Shimla, July 28
The Select Committee of the Vidhan Sabha, which met here today to examine the proposed amendments to the Lokayukta Act, 1983, could differ with the suggestions of making it a three-member body along with bringing in some changes in it.

The Select Committee, which makes the appointment, and the Lokayukta Bill, which was tabled in the Assembly during the winter session on February 19 earlier this year, was referred to it without being debated.

Now, the Select Committee is likely to meet once again on August 4, before it finalises its recommendations which will be laid on the table of the House during the coming monsoon session.

The 16-day monsoon session will begin on August 6.

To be able to take a final decision on whether to make a single-member Lokayukta a three-member body, the committee has sought data of cases dealt with since the Lokayukta was made in 1983.

“We are keen to see as to how many people approach the Lokayukta and how effective it has been in dealing with corruption and other complaints received by it,” a source said.

Sources confirmed that a majority of the members in the Select Committee were of the opinion that in case the workload is not much, then there was no need to appoint two other members, including one from the judiciary.

However, a final decision would depend on the data culled from the Lokayukta record even though members maintained that the main objective would be to give more teeth and powers to the Lokayukta.

Another issue which was deliberated upon by the Select Committee was its re-constitution for the appointment of the Lokayukta as well as the other members in case its strength was raised to three. “A majority of the members feel that the present Select Committee comprising the Chief Minister as the chairman, Leader of Opposition, Chief Justice of the High Court and an eminent Jurist, was quite appropriate for making the selection process,” sources said.

The Lokayukta Bill which was tabled in the House could not be discussed as the main Opposition party, the BJP, had staged a walkout and was not present in the House.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said since the BJP was not there, it would be better to refer it to the Select Committee and table it in the House later.

He said the amendments were aimed at making the Lokayukta a stronger body with more teeth.

Leader of Opposition PK Dhumal had criticised the Bill by stating that it had a lot of lacunae and could be easily challenged in the court of law. 

Mandi, July 28
Though the Central and the state governments are yet to take a final decision regarding the setting up of the proposed All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the state, exercise to find land for the institute has already begun.

The Mandi district administration and the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) authorities, Ner Chowk, have already started looking for about 1,000 bighas required for setting up 
an AIIMS.

The Central Government had announced the setting up of an AIIMS in the state and the availability of land is a prerequisite for it.

The ESIC authorities, who have constructed a medical college at Ner Chowk by spending over Rs 750 crore and are in the process of setting up a medical college and super-speciality hospital, have shown their reluctance in running the medical colleges set up by them throughout the country.

A committee had suggested that they hand over the institutions to the Central or the state government.

Sources in the ESIC said, “The ESIC is also keen to hand over the newly-constructed building at Ner Chowk to the Central Government to set up an AIIMS for Rs 750 crore.”

As more land will be required for setting up an AIIMS, the ESIC authorities are also looking for an additional land in the surrounding area.

The ESIC, in consultation with the district administration, is exploring the availability of a land at Saini Mori for the proposed AIIMS.

The land is being considered suitable for setting up the proposed institution here as the place is just 5 km away from National Highway No.- 21 and falls under un-demarcated protected forest land and does not have many trees on it.

The district administration has already prepared a data bank of all government land available here.

Pankaj Rai, Additional District Magistrate, Mandi, said, “ We have not received any direction for finding land for the proposed AIIMS, but have prepared a land data bank and identified a piece of land comprising about 500 bighas at Saini Mori, which can be used for this purpose.” 

Shimla, July 28
The HP High Court today dismissed the election petition filed by Congress leader Gangu Ram Musafir challenging the election of BJP candidate Suresh Kashyap from Pachhad, SC reserved Assembly constituency, with Rs 25,000 cost.

While dismissing the plea, Justice VK Sharma observed: “In the absence of any cogent, reliable and trustworthy documentary or physical evidence, the oral evidence comprising the depositions of mostly interested witnesses cannot be safely relied upon to annul the verdict given by the electorate in favour of BJP candidate Suresh Kashyap.”

The court further observed: “Thus, it is not proved that Suresh Kashyap, who belongs to Koli caste, had appealed to voters of his caste for furtherance of his prospects in the election and is thus guilty of commission of corrupt practice within the meaning of sub section (3) of Section 123 of the Act.”

Mussafir, runner-up candidate, who contested the election held during 2012 of the HP Legislative Assembly on a Congress ticket from the Pachhad constituency had challenged the election of the BJP candidate on the ground that Kashyap had appealed to voters of his caste for furtherance of his prospects in the election and is thus guilty of commission of a corrupt practice.

It was further alleged that the BJP candidate was guilty of exercising undue influence on voters, which is a corrupt practice within the meaning of 
sub-section (2) of Section 123 of the Representation of People Act, 1951.

Shimla, July 28
Former Chief Minister PK Dhumal today said rather than initiating austerity measures, the government was hell bent on putting additional burden on the exchequer by appointing chairmen, vice-chairmen, advisors and officer on special duty (OSD).

Expressing concern over the deteriorating financial condition of the state, Dhumal, who was talking to mediapersons here, said: “The government has no money to pay pensions and give financial benefits due to its regular employees, but still there is no stopping in giving appointments to retired officers.” He said: “Considering the grave financial health of the state, the government cannot afford the luxury of having a team of retired and hired officers enjoying plum postings.”

He said governance was the last thing on the agenda of the present Congress regime as it was only engaged in doling out benefits to a select few individuals and groups.

“The special grant given by the government to the Horticulture University has been slashed from Rs 72 to Rs 48 crore and the government is managing on the Green Development Fund that it is receiving,” he said.

Dhumal also criticised the proposed move of the government to start online lottery.

“It is an addiction which has virtually pushed many poor families on the brink of starvation, which is why I decided to ban it in my earlier tenure as a chief minister,” he said.

He said no doubt lottery generated a lot of funds for the government, but eventually it ruined many families. So it was not advisable to start it again.

The BJP leader said the government on the contrary was putting more burden on the government by ordering transfers of employees who had to be paid TA and DA on getting a new posting.

“Transfers of even beldaars are being made on political considerations despite the so-called ban on transfers,” he said.

The former CM said the BJP legislators would raise all issues concerning common man besides state-level issues during the ensuing monsoon session of the Assembly.

“The BJP Legislature Party will meet on the evening of August 5 to chalk out its strategy so that important discussions can be held,” he said. 

Considering the grave financial health of the state, the government cannot afford the luxury of having a team of retired and hired officers enjoying plum postings.
PK Dhumal, former chief minister

Mandi, July 28
Bhup Ram, a farmer from Thali village in Karsog subdivision, has taken an initiative to promote commercial cultivation of 
sandalwood by planting its saplings.

He has now prepared a nursery of about 6,000 plants. Sandalwood saplings are planted in a large number for commercial purposes in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.

In Himachal, sandalwood trees are found in some areas of Bilaspur, Jwalaji in Kangra and Kinnaur district.

It is for the first time that sandalwood saplings have been planted on a large scale.

Bhup took to sandalwood cultivation after he was inspired by experts from the Central Forest Research Institute in Dehradun. “The experts told me that sandalwood plants can be grown at varying temperatures and even in Himachal,” he said.

He said while seeking technical knowledge about how to grow sandalwood plants, he came into contact with ML Semi, a forest officer from Kerala, who told him that sandalwood plants were being grown in several states like Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and Kerala.

“The commercial cultivation of sandalwood plants can supplement income of farmers as 30 to 40 kg wood from one tree is sold for Rs 13,000 per kg and its branches for Rs 8,000 per kg,” he added.

The cultivation of sandalwood plant is easy as it does not require much technical know-how and can be grown everywhere.

Its sapling is sold for Rs 500.

Sandalwood saplings are planted in a large number for commercial purposes in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. In Himachal, sandalwood trees are found in some areas of Bilaspur, Jwalaji in Kangra and Kinnaur district.

Solan, July 28
With the district administration selecting a 100-bigha site at Qwarag, near Kandaghat, for the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), announced for Himachal Pradesh in the Union Budget, hopes of Solan getting the prestigious institute have become higher.

Though there has been a political furore over its location, it is learnt that the district administration has selected the site after Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh announced his intention to open the institute in Solan or Shimla district.

Sources said the chief minister was also shown the site during his visit to the area last week, after the district administration finalised it considering various issues like its presence near a national highway and air and rail connectivity from Chandigarh.

While officials were tight-lipped about having finalised the site, they did confirm that this was one probable site, though other sites too could be suggested if the situation so warranted.

Former Congress Minister Ram Lal Thakur has been lobbying for Bilaspur on the plea that the district does not have any national-level institute while Kuldeep Rathore, member, AICC, has demanded that the institute be located in the vicinity of Shimla.

With the BJP government at the Centre, the party’s senior leaders in the state will also try to claim credit for the institute, though they are yet to put forth any view about its location.

With Solan already having institutes like Asia’s lone horticulture and forestry institute at Nauni, an IIM will be another feather in its cap as the emerging hub of education.

Kangra, July 28
Minister for Urban Development Sudhir Sharma and Vice-Chairman, HP Forest Corporation, KS Pathania today condemned the alleged mudslinging on Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh by BJP leaders during their three-day executive meet held at Solan and suggested that they should instead adopt a positive attitude towards the state’s development.

The Congress leaders, in a joint statement here, said the BJP leadership had a one-point agenda and that was to raise fingers at the CM, which started from the Sagar Katha case and culminated with the CD case. They said the CM was given a clean chit by the CBI in the first case and the court exonerated him in the CD case as well.

They said people in the state too gave a clean chit to him after which he was voted to power for the sixth time as chief minister.

They said the BJP was suffering from Virbhadra Singh phobia.

They said with the BJP being in power at the Centre, the state BJP leadership, instead of pointing fingers at others, should look how the Pathankot-Jogindernagar-Leh rail network could be developed, how AIIMS at the Tanda medical college be set up, how BSF Battalion be established in Kangra district and how Centrally sponsored schemes be implemented in the state.

The duo said the development of roads, establishment of the Central University at Dharamsala and better air connectivity should be BJP’s priority.

They said the BJP should lay thrust on the improvement of the Kangra airport so that no flight got cancelled. 

Shimla, July 28
The Shimla Municipal Corporation (MC) has agreed to vacate the Town Hall temporarily in order to pave way for its restoration and conservation.

Chief Secretary P Mitra today held a meeting with Mayor Sanjay Chauhan, MC representatives and officials of the Tourism and Urban Development Departments.

The MC has agreed to shift all its offices to the space provided to them at the Deputy Commissioner’s office and the rest house at Bharari.

The Town Hall will be restored within 18 months. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has provided financial assistance of Rs 8.50 crore. 

Dalhousie, July 28
The jetty spot at Taleru on the bank of the Chamera reservoir, popularly known as Chamera Lake, is the main attraction for tourists visiting the Dalhousie-Chamba tourist circuit.

The Chamera Lake is surrounded by the picturesque hillsides in the ravine of the Ravi in Chamba district.

The Taleru quayside is visited by a number of tourists during summers.

Hotel entrepreneurs at Taleru have developed this site in recent years. They said a shed was needed to be raised at the quayside for shelter.

“There are two motor boats, one with a seating capacity of 30 persons and the other with 22 persons,” said hotel owners.

They also suggested that cafeterias should be set up across the lake and beneath Chakloo village under the home-stay scheme of the Tourism Department. They also stressed on the construction of public toilets and improvement of roads in the environs of the tourist spot. 

Shimla, July 28
The state Health and Family Welfare Department has prepared the essential drug list (EDL) of as many as 446 generic medicines, which will be given for free to patients at government hospitals.

But the powerful lobby of drug manufacturers is out to scuttle the government move as big companies have patent for their medicines.

Big drug manufacturers as well as retailers preferred branded medicines and doctors too prescribed these as they got good profits, revealed doctors.

“The big drug manufacturers of multinational pharmaceutical companies are patenting the drug formulation so that no other manufacturers can make generic medicines with the same formulations,” they added.

The Health Department has prepared the EDL list comprising 446 generic drugs and is adding another 200 generic drugs to the EDL soon, officials said.

EDL includes drugs of 31 different medications ranging from anaesthesia, pain killers, anti-allergic to anti-dotes, anti-epileptic, anti-biotic, anti-infective and anti-TB, anti-retroviral to hormones, drugs used in diabetes, including drugs used for de-addiction. The government has already started distributing nearly 60 cheap generic medicines at some government hospital, including the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) and Hospital.

The branded medicine that is sold in the market for Rs 20, costs Re 1 and in general patients can save almost 90 per cent cost incurred on the purchase of the medicine, officials said.

“But now, the state government is planning to provide generic medicines for free at government hospitals,” they said.

“The government is making a software that will translate the names of the medicines prescribed by doctors into generic names as has been experimented at some hospitals in Delhi,” they revealed.

On the other hand, the chemists-druggists’ associations in the state have taken the government’s new prescription with a pinch of salt, saying that they have neither any say with drug manufacturers nor with the government.

“Generic medicines are rarely available in markets,” they added.

“We sell according to what a doctor prescribes as per the printed MRP on the drugs, which is decided by the drug price control order of the Central ministry,” said Sanjeev Pandit, president of Chemists and Druggists’ Association, Shimla.

“Branded companies are going for four-year patent and retailers’ margin of profit is 6-7 per cent whether they sell generic or other medicines,” he added.

Director, Health Services Dr KL Sharma said: “The department is in the process of inviting tenders for the supply of generic drugs as the EDL list is being finalised. These medicines will be given for free at government hospitals as proposed by the government.” 

Kullu, July 28
Karan Singh, Banjar MLA and Chairman, District 20-Point Programme, said the government was striving for the welfare of rural masses and weaker sections of society. He stated this while presiding over a general meeting to assess the progress of development works being carried out under the programme, held at Devsadan in Dhalpur today.

He said development of roads in rural areas was prioritised to facilitate transport facilities and accelerate other development works. As many as 14 villages would be connected by new roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) during the current financial year.

The construction of roads in eight villages of the Banjar Assembly constituency, four villages in Kullu and two villages in Manali was underway, he added.

Karan Singh advised the authorities of the Public Works Department (PWD) to quickly repair the roads to rural areas, so that the orchardists were not hassled during the ongoing apple season. He urged officers of various departments to work in tandem and co-ordinate the development works.

He said special efforts were being made to promote the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and benefit maximum number of people through it.

He added that 154 new job cards under MGNREGS were issued in June. About 3.75 lakh days were utilised and Rs 7.02 crore of wages had been disbursed under the scheme. He said 456 self-employed people, including 216 women, 233 Scheduled Caste and seven Scheduled Tribes, were aided under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission.

The electrification of 300 houses in urban areas and 1,500 houses in rural areas had been earmarked for the current financial year and electrification of 61 houses in urban regions and 616 houses in rural regions had already been accomplished till June, Karan Singh added.

Kullu ADM Vinay Singh welcomed the chief guest and said efforts would be made to ensure that the deserving were benefited.

Kullu MLA Maheshwar Singh, Anni MLA Khub Ram Anand, Kullu Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Kanwar, Kullu Zila Parishad president Hari Chand Sharma, president, district congress committee, BS Thakur and other officers and members were present. 

Nurpur, July 28
The Pong Dam Oustees Multipurpose Cooperative Samiti has urged Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to ensure the functioning of the office of the Land Acquisition Officer (LAO) at its original office building at Raja Ka Talab near Nurpur instead of its temporary office at Talwara, Punjab.

In a statement issued here today, Ashwani Awasthi, managing director of the samiti, said the state government had issued notification in January to shift the functioning of the LAO office from Talwara to Raja Ka Talab, but the notification was still not followed.

He said Pandrer, Khazan, Talara, Chakwari, Ondh, Ladorri, Mamooh-Gurchal, Gurial, Dakk, Baari and Jumb-Khas gram panchayats of the area had also passed resolutions against the functioning of the office of the LAO from Talwara.

He also expressed resentment over the move to shift the office of the Deputy Commissioner (DC), Relief and Rehabilitation Department, from Raja Ka Talab to Talwara and cautioned that the samiti would launch an agitation against such move.

“The members of the samiti have been staging a dharna in front of the office of the DC since June 6 and will continue till their demands are not met,” he added. 

Kangra, July 28
A 33-year-old man committed suicide by consuming poison on Saturday, the police said here yesterday.

The police said the deceased, identified as Ashwani Kumar of Rajpura village falling under the Panchrukhi police station, was under depression for the last few days. Ashwani’s family members told the police that there was no tension in the family.

The police said he had consumed poison at his residence. When his condition deteriorated, he was rushed to the Palampur Civil Hospital, from where he was referred to the Tanda medical college where he died. The police have started investigation under Section 174, CrPC, and are awaiting the postmortem and viscera report.

Kangra, July 28
An 18-year-old girl, resident of Daghwar village falling under the local police station, died Friday evening after consuming poison, the police said here on Saturday.

The investigating officer from Gaggal police post said Anjali had some pain in the abdomen as stated by her family members. She then consumed some poison “by mistake”, her family members said. the Police said she was rushed to the Zonal Hospital, Dharamsala, where she died. 

Chamba, July 28
The state Forensic Department has displayed a forensic exhibition at the International Minjar Fair of Chamba which will conclude on August 3. The exhibition stall is drawing the attention of youth in particular.

The decision to display the exhibition was taken by the department because of the overwhelming response of the public during last year and in view of the mandate of the institution.

The exhibition was inaugurated yesterday by state Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dhani Ram Shandil.

“The exhibition is aimed at making the public aware of the scientific methods used in the detection of crime and learning the knowhow about the crime scene. Besides, information about career avenues in the field of forensics is also given by those manning the stall,” says Dr Meenakshi Mahajan, Deputy Director, Regional Forensic Science Laboratory, Northern Range, Dharamsala.

The other main attractions at the exhibition are to learn and identify genuine currency and differentiate with counterfeit currency, take preventive measures to check online frauds and Facebook cheating, DNA profiling in the paternity dispute and sexual assault cases, death due to drowning, detecting handwritings in frauds and forgery cases and ill-effects of drugs on the human body. 

Shimla, July 28
Call it communication gap or delay in the despatch of a call letter for counselling, a deserving student lost his seat in computer science engineering course at the Jaypee University of Information and Technology.

The student suffered as the call letter did not reach him and the information accessed by him from the website was not complete. And then, in spite of reaching the university at the last moment, he was denied admission on
the ground that formalities were not complete.

Shubham Sharma, who had applied for computer science engineering at the Jaypee university, rued that he did not get the call letter for counselling, which was to be held on July 25. He came to know about his name in the merit list after he looked up the official website of the university, he claimed.

“As my name was at the bottom of the list of seats under state quota, I called up the authorities, who advised me to access the website for relevant information regarding counselling and the dues to be paid at the time of admission,” Shubham said.

“As mentioned in the website, we got two drafts of Rs 35,000 and Rs 45,000 and reached the university for counselling on July 25. But the authorities said the drafts should have been of Rs 37,000 and Rs 50,000 and the officer concerned asked us to contact the director,” Shubham alleged.

He added that the director who assured him that the university would consider the matter, but in the meantime the seat was given to the next person in the waiting list. When contacted, the university authorities said it was a routine process as in case the papers were not complete or in order, the next student was given the chance for admission.

Shimla, July 28
Landslides triggered by the continuous heavy rain damaged orchards in the Tharoach area of Chopal and near Narkanda today.

The inputs received from the district said the massive landside damaged apple orchards in Dishali, Mandli, Danuda, Sutara and Nabi villages in the Tharoach area. The 50-m-long link road from Khatasan was also washed away.

About 70 to 80 fruit-laden trees were washed away in the landslide, rued Suresh, Jograj and Surat Ram. There has been continuous rain in the last five days.

There are reports that the landslide at Rayog village near Narkanda washed away the land and 10-15 apple trees of one Nand Lal.

The Shimla city received 52 mm rainfall, the maximum in the state today. Solan and Nahan remained dry as per the Met report.

Shimla, July 28
Five deodar trees, along the boundary wall of the state Lokayukta office, fell on a portion of the PWD rest house and damaged the building and its transmission line and also blocked the road behind the Raj Bhawan.

About 101 dangerous trees pose hazards to residents as these await felling, despite the government nod.

Though the state Cabinet has okayed the decision to cut all the 101 trees identified by the Forest Department, the tree committee of the Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC), headed by the Shimla mayor, has not given its nod to cut them so far, claimed Forest Department officials who rushed to the spot.

Bhagat Ram, a PWD worker, spotted the tilting trees and alerted passersby, not allowing them to travel on the Raj Bhawan-Nav Bahar road, which was completely blocked by trees later. The trees were uprooted due to the heavy rain that lashed the city.

Lokeshwar Panta, PWD Chairman, and other officials came out and were caught unawares by the trees falling downhill.

The four trees fell from the higher slopes, while the fifth tree, standing at the entrance of the rest house, got uprooted after it was smashed by the combined assault of the four trees. There were a few workers carrying out repair work of the rest house, but they ran out in time
after they were alerted by eyewitnesses standing on Lokayukta premises.

“We had marked two uprooted trees for felling while the two trees close by got uprooted due to the impact the other two,” said SS Kashyap, Range Officer, Urban, who was present at the spot.

“The Forest Department should remove the trees as the role of the tree committee is over as sanction of the trees was moved to the Cabinet without our consent. We have no role now as the trees were transferred to the Forest Department in September 2013,” said Sanjay Chauhan.

The Forest Department and the SMC are locked in a tussle over the possession of the city forest. “The House wants that the urban forest should come back to the corporation for better and safe management,” said Chauhan.

RK Gupta, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, said the department had moved the case for felling the trees and it had been okayed by the government. These trees could be cut any time. But they were awaiting the nod of the urban development department as most of the trees were on the government premises, he added. 

Shimla, July 28
To guide young students on career prospects, an interactive session on ‘Career Development and Planning’ was organised on Friday evening by Shoolini University, Solan, in association with The Tribune at Gaiety Theatre here.

Vice Chancellor of Shoolini University Professor PK Khosla apprised the students as well as their parents about new areas like biotechnology, nanotechnology, food technology and research-based science courses, which are emerging to be at par with traditional courses in the current scenario.

“As these industries are growing rapidly owing to adoption of new technologies, there are new opportunities on offer,” said Prof Khosla. He emphasised on the need to recognise career options beyond engineering and medicine, which, over the years, have stood out as preferred career options.

The initiative was taken keeping in mind the dilemma through which students had to go through due to lack of proper direction and career planning, he added.

Palampur, July 28
Despite tall claims of the state government that health services in the state are the best in the country, the inside story is quite disappointing. As to medication to patients, the shortage of staff and non-availability of medicines in hospitals in Palampur have made matters worse.

Over one dozen primary health centres and other health institutions in rural areas of the town prefer referring emergency cases to other hospitals and no emergency cases are attended here. Even patients suffering from simple diseases are referred to the DRPGMC, Tanda, or the local Civil Hospital. Many times even first aid in accident cases is not provided here.

The non-availability of medicines in hospitals has further multiplied the miseries of patients. Even for cotton and bandage, patients are asked to buy these from the market. Besides, most of the health institutions have no life-saving drugs and many times patients die before these are procured.

Despite the fact that the state government has provided adequate infrastructure to these institutions, including three doctors in each hospital, even ordinary deliveries are not conducted here. There are institutions in the town where only five to six deliveries are conducted in a year. Doctors posted in such institutions draw a salary between ~75,000 and ~1,00,000 per month.

The Palampur Civil Hospital caters to the medical needs of seven lakh residents of Palampur, Jaisinghpur and Baijnath subdivision. The hospital always remains overcrowded.

Though there are 18 doctors in the local hospital, most of the serious cases from in and around the town are referred to other health institutions such as the Tanda medical college, the PGI, Chandigarh, and other health institutions causing hardships to patients coming from far-flung areas in late hours.

Kangra, July 28
The Department of Medicine at the Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda, organised a hepatitis awareness campaign on the occasion of World Hepatitis Day here today.

Dr Dhiraj Kapoor, Head of the Department of Medicines, said free screening for hepatitis B and C was done on around 318 persons.

“A questionnaire was circulated among medical students to sensitise them about hepatitis,” said Dr Kapoor.

Dr BM Gupta, CMO, Kangra, Dr Ramesh Bharti, Officiating Principal, and Dr Dhiraj Kapoor, Head of the Department of Medicine, led the signature campaign.

Kapoor discussed about introductory session on the occasion.

Assistant Prof Dr BS Rana informed that hepatitis B could get transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy and be prevented by screening the mother and immunising the newborn with vaccine and immunoglobulin at birth.

Kapoor said a liver clinic was functioning in the hospital for the last two years on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

He said over 250 cases of hepatitis B and 70 cases of hepatitis C were under treatment at the Tanda medical college. 

Komal (9) and Nazia (8), daughters of Raj Deen of Harnota village in Jawali, had come to their maternal uncle’s house at Kharoda village. They, along with their younger sister, had gone to the khud this afternoon to take bath. While bathing, they slipped into deep water of the stream and drowned. The younger sister raised an alarm and informed her family members. They rushed to the spot and pulled out the bodies. They then intimated the local police and parents of the deceased.— OC