City Page (March 4)

WEATHER

Forecast (March 3): Rain/thundershowers at isolated places in lower hills, rain and snow at a few places in middle and higher hills.

Warning – Wet spell in state from March 5 to 7. Heavy rain with thunderstorm accompanied with lightning, hailstorm and gusty winds (wind speed 30-40 km/h) likely at isolated places in lower and middle hills on March 5 and 6.

Temperatures:

Shimla: 16.6, 5.8 Degrees Celsius Sunrise: 6:43 am, sunset: 6:22 pm

Dharamshala: 18,4, 7.8 Degrees Celsius

Manali: 17.2, minus 0.6 Degrees Celsius

READERS SAY

Unsafe bridge without railing

A bridge on Mandh Khad on the Palampur-Jaisinghpur road has no railings for the past two years. This has led to a number of accidents. The fund-starved PWD has installed a plastic rope in place of steel or cement railings. Many two-wheelers have rolled down the bridge. Residents of the area have lodged a protest a number of times, but in vain. Various newspapers have published reports highlighting the problem, but the PWD has paid no heed. — Disha Sood, Palampur

Footbridge construction delayed

The slow pace of construction of a footbridge in the Kandidhar panchayat under the Banjar Assembly segment of Kullu district is a major concern for residents of Jabal village in the region. Due to delay in the completion of work, people residing in the area have to cross the Tirthan river with the help of a span set up on the river banks for the purpose. The panchayat authorities should take note of the situation and complete the construction of the bridge in the stipulated time for the convenience of villagers.

Dyal Singh, resident of Banjar, Kullu

EDUCATION NOTES

Convocation at Nauni varsity on March 5

The 10th convocation of Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (UHF), Nauni, will be held on March 5. Governor-cum-Chancellor of the University Bandaru Dattatreya will preside over the convocation. The event will be held at Dr LS Auditorium of the university. Several dignitaries from the state and Indian Council of Agricultural Research are expected to attend the event. A total of 1,104 degrees of BSc, MSc in Horticulture and Forestry and B Tech Biotechnology programmes from the College of Horticulture, College of Forestry and College of Horticulture and Forestry, Neri, will be awarded. In addition, students of MBA and PhD programmes will also receive degrees at the convocation. Twenty-two gold medals and 458 certificates of merit will also be awarded during the convocation ceremony.

Refresher course on ICT

The importance of Artificial Intelligence, cloud computing and advanced robotics was highlighted at the inaugural session of a refresher course on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), organised at Human Resources Development Centre of Himachal Pradesh University on Tuesday. Speaking at the inaugural session, Vice Chancellor of APG Shimla University Prof Romesh Kumar Chowdhary said the significance of the ICT was increasing in everybody’s lives with each passing day. He said there was probably no sector where Artificial Intelligence (AI) had not been used. Coordinator of refresher course Prof Anita Ganpati gave the outline of the course. As many as 39 participants from nine states are attending the course.

Exhibition-cum-sale of books

In order to inculcate the habit of reading among students, an exhibition-cum-sale of books and magazines on general knowledge was held at Government College, Beetan, in Haroli subdivision. Principal Abhilasha Sharda inaugurated the event at the library. She urged students to stay updated with the latest information in all fields and upgrade their skills in aptitude and reasoning so as to be able to face the competitive world after attaining degrees.

Sanatan Dharma Sabha lauded

Education minister Suresh Bharadwaj on Tuesday said Sanatan Dharma, Arya Samaj and DAV institutions had played an important role in imparting value-based education. Speaking at a book and incentive distribution function organised by Sanatan Dharma School managing committee to mark his birthday on Monday, Bharadwaj said these institutions also played a remarkable role in motivating leaders to take active part in the freedom movement. He lauded the Sanatan Dharma Sabha for discharging its social obligations in a responsible manner and helping people from time to time.

Bharadwaj expressed concern over the growing drug menace and appealed to the teachers and parents to keep the students away from drugs. He gave an incentive of Rs 700 to 13 new students admitted from class I to class V and books to 221 students from class I to class VIII. He also announced a grant of Rs 3 lakh for smart classroom and gave Rs 21,000 for cultural programme.

Kindergarten kids sensitised on healthy living

Kindergarten students of Him Academy Public School, Hamirpur, were given tips on good health and hygiene at a sports camp on Tuesday. As many as 30 kids participated in the camp. Apart from tips on health, they were encouraged to participate in different sports activities, including high jump, long jump, races, besides creative activities. RC Lakhanpal, chairman of the school management committee, said extracurricular activities helped in building personality and confidence among kids.

WHAT’S ON

State government to present 2020-21 Budget on March 6, 11 am onward

HELPLINES

Police Helpline numbers

Report Corruption (whatsapp) – 8988700100

Report Cyber crime – 0177 -2621714 (191)

Gudiya helpline (women safety)- 1515

Hoshiar Singh helpline (Forest crime) – 1090

Health Helpline numbers:

Medical emergency: 108

Drug de-addiction and counselling and general health enquiry: 104

Free drop back ambulance service for expectant mothers : 102

FLIGHTS

Bhuntar Airport (Kullu): Air India (six days barring Sunday)

Delhi-Kullu, 06:45 am

Kullu-Delhi, 10:50 am

Kullu-Chandigarh, 08:30 am

Chandigarh-Kullu, 9:40 am

Jubbarhatti Airpot (Shimla): Air India (six days barring Sunday)

Delhi (6.15 am) – Shimla (7.30 am)

Shimla (8.45 am) – Delhi (9 am)

Gaggal airport (Dharamshala) All seven days a week

Air India: Dharamsala- Chandigarh, 8.30 am

Air India: Chandigrah – Dharamshala, 9:55 am

Air India: Dharmashala-Delhi, 8.30 am

Spicejet: Dharamshala-Delhi, 7.55 am

Air India: Dharamshala-Delhi, 1.03 pm

ENDS