Himachal CM inaugurates ‘Shimla Winter Carnival’

Shimla: Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday inaugurated the first-ever ‘Shimla Winter Carnival’ at the Ridge. The event started with a cultural parade and the participation of 450 women presenting Mahanati, showcasing the talent of self-help groups and Anganwadi workers.  Sukhu said that the Winter Carnival in Shimla is a historic moment for the city, which will last upto 5th January next year and it aims to boost tourism activities in the State. He said Himachal Pradesh had witnessed an influx of 30 thousand tourist vehicles in the past couple of days, signaling a promising revival of the tourism industry in the State.  He commended public representatives and officers for their contributions in this task and emphasized the role of tourism revenue in the state's economy.

Haryana CM extends Christmas greetings to people

Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday extended greetings to the state's citizens on the blissful and joyous occasion of Christmas. He said that Christmas is a festival of joy celebrated worldwide with great grandeur and enthusiasm. Reflecting on the life and noble teachings of Jesus Christ, which underscored the values of service, kindness, and humility, the Chief Minister hoped for the well-being and prosperity of all and for harmony to prevail.

Fog in Punjab and Haryana, cold weather conditions continue

Chandigarh: A blanket of fog enveloped most parts of Punjab and Haryana on Monday as cold weather conditions prevailed in the two states. The fog reduced visibility at many places in the two states early on Monday. Sirsa, Bhiwani, Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala reported dense fog, according to a Met official here. Narnaul in Haryana recorded a minimum temperature of 6.4 degrees Celsius while that in Rohtak’s settled at 7.6 degrees. Fatehabad registered a minimum temperature of 7 degrees Celsius. In Punjab, the night temperatures were recorded at 6.5 degrees Celsius in Pathankot, 6.2 degrees in Bathinda, 7.5 degrees in Faridkot, 6.7 degrees in Gurdaspur, 7.2 degrees in Amritsar, 7.1 degrees in Ludhiana and 8.7 degrees in Patiala. Chandigarh recorded a low of 7.8 degrees Celsius.

Hry Police arrest kingpin in Rs 3 crore poppy seed bust case from Jharkhand

Chandigarh:  Haryana Police have arrested the main accused in a month-old case involving the seizure of stolen poppy seeds worth Rs 3 crore from KMP Toll in Palwal district. The accused, identified as Vivek alias Dablu, was apprehended from Chatra district in Jharkhand. In October, acting on a tip-off, the Haryana Narcotics Control Bureau (HNCB) intercepted a suspicious truck at the KMP toll plaza. Upon inspection, they discovered 40 quintals and 15 kg of Chura poppy, a banned narcotic substance, concealed within the vehicle. The truck was en route from Chatra in Jharkhand to Jodhpur in Rajasthan via Haryana. Two individuals from Rajasthan were arrested at the scene, but the main accused, Vivek, remained at large. The real smuggler, identified as Vivek alias Dablu, was arrested from Chatra, Jharkhand.