Heavy rain continues to batter Himachal 77 roads closed

Shimla: Heavy rains continue to lash several parts of Himachal Pradesh on Friday, leading to the closure of 77 roads for traffic. The Shimla meteorological office has issued a ‘yellow’ alert, warning of heavy rains, thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places on Saturday. Widespread rain occurred in the state in the past 24 hours. Palampur was the wettest with 128 mm of rain followed by Kataula 110 mm, Baijnath 95 mm, Jogindernagar 64 mm, Mandi 40 mm, Kothi 36 mm, Kufri 33.2 mm, Shillaroo 32.5 mm, Dharamshala 26 mm, Manali 22 mm and Khadrala 21.6 mm, the weather office said. Seventy-seven roads, including 67 in Mandi, seven in Chamba and one each in Kangra, Lahaul-Spiti and Shimla districts, are closed for traffic following torrential rains and 236 transformers are disrupted, according to the emergency operation centre. On Thursday, Kukumseri in tribal Lahaul and Spiti recorded the lowest night temperature in the state at 11.6 degrees Celsius while Una was hottest during the day with a maximum temperature of 33.6 degrees Celsius. So far, the state has received 43.2 mm of rain against the normal of 27.2 mm, an excess of 59 per cent in the month of July.
 

10 shops in Chd make arrangements to open round-the-clock on all 365 days

Chandigarh:  UT Chandigarh Secretary cum Commissioner, Labour Department Vinay Pratap Singh on Friday said that 10 registered shops and commercial establishments have submitted self-undertakings on the online portal of the Labour Department - labour.chd.gov.in, confirming that they have made necessary arrangements as per the notification to open during extended hours.  To enhance the Ease of Doing Business for shopkeepers and traders in UT Chandigarh, the Labour Department has issued a notification allowing shops and commercial establishments to operate 24×7 throughout the year without requiring specific permission from the Labour Department. To ensure the effective implementation of this notification, the Labour Department has issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). Singh clarified that the extended operational hours are voluntary and not compulsory for shopkeepers and traders. Only those shops and commercial establishments registered with the Labour Department can avail of this facility.

4 members of interstate drug racket nabbed with 169-gram heroin in Shimla

Shimla: The Shimla Police on Friday arrested four members of an interstate gang of drug suppliers after 169 grams of heroin (Chitta) was recovered from them in Shimla, officials said. Police said that following a tip off, they intercepted a vehicle (PB02CQ-5374) at Chaulanthi near Sanjauli in Shimla and recovered the contraband from the possession of the four accused: Rahul, Anil, Deepak and Karan, all residents of Amritsar in Punjab. Shimla Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi said a case under section 21 (smuggling of drugs) and 29 (abetment and criminal conspiracy) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 has been registered against the accused and further investigation is underway. He said the accused are members of an interstate gang of drug suppliers, and the value of contraband is estimated to be between Rs 25 to 30 lakhs. He also said that the Shimla Police has arrested 235 drug peddlers in the past six months and property worth Rs 2 crore is under investigation for their potential link with drug money.  

Ranbir Sangwan appointed as Additional Director, DIPR

Chandigarh: Haryana, Information, Public Relations, Language and Culture Department, Joint Director Ranbir Singh Sangwan has been promoted and appointed as Additional Director. With this promotion, he has been posted at the Chandigarh headquarters. The orders for his promotion were issued on Friday.

MC Chandigarh issues comprehensive rainy season advisory

Chandigarh: To ensure safety of all citizens during the rainy season, the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation issued a comprehensive advisory under the "Safai Apnao Bimaari Bhagao '' campaign. This advisory provides essential guidelines to follow during heavy rainfall and flood-like situations. MC Commissioner Anindita Mitra said that the safety of citizens is of utmost importance, especially during the challenging rainy season. Advisories include avoid waterlogged areas; Stay indoors during heavy rain; Secure personal property, including windows, doors, and loose items, to prevent damage from strong winds; Check on neighbors, especially the elderly, disabled, and those living alone, to ensure their safety and well-being; Report any issues, such as fallen trees, waterlogging, or damage to public infrastructure, to the helpline number 112 for prompt action. The Commissioner urged all citizens to heed this advisory and take necessary precautions to stay safe during the rainy season. By working together, the community can mitigate the impact of heavy rainfall and minimize the risk of injury, loss, and damage.

Haryana Govt to expand Smart classrooms in 1000 additional Primary Schools under SAMPARK Programme

Chandigarh: To revolutionize education through technology and elevate learning outcomes for children across the State, the Haryana Government on Friday announced plans to introduce smart classrooms in an additional 1000 government primary schools during the 2024-25 academic year under the SAMPARK programme. This was informed during a video conference meeting chaired by Chief Secretary TVSN Prasad with all Deputy Commissioners of the State. Currently, over 6600 primary schools in Haryana benefit from smart classrooms, and this expansion aims to further integrate innovative educational technologies into the state's primary education system.