Latest news with #JaiRamThakur
News18
a day ago
- Climate
- News18
Three killed, one missing as flash flood wreaks havoc in Himachals Mandi
Shimla, Jul 29 (PTI) Flash flood triggered by cloud burst wreaked havoc in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi town on Monday night, killing three people, burying more than 20 vehicles and inundating several houses, officials said on Tuesday. The fury of rain was so intense that gushing waters in Sukati nallahs (drains) flowing through the city swept huge mounds of debris which entered several locations in about five-kilometer area and the worst affected was Jail Road, Saini Mohalla and Zonal hospital area. 'Three people died, one sustained injuries while one woman is missing, Deputy Commissioner, Mandi, Apoorva Devgan told PTI on Tuesday, adding that rescue operations are in full swing and about 15-20 people have been rescued. The Chandigarh-Manali National Highway has been closed at 4 Mile, 9 Mile and Dwada as the road stretches have been washed away. The fresh disaster adding to the woes of the people and the administration came after a month of monsoon mayhem in the Mandi district in which 15 people died in Seraj, Nachan, Dharampur and Karsog Assembly constituencies on the night of June 30-July 1. Leader of the Opposition and former chief minister Jai Ram Thakur and DC Mandi were on the spot. Meanwhile, landslides triggered by incessant rains also blocked the Shimla-Mataur National Highway at Old Kangra Ghat, and reports of uprooting of trees and electricity have also poured from several parts of the state. The Local Met office had issued an orange alert of heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated areas of Kangra, Mandi and Kullu districts on Tuesday. It also issued yellow warning of heavy rains at isolated places in Chamba, Shimla and Sirmaur districts on Tuesday, and Una, Kangra, Mandi and Kullu districts on Wednesday. Since the onset of monsoon in the state on June 20 till the evening of July 28, Himachal Pradesh has suffered losses to the tune of Rs 1523 crore. So far 90 people have died and 35 have gone missing in rain-related incidents and 1320 houses have been fully or partially damaged in the state. A total of 200 roads, including 121 in the disaster-hit Mandi district, were closed for vehicular traffic on Monday night and 62 power distribution transformers and 110 water supply schemes have also been affected across the state, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC). However, the number is likely to go up after the latest update. PTI BPL MNK MNK view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Jai Ram urges PM for area-specific disaster relief package
Shimla: Former chief minister and leader of the opposition, Jai Ram Thakur , met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday and urged for an area-specific monsoon disaster relief package for rehabilitation and reconstruction, as well as relaxation in the Forest Conservation Act to provide forest land for resettling those who lost their homes. He also called for a study into the recurring natural disasters in Himachal Pradesh. Thakur briefed the PM about the damage in disaster-affected areas of the hill state. He said that not only homes but lands were also swept away in this disaster, leaving people without a place to rebuild. The leader of the opposition also thanked the PM for the support provided during relief and rescue operations. The former chief minister mentioned that the disaster resulted in over Rs 1,200 crore in damages across the state, with more than Rs 1,000 crore of losses in the Seraj constituency alone. On the night of June 30, a total of 42 lives were lost in Seraj, Karsog, and Nachan, with 29 victims from Seraj alone. Over 500 houses were washed away, and 1,000 houses were damaged beyond habitation, he said. The PM was apprised that damage also occurred in Nachan, Karsog, and Dharampur, with the village of Syathi in Dharampur destroyed, forcing people to sleep outdoors. As several areas in the state are repeatedly facing natural disasters, Thakur requested a study into the causes of these recurring disasters to prevent future losses. MSID:: 122952142 413 |
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Sedition case should be registered against protesters who 'insulted' national flag on my car: Himachal minister
Cases of sedition and treason should be registered against the protesters who allegedly threw chappals and black flags on his car carrying the national flag during his visit to disaster-hit Thunag in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi, state Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi said on Sunday. More than 50 people were booked for wrongful restraint, unlawful assembly and rioting after they greeted the revenue minister with black flags and ''go back'' slogans, and tried to stop his vehicle in the Seraj Assembly constituency in the Mandi district on Friday. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Management Leadership Others MCA Digital Marketing Project Management MBA Product Management Public Policy PGDM healthcare Technology Degree Operations Management Artificial Intelligence Data Science Healthcare others Data Science Design Thinking Cybersecurity CXO Finance Data Analytics Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK General Management Programme India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 9 Months IIM Calcutta CERT-IIMC APSPM India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK GMPBE India Starts on undefined Get Details Mandi police on Saturday registered a case under sections 126 (2), 189 (2), 190, 191 (2) of the BNS, officials had said. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cyprus investments might be cheaper than you think Investments Cyprus | Search Ads Get Info Undo by Taboola by Taboola The BJP workers in Janjheli and Thunag areas of the Seraj Assembly constituency of former chief minister Jai Ram Thakur, which suffered massive damage and losses in the recent disaster, had protested on Friday and allegedly even threw black flags and shoes on the minister's vehicle. Addressing a press conference, Negi said that a few hundred protesters in the Thunag Bazaar had a "vested interest" in shifting of College of Forestry and Horticulture as it affected their business but the students and their parents don't want that the college be shifted to Thunag from Sundernagar. Live Events The former chief minister opened the college but neither provided adequate infrastructure nor the hostel, and the students were staying as paying guests, he alleged. He said it was unfortunate that Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur and state BJP president Dr Rajiv Bindal have not even condemned the "insult" to the national flag. When MLAs can be booked for sedition for stopping the vehicle of the governor with national flag, why others committing similar offence should not be booked, he asked and maintained that the law is same for all. Seraj BJP mandal president, Bhishm Thakur, had said that black flags were shown to the minister in Janjheli and workers raised "go back" slogans. The BJP leaders had alleged that protestors were manhandled by the police, cases were registered against them and accused the government of "suppressing" the democratic rights of the people. PTI
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
BJP workers among 57 booked for protests against Himachal minister in Seraj
Police in Mandi have registered three FIRs against more than 50 people, including BJP workers, for wrongful restraint, unlawful assembly and rioting after they welcomed Cabinet Minister Jagat Singh Negi with black flags, raised 'go back' slogans and tried to stop his vehicle during his visit to the disaster affected areas under Thunag sub division of the district, officials Saturday said. Negi, the Revenue and Horticulture Minister, is on a four-day visit to the rain-ravaged areas in Mandi. He faced the protests on Friday when he visited the Seraj Assembly constituency, represented by Leader of Opposition and former chief minister Jai Ram Thakur, over his announcement of shifting the the College of Horticulture and Forestry from Thunag to Sundernagar in the district. Several purported videos of the protesters throwing black flags and hurling shoes at the minister's cavalcade have been shared on the social media with the ruling Congress accusing the opposition party of orchestrating the protests. The the incident took place under the jurisdiction of Janjehli police station. Mandi police said they have registered cases under sections 126 (2), 189 (2) (wrongful restraint), 190 (unlawful assembly), 191 (2) (rioting) of BNS, officials said. Superintendent of Police (SP), Mandi, Sakshi Verma, said FIRs have been lodged under bailable offences at Janjheli police station. 'One man has been booked for allegedly hurling stones on the cavalcade of the cabinet minister. All three FIRs were registered Friday night. Efforts are on to identify the suspects,' Verma said. The FIRs were registered based on complaints lodged by local Congress leaders Jagdish Reddy and Virendra Kumar. The first FIR accuses protesters of obstructing the minister's path and showing black flags and names 57 individuals as accused. The second FIR includes charges of stone pelting. The third FIR alleges that the minister's vehicle was stopped near the bridge at Thunag market around 5:35 pm where some women reportedly raised slogans against the relocation of the horticulture college, waved black flags, and hurled a shoe at the cavalcade. BJP questions intention behind college shift plan BJP's state unit chief Dr Rajiv Bindal condemned the state government for registering FIRs against BJP workers. 'Minister Negi came to Thunag and issued a notification about the relocation of horticulture college. What was his intention behind it? Only to further hurt the people of Thunag'. Party's former state president Satpal Singh Satti said Jai Ram Thakur, during his tenure as chief minister, had laid the foundation stone of the horticulture college, to come up at a cost of Rs 240 crore. 'All clearances were obtained, but after forming the government, the ruling Congress stalled all development work of the college. Now, under the garb of disaster, the government has decided to shift the institute from Thunag,' Satti said. He also questioned the intention of the state government saying the revenue minister visiting Seraj 26 days after disaster struck. Talking to reporters in Seraj, party's Mandal president Bhishm Thakur confirmed that party workers and locals showed black flags to the ministers and raised the 'go back' slogans in protested against the proposal to shift the horticuture college. He claimed that the protestors were manhandled by the police. At least 15 people died while 34 remain missing following cloudbursts, flash floods and landslides in different parts of Mandi on the intervening night of June 30 and July 1. Seraj bore the brunt of the disaster. Negi had earlier said that despite the rain ravaging several parts of the state, LoP Thakur was only interested in his constituency — remarks that had drawn sharp reactions from the BJP and the former chief minister. Protests an insult to minister, BJP's handiwork: Cong On Saturday, Negi said said that he held 'peaceful meetings' at three places and that group of people also called on him at Thunag rest house Friday urging not to shift the college. 'I told them that the matter would be taken up with the government,' he said, adding that they pressed for a statement in favour of their demand and tried to stop the vehicle and raised slogans, which was not right as their problem had already been heard. Negi further said that the horticulture college's location is unsafe, lacks hostel facilities, and even the students want the college to be shifted. Meanwhile, Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh and Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani, in a joint statement, termed the protests as not just an insult to a minister but also a disgrace to the 'democratic set up, cultural dignity, and constitutional values' of the state, read the statement. They further said that Negi had gone to the Seraj region to assess the damage caused by the disaster and to meet the affected families. However, 'some anti-social elements behaved with him in a premeditated and indecent manner. This entire incident appears to have taken place under the patronage of BJP leaders. The BJP has laid the foundation for an extremely unfortunate tradition in the political history of the state, the consequences of which could be quite grave in the future,' read the statement. Minister visits Syathi village On Saturday, Negi visited Syathi village in the Dharampur sub-division to assess the relief and reconstruction efforts and met the affected residents. Later, chairing a review meeting, he said reaching every affected person with relief is the topmost priority of the government. He recalled that Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu visited Syathi within 24 hours of the disaster and directed officials to ensure immediate relief and rehabilitation. Negi added that crop and orchard damages caused by the disaster will be jointly assessed by the revenue, agriculture, and horticulture departments. Local MLA Chander Shekhar said that 22 families in the region have been directly affected. Sub-divisional magistrate, Dharampur, Joginder Patyal said Rs 3.85 lakh has been distributed under various heads to the affected people.
Hindustan Times
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Officials must step up efforts to help people: Anurag in Himachal's Mandi
BJP MP from Hamirpur and former Union minister Anurag Thakur on Monday visited the disaster-hit areas of Mandi district and met the affected families in Bagsaid, Thunag and Seraj Bazar of the Seraj assembly constituency. BJP MP Anurag Thakur with leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur visits disaster-hit areas in Mandi on Monday. (PTI) Along with distributing relief, Thakur also issued necessary instructions to officials regarding relief and rehabilitation work. 'The scale of the natural disaster in Himachal, especially in the Mandi region is extremely alarming. The tragedy has caused damage worth thousands of crores, and the loss of life and property is deeply distressing,' he said. 'In this hour of grief, the BJP has remained active on the ground to support the people. We have distributed relief material such as ration, utensils, medicines, and provided medical assistance—and we will continue to do so. Our elected representatives are doing their part and will keep working. As for central government support, the army and NDRF have extended help in the past, and the Centre continues to do so. There has never been any shortage of support from the Centre—and there never will be,' he said. State govt committed to provide all possible help: Health minister Meanwhile, Himachal health minister Dhani Ram Shandil also visited the disaster affected areas in Seraj on Monday and took stock of the damage and relief and rehabilitation work. He met the disaster affected people and expressed the commitment of the state government to stand united with them and provide all possible help. He said that the state government has taken effective steps for relief and rehabilitation work in Seraj assembly constituency. 'The state government has released seven crore rupees to the Seraj area with immediate effect. The families who became homeless in the disaster will be provided ₹7 lakh for house construction and five thousand rupees per month as house rent for six months. The state government will also give compensation for the goods and livestock of damaged houses,' the minister said. Shandil said that the revenue officials have been instructed to assess all types of damage. 'The damage caused to flower cultivation and apple cultivation will be assessed. The state government will consider bringing a one-time policy for rehabilitating the disaster affected people,' he said. Waive off KCC loans of disaster affected people: Jai Ram Meanwhile, leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur said that due to the disaster, all structures related to horticulture, agriculture and floriculture have been completely destroyed. 'These sectors are the main sources of livelihood for the people here and their devastation has left many struggling. Many farmers had undertaken this work by taking loans through the Kisan Credit Card. Now, with everything destroyed, the loans remain while the means to repay them are gone. Therefore, I urge the government to make arrangements to waive off the Kisan Credit Card loans of the disaster-affected people so they can be spared the double burden of a natural disaster and bank interest,' he said.
