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Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Power supply crippled as PSPCL staff begin 3-day mass leave protest
Nearly 1,320 employees of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited (PSTCL) in Ludhiana district went on a three-day mass leave protest from Monday, crippling routine power supply operations and leaving the system under severe strain. PSPCL has deployed clerical staff and other non-technical employees, including women, to run 66 KV substations. (HT Photo) Several routine services including repairing faulty equipment, installing transformers and electricity cables, providing new meter connections, replacing burnt or damaged meters, and extending loads have come to a complete standstill, officials said. The workers, being led by multiple unions, are demanding release of 13% pending dearness allowance, restoration of the old pension scheme, rectification of pay and pension anomalies, regularisation of contract workers, and recruitment for nearly 50,000 vacant posts. To maintain supply, the department has reassigned employees from billing, enforcement, and divisional offices to the distribution wing. However, officials warned the timing is critical, as the paddy season and monsoon increase feeder tripping cases, technical glitches, and faults, while high demand puts additional pressure on sub-stations. 'With 60% to 65% of staff on strike, managing operations is extremely difficult. We have shifted all available workforce to electricity distribution, but repairs and restoration will be delayed, especially if rain worsens the situation, said Tarsem Lal, XEN, Model Town division. Peons, clerks posted at high-risk zones To keep the power flowing, PSPCL has resorted to the controversial step of deploying clerical staff, peons, chowkidars, and other non-technical employees including women to run 66 KV substations. The decision has triggered outrage among unions, who warn it puts lives at risk. 'Sub-stations are high-risk zones. In an emergency, how will untrained staff manage live wires, complex circuits, and high-voltage equipment? This is gambling with safety', said Rashpal Singh, deputy general secretary of PSPCL Employees' Federation (AITUC). Farmer union backs strike The Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) has thrown its weight behind the protest, urging the government to accept the employees' demands. In a letter issued on Monday, the union said it 'fully supports the employees' legitimate rights' and called on the authorities to resolve the matter without delay. Public concern over the impact of the strike is also growing. In Ugrahan, villagers entered a substation to raise objections to the absence of technical staff. They claimed the department had stationed only a clerical employee there, leaving no one qualified to respond to outages or emergencies. 'How will a clerk manage high-voltage equipment in such situations?' a villager asked. PSPCL invokes ESMA The PSPCL has warned employees against joining the strike, citing the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) 1947, under which violators face up to three years in jail, fines, pay cuts, stalled promotions, service breaks, and even dismissal for disrupting power supply. When contacted,chief engineer Jagdev Hans said, 'We are managing the situation with the present workforce. Regarding the deployment of clerical and non-technical staff in substations, the department is already grappling with a staff shortage. With this strike, we have no choice but to use their services for routine operations. To ensure their safety, we have also deployed XENs and SDOs at each substation so that any mishaps can be avoided.'
Time of India
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
In Punjab's Jalandhar, Latifpura oustees worried after HC orders removal: ‘We too need a roof over our heads'
1 2 Jalandhar: A few families of Latifpura, whose houses were demolished by Jalandhar Improvement Trust on Dec 9, 2022, continue to live in tents beside the debris of the razed buildings, but not for long. This is because, on a petition filed by the joint action committee, Model Town, the Punjab and Haryana high court on Tuesday ordered the Jalandhar deputy commissioner to remove encroachment from the area within a month. The JAC moved court, mentioning old litigation and court orders. It said although Jalandhar Improvement Trust demolished the houses, the outsees were still squatting there, and the debris was also not removed, which created trouble for people living in the area. Vehicles also had to take a convoluted route, claimed the JAC. Demolitions in Latifpura created a lot of political heat in the winter of 2022-23, as oustees spent cold days and nights next to the debris. Opposition leaders visited them. Some outsees said their families were just making ends meet and they had no other place to live. Supported by Sanyukt Kisan Morcha and other farm and Sikh groups, a protest continued at the spot for some months. A few major demonstrations were also held. As the issue gathered steam, the Jalandhar district administration and Jalandhar Improvement Trust (JIT) offered flats to the displaced people in the trust's development scheme—Bibi Bhani complex. However, the oustees, who formed the Murr Waseba Committee, which included representatives of organisations supporting them, rejected the offer. There were several rounds of negotiations, but the issue remained unresolved. While JAC members have issued a statement hailing the HC directive and termed it a major victory for a common man, the few families living in tents are worried. Rashpal Singh, 75, sitting outside a small tent that has beds and other belongings, said his family had a few cattle to make ends meet, before their house was demolished. "Our family settled here after they came from West Punjab after Partition. My one son died earlier and another last year," he said. His widowed daughter-in-law, Baljinder Kaur, said she was making both ends meet by stitching clothes. "Our family was rendered homeless and the state govt should provide us housing," she said. Prem Singh, sitting outside his tent, said his one son was operating an e-rickshaw and the other sold vegetables on a cart. Rita Devi, a widow with three sons, is also living in a tent. She said she had been stitching clothes to earn a livelihood. "We too need a roof over our heads. Govt must do something," said Prem Singh and Rita.
Hindustan Times
24-07-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Two killed as landslide hits their tent in Reasi
Two men in their 20s were killed when a landslide hit their tent near Shiv temple in Reasi district. The army pressed into service a helicopter to rescue a minor boy from a swollen river in Rajouri's Nowshera, said officials on Wednesday. In Rajouri's Nowshera, the army pressed into service a helicopter to rescue a minor boy from a swollen river. The Nagrota-based White Knight Corps took to X and relayed the information. (ANI) Two men were killed after a landslide hit their tent near a Shiv temple in Badora area of Mahore in Reasi district during the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday, said officials. The deceased were identified as Rashpal Singh, 26, a resident of Reasi, and Ravi Kumar, 23, a resident of Udhampur district. 'They were fast asleep in a tent near the cave shrine when a landslide from an adjoining hill came crashing down, burying their tent. Both of them died on the spot,' said a police officer. It was raining in the area, he added. Rashpal reportedly worked as a JCB operator. 'They were given the task to prepare a track for an upcoming religious programme at the cave shrine,' said the officer. Their bodies have been retrieved and police have initiated a probe. In Rajouri's Nowshera, the army pressed into service a helicopter to rescue a minor boy from a swollen river. The Nagrota-based White Knight Corps took to X and relayed the information. 'IndianArmy, SDRF, Police & local divers have conducted a coordinated #Rescue operation to save a minor boy trapped amid rising waters of a flooded river in #Rajouri (J&K).Timely action and seamless coordination ensured safe evacuation. We Serve, We Protect,' it wrote. Meanwhile, after a four hour closure in Ramban due to mudslides, the Jammu-Srinagar national highway was partially restored around 2 pm on Wednesday. The Jammu-Srinagar NHW (NH-44) was blocked due to flash floods and mudslide at T2 near Magarkote, said a traffic police officer. However, NHAI pressed its men and machinery amid rains and partially restored the affected stretches at Seri and Kela Morh by 2 pm, he added. A fresh batch of 2,837 pilgrims that left Jammu's Bhagwati Nagar base camp this morning in 118 vehicles had crossed Jawahar Tunnel before mudslides blocked Seri and Kela Morh stretches. However, 3,587 pilgrims, who were returning in 126 vehicles after paying obeisance at Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir had to be kept at Amarnath Yatra shelter in Banihal this morning following mudslides on the highway. 'Their down convoy was allowed following partial restoration of the highway,' said the officer. The IMD has forecast light to moderate rain and thunder at many places with intense showers and heavy to very heavy rain at isolated to scattered places of Jammu division on Wednesday and Thursday. The IMD has mentioned that Poonch, Rajouri, Ramban, Reasi, Udhampur, Jammu and Kathua are expected to receive moderate to heavy rains. There is a possibility of intense showers, gusty winds, heavy to very heavy rain at isolated to scattered places of J&K during Wednesday and Thursday that may trigger flash floods at few vulnerable places with landslides, mudslides and shooting stones,' stated IMD's alert. It also stated that there may be rose in water level in rivers, streams, local nullahs (rivulets) and waterlogging in low lying areas The alert advised people to stay away from water bodies and avoid unnecessary travel on hilly roads.
The Hindu
23-07-2025
- Climate
- The Hindu
Fresh landslips claim two lives in J&K as torrential rain continues
Two more people were killed in landslips triggered by monsoon rains on Wednesday in Jammu and Kashmir taking the toll to four over the past three days. Rains have caused flash floods and damaged highways in the Union Territory (UT). Two bodies were recovered from a tent on Wednesday morning near Shiv Gufa in Badora, Mahore, Reasi. Initial reports suggested the victims, Rashpal Singh, 26, a resident of Tuli Kalawan, Reasi, and Ravi Kumar, 23, a resident of Chenani, Udhampur, were inside the tent near a cave when a landslip hit them. Three people were sleeping inside the tent at the time of the incident. J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed his condolences over the loss of lives. 'The landslide incident at Badora in Reasi is saddening. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the bereaved family members who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest,' L-G Sinha said. Earlier, two locals were killed in two separate landslips in the Pir Panjal valley. Army helicopter rescues child In a separate incident, a child trapped by flash floods in a river near Muradpur, Rajouri, was rescued by an Army helicopter. Locals have praised the Army and district administration. Parts of J&K witnessed intermittent but torrential rains for the third day on Wednesday. Rains triggered landslips on the Srinagar-Jammu and the Sinthan-Kishtwar highways. A police spokesman said traffic was partially restored in the afternoon on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway after it was closed for many hours. Stranded vehicles were being cleared and moved to safe places, officials said. Vehicles carrying pilgrims returning from the Amarnath Yatra in the Kashmir Valley, were halted at Banihal, Qazigund, and Mir Bazar for the night due to landslips on the highway. Meanwhile, officials said explosives have been employed to remove boulders on the highway, mainly in the mountainous Ramban district. Meanwhile, the meteorological department has warned of heavy rainfall in the coming 24 hours in Anantnag, Kulgam, Doda, Reasi, and Udhampur. Many districts in the Pir Panjal valley have decided to close schools as a precautionary measure. Poonch district was the worst affected by the landslips and flash flooding. Vikas Kundal, Deputy Commissioner, Poonch, visited Drungali, Dingla, and adjoining areas to assess the flood situation and flow levels of water bodies. He also urged the public to refrain from venturing into riverbeds and other landslide-prone zones for their safety.
India Gazette
10-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Pakistan Army targets civilian areas in Poonch; houses, water tanks suffer heavy damage
Poonch (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], May 10 (ANI): Pakistan Army on Saturday continued to target civilian areas in the Poonch sector in Jammu and Kashmir by conducting heavy shelling. Houses, water tanks, and other civil infrastructure suffered heavy damage in the attack. Local residents told ANI that Pakistani strikes targeted places of worship as well. 'The entire house is damaged. The adjacent houses have also suffered is targeting civilian are deliberately targeting temples and mosques - they have not spared anything,' Balbir Singh, a local resident, told ANI. 'This is all the nefarious design of Pakistan that it is targeting are scared, but they have the spirit that they will continue to live here and stand with the Indian were uprooted in 1947 and then came to live here. A massive firing is ongoing now. We will not leave Poonch and go anywhere else. We will stand shoulder to shoulder with the Army and Administration. They may bomb us as much as they want, we will not be scared,' he added. Pakistan also targeted a temple in Jammu's Roop Nagar area, officials said on Saturday. The strike occurred near the main gate of the Aap Shambhu Temple. Jammu Police and other agencies are retrieving projectile fragments. According to the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), no lives have been lost in the incident. J-K police and other agencies are at the scene, and the area has been cordoned off. SDRF personnel Rashpal Singh told ANI, '...Our team is here. There is no causality... The projectile debris fell in the open.' Speaking to ANI about the incident, a local emphasised that Pakistan will face a befitting reply. 'It is the main gate of Shambhu temple where people come to offer prayers early in the morning, but the siren was activated, and hence fewer people were here. Pakistan will face a fitting reply,' he said. Visuals from the incident spot showcase that the debris was found between a cluster of houses. The local residents narrowly escaped from the situation. According to a local resident, Ashraf, an explosion was heard at around 05:45 am. He spotted a blast in the air, after which he found out fragments of unidentified debris scattered in various parts of the house. He contacted with the local head after which the police arrived at the spot and recovered the fragments. 'There was a loud explosion at 5.45 am... Following that, we came was an object found lying called up the Local Head, who then called up the Police. They came and retrieved it then. We didn't know what it are no casualties', he told ANI. On Friday, the Ministry of External Affairs strongly condemned Pakistan for deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure, including schools and places of worship. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had criticised Pakistan for intentionally shelling gurdwaras, churches, and temples along the Line of Control (LoC), describing the attacks as 'a new low even for Pakistan.' (ANI)
