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Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Three road mishaps snuff out nine lives in Himachal
Nine people lost their lives in different road mishaps in Himachal in the last 24 hours, said police. In the first incident, five people were killed and one was seriously injured after the pickup vehicle they were travelling in rammed into the railing of a bridge and overturned near Mandi's Kamand, near IIT Mandi, on Sunday morning, police said. The accident occurred around 9 am. The vehicle was on its way to IIT Kamand to transport tent material from Punjab's Ludhiana. There were six passengers, including the driver, in the vehicle during the time of crash. The victims have been identified as Sukhwinder Singh of Ludhiana; Umesh Kumar of Amritsar; Sagar, also from Amritsar; and two unidentified individuals. Meanwhile, the injured Daljit (driver), of Malia village in Tarn Taran district is currently undergoing treatment at Mandi Zonal Hospital. The vehicle rolled down and fell on the banks of the Uhl river. Emergency services and police officials rushed to the spot after receiving information about the mishap. A case has also been registered by Mandi police into the incident. Mandi superintendent of police Sakshi Verma said that an investigation into the incident is underway. Meanwhile, chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed grief over the incident and said that this is a heart-wrenching incident and the state government stands firmly with the affected families in this hour of grief. He directed the district administrations to provide all possible assistance to the families of the deceased and ensure best medical care to the injured. Sukhu prayed for the peace to the departed souls and strength to the bereaved family members. He wished for the speedy recovery of the injured. Himachal governor Shiv Pratap Shukla also expressed condolences. Two killed in Solan road accident Two persons lost their lives in a road accident after their motorcycle collided with a bus in the Kandaghat area of Solan district on Sunday afternoon, police said. The deceased have been identified as Suraj Naagre, 25, of Kangra district, and Neeraj, 27, from Hamirpur district. The accident took place around 12.45 pm. As per police, the motorcycle was coming from the wrong side and crashed into the lower bumper on the driver's side of the bus. Both riders died on the spot due to the impact. Solan police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the incident. Two boys killed as motorcycle rams into tree in Sirmaur In another incident, two boys were killed on Sunday when the motorcycle they were riding on rammed into a tree in Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur district, police said. According to the reports the deceased have been identified as Gurjeet, 15, son of Harpal, and Dev, 13, son of Bantu Sharma, both residents of Kyarda village. They were classmates, studying in Class 9. Harpal was driving the motorcycle with the boys riding pillion, to a nearby place where they intended to participate in a Bhandara of 'Kheda Maharaj', said police. He lost control of the vehicle and it rammed into a tree on the roadside, they added. A resident, Chaman, told PTI, that after the accident, villagers from nearby areas rushed to their rescue but the boys died on the spot. Paonta deputy superintendent of police Manvendra Thakur said that bodies have been sent for a postmortem. A case has been registered under relevant sections and further investigations are underway. With PTI inputs
Time of India
31-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Rain lashes Ludh, more in store for next 4 days
Ludhiana: Dark stormclouds rolled in on Saturday, bringing rain and much-needed relief from the scorching heat. It rained for a good half an hour from around 5pm. The district did not record any rain between 8.30am and 5.30pm. At 39.4 degrees Celsius, day temperature was 0.4 degrees below normal but 1.7 degrees more than the day before. At 29.7 degrees Celsius, minimum temperature was 5.1 notches above normal and 8.5 degrees more than the day before. The meteorological department has said that the sky will remain overcast for the next four days. Day temperature is expected to hover at over 39 degrees Celsius during the period before sliding by two degrees next Thursday. Night temperature is likely to dip to 28 degrees Celsius by June 2, rise to 29 degrees Celsius the next day, and settle at 28 till June 6. Meanwhile, residents were happy to see a pleasant change in the weather, especially around Saturday evening. Sukhwinder Singh, a resident, said that they were grappling with hot weather for the last few days, but the rain brought cheers to their faces. He added that they are enjoying the pleasant weather.
Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Panchayat land dispute in Ludhiana: Uproar over land allocation to Navi Abadi village
A decades-old land dispute between Akalgarh Kalan and Navi Abadi Akalgarh has erupted into fresh tensions after the state department of rural development and panchayats officially ordered the transfer of seven acres of panchayat land to Navi Abadi, triggering anger among residents of the parent village. The department's notification follows a 33-year-long legal battle after Akalgarh Kalan was split in 1993, creating Navi Abadi Akalgarh. Despite its formation, Navi Abadi had not been allotted any share of the village panchayat land until now. The development has sparked outrage in Akalgarh Kalan. Local residents claim the land originally belonged to their ancestors and was left for community use, asserting that only their village has the rightful claim. Protests are now being planned, with villagers threatening to block the Ludhiana–Bathinda highway at Abohar Branch Bridge to prevent movement from the new settlement. The notification was issued after the current sarpanch of Navi Abadi, Manjeet Kaur, along with the panchayat, advocated for the land. The department cited prior notifications from 1998 and 2008, and acted under the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, to allot the land for construction of common buildings and infrastructure in the newly formed village. Director of the department stated that both panchayats were given the opportunity to present their views, and the decision followed a detailed review of land records and recommendations from the block development office (BDO) Sudhar. The 2016–17 land register shows that Akalgarh Kalan had leased 14 acres of land, of which half is now to be transferred to Navi Abadi for community purposes. A copy of the official order has been sent to the district development and panchayat officer, BDO Sudhar, and both gram panchayats. Reacting to the notification, Sukhwinder Singh, husband of Akalgarh Kalan's sarpanch Swarnjeet Kaur, said, 'We will challenge this order in court. This land was donated by our ancestors for the welfare of our village. The government has no right to divide it. This is a legal and social battle that we will fight.' Meanwhile, sarpanch Manjeet Kaur of Navi Abadi said, 'After 33 years of injustice, we finally got our due. Our village didn't have a single inch of land for shared use. This is not just land — it is recognition of our identity.' She added that the BDO and revenue officials would soon visit the village to begin demarcation and hand over physical possession of the land. As tensions mount between the two villages, district authorities are keeping a close watch on the situation to prevent any potential law and order issues.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Enforcing Punjab's hybrid paddy ban a challenge in saline water areas
Chandigarh: Enforcing Punjab govt's ban on hybrid paddy seeds will be a significant challenge in areas like Muktsar, Fazilka and Mansa, which are plagued by saline groundwater and waterlogging. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Farmers in these regions, who previously adopted hybrid varieties after repeated cotton crop failures, are now sourcing seeds from Haryana to bypass the restrictions or reluctantly exploring basmati as an alternative. Last year, rice millers in Punjab refused to buy hybrid paddy, citing issues with higher breakage and lower milling recovery, leading the Punjab govt to ban these hybrid varieties, along with the traditional PR-44 variety. Adding to the confusion, it was alleged that hybrid varieties was mixed with PR-126 at some places. Sukhwinder Singh of Rakhala village in Muktsar Sahib said his family had been cultivating hybrid seeds for over two decades but before imposing the ban, the state govt had not offered any alternative to farmers. "Our water quality is so poor that basmati cultivation is impossible for us. State govt must announce assured procurement for maize and moong. With cotton crops failing for four consecutive years, we're now waiting for the courts to decide our fate before planning our next move," he said. Balwinder Singh, a basmati farmer from Rana village in Fazilka said, "Farmers in areas with poor water quality, who previously grew cotton, are the ones who cultivated hybrid varieties. For them, even basmati isn't a viable option. Where water quality is suitable, basmati varieties like Pusa 1718, PB 1421, and 1401 are popular choices among farmers." Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Rajinder Singh, a farmer from Malaut, said farmers from areas with saline water were procuring hybrid seeds from Haryana. "They are ready to forego a cut of upto Rs 300 on their produce at the time of procurement. A bag of 3kg is available for Rs 1,400, a hike of Rs 200 over previous year. Hybrid seeds come with the advantage of the paddy crop maturing in 60 days," Rajinder added. Karanjit Singh, chief agriculture officer, Muktsar, said since the paddy-sowing season was under way, the state agriculture department is keeping a check on the sale of hybrid seeds. "There are some parts of the district where water is of inferior quality and farmers are being advised to switch to basmati or cotton. Besides, the availability of canal water has significantly increased in the area," he said. Kamaldeep Singh, a rice miller, said basmati was always an option, even in areas where water quality was traditionally saline. "Farmers have been getting good prices for paddy in the open market. Lately, farmers across the state have been drawn to growing hybrid varieties which was not a good trend," he said. Farmers said hybrid paddy was essential in regions with saline groundwater, such as parts of Muktsar, Fazilka, Mansa and Bathinda, where traditional varieties struggle to grow. Effective for the Kharif season 2025, the Punjab govt has imposed a blanket ban on the sale and sowing of paddy variety PR-44 and all hybrid seeds. This decision, based on Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) recommendations, stems from concerns over hybrid seeds' high cost and their failure to meet Food Corporation of India (FCI) quality standards. PR-44 was also banned last year due to its long maturity period and high water consumption.
Hindustan Times
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Sharing fake video defaming army lands Khanna man in trouble
The Khanna police detained a clerk of a private school, under preventive action, for sharing a fake video on social media that portrayed the Indian Army in poor light. The video, originally aired on a Pakistani news channel, showed a conversation where a person, allegedly from Punjab, falsely claimed that Indian Army tanks had entered his village and were firing on civilians. The individual on the channel urged others to share the video widely. As soon as the video surfaced in Khanna, it sparked outrage among locals. Upon receiving complaints, the police sprang into action. Senior superintendent of police (SSP) and other high-ranking officials were informed. The Sadar police arrested the man and seized his mobile phone for forensic analysis. SHO Sukhwinder Singh said that cyber experts are investigating how widely the video was shared and tracing its original source. Sources suggest the fake narrative may have originated from a person in a border village who went live on the Pakistani channel to spread misinformation. The authorities are examining links and motives behind the act. Reacting strongly, the school management has taken serious note of the incident. School management has announced an emergency meeting on May 12 to discuss disciplinary action against the accused staff member. This incident comes just days after Ludhiana deputy commissioner Himanshu Jain issued an official circular warning citizens not to share any videos, news, or content produced in Pakistan, particularly ones that could endanger national security or defame government institutions. The warning was based on a central government directive issued on May 8, 2025. Earlier on May 10, the Ludhiana police detained two individuals for spreading panic by posting fake videos on social media, falsely claiming missile attacks had struck areas near the city amid escalating tension between India and Pakistan.
