Una, April 10
Former minister and four-time MLA from the Santoshgarh (now Haroli) Assembly segment Vijay Kumar Joshi today joined the BJP in the presence of former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and state party president Satpal Singh Satti during a party function here.

Joshi became the youngest MLA of the state in 1977 as a Janata Party candidate. Later, he joined the Congress and successfully contested thrice to the Assembly. He had remained the Deputy Speaker and held the post of Minister of State for Industries. The Tahliwal Industrial area was his brain child.

Joshi, a close confidant of former Union Minister Sukh Ram, had joined the Himachal Vikas Congress and remained the chairman of the General Industries Corporation during the BJP-HVC regime. Joshi had contested the last elections as a candidate of the Bahujan Samaj Party from Haroli. He has lost the last four elections consecutively.

Speaking after joining the BJP, Joshi said the situation of the country during 1977 and 2014 was almost similar. The Union governments, on both occasions, had miserably failed and people were fed up with the regimes.

He said he was happy to join the BJP and would contribute in the efforts of making Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister of the country.

Prem Kumar Dhumal and Satpal Satti welcomed Joshi into the party fold. Lekh Raj Sanyasi, former district president of the Lok Jan Shakti Party, also joined the BJP. 

About Joshi

Vijay Joshi became the youngest MLA of the state in 1977 as a Janata Party candidate. Later, he joined the Congress and successfully contested thrice to the Assembly. He had remained the Deputy Speaker and held the post of Minister of State for Industries. The Tahliwal Industrial area was his brain child.

Shimla, April 10
The Congress is planning to organise a show of strength the day the four candidates will file their nomination papers for the four Lok Sabha seats.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rajiv Shukla, who has been made in charge for Himachal as AICC general secretary Ambika Soni is busy in the Lok Sabha elections from Punjab, is keen to be present at he time of filing of nomination.

Party sources said he was likely to address Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) office-bearers at Congress Bhawan on May 21. This will be Shukla's first formal interaction with party leaders.

With two candidates, Pratibha Singh and Chander Kumar, expected to file their nomination on April 17, party leaders are making arrangements for hiring a helicopter so that all senior leaders can be present at both places in Mandi and Dharamsala.

"We are keen that the filing of the nomination papers sends a strong signal that the entire party is united in its fight against the BJP," said a senior leader.

It is Hamirpur candidate Rajinder Rana who will be the first to file his nomination papers on April 14 before the Deputy Commissioner, Hamirpur, who is the Returning Officer. It is expected that Shukla, Virbhadra Singh and state Congress president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu will be present on the occasion. Pratibha Thakur, MP and convener, is also likely to be present.

Shimla Lok Sabha candidate and Rohru MLA Mohan Lal Brakta will file his nomination on April 16 in Shimla. It is expected that all senior state leaders along with Shukla will mark their presence.

It is on April 17 that Pratibha Singh, Mandi Lok Sabha MP and wife of the Chief Minister, will file her nomination at 10 am in Mandi. Chander Kumar, Congress nominee from Kangra, will file his papers the same day at 2 pm in Dharamsala.

Important dates

• Pratibha Singh and Chander Kumar may file nominations on April 17
• Rajinder Rana on April 14
• Shimla candidate Mohan Lal Brakta to file papers on April 16

Shimla, April 10
The Congress is yet to finalise the candidate for the Sujanpur Assembly bypoll to be held on May 7. The process has been delayed with the aspirants indulging in hectic lobbying before the central leadership in Delhi.

It was being expected that the Congress would announce its candidate within a day or two after Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and state Congress president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu held discussions. But the final decision has been delayed with the aspirants camping in Delhi to seek high command’s blessings.

Former minister Anita Verma is leaving no stone unturned to get the ticket. She has remained all-India president of the Sewa Dal and is a known figure in Delhi political circles. Despite being a Virbhadra loyalist, the changed political scenario, especially within her home district of Hamirpur, has placed her in a disadvantageous position.

The CM is supporting the candidature of Anita Rana, wife of Rajinder Rana who resigned as an Independent MLA from Sujanpur to contest the Lok Sabha poll from Hamirpur.

With the by-poll being held along with the Lok Sabha elections, he has been forced to push his wife into politics.

Sukhu had constituted a three-member ministerial committee, headed by Irrigation and Public Health Minister Vidya Stokes, to shortlist candidates from a total of 14 persons who had applied for the ticket.

The committee had formed two panels comprising names of five aspirants, including Anita Rana, Anita Verma, former MLA Kuldip Pathania, Hamirpur District Congress Committee president Naresh Thakur and DCC general secretary Arun Thakur.

Sukhu has not expressed his choice openly so far and left the decision to the three-member committee.

However, political analysts feel that since he was opposed to the candidature of Rana on the grounds that he was not a man from the organisation, he could have reservations even on the candidature of Anita Rana, on the same grounds. If the situation permits, he could support his loyalist Naresh Thakur.

Anita Rana seems to be emerging as a front-runner for the ticket, but it remains to be seen whether she will be able to find a favour with the party. She has a strong organisational background, but the fact that she has lost the two successive elections could mar her chances and in the absence of the backing of Virbhadra, it could be a tough fight for her.

Strong contenders

ANITA VERMA

What works for her:

• A front-runner for the ticket
• Has a strong organisational background and is a known figure in Delhi political circles

Factors against her:

• Has lost two successive elections
• Does not enjoy Virbhadra’s support for this seat

ANITA RANA

What works for her:

Enjoys Virbhadra’s full support

Factors against her:

• Complete novice in politics
• Lacks organisations support because of husband being a BJP man till recently

NARESH THAKUR

What works for him:

Sukhu loyalist, enjoys his full support

Factors against him:

Virbhadra not in favour of giving ticket from this seat to him (Former MLA Kuldeep Pathania and DCC general secretary Arun Thakur are also in the fray)

Una, April 10
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said the Dhumal-led BJP government violated land law and misused the government machinery, besides registering false cases against its opponents. Addressing an election meeting at Pandoga village of Haroli segment, he said the Congress had brought in all round development in the state, every time it came to power.

Virbhadra said former CM Prem Kumar Dhumal broke law to give benefit to his son and Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) president Anurag Thakur. He said if the two were innocent in the HPCA land-grabbing case, why were they afraid of the ongoing enquiry and making a hue and cry. "Innocent will not be victimised and the guilty will not be spared," he said.

The CM said public property worth about Rs 250 crore was under the HPCA control and that the Congress government would not allow it to be usurped by a few families.

Virbhadra charged that very few Himachali players were allowed to play in the Ranji Trophy from the state team, while most of the players were from Punjab and other states, adding that this was the only reason why not even a single player from the state had risen to the national or international level.

The CM said his only differences with the HPCA were that it was illegitimately in the hands of persons who were holding on to it for their vested interests. "If the body is reconstituted democratically, with representation to every district and voting rights to players, I will be satisfied," he said, adding that "Virbhadra Singh is made of steel and will not allow unlawful acts to prosper while I am the Chief Minister."

Referring to Anurag Thakur, Virbhadra Singh said he remained outside his segment most of the time and his photographs were seen with Bollywood celebrities. He claimed that as an MP, Anurag Thakur had even failed to utilise his discretionary grant meant for the development of the segment, he represented in Parliament.

The CM appealed to the people to vote for Congress candidate Rajinder Rana, who he said was more toward social service than politics. Besides, he opined Rana was sober and down to earth. Later, he addressed election meetings at Haroli and Tahliwal in the Haroli Assembly segment and Basdehra in Una Sadar segment.

District Congress president Varinder Dharmani and Pradesh Congress Committee members Omkar Sharma and Satpal Raizada accompanied the Chief Minister. 

Shimla, April 10
The BJP today finalised the name of Narinder Thakur, who was reinducted into the party after 11 years, for the Sujanpur Assembly byelection slated for May 7.

The announcement was made in Delhi by the central leadership of the BJP and a fax message was received at the BJP state headquarters, party spokesperson Ganesh Dutt said.

The state BJP election committee had sent a penal of four names, including former BJP MLA Urmil Thakur, sister-in-law of Narinder, former Sujanpur mandal president Varinder Thakur and present mandal president Rakesh Thakur, but the high command put its stamp on Narinder's name.

One-time arch-rival of former Chief Minister PK Dhumal, Narinder was the front runner for the BJP ticket and a survey conducted by the party high command also found him to be the strongest candidate against the Congress.

Narinder (son of former BJP stalwart late Jagdev Chand) was sidelined during the BJP regime and denied the party ticket for the Hamirpur Assembly seat in 1998 when Urmil Thakur was given the ticket. She won the election and was re-nominated as a party candidate in the 2003 elections, but lost to Anita Verma of the Congress, while Narinder unsuccessfully contested as an Independent.

He made his debut into electoral politics in 1994 when he contested the byelection from the Hamirpur Assembly seat, vacated due to the sudden demise of his father Jagdev Chand. However, he lost the election to Anita Verma of the Congress by a narrow margin of about 800 votes and his political fortunes did not look up.

Narinder joined the Congress before the Hamirpur Lok Sabha byelection in 2007 and defeated by Anurag Thakur (BJP) in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections as a Congress candidate.

Dharampur (Mandi), April 10
Former Chief PK Dhumal has criticised the state government for its "failure" to provide subsidised ration through the Public Distribution System during the past one and a half years.

Addressing an election rally to seek votes for the BJP candidate from Hamirpur constituency in Dharampur Assembly segment falling in Mandi district, Dhumal blamed the Congress government for engaging in politics over the issue.

“When our government distributed carry bags with pictures of Atal Bihari Vajpayee for providing subsidised ration, the Congress accused us of engaging in politics.

The Congress government is now distributing carry bags having pictures of Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi and other Congress leaders, but ration shops are empty,” said Dhumal.

He said, “The issuing of new ration cards has triggered controversies in families. It used to be decided in the family in whose name a ration card was to be made, but now, the Congress government has decided that it would issue it in a woman's name.”

He said, “The BJP government provided cheap ration but the prices of petrol, diesel, LPG cylinder and other essential items have skyrocketed.

The Congress government has failed to check prices and provide cheap ration.”

Dhumal said, “The elections this time are going to be historic. The BJP has promised a separate policy for the hill states in its election manifesto."

Addressing the rally, Anurag Thakur accused the Congress leaders of levelling baseless allegations and of false propaganda against him.

He said, “I have been working for the people and such baseless statements are intended to defame me.”

Dharampur MLA Mahender Singh Thakur also addressed the public meeting.

Palampur, April 10
Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today asked party workers to give a united fight to BJP in the Kangra parliamentary seat and elect Chander Kumar to the Lok Sabha to strengthen the hands of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Sukhu was addressing party workers after inaugurating party’s election office here. He asked party workers to visit every polling booth, maintain man-to-man contact and highlight the achievements of the Congress government headed by Virbhadhra Singh.

He said the Congress party, in a shot span of one year, had launched various welfare schemes in the state benefitting the common man.

He said the quota for sugar, oil and foodgrains supplied though fair-price shops was enhanced by the Congress government soon after assuming office.

Besides, the quality of foodgrains was also improved, he added.

The PCC president said most of the vacant posts in the health sector, particularly in rural areas, were filled up in the past one year, adding that earlier posts of medical officers and para-medical staff were lying vacant as the BJP government made no efforts to fill them in its five years’ rule.

In reply to a question, PCC president said there was no proposal to readmit those leaders into the party who were expelled for anti-party activities. He said the final decision on it would be taken by the party high command.

Contrary to the statement of Sukhvinder Singh, Chief Minister Virbhadhra Singh, during his visit to Kangra yesterday, had announced that all expelled party workers and leaders would be taken back soon so that they could join party’s election campaign in the ensuing parliamentary elections.

Virbhadhra had readmitted Dr Rajesh Sharma in the party yesterday. Sharma was expelled from the party in 2012, as he had contested the Assembly election as an Independent candidate from Kangra. 

Shimla, April 10
Even as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has decided to crack a whip on self-styled leaders who are facing charges, volunteers of the party's local unit boycotted the first media interaction of its candidate from Shimla, Subhash Chander, pointing Chander as a defaulter of the Shimla Municipal Corporation.

The volunteers said self-styled spokesperson and coordinators had sidelining AAP volunteers who had been working day and night since Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal started the anti-corruption movement at the Ram Lila Maidan.

AAP volunteer DR Kashyap said they opposed Subhash Chander as he was penalised by a court on November 30, 2013 for violating HP Public Premises Land Eviction and Rent Recovery Act 1971. Chander has been asked to pay pending arrears and dues amounting to Rs 20.18 lakh. He was a tenant at a government accommodation at Sanjauli in Shimla. Subhash said he was targeted in the rent arrears case.

The AAP headquarters had been informed about today's development, said Chaman Rakesh Azta, an AAP volunteer. "We need a candidate who has a social service background," he added. The AAP candidate was accompanied by Himachal Lokhit Party president Maheshwar Singh.

National coordinator for Himachal Col DP Atre said AAP had declared Subhash Chander as its candidate from Shimla. "We are visiting Shimla on April 12 and would discuss the matter with AAP volunteers. We have not appointed any office-bearers in Himachal so far," he added. 

Shimla, April 10
The CBI, in its reply filed before the High Court, has submitted that Capt Ajay Singh Yadav's role in the alleged Solan land deal case had not been investigated by the agency.

It submitted that it had not investigated the matter relating to land purchase in Solan by family members of the Haryana minister, Capt Ajay Singh, for want of the Himachal Government's consent.

The CBI specifically submitted that the state's Home Department had said as per the legal advice, given by the Law Department, no criminal angle was attached to the present case and it was advised that the Revenue Department should initiate proceedings against the land purchasers for withdrawal of the permission granted under Section 118 of the HP Tenancy and Land Reforms Act 1972.

Allegations by MP Nagar, president, Anti-Corruption Front, Faridabad, in the case, said media reports had stated that a land deal in Solan was fraudulent. It was alleged in the petition that 11.1 bigha land was purchased on fake documents.

It was further alleged that the land was purchased on August 14, 2008, by 17 persons jointly, including son, daughter and wife of Capt Ajay Singh Yadav. It was further alleged that the power of attorney (POA), used for the purchase of the land, was registered at the residence of Ajay Singh Yadav on the directions of his private secretary.

It was alleged in the petition that on this POA, one person had put signatures of eight persons of whom one was in jail and one was abroad that time.

It was alleged that the CBI, owing to influence of Ajay Singh, had submitted an incomplete inquiry report and had ensured that his name was left out. It was alleged that the government authorities and the CBI were not taking any action despite the alleged illegal acts of Ajay Singh.

The court was urged to constitute a Special Investigation Team of officers to conduct a fair inquiry in the alleged land scam.

In response to this petition, the state government has contended that the matter is already being investigated by the CBI and is not necessary to interfere in the proceedings of the agency.

It further stated that the Revenue Department had considered the case of the purchasers on the recommendations of the Solan Deputy Commissioner to purchase the 11.1 bigha land in Solan, and the permission was granted on August 4, 2008, in favour of 18 persons, including the son, daughter and wife of Ajay Singh and retired Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice Nirmal Yadav.

It further stated that the Department of Revenue was co-operating with the CBI and had already handed over the original record of the matter to the CBI.

Capt Ajay Singh, in his reply, denied all allegations and submitted that he had no role in the transaction. He stated the land was purchased by his son, daughter and wife and it had noting to do with him as the same was purchased by them in their individual capacities.

Shimla, April 10
The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) today refuted Congress claims that the cricket body was responsible for IPL matches not being held in Dharsmsala and counter-questioned the government about its contribution to sports.

In a statement issued here today, press secretary of the HPCA Mohit Sood said Congress leaders and ministers had launched a baseless and vilified campaign to garner cheap publicity and mislead the people.

“Is criticising, harassing and registering false cases against the HPCA the sole agenda of the government,” he quipped.

Sood said the people had given a mandate to the Congress for good governance, development and growth and not for unleashing a personal vendetta against its political opponents. He added that both BCCI as well as HPCA president Anurag Thakur had written to the Director General of Police but the police deliberately sat over the matter and did not even bother to send a reply.

He said it was due to this non-cooperative attitude of the state government that the BCCI had left out Dharamsala as a venue for hosting IPL matches. “The people must know as to who is the real culprit,” he said.

He said Industries Minister Mukesh Agnihotri must be sure of his facts before he pointed fingers at others. “Let him tell people what the Congress regime has done for sports promotion and sportsmen in the state,” he said. He added that the people knew and appreciate what the HPCA had done for sports promotion and bringing Himachal on the international map.

Dharamsala, April 10
The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) has written to President Pranab Mukherjee against Governor Urmila Singh. Spokesperson of the HPCA Sanjay Sharma released the letter to the media at a press conference here today.

In the letter, the HPCA alleged that the Governor had shown haste in granting sanction to prosecute PK Dhumal, former Chief Minister, in a HPCA case, which showed non-application of mind on her part.

The Governor, without going through the facts and circumstances of the case, at the instance of Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, granted the prosecution sanction as if she was waiting for the file to come to her, the HPCA alleged in its letter.

It further said the act of the Governor assumed importance in view of the Lok Sabha elections to be held in May as she had sought to boost the electoral prospects of the Congress candidates by showing the BJP candidates in poor light. The letter said her official act was partisan.

She had acted contrary to the law laid down by the Supreme Court in (2013) 3 Sec 1, case title State of Gujarat & another Vs Justice RA Mehta (retired) and others title MP special Police Establishment Vs State and (2004) 8 Sec 788, the HPCA alleged.

By not acting fairly, she had just proved herself to be a Congress agent belying the importance of her constitutional post. It was prayed that her act should be reviewed and the Governor should be sacked, the HPCA letter alleged.

Solan, April 10
Disbursement of skill development allowance (SDA) has become a ticklish issue in various sub-divisions of Sirmaur. A majority of the institutes lack the required infrastructure, manpower and technical knowhow to impart such skills to unemployed youth.

Though the district had initially topped in disbursing this allowance to 7,125 youth in the state, a scrutiny of various institutes by the respective SDMs has revealed how a majority of these lack expertise and infrastructure to impart any such skill.

The SDA scheme 2013, launched in May last year, provides a monthly allowance of Rs 1,000 to unemployed youth after they acquire skill training from an eligible institute. The training is supposed to enhance their employability and it is permissible for a maximum term of 24 months.

Parameters such as available infrastructure, number of employees, investment, registration of an institute and syllabus were scrutinised by each SDM in the respective division for every institute which had been imparting various skills like tailoring and computer application.

Sources said there were 66 institutes in Nahan sub-division imparting such skills. Out of these, only 35 were found eligible. Some of them were directed to fulfil the laid-out criteria within two months.

In the far-flung Sangrah sub-division, from among 25 institutes which had been imparting such skills to hundreds of youth, none was found eligible. One wondered what skills had been imparted from such ineligible institutes and how merely on affidavits, such allowance had been granted for several months.

SDM Sangrah Harbans Negi said he had recommended grant for two months to these institutes to fulfil the basic norms and the allowance had been put on hold over the last more than two months now.

The situation in the Paonta Sahib and Shillai area was somewhat better. There, out of about 140 institutes, 5 to 10 were found ineligible while the working of 25 others was satisfactory and the remaining had been directed to meet the laid-out criteria within a stipulated time.

SDM Paonta Sahib Shravan Manta said the allowance disbursed through ineligible institutes had been put on hold and they would soon inspect them again to see if the directions had been complied with.

This had brought down the number of beneficiaries and the district now ranked second in the state, with Kangra taking a lead in disbursing this allowance to a maximum of 7,449 youth, according to the latest figures from the Labour and Employment Department.

While discontinuing of the allowance has become an issue of concern to the beneficiaries, disbursement of lakhs to youth who have failed to acquire any skill has exposed chinks in the scheme’s implementation.

Kangra, April 10
A two-day national-level management festival, “Him Spark ’14”, organised by the Management Society of School of Business and Management Studies, Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP), will begin on the campus tomorrow.

Sri Sai University, Palampur, Vice-Chancellor Prof Dalram Dogra will be the chief guest.

CUHP Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof Yoginder Singh Verma said the main aim was to provide a platform to students to enhance their communication, decision making and managerial skills. It would help students to explore their hidden talent by communicating with students of other institutes, Verma said.

“Him Spark ’14” convener Dr Bhawna Bhardwaj said students of different universities and colleges from the region were participating in the event. 

Solan, April 10
With the Election Commission of India (ECI) endeavouring to enhance the participation of youth in the electoral process, meritorious and proactive students of various educational institutes are being appointed as campus ambassadors.

The district administrations have been entrusted the responsibility of organising awareness campaigns in the educational institutions by appointing such campus ambassadors where young voters are being inspired to participate in the Lok Sabha poll. They will specially target first-time votes. Solan has emerged as the hub of student activity as it houses 10 of the 16 private universities of the state, apart from a government-run university and several private institutes running various professional courses.

The Nehru Yuva Kendra has been entrusted the task of creating awareness among the youth and rope in their participation in the upcoming poll.

The ECI has also set aside funds to create such awareness sessions among students. These campus ambassadors are being guided by poll officials and they in turn are motivating every youth to ensure their participation in the poll.

As many as 93,636 first-time voters have been enlisted in the state and the number of young voters in the age group of 18-19 years is 62,133. The number of electorate lying in the age group of 20-29 years stood at 10,22,690. This comprised a whopping 22.16 per cent of the total electorate and the ECI was targeting this section by constituting campus ambassadors.

These ambassadors are suppose to educate their peers about the importance of voting and also allay doubts about the poll process. Since the percentage of enrolment as voters in the newly eligible age-group of 18-19 years was 35-40 per cent nationally, the ECI had announced a slew of measures to enhance this percentage and appointment of campus ambassadors was one such endeavour, confided a poll official.

This would lay the foundation of a greater voter turnover and generate a sense of responsibility in youths, the official added.

With the share of youth candidates being fielded by various political parties also on the rise, the ECI through such campaigns is also trying to set a strong foundation for the future.

Sundernagar, April 10
As many as 48 trainee forest guards from Mandi, Kullu, Chamba, Hamirpur and Dharamsala circles completed a six-month induction training course at Forest Training Institute and Rangers College, Sundernagar. The training programme concluded here yesterday.

JS Walia, managing director, Himachal Pradesh State Forest Development Corporation Ltd, was the chief guest on the occasion. The programme ended with a passing-out parade of the 21st batch of a six-month induction training course on the premises of the college.

The top three positions were bagged by the lady forest guards. Sapna Thakur from Jogindernagar division of Mandi bagged the gold medal, Reena from Kullu bagged the silver medal while bronze medal was conferred on Surhi Verma from Mandi.

Trainees were awarded merit certificates. Special cash prizes were given by APCCF (Research and Training).

Nurpur, April 10
Members of Pong Dam Oustees Multipurpose Cooperative Samiti staged a token protest dharna on the premises of the Deputy Commissioner (Relief and Rehabilitation) office at Raja Ka Talab near here yesterday.

Samiti president Ram Kumar Sharma said the dharna had been held to protest against the apathy and failure of government to implement their demands accepted by it. Oustees would launch an indefinite fast on the premises of the DC (R&R) office on April 22 and continue it till their demands were implemented.

He said the government had promised to implement their demands accepted by it at meetings held on October 7 and 16 last year. The demands included settlement of 1,188 disputed land allotments (murabbas) and shifting of oustees from Mohangarh, Ramgarh and Nachna in Jaisalmer district and their rehabilitation in Sriganganagar in Rajasthan. 

Shimla, April 10
Seven persons, including five members of a family (a woman and three children), were killed on the spot, when the ill-fated vehicle they were travelling in went off the road and fell 1,400 feet down from Lippa link road to National Highway 21.

The Tata Pickup (HP 25 D 0775) carrying seven passengers was on its way to Lippa from Jangi in Kinnaur district, 300 km from here.

Bodies of the victims were extricated from the wreckage of the van, said police sources. The accident victims including five members of a family were identified as Punai Urao (42), a labourer from Orissa, his wife Bishinder (32) and three children Rani Kumar (13), Aman Kumar (8) and Jageshwar (15), driver and owner of the vehicle, Aman Kumar (42) from Lippa and Kartik Urao (27).

With there being no survivor and the accident having occurred in the wee hours this morning, the cause of the accident had not yet been ascertained, said Kinnaur Deputy Commissioner 
DD Sharma, who supervised rescue operations at the spot.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Vidhan Sabha Deputy Speaker Jagat Singh Negi have expressed deep shock over the tragedy. The administration has been directed to provide relief to next of kin of the victims.

Kullu, April 10
Three foreign nationals were arrested from a rain shelter near 15 Mile village, 25 km from here, today.

On being enquired by a police patrol party, the trio failed to produce their passports and visas. Kullu DSP Sanjay Sharma said further investigation was on. They revealed their names to be Advin Muduke (36), King Shelly (33) and Alltoma Callis (22) from Nigeria. He further said 10 gm and 8 gm of MDMA drug was seized from Advin and Alltoma. Their antecedents could not be verified and a case under Section 21 of the NDPS Act and Section 14 of the Foreigners Act had been registered. They would be produced in a Manali court tomorrow.