Security personnel rescue stranded passengers in snow-hit Himachal

MANALI - The Border Road Organisation (BRO) launched an operation to rescue passengers and vehicles stranded by heavy snowfall in Himachal Pradesh.

Buffalo fight, a major draw for villagers near Shimla

MASHOBRA - Hundreds of rural folks recently converged here at Mashobra village near Shimla for an annual fair in which buffalo-fight was the prime attraction.

Rescue post set up at Rohtang Pass base

MANALI - A rescue post has been set up temporarily at the base of Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu district to provide help to the stranded motorists in case of heavy snowfall, an official said Monday.

Marooned in November snow in Himachal’s Lahaul valley

KEYLONG - It’s just November and the tribals in this Himachal Pradesh town in the Lahaul valley have been cut off from the rest of the world. Heavy snowfall high up the Himalayan slopes Nov 9 has closed the road connectivity to Keylong, the district headquarters of Lahaul and Spiti.

Snow-bound Rohtang Pass may re-open soon

MANALI - The snow-bound Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu district, closed since Nov 9, could be reopened in a day or two, said engineers Saturday busy clearing the 13,050 feet-high pass of snow.

Missing paraglider traced in Himachal

PALAMPUR - Rescue teams Wednesday traced Ukrainian paraglider Igor, who had gone missing in the Kangra valley here six days ago, police said.

Search on to trace missing paraglider in Himachal

PALAMPUR - Authorities in Himachal Pradesh Wednesday resumed a search for Ukrainian paraglider Igor, who went missing here in the Kangra valley six days ago, police said.

Manali gets season’s first snowfall (Lead, changing dateline)

MANALI - Popular tourist resort of Manali saw the season’s first snowfall Monday as severe cold intensified across Himachal Pradesh, the meteorological office said.

Dalai Lama’s visit to Arunachal nostalgic: Top aide

DHARAMSALA - As Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama Sunday embarked on a week-long spiritual visit to the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, the territory which China claims, his top aide justifies the visit saying that “it is more nostalgic”.

35 killed as bus falls into gorge in Himachal (Second Lead)

KANGRA - Thirty-five people, including women and children, were killed when an overcrowded private bus skidded off the road and fell into a 100-foot deep gorge in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district Friday morning, officials said.

22 passengers killed as bus falls into gorge near Dharamsala

KANGRA - At least 22 passengers were killed and 48 injured when an overcrowded bus rolled down a gorge near Haripur area of Kangra district, about 45 km from Dharamsala.

29 killed in Himachal as bus falls into gorge

KANGRA - At least 29 people were killed when an overcrowded bus skidded off the road and fell into a 100-foot-deep gorge in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district Friday, officials said.

18 killed in Himachal as bus falls into gorge

KANGRA - At least 18 people, including five children, were killed when a bus skidded off the road and fell into a 100-foot-deep gorge near Haripur town in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district Friday, police said.

Family infighting may cost BJP dear in Himachal’s Jawali seat

JAWALI - Infighting within the family of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Rajan Sushant may cost the party dear in Saturday’s by-election for this assembly seat in Himachal Pradesh.

Passengers stranded as airline suspends Himachal flight

KULLU - The decision of MDLR Airline authorities to suspend their operations in Himachal Pradesh without any notice has left many passengers stranded.

Virbhadra Singh fighting ’survival battle’ in pocket borough

ROHRU - Himachal Pradesh’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sees its first real opportunity to wrest this pocket borough of union Steel Minister Virbhadra Singh in Saturday’s by-election, thanks to infighting in his Congress party. In the past two decades Rohru voters have sent the former chief minister to the state assembly five times.

Tribal festival enthralls people in Himachal’s Kinnaur valley

KINNAUR - A five-day tribal festival in Kinnaur valley of Himachal Pradesh which concluded on Tuesday enthralled the people by providing a glimpse of the rich tradition and folk forms of the State.

Migratory birds start descending on Himachal’s Pong Dam wetlands

PONG DAM - With the onset of winter, thousands of migratory birds from central and northern Asia have started descending on the Pong Dam wetlands in Himachal Pradesh for their annual sojourn.

Priests perform traditional Hindu fire ritual in Himachal Pradesh

KULLU - In tune with an ancient Hindu tradition, priests in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu region on Tuesday commenced the Ashwamedha Yagna, the fire ritual as narrated in Ramayana and Mahabharata, amid chantings from Vedic scriptures.
Incidentally, it is for the first time that this ritual is being observed and performed in Kullu and it will continue till October 28.

Missing Israeli’s father ends search in Himachal

KULLU - The father of an Israeli-American backpacker, who went missing in Himachal Pradesh’s Parbati valley nearly three months ago, has decided to abandon the search for his son.

Hops cultivation benefits Himachal Pradesh farmers

KEYLONG - Farmers in Himachal Pradesh’s Keylong region are reaping rich dividends by cultivating hops due to its lucrative value in domestic and international markets.

No Dusshera at Baijnath, where Ravana stopped over

BAIJNATH - While the rest of the country will be marking the festival of Dusshera by burning effigies of ten-headed demon king Ravana, Baijnath town in Himachal Pradesh will be quiet.

Warring deities not invited to Kullu Dussehra

KULLU - Organisers of the centuries-old Kullu Dussehra are breaking a tradition to bring peace to the celebrations. Fed up with the bickering between followers of two deities, the officials have decided not to invite the two gods to the festival, beginning Sep 28 here.

Himachal apple farmers facing transportation problem

KOTKHAI - Hundreds of apple farmers are facing trouble in Himachal Pradesh, as their produce is not able to reach markets on time due to bad road conditions in Kotkhai subdivision of Shimla.

Youth unearths pre-historic fossils in Himachal Pradesh

MAJAKRA - A 19-year-old youngster has unearthed fossil remains of a prehistoric creature buried in Majakra village in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district.

The mysterious case of foreigners disappearing from Himalaya Valleys

KULLU - The picturesque Kullu valley in the Himalayas, also known as the valley of gods, attracts thousands of backpackers from abroad. But some never return home — they simply vanish without a trace.