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First Time in Indian History, a Govt Took Money from RBI due to Steep Economic Slowdown: Congress
Shimla- Ahead of the by-election to Pachhad and Dharamshala seats, Himachal Pradesh Congress has opened a front against the Centre government over the economic slowdown. As a part of its election campaign, Congress has already made a call to its party-workers to highlight issues like unemployment, demonetizations, and hasty implementation of GST among the voters.
The faulty policies of the Narender Modi led Centre government has pushed India backwards in terms of development and has destroyed the national economy, said Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma while addressing a State level Convocation on Economic slowdown in India at the HP Congress Headquarters in Shimla on Tuesday.
For the first time in Indian history, a government has transferred money from the Reserve Bank of India, which clearly means that the government is facing a serious financial crunch, said Sharma. The government is not able to pay refunds of over Rs 10 lakh crores under GST.
Sharma said that the image of the country was tarnished due to devastation caused to the economy due to wrong decisions taken by the current government and that it would not be easy to recover from this economic slowdown. He said that demonetization and faulty implementation of the GST has hit the unorganized sector where 90 percent people were employed. Small, as well as, big businesses in the unorganized sector, which was contributing 45 percent towards total production of the nation, have either shut down or are on the verge of shut down.
As a result, lakhs of people employed with this sector are staring at a dark future.
Sharma said that Prime Minister Narender Modi isn’t concerned about the nation at all in such a time. He hasn’t spoken even a word about the current condition of the Indian economy. He lauds the economic status of the nation in foreign countries, which is a lie, he said.
Sharma said that during the Congress government, India had come across a phase of economic slowdown, however, under the capable leadership of then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, negative implications of it were averted. Sharma said that BJP leaders had made fun of Manmohan Singh when he had expressed his concern over the deteriorating economic condition. However, now the BJP government is face to face with that situation.
Sharma suspects a possible scam of worth nine thousand crores in the upcoming budget, which, he said, would be fatal to the economy of the nation.
He further alleged the Modi government of dictatorship in a democratic system. Media is afraid of showing the truth to the people and only displaying promotional content. Media is not highlighting the wrong decisions of the government, he said. For the first time in history, 70 thousand crores were spent on elections in 2019. Out of it, 60 thousand crores were spent by BJP only. Sharma questioned the source of such a huge investment. He also said that this election was not fought over real issues but on the agenda of nationalism.
However, he said, the people of India can not be misled for long. Sooner or later, they will realize the reality of the current government and throw it out of power.
Other leaders including HPPC Kuldeep Rathore also addressed the meeting.
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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