A massive landslide near Nigulsari in Kinnaur district on Wednesday killed 14 persons, including a child and five women, and injured 13 others while 50 are feared buried under the debris.The tragedy struck around 12.30 pm. Several vehicles, including a truck and 42-seater Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus, were hit by the landslide. The bus was on its way from Reckong Peo in Kinnaur to Shimla

The incident was reported by the bus driver, who was seriously injured. The bus and at least three other vehicles, including a Bolero and Tata Sumo, were buried under the debris while the truck was hit by a boulder and plunged into the Sutlej.

Kinnaur SP Saju Ram Rana said 10 bodies had been recovered from the rubble so far. He said the rescue operation was being carried out by ITBP, police and NDRF personnel while 10 ambulances and four earth-movers were also at the spot

.Due to darkness the operations were halted for sometime during the night but were resumed at 6 a.m and wreckages of HRTC bus has been spotted. Over 100 personnel of ITBP, Army and police are engaged in operations. Chief minister Jai Ram Thakur is expected to visit the slide site shortly.

State Disaster Management Director Sudesh Kumar Mokhta said the landslide occurred at Chaura village on National Highway-5 in Nigulsari area, 170 km from Shimla.

Video captures horror

A video clip of the landslide showed boulders falling down the mountainside into the Sutlej river below. This was followed by a big chunk of the mountain collapsing on the National Highway 5 and into the river.

Earlier, the Tata Sumo was located under the debris and its eight passengers were found dead, he said.

A car was partially damaged while another was fully damaged. The rescue teams were trying to pull them out with the help of a crane, officials said. The rescue had to be halted late in the evening as boulders were rolling down the mountainside, posing grave risk to rescuers.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, who apprised PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of the situation, said both of them had assured full support to the state. The PM announced an ex gratia of Rs2 lakh each from the PM’s National Relief Fund to the next of kin of landslide victims while Rs50,000 each would be given to the injured.

Toddler, 5 women among victims

Rohit, Kayao, Shimla

Vijay Kumar, Jhol, Hamipur

Meera Devi, Nanspo, Kinnaur

Nitisha, Sungra, Kinnaur

Prem Kumari, Labrang , Kinnaur

Kamlesh Kumar, Rechuta, Solan

Vanshuka (toddler), Sapni, Kinnaur

Gyan Dassi, Sapni , Kinnaur

Devi Chand, Palingi, Kinnaur

One body yet to be identified

SOURCE : THE TRIBUNE

The state government on Wednesday further enhanced the cap on social gathering as a maximum of 200 persons indoors and 50 per cent of the capacity of outdoor venue would be allowed.

The decision was taken by the Cabinet at its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, here today. However, the Cabinet decided against opening schools as online study would continue till further orders.

The Cabinet decided to promote first year and second year college students to next higher class. New admissions would start in colleges in the last week of July this year and new academic year for under graduate classes would commence from August 16.

The council of ministers while reviewing the Covid-19 situation in the State decided to raise the limit of gathering in all social, academic, entertainment, cultural, political and other congregations, including marriage celebrations. It was also decided that Covid-appropriate behaviour would be ensured by the respective Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police at prominent tourist places.

The Cabinet appreciated the   progress of vaccination status of teaching and non-teaching staff. It was informed that about 90 per cent teaching and non-teaching staff have been vaccinated till June 30. It was also informed that about 25,000 college students were vaccinated on June 28 and 29. It was also informed that about 80 per cent college students of final year stood vaccinated on June 30.

The Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education, or HPBOSE, has declared Class 10 results and 99.7 per cent of students have passed this year. Earlier today, the board postponed the result declaration “because of a high court decision” but the board announced the results in the evening. Students can visit the official website, hpbose.org to check their scores. The direct link to check results will be activated soon after the result press conference by the board secretary.

Source : The Tribune

Tourists have been thronging Himachal Pradesh as the heatwave has hit the plains and the second wave of COVID-19 seeing a significant decline in the country.

People from the plains are visiting tourist hotspots like Shimla, Kufri, Narkanda, Dalhousie, Manali, Lahaul and other places in the hill state in large numbers to get rid of the scorching heat.

The occupancy in the hotels has increased in the past few days but it has yet to reach its peak, said Mohinder Seth, president of Tourism Industry Stakeholder Association.

“The occupancy in the hotels remains between 60 and 90 per cent during weekends, while on other days it remains around 40-45 per cent,” Seth told PTI.

Shimla Hotel and Restaurant Association president Sanjay Sood said the withdrawal of the condition of negative RTPCR report and e-covid pass to enter Himachal Pradesh recently has given a boost to the tourism industry of the state.

However, the increase in the number of tourists has posed a challenge to the state government to ensure adhering of Covid protocol by the visitors amid fears of an impending third wave of coronavirus infections.

Asserting that the hoteliers have been following Covid protocol in their premises for over a year, Sood hoped that the number of tourists would further increase in the coming days.

A tourist, Nikita Kukreja, said the majority of the visitors were seen following Covid protocol. She along with her family members has come from Gurgaon to visit various tourist places in and around Shimla.

“Police personnel are also seen at various places on Mall road. As and when they see any tourist not wearing a mask, they warn that tourist to properly follow Covid protocol,” she said.

Another tourist from Delhi Sanjana said the oppressive heatwave in the national capital forced her to visit the state.

Mohinder Seth said the state government has not provided any relief in the shape of financial aid or waiver of taxes to the tourism industry hit hard by the COVID-10 pandemic.

While the Gujarat government has provided a hundred per cent relief to hoteliers by waiving property tax and garbage collection fees, Maharashtra and Odisha governments have given fifty per cent relief, he claimed seeking relief on the same pattern in Himachal Pradesh.

In the Kullu district, Atal Tunnel Rohtang (ATR) has become a major attraction for visitors.

A record number of 6,400 vehicles had crossed the tunnel last Sunday.

“This was the highest single-day and highest till date arrivals,” said Manav Verma, Superintendent of Police Lahaul-Spiti, adding 2,001 vehicles crossed the tunnel on Friday.

However, Budhi Prakash Thakur, state convener, Forum of Hotel and Restaurant Association, told PTI, “The occupancy in hotels is dismal and figures hang around less than 25 per cent.” As the tourism industry is yet to pick up the pace, the Manali town is not witnessing the usual summer season traffic jams.

In the Chamba district, the tourist inflow to Dalhousie, Khajjiar and Chamba is picking up gradually. The hoteliers are upbeat as there was an acute slump in the tourism business for the last over one year due to the pandemic.

Federation of Hotels and Restaurants Association Dalhousie chief patron Manoj Chadha believes that since this is the peak tourist season due to summer, the tourist influx would further increase if the conditions continue to be the same.

The charming hill station Dalhousie has the potential to attract tourists from home and abroad, he added. PTI

Source : The Tribune

In view of the improved Covid-19 situation, Himachal government on Tuesday decided to discontinue the e-pass system for entering the state from July 1 onwards.

The state Cabinet in a meeting held here under Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur reviewed the Covid-19 situation in the state.

It was decided that inter-state buses, including Volvos, would be started with 50 per cent capacity in the state from July 1, 2021 and the e-pass would be discontinued from the same day.

The government offices would start working with hundred per cent capacity from July 1.

It has also been decided that all the shops would remain open from 9 am to 8 pm while restaurants would be allowed to remain open till 10 pm.

Social gatherings/attendance etc. would be allowed up to 50 per cent of the total indoor capacity with maximum 50 persons, whereas maximum 100 persons would be allowed in the outdoor gatherings.

These steps have been taken in view of persistent demand form hoteliers and others associated with the tourism sector. The hospitality sector has been the worst hit, with thousands of people losing their jobs.

The second Covid-19 wave has been a lot harsher than the first one on people in the age group of 30-44 years, with the death percentage almost doubling during the second wave.

• Also read: Spreading awareness through ‘corona songs’ in Kullu district
• 818 fresh Covid cases, 19 succumb to infection in Himachal

“While this group accounted for 7.23 per cent of the total deaths during the first wave, the percentage in the second wave has risen to 12.82 per cent. As against 71 deaths in this group during the first wave, the number has gone up to 290 in the second wave,” said a government spokesperson.

The death percentage has also gone up in the age group of 45-59 years. As against 24.33 per cent deaths in the first wave, the figure has reached 27.45 per cent in the second wave. “The fatality percentage for below-30 and 60-plus categories has decreased in the second wave,” he said.

The average number of daily infections during the second wave (1,342) has been almost eight times that during the first wave (171).

The number of deaths also saw a substantial increase. The toll in the second wave so far has reached 2,262, while it was 982 in the first wave.

“Out of total Covid deaths in the state so far, 69.7 per cent have occurred in the second wave. The mean age of the deceased in the second wave is 61 years as against 64.2 years in the first wave,” said the spokesperson.

There has not been much difference in the percentage of hospital deaths in the first and second wave. “This indicates that although the number of cases increased in the second wave, the hospitals were well prepared with resources like beds, oxygen and medicines to save lives,” he said.

The Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) and Hospital yesterday received 30 additional ventilators; the total number of ventilators rose to around 70. Also, the IGMC will soon get 100 staff nurses. Besides, the city’s Sanatorium hospital has also been notified as a Covid facility to meet the rising demand for beds.

“Ventilators and nurses, who should join us in five to seven days, will ease some pressure on us,” said IGMC Medical Superintendent Dr Janak Raj. The hospital already has over 300 beds but these are often occupied. “We are increasing facilities in a phased manner. If needed, we will arrange additional beds,” he said. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur had announced that the bed capacity at the hospital would be enhanced to 500.

Meanwhile, DSO Dr Rakesh Bhardwaj said that the department was in the process of preparing the Sanatorium hospital for Covid patients.

“We are sending doctors working there for training to an Ayurveda Hospital. We hope to make the facility available as soon as possible,” he added.

Dr Bhardwaj said that the Walker Hospital, which the Army had handed over to the district administration, would be used only as a Covid care centre.

“The facility will be used for keeping patients who don’t have space at home for self-isolation. We will use it when required,” he added.

Source : The Tribune

The state is unlikely to get Covid-19 vaccine doses in near future for the mass vaccination of the 18 years and above age group. Sources said that the state government had placed an order for 73 lakh doses but was likely to get just one lakh doses this month.

Minister for Health Rajiv Saizal, who was here today, also admitted that the state would get just one lakh doses of the vaccine in the first phase this month. He said that the government had placed an order for 73 lakh doses but since there was a huge demand for the vaccine from all over the country, the manufacturing companies had rationalised supply. “Himachal is getting one lakh doses in the first phase and I hope that the supply will pick up in the coming months,” he added.

The sources said that the vaccination drive for 45 years and above going on in government hospitals for the past couple of months has slowed down. At some places in Kangra, people were complaining about not getting the second dose in time. Earlier, the district was getting 11,000 doses every day for the 45 years and above age group. However, the supply dropped to 6,000 doses per day due to which the second dose schedule of many people was getting delayed.

The minister said that for the 45 years and above age group, the state has enough quota of vaccine. “There is no shortage of vaccine for people who are to get the second dose,” he added.

CMO, Kangra, Dr GD Gupta said that there was some shortage of doses at the weekend. However, the supply had been streamlined and people shall get the second dose in time. He added that the change in the schedule of vaccine by health experts was creating confusion among people. Earlier, the second dose was given after 45 days while as per the new guidelines, it was now being given after eight to 12 weeks.

Meanwhile, the state government has allowed private hospitals to hold the vaccination drive. Some private hospitals have placed orders for the vaccine but none of them is likely to get it soon.

Source : The Tribune

Perceiving weddings to be major covid spreader, the government on Thursday restricted the number of persons at a ceremony to 20 and also banned community feasts as a precautionary measure.

All the restrictions, including closure of all educational institutions has been extended till May 10. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, here on Thursday to review the covid situation.

He said if situation continued to remain grim, imposing of lockdown will be decided by the Cabinet.

The government has been compelled to take the decision in view of violations of guidelines at weddings. People were violating the limit of 50 at marriages by inviting people in batches of 50 each. Himachal witnessed the highest fatality figure of 33 deaths on Wednesday and over 2,500 cases.

The chief minister assured that there was no shortage of beds, oxygen and medicines in the state. He said the registration for administering vaccines to those in the 18 to 44 age group had begun but the drive will start subject to availability of vaccine.

“The vaccine drive will be undertaken in a phased manner and staggered manner,” he said.

Source : The Tribune

A severe hailstorm and thunderstorm accompanied by intermittent heavy rain lashed Shimla and its surrounding areas today, disrupting normal life. Shimla received 86 mm of rain in the past 24 hours, breaking the 42-year-old record of heavy rainfall in one day in April. The temperature in the capital city fell to 4°C. Earlier Shimla had received the maximum rainfall of 111 mm on April 15, 1979.

The thunderstorm disrupted power supply, uprooted trees and blew off roofs of kaccha houses at several places. Dodra Kwar was cut off from the rest of the state. As many as 179 roads in the state were blocked. The highest number of 140 roads was blocked in Lahaul and Spiti district, followed by 16 each in Chamba and Kinnaur, seven in Kullu, and one in Shimla.

Tribal areas received another spell of fresh snowfall; Keylong witnessed 18 cm of snow, followed by Kalpa 16 mm and Kothi 3 mm.

Widespread rain lashed the region. Manali received 74 mm of rain, followed by Jogindernagar 71 mm, Dalhousie 66 mm, Kothi 65 mm, Baijnath 56 mm, Palampur 54 mm, Bhuntar 40 mm, Dharamsala and Narkanda 38 mm each, Sundernagar 37 mm, Tinder 35 mm, Mandi and Tissa 34 mm, Malan 33 mm, Banjar and Chhatrari 32 mm each, Seobagh 31 mm, Jubbar Hatti 28 mm, Janjehli 27 mm, Khadrala and Keylong 26 mm each, Bharari 25 mm, Bhoranj and Bakloh 24 mm each, Bijahi and Bajura 23 mm each, Naina Devi and Karsog 22 mm each, Kasol and Sangla 21 mm each, Moorang 20 mm and Ghumarwin and Bilaspur 18 mm each.

The local Met office has issued a yellow warning of a thunderstorm and lightning at isolated places in Bilaspur, Shimla and Sirmaur districts tomorrow. It has also predicted a wet spell in the region on April 23, 24 and 28. The minimum temperatures were three to four degrees below normal and Keylong was the coldest at night recording minus 0.7°C. The maximum temperatures were nine to 10 degrees below normal and Nahan with 26.7°C was the hottest.

Tourist spots in higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh, including Narkanda, Manali, Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti received fresh snowfall.

Perplexed over the freak weather, local orchardists feel it was unusual to receive snow in April-end.

Manali town saw a low of 4.8 degrees with 43 mm rain. However, nearby places like Atal Tunnel had moderate a spell of snowfall.

Aman Singh Thakur, a local grower in Ratnari in Kotkhai, has expressed concern over snow and inclement weather during April as he fear that this could damage this year’s fruit crop because apple and other fruit trees are in bloom.

“Baghi is at a good height and we will suffer a loss thought it is too early to tell how much. But orchads, which had no hail nets, are sure to be at harm,” said Thakur.

Meanwhile, Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur and Chamba also received moderate snowfall during the night and the weather remained cloudy and extremely cold in the morning.

“We are back to heaters. It seems that the winters are back,” said Shamsher Singh Thakur, a leading apple grower in Manali. He said that they are yet to study the impact of the cold on the crop, but snow at this time was no good news.

The minimum temperature in Keylong in Lahaul-Spiti was recorded at minus 0.3 degrees Celsius, the coldest in the state. It saw 12 cm snowfall.

Kalpa in Kinnaur district recorded a minimum of 0.1 degree with 11.4 cm snow.

Lower hills of the state experienced widespread rain.

The meteorological office has forecast more rain and snow in the state till April 23.

Meanwhile, in Jammu and Kashmir, the Zojila Pass, that connects the Ladakh to Kargil, was also opened for traffic.

Source : The Tribune

The situation in the state continues to be grim with 1,340 Covid cases reported today. Besides, 16 persons died of the virus in the past 24 hours.

The number of active cases today shot up to 10,027 and 79,410 positive cases . Sixteen persons — six in Kangra, four in Shimla, three in Una and one each in Hamirpur, Sirmaur and Mandi — died.

The highest number of 265 cases was reported in Solan, 173 in Una, 164 in Shimla, 155 in Sirmaur, 138 in Hamirpur, 107 in Mandi, 104 in Bilaspur, 78 in Lahaul-Spiti, 68 in Kangra, 36 in Kullu and 35 in Kinnaur and 17 in Chamba. — TNS

Source : The Tribune