Monthly Archives: August 2018

Punjab Cabinet approves one-time measure to clear agri land by Dec 31

In a one-time measure, the Punjab Cabinet on Monday permitted flood-hit farmers to mine and sell silt deposited by rivers in their fields without obtaining green nod.

They will be allowed to clear their silt-laden fields by December 31.

The move is expected to help farmers recover their losses suffered due to state’s worst floods in decades.

The approval to the Jehda Khet, Ohdi Ret initiative was given at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann via videoconferencing from a Mohali hospital, where he is undergoing treatment for a bacterial infection.

Mann is expected to be discharged from the hospital in a day or so. Meanwhile, a spokesperson said silt had accumulated in fields at 2,064 villages. “Therefore, in a major reprieve to farmers, it has been decided that they will be allowed to remove silt from their fields and sell it if they wish to. They will be allowed to remove silt from their land without any permit by December 31,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said the removal of silt from agricultural land by way of this one-time measure would not be considered mining of minerals. The deputy commissioners concerned shall declare the list of affected villages in a district where it could be done.

According to initial estimates, standing crops over 4.3 lakh acres had submerged.

After the meeting, Mann ordered the kin of the each dead Rs 4 lakh.

He said no instalment or interest on loans will be changed for debt taken from co-operative and agricultural development banks for next six months. Dairy farmers will also get compensation for the loss of cattle.

Other decisions

The Cabinet also granted prosecution sanction against former Punjab Minister Bikram Singh Majithia under Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

As per advice of the Advocate General, the matter with regard to granting of prosecution sanction of former minister first needs to be discussed in the Council of Ministers and thereafter it will be sent to the Governor for passing of a formal order.

An amendment to the Punjab Town Improvement Act, 1922, was also approved to enable urban local bodies of the state to utilise funds of improvement trusts through the Municipal Development Fund, which was established by the state government to undertake urban infrastructure works for which allocation is received from the state Budget every year.

The Cabinet also gave green signal to the Custom Milling Policy for Kharif Marketing Season (2025-26), starting from September 16 with procurement of paddy to be completed by November 30, 2025.

With an aim to allot mines in a more efficient manner, generate more revenue and increase more supply, the Cabinet gave nod to make amendments to modalities for their auction, granting of mining rights and period of auction under the Punjab State Minor Mineral Policy, 2023 and relevant rules of Punjab Minor Minerals Rules, 2013.

It gave approval to constitute the Punjab State Mineral Exploration Trust (SMET) to oversee the planned development of the mineral resources and their exploration in the state.

The Cabinet approved the creation of 1,007 posts in the School Education Department and regularisation of services of non-teaching staff under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA) against these posts.

It granted nod to the Punjab Community Service Guidelines, 2025, with an aim to bring uniformity across district courts of the states of Punjab, Haryana and UT Chandigarh for effective implementation of three new criminal laws where sentence of community service is passed under Section 23(2) of the BNSS, or Section 18(1)(c) of Juvenile Justice Act 2015 or other laws throughout the country.

The cabinet gave nod to ensure pay protection on transfer (merger) of rural medical officers working under the Zila Parishad to the Department of Health and Family Welfare.

In order to strengthen police stations to ensure effective investigations, particularly in relation to drug cases and other organised crimes, the Cabinet gave nod to the creation of 1,600 new NGO’s posts (ASI, SI and Inspector) in district cadre.Haryana CM meets Mann at hospital

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Monday created a buzz in the political circles when he reached the private hospital in Mohali to enquire about the health of CM Bhagwant Mann. He stayed with Mann for 20 minutes, where, according to officials in Haryana “… the two leaders had a discussion on several important issues”.

“He also asked the CM about the flood situation in Punjab and assured him of all possible help,” the officials added.

2 terrorists eliminated

Adil Akhzer

Two soldiers, including a junior commissioned officer (JCO), and two militants were killed in a gunbattle in Kulgam district of south Kashmir on Monday.

Police officials said based on specific intelligence, a joint team of the Jammu and Kashmir Police’s Special Operations Group, the Army and the CRPF launched a search and cordon operation in the Guddar forest area.

Sources told The Tribune that there were inputs about the presence of a group of militants in the vicinity of the area that saw one of the longest anti-terror operations last month. The gunfight had continued for 11 days. In that operation, two Army personnel and a militant were killed, while other militants had managed to escape.

Srinagar-based Chinar Corps wrote on X on Monday morning that after the joint search operation was launched, “vigilant troops observed suspicious activity”. Upon being challenged, “terrorists opened fire, prompting a fierce exchange of gunfire”.

The Army said during the gunfight, one terrorist was eliminated while a junior commissioned officer suffered injuries. Later, the Army said another terrorist had been killed in the operation while another soldier also suffered injuries.

“The identity of the terrorists is being ascertained,” the Army said.

The sources said on Monday evening, both injured soldiers succumbed to their injuries.

Late on Monday night, the Army posted on X, “The Chinar Corps honours the supreme sacrifice of the bravehearts — Subedar Perbhat Gaur and Lance Naik Narender Sindhu — in the line of duty for the nation. Their courage and dedication will forever inspire us.”

“The Army expresses deepest condolences and stands in solidarity with the bereaved families. The operation continues,” the Army said.

The sources said one of the two militants killed in the encounter was a foreign terrorist. The sources said it would be “premature” to say if group involved in Monday’s gunbattle was the same that had escaped last month.

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MUSLIM COMMUNITY ALL OUT FOR DISTRIBUTION OF FLOOD RELIEF MATERIAL IN PUNJAB:—पंजाब में बाढ़ राहत सामग्री वितरण के लिए मुस्लिम समुदाय आगे आया:–ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਹੜ੍ਹ ਰਾਹਤ ਸਮੱਗਰੀ ਦੀ ਵੰਡ ਲਈ ਮੁਸਲਿਮ ਭਾਈਚਾਰਾ ਪੂਰੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਤਿਆਰ

Heart Touching Videos of Punjab disaster: Rain Havoc:–
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पंजाब आपदा के दिल को छू लेने वाले वीडियो: बारिश का कहर

Solan paralysed: 30 roads blocked as rain wreaks havoc

Record inflows at Bhakra, Pong dams spark urgent water release; red alert in Punjab, Himachal

Punjab floods: CM Bhagwant Mann breaks down on hearing victim’s ordeal

Heavy rain alert in Chandigarh for another three days

Manish Sisodia on boat ride in artificial lakes of Punjab without any flood relief materials : who is playing politics in Punjab Sisodia or Centra as he asking Centre to shun politics, help Punjab

Record inflows at Bhakra, Pong dams spark urgent water release; red alert in Punjab, Himachal

Train services take a hit as Sutlej waters inch closer to railway track

Himachal in peril: Climate change unleashes fury on Dev Bhoomi

Ghaggar overflows, submerges crops on 1,450 acres in Patiala

Relentless downpour, snowfall cut off Lahaul-Spiti

All 23 districts in Punjab declared flood-hit

Record rain: Red alert in Punjab, Himachal, J-K; Chandigarh’s Sukhna gates open for record 9th time

Landslides, power outages disrupt life | Kasauli residents struggle with erratic supply

Commuting across rural Solan district came to a grinding halt this morning, with nearly 30 roads blocked as incessant rainfall continued for the fourth straight day.

Arki and Solan subdivisions were the worst affected, with 14 roads each closed due to landslides. Nalagarh reported 10 blocked roads, while Kasauli subdivision saw 12 stretches disrupted by shooting stones, debris and uprooted trees.

In the past 24 hours, Kasauli recorded 4 mm of rain, while Solan and Kandaghat received 3 mm each. The continuous downpour has also triggered multiple landslides and ground movement.

Adding to residents’ woes, power supply in Kasauli, Baddi and Nalagarh remained erratic. Despite repair works on transformers, repeated faults occurred as trees fell on poles and wires. The outage crippled water supply for the third consecutive day in Kasauli, where residents said they were experiencing one of the worst water crises in years. “In the rainy season, either the water turns too muddy to drink or the supply stops altogether,” locals rued, adding that water supply had dropped to just two days a week.

Elsewhere, damage to property and agriculture has been widespread. A cowshed collapse killed livestock in Kandaghat subdivision last evening. Standing crops worth Rs 1.94 lakh, arable land valued at Rs 30.32 lakh and structural assets worth Rs 8 lakh have been lost to the rains.

Residential losses include six fully damaged concrete houses worth Rs 98 lakh, five kutcha houses valued at Rs 6.40 lakh and partial damage to another 19 houses worth nearly Rs 8 lakh. Twenty-one cowsheds and several retaining walls have also been destroyed.

In Kasauli subdivision alone, 12 roads bore the brunt of rain-induced damage, including Chandi Ghyan, Patta Ghrer, Barotiwala-Mandhala-Gunai, Bhojnagar-Chakki Mour, Parwanoo-Gadiyar, Joharji-Mallah, Jandauri-Pratha-Nabon, Garkhal-Dharampur via Moti Kona, Bhojnagar-Neri Kalan, Shaktighat Bandh and Barotiwala-Subathu-Kunihar.

With rain showing no sign of abating, the administration remains on high alert as efforts continue to restore connectivity and essential services.

Amid ongoing heavy rain in several states, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alert warnings for several districts across Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, northern Punjab, northern Haryana, eastern Rajasthan, southwest Uttar Pradesh, northwest and eastern Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.

The updated nowcast suggests moderate to intense spells of rain in these regions over the next three hours, posing risks of flash floods, landslides, and waterlogging.

According to the IMD, districts under red alert in Jammu and Kashmir include Poonch, Mirpur, Rajouri, Reasi, Jammu, Ramban, Udhampur, Samba, Kathua, Doda, and Kishtwar. In Punjab, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Nawanshahr, Rupnagar, Moga, Ludhiana, Barnala, and Sangrur are under red alert; while in Himachal Pradesh, Mandi, Una, Bilaspur, Sirmaur, and Solan are under similar warnings. Haryana’s Yamuna Nagar, Ambala, Kurukshetra, Panchkula, and SAS Nagar are also under the same warning.

Landslide hits house in Kullu’s Akhara Bazaar, two feared trapped

September 3, 2025 12:10 pm

In Kullu district, a late-night landslide struck a residential area in inner Akhara Bazaar, damaging a house and leaving two persons feared trapped under the debris, officials said on Wednesday. The incident occurred around midnight amid continuous rainfall that has battered the region over the past several days, heightening the risk of slope failures and flash floods. According to local sources, the landslide hit the house, catching its occupants off guard. However, one person managed a narrow escape by jumping out through a window moments before the structure was struck. “It happened so fast—everything started shaking, and before we knew it, the wall came crashing down,” said a local resident. Rescue operations were launched immediately, with teams from the district administration and emergency services reaching the spot. Despite continuous efforts through the night, the two missing individuals had not been located at the time of filing this report. Authorities said heavy rainfall and unstable terrain were hampering the operation, making it difficult for rescue teams to safely clear debris amid fears of further slides. The area has been cordoned off, and nearby residents have been advised to evacuate as a precautionary measure. Officials have also urged people living in landslide-prone zones to remain alert and follow safety advisories. Further updates are awaited as rescue efforts continue in challenging conditions.

Evacuation in Ropar’s Bela Villages as Bhakra Dam Nears Capacity

September 3, 2025 11:29 am

The district administration has begun evacuating residents from several Bela villages as the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) is set to release 75,000 cusecs of water into the Sutlej due to high inflows into the Bhakra Dam. By this morning, the dam’s water level had reached 1,678 feet—just two feet below the maximum permitted level of 1,680 feet. Inflows into the dam were recorded at 86,822 cusecs, while outflows stood at 65,042 cusecs. Villages, including Harsa Bela, Bela Ramgarh, Sensowal, Singhpura, and others are being evacuated as many have already lost road connectivity. Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains has urged residents to move to safer areas, assuring that shelter arrangements have been made in government facilities. Meanwhile, the Pong Dam is also under pressure, with water levels exceeding its optimum capacity by three feet.

Anirudh Gupta Our Correspondent

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday broke down after hearing the plight of a flood-hit elderly woman during his visit to a locality here.

Mann comforted the woman, Manjit Kaur of Basti Ram Lal, after she narrated her ordeal. Though Mann did not announce anything on the spot, he asked them to keep trust in him, claiming that he was mindful of their issues and all possible would be done.

Expressing concern over the “meagre” compensation given to people for losses due to natural disasters, Mann sought revision in the relief norms by the Centre.

After conducting a tour of flood-affected areas in an Army boat, Mann said though substantial funds were available in the State Disaster Response Fund, the existing norms prescribed by the Ministry of Home Affairs remained grossly inadequate to compensate farmers, livestock owners and vulnerable communities. Mann said the norms were “totally unrealistic” when compared with losses suffered by farmers.

Schools to remain shut in UT, Mohali today

Moderate to heavy downpour continuing for the past five days has left a trail of destruction in different parts of Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula with the weathermen predicting continuation of widespread heavy to very heavy rainfall in the region for another three days.

Taking cognisance of the situation, the District Magistrate Nishant Kumar Yadav has banned with immediate effect the entry to Sukhna Choe, Patiala Ki Rao and other water bodies in Chandigarh, which are running along the danger mark. Besides, the Ghaggar river also continues to be in full spate endangering the public lives and properties along the catchment areas.

The Chandigarh Administration has also ordered the closure of all schools in the city on Wednesday as well while all educational institutions, including schools, colleges, universities, and polytechnics/ ITIs were already closed in Mohali till tomorrow.

Following the incessant rain since the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, several roads across the tricity region and bridges over the seasonal choes have been washed away forcing the authorities to close them for vehicular traffic while the rainwater has also entered houses and commercial establishments causing damage to the public property.

The Punjab Government had already confirmed damage to standing crop over 2,000 hectares of land with one life lost and 7,000 persons badly hit due to disrupted access roads in Mohali so far.

Candigarh

Reports of damage to vehicles and other properties following the falling of trees and poles besides disruption in power and water supplies also continued to pour in from the tricity pockets. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) today issued orange and yellow alerts for another heavy to very heavy spell of rain till Friday.

“A spell of widespread rainfall activity with heavy to very heavy rainfall at few places is very likely over Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana during the next 24-36 hours,” the weatherman has predicted. Heavy to very heavy rain at few places is likely till September 3 over Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana followed by heavy spell at isolated places on September 4 and 5 in the southern parts of Haryana.

In an order issued under section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the DM has restricted the entry of humans and pet animals/cattle in the water bodies like lakes, ponds, nullahs and choes for all purposes so that their lives are not put at stake. The order issued with immediate effect shall remain in force till October 31. Any breach of this order would invite action under section 223 of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023.

Meanwhile, Chandigarh and Panchkula received 43-mm rainfall each while Mohali logged 45-mm downpour during the past 24 hours. Despite the continuous showers, the day temperature shot up to 2.8 notches while the night temperature fell by 1.4 degree Celsius. While Panchkula recorded the lowest minimum temperature of 22.4 degree Celsius in Haryana, the relative humidity in Chandigarh remained unchanged at 96% today.

Region alerts

Orange alert for heavy to very heavy rain in Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana on Wednesday.

Yellow alert for heavy rain in Chandigarh and Haryana on Thursday and Friday.

Schools shut in Panchkula blocks

Panchkula DC Monica Gupta has ordered closure of all schools in Morni block, 44 in Barwala, 92 in Pinjore and 16 schools in Raipur Rani blocks on Wednesday.