Page 34 - Himachal Pradesh

Transportation of apples challenge for Himachal farmers due to rains

The over Rs 5,000-crore apple industry of Himachal Pradesh is in dire straits as farmers see transportation of the fruit a major challenge amid closure of roads due to heavy rains triggering floods and landslides. Apple farming generates employment for thousands of labourers and plays a pivotal role in the growth of carton manufacturers and transporters in the state. Apple is grown in 21 out of 68 assembly segments in Shimla, Kullu, Mandi, Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti, and Chamba districts as well as in selective pockets of Solan, Sirmaur and Kangra districts. The closure of roads in the apple growing areas following landslides has taken a toll over early apple variety Tideman and Pear. The crop has already started rotting and the situation is likely to worsen in the next ten days when the plucking season would reach its peak, Fruit Vegetable Flower Growers Association President Harish Chauhan told PTI. More than 350 roads are still closed as per the state emergency operation centre.

Shimla's ex-Dy Mayor files FIR against NHAI, road building company GR Infra

A case has been registered for unscientific construction and violating the norms to build the road which caused landslides, flood and killed so many people during the heavy rains in the state

Cong workers disappointed at not being heard by Sukhu govt: Ex-state chief

Speaking to reporters in Shimla on Saturday, the Theog MLA and former Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) chief said party workers were not happy with the Sukhu government

Monsoon affects tourism industry in HP, Dharamshala-McLeodganj NH damaged

A loss of more than Rs 6 crore has been estimated due to rains in Dharamshala only which may increase further as reports are yet to come from many departments

Monsoon has claimed 187 lives in Himachal Pradesh till now: HPSDMA

Over 650 roads including three national highways are closed

Need to maintain balance between development and environment, says SC

The Supreme Court has emphasised the need for maintaining a balance between development and environment, and said it would hear a matter relating to the Shimla Development Plan on August 11. The Himachal Pradesh government notified the draft Shimla Development Plan last month to regulate construction activities there. A plea pertaining to the issue came up for hearing before a bench of Justices B R Gavai and J B Pardiwala on Friday. The bench said it would examine the plan, keeping in view that a balance needs to be maintained between development and environment. It listed the matter for hearing on August 11. The top court was hearing a plea arising out of a November 2017 order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which had passed a slew of directions while noting that unplanned and indiscriminate development in the core, non-core, green and rural areas within the Shimla planning area had given rise to serious environmental and ecological concerns. The plan was approved by the .

World Bank to provide assessment of damages due to Himachal floods

The World Bank has offered to provide full support to flood-affected Himachal Pradesh, and will provide a comprehensive assessment of the damages which will aide reconstruction efforts, a statement issued here on Friday said. The World Bank has offered to conduct an assessment in collaboration with the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) to quantify losses suffered in various sectors such as roads, power, water supply, housing, public buildings, irrigation, agriculture, horticulture, livestock, ecological services, the statement said. World Bank's Country Director for India Auguste Tano Kouame has conveyed the bank's appreciation towards the timely measures taken by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in a letter, including for monitoring and ensuring the safe return of tourists stranded in different parts of the state, a government spokesperson said. The proposed assessment will play a pivotal role in facilitating the reconstruction efforts, the statement

Weather Update: Heavy rainfall predicted in Mumbai, IMD issues red alert

According to IMD, Mumbai has recorded its wettest July on record with the month so far witnessing a record 1557.8 mm of rainfall

Himachal rains: NH-5 blocked in Shimla, Kinnaur following landslides

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) shared images of the blocked stretches of the highway in two Himachal districts

Nainital cable car breaks down mid way, passengers left stranded

A cable car carrying 12 people, including six foreign tourists, stopped midway as one of its wheels broke down here on Thursday, an official said. The technical snag left those on board the cable car scared and stranded for about an hour, Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam Ltd (KMVN) GM AP Vajpayee said. While the aerial tramway was moving, the sound of the breaking in one of its wheels was heard by the operator who immediately stopped it. The cable car was carrying six foreigners, five school children and the operator. After about an hour, the passengers in the cable car were rescued safely using ropes, he said. Now, the damaged wheel will be inspected and repaired, before restarting the ropeway operation, Vajpayee said. The cable car runs between Mall Road and Snowview. It is a three-minute steep ride. In June 2013, a similar incident occurred and 21 tourists had to be rescued.

LIVE: Ministry of Home Affairs to refer Manipur viral video case to CBI

Catch all the latest updates from across the globe here

Three feared dead as pickup truck falls into Sutlej in Himachal Pradesh

Three people are feared dead after the pickup truck in which they were travelling veered off the road and fell into the Sutlej river in Himachal Pradesh's Kinnaur district, police said on Thursday. One person was injured in the incident that took place on Wednesday night, they said. The pickup truck was carrying four people, all residents of Jani village, when it fell into the river on Jani link road in the Nichar area, police said. Driver Jeevan Singh, his wife Champa Devi and another woman Anita Kumar were swept away in the river while Rajkumari fell out of the rolling vehicle and got stuck in the hills, they said. The injured is undergoing treatment at a hospital. The cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained, they said.

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

LIVE: Mob surrounds Meghalaya Chief Minister's office, 5 injured in attack

Catch all the latest LIVE updates from across the globe here

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