Himachal Pradesh

Shimla: Rikshit Chauhan, a 26-year-old Merchant Navy officer from Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, has finally returned home safely after being stranded on the Russian oil tanker Marinera, seized by the US Navy. His 20-day ordeal ended with an emotional reunion with his family, who expressed immense relief and gratitude. The IncidentThe tanker, Marinera (previously known as Bela 1), was intercepted by US authorities on January 7 over suspicions that it was linked to Venezuela’s shadow fleet. Onboard were 28 crew members, including 17 Ukrainians, six Georgians, and three Indians, among them Rikshit Chauhan. Rikshit had joined the Merchant Navy on August 1 last year and was on his first sea assignment when the ship was seized. Rikshit last spoke with his family on January 7. With no communi...

Shimla/New Delhi, January 29, 2026: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning of a fresh Western Disturbance affecting the Himalayan region, bringing the possibility of heavy snowfall and rainfall on February 1. According to the IMD, northwest India and parts of central India may experience light to moderate rainfall starting Saturday. Dense fog is expected to persist in some areas of northwest, central, and eastern India until February 2. The Western Disturbance is predicted to impact the western Himalayan region from January 31 to February 2. Along with heavy snow in the mountains, plains of northwest India and adjoining central India could see intermittent showers during this period. Earlier, the IMD had reported 'cold day' to 'severe cold day' conditions i...

Chamba, Himachal Pradesh – A story of unwavering loyalty from the snow-covered hills of Chamba has touched hearts across India. Amid the tragic deaths of two young brothers, their pet dog remained vigil beside their lifeless bodies for four days, braving freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall. Tragic Incident in the HillsOn 23 January, 19-year-old Vikas Rana from Ghared and his 13-year-old cousin Piyush from Malkota set out for a visit to the revered Bharamani Mata Temple. Accompanying them was Piyush’s beloved dog, considered part of the family. The brothers carried camping equipment to shoot videos in the temple’s upper region, but the weather turned treacherous. Heavy snow, blizzards, and sub-zero temperatures soon left them stranded in the mountains. Last Contact and Rescue Eff...

Shimla, Himachal Pradesh – A local roadside bike mechanic in Shimla has left a European couple astounded with his extraordinary skills, repairing a broken bike using just basic tools like a hammer and chisel. The couple shared the incident on their YouTube channel, and the video has now gone viral on social media. The Skillful FixThe European tourists, visiting Shimla, were traveling towards Manali when their bike suddenly broke down on the road. The local mechanic immediately assessed the situation. Using simple tools, he dismantled the gearbox, repaired the damaged bearings, and reassembled the bike in just a few hours. According to the couple, such a repair in Europe would cost thousands of dollars and take several days at a professional service center. However, the Shimla mechanic c...

Shimla, Himachal Pradesh: The Himachal Pradesh government has unveiled plans to develop two new satellite townships in the state, aiming to provide modern residential and commercial spaces while promoting planned urban growth in the hilly region. One township is proposed near Baddi-Sitlapur, close to the Punjab-Himachal border near Chandigarh, potentially to be named “Him Chandigarh.” The second township will be developed near Kangra and linked to the expansion of Kangra Airport. Private developers will construct high-rise residential buildings and shopping complexes within both townships. Land Acquisition to Begin Soon Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated that the process of land acquisition for both townships has begun. “These townships will support the planned developme...

Hamirpur: In Hamirpur district of Uttar Pradesh, a young man’s addiction to online mobile gaming has led to a serious deterioration of his mental health. Prolonged hours spent on his mobile device caused a loss of mental balance, leading him to suddenly sing film songs, devotional bhajans, and exhibit erratic behavior. His family admitted him to a government hospital, where he is currently receiving treatment. Condition Worsened Due to Excessive GamingThe 20-year-old, Amrit Lal, from Sikanderpura locality in Rath town, had been addicted to online gaming on his mobile phone for several months. According to his family, he had been constantly engrossed in gaming in recent days, after which he suddenly began singing loudly and behaving strangely. Alarmed, his family rushed him to the nearby...

Shimla: A tragic fire incident claimed the lives of six people, including three children, after a house caught fire late Wednesday night in a remote village of the Nauradhar area in Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur district. One person sustained severe burn injuries and is undergoing treatment. According to initial investigations, the fire broke out due to a traditional cooking stove (chulha) inside the house located in Talangana village under the Sangrah sub-division. The house, made largely of old wooden material, was completely engulfed in flames before help could arrive. Officials said Talangana is a remote village not connected by road, which severely delayed rescue efforts. By the time villagers noticed the fire and rushed to help, the blaze had already caused extensive damage, leavi...

Sirmour, January 10, 2026: A tragic bus accident in the Haripur Dhar region of Sirmour district, Himachal Pradesh, claimed 14 lives on Saturday, leaving many questions about accountability and safety standards. The victims included seven women, two children, a father-son duo, and the bus driver, all residents of Kupvi and nearby areas. In addition, 52 passengers were injured and are receiving treatment in various hospitals. The accident occurred around 3 PM, just 100 meters before Haripur Dhar market, when an overloaded private bus lost control and plunged into a deep gorge. The 39-seater bus was carrying around 66 passengers, significantly exceeding its capacity, a fact acknowledged by a state government minister who described it as “gross negligence.” Contributing FactorsPreliminar...

Shimla, January 13, 2026: Rakshit Chauhan, a 26-year-old Merchant Navy officer from Palampur in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district, is currently in U.S. custody. He is one of three Indian nationals detained following the seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic by the U.S. Coast Guard earlier this week. Rakshit, who joined the Merchant Navy on August 1, 2025, was employed by a Russian company and was serving his first assignment on the tanker Merinera when the vessel was en route to Venezuela. The ship, with a crew of 28—including three Indians, 20 Ukrainians, six Georgians, and two Russians—was seized on January 7, 2026, and all crew members were taken into U.S. custody. Family Appeals for InterventionRakshit’s mother, Rita Devi, has appealed to Prime Minister N...

Shimla, January 13, 2026: The Himachal Pradesh government has dismissed 11 police personnel, including an Inspector, following their involvement in heroin (commonly known as “chitta”) trafficking. The officials were found complicit under cases filed under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Their dismissal has been carried out under Article 311(2)(b) of the Constitution of India. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu emphasized that combating narcotics is a primary duty of the police, and strict action is inevitable when law enforcement personnel are found engaging in illegal drug-related activities. “No one is above the law. Those involved in the illegal trade of heroin or any other narcotics, regardless of rank or position, will face strict consequences,” he sta...