Manaslu tragedy toll mounts to 12

Shirish B Pradhan Kathmandu, Sept 24 (PTI) Helicopters scoured the icy Himalayan peaks in western Nepal looking for four foreign climbers still missing in a deadly avalanche on the 8,156 metre Mount Manaslu which left 12 mountaineers dead, including eight Frenchmen. The helicopters were pressed into service as a number of foreign expeditions attempting the peak were trapped by falling walls of snow near the base camp in Gorkha district, 350 kms west of the Nepalese capital Kathmandu.

 Twelve climbers including eight French nationals and a Sherpa guide were killed in the avalanche, said Jimba Jangbu Sherpa, President of Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA). Others who were killed include one Italian, one German and one Spanish climber, according to Sherpa. Eighteen western tourists were rescued alive from the avalanche site, according to Tourism Ministry officials. Of them, eight people, who were seriously injured, have been airlifted to Kathmandu for treatment. Ten tourists, who sustained minor injuries, had been provided with first aid treatment at the base camp.

 The avalanche swept away the team of climbers at an altitude of 7,300 meter as they headed towards the summit. Manaslu, the world's eighth highest peak may not be as luring for the climbers as Everest or Annapurna, but it has dubious distinction of being branded a 'killer peak'. So far, the peak has claimed 53 mountaineers between 1956 when it was first ascended and 2006, with only 300 climbers making it to the top so far.

A Barfi bridge in Darjeeling? Possible - GTA mulls sprucing up shooting spots & naming them after films & actors

The St Paul’s School in Darjeeling
 where Barfi! and Main Hoon Na were shot.
File picture 

VIVEK CHHETRI TT; Darjeeling, Sept. 24: The success of Barfi!, which was shot here, has prompted the GTA to toy with the idea of beautifying the spots where films have been shot and name them after movie titles or lead actors to woo tourists. Bollywood films used to be shot in Darjeeling from the 1960s through the early ’80s, but most of the locations are forgotten.

 The GTA believes if it can turn these locations into landmarks, it will boost tourism. “We have found out that authorities in Switzerland usually mark the area where films are shot for the benefit of tourists. I have been told that the Jammu and Kashmir government has named a valley Betaab Valley where the film Betaab was shot,” said Binay Tamang, the GTA executive member in charge of information and culture. “Since Bollywood films are deeply loved by all Indians, we are confident that tourists would love to visit the locations, maybe, simply to take a photograph.

 We have already formed a team to scout all these locations so that we can beautify them and put up sign boards there,” Tamang said. It won’t be surprising if a road or a bridge is named after Barfi!. Many tourists visiting the hills want to visit St Paul’s School, where Shah Rukh Khan starrer Main Hoon Na was shot. “There is already much interest among tourists to visit places in and around Darjeeling where Barfi! was shot,” said Suraj Adhikari, a hotelier in town. Some scenes of Barfi! were also shot outside St. Paul’s. The mall, Ghoom railway station and Tindharia are among the other places where the film was shot.

 The GTA plans to complete the beautification of Bollywood locations in a year. “We have already worked out a proposal to name roads leading to these locations either after the film or the protagonist. For example, as Vinod Khanna-Shabana Azmi starrer Lahoo Ke Do Rang was shot extensively in Lebong near Darjeeling, the road leading to the location could be named after Vinod Khanna,” Tamang said. One problem that the authorities could face is the beautification of all the locales because of the large number of films shot in the hills. Sanjay Biswas, a writer from Darjeeling, said: “Over 200 films in Hindi, Bengali and Nepali have been shot in the Darjeeling hills.” 

 The list of Bollywood blockbusters which were shot in Darjeeling is impressive. Raj Kapoor was in Darjeeling for Barsat, Dev Anand visited the town many times to shoot for Mahal, Joshila and Jab Pyar Kisise Hota Hai. Amitabh Bachan was here with Rekha for Do Anjane and with Rakhi for Barsat Ki Ek Raat. “Anurodh, which had Rajesh Khanna, was also shot in Darjeeling. Sunil Dutt, too, had visited Darjeeling for Hamraaz,” said Biswas.

 The Rajesh Khanna-Sharmila Tagore starrer Aradhana and Shah Rukh Khan’s, Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman were also shot here. A senior official said the GTA was trying to tie up with the Union information and broadcasting ministry to organise a film festival in Darjeeling. “The response is positive but since a confirmation is yet to come, we are not in a position to announce the details of the festival,” he said.

Children Club 2012 election held, Lamit Lepcha elected as President

MUKESH SHARMA;Kalimpong, September 23 The election of the Children Club 2012 under the Child Protection Scheme was today held at 8th Mile in Kalimpong. The children themselves elected their President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurers for placing forward their demands and grievances. 

A total number of 15 students had placed their candidature and the voters were to the tune of 150. The similar kind of election was held before in Mariya Busty Children Club, Kagey and Sristhi Children Club during the early months of 2012. As per the counting of the votes and in the result declaration, Lamit Lepcha was elected as the President, William Soren as the Vice President, Anmit Lepcha as Secretary and Diwas Biswakarma was elected as the Treasurer of the Club.

 The election was held under the rules of the Child Parliament Act. The elected members shall voice for the rights and demands of the children as enshrined in the constitution. The election was held under the supervision of the CPS Director Sister Subeshna Thapa, Sister Sujain Gurung, Sister Rachel Lepcha, working member Tej Kumar Thapa. The oath taking of the elected representatives were done by Sister Thapa.

‘Say no to drugs’, rally at Teesta

MUKESH SHARMA; Teesta, September 23 A huge rally which had the participation of the youths, political parties, associations, organisations, students and public highlighting messages of ‘say no to drugs’ and drugs peddling was organised today Teesta Bazar along the NH31A. The rally kick started from the Centre, encircled the Teesta bazar and ended at the play ground.

 The rally had the participation of the various school students from the Teesta Bridge High School, Teesta Primary School, Mt Star Academy, Triveni Nursery School who had placards, flags, leaflets and posters in their hands spreading the message against the drug abuse and illicit trafficking. The youths on the other hand spread the awareness messages through songs and music.

 The rally also visited the Teesta check post and appealed the concerned authorities to have strict eye on the matter. The organisers had also to say that the kind of awareness programmes will be held in regular intervals. The public are of the opinion that the civil society, the police and the administration has to play active reole in combating the menace as the area lies along the NH31A and is pretty accessible to such cases.

Sir sets date with Kalimpong - Kaushik Ganguly to shoot Tollywood film in hills from today

picture (Chinlop Fudong Lepcha)

TT; RAJEEV RAVIDAS A monastery in Kalimpong where the film crew has done a recce for locations. (Chinlop Fudong Lepcha) Kalimpong, Sept. 23: The beauty of the hills will show on screen next in the Bengali film C/O Sir, shooting for which begins in Kalimpong tomorrow. Barfi!, the Hindi film released recently, was shot in Darjeeling last year.

 Sir director Kaushik Ganguly hopes that his latest film, which tells the story of a visually-challenged schoolteacher’s battle with his disability, will be as well received as the tale of the hearing-impaired protagonist of Anurag Basu’s Barfi!. Ganguly and his crew have arrived here and will stay at the Deolo tourist lodge during the shooting which will conclude on October 1. Uday Mani Pradhan, Ganguly’s friend based in Darjeeling, said the director and the crew were here last week to scout for locations, and had zeroed in on few places, especially the Munsong area. “We visited Durpin, Deolo and Munsong, and Kaushik was very impressed with those places.

 I have been associated with the shooting of 11 films in Darjeeling, and felt why not try Kalimpong and Kurseong. The places we visited in Kalimpong are beautiful,” Pradhan said over the phone from Darjeeling. Pradhan said after Kalimpong, the cast and the crew would move to Kurseong where shooting has been scheduled at Dow Hill School and Victoria Boys’ School.

 “Churni Ganguly (actress and wife of Kaushik) studied in Dow Hill and her father taught at Victoria for 21 years. Kaushik has shot at both the schools before,” he said. Ganguly, who has to his credit films like Laptop, Waris and Ek Mutho Chhabi, has described his latest offering as a romantic thriller where “love, faith and mistrust run parallel”. The main character of the movie, a schoolteacher called Jayabrato Ray, will be essayed by Saswata Chatterjee. The others in the cast are Raima Sen, who plays Sushmita Gupta, a solicitor; Indraneil Sengupta, Sabyasachi Chakrabarty and Churni. 

रुद्र जुनियर बेसिक प्राथमिक पाठशाला भूईँचालो गएको वर्षदिन बित्दा समेत जिर्णोद्धार हुने कुनै छाँट रहेको छैन।

कालेबुङ 21 सितम्बर। भूईँचालो आयो गयो तर भूईँचालोले पुर्याेएको क्षतिहरु कहिले पुरिने हुन भन्ने प्रश्नको उत्तर भने कसैसित रहेको छैन। गत वर्ष 18 सितम्बरको दिन आएको बिनासकारी भूईँचालोले क्षतिग्रस्त बनाएको यहाँको लोवर बोङबस्ति स्थित सरस्वती रुद्र जुनियर बेसिक प्राथमिक पाठशाला भूईँचालो गएको वर्षदिन बित्दा समेत जिर्णोद्धार हुने कुनै छाँट रहेको छैन।

 सन 1964 मा स्थपित उक्त प्राथमिक पाठशाला भूईँचालोको चपेटमा परेपछि अहिले श्रेणी कोठाभित्र पनि बिद्यार्थीवर्ग तारपोलिनको छतभित्र शिर अँटाउन परिरहेको छ। भूईँचालोको चपेटमा परेपछि बिद्यालय कर्तृपक्षले बिभाग, कालेबुङका बिधायक, क्षेत्रका सभासद अनि जीटीए प्रमुख बिमल गुरुङलाई समेत जानकारी गराईसकेका छन तर यस समबन्धमा बिद्यालयले अझ सम्म केवल प्रतिश्रुतिमा बाँच्नु परिरहेको छ। यस सम्बन्धमा आज उक्त बिद्यालयको परिदर्शन गर्न पत्रकारहरु पुग्दा बिद्यार्थीहरु तारपोलिनको छानो मुनि पढीरहेका थिए।

 बिद्यालयको सबै भित्ताहरु चर्किएर भत्किएको छ भने कुनै पनि समय भित्ताहरु झरेर ठूलो दुर्घटना हुने सम्भावना समेत रहेको छ। यस बिषयमा बिद्यालयका सह शिक्षिका शाकुन्तला शर्माले पत्रकारहरुसंग कुराकानी गर्दै भूईँचालोले क्षति पुर्यापएपछि सबन्धित बिभागका अधिकारीहरु लगायत बिधायक डा हर्कबहादुर छेत्रीले समेत भ्रमण गरेर बिद्यालय निर्माणको आश्वासन दिएको जानकारी दिदै पछि बाट बर्तमान जीटीए प्रमुख बिमल गुरुङले समेत बिद्यालयको भ्रमण लिएर नयाँ भवन निर्माण गरिदिने बचन दिएको बताईन।

 यस समबन्धमा अहिलेसम्म बिद्लयको अवस्था सोचनीय रहेको भए पनि चाँडै निर्माण हुने कुरामा भने आफुहरु आशावादी बनेको पनि तिनले जनाईन। हाल पानी अत्याधिक परेपछि बिद्यालयको सम्पूर्ण श्रेणीहरु जल्मग्न हुने गरेको जानकारी गराउँदै धेर बर्षा भए अध्यापनको असुबिधालाई मध्यनजर राखेर छुट्टी समेत गर्न बाध्य बनेको तिनले जनाईन।

CM for legal means to dull strikes’ impact

{SNS KOLKATA}, 20 SEPT: Taking a strong stand against the frequent strike calls by private transporters, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said the state transport department will introduce a clause in the permits to be issued to private buses and taxis to prevent any such “disruption” in public service in future. Even though, on an earlier occasion, the chief minister had threatened private transporters saying that their permits will be seized, the absence of any such clause had posed a problem against taking action against errant cab and bus owners.

 But today she reacted sharply against the decision of taxi and bus owners to keep their vehicles off the roads. “How can they keep their vehicles off the roads every second day? Every time the Centre raises fuel prices they stop plying vehicles or demand more fare and even refuse passengers. And taxi owners under some trade unions are doing it more frequently than the bus owners,” she said. “We held a meeting with transport minister and officials.

 We have decided that the new permits which we will give would include a clause to prevent any such disruption in public service,” the chief minister added. Though the private transporters had assured that they have withdrawn the strike there was hardly any private buses visible on the roads except a few minibuses. According to transport department officials, a proposal to enact legislation banning bandhs in Bengal is also being mulled though chief minister is against the Essential Service Maintenance Act. 

“There might be a similar legislation but she has an anathema against the term ESMA," said an official. Three states, including Kerala and Rajasthan, already have this legislation in place and Maharashtra, too, has enacted it recently, banning strikes in essential services like hospitals and the transport sector. The issue was broached to the chief minister on 26 July, on the eve of a Citu-called bus strike which was eventually called off.

Trinamul might in Cong den Ruling party hits streets against strike in message to ally

TT; Sept. 20: Trinamul workers today hit the streets of north Bengal, particularly in places that are Congress strongholds, to foil the strike and drive home the point that their party is the bigger force in the region. Workers of Trinamul encouraged people in the Congress strongholds of North Dinajpur, Malda and Cooch Behar to defy the general strike called by the Left Front and go to work and keep shops and other establishments running, sparking clashes in several places with CPM activists. 

 Congress sources said the party did not oppose the bandh because there was no instruction from the high command or the state Congress leaders on the matter. On record, however, no Congress leader was willing to speak on the issue. The Left’s 12-hour strike was called to protest the diesel price hike, FDI in retail and the cap on subsidised LPG cylinders.

 Trinamul leaders held up the Congress’s “inaction” as an example of the party’s “tacit understanding” with the CPM. Bikash Choudhury, a Trinamul leader in North Dinajpur, which is the fief of Congress MP and Mamata Banerjee-baiter Deepa Das Munshi, said: “Our local MP (Deepa) claims that the district is a Congress stronghold but today, no party worker was seen opposing the bandh. “The Congress’s silence has made it evident that the party has a tacit understanding with the CPM. 

The Congress does not want to antagonise the CPM ahead of the panchayat polls, where it will have to contest alone. This is the Congress’s ploy to win more seats in the rural polls and the next Lok Sabha elections,” he said. In Malda too, Trinamul supporters tried to foil the strike. “Not a single Congress leader was seen in the district today. Our party workers helped people defy the bandh and keep life moving,” said Sabitri Mitra, the women and child welfare minister and district Trinamul president.

 “We think the Congress’s silence has got something to do with its relationship with the CPM. The bandh was called against the decisions of the Congress-led UPA, but the party’s leaders remained indoors and showed no concern for people.” Congress leaders Adhir Chowdhury and Mausam Noor attended a rally in South Dinajpur but did not speak on the bandh. In Siliguri, north Bengal development minister and Trinamul leader Gautam Deb went around the city requesting people to defy the strike. 

“We fail to understand why the Congress did not oppose the strike. The leaders seem to be least bothered about the interest of the people of the region,” he said. But despite Trinamul’s efforts, the bandh was near total in most parts of north Bengal. In the two Dinajpurs, Jalpaiguri, Malda and Cooch Behar, private establishments, educational institutions, most banks and shops and markets remained closed. Private vehicles kept off the roads. Government offices were open but the attendance was low in some places. Government buses plied on the roads.

 The strike, however, did not have any impact in the three hill subdivisions of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong. Tea gardens were open. Scattered incidents of violence were reported from some places. Around 7am in Raiganj, bandh supporters threw stones at an NBSTC bus plying on the Kaliaganj-Siliguri route at BBD More. The windscreen was shattered and driver Apurba Roychoudhury and a passenger suffered head injuries. In Panishala on the outskirts of Raiganj town later in the day, alleged Left supporters stopped another government bus and pelted it with stones.

 The passengers fled. Driver Ranjit Pal suffered injuries. Both drivers were admitted to the Raiganj district hospital.Trinamul and CPM supporters clashed in front of the District Primary Education Project office. Police brought the situation under control. In Cooch Behar, alleged Trinamul supporters assaulted SUCI workers who were enforcing the strike.The Trinamul supporters, led by youth leader Rajeev Narayan, beat up the 10-odd SUCI workers, including two women, with rods and sticks at Harish Pal More on Suniti Road. 

 “We had stopped an NBSTC bus when the Trinamul supporters armed with party flags attacked us. They did not even spare the women. One of our leaders, Bashad Ali, suffered serious injuries,” said Nepal Mitra, the Cooch Behar town committee secretary of the SUCI. The police arrested five SUCI workers, including the two women, on the charge of disrupting normal life. “Once they are released, we will file an FIR against Narayan and his accomplices,” Mitra said. 

 District Trinamul chief Rabindranath Ghosh denied the party’s involvement in the attack. “The SUCI workers faced the passengers’ wrath for stopping their bus.” Share on email Share on print Share on facebook Share on twitter More Sharing Services

His Holiness Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje concludes his Europe Tour 2012

New Delhi, September 19, Completing his first of its kind International Summer Tour 2012 of South East Asian & European Countries, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje, the spiritual head of the Karma Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism is back to his home country India to share His knowledge and experience among His listeners. 

His Holiness ran teachings with students, met with dignitaries and youth organizations, and hosted public events on his European tour as he diligently traveled from state to state for nearly three months. His Holiness commenced His European Tour in the middle of June 2012 and as a part of his expedition, He visited Spain, Lithuania, Hungary, the United Kingdom, Germany and France to teach, listen and learn about the importance of non-material wealth.

 He connected with youth in these six nations to discover the value that young people place on money and non-material values. Speaking on non-material wealth His Holiness said, ‘True wealth is learning how to generate compassion, wisdom and a proper ethics’. His Holiness was keen to comprehend how the financial crisis is affecting different groups and individuals in Europe, and understand what they feel about the true definition of wealth. As the global economy is facing a grave downturn, His Holiness believes that it is a chance to learn. 

He said ‘Yes, there is a crisis, but the world is not at an end. Thanks to the new communication technologies we can be aware, share our knowledge, and put our heads together to find solutions. This is a great opportunity, and I am sure that something positive will come out of it. Every obstacle is always a turning point. 

It is a challenge, but it makes us think, forces us to come up with solutions’. He further stated, ‘I have always said that if there is richness within each and every one of us - inner wealth then there is an almost limitless supply in the vision and values of our young people. The inner wealth is our mind, our consciousness. This mind is like a wish-fulfilling jewel.

 If you know how to utilize this mind, it can produce the most beneficial effects’. Throughout His travel to the European states, His Holiness meticulously enlightened all and sundry about ‘The Path of the Bodhisattvas’. He gave teaching on what is usually translated as the ‘Four Immeasurables’: immeasurable love, immeasurable compassion, immeasurable sympathetic joy and immeasurable equanimity.

 Even though the world we live in had undergone tremendous changes within a relatively short period of time, the timeless patterns of karma, emotions and habitual tendencies remained essentially the same.

 The practice of Buddhism, and particularly the practice of the Four Immeasurables, remains very relevant to this day. It is a practice that anyone can apply. Whether we call ourselves Buddhists or not, these qualities are there in all of us,’ He explained. His Holiness met many prominent dignitaries and leaders in each nation who were there in attendance to show gratitude towards him for bringing his message of compassion to their own people.

 Karmapa engaged in leading talks in London on "Is there more to life than making money" with youth and opinion leaders. His Holiness is lately becoming a global symbol of peace. Traveling from India as an ambassador of peace His Holiness spread the message of compassion and tolerance among His followers across the boundaries of the continent.

Heavy rains trigger flood, landslides in Arunachal Pradesh

 Itanagar,Sept 19 (PTI) Incessant rains over the past week has thrown life out of gear in Arunachal Pradesh with flood and landslides reported in many parts of the state. Floods triggered by rain submerged paddy fields, causing erosion and landslides in many areas of Nari, Ruksin, Pasighat and adjacent areas of East Siang district, officials said today. The historical MMJ road, considered as the lifeline of rural people of Ruksin sub-division, has been breached at several locations causing great problems to office goers and villagers. The flood also caused extensive damage to rural link roads, they said. Continuous rainfall for the last few days caused extensive damage to the Forest Beat office at Korang in the district. The flood water brought in huge debris with boulders damaging water tank, drinking water pipeline, some portion of buildings and also compound fencing. The rain triggered landslide blocked the main road culvert (PWD) near Beat Office causing soil erosion. If rain continues, government quarters and office buildings might be washed away, Beat Officer Bapak Koyu said. Meanwhile, DFO Bittem Darang has rushed to the spot and started relief and rescue operation to prevent further damage. The road communication to Mengio circle in Papum Pare district remains cut off as the rainwater washed away the road at various points between Sagalee to Mengio, the sources said. People of Mengio and Silsango areas are facing shortage of essential commodities due to disruption of road communication, officials added. PTI

 High Court orders reopening of liquor shops & bars in Guwahati 

 Guwahati, Sept 19 (PTI) The Gauhati High Court has directed all liquor shops and bars, closed earlier, having licences acquired before March 18, 2005, to reopen. Justice Ujjal Bhuyan in an interim order passed yesterday ordered reopening of bars here and directed the Assam government to submit a report of the administrative inquiry into grant of permission to liquor shops and bars by officials who violated norms. The order came after a high power committee formed by the state government to inquire into granting of liquor licenses and loss of employment and state revenue suggested that bars and wine shops having licences before March 18, 2005 may be allowed to reopen as the distance restriction of 500 metres was introduced only on that day. A petition was filed by the All Assam India Made Foreign Liquor Retailers' Association pleading modification of an earlier order by the court passed on July 9 directing closure of all liquour shops and bars within a radius of 500 metres of educational institutions and religious places. The high court had passed another order on August 24 allowing reopening of bars and liquor shops, which were granted licenses till March 13, 2000. There are 303 liquour shops and 128 bars in the city and following the latest order, about 22 liquor shops will still remain closed. The next date of hearing was fixed on November 26. PTI TI