The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) on Monday opened the Leh-Manali national highway (NH-3), reconnecting Ladakh to the rest of India via Manali, according to an official statement.

This 475 km artery, crucial for the movement of armed forces and essential supplies to forward areas in Ladakh, was restored to operational status after remaining closed since late November 2024, the BRO said in the statement.

BRO’s dedicated snow clearance teams from Project Himank in Ladakh and Project Deepak in Himachal Pradesh cleared snow walls towering up to 15 feet at some locations at high-altitude passes, including Tanglang La (17,480 feet), Lachung La (16,616 feet), Nakee La (15,547 feet) and Baralacha La (16,340 feet).

The reopening of the NH-3 will provide a vital lifeline for the armed forces and the local population, ensuring the uninterrupted movement of essential supplies and personnel.

As part of the efforts to make Himachal one of the major IT hubs of the country, the government is taking major steps in building a comprehensive drone ecosystem in the state.

Drones have wide applications across sectors such as agriculture, disaster management, and healthcare.

“Encouraging drone technology is vital to achieving the goals of the ‘Green Himachal Vision’,” said a government spokesperson.

The spokesperson said that a significant initiative towards achieving this objective was the planned launch of drone taxi services in this financial year.

“These would support the transportation of agricultural produce and medical supplies to remote regions of the state and would significantly improve the connectivity and service delivery in rural areas,” he said, adding that drone stations would be set up in the districts of Hamirpur, Mandi and Kangra to modernise the agriculture and horticulture practices.

Besides, the spokesperson said the government was focusing on creating employment and self-employment opportunities through drone technology. In the year 2024-25, a total of 243 youth have already received drone-related training through government ITIs across the state.

To further prepare the youth for future opportunities, the state government has introduced cutting-edge courses in artificial intelligence and device science. Rajiv Gandhi Government College in Nagrota Bagwan, Kangra, would now offer degree courses in AI and data science.

Similarly, new technical courses have been approved for other institutions such as civil engineering degree at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Engineering and Technology, Pragatinagar, Shimla, and a diploma in computer science and engineering (AI & Machine learning) at Government Polytechnic Sundernagar, Mandi.

“The required teaching staff would be provided to ensure the successful implementation of these courses,” said the spokesperson.

He further said that the state government was committed to upskill the youth in AI and data science as it had a vast potential and had good future opportunities with better employment and entrepreneurial prospects.

“The government is establishing a dedicated innovation fund of Rs. two crore with an aim to boost the innovation ecosystem, besides supporting young innovators in turning their ideas into reality,” he said.

Apart from this, a digital university of innovation, entrepreneurship, skill and vocational studies would be set up at Ghumarwi in Bilaspur district through public-private partnership and self-financing model. “This university would serve as a centre for nurturing entrepreneurial spirit and innovative thinking among youth,” he said.

He further said that the government was unlocking new avenues in the field of information and technology through its forward-looking approach.

“It would lay a strong foundation for the empowerment of youth and also pave the way for economic prosperity of the state. These steps would prove fruitful in making Himachal a leading IT hub in the country,” he said.

India should immediately ban import of apples and other goods from Turkey and people should boycott tourism, said All India Congress Committee spokesperson Kuldeep Singh Rathore in a statement here on Sunday.

He said, “When Turkey was hit by a devastating earthquake in 2023, India started ‘Operation Dost’ and provided all possible assistance, including aid, National Disaster Response Force and sent drones to rescue the trapped people.

We even modified Kisan drones to carry medicine and food. However, the ungrateful country stabbed India as drones manufactured by Tehran were a part of Pakistan flock used against India.

Nation comes first and therefore I demand that India should immediately ban import of apple and other goods from Turkey,” he said in a video statement. He added that people should also stop going to Turkey.

Meanwhile, Fruit Vegetable Flower Growers Association president Harish Chauhan shared the sentiment and said, “Turkey is supporting Pakistan against India and we urge the Indian government to completely and permanently ban all import and export from Turkey — which is a leading exporter of apples to India.”

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has directed all the DCs and SPs to stay vigilant in view of the latest cross-border tension escalating between India and Pakistan.

While presiding over a high-level meeting here today, the CM took feedback from the all DCs and SPs regarding the prevailing condition in their respective districts. All educational institutions in district Una remained closed today.

“There is no need to panic as such but you all should remain watchful at all levels,” he said. He said government offices will remain operational across the state, including the Chief Minister’s office, office of the Chief Secretary and Control Rooms, with essential staff during the upcoming three holidays.

He directed the district administration of areas located along the inter-state borders to remain extra vigilant and take necessary measures as and when warned by sound of the sirens in case of possible escalation of tension. He directed that all must adhere to the instructions of the Centre and the state government to ensure the safety of people.

He also directed to maintain adequate security around the vital installations, including religious places, airports, dams and bridges. He also instructed regular mock drills in accordance with the advisories of the Union Government. He also assured to extend full support in strengthening the control rooms established across the state.

“We are proud of our bravehearts and action being taken by our armed forces in safeguarding the nation,” he said. He urged the people of the state to rely on the official information and not get swayed by rumours.

People residing in border areas close to Pathankot, especially in Kangra district, have been asked to remain alert and strictly adhere to the blackout directions and other advisory issued by the respective district administration. Directions have been issued to take strict action against hoarding of food and other essential items.

The HRTC has stopped about a dozen bus routes to Pathankot, Jammu and Amritsar as people are not travelling to these parts close to the borders with Pakistan.

In light of increasing water levels in the Beas river and its tributaries, the authorities at Larji Hydro Electric Project (HEP) Kullu, which has an installed capacity of 126 MW, have announced the controlled release of approximately 50 cubic meters per second (cumecs) of water from Larji Dam.

The dam management and the Mandi administration have issued a public advisory urging residents and tourists to stay away from the riverbanks during the next 24 hours.

The precautionary measure is being taken to ensure public safety and prevent any untoward incidents due to the sudden rise in water levels.

Officials have reiterated that such releases are standard operational procedures during high inflow conditions and are necessary for regulating dam safety and downstream flow.

Warning signage and public announcements have been arranged in the affected areas, particularly in locations frequented by tourists and locals near the Beas river.

The administration has appealed to the public to strictly follow the advisory and avoid venturing near the riverbanks for fishing, bathing or other activities. The authorities have requested cooperation from public to ensure safety and minimise risk.

A blackout will be observed in the border areas of Solan district, including Parwanoo, Baddi and Nalagarh tehsils, on Friday night from 8 pm to 6 am. The directive was issued by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Solan Manmohan Sharma.

The DC has urged all traders in these areas to close their shops at 8 pm and instructed the concerned Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) to ensure compliance with the blackout orders in the panchayats under their jurisdiction.

The SDMs have also been asked to request industrialists not to assign employees to night shifts during this period.

Additionally, the SDM of Kasauli has been asked to coordinate closely with the Army.

The Deputy Commissioner said that depending on the evolving situation, blackout orders may be executed to other areas of the district. He appealed to citizens to cooperate.

A batch of 49 Junior Engineers from Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam is currently undergoing a transformative five-day residential training programme, which is aimed at cultivating a disciplined and health-conscious lifestyle.

The programme is being held at Antarnirman Complex of Yog Manav Vikas Trust (YMVT), Banikhet, in Chamba.

YMVT chairperson Kiran Dodeja said the group included 12 young women, with all participants under the age of 30.

Having completed their technical induction training, the engineers focused on understanding the holistic aspects of health, wellness and personal discipline.

The programme covers both theoretical and practical components. The participants are being introduced to human anatomy, mental and intellectual functioning, and the integration of daily activities as a form of healing rather than stress-inducing routines.

The training emphasises the science behind a healthy lifestyle, encouraging the engineers to reframe daily chores as therapeutic acts.

Each day begins in the ‘brahma muhurat’ with yoga, asana and pranayama sessions, followed by meditation in the largest dome in Himachal Pradesh.

Lectures and activities focus on lifestyle diseases and their prevention, the benefits of Ayurvedic living, the importance of pranas (life energies) and maintaining digestive health through mindful eating.

Only ‘satvik’ food is served during the programme, and packaged items, sugary drinks and processed foods are strictly avoided.

Dodeja said stress management techniques, purification of ‘nadis’ (energy channels), cardiovascular exercises and daily aerobic walks were also part of the rigorous schedule. The training programme also included visits to the tourist and religious places.

The engineers expressed immense satisfaction and a renewed sense of purpose after participating in the crash course.

They also pledged to adopt these lifestyle practices in their daily lives, with the aim of enhancing personal well-being and contributing more effectively to their organisation and the nation.

The Himachal Government has decided to convert part-time Class IV workers, who have completed seven years of continuous service as on March 31, 2025, into daily wagers in various departments.

The decision was taken in a Cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu here today.

The Cabinet is likely to meet tomorrow again and can deliberate on issues like the enhancement of the retirement age of employees from 58 years to 59 years along other the recommendations of the Cabinet Sub-committee on Resource Mobilisation.

The Cabinet approved the shifting of the office of the wildlife wing of the Forest Department to Dharamsala.

This is the second big office after that of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC), which is being shifted from Shimla to Dharamsala.

The Cabinet also approved the shifting of the district jail from Mandi to the newly constructed building at Ner Chowk. The existing district jail premises in Mandi will be converted into an open jail for women inmates.

It gave approval to the Himachal Pradesh Online Filing and Processing of Court Cases Rules, 2025, under the Revenue Department.

These rules would allow revenue courts to receive and process applications, appeals, revisions, reviews and other petitions online.

The Cabinet gave nod to the preparation of development plans for Special Areas of Chintpurni in Una district and Sarahan in Shimla district and the Bhota planning area in Hamirpur district to regulate unplanned growth of rural settlements and unchecked commercial development along the national highway.

The Cabinet approved new guidelines for the requisition of vacancies, the selection process and the issuance of appointment offers in various government departments.

It decided to constitute a Cabinet sub- committee to look into these aspects for future appointments.

It also sanctioned the allotment of 350 new stage carriage routes in the state as well as extra routes based on local demand, for the operation of 18-seater tempo travellers by private operators, to enhance public transport services.

The Cabinet approved the filling of 81 posts of Medical Officer, including 68 posts of Casualty Medical Officer and 13 posts in various other categories. It also sanctioned the recruitment of 18 qualified professionals in the Department of Forensic Services.

The Cabinet approved the construction of a commercial complex comprising two highrise buildings of 14 and 17 storeys at Chotta Shimla in the state capital to meet the growing administrative and commercial needs.

It also designated the Jal Shakti Department as the service provider on behalf of panchayats for the execution and maintenance of drinking water supply schemes under the 15th Finance Commission.

The Cabinet approved the transfer of 21 bighas at Changar Palasiyan in favour of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for the expansion of AIIMS-Bilaspur, free of cost.

It also sanctioned the transfer of 52 bighas at Sarol in Chamba district to the Department of School Education and Literacy, Union Ministry of Education, for the functioning of a Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya.

The rapidly expanding real estate sector in the Dharampur and Kumarhatti region has become a hotbed of rule violations—ranging from selling flats on notarised lease deeds with no legal validity to unauthorised borewell digging and power theft.

In a recent crackdown, the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL) imposed a penalty of Rs 4 lakh on a builder in Gadiana village near Dharampur for drawing electricity through a temporary connection meant solely for construction work. The builder had constructed 12 flats without availing a permanent connection, continuing the irregularity for nearly two years.

“The builder has also been directed to install a transformer. A penalty of Rs 4 lakh has been imposed,” confirmed Vikas Gupta, Executive Engineer, HPSEBL, Parwanoo.

In another case at Kheel Jhasli near Kumarhatti, a builder was found using a domestic electricity connection to power a borewell supplying water to multiple flats—an illegal act under the Electricity Act. Following a complaint by a local resident, HPSEBL officials investigated and reclassified the consumer category from domestic to commercial.

“Our inquiry revealed that 150 units of electricity were used over the year. A penalty at the commercial rate of Rs 5.50 per unit has been levied—calculated at double the units consumed as per provisions of the Electricity Act,” added Gupta.

HPSEBL officials admit they face significant challenges in identifying such violations due to a shortage of field staff and lack of coordination with revenue authorities. Often, they become aware of such irregularities only after receiving complaints from vigilant locals.

With hundreds of flats constructed along the Kumarhatti, Kheel Jhasli and Dharampur-Kanda Road, residents believe many more violations remain undetected. Apart from causing major losses to the state exchequer, these practices also mislead unsuspecting buyers, who often find themselves entangled in long-drawn legal disputes.

“A large number of such cases are pending in courts at Kasauli and Solan, where duped buyers wait for justice for years,” noted a lawyer practicing at the Kasauli court.

The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) is looking for buildings in Dharamsala and other parts of Kangra to shift its head office in the district.

The decision to shift the head office of the HPTDC from Shimla to Kangra was taken in the recent meeting of the corporation board headed by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

Sources said that the HPTDC authorities are considering housing the HPTDC head office in its Hotel Kunal or Hotel Kashmir House located in Dharamsala.

Hotel Kunal is located in heart of Dharamsala city. However, building of the hotel would have to be remodelled to house the head office of the HPTDC.

The Kashmir House Hotel is on Khara Danda road leading from Kotwali market to McLeodganj.

The Kashmir House hotel at one time used to house the office of former CM Virbhadra Singh during his winter sojourn to Dharamsala.

Besides, a building brought up with the assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Rajoana area of Kangra district was also under consideration for housing the head office of the HPTDC.

Chairman of the HPTDC RS Bali, when asked, admitted that the said buildings were under consideration for shifting the head office of the corporation to Kangra.

He said the government might take two months to shift the head office of the HPTDC to Kangra as logistic arrangements have to be made for housing the offices of about 300 employees of corporation who would be moved from Shimla to Kangra.

Bali said that Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had resolved to make Kangra as tourism capital of the state.

The shifting of head office of the HPTDC from Shimla to Kangra was part of that move. The HPTDC office was the second biggest office to be moved from Shimla to Kangra after the Himachal Pradesh School Education Board was shifted from Shimla to Kangra in late 1970s.

Moving the head office of the HPTDC from Shimla to Kangra was the first big move of the present Congress government aimed at pleasing the people of Kangra.

Kangra, which was earlier part of Punjab and now is the biggest district of the state, was merged with hill states to form Himachal.

Since inclusion of Kangra into Himachal many protests have been staged in the area alleging discrimination with the area vis-à-vis upper areas of the state, especially Shimla.

Former CM of Shimla and senior BJP leader Shanta Kumar and former Congress minister Vijai Singh Mankotia had been at the forefront in the movements of the alleged discrimination with Kangra and demand of winter capital status for the district.

To counter these charges of discrimination, former Congress Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had started the winter sojourn move to Kangra and also brought the Assembly complex in Kangra that now hosts the winter session of the Himachal Assembly.

Besides shifting the head office of the HPTDC from Shimla to Kangra, talks are also going on to shift the head office of wildlife wing of the Forest Department from Shimla to Kangra.

HPTDC Chairman RS Bali admitted that the said buildings were under consideration for shifting to Kangra. The government might take two months to shift the head office of the HPTDC to Kangra.

Bali said that Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had resolved to make Kangra the tourism capital of the state. Hotel Kunal and Kashmir House in Dharamsala were under consideration.

The Himalayan grey ‘langur’, also known as Chamba’s sacred ‘langur’, is losing its habitat and is at present classified as a critically endangered species, as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list.

The Himalayan grey ‘langur’ is endemic to the Chamba valley where its population is now estimated at around 250, raising serious concerns among environmentalists.

According to sources, Forest Department officials have launched a campaign to raise awareness among the local population about the dangers faced by this rare species.

The Himalayan grey ‘langur’ inhabits sub-alpine moist deciduous forests and is confined to an estimated area of less than 500 sq km in the Chamba region. Adult male ‘langurs’ are characterised by a distinctive mane around their shoulders.

Primarily folivores, they feed on leaves, buds, flowers, fruits and other plant materials, though they may also consume insects.

Habitat loss due to deforestation and land degradation, along with increasing human-‘langur’ conflict, particularly due to crop raiding pose significant threats to the survival of this species.

Ongoing conservation efforts, such as the Himalayan Langur Project, aim at mitigating conflicts, monitoring their population and promoting long-term conservation strategies. NGO Zoo Outreach is also actively working on habitat conservation for this species in the district.

District Forest Officer (Wildlife) Kuldeep Singh Jamwal said that the department had not conducted any official population survey so far.

He added that the species was found in various parts of Chamba district, including areas near human settlements, outside the designated wildlife sanctuaries.

A recent survey, however, revealed that only about 250 ‘langurs’ of this species remain in the wild in Chamba.

In view of their declining number, the Forest Department has launched a special conservation campaign under which villagers are being educated about the importance of the Himalayan grey ‘langurs’, not just as part of Chamba’s natural heritage, but also as a species of global ecological significance.

The Forest Department has appealed to local residents to protect ‘langurs’ and refrain from causing them harm. The officials emphasised that preserving the langurs’ natural habitat is critical not just for the survival of the species, but also for maintaining the ecological balance and biodiversity of the Chamba region.

The Forest Department has urged the public to support conservation efforts, ensuring that future generations also have the opportunity to witness this remarkable species.

The Chamba ‘langur’ is recognised by its grey coat and long tail, distinguishing it from other ‘langur’ species.

According to experts, this species is found only in the high-altitude regions of Chamba district. While some researchers speculate that it might also be inhabiting parts of Pakistan and Kashmir though no concrete evidence of it has been found so far.

The Municipal Commissioner’s court has ruled that the remaining two floors of the Sanjauli mosque are illegal and has ordered Himachal Pradesh Waqf Board and Sanjauli Mosque Committee to demolish these floors.

This decision follows the Waqf board’s failure to present the mosque’s revenue records during the court hearing.

The Waqf board’s lawyer argued that the mosque originally existed before 1947 and was rebuilt after demolition.

However, the Commissioner’s court questioned why necessary permissions, including architectural plans, were not obtained from the municipal corporation for the reconstruction.

The court determined that the construction was carried out in violation of regulations. Earlier, on October 5, the Commissioner’s court had directed the Waqf board and Sanjauli Mosque Committee to demolish the top three floors of the five-storey mosque and submit revenue records for the remaining two floors.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu yesterday inaugurated six indoor patient departments (IPDs) at the Atal Institute of Medical Super Specialties at Chamiyana in Shimla district.

He said that his government would spend at least Rs 200 crore this year on the installation of the latest medical equipment and technology in the health institutions of the state.

He said, “This hospital will have high-end medical technology. We will shortly start robotic surgery at this hospital, which will be the first such facility in the state.

The facility will be started at Tanda medical college as well.” He added that the latest MRI machine had been approved for the hospital.

Sukhu said, “We have approved high-end MRI machines for the medical colleges in Tanda, Hamirpur and Nerchowk.

As the Chamiyana hospital has been under construction for quite some time, my government has decided to complete the work on its own and sanctioned Rs 23 crore for it.” he added, “The hospital has a capacity of 337 beds and is equipped with high-end operating theatres and a cath lab.

While it has just started operations, it will become fully functional within the next six months.”

Health Minister Dhani Ram Shandil, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, Secretary (Health) M Sudha Devi and AIMSS Principal Dr Brij Sharma were present on the occasion.

The hospital was inaugurated in September 2022 but the super speciality departments of the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) and Hospital, Shimla, could not be shifted here in the absence of a proper approach road, transport facilities etc.

The OPDs of eight super specialty departments, namely urology, cardiology, nephrology, endocrinology, plastic surgery, gastroenterology, neurology and CVTS, were shifted to the Chamiyana hospital last year.

Now, the IPDs of the departments of gastroenterology, neurology, endocrinology, nephrology, urology and plastic surgery had been shifted to the Chamiyana hospital.

In the next two months, cardiology and cardiothoracic and vascular surgery (CTVs) services would also be transferred to this hospital.

The shortage of staff, especially senior residents and nurses, and the lack of residential facilities in and around the hospital were the biggest hurdles in starting the IPDs at the hospital.

“We are looking for rented accommodation near the hospital. Besides, we are also exploring the possibility of adding another floor to one of the blocks on the premises for providing accommodation to doctors and nurses,” said Dr Sudhir Sharma, Medical Superintendant of the hospital.

Meanwhile, Kuldeep Tanwar, a local resident, said that the government should ensure proper transport facilities for patients to and fro the hospital.

“At time, taxi drivers charge Rs 500 to ferry patients from Bhattakuffar to the hospital at a distance of 3 km,” he added.