One pilgrim lost his life while over 700 stranded pilgrims were safely rescued from the route of Kinnaur Kailash Yatra in Kinnaur district, officials said here today.

As per the district administration, on August 5, as many as 402 pilgrims, who had gone for yatra from Malling Khata village, were stranded after which a rescue operation was launched to rescue the pilgrims.

Out of these, 177 pilgrims were brought back safely to Malling Khata the same day. However, due to worsening weather conditions and rising water levels in a stream flowing through the region, as many as 225 pilgrims got stranded in a cave.

To rescue these pilgrims, a team from the Forest Department, led by the Naib Tehsildar of Kalpa, was dispatched via the Purvani route on Tuesday evening. A leaf shelter has been set up for the rescued pilgrims at the Shongtong Army Camp, where 183 individuals have already arrived.

“All of them are safe, and arrangements have been made for their meals. In addition, they are being provided medical facilities at the hospital. The remaining stranded people are also being rescued and brought directly to the army camp,” said Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kinnaur Dr Amit Sharma.

Additionally, as many as 417 pilgrims were also rescued by a team of Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Kinnaur Tourism Authority (KTA) after two bridges on Kangarang nallah had washed away as a result of a flash flood triggered by a cloudburst.

These pilgrims were stranded at Malling Khatta to go on the yatra. However, they got stranded at Malling Khata, due to the cloudburst.

A team of the ITBP, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and KTA reached the spot and carried out an overnight rescue operation and all the stranded pilgrims were safely rescued and brought to safer places.

Torrential rains since last evening have brought Mandi district to a standstill, with widespread landslides and flash floods causing extensive damage to houses, roads and public infrastructure.

The disaster has triggered a major crisis across the region, with over 282 roads still blocked and several homes and structures damaged or destroyed.

According to Additional District Magistrate Dr Madan Kumar, a total of seven pucca houses, two kutcha houses, 28 cowsheds and one shop have been damaged due to landslides and heavy rainfall. A woman was also injured when a tree collapsed near her house during the downpour.

The damage is spread across multiple blocks of the district — three houses were damaged in the Sadar block, three in Gohar, one in Karsog, two in Dharampur and three in the Jogindernagar block. Continuous rainfall and unstable terrain are making restoration efforts difficult

One of the worst-hit sectors is transportation. In the morning, 331 roads were reportedly blocked due to landslides, falling debris and flooding.

By evening, 49 roads had been restored, leaving 282 still closed to traffic. However, key routes including the Kiratpur-Manali National Highway (NH-3), blocked at several points due to shooting stones and landslides, have now been restored. Kataula-Kamand, Mandi-Dharampur via Kotli, Mandi-Jogindernagar and Mandi-Rewalsar road have also been reopened after being blocked earlier.

Deputy Commissioner and chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority, Apoorv Devgan, said the district had suffered widespread damage to roads, drinking water schemes, power supply lines and other key infrastructure.

The Public Works Department (PWD) in the Mandi zone alone has estimated a loss of Rs 23 crore in the last 24 hours.

A total of 158 machines have been deployed to restore damaged roads, while 35 roads in the Dharampur division were affected, of which 12 have been reopened.

The Jal Shakti Department has also reported massive disruption. As many as 491 drinking water schemes, 57 irrigation schemes and five sewerage systems have been hit, causing a provisional loss of Rs 31 crore.

Over 2,500 workers have been deployed to restore partial water supply across affected areas.

The State Electricity Board’s Mandi operation circle too faced extensive damage. Preliminary estimates peg the loss at Rs 2.20 crore, with 657 transformers disrupted.

Additionally, 7 km of high-tension line and 14 km of low-tension line have been damaged, while 40 electricity poles were either uprooted or completely destroyed due to landslides and floods.

Authorities have urged residents to stay indoors and follow instructions issued by disaster response teams. Restoration work continues across the district, but heavy rainfall and unstable terrain are making the task increasingly challenging.

The Beas and its tributaries remain in spate, further escalating the risk of flash floods. Water is being released from the Pandoh dam in Mandi due to rise in water level in the Beas.

Three people died and two others were seriously injured as an Alto car plunged into a deep gorge near Saini Nullah on the Janjheli-Chhatri road in this district.

The mishap occurred on Sunday night but came to light only on Monday morning.

All occupants of the car were returning from Shankardehra after work.

Police promptly arrived at the site and started an investigation.

Authorities said poor road conditions caused by heavy rain and the collapse of a roadside retaining wall were likely contributors to the accident.

The deceased were identified as Devdat, Mangal Chand and Yashpal, all residents of Breogi village.

The two critically injured, driver Guman Singh from Kalyanju village and Labh Singh from Gagan village, were rushed to a nearby hospital by locals.

Moderate to heavy rains continued to lash parts of Himachal Pradesh, resulting in the closure of 307 roads, including two national highways on Sunday, officials said.

The local Meteorological office has issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rains in isolated areas of the state on Monday and Tuesday.

Since Saturday evening, several regions have experienced moderate to heavy rainfall, with Bharari recording 108.2 mm, followed by Murari Devi with 82 mm, Naina Devi at 74.4 mm, Malraon at 56.2 mm, Brahmani at 45.4 mm, Una at 38 mm, and Jot at 36.2 mm.

A total of 307 roads have been closed for vehicular traffic as of Sunday morning. The majority of these, 156 roads, are in the disaster-affected Mandi district, while 68 are in Kullu district, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC).

Additionally, 284 power distribution transformers and 210 water supply schemes have been affected across the state, the SEOC said.

Since the onset of the monsoon on June 20 until August 2, the state has incurred losses totalling Rs 1,692 crore.

So far, there have been 101 reported deaths due to rain-related incidents, with 36 people still missing. The fatalities include 20 drownings, 19 deaths from falls, 17 deaths from cloudbursts, eight from flash floods, and five from landslides.

As many as 1,600 houses have been fully or partially damaged in the state. The state witnessed 51 flash floods, 28 cloudbursts and 45 major landslides, officials said.

The Kiratpur-Manali National Highway was restored to one-way traffic between Mandi and Kullu, at Kainchi Mod in the Pandoh area of Mandi district yesterday.

The highway was blocked following a massive landslide triggered by continuous rainfall yesterday morning.

Traffic movement had halted and a large number of heavy vehicles, including buses and trucks, were stranded following the landslide.

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) had managed to temporarily restore the highway late last evening but it was blocked again shortly afterwards, as fresh debris fell on it.

This morning, NHAI teams resumed clearance operations with the support of heavy machinery and restored one-way traffic on the highway at Kainchi Mod.

Police personnel were deployed at the disruption point to regulate and monitor traffic. Stranded vehicles finally left for their destinations after the highway was opened for one-way traffic.

However, more than 172 internal roads in Mandi district are still blocked due to landslides, fallen trees and damaged infrastructure. The road blockades have severely affected transportation services in the rural and hilly areas of the district.

Besides, 74 water supply schemes are disrupted in different parts of Mandi district, leading to an acute shortage of water.

The authorities concerned are working on a war footing to restore essential services but continuing rainfall is hampering their efforts.

Meanwhile, district officials have urged local residents to remain cautious and avoid unnecessary travel in affected areas.

The teams of the Public Works Department (PWD), Jal Shakti Department and the local administration are actively engaged in road clearance and infrastructure repair work.

The district administration has assured people that all efforts are being made to restore connectivity and essential services at the earliest.

In a swift disciplinary action, the Solan police have suspended four police personnel — one sub-inspector and three constables — after a video surfaced, allegedly showing them loading cartons of liquor into a police escort vehicle in Chandigarh.

The vehicle had reportedly been deployed as part of the Chief Minister’s security convoy during his official visit to the Union Territory on Friday.

The incident came to light after a bystander captured a video of the policemen in uniform handling boxes suspected to be liquor cartons and loading them into a marked police vehicle.

The footage quickly spread on social media, sparking outrage and raising serious questions about the misuse of official machinery.

Following preliminary verification, Superintendent of Police, Solan, Gaurav Singh, ordered the suspension of the four officials.

“We have suspended four personnel based on the contents of the video, which is currently under detailed inquiry. One of the suspended individuals is of sub-inspector rank, while the other three are constables,” said Singh.

Out of the four, two personnel belong to the 6th India Reserve Battalion (IRB), while the other two are from the Solan district police force.

“The matter is being taken very seriously, and further action will be taken after the inquiry is completed. Accountability will be ensured,” added SP Singh.

A total of 168 roads are blocked in Mandi district and 67 roads are closed in Kullu due to landslides and flashfloods even as heavy rain continues to lash Mandi, Kullu and Lahaul and Spiti districts.

The Kiratpur-Manali National Highway was damaged following a huge landslide near Kainchi Mod in the Pandoh area of Mandi yesterday.

According to Mandi SP Sakshi Verma, a major landslide caused extensive damage to the highway Friday morning, halting vehicular movement.

The restoration work is in progress, but given the scale of damage, repairs could take some time, she added.

Numerous vehicles, including trucks and buses, were stranded on both sides of the damaged highway stretch in Pandoh between Mandi and Kullu. Long traffic jams were reported as commuters and tourists anxiously waited for the road to be cleared of debris.

To manage traffic jam and ensure the safety of commuters, heavy vehicles were being stationed at designated holding areas in Nagchala and Jhiri.

However, the authorities concerned opened an alternative route via Kamand-Kataula only for light motor vehicles due to narrow terrain and safety concerns, not allowing heavy vehicles to move.

In Lahaul and Spiti, landslides blocked the Manali-Leh highway near Dhundhi while flashfloods blocked traffic on the road at Jispa for a few hours. However, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) acted swiftly and restored traffic movement at both locations.

The authorities concerned have suspended traffic movement on the Gramphu-Losar road in Spiti as a precautionary measure.

The Sansari-Killar-Thirot-Tandi road was also blocked due to a landslide near the Jungle camp in Lahaul and Spiti, where one vehicle was trapped under debris.

However no one was injured in the incident and stranded passengers were rescued and evacuated to a safer place.

Meanwhile, officials have issued a strict advisory, urging residents and tourists to travel only if there is an emergency and stay updated via official channels and police instructions.

The Mandi-Kullu National Highway is a crucial route to Kullu and Manali and further north to Lahaul-Spiti, Leh and Ladakh.

Its closure has a major impact on regional mobility, logistics and tourism. Meanwhile, efforts to restore blocked roads are underway in all affected districts.

Torrential rain before noon wreaked havoc in Himachal Pradesh today as two main roads linking Chowari sub‑divisional headquarters with Chamba, the neighboring Nurpur subdivision in Kangra district and Pathankot in Punjab were severed.

On the 5‑kilometre Lahru-Chowari link road, a 100‑metre stretch was badly damaged. Similarly, the Chowari-Chamba road via Jot has also snapped due to damage near Kut in Chowari.

Owing to massive damage to these link roads, Chowari subdivision has lost connectivity with other parts of the state.

Lahru-Chowari link road is a lifeline for the residents of this subdivision as it connects Kangra and Pathankot districts — from where daily supply of essential commodities is received.

Apart from this, medical emergency services — for shifting patients in Tanda Medical College, Kangra, and Punjab’s hospitals — have also been badly impacted.

This inter-district road is the shortest route for Chamba residents to travel to Kangra and the rest of the state via the Jot-Chowari road. However, now they will have to travel long distances via the Pathankot-Dunera or Draman-Sihunta roads.

The only alternate route for commuting from Chowari to Kangra and Pathankot districts is the Chowari-Raipur-Lahru route — which is also landslide prone and has remained closed due to landslides at multiple locations.

Executive Engineer, Public Works Department (PWD), Chowari, Narinder Chowdhary, told The Tribune that department machinery has been deployed to restore the affected roads.

He added that the restoration of Chowari-Lahru link road was not possible as it had suffered massive damage — a part of the road had sunk due to land erosion as a flooded rivulet passes beneath the road.

The state government yesterday decided to provide reservation to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) people in urban local bodies so as to give them representation proportionate to their population.

The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu here.

The Cabinet approved the constitution of a Backward Classes commission so as to compile accurate data about their population before finalising the reservation roster.

To strengthen healthcare services in remote and tribal regions, it gave approval for the engagement of 290 additional ASHA workers.

In the light of widespread devastation caused by torrential rain and flashfloods, the Cabinet granted ex-post facto approval for providing financial assistance in the form of rent support to the affected families residing in relief camps.

These families would receive the rent assistance through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to their bank accounts at the rate of Rs 5,000 per month in rural areas and Rs 10,000 per month in urban areas for a maximum of six months.

The Cabinet also gave nod to the establishment of a Tourism investment promotion council under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, to approve projects of more than Rs 50 crore each. The council would process the cases within 30 days.

To check illegal activities at manufacturing units, it decided to post two Home Guard jawans each at distilleries, bottling and brewery plants.

It also approved the posting of a State Taxes and Excise Officer each at such plants, with mandatory rotation within the same district after a prescribed period.

The Cabinet granted a one-time relaxation of two years in the upper age limit for candidates appearing in the competitive examinations for Trained Graduate Teacher (TGT) and Junior Basic Teacher (JBT) posts to be conducted by the HP Rajya Chayan Aayog.

It also decided to reserve one seat per course for orphans in all government, government-aided and private technical institutions, including ITIs, polytechnics, engineering and pharmacy colleges in the state.

The Cabinet constituted a sub-committee under the chairmanship of Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi to identify land to set up international-level satellite townships.

Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh, Town and Country Planning Minister Rajesh Dharmani and Ayurveda Minister Yadvinder Goma will be the members of the committee.

The committee will submit its report to the state government within three months. It will identify land in the areas bordering Punjab and Haryana for setting up satellite townships of international standards.

Solan MC to have uniform water tariffs

The Cabinet decided to make water tariff rates uniform in the Municipal Corporation of Solan area irrespective of who was the service provider by applying the rates of the Jal Shakti Department to benefit water consumers of the region

The Cabinet approved the auction of 10 minor mineral quarries in Kangra district and the re-auction of 11 such quarries in Bilaspur district to generate a revenue of Rs 18.82 crore
It also decided to exclude the Amar stadium and the Panchayat Ghar at Bela in Ward No. 8 from the Municipal Council of Nadaun in Hamirpur district

A Cabinet sub-committee constituted under the chairmanship of Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi to identify land to set up international-level satellite townships

Bridges, apple trees and several crops were destroyed at Dhanpal Kanda village in Koot gram panchayat of Rampur subdivision, Shimla, as a result of a flashflood that was triggered by a massive cloudburst.

According to local residents, standing crops and apple saplings were completely destroyed. The floodwaters washed away one major bridge and three smaller ones that connected Koot village to neighbouring areas.

The main road to the panchayat headquarters has also been damaged due to landslides. However, the main bridge within Koot remains intact, offering a small relief.

In a separate incident, two electricity poles in Khiuncha village were swept away due to a landslide triggered by the heavy downpour, resulting in a complete power cut in the area.

Ratna Dogra, Panchayat Pradhan of Koot, confirmed that the cloudburst occurred around midnight on July 29.

“Thankfully, there has been no loss of life, but the material and infrastructural damage is extensive,” he said.

Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Rampur, Harsh Amrender Singh said that a revenue team would visit the affected site (on Thursday) to assess the damage.

He assured that relief and restoration efforts would begin promptly.

The state government yesterday approved amendments to the Compassionate Employment Policy to give priority to widows and orphaned applicants below 45 years of age and the dependents of its officials, who died while on duty.

The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu here. As per the revised policy, the annual family income eligibility criterion for compassionate employment was enhanced from Rs 2.50 lakh to Rs 3 lakh.

In cases where vacancies under the existing five per cent quota for such appointments were not available, the Cabinet permitted a one-time relaxation to ensure the eligible applicants were accommodated.

It also gave nod to increasing the number of B.Sc (Nursing) seats in Sister Nivedita Government Nursing College, Shimla, from 60 to 100.

It approved a new B.Sc nursing college with an annual intake of 60 students at Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College and Hospital at Tanda in Kangra district.

The Cabinet allowed the engagement of women workers in shops and commercial establishments in night shift from 7 pm to 7 am to provide them place gender equality.

It also decided to grant maternity benefits to every woman employee working in such establishments, as prescribed under the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961.

The Cabinet constituted a sub-committee under the chairmanship of Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan on the development of 300 acres for the proposed medical device park at Nalagarh. The committee would submit its report within two months.

The Cabinet also approved amendments to the Himachal Pradesh Minor Minerals (Concession) and Minerals (Prevention of Illegal Mining, Transportation and Storage) Rules, 2015.

As per the revised provisions, contractors or agencies engaged in road cutting would now be permitted to use the generated material during the de-siltation and maintenance of reservoir projects for captive purposes.

The designated committees shall auction any leftover stacked raw material or finished product, along with the entire material generated, in accordance with the prescribed procedure.

The Cabinet approved the extension of an agreement between the state government and Alliance Air Aviation Ltd. for operating flights on the Shimla-Dharamsala-Shimla route. The agreement would now remain in effect from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.

To facilitate the expansion of the Kangra airport, the Cabinet granted a one-year extension up to August 16, 2026, under Section 26 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, for land acquisition proceedings.

It granted nod to the draft development plan for the Dhaula Kuan Majra Planning Area in Sirmaur district.

It approved the reorganisation of the Naleti patwar circle in Kangra by excluding the areas of Mahal Masot and Balahar in Dehra tehsil and merging them with the Garh patwar circle in Paragpur tehsil.

A detailed presentation was made at the meeting on the issue of drug abuse in Himachal Pradesh, to highlight the challenges and the ongoing efforts being undertaken by the Excise and Taxation Department to combat the menace.

The Army’s Central Command will be carrying out a special competition in August among Indian drone-makers at Sumdo, in Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh.

The Central Command has been tasked to secure the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China in the states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The Drone Federation India will partner with the Army.

The drone-makers – who cannot use any Chinese parts — will have to show how their machines perform over natural obstacles at an altitude of 10,700 feet.

The drones will be tested in the rarefied atmosphere under strong wind conditions. Competitors will compete in multiple stages, including drone race, obstacle and rigorous field trials conducted under realistic operational conditions against the vagaries of weather and terrain.

Those found suitable will be integrated into the Indian Army’s operational framework.

The performance of drones at high-altitude is a vital parameter, as the rarefied atmosphere reduces lift for drone and reduces engine performance. High-wind speed and ice formation on drones leads to batteries getting drained out faster.

The competition aims to encourage development of advanced drone solutions tailored to meet the evolving operational requirements of the Indian Army.

It will serve as a platform to showcase novel designs, technological breakthroughs and innovative military applications of drone technology and contribute directly to enhanced national security, especially in the wake of recent military conflicts.

The key objectives of the competition include promotion of indigenous research, development and manufacture of advanced drone systems within India, identifying next-generation solutions to address current and future operational requirements, and fostering collaboration by creating a direct interface between the Indian Army, individual innovators, startups and established defence manufacturers.

The event will have participation under three major categories — in-house designed drones; open category; original equipment manufacturers. The event is planned in two phases — August 10-15 and August 20-24.

Intermittent moderate to heavy rainfall over the past two days triggered landslides at multiple locations in Kangra district, disrupting road connectivity. Two deaths were also reported in the past 24 hours.

Pinki Devi (52) died after slipping into the Manuni khud while on morning walk in Kangra town. The riverbank had become dangerously slippery due to rain.

In another incident, Vipin Kumar (45), a resident of Rajana village in Indora tehsil, died of a snakebite. The snake reportedly entered his house from nearby waterlogged fields

A total of 24 deaths have been reported due to heavy rain in the continuing monsoon season.

A major landslide blocked the National Highway near Kangra in the early hours of Tuesday, cutting off the only major road link to Dharamsala, McLeodganj and the adjoining areas.

Traffic from Chandigarh, Shimla and Hamirpur came to a standstill, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded on both sides of the highway for hours. Essential supplies, including milk and newspapers, were delayed for several hours.

The restoration teams from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Public Works Department (PWD) worked amid the downpour to clear the debris, finally reopening the road after five hours.

“I was stuck here since 4 am. The JCB machines arrived around 8 am,” said a newspaper delivery driver en route to Dharamsala.

The landslides were also reported from Bhaali near Shahpur, Jaisinghpur, Ranital, and 32 Miles, blocking traffic on several internal roads.

The Pathankot-Mandi highway was temporarily closed during the morning hours due to debris.

Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa said all national highways and state roads were cleared of debris by evening but due to recurring landslides near Kangra, only one-way traffic was allowed as precaution.

AApple growers have taken exception to the statement of Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada in the Rajya Sabha that “my ministry has not received any proposal for an increase in import duty on apple”.

The Union Minster stated this in a written reply to a question by BJP MP Harsh Mahajan whether the Central Government intended to increase import duty to protect apple growers of Himachal.

“We have written several letters and submitted several memorandums to the Prime Minister’s Office, the Union Ministry of Commerce and the Union Ministry of Agriculture, seeking a hike in import duty on apple since 2013.

The Union Minister’s response, therefore, is really surprising,” said Harish Chauhan, convener of the Sanyukt Kisan Manch.

Kuldeep Rathore, Congress MLA from Theog, said that the reply amounted to misinforming and misleading people. “I’ve been raising the demand for an increase in import duty on apple for a long time.

I had raised the matter in the Vidhan Sabha as well, and the government had written to the Central Government in this regard. Recently, I had written to Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to ensure there’s no reduction in import duty on US apple,” he added.

The MLA said that Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur had also written to the Commerce Minister about the growers’ concerns and interests while negotiating tariff on apple with the US

Meanwhile, Chauhan said that the Sanyukt Kisan Manch had submitted a memorandum to the President and the Prime Minister through the Governor for a hike in import duty on apple about two months ago.

“Besides, the apple growers from Kashmir have also written to the Central Government several times for an increase in import duty,” he claimed.

Lokinder Bisht, president of the Progressive Growers Association, also expressed surprise at the Union Minister’s reply.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself had promised to raise the import duty on apple when he came here to campaign in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. To say that there’s no proposal to raise import duty on apple is absurd,” he added.

Bragta in a spot

Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada said that the current import duty on apple was 50 per cent and the minimum import price (MIP) was Rs 50 per kg. Some time ago, BJP spokesperson Chetan Bragta had told mediapersons that the Central Government had increased the MIP from Rs 50 per kg to Rs 80 per kg.

The growers are now questioning on what basis the BJP spokesperson had made the announcement. Bragta, meanwhile, said that the Union Ministry of Agriculture had issued a memorandum on June 3 to increase the MIP from Rs 50 per kg to Rs 80 per kg.

“The Union Ministry of Agriculture has approved it, and the notification to this effect will be issued shortly,” said Bragta, sticking to his previous statement.

The state government yesterday decided to grant a special relief package to the families that had been affected by the rain disaster during the ongoing monsoon season.

The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu here. The Cabinet extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and expressed solidarity with all those affected by the rain disaster.

Under the relief package, a compensation of Rs 7 lakh would be given for a completely damaged house and Rs 1 lakh for a partially damaged house, a major hike from the past.

A compensation of Rs 10,000 that was given in the case of damaged shops or dhabas had been enhanced 10 times to Rs 1 lakh.

The state government would provide an enhanced financial assistance of Rs 50,000 instead of Rs 10,000 for damaged cowsheds, Rs 70,000 for the loss of the belongings of the owners of the property and Rs 50,000 for the loss of the belongings of tenants.

A sum of Rs 55,000 per animal would be granted for the loss of large milch animals instead of Rs 37,500 and Rs 9,000 instead of Rs 4,000 for the loss of goats, pigs, sheep and lambs.

Besides, the government would provide Rs 25,000 as compensation for a fully damaged polyhouse and Rs 50,000 for the de-silting of houses.

It would also give a compensation of Rs 10,000 per bigha for the loss of agriculture and horticulture land instead of Rs 3,900 per bigha provided earlier.

The Cabinet approved the Rs 100 crore Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana, aimed at strengthening forest conservation through a community-driven approach.

Under this initiative, Mahila Mandals, Yuvak Mandals, self-help groups and other registered community groups would be involved in forest conservation.

The Cabinet allotted land in favour of Himachal Pradesh Milkfed for the establishment of a milk processing plant at Mehandali in Rohru tehsil of Shimla district.

It approved the creation and filling of eight posts of various categories in the Pain and Palliative Care Cell under the Department of Radiotherapy at the IGMC, Shimla.

The Cabinet decided to upgrade the Health Centre at Dhaneta in Hamirpur district to a Community Health Centre.

It approved the opening of a new police post at Khaira under Sunni police station, reconstitution of the Ratti-Nagachala Special Area and the Nerchowk Planning Area in Mandi and the upgrade of Jawali Nagar Panchayat in Kangra to a municipal council.

The Cabinet condemned disrespect shown towards the national flag by anti-social elements and misbehaviour with Revenue Minister Jagat Singh during his recent visit to Seraj in Mandi district. A detailed presentation on the recent disaster and the response measures undertaken was given at the meeting.

Govt amends municipal election rules

The state government on Monday amended the Himachal Pradesh Municipal Election Rules, 2015, to address procedural gaps and practical difficulties encountered during elections
The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu here

The Rule 9 was amended to introduce a standard format for the final publication of wards, ensuring uniformity across the state

As per the amendment, Rules 27 and 28 were revised to include a provision that no changes or addition to the electoral roll would be allowed once the election programme was notified under Rule 35

Further, Rule 35(3) was amended to transfer the authority of notifying the election programme from the Deputy Commissioner to the State Election Commission, which would now be responsible for issuing the notification at least seven days prior to the filing of nomination papers

Besides, Rule 88 was amended to allow nominated members to take the oath of allegiance to the Constitution of India along with the elected members

As the apple harvesting season begins in Seraj Assembly constituency of Mandi district, hundreds of fruit growers are facing a major challenge due to damaged roads and blocked pedestrian paths.

The recent rain disaster on June 30 has wreaked havoc on the road infrastructure in the region, adversely affecting transportation of agricultural and horticultural produce to distant markets.

While the Public Works Department (PWD) has managed to restore connectivity on some main roads, around 81 village link roads in the Seraj valley remain blocked.

This is causing serious delays for apple growers to start harvesting of crop in their apple orchards because they are unable to transport their horticultural produce to market, where timely delivery ensures better prices.

Om Prakash Thakur, a resident of Pakhrair panchayat, expressed his concern, stating, “Due to extensive damage to link and main roads, farmers are feeling helpless. Apples are ready for harvest, but we cannot move them to market in time.”

Critical road links like Chet-Cheuni, Jarol-Chakudgar-Jugandh, Janjehli-Bekhli, Janjehli-Gadagusain via Reshan, Kataru-Ruar, Sangalvara to Shadanagar, Pakhrair panchayat roads, Pandavshila-Dhar, Kuthah-Tungadhar, and Kuthah-Bakhalvar remain inaccessible. This has badly disrupted transportation of produce in many apple belt areas.

Ravinder Sisodiya of Jarol shared that the natural calamity has devastated the region. “Several families lost their homes, shops and livelihoods. Now, we are unable to harvest apples due to damaged roads. We are waiting for restoration to begin harvesting,” he said.

Farmers from other badly affected villages such as Pakhrair, Tungadhar, Bekhli, Ruar and Chet Cheuni have urged the administration to expedite road restoration.

Delays, they fear, will lead to heavy financial losses as apples lose value quickly if not transported in time.

Despite these challenges, the administration is working to restore connectivity. Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan is monitoring the situation.

On Saturday, he visited disaster-hit Pakhrair panchayat and assured locals that restoring road links to remote villages remains a top priority. “Restoration work has started for Daizy village in Thunag.

In extremely difficult conditions, PWD teams have entered flooded streams to continue work. Restoration of the Chail-Janjehli-Tungadhar road is also underway,” the DC informed.

Debris removal operations are progressing swiftly in Thunag bazaar and at Lambathach Degree College. Dredging work in local streams like Byond Khad and restoration at Bani Nala are also going on.

With apple harvesting time approaching fast, farmers are expecting early restoration of link roads to ensure their hard-earned crop reaches markets on time and there are no losses.

Chamba’s age-old Minjar fair, which symbolises the blossoming of maize and embodies the spirit of communal harmony, began with gaiety and fervour amid singing of traditional Kujari Malhar songs.

Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, along with his wife Janaki Shukla, inaugurated the fair by hoisting the Minjar flag at the historic Chowgan ground.

Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said Chamba district, with its glorious history spanning over a thousand years, is known for its natural beauty and rich folk art and culture.

“The historic International Minjar Fair, renowned for its rich traditions, not only showcases the unique culture of Himachal Pradesh but also promotes social harmony,” he said.

Extending his best wishes, Shukla expressed hope that the event, which is a symbol of victory, brings joy and enthusiasm to the people of the state.

He also called upon everyone to preserve traditional folk culture and maintain social harmony.

The Governor expressed serious concern over the increasing prevalence of narcotic substances and emphasised the need for collective awareness to combat this social evil.

He advised the youth to stay away from drugs, besides flagging off an awareness rally aimed at spreading a strong message against drug abuse.

On this occasion, an anti-drug pledge was also administered. Earlier, the Governor offered Minjar (silk tassel) to presiding deity of Lord Raghuvir and Lord Lakshmi Narayan.

He also inaugurated and visited the sports competitions organised during the fair, as well as exhibitions set up by various departments and social organisations.

Under the Sampoornta Abhiyan, the Governor felicitated departmental officers and employees who had performed exceptionally at the district and sub-divisional levels.

President Municipal Council Neelam Nayar presented the traditional Minjar to the Governor. Deputy Commissioner and Chairman of the Minjar Fair Organising Committee, Mukesh Repaswal, honored the Governor on behalf of the committee.

The Deputy Commissioner said the cultural evenings of the fair have been designed to cater to the interests of all age groups.

Artistes from Chamba as well as other districts of Himachal Pradesh will get the opportunity to showcase their performances during the eight-day fair.

Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania, his wife Neena Pathania; MLAs Neeraj Nayar, Dr Hans Raj, DS Thakur and Dr Janak Raj; District Agricultural Produce and Marketing Committee Chairman Lalit Thakur; Secretary to the Governor CP Verma; Chamba Superintendent of Police Abhishek Yadav; and Additional Deputy Commissioner Amit Mehra were also present on the occasion.

An ex-deputy mayor of Shimla has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Himachal Pradesh High Court’s order to remove fruit-bearing apple orchards from encroached forest lands.

Filed by former Shimla deputy mayor Tikender Singh Panwar and activist advocate Rajiv Rai, the petition is likely to come up for hearing before a Bench led by Chief Justice of India BR Gavai on Monday.

The Himachal Pradesh High Court had on July 2 directed the forest department to remove the apple orchards and plant forest species in their place, with costs to be recovered from encroachers as arrears of land revenue.

“The petitioners submit that the said order is arbitrary, disproportionate and violative of constitutional, statutory and environmental principles, thereby necessitating the intervention of the Supreme Court to prevent irreversible ecological and socio-economic harm in the ecologically fragile state of Himachal Pradesh,” the petitioners submitted.

The high court’s order, which mandates the blanket removal of apple trees without conducting a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), is arbitrary and contravenes the precautionary principle, a cornerstone of environmental jurisprudence, Panwar submitted.

Such large-scale tree-felling, particularly during the monsoon season, significantly heightens the risk of landslides and soil erosion in Himachal Pradesh, a region characterised by its seismic activity and ecological sensitivity, the petitioners submitted.

“Apple orchards, far from being mere encroachments, contribute to soil stability, provide habitats for local wildlife and form the backbone of the state’s economy, supporting the livelihoods of thousands of farmers,” they said, adding, the destruction of these orchards threatens not only environmental stability but also the fundamental right to livelihood enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution.

“The high court’s order lacked the requisite EIA to assess its environmental and socio-economic impacts, thereby violating the principles of reasonableness and proportionality as elucidated in cases such as Coimbatore District Central Co-operative Bank.

“The felling of apple trees during the monsoon season exacerbates ecological risks, including landslides and soil erosion, contradicting judicial mandates for environmental assessments as seen in T N Godavarman Thirumulpad vs. Union of India,” the petitioners said.

They said the economic ramifications are equally severe, as apple cultivation is a vital component of Himachal Pradesh’s economy, and its destruction threatens the livelihoods of small-scale farmers, thereby infringing upon their constitutional right to life and livelihood.

“In lieu of destructive felling, the petitioners propose sustainable alternatives, such as state acquisition of orchards for public purposes, auctioning of fruit and timber, or utilisation of resources for farmer cooperatives or disaster relief initiatives. These measures would align with the principles of sustainable development, balancing environmental conservation with economic imperatives,” the petition said.

The petition stated that as of July 18, reports indicate that over 3,800 apple trees have been felled in areas like Chaithla, Kotgarh and Rohru, with plans to remove up to 50,000 trees across the state.

“The enforcement of this order, as evidenced in public reports, led to the destruction of fully fruit-laden apple trees, evoking widespread public distress and criticism,” the petitioners submitted.