Uttarakhand

A major accident occurred in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on Tuesday when two rail-mounted vehicles collided inside an underground tunnel of the Vishnugad–Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project, leaving 60 people injured. The incident took place inside the Pipalkoti tunnel, where visibility is extremely low due to darkness and ongoing construction activity. According to District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar, a total of 109 officers and workers were on board a loco train at the time of the accident. One train was transporting project personnel, while the other was carrying construction material. Both vehicles collided head-on inside the tunnel. All individuals trapped inside were safely evacuated, and officials confirmed that the condition of all injured persons is stable. Treatment Underway at...

Dehradun: Amid the buzz around his engagement to Aviva Beg, Rehan Vadra’s alma mater, the prestigious Doon School in Dehradun, has once again come into the spotlight. Rehan completed his schooling at this iconic institution before pursuing higher studies in London. Early Education and Doon School AdmissionRehan Vadra began his early education at The Shri Ram School in Gurgaon. At the age of 12, he was admitted to Doon School, continuing the family’s long-standing tradition. His mother, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, personally oversaw the admission process in November 2012, accompanying Rehan and his sister Miraya to the school for registration and entrance exams. After successfully clearing the exams, Rehan joined the school and later moved to London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (S...

The tragic killing of Tripura student Angel Chakma in Dehradun has sparked nationwide attention and heated debates. Several student organizations, including the All India Chakma Students Union, have termed the incident a racially motivated attack (hate crime) and demanded swift justice. Meanwhile, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has issued notices to the Dehradun Police and administration, seeking a response within three days regarding the investigation. However, the Dehradun Police have strongly denied claims of racial motivation, stating that the attack stemmed from a sudden altercation between two groups. Police Statement on the AttackSSP Ajay Singh clarified that Angel Chakma’s death was not racially motivated. According to the police, the conflict arose from ...

Almora, Uttarakhand: A tragic road accident occurred in Almora on Tuesday when a bus plunged into a deep gorge on the Bhikiyasain-Ramnagar route, claiming the lives of seven passengers. Several others were injured in the incident. Police and administrative teams have rushed to the scene and initiated rescue operations. The accident took place in the Shilapani area of Bhikiyasain, which is known for its treacherous terrain. Reports indicate that the bus, carrying approximately 12 passengers, was being driven at high speed when it went off the road. Authorities confirmed that emergency teams are working to extract the injured from the gorge and provide them with immediate medical attention. Some of the severely injured may be referred to higher medical centers for advanced treatment. ...

The death of Angel Chakma, a Scheduled Tribe student from Tripura, following an alleged assault in Dehradun’s Selaqui area, has sparked a growing national controversy. The case has now reached a critical stage after the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) issued notices to senior Uttarakhand officials, including Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajay Singh, seeking a detailed action-taken report within three days. The NCST has also sent notices to the Uttarakhand Director General of Police and the District Magistrate of Dehradun, raising serious questions about police conduct, delay in filing the FIR, and the absence of stringent charges despite medical evidence. Commission Raises Serious Questions In its notice, the Tribal Commission questioned why the FI...

Tensions escalated in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, on Sunday as local residents protested a forest land survey conducted by the Forest Department in populated areas. Angry demonstrators blocked the Haridwar–Rishikesh railway tracks and the national highway, leading to severe disruption of road and rail traffic. Five policemen were injured in stone-pelting incidents during the clashes. Protests and BlockadesThe unrest began around noon when residents from Amitgram, Mansa Devi, and Geetanagar blocked the Haridwar bypass. Protesters then occupied the railway tracks near Mansa Devi Phatak and barricaded the national highway near Geetanagar’s IDPL City Gate. The blockade caused multiple passenger trains, including the Barmer Express, Kochiveli Express, and Yoga Express, to halt unexpectedly, leav...

Mussoorie, Uttarakhand: The Queen of Hills, Mussoorie, has come alive once again with culture, music, and tourism as the Winterline Carnival 2025 officially began on Wednesday. The festival opened with a grand cultural parade at Survey Ground, where a spectacular flower shower from a helicopter set the entire town in a festive mood. The carnival promises a vibrant celebration for tourists visiting the hills during the New Year season. Grand Cultural ProcessionThe parade started at Survey Ground and passed through Landour Bazaar, Clock Tower, and Kulri Mall Road, culminating at Gandhi Chowk. Artists from cultural institutions like Garhwal Sabha Mussoorie and Jhoomilo Group, along with students from various schools, participated enthusiastically. The streets resonated with the beats of dr...

Jyotirmath (Chamoli): Alarmed by the rapid rise in drug abuse and narcotics trafficking, residents and traders of Jyotirmath launched a strong protest on Friday, bringing the hill town to a standstill. As a mark of protest, all commercial establishments remained closed while hundreds of people took to the streets, demanding strict action against drug peddlers. The demonstration began at the Inter College crossing, from where protesters marched in a procession to the local police station, raising slogans against the drug trade. Upon reaching the police station, traders and residents staged a sit-in, pressing the administration to curb the growing menace that they say is destroying the town’s social fabric. Memorandum Submitted, Four Key Demands Raised Later, a delegation of traders...

Dehradun: The Ankita Bhandari murder case has once again sparked controversy in Uttarakhand. Dushyant Kumar Gautam, BJP National General Secretary and the party’s in-charge for Uttarakhand, has written to the state’s Home Secretary demanding the removal of social media videos and audio clips linking him to the case. He termed these as malicious attempts to tarnish his image and sought government intervention. In his letter to Home Secretary Shailesh Bagoli on Thursday, Gautam urged that relevant social media platforms and news channels be instructed to immediately remove such content and prevent its further dissemination. He requested that any direct or indirect circulation of such material be stopped. Allegations of Malicious ContentAlong with the letter, Gautam submitted a list of ...

: While Uttarakhand’s ambitious All-Weather Road Project has significantly improved connectivity in the Himalayan region, it is also giving rise to serious geological and safety concerns. A massive crack has developed in the Totaghati hill along the Rishikesh–Badrinath National Highway, triggering alarm among authorities, experts, and local residents. Located around 40 kilometres from Rishikesh, Totaghati has witnessed the emergence of a 60-centimetre-wide and nearly 26-metre-deep crack in the hill, approximately 100 metres above the highway. The fissure has effectively split the mountain into two parts, raising fears of potential landslides and road blockages on this crucial pilgrimage route. Hill Cutting Linked to the Damage The crack is being attributed to extensive hill cuttin...