critical.

The police have arrested the accused. The police suspected illicit relations as the reason behind the incident.

The police team, led by ASP, Shimla, Sandeep Dhawal, rushed to the spot. The postmortem of the bodies was yet to be done.

SHO Biri Singh said Om Parkash was arrested under the charge of murder. The investigation was on, he said.

IGMC Medical Superintendent Dr Ramesh Kumar said Rita was critical.

Bilaspur, January 9
Pawan Kumar (39) of Bhdoli Kala village in the Jhandutta constituency was crushed under a bus (HP-69-1837) near Daadhi Bhadi village, 80 km from here, yesterday.

Reports said Pawan was going from Bhdoli Kala village to Baddi on his motorcycle (HP-23-3620) when he was hit by the bus (going from Jhandutta to Jeori Pattan) on a sharp turn.

The deceased was killed on the spot. The police took the body into their possession and handed it over to the family after postmortem.

A case has been registered against the bus driver and the vehicle impounded. — OC