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Governor honours 18 Teachers on Teacher’s Day
Smt Urmila Singh Governor conferred State Awards upon 14 teachers and honoured four National Award Winner teachers for the year 2012 in the presence of Virbhadra Singh Chief Minister in an impressive function held at Rajbhawan on the occasion of State level Teacher’s Day here today.Both, Governor and Chief Minister paid rich tributes to late Dr S. Radhakrishnan, former President of India, on whose birthday Teacher’s Day is celebrated. Both termed Dr. S. Radhakrishnan as a veracious personality, noble laureate, academician and an able administrator.
In her address on the occasion, Smt Urmila Singh urged all the teachers to undertake teaching profession as a ‘mission’ and serve the country and society with utmost dedication.
Governor underlined the importance of ‘ Guru’ and added that our culture accorded highest reverence for teachers and it was due to the learned ‘Guru’s’ and the knowledge possessed by our ancestors that India was regarded as a hub of Knowledge in the past.
Smt Singh said that teaching was a noble profession and carries a huge responsibility because the conduct, character and thoughts of teachers influence the students therefore, they should perform their duties honestly and sincerely. She said that teachers not only inspire the students as role models but also were nation builders.
She said that objective of education would not be fulfilled in its true sense unless good values were incorporated in the learning and added that students should be taught the importance of discipline, patriotism and human values so that they not only become educated but also good human beings and responsible citizens. She said that curriculum should include vocational courses in order to empower the students to opt for self employment but the goal of education should not be confined to mere employment generation or earning money.
Governor also released a souvenir on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh stressed on quality education and not merely to achieve the purpose of teaching just for sake of it. “The customary values and adequate knowledge requires to be inculcated in the students so that they get ready to compete at all levels and stand well settled. We want to produce such children who excel in all fields and at all levels”, he said. To achieve this objective, the teachers have to give and put in more efforts and equally maintain the quality of education being imparted to young minds” said the Chief Minister. He said the teachers should introspect that what else they can endow the society with and how they can further contribute in building a strong and vibrant Nation.
“Our education system needs a bit of revamping at primary and elementary levels and teachers to be made more responsible for shaping the destiny of the students for the better” said he.
The teachers were responsible for inculcating good values among students and proper guidance from them could show right path to them in their lives said he, adding that the country could get good citizens only through the active participation and guidance of teachers.
He said that State Government was committed for providing best education to children and added that the literacy rate was more than 83 percent in the state. He said that cent per cent enrollment targets were achieved in primary education and efforts were afoot to achieve the same in elementary and higher education sectors as well. He said that there was a wide network of educational institutions across the state with more than 15000 educational institutions in government sector alone. Many important decisions have been taken to equip the schools with all requisite infrastructure in far flung areas with adequate staff , he said and added that besides imparting training to teachers, impetus was being laid upon giving a concrete shape to child oriented education system under Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan and National Elementary Education Campaign.
Virbhadra Singh said that efforts were being made to adopt computerized education system with special focus on promoting teaching mathematics and science subjects besides strengthening the infrastructure so that students could get best facilities to pursue education. He said that Schools were being opened, upgraded besides filling up of posts of teachers by following laid down norms. He said that during the tenure of present government as many as 695 schools were either opened or upgraded.
Chief Minister said that students of government schools were also given the facility of free travel in HRTC buses and added that 607 TGT, 529 C& V categories teachers were appointed besides filling up 1095 posts of JBT. The government also enhanced the honorarium of PTA teachers.
Governor conferred State Awards upon Bhupinder Gupta, Principal, GSSS Bhumpti, District Solan, Saraswati Nadan Prasher, Headmaster, GHS Rakhera, district Mandi, Madan Lal, Lecturer, GSSS Kakkar, District Hamirpur, Janamjay Singh Guleria, Lecturer, GSSS Shahpur, District Kangra, Sudesh Hazri, DPE, GSSS Sailgaloo, District Mandi, Som Singh Bhardwaj, TGT, GHS Bahi Pathiair, District Kangra, Ravi Shanker, Art & Craft Teacher, GSSS Takka , District Una, Ashok Thakur, Shastri, GHS Uschar District Kangra, Krishan Pal Sharma, Shastri, GHS Bharari District Shimla, Smt. Nirmala Devi, CHT, GCPS Domehar, district Bilaspur, Birbal Katoch, CHT, GCPS Bharagaon, District Mandi, Rajesh Kumar, CHT, GCPS Batheri, District Mandi, Ram Lal, JBT, GPS, Shodhadhar, District Mandi, Bhim Singh, HT, GPS Tarrur, District Mandi.
She also honoured four National Award Winners for the year 2012 including Rakesh Kumar, TGT, GSSS, Ambehra, District Una, Narotam Chand, CHT, GPS Deol, District Kangra, Smt. Soma Rana, Headmaster GHS Nasloh district Mandi and Sartaj Singh, Lecturer (Economics) GSSS Chandi district Solan on the occasion.
Ashok Sharma Director Elementary Education welcomed the dignitaries on the occasion.
Shashi Bhushan Sekhri, Director, Higher Education proposed vote of thanks.
A colourful cultural programme was presented by students of various educational institutions.
Sujan Singh Pathania, MPP and Agriculture Minister, Chief Parliamentary secretaries, Neeraj Bharti and Sohan Lal, Ali Raza Rizvi, Principal Secretary Education, senior officers of state government, teachers and students of various schools were also present among others on the occasion.
Solan—In a shocking incident on Monday, an 18-year-old youth, Pravesh, survived a vicious leopard attack in Sarli village of Arki subdivision. The teenager reportedly fought the leopard for nearly 12 minutes before breaking its jaw, killing the animal on the spot.
Quick Thinking Saved His Life
Pravesh told the media that he was walking from the fields to a nearby shop in the morning to fetch milk when the leopard, hidden in the crops, lunged at him. Noticing the leopard’s tail, he attempted to run but fell after a short distance. During the attack, he covered his neck with his hands to protect himself from fatal bites.
The teenager continued to struggle with the leopard, repeatedly attempting to put distance between himself and the predator. In a desperate move, he grabbed the leopard by its mouth, twisted its jaw, and broke it, killing the animal instantly. Pravesh sustained multiple injuries, including deep claw marks, and is currently receiving treatment at Arki Hospital. Police and forest department teams have launched an investigation into the incident.
Serious Allegations of HP Forest Department’s Negligence
One of Pravesh’s relatives accused the forest department of negligence, noting that similar attacks had occurred in the area previously.
Earlier, a leopard had attempted to attack a scooter rider, who managed to escape. The family said they had informed the forest department on March 6 about potential danger, but no concrete action was taken. Villagers waited for three hours for a forest team to arrive, but none came. When the Block Officer eventually visited, he reportedly told villagers to ensure their own safety. Requests for cages to capture the leopard were also denied, with officials asking for written complaints instead.
SHIMLA | 7 August 2025 –The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast light to moderate rainfall across Himachal Pradesh over the next two weeks, with isolated heavy to very heavy showers likely over the low hills, plains, and adjoining mid-hill regions. While the ongoing monsoon remains vital for agriculture, it also brings an elevated risk of localized flooding and landslides.
Week of August 8–14
Maximum temperatures will range from 22°C to 34°C, depending on elevation—22°C to 28°C in high hills, 26°C to 30°C in mid-hills, and up to 34°C in lower regions. Minimum temperatures are expected to remain near normal, between 12°C and 24°C. Cooler conditions may persist in districts like Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti.
Week of August 15–21
Similar rainfall patterns are expected to continue, with scattered heavy rain episodes. Temperature trends will remain stable, though slightly below-normal maximum temperatures are likely in parts of Lahaul-Spiti, Mandi, Kangra, and Kullu districts.
Outlook for Late August
Rainfall is expected to remain broadly normal, with region-specific variations. Districts such as Kinnaur, Shimla, and Sirmaur may see below-normal precipitation, while Una, Kangra, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, and Solan are likely to receive above-average rainfall. Both maximum and minimum temperatures are forecast to stay close to seasonal norms.
Officials at the Meteorological Centre in Shimla have urged residents and local authorities to remain alert for sudden heavy downpours, which could disrupt road connectivity and trigger landslides—especially along vulnerable hillside routes. Past monsoon episodes have blocked key highways, including routes between Mandi and Kullu and near Banjar, underscoring the ongoing challenges in the region.
This advisory comes as Himachal Pradesh continues to face the dual pressures of sustaining its agriculture-dependent economy while managing the life and infrastructure risks posed by an active monsoon. Continued vigilance and preparedness remain crucial.
SHIMLA | 7 August 2025 –Himachal Pradesh continues to deal with the impacts of the 2025 monsoon season, reporting extensive property damage, loss of lives, and widespread disruptions across the state. According to the official reports from the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), the Department of Revenue, and the India Meteorological Department, from June 20 to August 6, 2025, heavy monsoon rains caused significant damage across multiple districts:
- Casualties: 199 deaths due to landslides, flash floods, cloudbursts, drowning, lightning, electrocution, and accidents; 304 injuries reported.
- Property Loss: Extensive damage to houses (both pucca and kaccha), shops, factories, labor sheds, animal shelters, and substantial crop losses in agriculture and horticulture.
- Public Infrastructure: Over ₹1,900 crore in damages to roads (including PWD), power supply, health, education, fisheries, rural and urban development, and animal husbandry.
Most affected districts include Mandi, Kangra, and Hamirpur, with severe crop and infrastructure losses.
Additionally, 91 deaths occurred due to monsoon-related road accidents.
Public Utilities and Infrastructure Disruptions
The SEOC report dated August 7, 2025, highlights ongoing disruptions:
- Roads Blocked: About 493 major roads and 3 national highways (NH-305, NH-21, NH-05) remain blocked by landslides and floods.
- Power Supply: Disruption of 1,120 distribution transformers (DTRs).
- Water Supply: 245 water schemes affected, threatening access to potable water for communities.
Key blockages include NH-21 between Mandi and Kullu and NH-305 near Banjar and Jhed.
Weather Forecast and Warnings
The India Meteorological Department’s forecast valid from August 7, 2025, includes:
- Isolated heavy rainfall expected throughout the week.
- Thunderstorms and lightning predicted in isolated areas.
- Minimum temperatures near normal or slightly below.
- Maximum temperatures showing a moderate increase.
The public is urged to remain vigilant due to the risks of further landslides and flash floods.
Himachal Pradesh remains vulnerable as the monsoon season continues, with thousands affected by damage, displacement, and disruption of essential services. Authorities are continuing with rescue and recovery operations and are urging residents to stay alert to the ongoing adverse weather. This situation highlights the pressing need for enhanced infrastructure and disaster management strategies to mitigate monsoon-related risks.
Himachal’s LPG Supply Hit Amid Global Tensions, Likely to Affect Hospitality Industry
Himachal Teen Survives 12-Minute Leopard Attack, Kills Predator in Self-Defense
Weather Forecast for Himachal Pradesh For the Next Two Weeks
Monsoon 2025: Himachal Pradesh Suffers 199 Casualties, Over ₹1,905.50 Cr in Damages
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