Mandi, June 30
The low price of tomatoes in the wholesale market is giving sleepless nights to a large number of farmers of the Balh valley. The price is so low that many of them have been forced not to bring their produce to the market. Tomatoes are selling at about Rs 2 to 3 per kg in the wholesale market, causing huge losses to the growers.

A large number of farmers has grown tomatoes in the Balh valley and other areas of Mandi district and have a bumper crop this year.

Het Ram Saini, a farmer from Khandla village of Balh, said, “Our production cost comes out to be about Rs 10 per kg, but we are getting a price of Rs 2 to 3 kg and the buyers in the wholesale market have stopped lifting tomato crop.”

“Many farmers have invested good amount of money for the input and losses in tomato crop would disturb their economy unless the state government announces support price for tomatoes,” he added.

Farmers of the valley have grown tomatoes in approximately 1,000 hectares and about 5,000 local farmers are involved in tomato cultivation.

Though the crop this year is very good, tomato is selling at a very low price in the markets of Punjab and Delhi.

A crate of tomatoes weighing 22 kg is selling for Rs 50 to 60, while last year the same crate was selling for about Rs 1,100.

Citing reasons for low price for tomatoes this year, Roop Lal Saini, a farmer of Bhiura village, said, “Last year farmers got good price for tomatoes in the market and a large number of farmers have sown tomatoes this season. Many of them have drawn loans from banks to meet the input cost, which has created a glut in the market as the crop is bumper here.”

“Major markets in Delhi, Punjab etc are having low demand of tomatoes as market is flooded with tomatoes this season, he adds.”

Paras Ram, president of the Himachal Kisan Sabha, Balh unit, has asked the state government to immediately announce support price for tomatoes.

The secretary of marketing board said, “We have taken up this matter with the state government to allow the HPMC to buy tomatoes by announcing its support price.” 

Shimla, June 30
After senior leaders Viplove Thakur and Asha Kumari criticised the dissolution of 37 Block Congress Committees (BCCs) in Himachal, AICC secretary Kuldeep Rathore today demanded that all BCCs must be restored as it was total injustice to grassroot workers who were instrumental in the formation of the government in the state only 18 months ago.

“If leaders can take credit for the victory during elections, why should they not show the grace to take responsibility for the defeat as well,” he said.

It was not a question of blame game, but if AICC chief Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi could offer to resign, why should the blame in Himachal be put on the BCCs which are the backbone of the party, he said.

Prior to this, Rajya Sabha MP Viplove Thakur and AICC secretary and MLA Asha Kumari had criticised the move to dissolve 37 BCCs where the BJP had got a lead of 5,000 or more. “Party workers are not bonded labourers on whom we can impose our views and decisions, we must realise that they are with the party because they have faith in the Congress ideology and all senior leaders must respect workers,” he said.

“Injustice has been done to the 37 BCCs and their presidents and the executive members and these should be reinstated,” he said.

He added that while the BJP was in power in the state between 2007-2012, it was the heads and members of these BCCs who held demonstrations and strengthened the party to take on the saffron party.

Rathore, who is a member of the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) executive, also did not hesitate to say that it was the ignoring of party leaders which is the biggest reason for the dismal performance of the Congress during the Lok Sabha poll.

“It is one of the worst-ever defeats faced by the Congress, so we all must join hands and take corrective measures to ensure that all shortcomings are removed and not indulge in blame game,” he said.

He said he would not blame anyone for the poll debacle, but one could not overlook the fact that lack of coordination between the party and the government and party workers having no say resulted in the defeat.

He also said he had not been active in the affairs of the Congress due to personal reasons, but workers at the grassroot level were feeling disillusioned.

“Senior leaders must not adopt a policy of pick and choose nor go by their personal liking or disliking as the party has to work as one cohesive unit, which respects and takes into confidence its workers,” said Rathore. 

Palampur, June 30
Shanta Kumar, BJP MP, welcomed the decision of the state government for the expansion of the tourism industry and calling hotels to set up their units.

Addressing newsmen at his residence here this morning, Shanta Kumar asked Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh before inviting the big hotels to the state, the government must strengthen the basic infrastructure such as roads, rail network, air connectivity and law and order situation.

He said if the history of the past 10 years was seen, there had been unplanned development in Shimla, Manali, Dharamsala and Dalhousie. He said the narrow roads had led to regular traffic jams in various tourist places causing inconvenience to tourists.

Shanta Kumar said most of the tourists places had turned into slums in the absence of proper planning. Garbage disposal was a big problem and the government was unconcerned. At present, the garbage was being dumped into the Beas and others rivers which was a serious matter, he added.

Shanta asked the Chief Minister before launching big plans for the development of the tourism industry, he must address these core issues. He said environmental degradations being caused by power projects in Kinnaur, Kullu, Shimla Chamba and Kangra was a matter of serious concern and the government must initiate steps to check the environmental degradation and felling of trees. He said the government should also initiate steps for decongesting its cities and set up new towns outside Shimla, Dharamsala, Manali and Palampur. 

Shimla, June 30
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Agency (APEDA) has granted Rs 20 crore for the modernisation of the juice making unit at Parwanoo and setting up controlled atmospheric (CA) store near Rampur in the interest of apple growers of Shimla, Kullu, Kinnaur, Sirmour and Solan.

Addressing a press conference here today, Congress leader Kuldeep Rathore, who is on the board of members of APEDA, said the financial help extended by APEDA was not returnable. It would benefit fruit growers. He said Rs 12 crore had been granted for the apple juice factory at Parwanoo and Rs 8 crore for a CA store at Kingal near Rampur.

“The HPMC, set up in 1979, had become outdated and juice being produced by it was not fit for export as it did not qualify the international norms. Now after the installation of the latest machinery, apple juice will be exported in a large quantity,” he said.

He said the juice plant was able to crush only 7,000 to 8,000 metric tonnes apples bought under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS). Rest of the culled fruit procured from growers is either sold in the market.

“Once the plant has modern machinery, its capacity will be enhanced and it will be fit for export as there is great demand for apple juice abroad as well as in India,” he said.

He said as per export projections indicated by APEDA, the HPMC would earn Rs 5 crore.

Rathore said a CA store with a capacity of almost 2,000 metric tonnes will be set up at Kingal near Rampur. “It is Fresh and Healthy Enterprises, a subsidiary of Container Corporation of India, which will set up the CA store,” he revealed. He added this would help in storing and further export of 2,500 metric tonnes of apples by 2018.

He regretted that the condition of roads in most parts of Himachal was not very good. “I urge the government to ensure that the Theog-Hatkoti-Jubbal road is in a good condition and improve the condition of all national highways in case we wish to promote tourism,” he opined.

Juicy deal

* Rs 12 cr has been granted for apple juice factory

* Rs 8 crore for a controlled atmospheric store at Kingal near Rampur

* After installation of the latest machinery, apple juice will be exported in a large quantity

Shimla, June 30
Fruit growers today upped the ante against the Agricultural Produce Marking Committee (APMC) and the agricultural marking board for their failure to nab illegal commission agents, who run their shops on the roadside in Narkanda, Rohru, Theog and Maliana in the district and other places to lure farmers during the apple season.

These “illegal commission agents” neither make full payment to gullible growers, nor are they are registered by the marking board, resented the growers, who convened the meeting at Narkanda to chalk out a future strategy to pressurise the government to act against the illegal commission agents in the coming season.

“We sold 89 apple boxes to an HV commission agent at Narkanda last year, but he has not paid the dues till date,” rued Ram Singh, a grower from Shakadi, Anni in Kullu district. “We sold fruit to Skyline arhtiya last year, but he has not made the full payment,” charged Onkar Shad, another grower from Anni.

As many as 30 per cent of the growers have not received their payments from illegal commission agents, said Rakesh Singha, president, Himachal Apple Growers Association (HAGA). The fault lies with the APMC and agricultural marketing board, which have failed to check and punish illegal commission agents, he charged.

The APMC should give licence to commission agents who deposit Rs 50 lakh security and mortgage his land worth Rs 3 crore so that only genuine commission agents come in the trade, demand farmers. The growers welcomed the government decision to implement the 22.5 kg packing cartons. But the regulation should be strict and overweighing and overgrading should be enforced this time, the growers demanded. 

Shimla, June 30
State Congress president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu today said changes in the organisation were part and parcel of the growth process and these are always taken in the interest of the party.

Sukhu interacted with party workers from Kinnaur district. “We have made certain changes in the organisation and some more could be made in the coming days,” he said. He said he would visit all 68 blocks in the state during the next two months.

“The sentiments, opinion and suggestions made by party workers will be kept in mind while taking any organisational decision,” he remarked. Deputy Speaker and local MLA Jagat Singh Negi was also present along with other Kinnaur BCC members. 

Shimla, June 30
The Ekal Nari Shakti Sangathan today demanded the framing of a policy to help single women, whose number is constantly on the rise in the state, so that they can fight for their rights and get their due.

Nirmal Chandel, president of the sangathan, accompanied by other members, met Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh here and submitted a memorandum, listing the demands of the single number. She said the number of single, widowed and divorced women, who were members of their organisation, had risen to about 12,000.

“There is a need to first of all define who a single woman is and then provide her all the assistance and help on the basis of a policy, otherwise she has to run from pillar to post to get even the smallest of benefits under various government schemes,” she said. She said all single women should have the right to get their own ration cards made and the government should give them a monthly pension of Rs 1,000.

“Village panchayats are unable to give justice to women, so our demand is that there should be an independent nyaya panchayat so all issues concerning single women can be dealt with,” said Chandel. She said the names of all single women should be included in the below poverty list (BPL), except those who are tax payers.

She said a separate provision must be made in the budget to meet the demands of single women and they should be entitled to free health facility. “Change should be made in rules so that tribal women get a share in the property, and as far as other single women are concerned they should get a share in the property of her husband and her consent should be made mandatory in the sale of any property in her in-laws’ house,” they demanded.

Shimla, June 30
Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur has urged External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to intervene and help the family in getting the body of Man Chand from Sudan.

Thakur said Man Chand, a resident of Tehsil Badsar, who died in a blast on June 22 in Sudan, was employed with Alshirug Industrial and Medical Gas Field in Sudan.

“Despite his death in a blast on June 22, no intimation about the mishap was given either by the Indian Embassy in Sudan nor by the Sudanese Embassy in Delhi to his family at Janehan village,” he said.

He said efforts by the deceased’s son, Vivek, to seek help from the Indian Embassy in Sudan and Sudanese Embassy in Delhi have not yielded any positive results. 

Panchkula, June 30
The reports that were sent to the CFSL, Chandigarh, for re-examination have come out in favour of Doon MLA Ram Kumar Chaudhary, an accused in the Jyoti murder case.

The reports, when declared negative by the CFSL, Madhuban, drew the suspicion of the police that sent these to Chandigarh for re-examination. On June 26, these were submitted before the Duty Magistrate and would go to the court tomorrow where the case is being tried.

The report of the DVR of the CCTV footage of Chandigarh-based nursing home, where records got automatically deleted, revealed that the retrieved data was not in playable format. The same opinion was sent by the Karnal CFSL. According to the prosecution, at the nursing home, Jyoti had gone with the MLA to get her abortion done.

The report of hair samples of second key accused Paramjit that were sent also didn’t match with those seized from Jyoti’s clothes. The reports have clarified that MLA’s hair strands also didn’t match.

Even the report of the presence of semen on Jyoti’s clothes was negative. No semen was found. Also the report of seat covers of the car in which strangulation was done, is negative.

Meanwhile, the report of ashes that was sent to Shriram Forensic Laboratory in Delhi has already been submitted at the last hearing which stated that it belonged to a heavy motor vehicle, but the vehicle wasn’t specified.

The case

The Doon MLA and four others have been accused of killing Jyoti, who hailed from Bhunga village in Hoshiarpur. The victim who was found murdered on a road in Sector 21, Panchkula, on November 22, 2012, was coming in the way of Chaudhary’s political career, stated the chargesheet.

The accused first strangulated Jyoti and then a truck was run over to show it an accident case.

Shimla, June 30
Monsoon is finally set to hit the capital city on July 2, as the local Meteorological Department has sounded a high alert for four districts of Shimla, Solan, Sirmaur and Mandi, which are likely to receive heavy rain that day. Kangra, Kullu and Una will receive heavy rain on July 3, revealed weather department officials.

Pre-monsoon showers lashed the city this evening, throwing normal life out of gear. The capital city recorded 40 mm rain.

Local residents and tourists remained confined under the cover. The nullahs turned into raging torrents, washing down the city muck, and junk into the catchments of the Ashwani khad, which is a source of drinking water to the city.

Showers lashed the suburbs of Sanjauli, Kufri-Fagu, Tutu, Bhatta Kufar, Dhalli, Kusumpati and New Shimla, but other parts of the state remained untouched by showers, said the weather men.

Dr Manmohan, Director of Mausam Kendra, Shimla, told The Tribune that the monsoon would hit the city on July 1 evening or July 2. Warning about heavy rain in Shimla, Sirmaur, Solan and Mandi had been sounded, he added.

Meanwhile, the maximum temperature dropped to 25°C, which was comparable with tourist town of Manali’s 24.4 °C. Una with 35.8°C was hottest in the state while Kalpa, which recorded 22.8 °C, was the coldest.

Kangra town drenched

KANGRA: Kangra town was today lashed with heavy rains in the day dropping the temperature. The sky was overcast since morning. It was an evening-like situation due to dark clouds and people had to drive their vehicles with headlights on.

It heavily rained in this temple town and its suburbs leaving the drains overflowing. Life was disrupted and busy markets became deserted within minutes. Pilgrims and tourists could be seen rushing to seek shelter.

However, there was no rain at Dharamsala, Gaggal and nearby towns.

KK Sharma, Director, Kangra airport, said both the flights landed and took off from the airport today though it was cloudy and drizzling. 

Palampur, June 30
CSK HP Agriculture University organised a kisan mela at Killar (Pangi) in Chamba district today. While addressing around 800 farmers from the district, Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri, chief guest, said in the tough terrain and small land holdings in tribal areas, scientific farming was the key to success.

He said modern technology and knowledge could help the farmers increase yield. Also, scientific cattle management could help increase milk production.

The Forest Minister asked the university to explore the possibility of an open extension centre at Pangi so that local farmers could get their crop and animal husbandry related problems solved at their doorstep.

The scientists should regularly guide the farmers of tribal areas by holding training sessions. They should formulate packages keeping in view the peculiar agro-climatic conditions of the region. There was a great potential for certain crops in such areas, he added.

Bharmouri said the government was paying special attention to agriculture and working for the socio-economic development of tribal farmers.

Dr KK Katoch, Vice-Chancellor, appreciated the tribal farmers for their hard work in harsh conditions and said they had been able to maintain rich agro-diversity. The traditional seeds were becoming extinct and the farmers who had saved such crop races and animal breeds needed to be encouraged. He said the Government of India had initiated programmes to address the issue.

He added that the university was trying to reserve some seats in BSc (agriculture) for the children of farmers. “Scientifically trained and educated young farmers will enable many others to emulate them,” he added.

Dr S Prabhu Kumar, Zonal Project Director, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, gave details about various programmes of the Government of India for tribal areas. He asked the farming community to avail benefits of such schemes.

Dr NK Pathania, Director, Extension Education, said Krishi Vigyan Kendra at Kukumseri, Lahaul-Spiti, was catering to the extension needs of the Pangi region, while a research sub-station at Salooni in Chamba was catering to the research needs. He invited the farmers and livestock keepers to visit the university headquarters and asked them to adopt the latest crop varieties and technology.

The university scientists also conducted training camps where crop and animal husbandry related issues were resolved. Many farmers brought their animals from the surrounding villages of Kufa, Kiaro, Pruthi, Siri, Sural, etc for treatment at the university. Officers of the State Departments of Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Husbandry also participated in the kisan mela. Inder Singh Bhardwaj, resident Commissioner, Dr Chiranji Lal, SDM, and other officials from the local administration also attended the fair. 

Chamba, June 30
Illegal mining activities at various places in the district have been increasing day-by-day. The offenders are indulging in excavating sand, stone and gravel from the rivulets, as per recent reports.

In the past, illegal mining activities had been detected at Udaipur and Rajpura areas.

Kadam Sandeep Vasant, DC of Chamba, in a meeting of the administration held here today, directed the sub-divisional magistrates (SDMs) to keep an eye on the illegal mining activities in their respective areas.

The DC asked the officials of the departments related to checking the illegal mining to put up their reports about the challans done in this regard in the next meeting of the administration.

Regarding illegal encroachments on the government land, the DC asked the Public Works Department (PWD) to prepare a list of such encroachments so that the actual situation could be brought to the fore.

Nurpur, June 30
Residents of a dozen villages of Chharolli, Geora, Mammor, Kamnala and Ledh gram panchayats are running from pillar to post for the restoration of railway crossing passage on the Pathankot-Jogindernagar railway line, linking their villages near Nurpur road (Jassur) to the railway station.

Railway authorities have closed cattle crossing passage at Chharolli in Nurpur. Photo by writer

They have been struggling for the past over two-and-a-half-year against Railway Authorities who had closed the approach road. The Railway Department has erected steel girders and narrowed its passage from six to two feet, causing hardships to the villagers and forcing them to drive eight km extra to approach the Pathankot-Mandi National Highway, via the Geora-Jassur road.

Inquiries revealed that the railway crossing was earlier closed for passage of vehicles in October 2011. After the villagers raised a hue and cry, the railway authorities re-opened it in March 2012. But this crossing was again closed in December, evoking a sharp reaction from the affected residents of the gram panchayat.

In order to raise their voice in unison, the residents constituted Jassur-Geora-Chhatrolli Vikas Manch. The manch has been raising this issue time and again with the district administration and authorities of the Northern Railways, Ferozepur, by submitting memorandums but in vain. Recently, the manch also appraoched Kangra MP Shanta Kumar and demanded to convert this cattle railway crossing to unmanned crossing or build an over bridge on it.

Baldev Pathania, vice-president of the manch, said over 20,000 rural populace was suffering after the closure of the railway crossing. He claimed that in the revenue record, a general path with 5.5 m breadth had been shown in this passage with khasra no.1017 leading from NH to the villages across the railway line and there was no other path connecting these villages.

He threatened to move to court if the authorities failed to restore their single approach road by lifting steel girders from the crossing. He lamented that the railway had kept such 24 cattle crossings open from Pathankot to Jassur railway station but closed this one.

Manjit Goyal, assistant engineer, Railways, claimed that the cattle railway crossing had been closed as it was unauthorised passage.

Shimla, June 30
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said with the younger generation being more tech-savvy, publishing houses must consider launching e-books.

He was speaking at the inaugural function of the week-long Book Fair organised by the National Book Trust (NBT) of India in collaboration with the Himachal Academy of Art, Language and Culture here.

He said, “We need to keep pace with today’s tech-savvy generation so as to meet their needs and aspirations. However, e-books are catering to the needs of many people, but I will also suggest that one should buy good books so that we can always read them as and when we desire.”

The Chief Minister also released the book titled “Flowerswood Hotel” authored by Raja Bhasin, besides releasing the books and monograph on Manali and Nirmand, published by the HP Academy of Art, Culture and Language.

The Chief Minister stressed the need for holding such book fairs annually. He also evinced keen interest in the exhibition and appreciated the collection of books. The Chief Minister directed the Education Department to purchase books worth Rs 10 lakh from the book fair

He said Himachal had many writers, scholars, poets, editors, critics, etc and the government would make efforts to extend all help to them. 

Nurpur, June 30
The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) organised a district-level convention here last evening. It was presided over by Varinder Singh, in-charge, North Zone.

The convention was held to raise the demands and issues relating to employees of government departments. It also chalked out strategy to mount pressure on the state government to accept their demands.

The BMS took the decision to raise demands of the workers of the state before the Government of India.

Lashing out at the Virbhadra Singh government, the BMS leaders took a strong exception to the alleged anti-worker policies of the government and said they would not tolerate any injustice to employees and workers.

Madan Rana, Kangra district president of the BMS, warned the state that they would launch a stir if the government did not stop exploiting the workers and employees.

He raised the demand of declaring anganwari workers government employees and enhancing their remuneration at par with that of the neighbouring states.

Vipon Dogra, BMS leader, demanded that mid-day meal workers be brought in the daily wager category. State BMS general secretary Shiv Ram and secretary Mangat Ram also addressed the gathering.

At the end of the convention, the following were unanimously elected office-bearers of the Kangra BMS unit: general secretary — Sushil Sharma; vice-presidents — Ved Prakash, Des Raj, Sunita Minhas, Sanjay Chadda and Suman Bala; organising secretary — Gagan Singh; and cashier — Pritam Sharma. 

Shimla, June 30
Dr Jatinder Mokta, Associate Professor at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), here presented his study at the recent congregation of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) in San Francisco. He injected insulin on diabetic patients in Kaza at 14,000 ft height and quelled myths about insulin, which became an eye-opener for experts in Russia and Europe highlands.

In his study presented at the 74th scientific session of ADA held at San Francisco, California, the USA, last this month, Dr Mokta showed diabetic patients harbour certain notions. Out of 569 patients he studied at the IGMC, five patients from Kaza and Kinnaur were put on insulin successfully, he said.

Preserving and injecting insulin is a challenge not only in the higher Himalayan region, but also in Russia and parts of Europe. “The insulin gets frozen in Kaza. We simple found a solution. We asked patients to wrap the insulin vile in the multi-layer of sheep wools available in plenty in the region and preserve it for patients for winter use and it worked well”, Dr Mokta said.

In his study, Dr Mokta observed 83 patients harboured myths on the use of insulin, saying it leads to addiction and life-long dependence. Another 64 per cent patients feel that it’s the last resort and no life beyond that, while 24 per cent feared pain while injecting insulin, which was not true, Dr Mokta said.

“We visited rural areas and interacted with diabetics to bring awareness and put them on insulin that control blood sugar and they are leading a normal life today”, he added. “It is observed that insulin is not used by care providers. Insulin is delayed and patients become more morbid as sugar level shot up”, he added.

The preservation of insulin at heights, among other findings of his study, “Impact of round tree group education programme on acceptance of insulin in person with diabetes: a study from Himalaya”, was well appreciated by experts.

“It is an outstanding work and he has tried to sensitise the patients on the use of the insulin which has facilitated a better compliance”, said Prof Shanshank R Joshi, editor emeritus of the Journal of Association of Physicians of India, at the presentation.

The study had broken the physical barriers as far as insulin was concerned as it was an original research, said Dr J Kesavadev, Director, Diabetic Centre, Kerala, who attended the conference.

He also presented oral poster presentation at the ADA congregation attended by over 2,000 delegates. The delegates participated in the “Stop diabetes race”, organised by the ADA. Dr Mokta has presented a paper at the International Diabetes Federation in Melbourne December, 2013. 

Kullu, June 30
Newly-elected MP from Mandi Ram Swaroop Sharma said the amount for annual maintenance of national highways in the state would be doubled to ~ 500 crore.

Addressing mediapersons at Kullu today, while on a tour of Manali Assembly segment, Ram Swaroop said he had met Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and discussed proposals for various state roads.

He said, “The work to prepare a Detailed Project Report for the Kullu-Manali road, to be constructed at a cost of Rs 120 crore, will be commenced soon”. The proposed four-lane National Highway from Kiratpur to Ner Chowk would be extended till Manali and five bypass roads would be constructed between Kullu and Manali to facilitate the traffic, he added.

He said he was scheduled to meet the Union Railways Minister this week and extension of railway line from Jogindernagar to Kullu and further to Leh would be discussed on priority. He assured that efforts to expand the existing runway of Kullu-Manali Airport at Bhuntar would also be mobilised.

Till now, he had visited 12 of the 17 Assembly segments falling under the Mandi constituency to express gratitude to the public and BJP members, Ram Swaroop said.

Earlier, district BJP president and Manali MLA Gobind Singh Thakur welcomed the MP and thanked him for representing the masses with the Union ministers. Yuvraj Bodh, National treasurer of BJP ST Morcha, Ram Singh, state BJP vice-president, and other district BJP leaders accompanied him during his trip to various villages of the Manali Assembly segment. 

Nahan, June 30
Two youths, Maninder Singh (18) and Gurjeet Singh (28), drowned in the Shastradhara rivulet, 25 km from Paonta Sahib, late last evening. Reports said they had gone there to take a bath.

Gurjeet was deployed as a forest guard in the Paonta Sahib area and resided at Nihalgarh. Maninder was a resident of Devinagar. Both were related to each other and had gone to the rivulet in the afternoon.

The police were informed about the mishap around 7 pm last evening. They took the help of local divers to pull out the bodies. One of them was found at 11 pm last night and the other around 5:30 am this morning , said Yogesh Rolta, DSP, Paonta Sahib.

He said the bodies were handed over to the relatives after conducting a postmortem.

Since the area lies in the Himachal-Uttarakhand belt, rain had led to a higher level of water in the rivulet, which the two youths failed to assess, the DSP added.