Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu disbursed Rs 97.69 lakh to 2,171 eligible women under the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh-Samman Nidhi Yojana at a function held at Kupvi in the Chopal area of Shimla district.

He also inaugurated development projects of Rs 81.83 crore to the people of the area. “The rules under the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh-Samman Nidhi Yojana will be modified to address the unique challenges faced by the women of Kupvi so that all of them, barring working women, receive a monthly allowance of Rs 1,500,” he added.

The Chief Minister said that the government was working with the motto of “Vyavastha Parivartan” and to make Himachal a self-reliant state. He added that the government had implemented many schemes and programmes with the aim of strengthening the rural economy and “it is for the first time that the minimum support price (MSP) for milk purchase has been fixed”.

He said that efforts would be made to establish Kupvi as a separate ward in the Zila Parishad and Sub-Divisional Officers of the Irrigation and Public Health and Public Works departments would be granted the powers of an Executive Engineer to ensure more efficient administration.

Sukhu said that the possibility of opening an industrial training institute (ITI) at Kupvi would be explored. He assured the gathering that the foundation stones of the previously announced projects in the area would be laid soon and adequate medical staff, including qualified doctors, would be deployed to improve healthcare services in the region.

The Chief Minister inaugurated several key infrastructure projects and dedicated several road projects to people. He said that the government was continuously working to protect the resources of the state and ensure social equality and empowerment. “Himachal Pradesh has become the first state to give the highest support price for wheat and maize,” he claimed.

Health Minister Dhani Ram Shandil said that the state government was committed to empowering the weaker sections of society through various schemes and programmes.

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed the state and Central governments to submit a detailed status report on infrastructure available at Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) in the state.

A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Satyen Vaidya instructed the authorities concerned to outline steps being taken to provide the basic requisite infrastructure to these schools. The court gave a two-week deadline for compliance with the orders.

The order came during hearing on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the Eklavya Janjatiya Vikas Sansthan, Bharmour, which highlighted severe deficiencies in the facilities at these schools. The matter has been listed for further hearing on December 26.

Established in 1997-98, the EMRS aims to provide quality education to Scheduled Tribe (ST) children in remote areas, empowering them to pursue higher education and secure employment in various sectors.

These schools not only focus on academics but also emphasise the all-round development of students. Each school accommodates 480 students, catering to Class VI to XII.

Funding for construction and operational expenses is provided under Grants-in-Aid as per Article 275(1) of the Constitution. The PIL pointed out inadequacies in these facilities, despite the programme’s noble objectives.

Dry weather is likely to prevail at most places across the state over the next two weeks. As per the weather department, the possibility of precipitation in December is quite low.

There was a forecast of light snowfall and rain at some places in the state today but the overall weather remained dry. Very light rain/snowfall was observed in the state during the past 24 hours.

From December 13 to 19, maximum temperatures are likely to remain normal or above normal in most parts of the state while minimum temperatures are likely to be normal or below normal.

Light but widespread snowfall and rainfall a few days ago had raised the hopes of more precipitation in the coming days, especially among fruit growers, farmers and those associated with tourism.

The overall rain deficiency in the post-monsoon period, starting from October, is minus 96 per cent. While October and November were almost rainless, the rain deficiency in December is minus 84 per cent till now.

Amidst BJP accusations of non-fulfilment of guarantees by the Congress, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today launched six new schemes including purchase of organic compost at Rs 300 per quintal.

During the rally at Bilaspur, the Chief Minister introduced ‘Him Bhog Atta’ prepared from maize grown using natural farming practices. “The government procured 398 metric tonnes of maize from 1,506 farmers in 10 districts and transferred Rs 1.20 crore directly to their bank accounts,” he said.

To benefit small farmers and livestock owners, Sukhu launched a scheme to purchase organic compost and vermin-compost at Rs 300 per quintal. The CM also handed over keys to 16 electric taxi owners under the Rajiv Gandhi Self-Employment Start-up Scheme 2023.

The state government also rolled out Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana by disbursing Rs 1.38 crore to the eligible 5,145 beneficiaries. The scheme will cover education of 23,000 children.

The CM also launched Rs 1,292 crore Himachal Pradesh Subtropical Horticulture, Irrigation and Value Addition Project (HP Shiva) to expand horticulture development across seven districts. It will cover 6,000 hectares, promoting the cultivation of fruits like oranges, guavas, litchi and plums.

Sukhu flagged five mobile Ayush healthcare units to serve remote tribal regions, including Kinnaur, Lahaul Spiti, Chamba and Shillai block of Sirmaur district. Each unit would have an experienced medical team offering Ayurveda, Unani and Homeopathy treatments.

The CM also extended financial aid amounting to Rs 1.90 crore under the Mukhyamantri Sukh-Ashray Yojana (MMSAY) to 197 beneficiaries in Bilaspur district.

There’s a possibility of light rain and snow on Thursday at isolated places in districts, including Lahaul and Spiti, Chamba, Kullu, Kinnaur, and higher reaches of Kangra.

In other parts of the state, the weather would largely remain dry.

Meanwhile, the average minimum and maximum temperatures, which are two to three degree Celsius below normal at most places, are unlikely to see any change over the next 24 hours.

Thereafter, the temperatures are likely to rise to two to three degree Celsius across the state over the next four-five days.

The minimum temperature was recorded minus 11.3 degree Celsius at Tabo.

State Congress president Pratibha Singh expressed her displeasure publicly when she was asked to cut short her speech at a function in Bilaspur on Wednesday.

The request was made by Bumber Thakur, a former Congress MLA from Bilaspur. Singh, visibly upset, responded by saying, “Aap nahin chahte mein jyada bolu?”, without covering the microphone.

Singh made it clear that she did not intend to deliver a lengthy speech but only wanted to discuss the organisation briefly. As she left the stage, she reprimanded Thakur, saying, “You shouldn’t do this, I know how much I need to speak.”

The incident may reignite speculation about the strained relationship between Singh and Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu.

In her concluding remarks, Singh emphasised that a strong government can only be achieved by strengthening the organisation. She also praised the government’s performance over the past two years but criticised BJP for not providing adequate support to the state in dealing with natural calamities.

Shimla’s winter charm was elevated with the commencement of the season’s first ice skating session on Wednesday. Skating enthusiasts gathered at Asia’s largest natural ice skating rink here to enjoy the thrill of gliding across the ice.

The ice skating season began on December 18 last year and was initially scheduled to start on December 9 this year. However, heavy rains and snow disrupted the schedule, delaying the opening by two days.

Clear skies and low temperatures are necessary for the ice rink to form. Although water started freezing and a trial session was successfully conducted on December 8, the inclement weather delayed the official start.

The sharp drop in temperatures following the snowfall proved beneficial for skating enthusiasts, as the water froze again within two days, creating a thick layer of ice.

After a successful trial 2-3 days ago, the first morning session officially began today, said Rajat Malhotra, organising secretary, Ice Skating Club. “Evening sessions will start in 4-5 days if the weather remains favourable,” he said, adding that the crowd will increase once school examinations are over.

Currently, the Ice-Skating Club has around 300 members.

Juvan, a teenager born and raised in Shimla who has been skating since she was five, shared that school and college students eagerly await the ice skating season each winter. “We may feel lazy about going to school or college, but when it comes to skating, we’re always the first ones there,” she said.

Rajan Chauhan (58), a skater with 28 years of experience, said that one doesn’t feel cold once on the rink. “We are expecting the season to go on until January 26,” he added.

Clear skies and low temperatures—typically below 4-5°C—are ideal for freezing the ice. However, construction activities near the rink, particularly demolition of the Rivoli Theatre, which used to block direct sunlight, have created challenges for ice formation.

December 2016 was the warmest in Shimla’s history, with maximum temperatures reaching 22°C, severely affecting the ice skating season. That year, only six sessions were held.

In contrast, the maximum number of sessions, 118, was recorded in the 1997-98 season, while the minimum, 12 sessions, occurred in 1972.

Climate change, global warming and reckless construction in the area, along with pollution from the nearby bus stand, are posing significant threats to the rink.
According to skaters, ongoing construction, felling of trees and presence of construction material in the rink have reduced the available skating space.

The history of the ice rink, which spans the size of five tennis courts (58×30 metres), dates back to 1920. It was originally a tennis court before being converted into a natural ice skating rink by an Irish military officer, Blessington. During the winter months, when he sprinkled water on the tennis court to settle the grass, it froze almost instantly, after which he thought of transforming the area into an ice skating rink.

Tibetan exiles gathered in Mcleodganj yesterday to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Dalai Lama receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.

The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) announced plans to globally celebrate the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday (July 6, 2025 – July 6, 2026) as the “Year of Compassion.

” The CTA condemned China’s continued anti-Dalai Lama campaigns and human rights abuses in Tibet, highlighting that over 1.2 million Tibetans have died due to Chinese occupation and more than 6,000 religious and cultural institutions have been destroyed. Despite these actions, the Dalai Lama continues to pray for the wisdom of Chinese leaders.

The CTA praised the Dalai Lama’s commitment to promoting human values, religious harmony and global ecology.

They also criticised China’s education policies, which replace Tibetan language with Chinese and force about one million Tibetan children into colonial boarding schools, stripping them of their cultural heritage.

The CTA emphasised Tibet’s crucial role in maintaining global ecological balance and the environmental damage caused by China’s exploitation of the region.

While Tibetans in exile have successfully preserved their culture, those in Tibet suffer under Chinese oppression.

The CTA remains committed to finding a peaceful resolution to the Sino-Tibet conflict through the Middle Way Approach, advocating genuine autonomy for Tibetans.

Three people, including the driver, were killed and several others were critically injured when a private bus they were travelling in met with a road accident in Kullu district’s Ani subdivision of Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday.

The bus, carrying 42 passengers, plunged into a deep gorge near Shakehad, on the Shwad-Ani route, around 11.30 am.

Eyewitnesses said screams and chaos prevailed at the mishap spot. The bus was mangled into pieces. Local residents rushed to the spot and began rescue operations.

Police and administrative teams also arrived at the location.

Shimla and its nearby areas experienced light snowfall and this was season’s first whiteout. Kufri and Narkanda also experiencing snowfall, turning the tourist destinations more picturesque.

This has come as a good news for the hospitality industry who are eyeing a surge of tourists and a good season ahead.

As news of snowfall spread, tourists from plains flocked to Shimla.

Many locals say as far as they can remember, after 1990s, its for the first time that witnessed snowfall in early December.

The snowy landscape in Shimla stayed for a few hours only as the minimum temperature was high. Some of the areas in the apple belt Rohru, Jubbal and Kharapathar also experienced snow.

The majestic Dhauladhar ranges in the Kangra valley, Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti district also experienced snow. Lower areas of the state like Dharamsala, Palampur, Solan, Nahan, Bilaspur, Una, Hamirpur and Mandi towns received rain, which brought the temperature down.

The Met Office has forecast that scattered rain or snow in the state till Monday.

As many as 87 roads were closed for traffic following snowfall across the state on Sunday night.

Significant snowfall was recorded at Khoksar (6.7 cm), Khadrala (5 cm), Sangla (3.6 cm), Keylong (3.0 cm), and Shimla (2.5 cm).

At many places, light rain was recorded.

In Shimla district 58 roads, mostly in sub-divisions of Rohru, Jubbal and Kotkhai, were closed. In Kinnaur, 17 roads were affected, most of them in Pooh (12) and Kalpa block.

The Rohtang Pass National Highway was closed beyond Gulaba check post for traffic due to black ice.

Over 457 lines were disrupted in Chamba, Mandi and Sirmaur districts.

As per the weather department, there’s a possibility of light rain and snowfall in the districts of Lahaul and Spiti, Kullu and Kinnaur over the next few hours. Meanwhile, some areas of district Sirmaur are likely to get light rain.

Himachal Pradesh’s Shimla and adjoining towns of Kufri and Fagu received the season’s first snow on Sunday evening, while snowfall started in the higher reaches of Lahaul and Spiti and Kullu in the afternoon.

In several other parts of the state, including Shimla, the temperatures have dipped below normal.

As per the weather department, scattered to fairly widespread precipitation is likely to occur over the next the 12-24 hours.

In Shimla and adjoining areas, light to moderate snowfall is likely in a few pockets. In the evening, snowflakes started falling in Shimla and Kufri but didn’t continue for long.

Light to moderate rain/snowfall is “very likely” at a few places in Lahaul and Spiti, Chamba, Kinnaur, Kangra, Shimla and Kullu districts.

There’s a forecast for light precipitation at a few places in the districts of Solan, Sirmaur, Una, Bilaspur, Mandi and Hamirpur. Besides, light rain/snowfall is likely at isolated places over mid and high hills on December 10.

The state has been enduring a dry spell for more than two months now. The fruit growers and farmers have been affected adversely by the prolonged dry spell. The rain and snowfall, as predicted by the weather department from December 8 onwards, will bring a major relief to the farmers.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today said that the state government was contemplating to include health education in the school curriculum to create awareness from an early age.

He was speaking at a function organised as a part of the Ni-Kshay Abhiyan here.

Sukhu said that the 100-day Ni-Kshay Abhiyan was a significant step towards making Himachal Pradesh TB-free. Its aim was to ensure timely identification of TB cases, effective treatment and increased awareness within communities.

“The health sector remains the top priority for the state government and several reforms are being implemented to improve the system. Emergency departments in hospitals are being upgraded and tenders for modern equipment for medical colleges have already been issued,” he added.

The Chief Minister assured the gathering that within a year, the people of the state would have access to advanced diagnostic and treatment facilities.

He said that the campaign would be conducted in all districts with special focus on vulnerable and marginalised groups.

He appealed to everyone to actively participate in the Ni-Kshay Abhiyan camps in their areas and encourage people to recognise TB symptoms and seek timely testing.

He expressed confidence that Himachal Pradesh was on the path to becoming TB-free in the near future. “The state government has allocated additional Rs 2 crore for the Chief Minister’s TB Eradication Scheme, supplementing the Central Government’s budget.

Since 13 per cent of the state’s population is above 60 years, ensuring early diagnosis and prevention is crucial for the elderly,” he added. He stressed the importance of awareness and healthy lifestyles for the younger generation to prevent diseases.

Sukhu said that the referral system in government health institutions was being replaced with a robust system of care. “To attract and retain specialists, the government is considering to increase monthly allowances for super-specialist doctors from Rs 60,000 to Rs 1.75 lakh and for specialist doctors to Rs 1 lakh,” he added.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Dhani Ram Shandil urged everyone to remain vigilant about TB and get timely check-up for the early treatment of the disease. He said that Himachal Pradesh had one of the highest TB screening rates in the country.

He added that the state government was also providing monthly financial assistance to ensure that nutritional needs of TB patients were met.

A massive fire broke out at a hotel at Rangri in Manali last evening, destroying property worth crores of rupees.

The blaze quickly engulfed the hotel, which was constructed primarily of forest wood. Though extensive damage to the hotel was caused in the incident, there was no loss of life.

DSP, Manali, KD Sharma said fire engines were promptly deployed to control the blaze. Efforts to douse the fire were still going on.

“No loss of life has been reported in the incident and teams of firefighters are working hard to contain the fire,” he added.

The exact cause of the fire is still not clear and a probe is underway. Revenue officials are expected to assess the financial loss once the fire is brought under control.

In a significant development for residents of Madgran village in Udaipur subdivision of tribal district of Lahaul and Spiti, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has commenced the long-awaited road metalling project, marking a major initiative to improve connectivity in the area with other parts of the state.

This vital project, which is being executed on a war footing, aims to address the longstanding issues created by dust and unpaved road in the region. These problems have brought immense hardship for locals and their agriculture.

According to residents of Madgran village, the unpaved Sansari-Killar-Thirot-Tandi (SKTT) road heading from Udaipur to Madgran village, often a source of dust storms, has caused severe damage to crops and created numerous difficulties for them.

“Understanding gravity of the situation, Lahaul and Spiti MLA Anuradha Rana made it her priority to address the problem. She personally approached the BRO Chief Engineer and requested his special intervention to resolve the issue. Despite facing several logistical challenges, the Chief Engineer took immediate action and gave approval for initiating the roadwork in the current season,” residents said.

Expressing her gratitude, MLA Anuradha Rana praised efforts of the BRO team, acknowledging the commitment of the Chief Engineer and the Officer Commanding. She highlighted the importance of the road project, which is expected to significantly reduce hardships faced by villagers.

“It is a long-awaited relief for the people of Madgran village. We are extremely thankful to the BRO team, especially the Chief Engineer and the Officer Commanding, for their unwavering support and efforts,” she said.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu yesterday gave away cash rewards amounting to Rs 14.77 crore to 21 international medal winners at a function organised here today.

He said that the state government was committed to rewarding the struggles of sportspersons and fostering a strong sports culture in the state.

Sukhu said, “My government has made an unprecedented increase in the prize money to encourage players and inspire the youth to participate in sports.

The prize money for athletes overcoming physical challenges has been increased eightfold to bring it on a par with the reward for able-bodied players.”

He said that the prize money for gold medal winners in the Olympics, Winter Olympics and Paralympics had been increased from Rs 3 crore to Rs 5 crore while the silver and bronze medallists would now receive Rs 3 crore and Rs 2 crore, respectively.

“For the Asian Games and the Para Asian Games, the prize money for the gold medallists had been increased from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 4 crore, from Rs 30 lakh to Rs 2.50 crore for silver medallists and from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 1.50 crore for the bronze medallists.

The Commonwealth Games medallists will now get Rs 3 crore, Rs 2 crore and Rs 1 crore for gold, silver, and bronze medals, respectively,” he added.

The Chief Minister said that his government had also hiked the diet money for players. “The Under-17 and under-19 players now receive Rs 400 and Rs 500 per day for the state and national-level competitions as compared to Rs 150 and Rs 250 earlier.

For under-14 players, the allowance has been increased to Rs 250 and Rs 400 from Rs 120 and Rs 250,” he added

He said that sportspersons staying in hostels were now getting Rs 400 per day. Besides, the government had also revised the travel allowances — players are entitled to the AC three-tier fare for distances up to 200 km and the economy class airfare for longer distances.

Youth Services and Sports Minister Yadvinder Goma thanked the Chief Minister for increasing in the prize and diet money of the sportspersons.

A state-level advisory board for de-addiction and rehabilitation will be constituted, said Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today while addressing a workshop on Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition and De-addiction here today.

Sukhu said that he would head the Advisory Board. “An Opioid Substitution Therapy Centre will be established at all medical colleges and district hospitals of the state.

The objective of the initiative is to streamline the activities of various line departments on substance abuse and ensure an integrated approach to tackle the menace,” he added.

He said that the Centre of Excellence of Mental Health at Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda, would be the state-level nodal institution for de-addiction and rehabilitation.

The School Health Mission would be implemented in the state in collaboration with the departments of education and health, he added.

The Chief Minister said that an action plan for addressing the nutritional concerns of adolescent girls, expectant and lactating mothers and children up to the age of six years, besides drug abuse prevention, de-addiction and rehabilitation would be prepared.

He directed the Social Justice and Empowerment Department to formulate a mechanism to ensure the well-being of expectant mothers and their newborn up to the age of one year.

Sukhu said that the government was also contemplating to delegate powers to the lower level for the procurement of nutritional supplements to ensure good quality of food items being provided to eligible expectant and lactating mothers.

“We are establishing a state-of-the-art de-addiction and rehabilitation centre spread over 150 bighas at Kotla Barog village in Sirmaur district,” he added.

The Congress government will roll out two more guarantees — purchase of cow dung from farmers and the Rajiv Gandhi Self-Employment Startup Scheme — at the function being held in Bilaspur on December 11 to celebrate its two years in office.

“We will highlight our achievements in the two-year tenure and the failures of the BJP,” said Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu after a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) here today.

The Chief Minister said that no arrears on water bills would be charged from people in rural areas. “Only Rs 100 as maintenance fee will be charged,” he added.

The CLP meeting was held to discuss the preparations and other issues related to the function. While the Chief Minister chaired the CLP meeting, most of the ministers and MLAs attended it. State party president Pratibha Singh was also present.

“We are expecting around 25,000 people at the function. The Chief Minister gave necessary directions to everyone during the meeting,” said Pratibha.

Sukhu said that they would go the public with their achievements like the restoration of the old pension scheme (OPS), grant of Rs 1,500 per month to women, fixing minimum support price (MSP) for milk, purchase of maize at Rs 30 per kg, clearing Rs 153 crore pending payment of culled apple in one go, etc.

“We gave the OPS to government employees and the BJP retaliated by reducing our loan limit by Rs 1,500 crore. Can the BJP say it will give the OPS to the employees?” he added.

The Chief Minister said that they would highlight the failures of the previous BJP government at the function.

“During the BJP rule, we saw paper leak in the police recruitment exam and other exams conducted by the Himachal Pradesh Staff Service Commission. Corruption was rampant during the BJP rule,” he added.

Meanwhile, the BJP has decided to hold protests at various places from December 8 to highlight the failures of the Congress government.

A BJP delegation comprising top leaders will meet the Governor on December 11 and hand over a document to him highlighting the government’s failures.