Minimum temperatures decreased by two to three degrees during last 24 hours as Keylong was coldest with minus 12.4 degrees, Kalpa minus 6.6 degrees and Manali minus 2.3 degrees.

Minimum temperature of Bhuntar in Kullu and Solan was two degrees each, Shimla three degrees, Dharamshala and Sunderngar four degrees each, Mandi and Palampur in Kangra five degrees each, Una nine degrees and Nahan 11 degrees respectively.

Day temperature improved by one two two degrees due to mainly dry and sunny weather in the state today. Maximum temperature of Kalpa was 7.2 degrees, Shimla 15.6 degrees, Dharamshala 16.4 degrees, Nahan and Bhuntar 19 degrees each, Sundernagar and Una 23 degrees each, respectively.

Shimla (Feb 2): Himachal Pradesh health department has sought explanation from concerned drug inspectora about alleged report that metal pieces have been found in iron tablets being manufactured by a state based firm. However, the authorities have yet to take action against the firm.

Talking to HimVani, additional director, health, and director, safety regulations, Rajesh Sharma said the matter came to light that an entire stock of iron tablets has been withdrawn from Maharashtra after a consumer had alerted the food and drug administration about iron pieces being found in a medically-prescribed iron tablet.

Sharma said that the department has not received any official communication from Maharashtra Food and Drug Authority about the fact behind this revelation but it has taken cognizance of media report seeking to confirm the truth.

News item appeared in a section of media alleged that the content of elemental iron in the tablet, prescribed for anemia or lack of red blood cells, was way above permissible limits. Food and Drug Authority commissioner of Maharashtra Mahesh Zagde has reportedly directed the Himachal based Galpha Laboratories to
withdraw the entire stock of the product from Maharashtra. Simultaneously, the FDA has told 76,000-odd medical stores, public health and medical education departments not to prescribe the product, the report claimed.

Sharma, however, added, “Allegation being leveled on the pharma company could be an act of professional rivalry between the competitive firms and state health department was waiting for the report of drug inspector before it would issue any order or ban productions in the firm.”

Shimla (Feb 1): A splinter group of ruling BJP in Himachal Pradesh today
announced to form a new political front for the forthcoming assembly elections.

Former BJP MP Mahaishwar Singh and former Speaker of Vidhan Sabha Radha Raman Shastri today announced to renounce BJP. The two leaders, accompanied by former minister Mahinder Nath Soft and Shyama Sharma addressed a press conference here today and alleged that the present government is snarled in rampant corruption.

They alleged that the BJP high command did not hear their concerns. Maheshwer Singh also announced that they quit BJP after failing to negotiate with BJP high command, and more leaders and party workers would join them.

Shimla (Jan 30): Shimla police is scanning the entire records of an arms dealer from the town held for supplying arms and ammunition to naxals after he was caught with heavy consignment by a team of UP police recently.

The Shimla-based arms dealer was caught by the special task force of Uttar Pradesh Police in December 2010 for allegedly supplying arms to naxals. He is now under police custody till February 1, 2012.

According to SP Shimla, Sonal Agnihotri, arms dealer Manvir Singh Bahra had violated the norms of Arms Act by selling ammunition exceeding his permitted quota and indulged in supplying these to naxals.

The prominent arms dealer belongs to Kaithu suburbs of this town and is having arms outlets at Shimla, Theog and Solan town. Police officials said that records and registers containing detail of arms sale would be scanned by the police team to further reveal the quantum of crime.

He was arrested at Mohalalganj near the India-Nepal border in Bahraich district, nearly 130 km from Lucknow and the STF had recovered 15 ATM cards, four mobile phones, four imported pistols and 1400 round of ammunition.

Police had sealed five shops belonging to him, including four arms shops and one chemist shop. Bahra owns arms shops at Shimla, Theog, Arki in Solan district and Kalka in Haryana and a chemist shop in Shimla.

Agnihotri said as per initial investigations Bahra used to purchase arms and ammunition from a dealer based in Gwalior and sell them to the naxalites.

Shimla (Jan 22): The Himachal Pradesh state secretariat of the Communist party of India (Marxist) has asked the BJP to clarify whether the state government would once again bear the burden of the security cover to IPL matches scheduled in the state.

The CPIM has asked the government to first recover the arrears from the IPL and HPCA, which is more than Rs 1.64 crores for the two matches that were held in May 2011. The state government, as revealed by an RTI filed by an activist, has spent the amount for providing security cover for the IPL matches. “It is shocking that the party that makes too much noise about resource crunch and in unable even to pay the arrears to the employees for year 2006 is showing magnanimity to IPL, which is already earning huge amounts from holding matches,” the CPIM has stated.

The party has stated that BJP is squeezing all social security measures in the garb of resource crunch and has spent a huge amount for the IPL which by no means has been a charity function.

Shimla (Jan 19): Five persons were killed and three others injured when an avalanche hit Jungra panchayat of Tissa sub-division of Chamba, 60 km from the district headquarter, this evening.

Deputy commissioner Sourab Negi said that the area is covered under five to six feet of snow after the avalanche. The deceased were identified as Lal Sen, Usuf, Rasim Muhammad and Haneef Muhammad, while one Baghusan is yet to be found. All the victims were local gujjars.

The district administration had already warned people in high altitude tribal areas of Chamba, Pangi and Lahaul against avalanche threat and urged them not to venture out.

Meanwhile, the district administration is toiling to find out the well being of around 200 villagers belonging to Chesk Bhatouri village in Pangi sub-division after the place was buried under 20 feet thick snowfall.

Shimla (Jan 18): Extreme cold wave and inclement weather accompanied by rain and snow continued to paralize life in Himachal Pradesh.

Shimla experienced two cm snowfall while sleet and snow was continuing in the nearby areas during the day. Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) at Manali has warned people of avalanche threat.

Rain lashed Gohar, Sundernagar and Baldwara of Mandi district recorded 13 mm, 12 mm and 11 mm rain respectively, Kandaghat in Solan and Bhuntar in Kullu 5 mm each, Kasol of Bilaspur and Seobagh of Kullu 3 mm each, Banjar 2 mm, respectively.

Keylong in Lahaul Spiti was coldest in the state, recording minus 11 degrees, Kalpa minus 6.7 degrees, Manali minus 2.8 degrees, Solan minus 0.5 degrees and Shimla 0.2 degrees, respectively. Minimum at Dharamshala and Palampur in Kangra district was two degrees each, Sundernagar, Bhuntar and Nahan 3 degrees each, Mandi 4.7 degrees and Una 8.4 degrees, respectively.

The Met office said that rain or thundershowers are likely to occur in parts of middle hills in the next 24 hours.

Shimla (Jam 16): The Himachal Pradesh state secretariat of the Communist Party of India Marxist has asked the government to extend the date for submitting objections for the Shimla Developmental Plan (SDP) from 22nd January to 15th March 2012 as listed by the town and country planning department.

“The government has deliberately kept it at a very low public consumption exercise to ensure that minimum people, stakeholders and affected parties turn up with their comments and objections,” alleged Tikender Panwar, member, state secretariat.

The CPIM has stated that the basic spirit of the SDP goes against the hard reality stating that haphazard construction in the town is because of the landlords and the buyers of land whereas it is the failure of the government and its agencies who lack a perspective and vision of developing the town with the growing needs and demands of the people.

He further stated that people and stakeholders are to be engaged in the planning process and the government should not just hush up the matter to suit the interests of the big builder lobby.

Shimla (Jan 16): Heavy to very heavy rain and snow is continuing in Himachal Pradesh disrupting national highways and many link road.

Tourist resort Manali had 35 cm snowfall, Kalpa in Kinnaur 41.6 cm and Shimla 8 cm while high reaches of the state reported very heavy snowfall. Kullu town also got snowfall second time this year.

Sundernagar in Mandi district recorded 53.5 mm rain followed by Bhuntar in Kullu 48.9 mm, Shimla 47.3 mm, Dharamshala in Kangra 46.8 mm and Manali 5 mm respectively.

National Highway-22 between Amabala and Khab was off for vehicular traffic beyond Ralli in Kinnaur. However, the Kalka-Shimla road was open for vehicular traffic. Similarly, Chandigharh-Manali road remained off for vehicular traffic at Patlikulal due to landslides.

Minimum temperature of Kalpa was minus 2.5 degree Celcius, Manali minus 1.2 degrees, Shimla minus 0,2 degrees, Bhuntar 0.2 degrees, Dharamshala 2 degrees and Sundernagar 4.5 degrees.

The Met office has predicted heavy to very heavy rain or snow in isolated parts of the state and heavy rain or snow in many parts during next 24 hours.

Shimla (Jan 15): As westerly winds becoms active again, it brought another round of inclement weather in the hill state as high reaches of Himachal Pradesh experiencing moderate to heavy snowfall and downstream areas were lashed by rain showers this morning.

Tourist resort Narkanda, Kufri and higher areas of Manali reported fresh snowfall while rest of the state was lashed with rainfall. Keylong in Lahaul-Spiti and Kalpa in Kinnuar and Narkanda in Shimla district recorded 8 cm, 0.2 cm and 10 cm fresh snow, respectively.

Tourist resort Kufri, Fagu and high reaches of Manali like Gulaba, Solang Nalah and Merhi were snowing. High reaches of Lahalu Spiti like Rohtang Pass, Kunzum pass, Petsio, Tissa and Pangi in Chamba, Dhauladhar ranges in Kangra district, Kinner Kailesh and Shrikhand mountain ranges in Kinnaur reported moderate to very heavy snowfall.

In downstream tourists resort Manali and Shimla had three mm rainfall each, Sundernagar in Mandi 1.6 mm, Bhuntar 0.2 mm, Dharamshala four mm, Una five mm and Nahan in Sirmaur two 2 mm, respectively.

Emergency flights to snowbound tribal areas and airlines flight to Kullu, Dharamshala and Shimla could not operate today due to rough weather in the state, however rail and land traffic has been normal so far.

The Met office warned of very heavy rain or snow during next 24 hours.