Mandi

Centre allocates 20 cr for Mandi-Kullu road development: Vikramaditya Singh

Himachal Pradesh minister Vikramaditya Singh on Thursday said leaders should rise above party politics and work for the development of the state and cited a AB Vajpayee anecdote to make his case. Singh, who celebrated his birthday with workers at the Congress office in Shimla, told reporters, "I have been informed that the state is getting about Rs 20 crore more from the Centre for roads." The Public Works Minister said the state government has tried to prioritise welfare of the state at the top and sought assistance from the Union government for it. Singh shared an anecdote from the time when his father and Congress leader Virbhadra Singh was the chief minister in Himachal in 2003 and BJP leader A B Vajpayee was the prime minister. "Vajpayee once said that he does not share the ideology of Virbhadra Singh ji but said 'he is my personal friend' and gave Rs 500 crore to Himachal," the PWD minister said. "What I mean to say is that we should rise above petty politics and work for th

Minimum support price: Need for improved methodology, institutional reforms

There are two contentious questions related to MSP. First, how is the MSP fixed? Second, how to ensure that farmers get the recommended MSP?

Have addressed Cong high command's concerns on ideology: Vikramaditya Singh

Himachal Pradesh Minister Vikramaditya Singh on Saturday said he has assuaged the Congress high command's concerns about ideology following his recent remarks on the street vendors issue and termed as "misconception" the perception that Uttar Pradesh model was being followed in his state. He said the multi-party committee formed by the Speaker in Himachal Pradesh would discuss all issues about street vending on October 3. Singh's remarks came a day after the Congress top brass chided him over his remarks on mandatory display of names by the street vendors and told him that no one was allowed to go against the party's policies and ideologies. Amid a row over the comments, Congress general secretary in-charge organisation KC Venugopal had a meeting here with Singh on Friday during which the minister was told that the party believed in Rahul Gandhi's mantra of fighting hatred with love. In an interview with PTI Videos, Singh said that there was no controversy on the ground and it was

Mandi tension: CM Sukhu makes appeal to maintain peace, welcome tourists

Amid tension after demand for demolition of "unauthorised" mosque structure in Mandi and protests by Hindu outfits, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday appealed to the people to maintain peace and brotherhood and said tourists are welcome. "We appeal to maintain peace and brotherhood and welcome tourists," said the chief minister while addressing media persons after an all-party meeting here with state Congress chief Pratibha Singh, BJP leader Randhir Sharma, CPI(M) leader Rakesh Singha, AAP leader Surjit Singh and others. "I have appealed to everyone to maintain peace and make no provocative statements, and that is why an all-party meeting. No one is allowed to take the law into their hands. "We respect everyone. The land of Himachal has respect for all religions," the chief minister said. Referring to the protest on Friday by Hindu organisations demanding demolition of the "encroached" structure of a mosque in Mandi town, he said Himachal Pradesh is a

BJP distances itself from Kangana Ranaut's statements on farmers' movement

Kangana Ranaut is neither permitted nor authorised to make statements on the party's policy - BJP issues a statement in response to the Mandi MP's controversial comments.

Himachal cloudbursts: 5 dead, over 50 missing; IMD issues flash flood alert

Himachal Pradesh cloudbursts update: The India Meteorological Department has issued a 'red' alert for Kangra, Kullu, and Mandi, as more rainfall is expected on Friday

Over 50 missing in Himachal after cloudburst in Shimla, Mandi, Kullu

Himachal Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukkhu said that rescue and relief operations are ongoing

Himachal HC issues notice to Kangana Ranaut over Mandi election challenge

Kinnaur resident Layak Ram Negi filed a petition in the Himachal Pradesh High Court asking the court to annul Kangana Ranaut's election

New updates: Sonia Gandhi unanimously elected as Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson

Catch all the latest updates from around the world here

Near China border, people at world's highest polling booth get inked today

It is the highest polling station in the world. And, despite all the odds, it has clocked 100 per cent voting in the past

Lok Sabha polls Phase 7: Key candidates, list of constituencies. Details

Lok Sabha elections: On June 1, the last leg of the Lok Sabha elections will be held in which 57 constituencies will go to polls across eight states and UTs

Lok Sabha polls: In Mandi, it's PM's charisma vs Raja Saheb's legacy

After the BJP announced Kangana's candidacy for the Mandi constituency, Pratibha decided not to contest, making way for her son

RBI fines Mandi cooperative bank in Rs 6 lakh for not complying with rules

The Mandi Urban Co-operative Bank faced the RBI penalty based on the select inspection of the bank conducted with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2022

Landslips in Himachal Pradesh due to people eating meat: IIT Mandi director

In a video clip, Laxmidhar Behera can be seen talking to students and asking them not to eat meat

Several commuters stranded as floods block highway in Himachal Pradesh

Hundreds of commuters were stranded in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district as the Chandigarh-Manali national highway was blocked following flash floods and landslides, officials said on Monday. The 70-km Mandi-Pandoh-Kullu stretch has been badly affected, they said. A total of 301 roads are closed in the state following heavy rains, while 140 power transformers are disrupted. Flash floods were witnessed in Khotinallah near Aut, about 40 km from Mandi town, on the Pandoh-Kullu stretch due to a heavy downpour and the commuters have been stranded since Sunday evening. The alternative Mandi-Kullu route via Katola, blocked due to landslide, has been opened after almost 20 hours and small vehicles are now being diverted through this stretch, said the officials of the Mandi administration. The Mandi-Pandoh stretch was blocked near 6 Miles after a landslide. The officials said restoration work is underway and explosives are being used to blast heavy boulders blocking roads on this stretch.

Himachal CM seeks Rs 1,000 cr from Centre for greenfield Mandi airport

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has urged the Centre to grant Rs 1,000 crore for greenfield airport in Mandi district and Rs 400 crore for the expansion of Kangra airport. The chief minister called on Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi on Tuesday late evening and requested her for granting funds for airport projects as per the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission, according to an official release. He requested the Union Minister to review the decision to impose a limit on new loans under externally aided projects and added that reconsidering this decision would help in development in various sectors, the release said. He sought intervention for expediting the signing of loan agreements of six proposals recommended by the Department of Economic Affairs for external funding. Keeping in view the importance of National security, the Chief Minister urged for declaring Bhanupali-Bilaspur-Leh rail project as 100 per cent centrally funded or explore a ..

1.5 mn tonnes wheat lying in state mandis, getting wet due to rains: Hooda

Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Tuesday blamed the BJP-JJP government for the delay in the lifting of wheat crop and the acute lack of arrangements in mandis. The former Haryana chief minister alleged that lakhs of metric tonnes of wheat in the mandis got wet in the rain due to the negligence of the government. While the Meteorological Department had several days in advance predicted a wet spell at the beginning of May after which despite repeated demands by the Congress, the government neither arranged for the lifting of the crop from the mandis nor provided tarpaulin and bags to protect the crop from rain, he claimed in a statement here. "15 lakh metric tonnes of wheat lying in the mandis of the state is getting wet, and the government remains a mute spectator. Due to the delay in lifting, the farmers have not even been paid. "Till now the government has also not even given compensation for the crop damage due to rains that happened in the past..." the Leader of Oppositi

IIT Mandi start up to launch world's first AI-backed giant swing in Manali

Four engineer friends have claimed to have innovated a giant swing backed by Artificial Intelligence (AI) which will provide an "impeccable" security to the jumpers with more than 100 jump styles. The swing was built under a startup incubated at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mandi, and is claimed to be a first-of-its-kind in the world. Founded by four childhood friends who are also certified rock climbers and mountaineers, ManaliSwing' has completed its human jump trials and is in the process of filing patents -- five in number -- for concept and design. The team plans to launch the swing in Manali on coming New Year. One of the team's members claimed that it has already been approached by the Dubai government to launch the swing in the country and is in conversation with interested agencies in Switzerland too. "We will offer one of the world's most creative and safe giant swing like bungee jumping but instead of going down on rubber bungee cord one freefall is followed b

Himachal: PM Modi to address youth rally in Mandi on Sept 24 ahead of polls

Ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a youth rally in Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur's home district Mandi next week. PM Modi will address the youth rally to be organised by the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha at Paddal Maidan in Mandi on September 24, Thakur said while addressing a public meeting in Mandi on Wednesday. Himachal Pradesh is likely to go to polls in November this year. Earlier, the CM inaugurated Government Senior Secondary School Dharbar Thach building constructed at a cost of Rs 2.43 crore in his assembly segment Seraj. Thakur said that new initiatives were taken to ensure basic facilities in the education sector in Seraj area. Strong infrastructure was developed to provide higher and vocational education to the students, he added. The CM also announced to start post-graduate classes in political science and English in Government College Lambathach. He said the budget would also be ma

Himachal Pradesh CM Thakur to visit flash flood, landslide-hit Mandi today

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur will on Monday visit flash flood and landslide hit areas in Mandi district, officials said. Twenty-two people, including eight members of a family, were killed and twelve others injured in 36 incidents of landslides and flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh on Saturday. The chief minister's home district Mandi is the worst hit where 13 people have died and five persons are feared dead as they went missing. At least one person has been injured in flash floods and landslides in Mandi. According to officials, the chief minister is scheduled to reach Mandi at around 8.15 am in a helicopter from Shimla. Thakur will specially visit Kashan village in Gohar development block where Khem Singh and seven other members of his family were buried alive under the debris of their house after a landslide occurred on August 20. As per his schedule, he will reach Kashan village by road from Mandi helipad at around 9 am and take st