Uttarakhand

Dehradun: The Uttarakhand government has announced relief for owners of older commercial vehicles, deferring the recent increase in vehicle fitness test fees for one year. The decision comes as a respite for thousands of transport operators and commercial vehicle owners across the state. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that the move aims to ease the economic burden on vehicle owners. “The state government does not want to impose immediate financial pressure on the people,” he said, adding that the fee hike will now remain unchanged until 21 November 2026. The Central Government had recently approved a 10-fold increase in fitness test fees for commercial vehicles over 15 years old. Considering public sentiment, the Uttarakhand government has decided not to implement this hik...

Dehradun: Uttarakhand is facing intense cold as a persistent cold wave sends shivers across both the hilly and plains regions. While dry winter chills are causing discomfort, children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to infections. Despite the temperature difference between day and night, the daytime chill has also begun to bite. According to the Meteorological Department, the state will experience mainly dry weather over the next few days. Frost in the hilly regions has intensified the cold, while in the plains, even sunny spells cannot ward off the chilly feel. In Dehradun, Friday’s weather remained mostly clear, although occasional clouds partially covered the sun. The maximum temperature was recorded at 27°C and the minimum at 11°C, with similar temperatures expected t...

Haridwar: The Shila Poojan ceremony of the Vishwa Sanatan Mahapeeth in Haridwar saw the gathering of revered saints, religious scholars, and spiritual leaders from across India. The event resonated with cultural and spiritual messages, highlighting the need for preserving Sanatan traditions, promoting ethical education, and implementing social reforms. Aniruddhacharya’s Call for Sanatan EducationDuring the ceremony, prominent storyteller Swami Aniruddhacharya urged that the curriculum of the Mahapeeth should include the heroic tales of Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He emphasized that the institution should focus on promoting Sanatan knowledge, Vedic studies, and moral values nationwide. Devkinandan Thakur’s Demand for a Sanatan BoardRenowned speaker Devkina...

Dehradun: Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Harish Rawat has once again stirred political discussions within the party with an unconventional demand—he wants to be appointed as the president of his own polling booth. Rawat has also requested that his brother, Jagdish Rawat, be made booth president in their ancestral village, Mohanri. A Social Media Statement that Shocked ManyIn a post on Facebook, Rawat expressed uncertainty about his role in the party under newly appointed state president Ganesh Godiyal and the election management committees. He wrote that having served in senior positions for decades, he now wishes to contribute from the grassroots level. He specifically requested that he be assigned as booth president of the polling station in the Dharmapur...

Dehradun: In a major breakthrough under ‘Operation Kalnemi’, Dehradun police and the Local Intelligence Unit (LIU) have arrested Bangladeshi national Mamun Hasan (28), also known as Sachin Chauhan, along with his accomplice Reena Chauhan, a resident of Tyuni, for using fake identities and illegally residing in India. The incident has sent shockwaves due to its extraordinary circumstances. Reena Chauhan reportedly gave her ex-husband’s identity to her Bangladeshi partner, enabling him to settle illegally in Dehradun. SSP Ajay Singh stated that the operation aims to crack down on individuals residing in the state with forged documents and fake identities. Police received information about a Bangladeshi man living illegally in the Nehru Colony area with a local woman. Facebook Connectio...

Dehradun, Uttarakhand: The horrifying ONGC Chowk accident that shook Dehradun on the night of 11 November 2024 claimed the lives of six friends and left one critically injured. After over a year, the police have filed a 500-page chargesheet in the case, citing 60 witnesses. The Tragic Incident On that fateful night, an Innova car carrying seven friends collided with a container near ONGC Chowk in the Cantonment police area. The impact was catastrophic — human bodies were strewn across the road, with severed limbs and two heads lying on the pavement, leaving onlookers traumatized. Six youths — Guneet, Kunal Kukreja, Rishabh Jain, Navya Goyal, Atul Agrawal, and Kamakshi — were killed instantly, while Siddhesh Agrawal, seated at the rear, survived but sustained severe injuries and remai...

Dehradun, Uttarakhand: For the first time in years, villagers in Uttarakhand’s remote settlements along the India-China border are choosing to stay in their homes through the winter, instead of migrating to lower-altitude areas as they normally do. Traditionally, heavy snowfall, lack of electricity, and limited medical facilities forced these communities to move to safer, warmer regions during the cold months. Improved Facilities Keep Villagers at Home Officials say the primary reason for this shift is the government’s Vibrant Village Program and other local administrative initiatives. These schemes have improved roads, healthcare, electricity, employment opportunities, and tourism facilities in high-altitude villages, giving residents reasons to remain in their native homes even dur...

0 Chamoli/Dehradun, Uttarakhand: In a terrifying incident in Chamoli district, a woman was viciously attacked by a bear while collecting grass in a forested area. The animal mauled her face severely, leaving her critically injured. Despite her condition, the woman bravely spent the entire night clinging to a tree for safety. She was found by villagers the next morning and airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh for advanced treatment. Incident Details The victim, Rameshwari Devi (42), a resident of Pav village in Pokhri block, had gone into the nearby forest to collect grass. When she did not return home by afternoon, her family grew worried and, along with villagers, began searching for her. Locals discovered her tools—including a sickle, comb, and rope—abandoned in a single spot along the ...

Chamoli/Dehradun, Uttarakhand: In a chilling reminder of the dangers on mountain roads, Chamoli Police released a video of an overloaded vehicle narrowly avoiding a plunge into a deep gorge. The footage, shared on the police department’s Instagram page, has left viewers shocked and sparked widespread reactions online. Video Shows Life-Threatening Negligence The video captures a vehicle moving recklessly along a steep hill road, dangerously close to the edge. Police officials say such overloading and overspeeding are among the leading causes of road accidents in hilly regions. The driver in the video narrowly escaped a fatal accident, prompting authorities to urge immediate corrective action from all motorists. Police Advisory and Safety Measures Chamoli Superintendent of Police...

Rishikesh, Uttarakhand: A shocking incident unfolded on the holy banks of the Ganga River in Rishikesh when three men were caught consuming alcohol, violating both law and religious sanctity. The men—identified as Amit Kumar, Om Chaudhary, and Pintu Chaudhary from Ghaziabad—were apprehended by Munikireti Police while sitting near the river. Police Action and Viral Video Upon being caught, the men apologized on the spot, acknowledging their mistake. Police officers reprimanded them for their actions, pointing out that children and pilgrims frequent the area and should not be exposed to such behavior. A video of the incident, which has gone viral on social media, shows the officers questioning the men about their identities and warning them about the consequences of repeating such acts...