News
Proceedings of the NAAC sponsored National Seminar held at St. Bede’s College Shimla
The NAAC sponsored National Seminar on ‘Institutional Quality Improvement: Role of ICT was held at St. Bede’s College, Shimla on November 14-15, 2014. On the first day of the Seminar, the Principal of the College, Dr. (Sr.) Beena John welcomed the guests and the delegates. Prof. A.D.N Bajpai, the Vice Chancellor of Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla was the Chief guest. He congratulated the Principal, Staff and the Conveners Dr.
Anjali Dewan & Ms. Nandini Pathania for organizing the seminar and providing quality education. He said that the Indians have contributed in World Class universities but we lack in originality. He further said that ICT cannot substitute for teacher-student relationship. He pointed out that St. Bede’s College is an icon of quality education. In the Keynote address, Prof. Chetan Singh, Director, Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla said in pedagogy, ICT has been used for gathering of information and communication.
The chalk and talk is still regarded as the legitimate way of teaching. Linkage between globalization, knowledge and communication needs attention. ICT is a means and not an end. In the Plenary session, there was a Panel discussion on ICT in Education, its Pros and cons. The Chairperson of this session was Prof. P.K Ahluwalia and the panelists were Dr. Dhirendra Sharma, Dr.
Manu Sood, Dr. Arvind Kalia, Dr. Shonali Sud and Dr. Anjali Dewan. The speakers laid emphasis on the introduction and the use of ICT in governance, in teaching-learning and for administrative purpose. ICT cannot replace class room teaching but can certainly supplement it.
The first Technical session was on Spoken Tutorials. Dr. Dhirendra Sharma was the Chairperson. Ms. Jessie Velusamy from IIT, Mumbai introduced the spoken tutorials for the use of students and teachers. She further elaborated that they should be used under the able guidance of a trained teacher. The role of teacher in the teaching-learning process cannot be undermined. In the second Technical session, the delegates presented their papers and
deliberated upon themes such as ICT as a catalyst for women empowerment, exposure to the latest trends in ICT, new strategies of teaching through e – learning, spoken tutorials etc.
Questions were asked and there was a healthy interaction between the paper presenters and
the students.
Day:2
The second day of the NAAC sponsor National Seminar on “Institutional Quality Improvement: Role of ICT “on 15 November ,2014 started with the third technical session on Massive Open Online Courses(MOOC). The speaker was Prof. P.K Ahluwalia, Dean Planning and Teachers Matters .He explained to the delegates and the students about the importance and relevance of MOOC. The valedictory address was delivered by Prof. Karmeshu, School of Computer and System Sciences,JNU New Delhi. The ICT has become indispensable for mankind today.
He spoke on ‘Diffusion of ICT and Critical Mass’. He said that larger the use of ICT the more will be human development Index. When we adopt ICT, there are five phases in the adoption process consisting of knowledge phase, persuasion phase, decision phase implementation, and confirmation.He talked about Visual Hysteresis and the notion of Critical Mass.The utility of ICT will get enhanced when many people use it. The proceedings of the two days seminar were read by Dr. Anjali Dewan. The vote of thanks was proposed by Ms. Nandini Pathania.
The participants benefited by the new trends in ICT which were introduced during the seminar. The National Seminar was a great success under the able guidance of Dr. (Sr.) Beena John, principal St. Bede’s College. The conveners were Dr. Anjali Dewan and Ms. Nandini Pathania.
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
Home Decor Ideas 2020