Dharamshala, Srinagar, Leh, Amritsar, Jammu Airports Shut for Civil Flights, Safety Measures in Place in Northern India Amid Escalating India-Pakistan Tensions

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SHIMLA/SRINAGAR/CHANDIGARH: May 7, 2025

In the wake of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following the recent airstrikes, travelers are advised to exercise caution and stay updated on the latest developments affecting air travel in northern India.

Airport Closures and Flight Cancellations

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has announced temporary closures of several airports in the northern regions, including Srinagar, Leh, Jammu, Amritsar, and Dharamshala.

These measures are in response to security concerns arising from the current geopolitical situation.

Major airlines such as Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet have suspended operations to and from these airports until further notice. International carriers, including Air France and Lufthansa, are rerouting flights to avoid Pakistani airspace.

Additional Flights for Evacuation

To facilitate the safe evacuation of tourists from the affected regions, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has coordinated with airlines to operate additional flights.

Air India has scheduled extra flights from Srinagar to Delhi and Mumbai and is offering complimentary rescheduling and full refunds for affected passengers. The Ministry is also working to ensure that airfares remain stable during this period.

Safety Recommendations for Travelers

Avoid Non-Essential Travel: Refrain from traveling to the affected regions, including Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, until the situation stabilizes.
Stay Informed: Regularly check updates from official sources such as the DGCA, Ministry of Civil Aviation, and your respective airlines.
Contact Airlines: Confirm the status of your flight and explore alternative arrangements.
Monitor News Outlets: Follow reputable news sources for real-time updates on the situation.

Travelers are urged to prioritize their safety and make informed decisions during this period of heightened tension.

#IndiaTravelAdvisory #DGCAUpdate #AirstrikeAftermath #NorthernIndiaAlert #SafeTravelsIndia

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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.

News

World Environment Day 2025: Are Annual Rituals Enough,

World Environment Day 2025: Plastic Cleanup Drives, Plantation Rituals, and a Parade of Awards – But Is It Enough?

Shimla, June 5 – Once again, World Environment Day was observed with plastic collection drives, slogan-writing contests, and ceremonial sapling plantings across Himachal Pradesh — but environmentalists ask, has it all become a yearly ritual without real impact?

At the ICFRE-Himalayan Forest Research Institute (HFRI), Shimla, over 80 scientists and staff stepped into the surrounding forest for a plastic clean-up, picking up PET bottles, wrappers, and other non-biodegradables. Director Dr. Sandeep Sharma led the charge, highlighting this year’s theme "Beat Plastic Pollution." He stressed the growing threat of microplastics to soil, water, wildlife, and even human bodies.

“Plastic is everywhere — from Mount Everest to the Mariana Trench,” warned Dr. Vaneet Jishtu, Head of Extension. “It’s even inside us now.”

Meanwhile, retired forest officers, led by former Chief Conservator BS Rana, planted Peepal saplings in Nature Park, Mohal — a symbolic act repeated each year. Schoolchildren from nearby Tegubehad Primary School were roped in, given a brief on the environment, and posed with the saplings.

Critics, however, say such events, while well-intentioned, don’t go beyond surface-level optics. “Saplings planted today with selfies will wither in neglect tomorrow. Where is the year-round follow-up?” quipped an environmental volunteer off-record.

Rituals Meet Recognition – Students Win, But What Next?

HIMCOSTE also rolled out its list of student competition winners for 2025. While the young minds showed promise, the events echoed the usual celebratory tone with little reflection on Himachal's growing plastic crisis in its fragile hills.

Painting Competition Winners:

Junior: Dhruv from GSSS Kanger (Una) topped, followed by Aruhi from GMS Sultanpur (Chamba) and Nami from HAPS Hiranagar (Hamirpur).

Senior: Roshni of GHS Navbahar (Shimla) won first, with Mehak Preet of St. Luke’s Solan and Aayush Negi of GSSS Pangi (Kinnaur) following.

Slogan Writing:

Junior: Harshita from GHS Kanah (Solan) came first. Sunakshi (Kangra) and Divya Jyoti (Kinnaur) were runners-up.

Senior: Diksha (Chamba) topped, followed by Palak (Hamirpur) and Parul (Kullu).

Photography:

Top spot went to Abhinav (Kinnaur), with Vikas (Solan), Iqshita (Shimla), and Sakshi (Kullu) earning honours.

Declamation:

Ishita (Solan) secured first, while Komal Mehta (Shimla), Aradhna Thakur (Kangra), and Anshika Sharma (Hamirpur) followed.

Green School Programme – Awards by CSE:

Best Green District: Solan

Land Manager: GHS Kanah, Solan

Changemaker School: GSSS Baldeyan, Shimla

Energy Manager: Doon Valley PS, Solan

Waste Warrior: GSSS Bhaleth, Hamirpur

Best Newcomer: GSSS Sarog, Shimla

Waterwise School: Shivalik Valley Public School, Solan

Yearly Ritual or Real Resolve?

Despite the good intentions and young talent, the state continues to grapple with banned plastic returning in full force, overflowing dump yards in the hills, and an ineffective waste segregation system.

“With no long-term waste management plans or enforcement, even the best eco-club report becomes a certificate for the shelf, not a call to action,” said a former HIMCOSTE official anonymously.

As the planet moves towards negotiating a global treaty on plastic by August, questions remain: Will these token activities be enough? Or are we stuck in a loop of cleaning today, dumping tomorrow?

> Until environmental action turns from event-based symbolism to everyday accountability, World Environment Day risks becoming just another checkbox.

News

Blanket Ban on Transfer of Teachers in Himachal

Transfers Shut, But CM Holds the Key: Blanket Ban on Teacher Transfers Raises Eyebrows

Shimla, June 4: In a move aimed at maintaining academic continuity, the state government has slapped a blanket ban on the transfer of teaching staff in all government schools and colleges from June 5, 2025 until the end of the 2025-26 academic session.

But the story doesn’t end there. As per the official notification, only the Chief Minister now holds the power to allow any exception — a clause that speaks volumes about how the system continues to centralize control under the garb of “academic discipline.”

While the ban is being justified in the name of students' welfare, teachers’ unions and critics are questioning the selective crackdown.

“Why only teachers? Are they not government employees like others — engineers, clerks, or police personnel — who continue to enjoy transfer options?

Why is their right to movement being crushed year after year?” asked a senior lecturer in a government college.

The critics argue that this repeated muzzling of teachers' fundamental service rights, without applying the same standards to other government departments, reeks of discrimination and administrative high-handedness.

“There’s always this assumption that teachers are to blame for learning gaps, so keep them chained to one post, regardless of their personal, medical, or family issues.

But no such morality is imposed on other babus,” said a spokesperson of a prominent teachers' association.

Also, the so-called “exception route” through the Chief Minister’s nod has become a hotbed of lobbying and favoritism, they allege.

"Those with connections get their way, and those who follow the rules suffer silently."

While the government’s aim to ensure a smooth academic session is understandable, many feel that a transparent, time-bound, and grievance-based transfer policy would be far more effective than sweeping bans that push genuine cases into political corridors.

#BanWithBias #TeachersNotBabus #TransferPolitics #CMControlsTransfers #AcademicContinuityOrControl?

News

The Sukhu Govt Backtrack on Paid Lab Tests

Himbumail.com Impact Story

Shimla, June 4, 2025:

Bowing to public pressure and widespread criticism, the Himachal Pradesh government has rolled back its controversial move to limit free diagnostic tests in government hospitals.

The original decision—revealed in a government circular dated May 16—had sparked outrage after Himbumail.com broke the story and questioned whether even basic healthcare was becoming unaffordable for the common citizen.

What Was the Issue?

According to the earlier order, the government planned to offer 133 lab tests and X-rays free only to 14 select categories—including cancer, TB, HIV patients, pregnant women, senior citizens, differently-abled persons, widows, orphans, and BPL families.

All other citizens would be entitled to just one free annual health check-up, and additional tests would be chargeable through agencies selected under a PPP (Public-Private Partnership) model.

The decision to outsource diagnostic services and allow user charges for the general public triggered sharp criticism.

Public Outrage and Media Impact

The report published by Himbumail.com raised concerns about the erosion of free public healthcare.

Social media soon erupted with backlash, with citizens asking:

“When public hospitals already lack doctors and facilities, is the government now asking us to pay for basic tests too?”

Government Issues Clarification After Uproar

Faced with growing protests, the Health Department issued a clarification. The new circular confirms that:

All 14 categories will continue to receive free diagnostic tests and X-rays throughout the year in government health institutions.

Every citizen of the state will also be entitled to one free annual medical check-up.

Only those not covered under the 14 categories will have to pay charges—and only beyond the free annual check-up.

What the Health Secretary Said

The clarification, issued with approval from the competent authority, states that while a vendor will be selected under PPP mode to expand testing facilities, no charges will be levied on the exempted groups. In-house labs and private partners will charge only those outside the exempted list.

Himbumail.com’s Impact Journalism

This is not the first time Himbumail.com has forced the administration to act in public interest.

With persistent questioning and timely reporting, the platform ensured that the common man’s voice was heard loud and clear.

The big question now: Will the government implement this in letter and spirit at the grassroots level?

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Dharamshala, Srinagar, Leh, Amritsar, Jammu Airports Shut for Civil Flights, Safety Measures in Place in Northern India Amid Escalating India-Pakistan Tensions

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