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Shimla prison break spoils HP Police’s first Raising Day celebrations, State on high-alert
Shimla: After the arrest of nine police officials in the Gudiya case, a jailbreak at Central Model Jail Kanda in Shimla district has spoiled the HP Police’s first Raising Day celebration that begun today on December 7.
The sentries or the inmates had no clue of when and how three prisoners, who were undertrial in separate cases of murder, abduction, and rape escaped. As per the statement given by Sushil Kumar Thakur, Superintendent prison, the prisoners Liladhar Khadak alias Lalit (22), Pratap Singh (37) and Prem Bahadur (22) escaped from Jail by cutting the iron roads of the window of the barrack No.-4 and crossed the main wall with the support of a pipe on the intervening night of November 5 and 6.
As per the the Superintended of Shimla, Soumya Sambasivan, escaped prisoners were Nepalese, and were lodged at the said barrack along with several other inmates. They managed to cut the bars without making any noise, and crossed a 16-feet high wall under the nose of the sentries. Two sentries were placed under suspension right after the prison break.
The prisoners were last seen in their barracks at 10:30 PM on December 5 during the routine counting. It was only during the morning roll call that the prison staff found the said prisoners missing. As per initial theory of the police, the prisoners might have managed to steal a hexa-blade from the under construction block. They used some iron pipes/roads and, may be, their blankets to cross the wall.
A FIR (No.241/17) was registered under IPC Section 223 and 224 at the Boileaganj Police Station on Wednesday morning in connection to the escape from confinement due to negligence of the staff.
Surprisingly, the facility, considered to be one of the safest prisons in the State, have only a few CCTVs and majority of the premises did not have any surveillance. The spot from where the prisoners crossed the wall also lacked CCTV surveillance.
The police said a special committee has been formed under the SP Kanda Jail to investigate the case, and collect more information regarding the jailbreak.
The SP, Shimla, personally visited the prison and launched a search operation by constituting multiple teams of police. The boarding district Solan and Sirmaur were sealed along with release of the photographs of the escaped prisoners.
So far, the hands of the police are empty. The police fear that if the said prisoners manage to cross the Indo-Nepal border, it would be very difficult to nab them.
ASI Vijay Kumar I.O PS West was given the task of investigating the case.
The jailbreak came a day before the celebrations of the first Raising Day of the HP Police, which is already facing wrath of the people after nine of its officials including an IG, SP, and DSP were arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation in case relating to the custodial killing of an accused lodged at the Kotkhai Police Station on the intervening night of July 18 and 19.
The CBI has filed an elaborate chargesheet against the officials, and is claiming to have sufficient evidences to established the guilt of the arrested accused.
The trust of the people in HP Police has shattered due to alleged criminal conspiracy in the investigation of the gangrape and murder of 16-years-old girl in Kotkhai in July this year. Therefore, the current matter pertaining to the carelessness of the police in security of prisons has posed more questions on the working of the police.
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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