Click on the links below for details

Snowfall Warning in J&K, Himachal and Uttarakhand

107 Year Old Jauljibi Fair Begins in Pithoragarh

4th Uttarakhand Olympic Games Finished in Rudrapur on 13 November 2018

CM Holds meetings in Dehradun, Mussoorie and Uttarkashi

Pilgrims throng Har-Ki-Pauri to celebrate Chhath

Land Intrude by 2 Resorts in CTR reclaimed: SDM to HC

Air Ambulance Service in Uttarakhand Soon

Rain and Snow Likely in Uttarakhand, Himachal, Kashmir

Char Dham Yatra Witnessed Over 27 Lakh Pilgrims this Year (2018)

Snowfall Warning issued in J&K, Himachal and Uttarakhand

A warning of snowfall has been issued in the states of Himachal, Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir.

Delhi seen light showers on Wednesday 14 November 2018 evening causing a dip in temperature. The downpours at night were preceded by thundershowers. The most extreme and least temperature today morning was recorded as 27 and 13 degrees Celsius, respectively. The air quality record after the downpours, however, stayed 'poor' at 289 while PM 2.5 level remained at 325 which falls under 'exceptionally poor' class.

A notice for avalanche has additionally been issued in the state of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand and the Union Home Ministry has coordinated the main secretaries of the individual states to screen the circumstance in delicate territories and pursue preparatory measures. Incessant snowfall in the Kashmir Valley a week ago prompted the government proclaiming it a state specific 'natural catastrophe'. Snow has likewise prompted broad harm of rural items in the state, particularly to the state's apple production. The affirmation of the characteristic catastrophe was to some extent done to give extra help to the influenced farmers from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).

Centre run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting (SAFAR) said there is an expectation of a shady sky in the capital and that occasionally brings sporadic showers. Meanwhile, the EPCA lifted the prohibition on heavy vehicles and said they will have the capacity to transport products through the city on normal timings between 11 PM to 6 AM.

TOP

107 Year Old Jauljibi Fair Begins in Pithoragarh on Wednesday 14 November 2018

Ajay Tamta Union Minister on Wednesday 14 November 2018 inagurated the 10 day historical Jauljibi fair in Pithoragarh district at the confluence of rivers Kali and Gori. Jauljibi town is located in Dharchula along the Nepal border and is about 64 km from Pithoragarh town. Jauljibi is renowned for its rich trading history and was a point of exchange for Tibetan, North Indian and Nepalese traders back in the time.

Even though the fair is known to be centuries old, the fair was officially started in 1911 by the Zamindar of Askot. After the appropriation of Askot to the Indian State in 1948, the fair was stopped for sometime but it was again resumed by the Uttar Pradesh government. The fair is especially popular for warm clothes and raw wool.

RK Pandy, Sub divisional magistrate of Dharchula said that around 400 shops have been set up in Jauljibi and the fair will continue till 24 November 2018. Nagendra Kautiyal, a trader said the over the years the fair has lost its old charm. Previously, items made of Himalayan herbs, raw wool used to be on display but now, the products have become mostly synthetic. The main reason for this is the closure of Indo Tibetan trade route after the 1962 war.

Now the fair mostly has Chinese items such as blankets, jackets, quilts and other garments. Kautiyal added that this year stalls numbers has also decreased. He said that the administration had decreased the stall numbers and increased the rent from Rs 1500 to Rs 2300 this year. Many traders are disappointed by this decision. The conditions of roads are also bad and the venue of the fair is very close to the Pancheshwar dam site and there is a danger of flooding so keeping this in mind the administration should shift the venue next year said a local resident.

TOP

4th Uttarakhand Olympic Games Finished in Rudrapur on 13 November 2018

The 4rth section of Uttarakhand Olympic Games finished in Rudrapur on Tuesday 13 November 2018 with the disembarkation of Olympic Flag and a farewell march past in Rudrapur. In this four day long sport event that featured 25 sports, over 5000 athletes from 13 districts participated. A Women band from the Provincial Armed Constabulary performs during the closing ceremony of the event at the district sports stadium. The closing ceremony was jointly chaired by the gems of the Indian Olympic Association, Neeraj Kharwal (DM) and Anandeshwar Pandy.

With the more chances, Dehradun managed to win several Individual and team sports as well. DK Singh, General Secretary of UOA on this occasion said that they have not been able to compile the medal tally as the games were played with several venues in 4 different cities. However, in Women�s Basketball, Women�s Handball, Men�s Handball and Men�s Hockey, Dehradun defeated Bageshwar, Paudi, Pithoragarh and Udham Singh Nagar in the finals respectively. Dehradun was defeated by Haridwar in Men�s Basketball final match. Almora�s Rahul Bisht won gold in 100 meter spring while Udham Singh Nagar�s relay team won gold in 4x400 meter race.

IOA treasurer Pandey also give praise on the athletes from the state and said that it is the result of the hard work of the players and the support from the State Government that today the young talent have emerged today from all across the hilly state and IOA with its state unit will make required efforts to take Uttarakhand to the next level of sporting excellence.

DM Kharwal also speaks in the event and said that such sport events should be organized every year so that more young talent emerge and bring glory to the district at state, national and international levels. He also distributed mementos to the players and a scooty to a disabled athlete, Sanjay Kumar.

Prior, amid the launch of the Sports event on November 10, general secretary of IOA, Rajeev Mehta had said, �The state has huge sporting ability. We are giving a stage and legitimate direction to the young talents from Uttarakhand."

CM Holds meetings in Dehradun, Mussoorie and Uttarkashi

Campaigning across the state has intensified with the urban local body pools hitting the last leg. Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has himself taken the responsibility to supervise the poll campaign for the ruling party.

CM Rawat has campaigned for party�s mayoral candidates in Kotdwar, Haridwar, Dehradun and Rishikesh in the last two days. Except this, he has held an extensive campaign in his own assembly constituency of Doiwala. Following which, he held a string of meetings at Uttarkashi, Gopeshwar, Vikas Nagar, Dehradun and Mussoorie on Tuesday 13 November 2018.

On 14 November 2018 Wednesday he is expected to hold meetings at Pithoragarh, Almora, Nainital and Haldwani and on the next day he will visit Kashipur and Rudrapur. Thereafter, he will hold meetings in Tehri, Pauri and Dehradun districts.

The CM�s efforts does not come as a surprise as in the past there have been occasions of some senior party members speaking against him and the government. The media in-Charge Devendra Bhasin said that CM is a powerful leader and his mere presence boosts the BJP�s chances. He also interacts with the people asks for feedback.

TOP

Pilgrims throng Har-Ki-Pauri to celebrate Chhath

On the occasion of Chhath on Tuesday 13 November 2018, thousands of women with their family members stood waist deep in the Ganga River at Har ki Pauri and offered prayers to the Sun God.

The festival of Chhath is celebrated mainly by women from the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Bihar and West Bengal. Pilgrims said that this is the only festival in which devotees worship both the sunrise and sunset. The celebration is going to finish on 14 November 2018 with the women breaking their fast and taking a dip in the Ganga.

Chhath is also celebrated by men but the fast is mainly taken by married women for the well-being of their family members. Pilgrims pray to the sun god for the good health of their family members. The level of water in the river was rather low while the Haridwar district administration got the Ghats cleaned and made necessary security arrangements ahead of the festival.

Kamlesh Mishra, the head of Poorvanchal Jan Jagriti Sanstha said that the Ganga at Har ki Pauri and other Ghats did not have enough water to take a dip. He added that for declaring Chhath a holiday he is thankful f to the state government. Meanwhile, the main puja was held along the banks of Tons river near Tapkeswar temple which is dedicated to Lord Shiva in Dehradun.

The festival was also celebrated in Rishikesh and elaborate security arrangements were made. Meanwhile the state government had converted the restricted holiday on Chhath Puja to a public holiday in Uttarakhand.

The state government�s amendment was seen as a pre poll decision to satisfy people hailing from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh.

TOP

Land Intrude by 2 Resorts in CTR reclaimed: SDM to HC

Gaurav Chatwal, SDM of Sult on Tuesday 13 November 2018 submitted an affidavit to the high court, mentioning the encroachments by two resorts in Sult and Almora on the Corbett Tiger Reserve have been removed. The HC had ordered removal of all intrusions on the tiger reserve earlier this year. The affidavit stated that Land measuring more than 1.12 lakh square feet i.e. 56 nali, encroached on by Corbett Ramganga resort, and 9 nali land i.e. more than 18,000 square feet illegally held by The Salluna Resort had been cleared.

The affidavit added that a road from Ram Ganga River to The Salluna Resort had also been closed. The SDM also informed the court that business under provisions of the Public Premises Act have been initiated against both the resorts. Last Month the HC ordered the registration of FIRs against the two resorts and directed the divisional forest officers and sub divisional magistrates of the concerned areas to file affidavits to this effect while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning encroachment by private hotels, resorts and farm houses adjacent to the Corbett Tiger Reserve.

The HC had offered the constitution of a high powered committee to check intrusion by hotels and resorts near Corbett Tiger Reserve on 15 June 2018. After conducting a detailed inspection, the committee submitted its report in two parts, naming around 35 resorts that intruded upon forest and revenue lands of more than 100 acres. The committee included 19 more resorts and hotels in this list on 31 August 2018 taking the number of such hotels to 54.

TOP

Air Ambulance Service in Uttarakhand Soon

On Monday 12 November 2018, Trivendra Singh Rawat , Chief Minister of Uttarakhand stated that his government would soon start air ambulance services to provide better health services to those people living in hilly areas of the state. After inaugurating the 66th National Conference of Anatomical society of India at AIIMS, Rishikesh, Rawat said that the institute here had enlarged its capacity to 900 beds in 6 years and also introduced several facilities, reducing the pressure on AIIMS, Delhi by 30%.

He added that they are always doing efforts to provide more desirable treatment facilities to people in remote areas and the air ambulance services will be the first step in this direction.

He thanked the staff and faculty of Rishikesh AIIMS for being ready anytime to provide a helping hand to the state government in providing medical care to the affected people in hilly remote areas.

TOP

Rain and Snow Likely in Uttarakhand, Himachal, Kashmir

Weather of North India Hills remained almost dry with light rain over Jammu and Kashmir and parts of Himachal Pradesh. However, progressive passage of Western Disturbances moved toward Jammu and Kashmir, however they were so weak in nature that they neglected to give any noteworthy climate activity. Presently, a new Western Disturbance is over Jammu and Kashmir.

Because of this, light to moderate rains with snow can be seen over Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh around November 13-14.

There are chances of light rain activities to start by today evening yet the intensity will only increase by tomorrow. Temperatures are expected to drop altogether over the whole state of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Territory of Uttarakhand may likewise get scattered downpours. However, chances of snowfall are less over Uttarakhand.

Moderate to heavy snowfall may once again block the activity on Jammu and Kashmir national parkway and numerous different parts of the state. Spots like Pahalgam,Gulmarg and Srinagar may get precipitation. Snowfall is likewise conceivable over Shimla, Manali, Rohtang Pass, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. November 16 onward, frosty cool breezes from northwest heading will begin which will be instrumental in dropping day and night temperatures over northern fields of the nation including national capital, Delhi.

TOP

Char Dham Yatra Witnessed Over 27 Lakh Pilgrims this Year (2018)

This year's Char Dham Yatra saw the most elevated turnout in the previous six years, with over 27.6 lakh devotees visiting the loved hallowed places in the Garhwal Himalayas. As indicated by figures discharged by Uttarakhand police on Wednesday, 27,69,508 pioneers visited the four hallowed places � Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri amid this season.

During last year, a footfall of 23,24,158 explorers was recorded, which is 4,45,350 less devotees than this year. While portals of all the 3 shrines have shut for winter, enthusiasts can in any case visit Badrinath and the total pilgrims numbers may rise further.

Ashok Kumar, Additional Director General (ADG) law and order, stated, "For the current year, we have seen most noteworthy footfall at Kedarnath and Gangotri since 2012." He included that Kedarnath had seen a sudden fall in pilgrims� footfall after the flash floods of 2013. In 2014, the temple saw its most exceedingly awful turnout with just 40,832 pioneers. However, since the recent years, the numbers begun rising and this year, the shrine was visited by a record number of pioneers. Authorities at the Kedarnath temple, too, named the current year's yatra as the "most successful one in recent years".

Of the four dhams pilgrims visit as a part of the Char Dham yatra, Badrinath got the most elevated footfall of 10,35,019 this season. This was trailed by Kedarnath with 7,32,241 lovers, and Gangotri and Yamunotri with 4,47,585 and 3,94,394 explorers individually.

The Portals of the Kedarnath and Yamunotri sanctuaries were both shut on November 9, while the Gangotri temple's portals closed a day prior to that.

TOP

Source: Times of India.