06:25 PM
Sunday - April 27, 2025
Weather: 
13°C
REGD.-HP-09-0015257
06:25 PM
Sunday - April 27, 2025
Weather: 13°C
REGD.-HP-09-0015257
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SHIMLA: As the plains sizzle under an unforgiving sun, the mountains of Himachal Pradesh are witnessing a great summer migration.
Tourists from across India are making a beeline for cooler climes, swelling footfalls across Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala, Dalhousie, and the exotic valleys of Lahaul-Spiti and Tirthan and Parbati valleys in Kullu.
The state-run Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) has recorded a 15 percent jump in hotel occupancy this month compared to last year, indicating a strong rebound for the hospitality sector.
"This season has seen a sharp rise in tourist arrivals," said HPTDC Managing Director Rajeev Kumar, adding that special efforts are being made to further boost revenue across HPTDC units.
However, private hoteliers remain cagey about sharing their business numbers, preferring to keep their cards close to the chest despite visibly busy hotels.
The pristine snow cover in Lahaul, scenic drives through the Atal Tunnel and Rohtang Pass, and the hippie trails of Kasol, Kheerganga, Pulga, and Tosh are drawing heavy crowds.
Likewise, Dharamshala, McLeodganj, Palampur, and Dalhousie in Chamba district are buzzing with tourist activity.
Adding to this tourist surge is the aftermath of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which has made many travelers shift their holiday plans to Himachal Pradesh.
Travel agents report a sharp increase in last-minute bookings for Himachal circuits as families, who earlier opted for Kashmir’s valleys, now prefer the “safer and stable” hill stations of Himachal.
In the Shimla circuit, Kinnaur and Spiti are already experiencing higher tourist traffic — even before the summer peak sets in.
Sensing the opportunity, HPTDC has issued fresh directives to its officials. All nodal officers, managers, DGMs, AGMs, and unit heads have been asked to post daily updates on special efforts made to increase revenue — such as new agreements, events hosted, and outreach meetings with institutions.
These updates must be sent weekly to the headquarters through the official e-office system and shared on a dedicated WhatsApp group, said Rajeev Kumar.
“We want to ensure that every special effort, beyond the routine, is captured and built upon to maximize revenue during this booming season,” said Kumar.
With the mercury rising further in the coming weeks and travel plans pivoting rapidly post-Pahalgam incident, the rush to the hills is expected to intensify — turning the summer of 2025 into one of the busiest tourist seasons Himachal has seen in years.
#SummerMigration #HimachalCalling #BeatTheHeat #TravelSafe #ExploreHimachal #ShimlaDiaries #ManaliVibes #DharamshalaViews #AtalTunnel #PahalgamEffect #TourismBoost #CoolClimes #HillStationEscape #SpitiValley #KasolDiaries #HPTDC #TravelUpdates
Shimla, April 27 — Even after offering hefty hikes in stipends to attract medical specialists, the Himachal Pradesh government remains clueless about how to fill the widening gaps in its healthcare system.
The reality is stark: out of 751 sanctioned posts for specialists across six medical colleges in the state, only 375 are filled.
A staggering 376 posts remain vacant, putting enormous strain on existing medical services and leaving critical healthcare delivery crippled.
Faced with mounting criticism, the state government recently announced a "historic" stipend hike — raising monthly stipends for Senior Residents and Tutor Specialists from ₹60,000–65,000 to ₹1 lakh, and for Super Specialists to ₹1.30 lakh.
Increases range between 50% and 170%, the government claims. Doctors on study leave will now also be paid full salaries, in a bid to encourage professional development.
But critics say salary hikes alone won’t cure a chronic, systemic malaise. Newer medical colleges need more faculty members.
Rule of the thumb in these colleges is this: Whenever NMC inspection takes place, the faculty members from IGMC and RPGMC Tanda are deputed to present a rosier picture of the faculty position so that its recognition is maintained.
Despite the government's chest-thumping, senior faculty at IGMC Shimla, GMC Tanda, and the newer medical colleges remain tight-lipped about why specialists continue to leave — preferring positions in other states or private hospitals offering better infrastructure, research opportunities, and work culture.
"The government needs to do serious soul-searching beyond just throwing money at the problem," said a senior doctor at IGMC, requesting anonymity.
"Specialists want decent facilities, clean and secure hostels, updated equipment, and a supportive work environment — things that are still woefully missing."
In reality, even as the state talks about introducing modern technologies and expediting recruitment, core issues like political interference, poor infrastructure, administrative apathy, and lack of long-term planning remain unaddressed.
The shortage has wider economic consequences too. Health department data reveals that 9.5 lakh patients from Himachal travel outside the state every year for treatment, draining ₹1350 crore annually from the state’s GDP.
Experts estimate that ₹550 crore could be saved if quality healthcare were available within the state.
Critics argue that unless Himachal radically overhauls its approach.
It can be done by increasing PG seats, offering career growth, ensuring better working conditions, less political interference in promotion and postings, and addressing the reasons specialists leave.
The stipend hikes will only offer a temporary balm to a festering wound.
For now, the government may have taken a step, but unless it walks the entire distance, Himachal’s healthcare system risks slipping deeper into crisis.
Shimla, April 27: Kagnadhar, once a neglected corner of Shimla, is now rewriting the script of development. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu will inaugurate the first-ever parking facility at Phase-3, Kagnadhar, on May 4 at 12:30 PM — a proud first for the ward.
"No Chief Minister has ever set foot in Kagnadhar before. It's a proud moment for all of us," said Ram Ratan Verma, the proactive councillor of Kagnadhar, who led a residents' delegation to invite the CM.
Built at a cost of ₹2 crore funded by the Shimla Municipal Corporation, the new parking lot can accommodate up to 50 vehicles. Verma, who already holds the rare distinction of winning the 'Swachh Ward' title twice in a row, called it a "turning point" for the area.
"For years, Kagnadhar was left to rot — choked drains, broken culverts, no basic facilities. In the past two years alone, we have pushed through work worth ₹17-20 crore.
Earlier HIMUDA Colony was in mess. Today colony and other areas here have clean water tanks, repaired sewerage, reopened culverts, new clean streets and stairs, pedestrian path, and a dedicated team of 20 sweepers working daily that cost MC Rs 3 lakh per month," Verma said.
Importantly, the parking has been built entirely with Municipal Corporation funds — not a single rupee from HIMUDA, Verma pointed out.
The Shimla Mayor, Surinder Chauhan, confirmed the parking will be run by the Municipal Corporation, as per the norm across the city.
Taking another major step, Verma said he is pushing for yellow lines to be painted on one side of the roads facing houses in the HIMUDA colony.
"This will give residents a dedicated parking space and will keep stray vehicles from other areas out of our colony," he stressed urging RWA to cooperate and allow the yellow line.
Pushing further, Verma has now secured approval for a five-storied private parking project at Lower Kagnadhar, which will ease congestion by providing space for 400 vehicles.
"Our roads are choking with vehicles from Vikasnagar, other adjoining areas. Residents deserve their own dedicated parking — and we can ensure it through yellow line and more parking lots if Himuda cooperate," Verma asserted.
Highlighting the sharp contrast with earlier times when "rackets and misuse were the norm," Verma said, "Kagnadhar today has become a model ward — a living example that honest work can change lives."
#KagnadharRising #DevelopmentModel #ShimlaParkingRelief #CleanGreenShimla
DEHRADUN: Amid towering sacred peaks and scanty snowy sentinels bowing in reverence to Baba Kedarnath, the much-awaited Char Dham Yatra is all set to roll out three days from now.
The sacred journey begins on April 30, on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya.
The spiritual call of Baba Kedarnath, Badri Narayan, Gangotri Mata, and Yamunotri Devi is set to draw lakhs of pilgrims once again.
But with footfalls soaring, the big question is — is the Pushkar Singh Dhami government ready to handle the rush?
Sharing his concerns, Anoop Nautiyal, President of the SDC Foundation, sounded a clear alarm.
In a candid video message from Dehradun shared with www.himbumail.com, Nautiyal said, "Last year, 48 lakh pilgrims came during the 28-week yatra."
"But the real pressure was in the first month itself — May 10 to June 10 — when 41% of the total crowd arrived."
"This early rush triggered traffic jams, medical emergencies, pollution and crowd chaos," he warned.
The fact that over 200 pilgrims, old or unfit died in the course of yatra in 2024. This has prompted a call for the medical emergency response system to be more wider and active along the routes.
Nautiyal advised pilgrims to prepare well.
"Don’t rush on the tough trails. Dress right for the mountains. Get a medical checkup if needed," he said.
Trying to strengthen preparations, CM Pushkar Singh Dhami flagged off the Six Sigma High Altitude Medical Service team.
He also launched the Sanjeevani Kit for pilgrims.
"These steps will boost our health care facilities for the yatra," Dhami assured.
The police are also tightening up.
SSP Dehradun has already inspected the Char Dham routes to ensure smoother pilgrim movement.
Meanwhile, Uttarakhand DGP warned pilgrims against fake online booking scams.
"Use only official websites to book helicopter services and online bookings," he said.
Cyber police teams are keeping a strict vigil on fraudsters.
On the security front, ITBP has been deployed at Kedarnath and Badrinath Dhams.
Since 2022, after the gold plating of Kedarnath’s sanctum, ITBP deployment has become a regular winter feature too.
"ITBP presence gives a sense of security to the devotees," said Ajendra Ajay, President, Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC).
But Nautiyal made it clear — a lot more needs to be done.
"Plans A, B, and C are good on paper. Zones have been created. Six thousand staffers have been roped in," he said.
"But without strict caps on daily pilgrims and timely weather warnings, the system can still collapse."
Most slots for May 2025 are already booked. The sacred trails are ready. The pilgrims are ready.
Now, the test is for the government — to see if their ground arrangements match the faith and the fury of the mountains.
#CharDhamYatra2025 #UttarakhandNews #PilgrimSafety #HimalayanAlert
Political Punch Lands on Anurag Thakur: HP High Court Freezes BFI Election Entry...Option Before Thakur?
Shimla, April 26, 2025 — In a dramatic twist, the Himachal Pradesh High Court’s division bench has stayed the earlier order that had cleared the way for BJP MP and former Union Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur to contest the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) elections.
The fresh order, issued by the double bench today, halts the single-judge bench’s decision which had instructed BFI to treat Thakur's nomination as valid along with Rajesh Bhandari’s, and move ahead with the elections as per the rules.
Earlier this week, Thakur had managed a temporary legal victory, but it was short-lived.
The BFI and other stakeholders challenged the order, forcing a higher bench to intervene.
Now, not just Thakur’s nomination, but the entire electoral college list has been frozen — effectively putting the much-delayed BFI elections in cold storage once again.
This latest legal punch has turned the BFI elections into a full-blown political slugfest, showcasing how MPs and power-players continue to eye the top posts in Indian sports bodies.
For Anurag Thakur — once a dominant figure in cricket and boxing administration — this stay order comes as a significant setback in his attempt to make a comeback in sports leadership.
The big question now is: Will Anurag Thakur take the fight to the Supreme Court against the Himachal Pradesh High Court’s stay order?
With the court battle intensifying, the Boxing Federation remains caught between legal uppercuts and political jabs — and the final knockout is still far away.
#BFIElections #AnuragThakur #SportsPolitics #HighCourtStay
The mainstream media houses dominated by the city- centric editors have been indifferent to the problems and issues faced by the Himalayan people down the centuries. HimbuMail is born to fill this gap and seeks to become their real voice.
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