Himachal Pradesh

Project stalled due to poor traffic projections, financial non-viability

Lahaul Valley farmers struggle to transport produce due to monsoon-caused landslides disrupting Mandi-Kullu road access. Delays result in financial losses as vegetables spoil before reaching markets. Farmers appeal to authorities for prioritized passage and fixed traffic timings. Former MLA seeks reinstatement of a dedicated officer to assist.

Since the onset of the monsoon on June 20, the state has reported losses amounting to Rs 2,007 crore

The boys were rescued from a house in Chaithla village, Kotkhai, on Sunday, a day after they went missing during a day out

The hacker had also provided a bank account detail as well as a QR code for donations to Chief Minister's Relief Fund

Increased tourism in Kangra district fuels demand for wider roads, but reckless construction causes landslides, infrastructure damage, and loss of life. Poorly planned road projects exacerbate environmental fragility, leading to disrupted travel, flooded areas, and unsafe conditions. Sustainable development and ecological preservation are urgently needed.

IMD forecasts heavy rain, landslides from August 11-14

Unchecked development and poor enforcement fuel a decade of disasters

A landslide near Jaghed blocked the Sanora-Neripul-Chaila road in Sirmaur district, halting traffic. The road remained closed for over 25 hours, causing hardship for commuters, especially farmers whose cash crops suffered price drops due to delayed market access. PWD efforts were hampered by continuing landslides.

Shimla's Municipal Corporation will tag all stray dogs with QR codes to track sterilization, vaccination, and health. A dog census and public awareness campaign will also be launched to address the city's rising dog bite cases, which have reached over 800 this year.

Pratibha Singh, HPCC president, supports Rahul Gandhi's claims of election irregularities. She questions the BJP's large victory margins in Himachal Pradesh, specifically doubting the Mandi seat result. She accuses the BJP of weakening democracy and calls for an Election Commission investigation into alleged fake votes and vote theft.

Himachal Pradesh's dams are within operational limits, despite high inflows. The state faces widespread disruptions from heavy monsoon rains: 359 roads blocked, 145 power outages, and 520 water supply disruptions. The death toll has reached 219. Heavy rainfall is forecast for the next 48 hours.

Reckless highway excavation on NH-707 causes frequent landslides and road closures, disrupting daily life. Despite a ban on hill cutting during the monsoon, contractors are flouting the orders. Residents face severe travel disruptions while authorities promise stricter enforcement.

Five fake Rs 500 notes were found at a Kullu PNB branch. The notes, deposited by a Mandi resident, prompted a police investigation amid the apple season's cash transactions. Authorities are tracing the origin and urging public vigilance to identify counterfeit currency.

Himachal Pradesh is expanding its dairy infrastructure with new milk processing plants and chilling centers. The state will implement an ERP system for transparency, efficiency, and farmer empowerment. The government has also introduced an MSP scheme for milk procurement.

The Transport Department generated Rs 1236.53 crore in revenue over 16 months. This includes Rs 912.18 crore in 2024-25 and Rs 324.35 crore from April to July 2025. Increased transparency, digitalization, and policy implementation contributed to the success. Revenue came from permits, licenses, taxes, and penalties.

Kalpana alias Kapp, a repeat drug trafficker in Kangra, has had her detention extended by three months. She has multiple drug trafficking charges, including heroin and poppy straw possession. Authorities are also investigating her assets.

Himachal Pradesh anticipates heavy rainfall until August 15. Orange and yellow alerts are in effect. Kangra, Chamba, and Mandi face the highest risk, with heavy to very heavy rain expected. Temperatures will decrease slightly. Rainfall was already significant on August 10th in several areas.

A 34-year-old woman from Rohru died at IGMC from scrub typhus. She was admitted on August 8 with sepsis and septic shock, referred from Civil Hospital, Rohru. The scrub typhus test was positive, and the cause of death was sepsis with septic shock, linked to the scrub typhus infection.

NHAI aims to finish the Mandi-Pandoh road stretch by month-end, improving connectivity on the Kiratpur-Manali highway. Three bridges are under construction; two are almost done. Monsoon rains pose a challenge. Completion will ease traffic, benefit commuters, and boost tourism.

Himachal Pradesh's Ecological Task Force has planted over 6.5 million saplings. The force also aids in disaster relief. Recently, they sheltered and fed stranded travelers after a landslide blocked a highway near Manali.

Stray animals are a major road safety hazard, causing accidents, injuries, and deaths. Authorities struggle to manage the issue, particularly in Kangra district. Highways and urban areas face frequent animal-related incidents, demanding shelters and accountability to prevent further tragedies.

Over 800 police, Home Guard personnel to guard the pilgrimage route

Good Samaritan Ankush Chauhan saves a leopard cub from hunger, predators and loneliness

A new statue of Major Som Nath Sharma, India's first PVC recipient, will be unveiled on August 15 in Palampur. The old statue's disrepair prompted the CM to fund a replacement. The martyr, who died in 1947, will also be honored with an educational institution named after him in his village.