Page 9 - Himachal Pradesh

Kullu Police rescue 5,000 stranded tourists amid heavy snowfall in Himachal

Kullu police said that a rescue operation was launched on December 27 after about 1,000 vehicles got stranded in Solang Nala

Delhi shivers as rain, winds intensify winter chill; more showers likely

The rain, which started early on Thursday, has already made December 2024 one of the wettest in history, with total rainfall recorded at 42.8 mm, nearly five times the December average of 8.1 mm

Snowfall in Himachal Pradesh shuts 226 roads, including 3 highways

A total of 226 roads, including three national highways, were closed in Himachal Pradesh following snowfall in several districts, officials said on Wednesday. People shivered under piercing cold wave conditions as minimum temperatures dropped by a few notches in Jot, which received 10 cm of snow in the past 24 hours, followed by Khadrala (5 cm), Pooh (2 cm), Sangla (1.2 cm) and Keylong (1 cm). Tabo in the Lahaul and Spiti district was the coldest place in Himachal Pradesh, recording a night temperature of minus 10.6 degrees Celsius. A total of 226 roads, including three national highways including Attari and Leh, Sanj to Aut in Kullu district, Khab Sangam in Kinnaur district, and Gramphoo in Lahaul and Spiti district were closed for traffic, officials said. According to the state emergency operation center, a maximum of 123 roads were closed in Shimla district, 36 in Lahaul and Spiti and 25 in Kullu. Additionally, 173 transformers were disrupted, affecting power supply across the

Himachal celebrates 'White Christmas', but snowfall triggers road closures

The recent snowfall in Himachal Pradesh has led to the closure of more than 200 roads, including key national highways

Himachal to resolve pending cases of employment on compassionate ground: CM

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday directed officials to formulate a comprehensive policy for employment on compassionate grounds and said his government intends to settle all pending cases. Chairing a high-level meeting, he asked the officials to compile and present data like the department, age and educational qualification of the applicants seeking employment on compassionate grounds, a statement said. The state government is adopting a "liberal and sympathetic" approach to offer employment in the government sector to those who lost their family members during service, he said and instructed the officers to come up with the requisite data in the next meeting on January 10. The government is committed to supporting the well-being of dependents by giving preference to widows and orphans in providing employment on compassionate grounds, he said and added that various aspects would be viewed to benefit the maximum number of applicants. Sukhu said that

Himachal snowfall: 177 roads closed, Shimla hotel occupancy rises to 70%

At least 177 roads, including three national highways, were closed in Himachal Pradesh following snowfall in several districts, officials said on Tuesday. Snowfall was recorded in the Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti and the higher reaches of Shimla, Kullu, Mandi, Chamba and Sirmaur districts. A second consecutive day of snowfall has led to an increase in tourist inflow amid hope on a white Christmas. Shimla Hotel and Tourism Stakeholders' Association president MK Seth told PTI that hotel occupancy in Shimla was at more than 70 per cent. The snowfall led to a 30-percentage point increase in room bookings, he added. About 174 roads and three national highways are closed and tourists in about 500 vehicles stranded near the Atal Tunnel were safely rescued till late on Monday, Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue and Disaster) Onkar Sharma told PTI Videos. According to reports, four people died in accidents during the past 24 hours and several suffered injuries due to vehicles skidding at so

Cold wave and fog disrupt life in North India, but winter tourism thrives

Despite train delays due to severe weather conditions, the snow-covered mountains have drawn large crowds of tourists eager to celebrate Christmas and New Year

Vehicles stuck, tourists stranded after snowfall in Manali; 700 rescued

According to officials, around 1,000 vehicles were stuck in a long traffic jam, prompting police to launch a rescue operation and shift around 700 tourists to safe places

Losses of Himachal's 30 PSEs rose from Rs 3,953 cr to Rs 4,778 cr: CAG

The accumulated losses of state public sector enterprises (PSEs) rose from Rs 3,953.70 crore in 2020-21 to Rs 4,778.70 crore in 2022-23, while the profit earned by 13 SPSEs stood at Rs 20.21 crore as on September 30, 2023, according to a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on finances tabled in the Assembly on Saturday. The net worth of nine out of these 14 PSEs has been completely eroded by losses and their worth was (-) Rs 1,932 crore against an equity investment of Rs 2,085.59 crore, while three PSEs have outstanding government loans amounting Rs 3,132 crore, the report said. Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board topped the list of loss making enterprises with accumulated losses of Rs 1,809.61 crore, followed by Himachal Pradesh Road Corporation at Rs 1707.12 crore, HP Power Corporation at Rs 552 crore, Himachal Pradesh Power Transmission Corporation at Rs 395.91 crore, HP Financial Corporation at Rs 180.97 crore, State Forest Corporation at Rs 113.04 crore, HPM

Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh record sharp rise in forest fires: ISFR

Uttarakhand reported the highest number of forest fires this season, with incidents rising fourfold, according to government data. Himachal Pradesh witnessed a 14-fold increase in forest fires compared to the previous season. The India State of Forest Report (ISFR) - 2023, released on Saturday, showed that Uttarakhand recorded 5,351 forest fires in the last season (November 2022 to June 2023), ranking 13th among all states. This season, the number surged to 21,033, making it the state with the most forest fires. Himachal Pradesh, which recorded only 704 forest fires last season, saw the number rise sharply to 10,136 this season. Odisha, which recorded 20,973 incidents this season against 33,461 last season, ranked second, followed by Chhattisgarh (18,950), Andhra Pradesh (18,174), Maharashtra (16,008), Madhya Pradesh (15,878) and Telangana (13,479). Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, who released the report, said forest fires were the biggest problem confronting his ...

Winter session of Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha records 106% productivity

The four-day-long winter session of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha, which concluded here on Saturday, achieved a record productivity rate of 106 per cent, an official said. Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania announced the indefinite adjournment of the seventh session of the 14th Vidhan Sabha, with four meetings spanning a total of 21 hours and 20 minutes. During the discussions in the session, the ruling party contributed 9 hours and 30 minutes, while the opposition participated for 8 hours and 30 minutes. The session also marked a historic milestone with the launch of the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) on December 18, making Himachal Pradesh a pioneer in digitised legislative processes, Pathania said. The session featured the inaugural "Zero Hour," during which 26 subjects were discussed, he added. Congress MLA from Lahaul and Spiti, Anuradha Rana, became the first legislator to raise an issue under Zero Hour. According to Pathania, a total of 14 government bills were intro

Severe cold wave hits India: North freezes, Delhi chokes on 'severe' AQI

India shivers under a cold wave as freezing temperatures grip the north, while Delhi's air quality worsens to 'severe', prompting Grap Stage IV restrictions

Himachal to include constitutional values in school curriculum syllabus

He directed the officers to complete all the formalities for setting up these schools in a time-bound manner and directed them to prepare parameters for their administrative control

HP govt notifies homestay rules, extends special aid to disaster-hit areas

The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet on Thursday approved the recommendations of a sub-committee led by Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan on the operation of homestays in the state, and decided to notify the Himachal Pradesh Homestays Rules, 2024. According to the new provisions, preference will be given to bonafide Himachalis, while the requirement to obtain no objection certificates (NOCs) from the HP Pollution Control Board, local bodies or any other department has been waived, an official statement said. The meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu also decided to extend the special relief package given to the disaster-hit areas in 2023 to people affected by natural disasters at Samej and Rampur in Shimla district, Jaun-Bagipul and Nirmand in Kullu district, and Tikkam Thalu-Kot in Mandi district during this year's monsoon, in which more than 30 people lost their lives with several still missing. Under the special package, the affected families will receive enhanc

Himachal CM Sukhu launches 6 new schemes to mark two years of Congress govt

Aiming to promote natural farming, the Chief Minister introduced Him Bhog Atta, prepared from maize grown using natural farming practices

Himachal Guv's convoy meets with accident in Lucknow, several injured

However, the Himachal Pradesh Governor reached his destination safely and the situation was normal

Corrupt Congress govt brought Himachal on brink of bankruptcy: BJP

In a blistering attack against the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh, senior BJP leader and former chief minister Jai Ram Thakur Tuesday alleged that the "corrupt" Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu dispensation has brought the state on the "brink of bankruptcy". Addressing the BJP's "Akrosh Rally" here, a day ahead of an event to mark two years of the Congress dispensation in the state, Thakur said, "What is the Congress celebrating on completion of two years in power when it has no achievements to show?" He said the BJP is opposing the event which he termed "celebrations of getting ruined". Alleging the state government employees and pensioners were not getting their monthly emoluments, Thakur claimed outsourced workers were also awaiting their salaries for the past four months. "The people of the state have been burdened but crores of rupees are being spent on celebrations," he said. "The Congress government has lost the confidence of the people and failed to fulfil the poll guarante

Himachal govt to set up regulated markets for fair prices: CM Sukhu

The Himachal Pradesh government will set up regulated markets to ensure farmers get fair prices for their produce, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced on Monday. These markets will strengthen the economic condition of the people and save them time, he said. Inaugurating a regulated market at Totu in the suburbs of Shimla, constructed at a cost of Rs 4.5 crore, Sukhu explained that farmers were previously forced to travel to Shimla, often causing financial losses. He said that this market would greatly benefit farmers from various panchayats, including Dhami, Ghanahati, Majthai, Bagi, Dhamoon, Baichadi, Dhanda, Chail, Nehra, Devnagar, Glot, Jubbarhatti, Rampuri, Shakrah and Kalihatti by ensuring better prices for cash crops and vegetables near their homes The new facility includes eight shops, an auction platform, a 20-bed dormitory for farmers, a spacious hall for public events and other essential amenities. Sukhu noted that the establishment of this market addressed a

Himachal CM Sukhu announces 180-day maternity leave for home guards

Women Home Guards would be provided 180 days of maternity leave while the daily allowance for Home Guards during deployment outside the State would be increased from Rs 60 to Rs 500, said Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday. Presiding over the 62nd State-Level Raising Day celebrations of the Himachal Pradesh Home Guards and Civil Defence here, he said that the government would fill 700 vacant Home Guard posts to strengthen the force. He also announced establishment of drone stations at all district headquarters to enhance disaster management capabilities and sanctioned a new landline number at the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) Control Room to facilitate the people, a statement issued here said. Emphasizing the commitment to modernizing the SDRF with advanced equipment and allocating sufficient funds for this purpose, he said that presently, SDRF was equipped with drones capable of lifting up to 5 kg and this force would soon receive drones with higher payload ...

HP govt bans gutkha, liquor ads from state buses, promoting public welfare

HP government to remove gutkha and liquor ads from buses and it will modernise the bus fleet by introducing electric and diesel buses