Chairing a review meeting to assess the supply of petroleum products and LPG in the state in view of the ongoing Middle East conflict, the Chief Secretary said the overall stock position in Himachal remained stable.

However, he noted that the supply of commercial LPG cylinders had been slightly affected due to the prevailing international situation.

Gupta said around 15,000 commercial LPG cylinders were presently available in the state and were being supplied to hotels, restaurants and other institutions as required.

Despite the minor disruption, he said government and private hospitals as well as educational institutions were being given priority supply of commercial LPG cylinders to ensure that essential services continued without interruption.

Reviewing the district-wise fuel supply position, Gupta directed officials to ensure uninterrupted availability of petroleum products and LPG for the public.

He also urged people, particularly domestic LPG consumers, not to panic or make unnecessary bookings based on misleading information circulating on social media.

The Chief Secretary emphasised that there was adequate stock of domestic LPG in the state and consumers should remain patient.

He further directed all Deputy Commissioners to closely monitor the situation and conduct daily reviews of fuel supply and distribution in their respective districts to prevent any disruption.

Additional Chief Secretary RD Nazim and Director of Food and Civil Supplies Ram Kumar Gautam were also present at the meeting.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inaugurated the robotic surgery facility at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC) in Shimla today.

The facility is already available at Atal Institute of Medical Super Specialty, Chamyana, and Tanda Medical College in district Kangra.

“It’s a world class facility that helps the patients recover faster after surgeries. It’s very efficient and precise,” said Sukhu.

The CM said that Himachal was perhaps the only state in north India where so many government institutions have this facility.

He further said that the government would extend the facility beyond medical colleges to district hospitals having high footfall in cities like Kullu.

He further said his government was committed to strengthening and upgrading the health infrastructure, and adequate funds would be provided to achieve the objective.

“We are establishing advanced labs in IGMC, Tanda and Chamyana,” he said.

The Chief Minister further said that the robotic surgeries cost around Rs three lakh in private hospitals but it would cost Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000 in government hospitals in the state.

“The patients booking private wards would be charged Rs 50,000 while the patents staying in regular wards would have to pay Rs 30,000 for the robotic surgery,” he said.

Contrary to the tall claims of the state government of strengthening healthcare facilities, four Primary Health Centres (PHCs) each in Nagrota Surian health block in neighbouring Jawali subdivision and Nurpur health block are functioning without regular doctors.

The absence of doctors, and pharmacists as well in some cases, has badly affected rural healthcare services in these areas.

The practice of deploying doctors from other health institutions on deputation is also disrupting the normal functioning of the out-patient departments (OPDs) in rural PHCs.

According to information gathered by The Tribune, the PHCs at Bharmar, Dharonh and Chalwara in Nagrota Surian health block have no doctors.

The lone doctor posted at the PHC at Durana village in Doll gram panchayat has been sent on deputation to the Community Health Centre (CHC) at Nagrota Surian. The posts of Medical Officer at these PHCs have been lying vacant for the past several months, causing inconvenience to patients.

The CHC at Kuther village in Kangra district has two sanctioned posts of doctor and one of them is vacant, affecting indoor and emergency healthcare services.

Former Block Development Committee (BDC) members Sadhu Ram Rana and Kusum Devi, former panchayat pradhan Shalu Devi and Mahila Mandal leaders Reeta Sharma and Reeta Rana say that the shifting of the lone doctor from the PHC at Durana to the CHC at Nagrota Surian on deputation has left patients in distress.

They say that healthcare services in Doll and its adjoining gram panchayats, namely Paddar, Haarchakian, Thehar, Bhewa and Nadolli, have been thrown into disarray after the doctor was sent on deputation.

Residents of these panchayats have expressed concern over the vacant posts and warned that they will launch an agitation if the state government fails to post regular doctors in the rural health institutions.

A similar situation prevails in Nurpur health block where the posts of Medical Officer are vacant at the PHCs at Sadwan, Rinna, Bassa-Waziran and Tikka-Nagrota, causing inconvenience to patients.

The PHC at Sadwan, located on the Nurpur-Chamba highway, is considered one of the most significant rural health institutions in the region. Before the doctor’s post fell vacant about six months ago, the PHC used to cater to around 60 to 70 patients every day.

Sources say that under a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, Abbott Pharmaceutical Company had adopted the PHC, Sadwan, in July last year to upgrade its infrastructure and maintain the facility for three years.

The project was implemented through the Americares India Foundation, an NGO that has modernised the clinical laboratory and developed a waiting area for OPD patients. However, as the posts of doctor and pharmacist are lying vacant, these upgraded facilities are proving to be ineffective.

Chief Medical Officer, Kangra, Dr Vivek Karol says that the situation has arisen as several Medical Officers posted at rural health institutions have been selected for postgraduate studies in government medical colleges. He adds that the state Health Department is making efforts to fill the vacancies.

After a wait of nearly four years, train services on the historic Kangra valley railway line between Pathankot and Jogindernagar are set to resume from Monday.

The Northern Railway has issued a fresh timetable and completed preparations to restart operations on the narrow-gauge route.

Direct train services on the line had been suspended after the collapse of the Chakki bridge nearly four years ago, disrupting connectivity across several areas of Kangra Valley.

A senior official of the Indian Railways told The Tribune that in the first phase four trains will operate in both up and down directions between Pathankot and Baijnath/ Jogindernagar.

Of these, two trains will run between Pathankot and Baijnath, while one train each will operate on the Baijnath-Nurpur Road and Baijnath-Jwalamukhi Road sections.

Railway authorities said the timetable has been finalised and all arrangements are in place to ensure the smooth restoration of services from March 9.

Officials of the Northern Railway Jammu Division added that trial runs and safety inspections have already been completed, clearing the way for trains to resume operations on the route.

The restoration of services is expected to bring major relief to residents of Kangra valley who had been waiting for years for rail connectivity to be restored.

The narrow-gauge line is considered the lifeline for many people in the lower hill areas of the state and is also expected to boost local trade, tourism and daily commuting.

Rajiv Bhardwaj, Member of Parliament from Kangra, welcomed the decision and said sustained efforts by local organisations and residents had helped push the authorities to restore the railway line.

The Gram Panchayats that have remained reserved continuously for two consecutive terms since the base year 2010 will not be reserved in the forthcoming Panchayat election.

The Cabinet, in its meeting held today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, decided to invite objections and suggestions from the general public on the proposed amendments to Rules 28, 87, 88, and 89 of the Himachal Pradesh Panchayati Raj (Elections) Rules, 1994.

The Cabinet also approved amendments to the Social Security Pension Rules, 2010, by redefining the term ‘destitute’ in a clearer manner and simplifying the certification process for availing benefits.

Under the revised provisions, women abandoned by their husbands, who are not living with them and have no independent source of income, will be considered destitute women.

Additionally, the Cabinet decided to extend 40 per cent of Local Area Development Fund under Swaran Jayanti Energy Policy to provide financial assistance to children of the state. It also gave its nod for the cancellation of 15 hydroelectric projects that failed to be commissioned despite availing the benefit of the one-time amnesty scheme.

The Cabinet also decided to allot the 10 MW small hydroelectric project at Pandoh in Mandi to Bhakra Beas Management Board, subject to the return of the unused land by BBMB to the state government. The state government will receive 13 per cent free power and 5 per cent power as its share from BBMB.

Furthermore, the Cabinet approved Operation and Maintenance Policy for handing over in-village infrastructure of both single-village schemes and multi-village schemes to Gram Panchayats.

The Cabinet also approved the constitution of Regional Cooperative Milk Producers Union Limited at Dhagwar (Kangra), comprising milk producers from the districts of Kangra, Hamirpur, Chamba, and Una.

In a surprising political move, the Congress high command has chosen Anurag Sharma, the District Congress Committee (DCC) president of Kangra, as the party’s candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha election from Himachal Pradesh scheduled on March 16.

The decision has caught many in political circles off guard, as speculation had largely centred around senior leaders and political heavyweights such as Anand Sharma, Pratibha Singh and even national-level figures like Pawan Khera and Rajni Patil.

Sharma’s name had not figured in any serious discussion until the Indian National Congress released its official list of candidates on Thursday morning.

The choice is widely seen as a carefully calibrated decision by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who reportedly kept the selection closely guarded until the final announcement.

Sharma, 46, hails from Bir village in the Baijnath Assembly segment of Kangra district and is regarded as a staunch loyalist of the Chief Minister.

His association with the Congress organisation spans more than two decades, beginning from his student days when he served as an office-bearer in the National Students’ Union of India and later in the Indian Youth Congress. Over the years, he also held various organisational responsibilities at the district and state levels.

Interestingly, Sharma belongs to the same Brahmin community and the same Baijnath constituency as Indu Goswami, the outgoing Rajya Sabha MP whom he will replace.

Political observers believe his selection may also help the Congress counter the growing influence of Sudhir Sharma, the BJP MLA from Dharamsala who had earlier defected from the Congress and has been projecting himself as a prominent Brahmin leader in the state.

According to party insiders, Sharma’s elevation is part of a broader political strategy by the Chief Minister to maintain regional and caste balance within the government.

Kangra, the largest district in Himachal Pradesh with 15 Assembly constituencies, has often voiced concerns about inadequate representation in the state cabinet. Currently, only two ministers from the district, Chander Kumar and Yadvinder Goma, are part of the government.

By fielding a Brahmin leader from Kangra, the Congress appears to be addressing these concerns while simultaneously strengthening its social and regional outreach ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.

Sharma’s political background also adds weight to his candidature. He comes from a political family, with his father having been a prominent Congress leader in the Baijnath area. Notably, Baijnath is now a reserved constituency for Scheduled Castes, which prevents Sharma from contesting Assembly elections, making the Rajya Sabha a viable avenue for his political advancement.

His selection is also being interpreted as a signal of generational change within the Congress, with the party rewarding younger leaders who have remained loyal to the organisation despite not holding major posts.

Afghanistan is actively exploring stronger pharmaceutical trade ties with Indian companies after border tensions with Pakistan shut down key transit routes that once sustained its medicine supply chain.

The disruption has effectively choked Afghanistan’s traditional import channels, prompting officials and traders to seek alternative partnerships to meet the country’s pressing healthcare needs.

For years, Pakistan accounted for the lion’s share of pharmaceutical supplies to Afghanistan. With that route curtailed, the strife-hit nation, heavily dependent on imports to meet domestic demand, is now looking toward India’s robust pharmaceutical industry, particularly manufacturers based in Baddi, one of Asia’s largest pharma hubs.

SL Singla, a prominent Baddi-based exporter who has supplied medicines to Afghanistan for over a decade, confirmed a surge in engagement. “A large number of trade visas have been secured by Afghanistani pharmaceutical traders in recent months to pursue trade with India,” he said.

According to Singla, officials and traders have approached his firm and others after Pakistan’s supply channels were disrupted, creating a widening consumption gap back home.

Beyond procurement, Afghan traders are also seeking long-term collaboration. Discussions include establishing manufacturing facilities in cities like Kandahar with Indian technical support, as well as sourcing raw materials and machinery from India.

Afghan officials are reportedly converting single-entry visas into multiple-entry permits to ease frequent visits, while Indian manufacturers are being asked to furnish compliance certificates required by Afghan authorities.

The momentum for renewed engagement gathered pace in December 2025, when an Afghan ministerial delegation visited India and held discussions with the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the sector.

India’s corporate players are already responding. Zydus Lifesciences has signed a $100 million memorandum of understanding with Afghanistan-based Raoufi International Group for exporting medicines. Industry observers believe more companies could follow suit.

Sanjay Sharma, spokesperson for the Himachal Drug Manufacturers Association, noted that Afghan traders and officials have been visiting Baddi’s manufacturing facilities to explore partnerships.

He added that many small and medium enterprises in the region already cater to Middle Eastern markets, positioning them well to expand into Afghanistan.

As procurement deals for general medicines, injectables and essential drugs are finalised, India appears poised to emerge as a critical pharmaceutical lifeline for Afghanistan reshaping regional trade equations in the process.

More than 62,000 cases have been identified by various courts in the state for settlement at the upcoming National Lok Adalat scheduled to be held on March 14.

The Lok Adalat will be organised across Himachal Pradesh under the patronage of Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia, who is also the Patron-in-Chief of the Himachal Pradesh State Legal Services Authority. Justice Vivek Singh Thakur serves as the Executive Chairman of the Authority.

An online facility for payment of compounding fee through ePay (eCourts Digital Payment) has been provided in cases related to Motor Vehicles challans, particularly in the courts of Traffic Magistrates.

To ensure maximum participation, the general public and litigants are being made aware of the National Lok Adalat through the involvement of local bodies, stakeholders, non-governmental organisations, representatives of Panchayati Raj institutions, para-legal volunteers and public transport services.

Regular meetings are also being held with Bar Associations, insurance companies, banks and other financial institutions for effective identification and disposal of cases.

With the withdrawal of the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) looming large, Himachal Pradesh is set to witness one of its most challenging Budgets in recent years.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who also holds the Finance portfolio, will present the Budget for 2026-27 in the Vidhan Sabha on March 20.

The Finance Department is in the final stages of preparation for what will be Sukhu’s fourth Budget. However, the exercise comes against the backdrop of the 16th Finance Commission’s recommendation to discontinue the RDG, a move that could result in an annual loss of nearly Rs 10,000 crore for the hill state.

The grant has long served as a crucial cushion for Himachal, given its limited avenues for revenue generation and the high cost of maintaining infrastructure in difficult mountainous terrain.

The likely withdrawal of RDG has intensified fiscal pressure on the government, raising the possibility of new taxes or enhanced levies as part of a broader push for resource mobilisation.

Simultaneously, the government is expected to focus on pruning non-essential expenditure and tightening fiscal discipline to manage the anticipated shortfall.

Industries and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan confirmed that the second phase of the Budget session will resume on March 18.

The Budget will be debated for three days from March 23 to 25, followed by discussion and voting on cut motions on March 27 and 28. The Budget is slated to be passed on March 28.

The first phase of the session began with the Governor’s Address on March 16 and was later adjourned by Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania.

The debate on the Motion of Thanks will take place on March 18 and 19, after which the Chief Minister will reply.

Ahead of the Budget, Sukhu met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi, seeking special central assistance and urging that Himachal’s unique constraints not be equated with other states facing RDG withdrawal.

Any relief from the Centre remains uncertain as the state prepares for a fiscally tight year ahead.

The Solan police have arrested a 32-year-old Nepalese youth, Raj Thapa, last evening from Salogra village in Solan for strangulating a two-and-a-half year-old boy.

Thapa was produced before a court by the police for securing his remand.

SP Solan Sai Dattatreya Varma informed that a Solan police team rushed to the spot after the panchayat pradhan informed them of a child’s death.

Upon inquiry, the boy’s mother stated that he had died after falling in the courtyard of their rented quarters on February 28 around 5 PM. He was immediately rushed to the Regional Hospital, Solan, for treatment, but the medical officer declared him dead.

The body was subsequently returned to Salogra.

On March 1 as the deceased’s body was being taken for burial, the villagers suspected foul play and they informed the panchayat pradhan who further informed the police. A post-mortem was conducted where the doctor informed the boy’s father Rajendra Mahat that the death did not appear to be normal.

Based on this, an FIR was lodged as he suspected that his son had been murdered by Raj Thapa out of a personal grudge.

The Himachal High Court (HC) has dismissed a petition challenging the rejection of a representation against a transfer order, holding that no vested or indefeasible right exists for a government employee couple to be posted at the same or contiguous station.

While dismissing the petition, Justice Ajay Mohan Goel held that the petitioner occupies a state cadre post and is liable to serve anywhere within the state.

The HC observed that under the State Transfer Policy, in couple cases, the government may endeavour to post spouses at the same or nearby stations. However, such a policy does not confer a vested right on employees to insist on posting at a station of their choice.

The petitioner had assailed the rejection order dated August 23, 2025, whereby his representation against transfer from Government Senior Secondary School, Kashmaila, Mandi district, to Government Senior Secondary School, Deothi, Solan, was turned down by the competent authority.

He contended that his transfer was illegal as it fell under the “couple case” category and further argued that the transfer was based on a recommendatory note, rendering it arbitrary.

Opposing the plea, the state submitted that the petitioner had completed his normal tenure at Kashmaila and that the order rejecting his representation was reasoned and self-speaking.

After hearing both sides, Justice Goel held that no ground was made out to interfere with the impugned order. The HC also noted that the petitioner approached it in February, despite the rejection of his representation in August 2025, indicating delay and suggesting that the petition was an afterthought.

While dismissing the petition, the HC granted liberty to the petitioner and his wife to submit a joint representation seeking posting at or near the same station.

During the proceedings, it was brought to the HC’s notice that the petitioner’s wife is suffering from hepatitis-B and requires monthly visits to PGI-Chandigarh for treatment.

Taking note of this submission, the HC observed that if any representation is made on medical grounds, the authorities may consider it sympathetically, particularly as Solan is geographically closer to Chandigarh.