H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Flood-scared move to safety
Shimla, August 7
Haunted by harrowing memories of the devastating floods of August, 2000, people of low-lying villages along the banks of the Sutlej are shifting to safer places.

Govt to bear medical expenses of flood-hit
Palampur, August 7
Mr G.S. Bali Transport Minister, along with Mr Sudhir Sharma, MLA, today visited the flood-affected areas and announced that there would be no shortage of funds for the rehabilitation of those who had lost their houses and animals in floods.

Floods wash away three shepherds
Shimla, August 7
Three shepherds and more than 60 cattle were washed away by flash-floods in Biheali Nullah in the remote Tissa sub-division of Chamba district, the police said today.

2 remanded in flesh trade racket
Solan, August 7
A local court has remanded a British national and woman boutique owner, allegedly involved in a inter-state flesh trade racket, in a four-day police custody.

CM to preside over I-Day function at Bharmour
Shimla, August 7
The state-level Independence Day function will be held at Bharmour in Chamba district on August 15. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh will preside over the function.

Nagini Mata temple sans amenities
Nurpur, August 7
The famous Nagini Mata temple, 9 km from here, is crying for attention. The shrine is being run by locals, who allegedly pay no heed to amenities for pilgrims. In this shrine, a fair is organised on every Saturday of “Savan-Bhadon” (July-August) with religious fervour. Thousands of pilgrims visit the shrine from Himachal Pradesh and neighbouring states.

Flood-scared move to safety
Rakesh Lohumi
Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 7
Haunted by harrowing memories of the devastating floods of August, 2000, people of low-lying villages along the banks of the Sutlej are shifting to safer places.

Panic has gripped the entire belt along the river right from Sumdoh in Kinnaur to Kol Dam in Mandi. The threat of flash floods has been looming large over the area ever since information about formation of a lake in Tibet was received about two weeks ago. But panic set in after the district administration started making public announcements, advising people to move to safer places as floods could lash the villages anytime. Families moving along with belongings are a common sight in these areas.

Prompt action taken by the Public Works Department in dismantling the Wazir Bowri bridge at Rampur made things worse as the perceived threat became “real” for residents. The department started the dismantling early in the day and the government reversed the decision in the afternoon. Residents of 57 buildings identified in the danger zone had been on tenterhooks. There were reports that the some banks may shift branches temporarily. Hundreds of families have shifted from Powari, Tapri, Choling, Wangtu, Reta Khan, Rampur, Luri, Tattapani .

In August, 2000, a large number of people were washed away in sleep in floods. All bridges on Sutlej from Powari to Rampur and vast stretches of road were wiped out and most parts of Kinnaur district remained cut off for more than six months. The Border Roads Organisation was forced to change the alignment as the fast flowing river had cut the hill slopes almost vertically.

While last time people suffered because the furious river caught them unawares, this time the advance information about the possibility of flash floods is giving them nightmares. There seems to be no early end to their woes.

Govt to bear medical expenses of flood-hit
Our Correspondent

Palampur, August 7
Mr G.S. Bali Transport Minister, along with Mr Sudhir Sharma, MLA, today visited the flood-affected areas and announced that there would be no shortage of funds for the rehabilitation of those who had lost their houses and animals in floods.

The leaders also called on the family of Mr Puran Chand who had lost four of his family members yesterday.

Briefing mediapersons at Baijnath, Mr Bali said the medical expenditure of those being treated at different hospitals would be paid by the state government. He ordered the revenue authorities to submit an estimate of losses.

Meanwhile, the train services between Pathankot and Joginder Nagar remained suspended for the third day today following heavy landslides on the track near Baijnath. Hundreds of passengers ramained stranded at the Paprola railway station.

Floods wash away three shepherds

Shimla, August 7
Three shepherds and more than 60 cattle were washed away by flash-floods in Biheali Nullah in the remote Tissa sub-division of Chamba district, the police said today.

Khajoha Panchayat president Chaman Singh told the police that three shephreds along with a herd of 60 to 70 sheep and goats were washed away in Biheali village.

Heavy rain continued to play havoc in different parts of the hill State today.

The Shimla-Kalka national highway and the 320-km Hindustan-Tibet road also remained shrouded in fog at various places, reducing visibility to a few metres.

Upper areas in Shimla district, including tourist sites of Wildflower Hall, Kufri and Narkanda, also had heavy rain in the past 24 hours.

The Pathankot-Chakki-Mandi national highway-20 has suffered heavy damages at different stretches due to heavy landslides, official sources said. — UNI 

2 remanded in flesh trade racket
Our Correspondent

Solan, August 7
A local court has remanded a British national and woman boutique owner, allegedly involved in a inter-state flesh trade racket, in a four-day police custody. The police is hopeful of laying hands on some influential people in the course of its investigation as a number of names have been revealed by the two arrested. Sources in the Police Department revealed that the arrested NRI had been confirmed to be a British national by the British High Commission.

Enquiries revealed that fearful of their names figuring in the police investigation, some locals owing political allegiance have complained to the HP Director-General of Police, about SHO Babita Pal Rana’s “unnecessarily” harassment to locals in the course of investigation. It is learnt that some more local women have been detained for interrogation by the SHO after their names appeared in the mobile phones, of the two arrested.

The Superintendent of Police, Mr Abhishek Trivedi, while denying having received any complaint against the SHO for harassing people in the course of investigation, said the senior officials were informed about the manner in which the case was being investigated. While asserting that the police officials were responsible for the manner in which the investigations were being carried out, he said the case would be ultimately decided in the court. 

CM to preside over I-Day function at Bharmour

Shimla, August 7
The state-level Independence Day function will be held at Bharmour in Chamba district on August 15. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh will preside over the function.

Nagini Mata temple sans amenities
Rajiv Mahajan

Nurpur, August 7
The famous Nagini Mata temple, 9 km from here, is crying for attention. The shrine is being run by locals, who allegedly pay no heed to amenities for pilgrims. In this shrine, a fair is organised on every Saturday of “Savan-Bhadon” (July-August) with religious fervour. Thousands of pilgrims visit the shrine from Himachal Pradesh and neighbouring states.

However, there are no toilets and potable water for pilgrims. Despite various announcements, nothing has been done to provide facilities to the pilgrims.

The managing committee also seems to be least concerned about the amenities for the pilgrims. There is a demand that the government should take over the management of the temple, which has an annual income of lakhs. This year, the fair will be celebrated tomorrow.

Mr Sat Mahajan, Revenue and Panchayati Raj Minister, will be the chief guest.

It is believed that victims of snake bite recuperate in this shrine when stay on the temple premises and apply the temple’s wet soil, locally known as “shakker”, on the affected body parts.