Only 77 could be evacuated as IAF choppers lacked fuel

The death toll due to landslides and collapse of houses in Kinnaur rose to 14 with recoveries of four more bodies from Pooh. The airlifting of stranded persons was hampered as helicopters of the Indian Air Force ran out of fuel and only 77 tourists could be evacuated.

Dehradun : Cloudbursts, floods and landslides brought on by incessant rain over the past 48 hours have left a trail of destruction across north India, killing at least 60 people, injuring scores an

Shimla today became the 11th district of the state to be declared smoke-free under Section 4 of COTPA (Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products - Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade a

The final Census data has brought out an overall improvement in sex ratio in the state from 968 to 972 over a decade, but a declining trend in the rural areas is a cause of concern.

The Himachal Pradesh government has claimed R1,365 crore in damages from Brakel Corporation of Netherlands for the delay in execution of the 980-mw Jangi Thopan Powari hydroelectric project. The private developer had bagged the project by quoting the highest upfront premium payment to the state in an auction held in 2005.

Meanwhile, sources said the state cabinet in its meeting on April 23 decided to invite fresh bids for the project rather than award it to the second highest bidder, Reliance Infrastructure.

This financial year has begun on a promising note for the authorities of the Nathpa Jhakri hydroelectric project with generation surpassing the target for April.

There had been a sharp decline in production during 2012-13. The project owned and operated by the Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) has generated 449 million units in April against a target of 410 million units. It was after a gap of more than a year that the project exceeded the monthly target thanks to favourable weather conditions which brought abundant snow in the mid-hills during winter leading to an early upsurge in the Sutlej.

The state Cabinet today decided to invite fresh bids for the 960-MW Jangi-Thopan Powari hydro power project in Kinnaur district.

No relief from the cold wave as skies stay dry and clear

There was no relief from the bitter cold in North India on Monday with the mercury sliding further under mainly dry conditions as skies stayed clear following the brief spell of rain and snowfall this past week. Although it was a sunny morning in the national Capital on Monday, temperatures in Delhi did register a wee bit slide with the maximum and minimum both dropping a degree below normal at 19.9 and 6.2 degrees Celsius respectively. There was also light fog in the city in the morning.

Environment protection groups in Kinnaur have welcomed the interim order of National Green Tribunal directing the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation not to cut trees on disputed lands and using the