Himachal Pradesh

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...

Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh: A devastating road accident occurred in the Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh on Friday, claiming the lives of at least eight people and injuring several others. The incident took place near Haripur Dhar market in the Renukaji Assembly constituency when a private bus operated by Jeet Coach slipped off the road and plummeted into a nearly 60-meter-deep gorge. According to initial reports, the bus was traveling from Shimla to Kupvi and was reportedly carrying passengers at the time of the accident. The impact was so severe that the bus was reduced to twisted metal, causing panic and chaos in the surrounding area. Witnesses and local residents rushed to the scene and immediately began rescue operations, pulling victims from the wreckage even before official te...

Shimla: Resident doctors at IGMC Shimla have called off their strike following an appeal from Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. The doctors had initiated the strike in protest over an alleged assault on a patient, demanding accountability and action. Assurance of Re-investigation and Revocation of DismissalThe Chief Minister assured the doctors that a thorough re-investigation into the incident would be conducted and confirmed that the dismissal of Dr. Raghav Nirula would be revoked. Sohil Sharma, President of the Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA), stated that the doctors would fully cooperate with the investigation as long as the dismissal order remained revoked. Earlier in the day, CM Sukhu mentioned that government decisions could be reviewed if necessary. ...

Shimla: Renowned mountaineer Anjali Sharma from Himachal Pradesh recently tied the knot with Yves Kaziuka, a civil engineer from Rwanda. Soon after the wedding, a section of social media users began trolling the couple, targeting Yves’ dark complexion with derogatory and racist remarks. Unfazed by the negativity, Anjali responded with calm dignity. Taking to Instagram, she shared two photographs with her husband along with a strong message for the trolls. “It Doesn’t Matter… I Am Truly Happy” In her post, Anjali wrote: “People are saying a lot about me and my husband. But it doesn’t affect me. I am extremely happy with him because he treats me with immense respect and affection. To those who comment without knowing anything about someone’s life—please refrain from doing so.” ...

Shimla, Himachal Pradesh: The long-standing dispute over Sanjauli Mosque in Shimla flared up again on Friday, as tensions persisted between Hindu groups and the Muslim community. However, Friday prayers (Jummah) proceeded peacefully, with only a few Muslims attending the mosque. Hindu activists were also present outside the mosque during the prayers. Cleric’s Appeal Eases Situation Amid protests outside the mosque, the cleric appealed to the community to exercise restraint and advised against gathering in large numbers. Local resident Riyasat Ali performed the Jummah prayer at the contested structure. Speaking to the media afterward, he clarified that the administration has not prevented anyone from offering prayers. He added that the mosque cleric advised the community not to pray i...