News
Will do away with Himachal’s ‘retired & tired’ officers and VIP culture: Jairam
The oath-taking ceremony of Thakur on the historic Shimla Ridge Maidan will be attended by the Prime Minister, BJP Chief Amit Shah, and over a dozen of Chief Ministers of other states.
Shimla: The Chief Minister-designate Jairam Thakur, in his first media interaction, made admirable announcements over vital issues like firing “retired and tired” officials and abolishing the VIP culture. The first thing the new government would do is to send all those employees home who were re-appointed by giving them extensions after their retirement, said Thakur.
Secondly, the new BJP government would abolish the prevailing VIP culture, he told the media.
Firing unworthy, retired bureaucrats, who were granted extension as incentives for their loyalty to the ruling Congress party, is a much-needed action to cut-lose the additional financial burned on the State and to pave way for promotion of worthy and deserving officials.
All the retired and blue-eyed bureaucrats who were re-employed by the previous government will have to go now,
he told the media.
Further, all decision taken by the government during the period of three months before elections would be scrutinized and reviewed, Thakur told the media, which means re-shuffling of the bureaucrats as per the suitability of the party. It is not about political vendetta or revenge, he explained.
The oath-taking ceremony of Thakur will be held on December 27 on the historic Shimla Ridge Maidan, which will be attended by the Prime Minister, BJP Chief Amit Shah, and over a dozen of Chief Ministers of other states.
Though still to sworn in, Thakur has been given all facilities provided to the CM, and his mobility has also increased as the CM.
On December 25, Thakur visited the patients at the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital on the occasion of the birthday of the former Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Pursing works of “social good and alleviate suffering” was cited to be the main motto of his government.
Meanwhile, after a boisterous show and lobbying for the top post, the elected MLAs are eyeing seats in the 11-membered cabinet of Himachal.
Thakur says his cabinet would incorporate both new and old generation leaders.
The cabinet will have both experienced and new faces, he said.
The speculated names for the Cabinet includes Rajeev Bindal, Kishan Kapoor, Sarveen Chaudhary, Mohinder Singh, Anil Sharma, Narinder Bragta and Ramesh Dhawala. Among the new faces, Gobind Thakur, Vikram Jaryal, Rakesh Pathania and Rajeev Sahjal are believed to be the eligible candidates that the government could include in the Cabinet.
The State Transport Authority Secretary Vinay Singh has been appointed Principal Private Secretary to the Chief Ministers.
The hopes of the people from the new, younger Chief Minister are sky-high owing to his individual image and political history.
The 13th Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, a five-time Member of the Legislative Assembly of Himachal Pradesh, Jairam Thakur hails from a poor family of farmers in Tandi village of Mandi’s Thunag region, and he has struggled a lot for education. This is what Thakur and his octogenarian mother, Biri Singh, told the media about the family background.
His mother is the happiest of all among those who wanted to see Jairam Thakur as the Chief Minister.
My son has seen extreme poverty in his childhood,
she said.
My childhood was like any other village lads. My parents worked in the fields, and for us (three brothers and two sisters) life was not a luxury due to our father’s limited earning,
Thakur told the English daily Indian Express.
I realised my parents could not have afforded my college education, so I did not force them to. I used to work with my parents and helped augment the family income until I managed to collect money for college,
he added.
The new to be Chief Minister has an image of clean politician, and hardly any controversy surrounds him despite a long political career in which he has not only represent the Seraj constituency as the elected MLA but also held the command of the State unit of the Bhartiya Janata Party in Himachal from the year 2009 to 2013.
Thakur had done a much better job as the party president than the current chief and defeated candidate Satpal Singh Satti.
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.