Page 33 - Himachal Pradesh

IMD predicts heavy rainfall, issues orange alert for 9 districts in HP

The Revenue Minister of the state government, Jagat Singh Negi said that the alert is continued and all are prepared in the field

Himachal's tourism tumbles in July after record footfall before Monsoon

Himachal Pradesh witnessed a record tourist footfall of one crore six thousand in the first half of 2023 till June but heavy rains, floods and landslides in the state in July have led to a slump in the tourism sector. As many as 99,78,504 domestic and 28,239 foreign tourists visited the hill state till June this year, with the industry showing signs of recovery after the slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic which virtually crippled the tourism industry. The tourist arrival during the first half was 89 lakh in 2018, 99.57 lakh in 2019, 22.04 lakh in 2020, 19.75 lakh in 2021 and 86.42 lakh in 2022 and a record was set in 2023, a statement issued here said. But the jubilation of attaining record numbers in the first half of 2023 may be short lived due to the vagaries of weather in July. According to the state government, around 75,000 stranded tourists were evacuated from Himachal Pradesh after heavy rains triggered landslides, cloudbursts and flash floods blocking roads in the st

Himachal Pradesh: Alert sounded as Malana dam gate malfunctions in Kullu

The Kullu Deputy Commissioner stated that the Power Project Authority has been instructed to operate the gate soon so that there is no loss of life or property

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IMD issues orange alert for 8 districts of Himachal Pradesh today

Deputy Director IMD Bui Lal on Saturday said that the IMD has issued an orange alert in Himachal Pradesh for heavy rains in several districts of the region over the course of the following 24 hours

Loss incurred by HP due to rains estimated to be around Rs 8,000 cr: Sukhu

The Chief Minister said there is a need for immediate financial relief from the Union Government

Himachal tourism corporation offering up to 50% discount on hotel room rent

The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) on Saturday announced offering up to 50 per cent discount on hotel room rent, days after the state government evacuated more than 70,000 stranded tourists following landslides and flash floods due to heavy rains. The discount on room rent in HPTDC-run hotels will be in force till September 15, a spokesperson of the corporation said in a statement. He said that by providing this substantial discount, HPTDC endeavours to elevate the overall experience of the esteemed visitors and foster higher occupancy in their hotels during the monsoon. The tourist occupancy in the state is almost nil after the heavy rains between July 7 and 14, Tourism Industry Stakeholders Association president M K Seth said, adding that the situation is fast improving and roads are being opened. Tourists are welcome to the state, he said. HPTDC is renowned for its warm hospitality, impeccable service, and comfortable accommodations. The special room re

HP CM requests Centre to release pending disaster fund of over Rs 315 cr

To address the immediate needs of people affected due to rain-related incidents in Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu Saturday requested the Centre to release the state's pending disaster relief fund of over Rs 315 crore. The chief minister said the state's disaster compensation worth Rs 315.8 crore has been withheld for the past few years. The delay was attributed to objections raised by the Accountant General, which the state government has successfully resolved through persistent efforts, Sukhu said in a statement issued here. The pending funds include Rs 121.71 crore allocated for 2020-21, Rs 133.56 crore for 2021-22 under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and Rs 61.07 crore for 2019-20 under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), the statement added. Stating that all objections have been cleared now, the chief minister urged that the funds be released at the earliest as the hill state is witnessing severe devastation caused by incessant rains a

Gadkari assures Rs 300 cr for damaged roads, bridges: Himachal minister

Union minister Nitin Gadkari has assured sanctioning of Rs 300 crore for reconstructing damaged roads and bridges connecting national highways in Himachal Pradesh, state's Public Works Department (PWD) minister Vikranaditya Singh said on Thursday. The fund will be sanctioned under the Setu Bharatam Yojna, according to an official statement. Singh, who met the minister for road transport and highways in New Delhi, said that Gadkari also ordered the concerned authority to identify the spots of land sliding areas around national highways and find a permanent solution. Gadkari directed the authorities to take appropriate action so that funds can be provided for repairing and restoring the bridges, which were damaged due to recent heavy rains, connecting state PWD roads to national highways, the statement added. Singh, as per the statement, apprised the Union minister about the devastation caused by incessant rains and cloudbursts across the state. He also discussed various road and br

Himachal BJP rejigs state executive, 9 V-Ps, 3 gen secys appointed

A day after replacing the organisational district presidents, state BJP chief Rajiv Bindal on Thursday announced a complete overhaul of the state executive on Thursday. According to a statement issued here, nine vice presidents, three general secretaries, seven secretaries, presidents of state BJP Yuva Morcha and Mahila Morcha, a media in-charge and ten spokespersons have been appointed. The newly appointed vice presidents include Varinder Kanwar, Rajiv Saijal and Govind Thakur (all former ministers), Pawan Kajal and Hans Raj (both sitting MLAs), former Mahila Morcha head Rashmi Dhar Sood, Payal Vaidya, Sanjeev Katwal and Rajiv Baradwaj. Rajya Sabha member Dr Sikender Kumar has been appointed as a party general secretary. Trilok Kapoor and Bihari Lal Sharma are the other two general secretaries, the statement said. The state secretaries includes Vinod Kumar (MLA), Vishal Chauhan, Dr Sanjay Thakur, Narendra Attri, Sumit Sharma, Daizy Thakur and Munish Chauhan. Karan Nanda has been

Rains in HP: Flash floods damage houses, Shimla-Kinnaur highway blocked

Flash floods damaged houses and inundated agricultural land in Himachal Pradesh's Kamru Panchayat on Thursday while the Shimla-Kinnaur highway was blocked due to a swollen Broni stream between Rampur and Jhakri, officials said. Since the onset of monsoon in the hill state, 130 people have died in rain-related incidents such as landslides and flash floods, and road accidents, according to the Himachal Pradesh State Emergency Response Centre. The state has suffered a loss of Rs 4,809 crore. On the situation in Kamru Panchayat in the Sangla Valley, Kinnaur Deputy Commissioner (DC) Tarul S Raveesh said flash floods increased the water flow in a stream. Horticulture as well as agriculture land have been inundated and the loss is being assessed, the official said. Reports of damage to houses and vehicles are also pouring in, the DC said and added that no casualty has been reported yet. Shimla DC Aditya Negi said following a cloudburst, water level in the Broni Nallah increased and inunda

'One State-One Portal' to bring all ULB services under one canopy: CM Sukhu

The Chief Minister directed to make all the essential services like property tax, bill payments, notices, all types of NOCs and permissions online

Himachal BJP demands all-party meeting on disaster situation in the state

Addressing a press conference in Shimla, Chief Spokesperson of Himachal Pradesh BJP, Randheer Sharma said that the Congress-led state government failed to deal with the disaster

SJVN's 2 plants in Himachal produce 50.5 mn units of power in one day

Power producer SJVN has achieved record single-day generation of 50.498 million units from two hydro power stations in Himachal Pradesh, the company's CMD Nand Lal Sharma said on Tuesday. The 1500 MW Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Station (NJHPS) achieved a new milestone of 39.527 MU of power generation, surpassing its previous record of 39.526 MU on August 29, 2022. The Rampur Hydro Power Station (Rampur HPS) achieved 10.971 MU of power generation, breaking its previous record of 10.954 MU on July 16, 2023, Sharma said in a statement. Both plants recorded their respective highest power generation levels on July 17. "SJVN has established a new all time high record of 50.498 MU in single day power generation from its two flagship hydro power stations in Himachal Pradesh," Sharma said. The milestone is the result of efficient management, optimum operation and maintenance practices as well as proper repair and maintenance of the project components which has contributed in achieving maximu

Railways might resume temporary trains between Shimla, Solan today

The railway is likely to start temporary trains in the Shimla and Solan region as the train operations in the Kalka-Shimla track has been suspended since July 9

Three central govt teams to visit Himachal to assess losses due to floods

Speaking to ANI Jagat Singh Negi said, Tomorrow three central teams are reaching Chandigarh, they will be visiting Mandi, Kullu and Rohru areas of Shimla district

Himachal Pradesh govt enhances relief aid for disaster-hit families

In a relief to the victims of the recent landslides, flash floods and cloudburst triggered by heavy monsoon rains in the state, the Himachal Pradesh government Monday enhanced the compensation for several categories. Financial assistance will be provided to the families affected by landslides, flash floods and cloudbursts which occurred from July 7 to 15, under special norms, said Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in a statement issued here. Sukhu had announced assistance of Rs 1 lakh to affected families on July 11, saying the government will make changes to the relief manual for enhancing the relief aid. According to the manual, each disaster victim is granted Rs 5,000 as an aid at present. The compensation enhancement on Monday covered damage to houses, dhabas, shops, and agriculture and horticulture lands. In view of the unprecedented tragedy, the financial aid of Rs 12,500 and Rs 10,000 for partial damage to pucca and kutcha houses respectively has been increased to Rs on

MakeMyTrip Foundation pledges Rs 5 crore to aid flood relief efforts

The foundation is working with government bodies, experts, and local partners to provide relief to Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand

Jal Shakti dept suffers Rs 1,411 cr loss due to floods: Himchal Dy CM

Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri on Monday said the Jal Shakti Department has suffered losses to the tune of Rs 1,411 crore due to floods and landslides caused by heavy rains in the hill state. He said 5,203 drinking water schemes, 1,237 irrigation schemes and 55 sewerage schemes were affected while 101 flood control works were damaged. Agnihotri, who holds the portfolio of Jal Shakti Vibhag, said while 4,623 schemes have been restored so far, it will take time to fix all of them. "We have been able to restore them because of the passionate and steely spirits of our employees," he said. "I appreciate the work being done by the employees and officers of the department for the restoration of drinking water and sewerage schemes in difficult circumstances," he added. Agnihotri said the government's aim was to provide relief to the affected people at the earliest. So far, 118 people have died in rain-related incidents and road accidents in the state since the on

One killed, three injured in cloudburst in Himachal's Kullu district

A cloudburst occurred in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district early Monday, leaving a man dead and three others injured, officials said. The cloudburst occurred around 3:55 am near village Kayas in Kullu, washing away vehicles and blocking a road, according to the state emergency response centre. The deceased was identified as Badal Sharma, a resident of village Chansari in Kullu, they said, adding two of the injured are in a serious condition. Local authorities immediately responded to the emergency situation and machinery has been deployed to clear the blockade on the road hampering rescue operations, they said. The local MeT Office had issued an orange alert warning of heavy to very heavy rains at isolated places in the state on Monday. So far, 118 people have died in rain-related incidents and road accidents in the state since the onset of monsoon on June 24, according to the state emergency response centre.The state has suffered a loss to the tune of Rs 4,415 crore.