Thirty-one people remain missing in Mandi district four days after rain-triggered disasters. Rescue teams face challenges due to terrain and weather, hampered by landslides and destroyed infrastructure. Fourteen bodies have been found. Search efforts continue, with the focus shifting to body recovery as families anxiously await news.
The state faces continued heavy rainfall, with a red alert for extremely heavy rain in Mandi, Kangra, and Sirmaur on July 6. Orange alerts are in effect for other districts until July 9. Mandi, already severely impacted, faces further risk. Road closures, damaged infrastructure, and disrupted utilities persist.
Says Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured him of all possible help
Mandi district is conducting extensive relief and rescue operations in Seraj and Dharampur after severe cloudbursts. The NDRF evacuated 65 people from remote villages. Relief efforts include distributing ration kits, medical aid, and essential supplies. Infrastructure restoration is underway, with some roads, water schemes, and power lines being repaired.
The Indian government increased the minimum import price (MIP) of apples from Rs 50 to Rs 80 per kg, benefiting local growers. This aims to prevent cheap imports and ensure better prices for domestic produce. An MLA requested a 100% import duty, citing lower US apple production costs.
Tibetan religious leaders affirmed the Dalai Lama's authority over his reincarnation, rejecting Chinese interference. They highlighted their commitment to preserving Tibetan culture and Buddhism. The Dalai Lama praised the Tibetan people and urged them to continue safeguarding their traditions.
JP Nadda met with former CMs Dhumal and Shanta Kumar to unite the BJP in Himachal Pradesh, following Rajeev Bindal's third term as state president. Bindal faces the challenge of uniting factions, especially after Congress defections, before the 2027 elections.
Kangra police arrested a woman from Chandigarh and rescued two others from a guesthouse near a medical college, busting a suspected prostitution ring. The arrest followed a tip-off and undercover operation. Further investigation is ongoing, with more suspects believed to be involved.
The NIA arrested Sunny, owner of a McLeodganj communication center, during the Dalai Lama's birthday celebrations, due to human trafficking charges and suspected overseas links. Sunny allegedly sent Punjabi youth to the USA via Mexico, and his bank transactions and possible links to Khalistani networks are under investigation.
The Himachal Pradesh High Court issued notices to the Public Service Commission, CBI, and state government regarding alleged rigging in a police recruitment exam. Petitioners seek exam cancellation and a CBI investigation, claiming a paper leak before the exam and ignored complaints. The respondents must reply within four weeks.
The Chowari police in Chamba district have arrested a man and recovered 20 stolen sheep that were being transported in a pickup jeep. The arrest was made near Kali Ghar following a swift police operation based on a tip-off. The...
After an 11-month shutdown, Manali’s waste-processing facility at Rangri has resumed operations, managing nearly 30–35 tonnes of garbage daily—matching the waste generated during peak tourist season in the town and its suburbs. The plant was forced to close on July...
The Shimla Deputy Commissioner promised swift action on Luhri Hydroelectric Project affected people's demands. Committees, including one for crop damage assessment, will be formed within two days. An ADM will inspect affected areas, address grievances, and investigate designated dumping sites, promising action against illegal dumping.
Professor Mahavir Singh, HPU Vice-Chancellor, released a book at Dharamsala compiling 39 research papers from a national seminar on environmental history. Edited by Dr. Raj Kumar, the book offers historical perspectives on environmental challenges and sustainable development.
Public outcry as centuries-old deodar, pine trees cut for Bijli Mahadev ropeway
The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Pensioners’ Forum, Shimla unit, expressed strong resentment over the non-payment of leave encashment, gratuity and other benefits to pensioners who retired after January 1, 2016, at a meeting held here. Despite a lapse of...
Braving danger with every step, stranded commuters were seen this morning risking their lives as they crossed the landslide-hit National Highway 707 near Utari, close to Shillai in Sirmaur district. Triggered by intense rainfall between 4 and 5 am this...
A joint protest was organised by CITU and Himachal Kisan Sabha against the irregularities in construction practices by the four-lane construction companies. The protesters demanded immediate relief and compensation of Rs 5 crore each to the people whose houses have...
During his recent visit to Dharamsala, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced the cancellation of the proposed electric vehicle (EV) charging station in front of the War Memorial, popularly known as Shahid Samarak. The decision came swiftly after a delegation...
Dissatisfied with the initial magisterial probe into the recent flash floods near Dharamsala that claimed eight lives, Kangra District Magistrate Hemraj Bairwa has announced a fresh inquiry into the incident. The tragedy occurred last week near a hydroelectric power project...
Scarab beetles, particularly in their larval stage known as white grubs, have emerged as a serious threat to horticultural and field crops in several agro-climatic regions. Recent reports of heavy infestations in apple and stone fruit orchards have left growers...
A retaining wall collapsed this morning in the Panthaghati residential area of Shimla, sending rubble crashing onto the roof of a building located just below. As a precaution, the building has been vacated and the two families residing there have...
A sweeping excavation project underway at the historic Dasehra ground in Dhalpur, Kullu, has triggered growing concern and unrest among local residents, cultural groups and festival organisers. The Kullu Municipal Council is reportedly overseeing the digging to install a musical...
A truck driver was killed after his vehicle veered off the road and plunged into a gorge at Chaned near Chamba town on Friday morning. Deceased has been identified as Swarup, a resident of Bikaner in Rajasthan. The police said,...
‘Unscientific’ road excavation by PWD | Unstable slopes making terrain fragile
Many locals forced to walk long distances or rely on lifts from passing two-wheelers
Acting resolutely on directions from the Himachal Pradesh High Court, the Forest Department has carried out a sweeping eviction drive across Sirmaur district, reclaiming over 151 bighas and 8 biswas of forest land from illegal encroachments. The operation, executed under...
A three-day passport application camp will be held in Chamba from July 8-10, using a mobile van. Organized by the Regional Passport Office, Shimla, the camp will process up to 50 applications daily, offering application submission, biometric capture, and document verification services near the post office.
A newly launched community radio station, Dhatwal Ki Awaaz, set up in Maharal village of the district, will broadcast live morning and evening prayers from the revered Baba Balak Nath Temple in Deotsidh and Siddh Chano Temple in Dhatwal. Spearheaded...
A tragic incident occurred in Ukhali village where a migrant labourer from Moradabad district, Uttar Pradesh, lost his life in an LPG cylinder explosion. The blast took place while the labourers were cooking meals in a room of the Jal...