Char Dham Yatra to remain suspended on July 20, 21
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 19
In view of the warning by the Meteorological Deaprtment, the Char Dham Yatra will remain suspended for two more days on July 20 and 21, the Department of Disaster Management said on Saturday.

“We have decided to suspend the yatra for two more days and in case the weather conditions improve on July 22, the possibility of resuming the yatra would be examined,” said Bhaskaranand Joshi, Secretary, Department of Disaster Management.

The Uttarakhand government had suspended the Char Dham Yatra after warnings from the Met Department about heavy rainfall on July 18, 19 and 20.

Yesterday, Chief Minister Harish Rawat had admitted that it was a challenge to start the Char Dham Yatra after the 2013 rain-related disaster. Today several parts of the state received heavy to moderate rainfall and Bhimbali, Gaurikund, Sonprayag and Lincholi in Kedar valley also received heavy showers.

Meanwhile, the Rish-ikesh-Kedarnath national highway (NH-109) rema-ined blocked at Silli, Baswada, Fata and Agustmuni.

According to the Rudraprayag district officials, a woman is reported to have been buried in the debris at Agustmuni. The Rishikesh-Gangotri national highway (NH-108) also remained blocked at Sukhitop due to falling debris from landslides. The Rishikesh-Badrinath nat-ional highway (NH-58) also remained blocked.

In Champawat district of Kumaon seven roads were blocked. The Mala Talla motor road in Nanital distritct remained blocked. The Pithoragarh- Tanakpur national highway was also blocked at Dhol due to the landslide.

The Kali river in Pithoragarh was flowing at 888.30 metres, few meters below the danger mark at 890 meters. The Saryu river was flowing at 452.5 metres, one metre below the danger mark at 453 metres.

The Met Department has predicted heavy to moderate rainfall in many parts of the state tomorrow.

No respite from rain; roads blocked due to landslides 

Dehradun: Rain continued in Uttarakhand today, triggering landslides at several places. Most of the rivers were flowing near the danger mark. Met Department officials have forecast more rain in the state in the days to come. Met Department officials in Dehradun have again issued a warning of heavy rainfall at a few places in Dehradun, Haridwar, Nainital, Almora and Pithoragarh districts tomorrow. According to Dr Anand Sharma, Director, Dehradun Met office, light to moderate rain or thunderstorm would occur at many places in Uttarakhand with heavy rainfall expected at a few places, especially in Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Pauri, Tehri, Bageshwar and Udham Singh Nagar districts. Several roads across the state were blocked due to landslides triggered by rain. The key Rishikesh-Kedarnath National Highway was blocked at number of places. The landslides occurred at Sirobagad, Augustmuni, Fata and Rampur blocking traffic movement on the Rishikesh-Kedarnath highway. Similarly, the Rishikesh-Gangtori road was blocked at Malla, Laldhang, Netala, Bhatukasod and Devidhar. On the Rishikesh-Yamuntori highway was blocked at Brahmkhal, Ranachatt and Badiya. 

In Chamoli district, the Rishkesh-Badrinath National Highway was blocked at Lamabagad and Kanchanganga due to landslides. In the Kumaon region, the Almora-Haldwani highway was blocked near Getia while the Danya-Almora, Badicheena-Seraghat and Dauvarsu-Kakdighaat roads were blocked due to landslides. The Bhujan-Betalghatat-Garjia road in Nainital district and the Tawghat-Sobla road in Pithoragarh district were blocked. The water level in the Bhagirathi was 1,120.60 metre, just 2.40 metre below the danger mark, at the Tiloth Bridge. The Ganga, Saryu, Gomti and Kali rivers were also flowing close to the danger mark.An advisory has also issued to tourists to take extra precaution while travelling in hills. The people have also been asked to keep away from rivers and streams and avoid crossing running water. The people have also been asked to remain vigilant against waterlogging in plains and low lying areas, especially in Udham Singh Nagar district. — TNS

Mussoorie-Doon road blocked due to landslide 
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, July 19
The traffic on the Mussoorie-Dehradun road was disrupted for several hours due to landslides near Kholhukhet triggered by incessant rains today.

The landslide was reported around 4 am but the administration became active only after four hours, much to the disgust of the tourists heading towards Mussoorie, who had to undergo harrowing experience due to the non-availability of drinking water and other amenities near the landslide site here.

The PWD was summoned, which deployed a JCB machine that cleared the mud debris making it possible for commuters to reach their destinations. The district disaster response force team was nowhere to be seen at the site, which irked the local residents.

Meanwhile, the continuous rains since last night resulted in putting life out of gear as most of the residents remained huddled indoors here. The situation at Uttarkashi is also grim with the district administration announcing the closure of schools for two days. Several temporary bridges have caved in in a number of villages in Uttarkashi district making to and fro movement impossible for the residents in Uttarkashi district, said Rinku, a local resident.

The district administration has cancelled leaves of several government staff and has asked to them to remain alert in case of any eventuality in Uttarkashi district.

Admn caught on back foot

* The landslide was reported around 4 am, but the administration became active only after four hours

* Tourists heading towards Mussoorie were a harried lot as they had to undergo a harrowing experience

* Non-availability of drinking water and other amenities near the landslide site compounded the problem

ADG: Safety of yatra pilgrims top priority
Ajay Ramola
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, July 19
ADG, Law and Order, Ram Singh Meena, on his brief visit to Mussoorie today said that safety of the pilgrims on Char Dham Yatra was being given utmost priority by the administration in the wake of damage to the roads triggered by the heavy rains witnessed in the state.

ADG Law and Order Ram Singh Meena speaking to media persons during his brief visit to Mussoorie said that pilgrims have been kept in safe places at Joshimath, Son Prayag, Uttarkashi, etc considering the road blockade being witnessed on the route by the administration. He also said that pilgrims are being provided with food and basic amenities and would be allowed to move forward once the situation becomes normal on the yatra route.

DM inpects flood-prone areas along the Ganga
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, July 19
With incessant rain lashing the district for the past two days, the district magistrate is constantly monitoring and inspecting the situation at flood-prone areas on the Ganga banks.

DM Senthyl Pendiyan today inspected the work going on at Bhogpur, Balawali embankments along with irrigation department officials. On finding the slow pace of work at Ranjitpur and Sopari embankments, the DM gave stern directives to the concerned contractor of maintaining quality and adhering to deadline, as monsoons had arrived in the district.

Lauding the working of irrigation department in making many embankments and safety-retaining walls at flood-prone villages,Pendiyan said that in future too the department should ensure timebound quality works.

He also called on villagers to cooperate with the irrigation department as heavy rain is affecting the construction work.

A delegation of villagers sought land for rehabilitation as in the past few years villages of Bhogpur, Balawli and Sopari are regularly getting inundated with river water during monsoon season.

The district magistrate gave directions to subordinates to look into this matter on priority.

District management officer Naresh Chaudhari was directed to operate round-the-clock helpline desk and transferring of information regarding water level in the Ganga and its sub-tributaries to the villagers residing near the river bed, to district administration, police and irrigation department officials.

NDRF, SDRF and disaster management team along with Jal Police squads have been strictly directed to remain on high alert during this monsoon season.

Subdivisional magistrate Lakshar Maya Dutt Joshi, executive engineer, irrigation department, Purushottam, and Dr Naresh Chaudhari were also present during the inspection visit.

Campaigning ends for Someshwar, Dharchula Assembly bypoll
Congress, BJP launch verbal attacks against each other
Tribune Reporters

Pithoragarh, July 19
The Congress and the BJP today launched verbal attacks against each other on the last day of the campaigning for the Dharchula and Someshwar Assembly byelections where polling will be held on July 21. Chief Minister Harish Rawat is contesting the first Assembly election of his political career of 40 years from the Dharchula Assembly seat vacated for him by his loyal MLA, Harish Dhami.

The Dharchula seat was chosen by the Chief Minister after it withheld the Modi wave in the last Lok Sabha elections and gave the Congress a victory of over 3,000 votes despite the party losing in all other Assembly segments of the Almora parliamentary constituency. “Rawat is getting benefits of being the Chief Minister and created hype by Congress propoganda that he had been attached to Dharchula problems during his political career, despite the fact that disaster relief works have not been completed in the area from the last year,” said S Dwivedi , a political analyst based in Pithoragarh.

“Though BJP candidate BD Joshi has his base of non-tribal voters in the region, he will have to lose the battle despite every big BJP leader coming to campaign for him as resources and political timing does not favour him,” said Krishna Garbiyal, a local reporter based in Dharchula.

Ever since the Chief Minister injured his neck and was admitted to the AIIMS, New Delhi, his wife Renuka Rawat and his sons and daughters are spearheading Congress campaign in his absence. “Rawat has almost adopted the Dharchula Assembly constituency to develop it as a model for Uttarakhand,” said Renuka Rawat, the Chief Minister’s wife, who has taken command of the campaign in Dhachula for the last 15 days. In thee Someshwar Assembly seat, which was till recently held by the BJP and also voted for the party in the Lok Sabha polls, former Almora zila panchayat chairman Mohan Ram Arya has been pitched against Congress candidate Rekha Arya, who has switched over to the Congress recently as she was not given ticket for the Lok Sabha and later also denied ticket from the Someshwar Assembly seat as well. “I have been working in Almora district for the last 14 years and seeking votes from Someshwar voters for development only,” said Rekha.

Congress seeks ex-servicemen’s support

Dehradun: The Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Department of Ex-Servicemen has appealed to the ex-servicemen in the state for extending their support to the party candidates in the Assembly bi-elections being held on July 21.

Capt Balbir Singh Rawat (retd), state president of the cell, said the ex-servicemen should support the Congress candidates Harish Rawat, Hira Singh Bisht and Rekha Arya.

Lt Gen TPS Rawat (retd) and Lt Gen Gambhir Singh Negi said since Independence, the Congress had catered to the well-being of the public and came out with the welfare-orientedschemes.

It was the Congress that implemented ‘One Rank One Pension’, a long pending demand by the ex-servicemen. An amount of Rs 1,000 crore has been earmarked for the scheme,” he added.

Preparations complete for Doiwala Assembly bypoll

Dehradun: District Election Officer-cum-District Magistrate Chandresh Yadav said all preparations for the forthcoming Doiwala Assembly bypolls had been completed. The Assembly goes to the polls on July 21. Addressing a press conference here today, Yadav said a total of 740 polling booth personnel had been appointed in 148 polling booths of the Assembly segment. “Polling parties will be given poll-related materials, equipment and EVMs on July 20 at the Doiwala-based ITI. 

Stench forces injection room to function from corridor
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 19
A strange sight greeted patients on their way to receive injection at the Doon Hospital yesterday as chief pharmacist KK Kukreti accompanied by his staff had set up a shop in the corridor.

“There has been persistent leakage from the drain located on the second floor. The stench emanating from the walls became unbearable and we decided to position ourselves on the front side of the corridor,” said Kukreti.

In fact there has been rise in the seepage due to the incessant rains and coupled with the leakage from the drain, the matters worsened yesterday.

“It is very embarrassing to sit amid unhygienic conditions and treat the patients. They too have been complaining about the stench,” said a troubled Kukreti.

Despite lodging complaint with the hospital authorities, no remedy has been found. In fact, in the past seepage and leakage have dogged the adjacent physiotherapy room too. The problem had worsened last year, during this season. The authorities had then gone for tiling of the entire wall. Far from addressing the leakage problem, the authorities have been going for piecemeal solutions.

Even the patients were complaining about the stench that became overbearing due to the rains, “We were not able to sit inside the room, yesterday and today the condition has worsened, the corridor proved to be a better option,” said Rekha a patient.

Meanwhile, Dr RS Aswal,Principal Superintendent of the hospital,said the matter was being addressed.

Bank staff stage protest

Dehradun, July 19
As part of the 45th anniversary celebrations of nationalisation of banks in the country, Uttarakhand Bank Employees Union today staged a demonstration at Anikant Place expressing resentment over pro-privatisation policy of the Centre.

Led by Jagmohan Mehndirutta, general secretary, Uttarakhand chapter of All India Bank Employees Union, the bank employees asserted that they were observing 45th anniversary celebrations of nationalisation of banks in the country today as demand day. — TNS

Winners of story-reading contest interact with Ruskin Bond
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, July 19
The joy for the five schoolchildren, declared winners at all-India story-reading competition organised by Landmark Book Stores last month, knew no bounds when they got an opportunity to interact with the famous children books author Ruskin Bond at his residence in Mussoorie today.

Around 697 students from around the country participated in the story-reading competition out of which five students, Sachi Chinmmaya Prasad (Mumbai), Ishpriya Gupta (Delhi), Adam Libby (Chennai),Tulsi Chaitanya(Bangalore) and Mahek Shivnani (Pune) were adjudged as the winners.

According to Pramod, the marketing manager of Landmark Book Stores, the competition was organised with an objective to inculcate reading habits among the schoolchildren and motivate them towards quality book reading. The students had to recite excerpts from the books written by Roald Dahl, Sudha Murthy, Jeff Kenny , Ruskin Bond and other writers and the five winners were provided a tour to Mussoorie to interact with their favourite author Ruskin Bond at his residence as a part of the competition today.

One of the winners of the competition Tulsi Chaitanya from Bishop Cotton School (Bangalore), said that the meeting with Ruskin Bond at his residence was an out-of-the-world experience. She further said that contrary to her earlier views she found Ruskin Bond to be a kind and simple man.

Tulsi, another winner, saidshe got an opportunity to pose questions to Ruskin Bond and asked his source of inspiration for writing books, to which Ruskin Bond replied that the day-to-day activities occurring around the world were his inspiration.

“I had thought that Ruskin Bond would be living in a mansion but when we went to his house, we found it to be small and simple, which impressed me the most,” said Ishpriya, contemplating to become a poet. When asked by the winning students what was required to become a good writer, Ruskin Bond said that the children aspiring to become writers should have good command over the language and know the surroundings and people well.

DAV students hold scooter rally

Dehradun, July 19
Students of DAV PG College held a scooter rally here yesterday. Student leader Navdeep Negi flagged off the rally at a function held at Lord Venkateshwara Hall and it culminated at the college. Negi urged students to work hard to achieve their goals. He said the rally was organised to welcome freshers .

He said he would contest the coming students’ union elections in DAV College independently and would continue to work to address the grievances of students. — TNS

Safety advisory issued for school kids
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 19
As a precautionary measure, in view of the inclement weather across the entire state, the Uttarakhand Department of School Education has asked the school authorities not to hold classes in partially damaged buildings.

Instructions have also been given to ensure children are served clean food and water in the schools.

“The school teachers have been instructed not to hold classes in damaged buildings. There are certain schools where classrooms were partially damaged during the 2013 rain-induced disaster. We have instructed the school teachers not to use them and instead make arrangements in panchayat bhavans and other safe buildings,” said Radhika Jha, Project Director, Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan.

The teachers have also been asked to ensure children do not use broken routes while trekking down to school.

Special instructions have also been given to bhojan matas who cook midday meals for using clean water for cooking the meals and also providing clean drinking water in schools, so that children do not contract diseases.

Illegal mining sites raided

Dehradun, July 19
In a major offensive against illegal mining in Uttarakhand, the Mining Vigilance Force raided illegal mining sites in the Bajpur area of Udham Singh Nagar here today and seized heavy machineries.

A team led by DIG Sanjay Gunjyal raided number of units and found irregularities. The team seized LSC Interatech Limited (Lalkuan Stone Crusher), Raj Lakshmi Crusher, Himalayan Build Stone Crusher and Kosi Mineral Stone Crusher for allegedly involving in illegal mining. — TNS