Five persons were killed and 11 went missing as heavy rain and a series of cloudbursts wreaked havoc in various districts of Uttarakhand on Friday, triggering landslides that damaged houses and left people buried under mounds of rubble, officials said.
Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Tehri and Bageshwar districts bore the brunt of the natural calamity, which came close on the heels of the Tharali disaster on August 23.
Uttarakhand has been hit hard by natural calamities this monsoon season. Before the disaster in Tharali in Chamoli, a devastating flashflood in the Kheer Ganga in Uttarkashi district on August 5 demolished nearly half of Dharali — the key stopover en route to Gangotri with many hotels and homestays and neighbouring Harsil, where an Army camp bore the brunt of the flood fury.
The Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) here said excess overnight rainfall damaged nearly half a dozen houses in Pausari gram panchayat in the Kapkot area of Bageshwar district, killing two persons and leaving three missing and one injured.
Two bodies were recovered and one injured person rescued in Bageshwar while three others were still missing, the USDMA said.
A house and a cowshed were buried under the landslide debris in Mopata village of Chamoli district, killing a couple and leaving another injured, Chief Development Officer Abhishek Tripathi said.
Incessant rain and landslides in Basukedaar area of Rudraprayag district have caused heavy damage in more than half-a-dozen villages, the officials said.
Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman said a woman died in a house collapse at Jakholi in Rudraprayag district, adding three cloudbursts occurred in the district.
Rudraprayag Superintendent of Police (SP) Akshay Prahlad Konde said there is information about four locals and as many Nepal nationals who were trapped under debris in the Chenagad area. With the road broken at seven-eight places, rescue teams were facing difficulties in reaching the place, he said.
23 dead, 1,018 villages hit, 16K rescued as Punjab sees worst floods in decades
CM forms panel to oversee relief | Haryana wary of water release
Army men rescue local residents using a boat at Baoopur village in Sultanpur Lodhi. Tribune photo: Malkiat Singh
As many as 23 persons have died in devastating floods that have ravaged 1,018 villages across Punjab over the past week. While 16,039 people have been rescued from flood-affected districts as of Friday evening, the state’s AAP government has started assessing losses and dispatching relief materials to those still stranded in inundated villages.
As per information gathered by The Tribune, eight deaths were reported in Pathankot, seven in Hoshiarpur, three each in Rupnagar and Barnala, and two in Gurdaspur over the past week. The three fatalities in Barnala were due to heavy rains earlier this week, while the others lost their lives after their houses were washed away or they were swept away by the raging waters of the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann chaired a meeting to assess the critical situation in eight severely affected districts –Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Ferozepur and Fazilka. He constituted a high-powered committee to oversee relief and rescue operations conducted by the state government, Army, BSF, Air Force and the National Disaster Response Force.
Mann directed Chief Secretary KAP Sinha to accelerate relief efforts, noting that an unprecedented discharge of 14.11 lakh cusecs of water in the Ravi caused the most damage.
Social Security Minister Dr Baljit Kaur said her department was ensuring the safety of affected people, especially senior citizens, children and women, and was coordinating with the Health Department to prevent water-borne disease outbreaks.
While water levels in the Ravi and Beas have begun receding in the Majha and Doaba regions, Punjab braced for flooding in Patiala and Sangrur as water surged down the Ghaggar following overnight rain in its catchment area. The water level was recorded at 70,000 cusecs at Bhankharpur this morning but receded quickly, bringing relief to residents and administration in Mohali and Patiala by afternoon. However, by early evening, water levels in the Tangri and Markanda rivulets began rising, putting the Patiala administration on alert. Water flowed toward Sardulgarh, where it exceeded the 30,000 cusecs mark.
Another area of concern for the government was Dharamkot in Gurdaspur, where the Ravi continued to flow at 4.60 lakh cusecs, well above the danger level. A total of 323 villages in Gurdaspur and 81 in Pathankot have been affected by floods, with the civil administration, police and central forces continuing rescue operations. Water levels at the Madhopur and Ujh barrages receded to 39,000 cusecs and 7,700 cusecs, respectively. In Amritsar, water levels receded in the Ramdas area but flowed toward Ajnala, causing concern among rescue teams. At least 15 villages in the district were affected.
Politicians from various parties visited the affected districts, urging their cadres to assist people in distress. They included AAP leaders Laljit Singh Bhullar, Raghav Chadha, Kuldeep Dhaliwal and Tarunpreet Singh Sond; BJP’s Sunil Jakhar; Congress leaders Charanjit Singh Channi, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Partap Bajwa, and Gurjit Singh Aujla; and SAD’s Sukhbir Singh Badal. Several farmer unions, including BKU (Ugrahan), Kirti Kisan Union and BKU (Ekta Dakaunda), also sent members to assist in relief and rescue efforts.
Water levels have started receding in Tarn Taran, Hoshiarpur and Kapurthala districts, though it will take several days for the situation to normalise. The Beas recorded 1.80 lakh cusecs at Passi (near Tanda) and 2 lakh cusecs at Dhilwan.
In another positive news, water levels in all three major dams — Pong, Ranjit Sagar and Bhakra – has begun receding. Controlled water releases were conducted from all three dams. While water levels at Ranjit Sagar and Bhakra remain below the danger mark, the Pong Dam remained full at 1,391 feet, above the danger mark of 1,390 feet, necessitating the release of 1 lakh cusecs of water.
Amid the ongoing “water war” between Punjab and Haryana over river water sharing, the Punjab Government wrote to the governments of Haryana and Rajasthan on August 22, urging them to accept additional water due to flooding in Punjab.
While Haryana didn’t initially respond, a senior official in the Punjab Water Resources Department stated that a letter was received from a senior Haryana official on Friday, asking Punjab to slow the release of water toward Haryana, as its own rivers were now in spate.
Veterans Purchase certain items directly from CSD Portal of Canteen Store Department like Washing Machines, Refrigerator, Air Conditioner, Two wheelers/four wheelers etc.
2. As per the requirement, scanned documents are uploaded, such as Identity Card ,PPO, Last Pay Slip, Aadhar Card, PAN card along with photo and availability certificate of item from the CSD empaneled Vender .
3.Once the demand is approved on CSD Portal accordingly payment is also made on line by the concerned Veteran .There after voucher is generated and forward to AFD1,URC ,Wester Command, without any instructions.
4. The AFD1,URC of Western Command Canteen does not accept scanned copies available on portal but demands hard copies of all the above mentioned documents contrary to the requirement on CSD Portal, which accept all scanned/soft copies.
5. The Supply order is released by AFD1 ,URC only on production of hardcopy of documents hard copies. The URC makes photo copies and get it signed from the veteran .There after Veteran is shunted irrespective of Rank or Age to HQ Western Canteen Area Manager behind Mandir for his counter signatures, then only Supply order release on the name of Vendor for collection after paying some amount for the URC services like printing of supply order and photostat copies
6 It is beyond comprehension that AFD1,URC charges unaccounted amount without issuing any receipt or Register entry and collects @ Rs 20/- for supply order/Release Order and @10/- for the photo state. Even Assistant Manager Canteen is not aware of these charges .
7. I had purchased One washing Machine IFB vide supply order no 105348 dated 14 July 2025 and KIA Car supply order 3-5068294 dated 19 july2025 from CSD depot. When asked for receipt of payment there was no answer from the only male clerical staff and directed me to inquire from Madam in charge who is normally not on her seat.
8. Even if 20 veterans report daily for supply order it amounts to collection of Rs 600/- per day without any accountability or record. The amount is so minimal that veterans overlook the issue of illegal collection . Even the dealers are surprised for such collection thus earning bad reputation in civil market.
The URC is involved in duplication of additional paper work as now days with digitization, there should be no need .The CSD portal has all the documents on site then why, photocopies, running from one official to another !! The online system should be refined & suggested should be a single window clearance. The canteen card and Aadhar card can be checked for verification of veteran
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Grew up as a shy, reserved person, didn’t think would fly to space: Shubhanshu Shukla
Shukla, who spoke at an IAF event, said he listened to stories of Rakesh Sharma’s historic spaceflight, but the dream to travel to space didn’t take root early in his life
Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla on Sunday said he grew up as a “shy and reserved” person and while young, he never dreamt of flying to space.
Shukla, who spoke at an IAF event, said he listened to stories of Rakesh Sharma’s historic spaceflight, but the dream to travel to space didn’t take root early in his life.
“I grew up as a shy and reserved person. We used to hear stories of the spaceflight of Rakesh Sharma in our childhood days,” he said.
The astronaut shared his experience of being part of the recently concluded Axiom 4 mission, which made him the first Indian to travel to the International Space Station.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who felicitated the four Gaganyaan astronauts, including Shukla, said the Gaganyaan mission symbolises a “new chapter” in the journey of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Publication of Part-II Orders After Retirement: A Guide for Ex-Servicemen
In the Indian Armed Forces, Part-II Orders are official records of important occurrences or events in the service life of a soldier. These orders ensure that all changes in the personal or family details of a serviceman are correctly documented and updated in official records.
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Even after retirement, certain life events of ex-servicemen or their families need to be recorded through Part-II Orders. This helps maintain accuracy in pension records, welfare schemes, next-of-kin benefits, and other official documentation.
For retired personnel, these orders are processed through the respective Zila Sainik Board (ZSB) upon submission of the prescribed supporting documents.
Occurrences Accepted for Publication of Part-II Orders (Post Retirement)
Below are the main categories of occurrences along with the required documents:
1. Marriage
When a veteran marries post-retirement, the marriage must be recorded officially.
Required Documents:
Affidavit (original) declaring marriage with reason for delayed intimation, attested by 1st Class Magistrate/Notary.
Petition from veteran/widow with children, recommended by ZSB.
Marriage Certificate issued by Registrar of Marriage.
Birth proof of spouse (birth certificate, school certificate, or Aadhaar card).
Two passport-size photographs attested by ZSB.
2. Birth of Child
Children born after retirement must be entered in service records for entitlement purposes.
Required Documents:
Affidavit declaring birth with reasons for delayed intimation (if any).
Petition from veteran/widow with children, recommended by ZSB.
Birth Certificate issued by Registrar of Birth.
Photocopy of school leaving certificate of child (attested).
Aadhaar/PAN card of child attested by ZSB.
3. Death of Ex-Serviceman/Spouse/Child/Parent
Deaths in the family must be recorded for updating next-of-kin and pension records.
Required Documents:
Petition from veteran, duly recommended by ZSB.
Death Certificate issued by Registrar of Births & Deaths (attested).
4. Disability
If a veteran develops a disability post-retirement, it should be officially recognized.
Required Documents:
Petition from veteran/widow/children recommended by ZSB.
Original Disability Certificate countersigned by District Chief Medical Officer/Civil Surgeon/Medical Officer of Brigadier rank.
Any change in name of veteran or dependents must be recorded.
Required Documents:
Affidavit declaring change of name with reason, attested by 1st Class Magistrate/Notary.
Birth Certificate issued by Registrar of Birth/Death.
Copy of education certificate/Aadhaar/PAN card attested by ZSB.
Extracts from two national newspapers publishing the name change.
Gazette notification of name change.
9. Correction/Amendment of Date of Birth
Errors in date of birth records can be rectified through Part-II Orders.
Required Documents:
Affidavit declaring correction of date of birth with reason for delayed intimation.
Birth Certificate issued by Registrar of Births & Deaths.
Copy of education certificate/Aadhaar/PAN card attested by ZSB.
Petition from veteran/widow/children recommended by ZSB.
Why These Orders Matter?
Ensures correct pension and welfare benefits for veterans and their families.
Updates dependents’ details for medical and canteen facilities.
Prevents disputes in family pension claims.
Provides legal recognition of family status changes.
Conclusion
For ex-servicemen, keeping Part-II Orders updated post-retirement is essential to safeguard entitlements and welfare benefits. The Zila Sainik Board plays a crucial role in processing and verifying these requests. Veterans are advised to complete these formalities at the earliest occurrence of any such event to avoid complications later.
Lt Gen Harpal Singh is a retired Indian Army officer who has been appointed as an advisor to the Telangana government’s irrigation department. With over 40 years of experience in the military, he specializes in strategic infrastructure development, particularly in creating tunnels and underground assets for defense forces.
Some of his notable achievements include ¹ ²:
Key Projects:
Atal Tunnel: He played a critical role in completing the Atal Tunnel under Rohtang Pass.
Theing Tunnel: He contributed to the progress of the Theng Tunnel in Sikkim, one of the longest tunnels in the state.
Sela and Nechiphu Tunnels: He was instrumental in developing these tunnels in Arunachal Pradesh.
Leadership Roles:
Director General of Border Roads Organisation (BRO): He led the BRO, responsible for constructing and maintaining roads along the borders with China and Pakistan.
Engineer-in-Chief of the Indian Army: He held this position, overseeing engineering projects for the Indian Army.
Expertise:
Infrastructure Development: He has extensive experience in guiding large civil infrastructure projects, deploying advanced technology, and troubleshooting.
International Experience: He has postgraduate development in infrastructure development from the United States and has held leadership positions in international civil engineering bodies.
As advisor to the Telangana government, Lt Gen Singh will leverage his expertise to accelerate work on irrigation tunnels and other infrastructure projects, including the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) project ³.
State Stalwarts
DEFENCE MINISTER
Minister Rajnath Singh
ALL HUMANS ARE ONE CREATED BY GOD
HINDUS,MUSLIMS,SIKHS.ISAI SAB HAI BHAI BHAI
CHIEF PATRON ALL INDIA SANJHA MORCHA
LT GEN JASBIR SINGH DHALIWAL, DOGRA
SENIOR PATRON ALL INDIA SANJHA MORCHA
MAJOR GEN HARVIJAY SINGH, SENA MEDAL ,corps of signals
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PATRON ALL INDIA SANJHA MORCHA
MAJ GEN RAMINDER GURAYA ,MADRAS REGIMENT
sanjhamorcha303@gmail.com
PRESIDENT SOUTH ALL INDIA SANJHA MORCHA
COL SS RAJAN BOMBAY SAPPERS,
PRESIDENT UTTARAKHAND ALL INDIA SANJHA MORCHA
COL B M THAPA ,BENGAL SAPPERSS
PRESIDENT HARAYANA STATE CUM COORDINATOR ESM
BRIG DALJIT THUKRAL ,BENGAL SAPPERS
PRESIDENT TRICITY
COL B S BRAR (BHUPI BRAR)
PRESIDENT CHANDIGARH ZONE
COL SHANJIT SINGH BHULLAR
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PRESIDENT PANCHKULA ZONE AND ZIRAKPUR
COL SWARAN SINGH
INDIAN DEFENCE FORCES
DEFENCE FORCES INTEGRATED LOGO
INDIAN AIR FORCE
Air Officer C-in-C WESTERN AIR COMMAND
AIR MSHL S PRABHAKARAN AVSM VM
AOC-IN-C, EASTERN AIR COMMAND
Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia
AOC-in-C SOUTH WESTERN AIR COMMAND
Air Marshal Vikram Singh
AOC-IN-C, SOUTHERN AIR COMMAND
Air Marshal J.Chalapati
AOC-IN-C TRAINING COMMAND
AIR MARSHAL SK GHOTIA VSM
AOC-IN-C MAINTENANCE COMMAND
Air Marshal Jagdish Chandra
Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Western Naval Command
ice Admiral R Hari Kumar, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Eastern Naval Command
Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, AVSM, NM
Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Southern Naval Command
