Pankaj Sharma

The Shirgul Maharaj Temple, perched at an altitude of 11,965 feet in the outer Himalayas, recently celebrated a momentous occasion: the completion of its long-awaited restoration crowned by the installation of a sacred Kurud (ceremonial pillar) on October 11. The event, called the Shant Mahotsav, marked a historic moment for the temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva's incarnation, Shirgul Maharaj. Revered by millions, the temple sits on the highest peak of Sirmaur district serving as a spiritual anchor for the region.

Aims to cause minimal harm to pachyderms, leverage renewable energy.

The Rajban-Chhaccheti road, a crucial link to the remote Dhartidhar area of Sirmaur district, has deteriorated severely over the past few years, raising serious safety concerns among local residents. The road, already fragile, suffered further damage during a cloudburst last year, leading to the collapse of bridges and portions of the road. While temporary repairs were made to the bridges, most of the 14-km stretch remains in a state of disrepair, particularly hazardous for two-wheeler riders, with numerous reports of accidents due to skidding on the crumbling road surface.

Lumbar radiculopathy is one of the most common disorders encountered by a spine surgeon. The condition involves back pain, which may radiate to the lower limbs, and neurological symptoms, which involve a specific nerve root. Caudal epidural steroid injections (CESIs) and selective nerve root blocks (SNRBs) are two of the most common interventions, which are used to control the pain and neurological symptoms associated with chronic lumbar radiculopathy. This study compares the two nonsurgical treatment procedures and aims to assist medical professionals dealing with this condition, in making an informed decision regarding which procedure would be better suited for their patients. Our study showed that CESIs better alleviated pain and had a greater improvement in functional impairment at short-term (one month) follow-up. However, both procedures had similar efficacy at three-month follow-up.

The Union Forest and Environment Ministry has approved a 7-km road project in Sirmaur district and neighbouring Haryana that will provide direct access to Adi Badri, believed to be the place of origin of the Saraswati river. It will create a direct route to Adi Badri within Himachal Pradesh, eliminating the need to travel through Haryana. At present, visitors from Nahan have to travel either 70 km through Haryana or 50 km via Kolar and Haryana to reach Adi Badri. The new road will reduce the journey by over 50 per cent, making it preferable for pilgrims and tourists.

A man died and another was severely injured when their car collided with a truck here on Tuesday morning, police said. They said the tragedy occurred near Baduhi when they were returning from a wedding ceremony in Kangra district's Nurpur....

In private hospitals, a PET scan can cost between Rs 15,000 and Rs 25,000, while in government hospitals in other states, it is available for around Rs 8,000 to Rs 12,000.

In an unsettling turn of events, elephants from Rajaji National Park in Uttarakhand have been spotted near Nahan in Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur district. Over the past two years, these elephants, typically confined to areas around Paonta Sahib, have ventured further into Himachal territory. Recent sightings in Bela village, around 10-12 km from Nahan, captured on mobile cameras, show two adult elephants and a calf.

In an extraordinary discovery that sheds light on the preservation practices of the early 20th century, a 112-year-old Urdu book, titled Tarikh-i-Sirmour was found in a well-preserved state, with neem leaves placed between its pages still intact.

Series of surprise raids result in Rs 6.84 lakh fine in 29 cases.