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Friday - June 06, 2025
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REGD.-HP-09-0015257
08:06 PM
Friday - June 06, 2025
Weather: 15°C
REGD.-HP-09-0015257
Shimla: Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s re...
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When Mock Drills Get Mocked by Reality: HP’s Mega Earthquake Drill Raises Eyebrows Amid Past Disasters, as we never learn the lessons.
Shimla | June 6, 2025
Once again, Himachal Pradesh went into drill mode on June 6, 2025, conducting its 9th State-Wide Mega Mock Exercise on earthquake preparedness.
With 109 simulation sites across the hill state, the event looked like a war-game on paper — featuring everything from glacial lake bursts, landslides, dam breaches, and building collapses to oil spills and hospital emergencies.
But here’s the real question — will we ever be ready when the real thing hits?
Despite the state's show of strength and coordination involving the NDRF, ITBP, Indian Army, SDRF, Home Guards, Fire Services, and other response units, history has repeatedly shown that disaster often strikes harder than our preparedness can withstand.
Or they strike and catch every body Napping and expose all our hypocrisy and claims
Take the 1905 Kangra earthquake — one of India’s deadliest — which killed over 20,000 people. Understood. We were then a subjugated nation, no much idea about Disasters.
Then fast forward to the infamous Pareechu lake scare in 1997 that washed awsy dozens of bridges on national highways without a hint in Kinnaur or then came the 2023 floods that killed over 500 people, threw the entire Himachal into chaos.
The floods exposed how rampant corruption has produced poor infrastructure- roads, bridges and buildings.
More recently, Himachal witnessed the Samej Nallah tragedy in 2024, where over 50 lives were lost in a flash flood no one saw coming — or perhaps, ignored until it was too late.
Despite years of mock drills, satellite maps, warning systems, and dozens of coordination meetings, disasters keep turning these drills into nothing more than rehearsals without the script.
The floods of 2023 and 2024 exposed how response systems crumble, communication collapses, and victims are left fending for themselves before help arrives — if it arrives at all.
At the debriefing, Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue-DM) K.K. Pant emphasized, “The more we sweat in peace, the less we bleed in war.”
But ground realities suggest otherwise. People are bleeding in both peace and war. Drills are scripted, actors are briefed, and response times rehearsed — but real-life disasters come unannounced, in chaos, and with no warning bell.
Director-cum-Special Secretary D.C. Rana rightly urged for stronger medical planning and better GIS mapping.
But one wonders — haven’t we heard this before? Every year, after every drill and every disaster, similar promises are made, gaps are identified, and “corrective action” is pledged.
But when it rains in the hills — it floods in the plains. And when an earthquake does strike, it’s not the disaster cell but the local villagers and stranded tourists live-streaming SOS videos that break the news.
Maj. Gen. Sudhir Behl (Retd.) from NDMA rightly pointed out the need for coordination.
But what about accountability? Do we learn lessons? Keep pur teams ready combatness.
Who was held responsible for delayed rescue in the Samej Nallah floods or the botched communication during the 2023 Satluj flood emergency?
Mock drills are important, no doubt. But when they become annual rituals, disconnected from on-ground capability, they turn into tragic reminders of how unprepared we still are. And that’s the hard truth.
#MockDrillsOrMockery
#LessonsUnlearnt
#SamejTragedyStillHurts
#DisasterPoliticsHimachal
Son of Shimla’s Apple Bowl, Brigadier Narendra Chauhan, Promoted to Major General in Indian Army
Shimla/Kotgarh, June 6, 2025:
Brigadier Narendra Chauhan, hailing from the serene apple orchards of Kotgarh in Shimla district, has been promoted to the esteemed rank of Major General in the Indian Army.
This significant achievement brings immense pride to Himachal Pradesh, particularly the Kotgarh region, renowned as the "Apple Bowl of India" .
Major General Chauhan's journey from the highlands of Kotgarh to the upper echelons of the Indian Army exemplifies dedication and perseverance.
His promotion is a testament to his exemplary service and leadership qualities.
The Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADGPI) of the Indian Army confirmed his promotion, marking a proud moment for the entire nation.
Local leaders and residents have expressed their heartfelt congratulations.
"This is a proud moment not just for Kotgarh or Shimla, but for every Indian. Major General Chauhan’s success has added to the glory of our land," said Kuldeep Rathour, Theog MLA.
His achievement serves as an inspiration for the youth of Himachal Pradesh, especially those from rural and hilly backgrounds aspiring to serve in the armed forces.
#MajorGeneralChauhan
#PrideOfKotgarh
#HimachalHero
#IndianArmy
“Build Smart, Build Green” — New Mantra as India Eyes Global Role in Construction Equipment: CII’s ICONEQ 2025 Ends with Strong Push for Green Tech, MSMEs
Chandigarh/Gurugram, 6 June 2025:
“Build Smart, Build Green” — that was the new mantra as the ICONEQ 2025 conference wrapped up in Gurugram.
Hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the second edition of the International Conference on Construction Equipment brought together top voices from government, industry, and tech to shape the future of India’s construction machinery sector.
The conference ended with a strong call to action.
Speakers stressed the need to support MSMEs, adopt cutting-edge technologies, and build an eco-friendly, globally competitive ecosystem.
“The construction equipment industry is transforming fast—automation, digital tools, and green tech are leading the way,” said Sunil Khurana, Chairman of ICONEQ 2025 and COO of JCB India Ltd.
“If India wants to meet its Net Zero targets, we need a joint effort—government, industry, and academia must work together to boost innovation, skilling, and sustainability,” he added.
CII Haryana Vice Chairman Saket Bhatia, also Director of Bony Polymers Pvt Ltd, said:
“Haryana’s infrastructure push—new townships, EV zones, and urban-rural link projects—will drive massive demand for advanced construction equipment.”
He underlined the importance of building local capacity to meet future needs.
Jayant Davar, Chairman and CEO of Sandhar Technologies, pointed to India’s massive growth in infrastructure spending.
“Capital expenditure on infrastructure has grown fivefold in the last decade. We now need efficient, smart, and sustainable machines to match the pace,” he said.
He called platforms like ICONEQ crucial for “policy dialogue, innovation, and global competitiveness.”
Karam Sahni, Chairman, CII Faridabad and Group Head (OEM Sales), Elofic Industries Ltd., praised the quality of discussion at the conference.
“Haryana has long been a manufacturing powerhouse. It’s time we lead the CE innovation race too,” he said.
The two-day event featured discussions on making India a global CE hub, boosting indigenization, strengthening supply chains, and preparing the workforce for the future.
#GreenMachines #DigitalIndia #BuildSmart #MakeInIndia
Katra | June 6, 2025:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the world’s highest railway bridge—the Chenab Rail Bridge—a marvel of modern engineering that soars 359 metres above the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir, surpassing the height of the Eiffel Tower by 35 metres.
Waving the Tricolour atop the newly built steel arch bridge, PM Modi called it a "historic moment of pride" for India.
“The Tricolour flies high over the Chenab Rail Bridge! This is not just a bridge, it’s a symbol of India’s resolve to build the impossible.
It reflects the strength of New India, building futuristic infrastructure in the most difficult terrains,” he told a cheering crowd in Katra.
The bridge, part of the ambitious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, is being hailed as a strategic and symbolic lifeline connecting Kashmir more closely with the rest of India.
Highlights of the Chenab Bridge:
Height: 359 metres above the river
Length: 1,315 metres
Material Used: 30,000 tonnes of steel
Wind Resistance: Can withstand speeds up to 260 km/h
Earthquake Resilience: Built to endure Zone-V level seismic activity
Foundation Width: As wide as half a football field
Alongside the Chenab Bridge, another engineering feat—the Anji Bridge—was also highlighted for its unique single-pylon cable-stayed design.
Built on a central pillar, the Anji Bridge spans 725.5 metres and includes 96 stay cables, making it the first of its kind in the country.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who attended the event, said the dream of this rail link dates back to British times.
“The British had brought the train up to Uri and dreamt of linking Kashmir with the rest of India, but they couldn’t make it.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee laid the foundation, and PM Modi has delivered it,” he said.
He also highlighted the local impact of the bridge, recalling the hardships people faced earlier.
“When the highway shut due to rain, airlines would loot the public with sky-high fares—tickets worth ₹5,000 would go up to ₹20,000. Now, that chapter ends.”
PM Modi also interacted with workers who helped build the bridge.
“They come from all corners of India. They told me of the tough times they faced and how proud their families are today. This bridge is a tribute to their hard work and to the spirit of India,” he said.
With this inauguration, India not only achieves a global milestone in infrastructure but also marks a new chapter in Jammu & Kashmir’s connectivity and development.
#ChenabBridge #PMModi #NewIndia #JammuKashmir #RailwayRevolution #BreakingNews
World Environment Day at SJVN: More Optics, Less Impact?
Shimla, June 5: Like every year, SJVN marked World Environment Day 2025 with slogans, saplings, and speeches—but the big question remains: where’s the real action?
At its Corporate Headquarters and project sites, Director (Personnel) Ajay Kumar Sharma led employees in taking a green pledge and flagged off symbolic activities—planting a few saplings, hosting a quiz, an origami contest, and a plastic-waste craft competition. Winners got awards. Dignitaries got plants. Photos were clicked.
The theme, “Beat Plastic Pollution”, was reinforced with an e-waste drive that collected a mere 30 kg of junk—a symbolic step at best for a PSU with massive infrastructure footprints.
Officials spoke about environmental responsibility, but critics aren’t buying the annual show.
“A few contests and token gestures don’t cancel out the ecological cost of massive hydro projects in fragile Himalayan zones,” said an activist.
While SJVN talks sustainability, questions on waste disposal, ecological audits, and community impact remain unaddressed.
A green pledge once a year won’t cut it. The environment needs policy, not just pageantry.
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