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Preserving Local Art Forms
Prof. Ghanshyam Gupta
A national level artists’ workshop was organised for four days at Badhu village 50km from Mandi town. This was the 10th workshop organised by an NGO, Himachal Artists Heritage. It workshop was a creative workshop which provided the artists to learn many new things and also show their creativity. In this workshop 46 artists participated and they completed 46 paintings in acrylic colours on different themes. Some artistic created portraits and some of them created figurative works. Some women artists also gave expressions to their feelings through these paintings. The participants were very happy to see the splendid & mesmerizing vales of Himachal Pradesh. Artists and art students from Jalandhar (Punjab), Delhi, Karnataka, Gujarat, Kolkata, M.P., Odisha and Mumbai participated in this workshop. The purpose of this workshop was to preserve and promote art. The workshop gave an opportunity to the rural people to see how a work of art is created. Some experts in water colours also participated in this workshop. Folk art and landscapes were the popular subjects and themes of these masters. Modern/abstract paintings and figurative and realistic painting art were the popular genres. During the workshop every artist showed his or her creativity through their paintings. Mr. PalvinderLal from Punjab made two painting showing rural and urban life of Himachal Pradesh in his abstract work. Radheshayam, a senior artist from Delhi, created a figurative work. The artists shared their views on contemporary Indian art and place of artist in society. Sujender Karla from Karnataka is a student of visible arts. His painting was a landscape. A woman artist from Karnataka, Shankari Mitra focused her painting on Radha. It was her second visit of this workshop. These artists gave some message through their works. Many other artists displayed their talent through their work.
-The writer is a freelance journalist based in Mandi
‘Ashad Ka Ek Din’ At Gaiety
‘Ashad Ka Ek Din’ play staged at Gaiety Theatre was a wonderful presentation and the audience enjoyed the powerful performance of the artists. The play, organised by The Platform Society, was written by the renowned writer Mohan Rakesh and directed by Deven Joshi. This was a classical drama written in the modern style
A Non-governmental Organization (NGO) is any non-profit, voluntary citizens’ group which is organized on a local, national or international level to plug in the gaps left by the government. Task-oriented and driven by people with a common interest, NGOs perform a variety of service and humanitarian functions, bring citizen concerns to Governments, advocate and monitor policies and encourage political participation through provision of information. Some are organized around specific issues, such as human rights, environment or health. India as a nation still has a large population that is vulnerable in terms of health, education, jobs and opportunities in general. This has also seen a large proliferation of NGOs. By some estimates, India has 3.3 million NGOs or one NGO for every 400 individuals. Out of it, 312 NGOs operate in Himachal alone. Himachal This Week has tried to bring to fore the working of genuine NGOs who work for the welfare of masses. This week will mention the appreciable efforts of ‘Sankalp, Paprola’ which is working selflessly to help and improve the lives of underprivileged and poor people of the area.
Sankalp organization came into existence 10 years ago in Paprola when 18 like minded persons joined hands with a common aim to extend help to the poor and underprivileged section of the society. The organization started its journey under the leadership of Dr. Sanjeev Sharma (Founder President) and initiated its social welfare programmes from its headquarter stationed at Paprola. The organization first of all started free ambulance service for people of the area at the time when vehicle arrangement was thin in the area. The organization has till now organized seven embroidery and tailoring training camps in Paprola, Majhairna, Jandpur, Lower Mattoo and other villages. Free nine months training was imparted to 20 girls belonging to poor families each in these centres. The organization also gives them training certificates on the successful completion of the course. More than 100 girls have become financially self dependednt after the completion of their training. Apart from this, the NGO has organized various blood donation camps, medical health check up camps and medical camps related to eye and heart diseases where free treatment is provided to the poor people. Renowned doctors and specialists were part of these camps. The organization is continuously organizing such camps in order to extend medical health facilities to poor and needy people. Sankalp has started a unique drive for the benefit of patients and their relatives at Ayurvedic Hospital in Paprola since last two years. All the members of the organization daily reaches in hospital premises at 6 o clock in the morning and distributes tea, light breakfast and biscuits etc to the patients admitted in the hospital, relatives visiting them and employees on duty at that time. President of the Sankalp Sanveer Mehta told Himachal This Week that there is equal participation of all the members in the organization and the organization always tries to put its best of efforts for the welfare of society and people.
The organization came into existence with an aim to extend help to the poor and needy people. Sankalp has organized numerous social welfare activities including health camps, free training camps for poor girls and free ambulance service in its journey of ten years. The process of social welfare will continue with more vigour in coming future.
Himachal has got its second world heritage site in the form of the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, first being the Kalka-Shimla railway line. The UNESCO World Heritage Site Committee at Doha in Qatar granted the status to the park under the criteria of exceptional natural beauty and conservation of biological diversity. The GHNP has now come in the league of Indian World Heritage Sites such as the Taj Mahal, Ellora, Kaziranga National Park, Keoladeo National Park, Manas National Park, Nandadevi Biosphere Reserve and the Sunderbans. The world heritage tag to GHNP would help in boosting ecotourism in the hill state, said Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri. What is noteworthy is that there would be no dislocation of villages or families living in the core park area and their rights had been recognised and would stay protected, he said. Notably, the GHNP was declared a National Park under the Wildlife (Protection Act), 1972, by the Himachal Pradesh government in 1999. A total of 832 plant species, representing 128 families and 427 genera, which cover 26% of the total flora of Himachal Pradesh, have been recorded in the GHNP. It is also home to a number of threatened species, providing them with habitats critical to their survival. It supports self-sustaining populations of near-threatened, vulnerable and endangered species like leopard, Himalayan Black Bear, Royle’s Vole, Himalayan thar, Himalayan serow, Himalayan goral, Himalayan musk deer, western tragopan and cheer pheasant. The endangered snow leopard and the critically endangered Red-headed vulture are also present.
GHNP has more than 35 peaks of over 5,000m height and two greater than 6,000m height which taken together are arguably more exceptional than a few isolated higher peaks in the region. The boundaries of GHNP are also contiguous with the recently established (2010) Khirganga National Park (710 sq km), the Pin Valley National Park (675 sq km) in Trans-Himalaya, Rupi-Bhabha Wildlife Sanctuary (503 sq km) in Sutlej watershed and Kanawar Wildlife Sanctuary (61 sq km). Together these four protected areas add 1,949 sq km to the area around GHNP and its buffer zone, making the total contiguous protected area associated with the nominated property approximately 2,854.4 sq km, not including the Eco zone. The tag would serve to expedite integration of other protected areas into a huge GHNP conservation area.
Himachal is bestowed with nature’s beauty but successive state government have failed to tap state’s immense tourism potential that could have generated a large number of opportunities in this sector to usher in economic self reliance. Nothing much has changed in tourism even as number of tourists, domestic and foreign, is increasing every year. This year Himachal is experiencing a good tourist season, especially after last year’s Uttarakhand disaster but the state is unable to hold them beyond two to three days. The reason is simple. Tourists return unsatisfied because of bad condition of roads, long traffic jams, shortage of parking places, lack of entertainment parks and other infra structural facilities. Poor rail and air connectivity has failed to give the required fillip high end tourism. In addition, various projects like ropeways and entertainment parks aimed to promote tourism sector have remained only in files reportedly due to indifferent attitude of various state governments. Experts feel that much needs to be done, including creating infrastructural facilities besides providing facilities to tap state’s tourism potential.
The number of tourists visiting Himachal during the season has surpassed the expectations of those associated with tourism sector. Hotels are recording 85% occupancy rate and major tourist destinations are experiencing chock-o-block situation on weekends. Hotels remain packed on Saturdays and Sundays as tourists are thronging tourist destinations in Himachal to escape the scorching temperature of hot plain areas. Tourists have booked hotels of this hilly state in advance till July 15 next month, reveal office bearers of hotel associations. There is a heavy rush at all major tourist destinations including Shimla, Manali, McLeodganj and Dalhousie. Neither the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Corporation nor private hotels offer any package for tourists as they remain packed to capacity during peak tourist season.
Majority of the tourists stay for two to three days on an average in Himachal that has limited air and rail connectivity. As a result, high end tourism is not getting the requisite boost in the state. Tourists visiting under big package tour want such facilities to save their time.
Himachal’s all tourist destinations face shortage of parking places and it remains the biggest problem that confronts tourists be it in Shimla, Manali, McLedoganj, Dalhouise or any other places. The limited parking places available in different towns are inadequate to accommodate a large number of tourist vehicles entering Himachal. As a result, long traffic jams are common sights at all places. Long queues of vehicles can be seen almost every day on narrow roads in McLeodganj. Similar is the condition in Dalhousie which has no airport or a railway station nearby. In addition, roads leading to these tourist destinations are also in bad condition that makes journey of tourists more painful.
Manali Hoteliers’ Association president Anup Thakur says that hoteliers had to face losses last year as tourist season was not so good after Uttarakhand disaster but this year season has compensated that. Much needs to be done for providing facilities to tourists like parking places and streamlining vehicular movement, he says.
Dharamshala Hoteliers’ Association president Onkar Nehria says that inflow of tourists is more this year as compared to the last year. Meetings are held every year for providing more facilities to tourists in McLeodganj and Dharamshala but nothing happens on ground that further aggravates the problems next year, he adds.
कुल्लू — कुल्लू के ऐतिहासिक ढालपुर मैदान में चल रही रामकथा से कुल्लू भी पूरी तरह से राममय हो गया है। सुबह ही प्रभु के तरानों से स्थानीय लोगों का मन-मन खिल रहा है। प्रख्यात कथा वाचन मुरारी जी बापू ने कहा कि भक्ति के साथ ही मोक्ष की प्राप्ति की जा सकती है। अगर व्यक्ति अपने गुरु को याद नहीं कर सकता है तो गुरु के द्वारा उसके लिए किए गए कार्यों को ही याद किया जाना चाहिए। उन्होंने कहा कि … तेरे कर्म की आस लगाए, बैठे हैं दाम फैलाए….लोग प्रभु के कर्म को पाने की आस लगाकर दामन फैलाए बैठे हैं, लेकिन श्रीराम जी कृपा भी तभी होगी, जब लोग उनकी भक्ति को करेंगे। धर्म के रास्ते पर चलेंगे। मुरारी जी बापू ने कथा के बीच अपने ही अंदाज में चौपाइयों को गाकर समस्त कुल्लू के माहौल को भक्तिमय बना दिया है। उन्होंने कहा कि हमें श्रद्धा के साथ भक्ति को करना चाहिए। उससे व्यक्ति का मन भी शांत रहता है तथा वह अपने जीवन से भी संतुष्ट रहता है। उन्होंने कहा कि जब भगवान शंकर भी आराधना में बैठते थे तो फिर सब कुछ भूलकर वह एकाग्र होकर ध्यान लगाते थे। मनुष्य के लिए भी एकाग्रता जरूरी है। एकदम से किसी भी बात पर तुरंत प्रतिक्रिया नहीं देनी चाहिए। इससे व्यक्ति को नुकसान भी हो सकता है।… निज करडासी नागरिपु छाला, शंकर सहज सरूप सम्हारा, लागी समाधि अखंड अपारा.। व्यक्ति को इस सांसारिक मोह-माय से ज्यादातर दूर ही रहना चाहिए। उन्होंने कहा कि कुल्लू में ब्यास कुंड, ब्यास नदी के साथ-साथ ब्यास ऋषि जी का नाम कई जगहों पर आता है। आज 18 वनस्पतियों में एक का नाम ब्यास जी के नाम से भी आता है। इस मौके पर बाहरी राज्यों के साथ-साथ स्थानीय लोगों के लिए भी भंडारे का आयोजन किया गया।
आनी — आनी उपमंडल की निरमंड खंड की दूरदराज ग्राम पंचायत नोर के गांव शलाट ऋषि मार्कंडेय देवता अपने सैकड़ों देवलुओं के साथ देवयात्रा पर ढोल नगाड़ों के साथ यात्रा पूरी कर यहां पहुंचे। देवता मार्कंडेय ऋषि शलाट कमेटी के सदस्य लीला चंद जोशी ने बताया कि आउटर सिराज क्षेत्र के प्रसिद्ध देवता मार्कंडेय ऋषि क्षेत्र व पूरे प्रदेश की सुख समृद्धि के लिए 20 हजार फुट की ऊंचाई पर स्थित देव तपोस्थली चूड़ाधार की परिक्रमा कर रविवार को वापस लौटे हैं। इस देवयात्रा के बारे में कारदार कमलूराम ने कहा कि देवता 12 से 15 जून तक विशेष यात्रा पर गए थे। इस यात्रा में बागासराहण, बशलेउजोत में देवपूजा पर विशेष पूजा अर्चना की गई। देवयात्रा पूरी कर गांव शलाट की महिलाओं ने जलयात्रा में भाग लिया। पुजारी काहन चंद, बालकराम, पूने राम की अगवाई में देवथड़ी पूजा पूरी की गई, जिसमें सात देवी-देवताओं का पूजन और विशाल भंडारे का आयोजन किया गया। इस धार्मिक आयोजन में सानुराम, गूर लच्छी राम, कालू राम, श्याम लाल, दंसवी राम, भंडारी धनी राम, बहादर, अमर चंद, बृज लाल, निमा राम, साध राम सहित सैकड़ों लोग शामिल हुए।
पायल की छनछनाहट, चूड़ी की खनखनाहट, तितली सी बनकर उड़ना…..कुछ इसी अंदाज में कुल्लू की महिलाएं आज हर क्षेत्र में आगे बढ़ रही हैं। देवभूमि कुल्लू की महिलाओं में हुनर की कोई कमी नहीं है तथा हर कसौटी पर खरा उतरकर कुल्लू की महिलाओं ने इसे साबित करके भी दिखाया है। कुल्लू के सेऊबाग की शालिनी भी कुछ इसी दिशा में आगे बढ़ रही हैं। शालिनी ने समाज सेवा के क्षेत्र में अपनी एक अलग सी पहचान बनाई है। वर्ष 1999 से शालिनी कुल्लू में एक ब्लाइंड स्कूल को चला रही हैं। आज उनके ब्लाइंड स्कूल में करीब 37 बच्चे शिक्षा ग्रहण कर अपने अंधकार मय भविष्य को उजाले की ओर ले जाने का प्रयास कर रहे हैं। प्रदेश भर के ब्लाइंड बच्चे उनकी इस संस्था में आकर शिक्षा ग्रहण कर अपने जीवन को संवार रहे हैं। बच्चों के ठहरने के लिए भी उन्होंने अपने परिवार व राष्ट्रीय ब्लाइंड संस्था के माध्यम से होस्टल का निर्माण कर रखा है, ताकि बच्चों का संस्था के द्वारा सही ख्याल रखा जाए। प्रदेश के अग्रणी मीडिया ग्रुप ‘दिव्य हिमाचल’ से बातचीत करते हुए उन्होंने बताया कि अपने लिए तो सब जीते हैं, सब कमाते हैं, लेकिन दूसरों के लिए जीना व कमाना ही असली जीवन है। अब तो एक ऐसा समय आ गया है कि वह एक दिन स्कूल न जाएं तो फिर उनका मन नहीं लगता है। स्कूल में जाते ही सब बच्चे उन्हें शालिनी दीदी, शालिनी दीदी कहकर पुकारते हैं। उन्होंने बताया कि उनसे पहले उनकी बुआ ने इस संस्था को शुरू किया था तथा उन्होंने उन्हें भी समाज के प्रति बेहतर कार्य करने के लिए प्रेरित किया था। उन्होंने कहा कि समाज सेवा की भावना से ही उन्होंने इस प्रोफेशन को चुना तथा वह बिना किसी पगार या किसी भत्ते से इस स्कूल को चला रही हैं। जरूरत पड़ने पर वह अपने परिवार की सहायता से स्कूल में विद्यार्थियों के उत्थान के लिए पैसे भी खर्च करती हैं। उन्होंने कहा कि महिलाओं का घर के चूल्हे-चौके के बाहर भी एक जीवन होता है जोकि एक बेहतर समाज निर्माण का। महिलाओं को आगे आकर इस क्षेत्र में अपनी अहम भूमिका को निभाना चाहिए। उन्होंने कहा कि उनका एक सपना है जिसे वह हर कीमत पर पूरा करना चाहती हैं, उनके स्कूल में पढ़ रहे विद्यार्थी इस दुनिया के असली मुखौटे से पूरी तरह से अंजान हैं तथा उनकी यह कोशिश है कि जो उनका यह अंधकार भरा जीवन है इसमें उजाले की कुछ किरणों को बिखेर सकें।
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the India ‘A’ squad for the upcoming tour of Australia and South Africa. The good news for Himachal is that its all rounder Rishi Dhawan has been selected for these tours. The team will play two four day matches against their Australian counterparts before featuring in a quadrangular tournament also involving the ‘A’ team of South Africa as well as the High Performance squad of Australia. Rishi Dhawan managed to impress the BCCI with his performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in which he played for Kings XI Punjab. He impressed the selectors with his batting and bowlinga during the recently concluded matches. Most of the selected players had key performances for their respective franchises while youth was given preference over experience. HPCA President Anurag Thakur congratulated Dhawan for his selection in the India ‘A’ team and hoped that he will perform better in these series.
The Beas tragedy has exposed ill-preparedness of the state government to tackle a post-disaster situation. With the state government caught totally unaware as to how to tackle a post-disaster situation, the Andhra Pradesh and the Telangana governments have now apparently taken over the search operation for the bodies of engineering students from V.N.R Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Hyderabad. The AP and the Telangana governments are assisting NDRF, SSB, ITBP, Navy and other agencies in the search operation even as Himachal Pradesh regime is facing ire of the parents of the victims for neither having resources, nor knowledge to carry out such an exercise. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed an unmanned aerial vehicle and Multibeam echosounders to trace the bodies of missing engineering students from Hyderabad, besides sending more divers to speed up the search operation in Beas River. Only eight bodies including three of girls have been recovered till June 12. Notably, twenty five people, including 24 engineering students, were washed away on June 8 evening in a flash flood caused by the sudden opening of the flood gates at the Larji hydel project dam in Kullu district.
Recent tragedy in district Mandi where 24 engineering students were washed away in River Beas totally due to human mistake. On the other hand, government could not provide timely assistance to the victims. It raises a question; Is the state government prepared to meet the challenge of any disaster or natural calamity? Well, answer will be in the negative. A prying look at the basics reveals that disaster management is not on government agenda. According to a report of the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) 27 of the 29 states held 544 training programmes during 2010-11 for preparing a force of trained staff. Himachal Pradesh has held 67 training programmes and trained around 1421 officials. The state has been allocated fund worth Rs 130.76 crore (2010-11); Rs 137.30 crore (201-12); Rs 144.11 crore (2012-13); Rs 151-38 crore (2013-14) and Rs 158.95 crore for 2014-15 for disaster management. Besides this four crore rupees are given to the state every year for capacity building for disaster response. Many well intentioned plans fail to meet the challenge mainly because of the lack of political and bureaucratic will as well as rampant corruption. It has neither regular staff, nor well prepared officials for facing a disaster or contingency. And, worse still, the grant received from the Centre for the purpose has not been utilized properly. During the last decade more than 40 big disasters have struck the state and properties and lives worth crores of rupees have been lost but lack of political resolve hampers to address the disaster in right perspective. There are a number of critical gaps in the state disaster management programme. There is no formal training and lack of awareness among stakeholders about the disaster risk and vulnerability. The states have been suggested to familiarize police personnel with the basics of disaster management and train at least one battalion in disaster management as a specialized force. The National Disaster Management Authority embarks on states to have technology-driven capacity building, preventive and multi-sectoral participatory strategies. The state is supposed to have a dedicated fail-proof and integrated communication network to maintain connectivity among various emergency operation and command centres that will be set up in every district and state capital to ensure timely evacuation, relief and rescue work. “The state government should look disasters as a process and not an event and build capacity by training local residents and government officials in preventing and mitigating disaster management operation,” said a geologist of Chandigarh
Seeking admission to any class is never a smooth process and one has to face many problems; be it getting admission in a prestigious institute, clearing entrance exam for pursuing a professional programme or even selecting the best institute depending upon its standing and location. However, majority of students are caught unaware regarding admission process primarily because of lack of information about procedure and documents to be produced for seeking admission. In addition, different guidelines for admission to technical courses in Himachal as compared to other states are also resulting in exodus of students to other states. A large number of students prefer other states to pursue professional courses even as Himachal is considered as educational hub. Himachal This Week talked to different people to know their opinion about the probable shortcomings in the education system
Himachal is considered educational hub because here is no dearth of institutes. However, students prefer seeking admission in other states after Matric and Plus Two exams. There are many reasons which require immediate redressal; otherwise Himachali educational institutes will have very few students. The state government’s tall claims to provide quality education have fallen flat thus leading to exodus of Himachali students to other states. Either the educational system has certain shortcomings or the government has failed to gauge reasons leading to migration of students to other states for higher education. In addition, it has also become a status symbol in the society to send children abroad and to prestigious educational institutes located in other states for higher education. According to an estimate, nearly 25 % to 30% Himachali students are going abroad for higher education every year. Surprisingly, students have more faith in educational system of other states as compared to Himachal’s educational system as whopping percentage of students constituting 45% to 50% are heading towards other states. These include majority of the students opting for vocational courses, law and medical studies. Most of these students belong to Shimla district, Palampur and Kangra.
There will be no compromise with private educational institutes on the issue of quality education as they will have to fulfill norms. Clearing JEE test is must to seek admission
Students are making beeline after declaration of results of schools and colleges. However, most of them face various difficulties in getting hassle free admission to next classes. They face a piquant situation due to a lack of awareness regarding documents to be submitted at the time of admission. For seeking admission in elementary classes in schools, a certificate of the previous class is required whereas for admission after Matric, mark sheet, certificate from the previous school and character certificate are required. After clearing Plus Two examination, there is entrance test for admission to all professional courses in Himachal. These courses include Bachelor of Technology, Hotel Management and Masters in Business Administration and others. Private universities offering certain professional courses don’t have condition of admission test. For admission in graduate courses, students have to submit attested forms along with photographs, mark sheets of Matric and Plus Two, bonafide certificate or copy of Aadhar card and migration certificate if passed from other board than Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education. For admission to post graduate classes, students are required to certificates of Matric, Plus Two and mark sheet of final year of graduation. Admission in professional classes is based on result of entrance test
Proper guidelines for seeking admission to schools should be publicized so that students don’t become victim of unawareness
Huge fee structure and lack of knowledge of best institutes are common problems while admitting our wards in school or college
Students face various difficulties in getting admission to government colleges due to availability of limited number of seats
Parents prefer to admit their children in private schools because government schools face shortage of staff
कुल्लू — देवभूमि कुल्लू के ढालपुर मैदान में शनिवार से शुरू होने वाली राम कथा के लिए मुरारी बापू कुल्लू पहुंच गए हैं। शुक्रवार दोपहर को उन्होंने भुंतर एयरपोर्ट पर लैंड किया। उसके बाद वह सीधा कुल्लू के मौहल स्थित एप्पल वैली रिजोर्ट में पहुंचे। यहां पहुंचे पर होटल के एमडी अरूण शर्मा व अन्य स्थानीय लोगों के साथ राम समिति के सदस्यों ने उनका भव्य स्वागत किया। होटल के मेनेजर नीरज गुप्ता ने कुल्लवी परंपरा को निभाते हुए मुरारी बापू को कुल्लवी टोपी पहनाकर उनका देवभूमि में पधारने पर हार्दिक अभिनंदन किया। इसके बाद मुरारी बापू सीधा होटल के गार्डन की तरफ गए तथा सबसे पहले उन्होंने सदानीरा ब्यास को प्रणाड्डम किया। मुरारी बापू की एक झलक पाने को कुल्लू के लोग भी काफी उत्सुक दिखाई दिए। राम कथा समिति से श्री पिंकी ने बताया कि मुरारी बापू 22 जून रविवार तक कुल्लू के ऐतिहासिक ढालपुर मैदान में राम कथा का प्रवचन कर लोगों को धर्म की राह पर चलने की सलाह भी देंगे। अरूण शर्मा का कहना है कि कुल्लू में काफी सालों बाद इस कथा का आयोजन किया जा रहा है तथा इस कथा का उद्देश्य विश्व शांति हैं। सं इस मौके पर संजय शर्मा सहित कई अन्य लोग भी विशेष रूप से उपस्थित रहे।
मंडी —आठ जून रविवार को देर शाम थलौट में ब्यास के पानी में बहे 24 छात्रों में से पांच के शव बरामद कर लिए गए हैं, जबकि अभी भी इस मामले में 19 छात्र व एक टीम लीडर लापता है, वहीं बरामद हुए पांचों शव वीएनआर विगनाना ज्योथी इंस्टीच्यूट ऑफ इंजीनियरिंग एंड टेक्नोलॉजी, हैदराबाद के विद्यार्थियों के हैं। इनमें चार लड़कियां व एक युवक का शव मिला है। इनमें अकुला विजेठा, बनोटू राम बाबू, केमपाल ऐश्वर्या व एम विष्णु बर्धन रेड्डी के रूप में पहचान हुई है, जबकि पांचवी लाश की शिनाख्त नहीं हुई है, वहीं इन चार शवों में पोस्टमार्टम के बाद वायुसेना के हेलिकाप्टर से सोमवार देर शाम दिल्ली भेज दिया गया। उधर, इस मामले में इंस्टीच्यूट के आदित्य की शिकायत पर पुलिस ने लारजी प्रबध्ांन के खिलाफ आईपीसी की धारा 336 व 304 के तहत मामला भी दर्ज कर दिया है। रविवार को देर शाम लारजी विद्युत परियोजना के मुख्य बांध से अचानक पानी छोडे़ जाने के कारण थलौट में ब्यास में फोटोग्राफी कर रहे वीएनआर इंस्टीच्यूट ऑफ इंजीनियरिंग एंड टेक्नोलॉजी के 24 छात्र एक टीम लीडर पानी में बह गया था। 24 छात्रों में 18 लड़के व छह लड़कियां शामिल थीं। उधर, इस घटना के बाद मंडी व कुल्लू जिला प्रशासन ने रविवार रात को ही सर्च अभियान छेड़ दिया था, लेकिन सोमवार सुबह पांच बजे से यह आपरेशन पूरी तरह शुरू हो सका है। बीबीएमबी व एनडीआरएफ के गोता खोरों, राफ्टर एसोसिएशन के सदस्यों द्वारा सोमवार को दिन भर लापता लोगों की तलाश की गई।
शिमला, कुल्लू — लारजी पन विद्युत परियोजना के डैम से पानी छोड़ने के बाद हैदराबाद के छात्रों के बहने की घटना के मामले में बिजली बोर्ड ने अपने दो इंजीनियरों समेत तीन कर्मचारियों को सस्पेंड कर दिया है। सस्पेंड हुए कर्मचारियों में आवासीय अभियंता मनदीप, एक्सईएन सिविल एमएस डढवालिया व फीटर हरबंस शामिल हैं। एक तरफ सरकार ने मामले की जांच बिठाई है तो दूसरी ओर बिजली बोर्ड ने अपनी प्रारंभिक रिपोर्ट सरकार को सौंप दी है। बोर्ड की जांच रिपोर्ट में किसी भी कोताही से इनकार किया गया है। बिजली बोर्ड की जांच रिपोर्ट में साफ कहा गया है कि नॉर्थ ग्रिड से स्टेट लोड डिस्पैच सेंटर को लोड घटाने के लिए कहा गया था, क्योंकि नॉर्थ ग्रिड की फ्रिक्वेंसी बढ़ गई थी। यदि हिमाचल बिजली बोर्ड उस समय उत्पादन को कम नहीं करता तो नॉर्थ ग्रिड कोलैप्स हो सकता था, जिससे पूरा उत्तर भारत बिजली संकट में आ जाता। सूत्रों के अनुसार बोर्ड की जांच रिपोर्ट में साफ किया गया है कि नॉर्थ ग्रिड के कहने पर एसएलडीसी ने लोड घटाने को जब कहा तो बोर्ड ने लारजी, बस्सी, भावा, बसपा परियोजनाआें में उत्पादन को लगभग रोक दिया। बोर्ड ने उस समय कुल 260 मेगावाट बिजली का उत्पादन रोक दिया था। इसमें 140 मेगावाट बिजली शेयर की थी, जिसे भी रोक दिया गया था। रिपोर्ट में कहा गया है कि तापमान अधिक होने से ग्लेशियर तेजी के साथ पिघले और नदियों में जलस्तर एकदम बढ़ गया। लारजी से पहले पार्वती परियोजना से भी पानी छोड़ा गया था, जिसके बाद लारजी डैम में पानी डेंजर जोन से ऊपर चला गया। उससे पहले एसएलडीसी से निर्देश आए जिस पर गेट खोलकर पानी छोड़ा गया। यदि ऐसा नहीं किया जाता तो डैम तबाह हो सकता था, वहीं तुरंत बिजली उत्पादन भी बंद करना पड़ा। मौके पर लोगों को सचेत करने के लिए हूटर बजाए गए, जोकि रूटीन में पानी छोड़ते वक्त किया जाता है। यहां से तीन चरणों में पानी छोड़ा गया, जिसमें सर्वप्रथम 50 क्यूमेक्स पानी, फिर 150 क्यूमेक्स पानी व 250 क्यूमेक्स पानी को छोड़ा गया। यही पानी आगे चलकर हादसे का कारण बना।