Four houses were gutted in a fire that broke out in Seri village in Shimla district’s Rohru subdivision in the early hours of Monday.

A cow was burnt alive, no loss of life was reported in the incident. One of the houses caught fire and it soon spread to adjoining houses as gas cylinders kept in the kitchen they exploded. A marriage function was going on in one of the houses engulfed in the fire.

Four fire tenders were rushed in and it took almost three-and-a-half hours to bring it under control. Losses incurred are being assessed and arrangements for stay and other basic necessities are being made. An investigation is underway to ascertain the cause of the fire, police said, adding that preliminary reports hint at an electrical short-circuit.

With samosa politics heating up in Himachal Pradesh, a BJP MLA has ordered 11 samosas online for Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

Taking a dig at the state’s Congress government over CID conducting an enquiry into the sequence of events that led to samosas brought for the chief minister being served to his security staff, Ashish Sharma, the MLA from Hamirpur, shared this information on social media on Saturday.

However, the Congress maintained that the state government had not ordered any such inquiry and it could be an internal matter of CID. A top CID official has also said that no formal inquiry was ordered into the incident.

“The state is already grappling with problems like unemployment, financial crisis, delay in employees’ pension and arrears of DA allowance and at such a time, ordering a CID inquiry on samosas brought for Chief Minister Sukhu is very disappointing,” Sharma said in a Facebook post in Hindi.

He said when the people of the hill state are fighting for their rights, the government should focus on real issues and not on such small matters.

“In protest against this, I have sent 11 samosas to the chief minister, so that I can remind him that it is more important to solve the real problems of the people,” he added.

On October 21, Sukhu had gone to attend a programme at the CID headquarters in Shimla, where samosas and cakes brought for the chief minister were served to his staff instead.

Subsequently, CID officials ordered an inquiry into the episode. A noting by a senior official on the inquiry report said the act was anti-government and anti-CID.

Sudhir Sharma, BJP MLA from Dharamsala, in a statement, said the Congress government has made Himachal Pradesh a laughing stock in the country.

Both the MLAs are known critics of Sukhu. They were among the nine legislators, including the Congress rebels and Independent MLAs, who had voted against the Congress in the Rajya Sabha polls earlier in the year. They later joined BJP and won bypolls.

State BJP vice-president and Kangra MP Rajiv Bhardwaj asked what was inside the box, along with the samosas, that prompted the government to order an enquiry.

The state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the youth wing of BJP, distributed samosas in Shimla on Saturday and raised slogans against the government for ignoring serious issues and probing petty matters.

State BJYM president Tilak Raj said people are unhappy with the government, educated and unemployed youngsters do not have jobs, but CID is probing non-serving of samosas.

He claimed that the law-and-order situation has deteriorated in the state, drug abuse is on the rise among youngsters, including school-going children, of the 1,170 youngsters in the age group of 15-30 years admitted at rehabilitation centres, 35 per cent are “chitta” addicts, but the government is not bothered.

State BJP media in-charge Karan Nanda said the government has failed on all fronts. Himachal Pradesh, which was known as “dev bhoomi”, is in news for all the wrong reasons, such as toilet tax, freight tax and an inquiry into samosas, he said.

On the other hand, the Congress leaders accused BJP of raising the controversy only to harass the chief minister politically.

A Congress spokesperson said BJP is bent upon harming the cause of the state government.

Naresh Chauhan, media advisor to the chief minister, said the state government did not order any such inquiry and it could be an internal matter of CID, a stance maintained by the agency as well.

Sukhu had on Friday said the probe was into the “misbehaviour” of officials but the media presented it as an enquiry into missing samosas and claimed that BJP has been running a smear campaign against the Congress government since his party secured a majority in the Assembly election.

Reiterating that it was an internal matter, CID Director General Ranjhan Ojha said in Shimla on Friday, “The chief minister was the chief guest at the launch of a data centre for the cybercrime wing. After the event, the officials were having tea in the office when someone asked where were the eatables brought for the function and we said — ‘pata karo kya hua’”.

“Neither have we issued any notice nor called for any explanation. The matter should not be politicised. We simply asked for a clarification as to what happened and a written report was submitted. We have no intention of taking action against anyone.”

State Drug Controller Manish Kapoor confirmed, “After receiving information from the state CID, a show-cause notice was issued to the company at Baddi.

However, the firm’s response was unsatisfactory, leading us to halt production and sales of the implicated products.”

Products such as tramadol, nitrazepam and alprazolam were manufactured by the company, with tramadol sales under particular scrutiny.

The CID investigation revealed that large quantities of tramadol were allegedly diverted by a trader based in Una, who distributed them illegally in states, including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Bihar.

An FIR was filed in October by the state CID’s anti-narcotics task force after discovering that the unit produced substantial quantities of psychotropic drugs within months and sold in states with suspected tax evasion.

The CID reported the drugs were allegedly under-priced, raising tax concerns. Tramadol, an opioid pain reliever, is widely abused for its sedative effects.

The CID has directed the firm to halt distribution of existing stock until the investigation concludes.

Caught in the ‘samosa and cake’ controversy, the Crime Investigation Department (CID) here on Friday tried to downplay the incident by terming it as an internal matter and urged everyone not to politicise the matter.

“It is our department’s internal matter. The government has nothing to do with it,” said Sanjeev Ranjan Ojha, Director General (DG), CID.

Meanwhile, the BJP has gone all out in slamming the government and the CID for “ordering an inquiry into missing ‘samosas’ and turning a blind eye to the cases that warrant its attention”.

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The controversy erupted on Thursday evening when it came to light that the CID had ordered a probe into how the snacks ordered for Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu landed in the plates of his security staff instead when he came to office on October 21.

More than the probe, it was the noting of a senior officer on the report, who accused the CID personnel named in the inquiry of having acted in an ‘anti-CID’ and ‘anti-government’ manner.

In an apparent attempt to play down the ‘samosa’ storm, the DG said that merely verbal orders were issued to find out what happened to the snacks ordered for the chief minister.

No inquiry has been ordered, no explanation has been sought and no action will be taken against anyone. People should refrain from escalating and politicising the matter. It’s our internal matter and it’s not appropriate to use it to target anyone,” he said.

The BJP, though, seemed in no mood to take the DG’s advice as it has gone all out to use the controversy and put both the government and the CID in the dock.

The All India Congress Committee (AICC) has dissolved the entire Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC).

“The Congress president has approved the proposal to dissolve the entire state unit of the PCC, district presidents and Block Congress Committees of Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee with immediate effect,” said AICC general secretary KC Venugopal.

The AICC release, however, does not mention whether HPCC president Pratibha Singh will continue in her role.

Incidentally, Pratibha Singh had sent the proposal to dissolve the entire state unit to the AICC a few days back.

She has said on several occasions that she wanted to reconstitute the Pradesh Congress Committee by bringing in more enthusiastic and committed individuals in places of those who were inactive and were not giving enough time to the organisation.

A virtual ‘nikah’ was solemnised in Himachal Pradesh with the groom in Turkiye and the bride in Mandi.

The wedding ceremony of Adnan Muhammad, a resident of Bilaspur, had to be performed virtually as the company for which he works in Turkiye refused to grant him leave, his family said.

Also, the ailing grandfather of the bride insisted that she get married at the earliest, they added.

The family of the groom and the bride agreed to a virtual ‘nikah’ and the barat from Bilaspur reached Mandi on Sunday. The marriage was held on Monday.

The couple connected through video calling and a qazi performed the rituals with the duo saying “qubool hai” thrice.

Akram Mohammad, the uncle of the bride, said the wedding was made possible only due to the advanced technology.

Last year in July, Ashish Singha from Kotgarh in Shimla and Shivani Thakur from Bhuntar in Kullu tied the knot through video-conferencing as the barat could not reach its destination due to landslides and flash floods.

The Himachal government has urged the Union Ministry of Railways to explore the possibility of running the Kalka-Shimla UNESCO World Heritage train on green hydrogen.

In a letter written to the Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has urged the minister to consider transforming this historic rail line into a green energy-powered route.

He added, “The state government aims to make Himachal Pradesh a green energy state by March 31, 2026 and has undertaken several initiatives to achieve this goal,” he stated.

The CM stated that the state government is working on a six-pronged strategy to transform Himachal into a certified Green Energy State.
The state is on track to replace its current thermal power consumption of 1500 Million Units (MUs) with renewable sources.
He said that the Himachal government is focussing on solar power generation, with plans to establish a capacity of 2,000 MW over the next four to five years.
Solar power generation has doubled in the last two years, reflecting the government’s commitment to this clean energy source.

Sukhu said the state government is working on a six-pronged strategy to transform Himachal into a certified Green Energy State, contributing significantly to India’s climate commitments and aligning with the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). This strategic transition will ensure a fair and just shift towards sustainable energy while also boosting the state’s economy, he stated.

The Chief Minister stated that Himachal was on track to replace its current thermal power consumption of 1500 Million Units (MUs) with renewable sources, including hydro, solar, and wind power. “Currently, the state consumes 13,500 MUs of power, with a large portion already derived from renewable sources. Achieving 90 percent renewable energy consumption in the power distribution network will enable Himachal Pradesh to be certified as a fully Green State of the country,” said Sukhu.

This transition is expected to be completed within a year and will also allow industries in the state to apply for the ‘Eco Mark’, enhancing the value of their products, he stated.

He said that the Himachal government is focussing on solar power generation, with plans to establish a capacity of 2,000 MW over the next four to five years. Solar power generation has doubled in the last two years, reflecting the government’s commitment to this clean energy source.

The Chief Minister said that, in addition, the state government has launched the ‘Green Panchayat’ scheme, a decentralized renewable energy initiative in the State. Under this scheme, 500 KW grid-connected ground-mounted solar power plants are being set up at the panchayat level. Income from the sale of this power will be used to fund eco-friendly and sustainable development projects.

He further said that the state is also making significant progress in the production of ‘Green Hydrogen.’ The first facility, in collaboration with Oil India Limited (OIL), is underway and discussions with private investors for more such facilities are ongoing.

Sukhu said as part of the state’s efforts to promote electric vehicles (EVs), 1,500 buses from the State Transport Corporation’s fleet of 3,200 buses will be replaced with electric buses over the next three years. Additionally, six major National Highways have been developed as green corridors for EVs.

Residents of Baddi are voicing strong opposition to a proposal to upgrade the Baddi Municipal Council to a municipal corporation, asserting it would primarily benefit industrialists and real estate developers while imposing higher taxes on locals.

Community members argue that a corporation would increase the financial burden on residents and have vowed to take legal action if the upgrade proceeds without their consent.

Prominent figures, including former Baddi Municipal Council vice-president Man Singh Mehta, BJP district secretary Gurmail Chawdhary and DS Chandel, a former BJP executive committee member, have publicly denounced the proposal.

They argue the upgrade would serve industrialists and developers exclusively, exacerbating challenges for ordinary residents. A similar attempt to elevate Baddi’s status was previously halted after widespread local protests during a BJP-led administration.

A significant concern raised by these residents is the plan to incorporate 15 gram panchayats, stretching from Kotiyan to Saned, into the proposed corporation. They highlight that these predominantly rural communities are opposed to the change, which they believe disregards their needs and circumstances.

Additionally, residents point out that the population of Baddi itself, estimated at around 29,000 as per the 2011 Census, has not been formally re-evaluated, suggesting the town may not meet the requirements for a corporation. With peripheral areas included, the combined population of Baddi, Barotiwala and 19 surrounding panchayats is estimated between 40,000 and 50,000—only just meeting the minimum criteria.

In contrast, residents of a Himachal Pradesh Housing and Urban Development Authority (HIMUDA) colony in Mandhala have submitted a request to be included in the upgraded corporation.

According to their representation to the Baddi SDM, Mandhala’s proximity to the Barotiwala industrial area and the urban nature of their community make it a fitting candidate for incorporation.

Led by their colony president, they argue that the area, which spans over 914 bighas and includes 880 residential plots, already possesses essential amenities such as a petrol pump, medical facility, community hall, club, nursery school, shopping centre, and even a police post.

The divergent views underscore the complexity of the proposal, with many fearing the upgrade will add undue tax burdens on locals while primarily catering to industrial and real estate interests.

Meanwhile, urbanised communities on Baddi’s outskirts see potential benefits in being included in the corporation’s jurisdiction, further complicating the decision for local authorities.

The move also has political connotation as a party in the Opposition usually opposes it while that in the ruling usually supports it.

In case the proposal sees the light of the day, a tug-of-war will be unavoidable to hold the coveted post of Mayor, which will be equally significant than an MLA’s post.

In a decisive move to curb illegal mining and protect Himachal Pradesh’s fragile environment, the Paonta Sahib Forest Division has intensified its crackdown under the leadership of Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Aishwarya Raj.

Throughout October, the division’s field staff conducted a series of surprise raids that resulted in Rs 6.84 lakh in fines across 29 cases, the highest monthly penalty the division has ever imposed for illegal mining.

The recent raids, uncovering operations involving tractors, trucks, and tractor-trailers, spanned four key areas: 14 cases in Paonta, five in Majra, three in Girinagar and seven in Bhagani. These actions form part of a larger strategy aimed at deterring unlawful resource extraction that threatens local ecosystems and communities. The heightened vigilance reflects the division’s commitment to sustainable resource management and environmental conservation.

Since the start of 2024, the division has levied penalties totaling Rs 43.4 lakh across 222 cases, signaling a sharp rise in enforcement actions against illegal mining. In the period from January 2023 to date, cumulative penalties have reached approximately Rs 86 lakh. This marked increase demonstrates the division’s dedication to combating illicit mining practices that harm biodiversity and contribute to environmental degradation, such as soil erosion, river pollution and habitat destruction.

DFO Aishwarya Raj highlighted the importance of these efforts, stating: “Our aim is to curb illegal mining operations that deplete natural resources and threaten local ecosystems. This initiative is about penalties as well as raising awareness and ensuring compliance with environmental laws.”

In alignment with the state government’s commitment to ecological conservation, the Paonta Forest Division has strengthened its enforcement techniques, conducting surprise inspections and working closely with law enforcement to prevent offenders from evading penalties. Under a zero-tolerance policy led by DFO Raj, the division’s actions are setting an example within Himachal Pradesh, inspiring other divisions to take a firmer stance on similar issues.

By imposing record penalties, the Paonta Forest Division sends a clear message about the consequences of illegal mining. With continued vigilance and enforcement efforts planned, the Division aims not only to safeguard the region’s natural resources but also to serve as a deterrent against further unlawful activities. These measures underscore the importance of sustainable development while prioritizing the conservation of precious environmental resources.

After the Diwali celebrations, Himachal has shown promising air quality with the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Shimla remaining comfortably below 50. This has attracted tourists to the hill queen.

The other towns across Himachal also reported experiencing normal to good levels.

Environment experts credit a growing awareness of ‘Green Diwali’ practices and an increasing shift towards using green crackers for the improvement.

Suresh Atri, an environmental expert from the Himachal Pradesh Environment Department, highlighted efforts to promote eco-friendly celebrations.

“We have established nine monitoring stations across the state to keep track of noise and air pollution levels, monitoring suspended particles,” said Atri.

He said, “There has been a considerable improvement when compared to data from previous years, with our results showing about a 30% to 40% reduction in pollution. The educational and awareness programmes are indeed changing people’s attitudes.”

Tourist hotspots such as Dharamsala, Manali, Kullu and Sundernagar are reporting air quality at consistently safe levels.

However, Atri acknowledged challenges in industrial zones like Baddi, Paonta Sahib and Kala Amb, where pollution levels are higher.

“Compared to other north Indian states, Himachal’s air quality is favourable. Himachal offers fresh air, sunlight and a healthy environment. Come and enjoy this wholesome atmosphere, which will benefit both physical and mental health,” he added.

Tourists visiting Shimla are taking notice of the healthier environment, praising the fresh air, scenic beauty and cleanliness. A tourist from Delhi, Swati, told ANI, “The air quality here is excellent as compared to Delhi. There’s greenery everywhere, and it feels refreshing. The situation in Delhi is alarming–the pollution and smog blanket the city. We need to preserve this purity for the sake of future generations.”

Another tourist, Sanjeev Bhootani from Chandigarh, expressed similar sentiments, saying, “Coming to Shimla has been wonderful. I can breathe freely here, and the fresh air and beautiful atmosphere have completely uplifted my spirits. Shimla feels like a heaven compared to the crowded and polluted cities.”

The HP High Court has directed the state government to consider a proposal for making the Police Department, irrespective of its officer(s)/official(s) rank and profile, to be a state cadre.

A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Satyen Vaidya permitted the Police Department to transfer non-gazetted officers grade-II, who are brought on the district rolls, to be posted to the Vigilance, CID, TTR, Ranger office, CTS, police headquarters, etc, anywhere in the state.

The court directed that the non-gazetted officers grade-II could also be posted in battalions after the completion of basic training. However, that the battalion essentially need not be in its home district.

The court clarified in its order that the department would also be at liberty to transfer every constable to specialised constabulary for cybercrime, vigilance, intelligence narcotic, SDRF etc., as there was a dire need for modern policing.

While passing these directions, the court observed that “the necessity of issuing aforesaid directions otherwise arises given the fact that the post of non-gazetted officer grade-II was made a district cadre under the archaic Punjab Police Rules enacted in 1934, which were originally applied to the combined Punjab including the current Himachal, Punjab and Haryana.

Such provisions were simply incorporated in the HP Police Act despite the fact that as against meagre perks and salaries to the non-gazetted officers at the time of enactment of the Punjab Police Rules, 1934, the same have drastically improved.

Therefore, like many of the counterparts with the same or even lesser salary and perks in other government sector, who hold state cadre post, the police also needs to be made state cadre post or else faith in the police system would be completely eroded for we have invariably found that many of the police official(s)/officer(s) have been posted for years together at one station and we are not at all ready to accept the plea that services of all such persons are absolutely ‘indispensable’.”

“We may also add that in recent times we came across a number of cases where many of the police official(s)/officer(s) have been found indulging in serious and heinous offences like carrying and transporting narcotic drugs and psychotropic substance or illicit drugs falling within the purview of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and even blatantly violating law,” the court observed.

It observed that “One such incident took place in this very police station of Nalagarh where seven of its officials/officer have been found guilty of custodial torture and their services were placed under suspension and what is still worse is that these officials did not choose to surrender even after their bail petitions were dismissed by this court.”

The court directed the DGP to file a compliance affidavit by November 30.
Dire need for modern policing

The High Court has clarified in its order that the Police Department will be at liberty to transfer every constable to specialised constabulary for cybercrime, vigilance, intelligence narcotic, SDRF etc., as there is a dire need for modern policing

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the Durgesh Aranya Zoological Park being constructed at a cost of Rs 612 crore at Bankhandi in the Dehra constituency of Kangra district would become India’s first zoo to receive certification from the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) for its sustainable and eco-friendly initiatives.

He said, “The project has officially been registered with the IGBC, which focuses on building and landscape certification. It will validate the park’s adherence to high environmental standards.” He added that the IGBC certification process signified the Himachal Government’s strong commitment to environmental stewardship and ecological balance.

Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla and Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu have extended heartiest greetings to the people of the state on Diwali
The Governor expressed hope that Diwali would bring abundant happiness, peace and prosperity to everyone in the state
Sukhu urged people to strengthen the bonds of unity and brotherhood on Diwali
Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri said Diwali would usher in renewed strength, progress and wealth for the state
Sukhu said, “The certification underscores the state’s priority to integrate sustainability into tourism and infrastructure development. Once completed, Durgesh Aranya will not only be a tourist attraction but also a model of sustainable infrastructure, blending conservation with innovation.”

He added, “The first phase of the park project would cover 25 hectares at an estimated cost of Rs 230 crore and is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2025. The entire project, with a total investment of Rs 619 crore, aims to establish the park as a significant tourist attraction and a cornerstone for boosting the tourism sector in Kangra and nearby districts.”

He said that the state government had secured permission from the Central Zoo Authority for establishing 34 animal enclosures within the Van Vaibhav Path and the Biodiversity Court of the zoological park in its first phase. “This approval enables the creation of spaces to showcase 73 species, including the Asiatic lion, hog deer, monitor lizard, crocodile, gharial and various bird species,” he added.

The Chief Minister said that a notable feature of the zoo would be a nocturnal house, designed to provide a unique view of elusive cat species. The zoo would also have a wetland aviary, designed to showcase indigenous bird species in a natural, immersive environment, he added.

He said, “The zoological park will boost tourism and provide employment and self-employment opportunities for the youth, thereby strengthening the local economy. With its natural beauty, unique attractions and eco-friendly infrastructure, the park will make Kangra district a premiere tourist destination.”