Pandoh (Mandi), June 9
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has ordered a high-level probe into the incident of washing away of 24 engineering students and a staff member in the Beas last evening and suspended three employees of the Larji project.

The Chief Minister accompanied by Transport Minister GS Bali and former Mandi MP Pratibha Singh visited the spot where the mishap took place near Thalot and interacted with survivors in the incident.

He has termed the incident most unfortunate and assured the students and their families all possible help in extricating the bodies and transporting them to Hyderabad.

The CM said, “The Divisional Commissioner, Mandi, has been entrusted the probe who will submit a report within 15 days.”

He said, “All aspects such as lack of warning system and negligence, if any on the part of the Larji dam administration, will be covered, including allegations of illegal mining in the Beas.”

The CM has also directed the administration to install five feet high barbed wire along the banks of the river and an effective warning system covering about 5 kms to warn the people before release of water from the dams.

He said, “This is a stray incident but we have specified several places along the road to Manali where tourists can click photographs and enjoy the scenic beauty.”

The state government has suspended Resident Engineer of Larji Project Mandeep Singh, Executive Engineer MS Dadhwalia and fitter Harbans Lal for negligence.

It was an unfortunate incident and state officials should have exercised utmost caution before releasing water which ultimately washed children away.

Anurag Thakur, Hamirpur MP

The dam being under the Centre's control should have been better monitored by the Central agencies. The state government is not to be entirely blamed.

Viplove Thakur, Congress Rajya Sabha MP

Compensation to the victims should be given and probe should be initiated into the sudden release of water from Larji barrage.

Tikender Panwar, cpm state secretary

It was a serious matter as there was no proper alarm system and no signboards to warn people against the danger of going deep into the river.

Shanta Kumar, mp, Kangra

Warning should be given to tourists against going to riverbeds and locals should also be advised to guide the tourists.

Ram Swaroop, mp, Mandi

The incident has exposed the tall claims of disaster management made by the government and it is responsible for unfortunate death of students.

Satpal Satti, bjp chief

Shimla, June 9
Taking suo motu notice of the mishap involving washing away of 24 students of the VNR Jyoti Institute of Engineering, Hyderabad, at Thalot in Mandi, the Himachal Pradesh High Court today asked the state government to file a status report on June 16, listing the cause of the accident and the details of warning system in place.

Passing the order, Vacation Judge Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan said the case had been registered as a PIL plea after Acting Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir took cognizance of media reports that appeared in newspapers today. He wrote that going by the news items, it was a sad tale as the excursion to Manali turned out to be fatal as a consequence of the utter and callous negligence of the power project authorities.

“It cannot be said to be an error of judgment or accident as it was the duty of the authorities to have at least issued warning and resorted to the usual method of blaring the siren so as to ensure the evacuation of the river bank before discharging the water,” he said in his order. Therefore, the project authorities had prima facie displayed callous and wanton disregard to their duties, he wrote.

Justice Thakur has directed the state government to file a status report detailing the cause of the accident, relief and rescue steps, instructions regarding the procedure to be observed before the discharge of water from the barrage or reservoir, warning system and the steps taken to ensure that there is no recurrence of such incidents in future.

The court also directed the state government to render all possible help to trace the missing students and in case of casualty, ensure that the bodies of the victims were handed over to the families with dignity and also make arrangements for transporting the bodies to their native places.

Hyderabad, June 9
The world came crashing down around family members of the engineering students who were washed away in the gushing waters of the Beas in Himachal Pradesh.

Heart-wrenching cries reverberated homes of students who met with the tragedy while on an educational tour.

The kin of the students were in a state of shock and disbelief and lack of proper information and official apathy further compounded their plight.

A pall of gloom descended on the VNR Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering and Technology campus as the staff and students are yet to come to terms with the tragedy.

A group of 45 students from second year BTech (instrumentation branch), along with faculty members, were on a trip to Manali when the tragedy struck.

As many as 24 students were washed away in the river after water was released from the dam allegedly without any warning.

“We were informed about the tragedy by students who survived. But, officials have been indifferent,” said a relative of Ashish, who is missing. Ashish lost his father six months ago. His mother has been sobbing ever since the news reached her.

Another parent B Shekhar Naik held his son Rambabu’s photo in his hand and pleaded with the media to tell him what happened to his son. He then went into uncontrollable sobbing. There was a sense of disbelief among the college staff.

“Our students called us to inform about the tragedy. They were in a state of shock. We have arranged the transport for parents to go to the spot,” said Gopal Reddy, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the college.

Some parents left for Chandigarh on their own, though the college management and the Telangana Government assured that a special flight would be arranged to take parents to Himachal.

“We could not find any government or college representative at the airport in the morning,” said N Mallesh, father of one of the students. After hours of waiting for the flight, some relatives of the students sat on a dharna at the airport, raising slogans against the government. They also gheraoed Telangana Home Minister Nayani Narsimha Reddy. Reddy, along with a top police official, was on his way to catch a flight to Chandigarh to supervise the rescue operations.

A steady stream of angry relatives and the media forced the college management to convene a press conference and declare that it was an accident and that the three faculty members, accompanying students, had actually tried to stop them from entering the river bed.

“We had taken the consent in writing from all parents for the tour and insured each one of the student,” a college spokesperson said.

Akhil of Warangal was supposed to cut short the tour by two days and return home on June 12, to celebrate his birthday, but in vain.

Dasari Srinidhi from Karimnagar spoke to her mother around 5 pm telling her that she saw the power house and promised to call her again at 7 pm after reaching the guest house.

“When there was no response on her mobile even after 8 pm, we realised that something must have gone wrong,” said one of her relatives.

“It appears to be a clear case of official negligence. There was no warning or safety measure at the site," Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MP K Kavitha said.

Meanwhile, two teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), comprising 45 members each, have been sent to the site to assist local authorities in the relief and rescue operations.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao directed Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma to be in touch with his counterpart in Himachal to expedite rescue operations.

On his part, Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu held a review meeting and asked officials to arrange a special flight to Chandigarh to ferry parents of the missing students.

AP Minister P Narayana, who runs the Narayana Group of Institutions, and K Ram Mohan Rao, state government’s representative in Delhi, are accompanying the parents to Chandigarh and from there they will be taken by a special vehicle to Kullu.

Pandoh (Mandi), June 9
Union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani also visited the spot and also interacted with students from Hyderabad today assuring them of every help.

The minister said, “I have come here to monitor the rescue operation and for better coordination between Talengana and Himachal Pradesh governments during the operation.”

After meeting the students, she said, “I have assured them every help and will take up safety concerns raised by the students with the state government and efforts be made to start special chartered flights.”

Earlier, expressing grave shock and concern over the tragedy, Smriti Irani left for Mandi to take assessment of the ground situation.

Her office said in a press statement that she had assured the Minister of Education, Himachal Pradesh, all possible assistance required from the Centre. Irani earlier spoke to the faculty of the engineering college who was accompanying the students. Principal of the college had been assured of cooperation.

Thalot (Mandi), June 9
Lack of warning system during sudden release of water from the Larji dam and negligence on part of engineering students venturing deep into the Beas last evening have led to tragic incident here.

A few engineering students from the VNR Vignana College of Engineering and Technology, Hyderabad, have also blamed the local administration for delay in the rescue operation.

Out of the 25 persons washed away in the river, only four bodies could be fished out from the Pandoh dam. Despite the state government's massive rescue operation involving various agencies, chances of survival of any victim are very less.

Witnesses here have blamed lack of warning system for this mishap and delay in starting the rescue operation.

Praveen Kumar, a local resident, said, "The Larji authorities are releasing the water from the dam for the past several days but neither they sound any hooter or siren, nor they deploy security guards."

Bhim Singh, another resident, said, "It took almost two-and-a-half hours for officials of the district administration to reach the spot and the DC and the SP of Mandi did not bother to visit the place last evening."

Chetan, a student, expressed his feelings before the Chief Minister and said, "There were no warning signals on the spot and no hooter or siren was blown to warn us. Only local people blew whistles. The rescue operation started after about four hours."

Raghu, another student, said, "There was lack of coordination. The police failed to clear the traffic jam for starting the rescue operation and flash lights could not be procured for searching the students."

Although a few locals also blamed the students for venturing deep into the river, there were no warning signals or signboard on the place or along the banks of the river.

The four persons have been identified as Akula Vijetha, Banothu Rambabu and two girls Gampala Aishwarya and Lakshmi Gayathri Appanabhotla.

Mandi, June 9
It just took about half an hour when 24 members of a group of 48 students from the VNR Vignana Jyothi College of Engineering and Technology, Hyderabad, visiting Manali, were washed away by a strong water current in the Beas near Thalot yesterday.

A group photo of all 48 students taken at the Taj Mahal.

All of them travelling in two buses were playing games, singing songs and enjoying together about half an hour ago while coming back from Manali.

Even when they alighted from the buses to collect memorable moments in their cameras, they were having fun and were in a jolly mood. The group, which had visited several places together, was broken forever at Thalot during their last leg of the tour.

Raghunandan, a student, told The Tribune, "We all were playing games and singing in the buses about half an hour before the mishap and none of us had imagined that tragedy so cruel would occur and take away 24 friends from the group."

"We had started from Hyderabad on June 3 and visited Taj Mahal in Agra on June 4, Shimla on June 6, reached Manali on June 7 and were on way to Delhi yesterday. All of us went to click the photos but 24 students went deep into the water and rest of us remained on the bank of the river. They got trapped in the water released from the dam," he added.

"Two students, Ashish Mantha and P Ridima, were having their birthday tomorrow and we celebrated the birthday of M Shiv Prakash Verma on June 5 as we were together though his actual birthday was on May 28," Prakash and other students said. Chetan, another student, said, "They were all bright students from middle class families of Hyderabad and the surrounding areas and were doing very well in the college. It will be very difficult for us to face their parents and college teachers."

Shimla, June 9
The war of words between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress over the poor financial position of the state became more intense on Saturday with both parties accusing each other for creating a financial mess in the state.

Former Himachal Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal triggered the debate by accusing the successive Congress governments of not fully utilising the plan allocations, raising loans and failing to get the adequate special financial assistance from the Centre leading to high debt/GSDP and claimed that the financial position was better during the Bharatiya Janata Party rule.

Four Congress ministers Thakur Singh Bharmouri, Mukesh Agnihotri, Sudhir Sharma and Anil Sharma, were quick to dub the claim of Dhumal as false and accused the Bharatiya Janata Party governments of creating financial mess in the state.

Taking on Dhumal for accusing the 13th Finance Commission of not doing justice with Himachal, the ministers alleged that the BJP government had failed to put its case before the commission that resulted in under-assessment of committed liabilities.

While the commission recommended an average increase of 126 per cent in the total devolution to other states compared to the 12th Finance Commission award, the increase in case of Himachal was only 50 per cent, which was the lowest in the country, they said, adding that it clearly established that the BJP government faltered in presenting the case of the state.

However, Dhumal reiterated his charge that the Congress governments were responsible for the bad financial position and said the state had projected a demand of Rs 69,000 crore before the 13th Finance Commission, but it got only Rs 21,692 crore.

Accusing the Finance Commission of bias against the BJP-ruled state of Himachal, Dhumal said the Congress-ruled states were given 128 per cent grant while non-Congress government in Himachal was given 50 per cent grant.

He said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who was the Cabinet minister at that time, did not raise the concerns of the state with the Union Government.

Nurpur, June 9
Twentythree-year-old Aman Sharma of Kardial village in Jawali subdivision was finally released from Somali pirates’ captivity.

The news of his release was received by his father, Kewal Krishan, who is an ex-serviceman, last evening.

Kewal told this correspondent that it took more than three-and-a-half years to release his son, who was one of the 23 crew members made hostage by Somali pirates. Their ship was hijacked on November 26, 2010, west to the Maldives in the Indian Ocean.

“I had taken up this issue with the then Chief Minister PK Dhumal and the Union External Affairs Ministry, Delhi. I spoke to Aman last evening, who after his release is at Nairobi in Kenya and is likely to arrive at his native village this Saturday,” he said.

Aman had joined as a crew member in MV ALBEDO, ship of Majestic Enrich, a shipping company of Malaysia, in October 2010 after doing a diploma in merchant navy and just a month after joining, he fell prey to Somali pirates.

The pirates demanded ransom from hostages and even tortured them. The pirates had eliminated Raju Prasad, one of the Indian hostages, in June 2012 and kept on giving ultimatums to other hostages, including Aman.

Pakistan had managed to release its seven hostages from the pirates’ captivity. There were two hostages from India, seven from Pakistan, six from Bangladesh, seven from Sri Lanka and one from Iran.

The Pratiyukti Youth Organisation, an NGO in Himachal Pradesh, had also filed a writ petition in the apex court seeking Aman’s release from the pirates.

NGO CEO Pranab Ghabru said the organisation had initiated a signature campaign and submitted a number of memorandums to the External Affairs Ministry in this connection.

Meanwhile, Lok Sabha MP from Kangra Shanta Kumar, who informed Aman’s parents about his release yesterday, said he had been raising this issue with the Union External Affairs Ministry for the past some time and had recently taken it up with the new Modi government in Delhi. He also lauded the efforts of the new government for Aman’s release.

Shimla, June 9
Apple farmers have asked the state to strictly implement the proposed 22.5 kg and 12 kg smaller universal cartons this season to make the industry compete in international markets.

Besides, farmers have also urged the marketing committees to penalise those who resort to over-weight packaging, even if they are farmers or commission agents.

Taking a clue from the marketing and packaging practices in the West, the state government made the standardised 22.5-kg apple cartons and 12-kg half carton applicable to all major grades of apple this season.

There is a “thekedar-arhtiya” nexus operating in various markets in Shimla, Chandigarh and Azadpur in New Delhi, encouraging “overweighing” in telescopic cartons, it was alleged.

A carton that normally should weigh 24-25 kg is overstuffed up to 32 kg to get maximum profit and manipulate markets, a farmer said.

“We hail the decision to make the 22.5-kg carton a standard this time. This decision should be enforced in letter and spirit,” asserted Laxman Thakur, chairperson, Ecohorts, Nandpur.

The stakeholders, including manufacturers, commission agents and farmers, should be made aware and asked to strictly follow it as overweighing and overgrading has ruined the fruit and market over the years”, he added.

Laxman Thakur said the overweighing resulted in damage to the fruit and farmers suffered a chain of losses thereafter.

Even the best quality fruit that could be stored loses its quality and consumers get the brushed and corroded fruit.

The standardisation of cartons, an overdue demand, will check these malpractices, Laxman asserted.

The farmers said those who had stocked the telescope cartons last year could use them, but without the overweighing and overgrading.

The apple market crashed as certain “greedy thekedars” and commission agents tried to hijack the markets, encouraging overweighing to give higher prices, said Pradip Banchta, an apple grower from Shantha belt.

The government took the long-pending decision after studying the packing practices in the USA, China and other countries. In the USA, an apple tray contains 100 large apples, 113 medium, 125 small apples, 138 extra small and 150 super small apples and each carton did not weigh more than 20 kg, observed Prakash Thakur, vice-chairman, HPMC, the government procurement and marketing agency.

He said the state had earned a bad reputation for overweighing and overgrading the fruit, which was harming the farmers in the long run.

“The government will launch awareness camps and has asked for universal cartons. The HPMC will also procure 22.5-kg carton and 12-kg half cartons for farmers this season,” Prakash Thakur added.

Solan, June 9
Waknaghat-based Bahra University has joined hands with global Information Technology (IT) major IBM to start BTech (Hons) course in computer science from the current academic session.

University Vice-Chancellor SK Bansal said this would help students to work on real-time projects. “Since students will be studying curriculum specially designed by IBM experts, the course will enhance their employability,” he said.

Students would also be visiting IBM facilities to get first-hand exposure of working in the IT sector.

The faculty would be trained by IBM and students opting for this course would get placement opportunities in IBM and their partner companies.

Bansal said besides BTech (Hons), IBM had adopted MBA course at the university and their experts would be training students in three specialisations.

Gurvinder Singh Bahra, Chairman, Rayat Bahra group of companies, said the new course started by Bahra University would help students get training on the latest IBM software.

He said Bahra University and other institutes of the Rayat Bahra group were on the verge of entering into agreements with leading corporates in the auto sector.

Shimla, June 9
A commemorative stamp to mark the achievements of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) was released here yesterday.

HPU Vice-Chancellor ADN Bajpai released the stamp at the Gaiety Theatre in the presence of Chief Post Master General of Himachal Pradesh Circle.

HPU, which is the first university of the state, was established on July 22, 1970, and will complete 44 years of its existence next month.

It is the only multi-faculty and affiliating university in the state providing higher education through formal and distant modes.

Una, June 9
The traditional district-level Piplu fair was held on the occasion of Nirjala Ekadhashi at the Nahar Singh temple in Piplu panchayat here today.

Chintpurni MLA Kuldip Kumar, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said fairs and festivals not only reflected the state's rich traditional heritage but also bound people together. The fair attracted thousands of devotees every year from Una, Hamirpur, Bilaspur and Kangra.

On the occasion, artistes from the state Information and Public Relations Department and school students presented spiritual songs and cultural items.

Panchayat pradhan Kamlesh Kumari honoured the dignitaries on behalf of the fair organising committee.

Palampur, June 9
A three-week-long Himachal Folk Theatre Workshop was inaugurated at Andretta,12 km from here, yesterday.

Dr KK Katoch, Vice-Chancellor, CSK HP Agriculture University (CSKHPAU), was the chief guest. He inaugurated the workshop and addressed participants and teachers. He said the state was culturally very diverse and rich. Owing to the contributions of eminent artist Sobha Singh and great grandmother of Punjabi theatre Norah Richards, Andretta had attained international recognition and students could draw inspiration from such great personalities.

Dr Katoch hoped that participating students would enrich their personality in the company of well-known experts in the areas of theatre, folk music and dances.

Workshop director Dr Yogesh Gambhir said Punjabi University was organising the workshop which was sponsored by the North Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC) and Union Ministry of Culture. He said nearly 50 students from several states were taking part in the workshop.

Ravinder Sharma, programme officer, NZCC, said their centre would sponsor art and cultural activities in the region. Bharat Sharma, a dance teacher, said he had decided to stay in the art village and encourage such activities in Himachal. Dr DR Sankhyan expressed gratitude to all for reviving such activities in Andretta.

Students presented a cultural programme to mark the occasion.

Hamirpur, June 9
The second alumni meet of the Electrical Engineering Department at the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Hamirpur, was attended by 50 former students yesterday.

The meet was inaugurated by Prof Rajnish Shrivastava, Director, NIT.

Professor Shrivastava highlighted the achievements and activities of NIT and talked about the NBA accreditation of the engineering courses at the institute, placements of graduates in reputed organisations and starting of new branches of engineering. He emphasised the need of continuing interaction with the alumni to gain from their experiences for effecting changes in the curriculum to make the courses relevant to the needs of the industry. Professor Shrivastva advocated active interaction between alumni, faculty, board and senate of NIT before finalising new curriculum to make it need based and industry oriented.

Nurpur, June 9
To cope up with the ongoing drinking water scarcity in the Nurpur area, local MLA Ajay Mahajan convened a meeting of officials of the Irrigation-cum-Public Health (IPH) Department and the Electrical Division here on Saturday.

Talking to mediapersons, he said an emergency complaint cell (contact No. 01893-220117) had been established at the IPH Division office at Nurpur keeping in view the rising scarcity of potable water in the area. Besides, complaint books would be kept in all gram panchayats at identified places. The department was asked to redress a complaint within 24 hours. He said the department had been directed to rectify water pipe leakages and mechanical faults of the water supply schemes of the area. He said the department would requisition water tankers and ensure water supply to those rural areas where the problem of water shortage was a regular feature. “For the time being, water tankers are being rushed to Chhatrar, Kathal, Kamnala, Tuker, Minjgrah, Chinva and Kherian villages immediately. Besides, three new water supply schemes completed at a cost of Rs 2 crore in Mandolli, Chhatrari, Kathal, Kamanala and Jachh gram panchayats will be commissioned the next month,” he said.

Thanking CM Virbhadra Singh and IPH Minister Vidya Stokes for including Nurpur’s water supply scheme in the pilot project in which consumers would get round-the-clock piped water, Mahajan said he had directed IPH Department officials not to delay supplying piped water to Nurpur.

Shimla, June 9
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) restored traffic movement on the 473-km Manali-Leh National Highway-21 two days ago, but the permit-based entry from the Kothi barrier uphill Manali to the Rohtang Pass has pushed local hoteliers and guest-house owners in Lahaul valley to the brink.

They said no tourists were visiting Lahaul-Spiti even during peak summer season, whereas hotels in Shimla and Manali were full. Though the National Green Tribunal (NGT) fixed the case for hearing in Shimla on June 25, the district administration has put up the Kothi barrier to regulate traffic to the Rohtang Pass.

Members of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST), NGOs and hoteliers had joined hands to seek a complete exemption from the permits as the barrier had hit the economy of Lahaul-Spiti, Pangi, Leh and Ladakh residents badly.

“Only 10 vehicles and a few bikers left for Leh from Keylong today, while 12 vehicles came from Leh,” Tashi Karapa, president, Lahaul-Spiti Hoteliers’ Association, said.

“We have to pay Rs 50 per vehicle to cross the Rohtang Pass and tourists, who want to come to Lahaul and proceed further to Leh, get stranded in traffic jams between Gulaba and the Beas Nullah,” he said.

Himaal Thakur, farmer and a guest-house owner in Sissu, said: “Guest houses and hotels in Sissu, Keylong and Jispa are deserted even in the peak tourist season. Not only this, transporters and traders from the plains have refused to visit Lahaul because of restriction on traffic.”

BRO engineers said: “The restoration work has been delayed this year due to a lot of snow at Rohang and the 15,000-ft-high Bara Lacha Pass that was opened three days ago.” “Nowhere in the country and world do people require permits to go home,” said CM Parshira, convener of Lahaul-Spiti Janjatiya Kalyan Samiti (LSJKS). The samiti had sought exemption from the NGT in its petition filed on April 24.

Vinay Dhiman, SDM, Manali, said: “The Kullu district administration has imposed a barrier at Kothi to regulate traffic, but has not opened the Rohtang Pass for tourists so far. Tourists are allowed till Marhi and the Beas Nullah.”

Shimla, June 9
Reiterating their demand to introduce music as a subject in government schools, members of the Sangeet Chhatra Kalyan Sangathan today said music was being taught as a subject in only 57 out of the 10,676 primary, 2,345 middle and 1,535 senior secondary government schools in the state.

Sangathan president Rajesh Chauhan said: “To popularise Indian classical music, it is important that a base is created at the primary school level.”

He said the situation in colleges too was not good as music was being taught in just 41 out of the 86 government colleges, including five Sanskrit colleges.

He said the government had assured them on May 15, 2013, that their demand would be considered, but nothing had been done so far.

“There is a craze among youngsters to learn music, and to introduce music as a subject in the middle school, we started a signature campaign. More than one lakh people supported the demand,” he added.

“Music is not just a subject, but a discipline and spiritual exercise that helps in meditation. It enhances patience level and is the key to character-building,” he said, adding that the rich culture and folk music of Himachal should be promoted by affording opportunities to Himachali artistes at fairs, festivals and other state functions.

The sangathan called for raising the standard of state festivals and suggested that a committee of renowned artistes and experts be constituted. It said auditions should be conducted before selecting artistes and groups for state festivals that provided a great platform to Himachali artistes. “In case they are not provided opportunities, their talent will die a premature death,” he added.

Kullu, June 9
Office-bearers of the local Media Manch and members of Neuli panchayat organised a free medical camp at the Panchayat Bhawan here today. Over 200 villagers were examined and provided with free medicines.

Paediatrician Akshat Chandel, gynaecologist Neerja Chandel and MD Mayank Bhargav of Kullu Valley Hospital examined children, women and elderly people. Haemoglobin and blood tests were done by members of Sharma Laboratories from Dhalpur.

Dr Neerja Chandel said women of villages tended to neglect their health and urged them to go for regular medical check-ups.

Shyam Kullvi, president of the HP State Media Manch, thanked the doctors for their services. Manch general secretary Tarachand Tharmani said it had organised such medical camps every year since its inception.

Panchayat president Sevati Devi and vice-president Vishal Mahant expressed gratitude to the members of the manch for this noble effort.

Chamba, June 9
A five-storeyed house was reduced to ashes at Machhetar village in a remote Holi tribal terrain here yesterday, as per a report today.

The report said the fire broke out in the afternoon. On receiving information, a police team from the Holi post rushed to the site and carried out rescue operations with the help of nearby residents.

Despite their best efforts to douse the flames, the entire house was burnt to ashes, rendering three families homeless, the report said.

The loss was put around Rs 15 lakh. Revenue officials also visited the site to assess the loss.

The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained, the report added.

Kangra, June 9
A 16-year-old girl, who was admitted to the DRPGMC, Tanda, on May 25 with 30 per cent burn injuries, died last evening in the hospital, the police said here today.

The police said the victim, identified as Kajal of Jasoor village falling under Nagrota Bagwan police station, was cooking food on a kerosene stove when her clothes caught fire.

The police were investigating the case under Section 174, CrPC.

Meanwhile, Surender Kumar (40), a resident of Lambagoan, was admitted to the DRPGMC, Tanda, with 40 per cent burn injuries last night. The police said Surender was burnt when his clothes caught fire from a lamp. He was rushed to the Lambagoan hospital, from where he was referred to the Tanda medical college. He is undergoing treatment and the police are investigating the case.

Kangra, June 9
A 60-year-old woman, Sareshta Devi, of Upper Dadh village was killed and three others were injured, one of them seriously, in a road accident at Upper Dadh here yesterday, the police said today. The car they were travellin in was being driven rashly by Sanjeev Kumar of Upper Dadh.

Sanjeev was injured and admitted to the DRPGMC, Tanda. Shilpa (13), who was seriously injured, was referred to the PGI, Chandigarh, by doctors at the Tanda medical college. A four-year-old girl, Bansu, who was also travelling in the car received minor injuries.

Nurpur, June 9
Two persons were killed in a road accident at Khehar near Rehan last night.

As per police information, Sher Singh (27) of Bharadi village was driving his motorcycle (PB-07 M-5318), with his brother-in-law Anil (31) on the pillion. He lost control of the bike while negotiating a turn at Khehar and met with an accident. Both were rushed to the Nurpur Civil Hospital where they were declared brought dead by doctors.

The police registered a case under Sections 279, 337 and 304-A, IPC, and handed over the bodies to the families after postmortem today.

In another accident, an unidentified person in his 50s was seriously injured when he was hit by a speeding train on the Dhangu-Damtal railway line in this subdivision last night. He was rushed to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Bhupinder Singh, Assistant Sub Inspector, Kangra Railway Police, said the body had been kept in the mortuary of the Nurpur Civil Hospital for identification.