News
High Court come to the rescue of elderly homeless and mentally challenged inmates of Old Age Homes in Himachal
SHIMLA- The High Court of Himachal Pradesh has come to the rescue of elderly homeless destitute and disabled persons living in the Old Age Homes in the State.
Taking suo motto cognizance of a letter written by Ajai Srivastava, honorary chairman of a public welfare trust Umang Foundation, narrating the violation of human rights of inmates of Old Age Home at Basantpur near Shimla, Court directed the government to establish a separate Home for adult disabled shelterless destitute persons and another Home for mentally retarded persons within a period of one year.
The Court also ordered to grant relevant pension benefits to all inmates without discrimination on the basis of domicile, nationality or disability and to constitute a special team of Police to find out the relatives of inmates of all Old Age Homes in the State.
The Bench also awarded Rupees One lac to Umang Foundation to be spent on the welfare of disabled, shelter less, destitute and mentally retarded persons of Himachal Pradesh while putting on record “appreciation for the sincere efforts made by the petitioner Ajai Srivastava by bringing to the notice of the court the conditions prevailing in the Old Age Homes in the State of Himachal Pradesh.”
The division bench comprising Justice Rajiv Sharma and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan in their landmark judgement said,
It is the constitutional duty of the State Government to look after the interests of shelter less, disabled, destitute, mentally retarded males and females by providing them necessary assistance.
Ajai Srivastava in his petition stated that many inmates of the Old Age Home at Basantpur were disabled and mentally sick or retarded and it was difficult for the untrained staff to take proper care of them. He prayed to establish separate Homes for the mentally retarded and the disabled persons. Taking serious note of the situation prevailing upon the Home, the Court directed the State Government to establish one separate Home for the destitute adult disabled and another Home for mentally retarded persons within a period of one year. It said that the fund for the purpose be released by the government within eight weeks.
The Court directed the Director Welfare to visit the Old Age Homes situated at Basantpur, Dari (Dharmshala), Bhangrotu (Mandi), and Alleo (Kullu) “to look into whether basic amenities are being provided to the inmates lodged therein, if not, the same be made available within a period of two weeks after visiting the Home.” The Chief Secretary has been directed by the Court to provide rations at subsidised for all inmates lodged in all Old Age Homes.
The Director General of Police has been directed by the Court “to constitute a special team headed by an officer not below the rank of Superintendent of Police to find out the relatives of the inmates of all Old Age Homes in the State.” The government has been directed to provide necessary vocational training to the inmates, and also to provide news papers and magazines.
The Court had also took serious cognizance of the plight, narrated in the petition, of one Sonam Bahadur (45), a Nepalese who lost his both legs right from the hip while working with a contractor in District Kullu, more than a decade ago. The State government has asked the Managing Director of H.P. State Forest Corporation to make proper inquiry of the accident relating to him. The High Court said,” The Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh shall be personally responsible to implement and execute the directions in letter and spirit.”
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