Gaurav Bisht heads Hindustan Times’ Himachal bureau. He covers politics in the hill state and other issues concerning the masses.
Articles by Gaurav Bisht
Hurdle in Evacuation: Minister urges CM to take steps to remove web of wires
Expressing concern over hurdles created due to web of high-tension wires during aerial evacuation of stranded tourists in landslide-hit Kinnaur district, urban development minister Sudhir Sharma on Wednesday shot off a letter to the chief minister urging him to take immediate steps to remove the wires that hampered the safe landing of helicopters.
Updated on Jun 27, 2013 12:01 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
52% turnout in first phase of Mandi bypolls
The byelection to the Mandi parliamentary seat witnessed 52% voting in the first phase on Sunday.
Updated on Jun 23, 2013 11:37 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Gaurav Bisht/Roop Upadhyay, Shimla/mandi
Kinnaur devastation leaves state tourism industry worried
With rain devastating a major part of the scenic Kinnaur district, the Himachal Pradesh hospitality industry is worried about how reports of floods are affecting the state's Rs 5,000 crore tourism industry.
Updated on Jun 23, 2013 07:09 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
52% polling in HP's Mandi Lok Sabha byelection
The byelection to the Mandi parliamentary seat witnessed 52% voting in the first phase on Sunday.
Updated on Jun 24, 2013 10:42 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Gaurav Bisht/Roop Upadhyay, Shimla/mandi
Flood loss Rs 1,500 cr, HP seeks help from Centre
Even as the people of Kinnaur come to terms with the devastation of their beautiful district by rains, the Himachal Pradesh government has sought Rs 1,500 crore from the Centre for the relief and restoration work in flood-ravaged areas.
Updated on Jun 23, 2013 01:24 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Post poll campaigns, leaders rush to flood-ravaged district
With high-decibel election campaign for the Mandi bypoll ending on Friday, the flood-ravaged areas in Kinnaur have suddenly drawn attention of leaders of both the ruling Congress and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Updated on Jun 22, 2013 12:32 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Virbhadra seeks votes as b'day gift
Even as electioneering drew to close on Friday, byelection to the Mandi parliamentary seat is a high-staked battle for both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Updated on Jun 22, 2013 10:15 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
EC defers elections in Kinnaur to June 27
After last week's floods left Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh devastated, the Election Commission (EC) on Friday decided to defer the byelection in the area to June 27.
Updated on Jun 22, 2013 12:28 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Rain, damaged routes may force change in schedule; police parties stranded
The damage to road network in flash floods has put a cloud over the Mandi parliamentary by-election in tribal Kinnaur district. There's a strong likelihood of the voting being postponed form June 23 for another one week until the flood-ravaged areas of Kinnaur assembly constituency are normal.
Updated on Jun 21, 2013 12:26 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
It took villagers 72 hours to dig out bodies from debris
Unfrequented rain has left trails of devastation across tribal Kinnaur district. Floods triggered by rain swallowed up lives, homes, farmlands, fruit orchards and roads. Rain across the district was more traumatic for residents of Chaugaon that lies close to the Hindustan-Tibet road connecting the China border.
Updated on Jun 20, 2013 01:11 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Govt tall claims drown in rain
Tall claims of disaster management by the state government were exposed by monsoon rains in Himachal Pradesh as the rains in the past three days damaged several roads, caused residential buildings to collapse and created panic among residents living by rivers.
Updated on Jun 20, 2013 01:08 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Fuel shortage hits evacuation in Kinnaur
Relief and rescue operations started by the Himachal Pradesh government to evacuate people stranded in Kinnaur district were hit after Air Force helicopters ran short of fuel. As many as 500 people, including foreign tourists, are still stranded in various parts of the district.
Updated on Jun 20, 2013 01:01 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Fuel shortage hits evacuation in Kinnaur district
Relief and rescue operations of the Himachal Pradesh government to evacuate the people stranded in Kinnaur district due o floods have suffered because air force helicopters ran short of fuel, Gaurav Bisht reports.
Updated on Jun 20, 2013 01:13 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Heavy rain claims 9 more lives in Kinnaur
Nine more people died following heavy rain in the tribal Kinnaur district on Monday, taking the toll to 10. With no let-up in the rain, the district remained cut off from the state for more than 48 hours. The deaths were as a result of incidents of house collapse.
Updated on Jun 18, 2013 10:24 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Gaurav Bisht, Kinnaur
Rain wreaks havoc on Kinnaur
Continuous rain for the past 24 hours wreaked havoc in tribal Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh, which has been cut off from the rest of the state, following road blockades at several places.
Updated on Jun 16, 2013 11:09 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Phone tapping: VB for case against cops
The anti-corruption and vigilance bureau (ACVB) has recommended registration of criminal cases against cops who allegedly tapped telephones during the previous Prem Kumar Dhumal-led BJP regime.
Updated on Jun 16, 2013 01:17 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Vigilance probe done, underlines 'illegal' tapping of phones
With its report compiled, the vigilance bureau probe into the much-hyped, alleged telephone tapping by the previous Prem Kumar Dhumal-led BJP regime has underlined that the crime investigation department (CID) snooped on political leaders, cops, bureaucrats and realtors, among others, in violation of the Indian Telegraph Act and the Information Technology Act. The report would shortly be submitted to the Congress government.
Updated on Jun 14, 2013 11:27 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Driver using mobile phones kill thousands
Using a mobile phone while driving is one of the main causes of accidents on serpentine roads across the state. This was found during a month-long police survey.
Updated on Jun 13, 2013 11:11 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Allegations fly thick and fast, real issues buried in din
With stakes high for both ruling Congress and the opposition BJP, allegations are flying thick and fast in the byelection to the Mandi seat.
Updated on Jun 13, 2013 11:05 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
HP apples may soon find a brand name
Apples grown in the lush green valleys of the hill state for years have been struggling to make its mark in both domestic and international markets. The Himachal Pradesh government is now mulling various strategies to promote “Himachal” apple brands and fruit certification is one of them.
Updated on Jun 11, 2013 11:33 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Poor facilities ail CM's home turf
Poor roads, lack of staff at health institutions, treading long distances and increased worries if roads are blocked due to heavy snow. These are not the woes of some remote village of Himachal Pradesh, but of those residing at the chief minister's stronghold Rampur.
Updated on Jun 09, 2013 12:08 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Gaurav Bisht, Rampur Bushahr (shimla)
Kashmiris seek solution to end their sufferings
Grief, emotions and anger ran high when people from different walks of life went into a huddle at the historic Indian Institute of Advanced Studies to ponder over how common people bear the brunt of conflict in Kashmir. Kashmiris sought a solution to end their sufferings.
Updated on Jun 03, 2013 08:26 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
HP to seek unmanned aerial vehicle to curb drug trade
Struggling to curb the booming narcotics trade, the Himachal Pradesh government has now decided to seek unmanned aerial vehicle from the home ministry for collecting intelligence, surveillance and for aerial reconnaissance of cannabis and poppy growing areas in rugged terrains of the state.
Updated on Jun 02, 2013 11:02 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Failing to evoke response, govt to revive animal adoption scheme
The government may have failed to motivate the corporate houses and political leaders to adopt animals, but now it's mulling over to revive the scheme.
Updated on May 31, 2013 06:21 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Mandi: Battleground of royals
As the election commission issued notification for the elections, the Mandi parliamentary seat once again became the centre stage of politics. The Mandi parliament segment is significant in many ways - it's not only the second biggest constituency in terms of area, but it has remained a battleground of royals.
Updated on May 30, 2013 01:33 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Pratibha is Congress candidate for Mandi bypoll
All-India Congress Committee (AICC) president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday put her stamp of approval on chief minister Virbhadra Singh’s wife Pratibha Singh as the candidate for the Mandi bypoll.
Updated on May 28, 2013 11:01 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Mandi bypoll: Virbhadra lobbies hard for wife in Delhi
It's almost final that chief minister Virbhadra Singh's wife Pratibha Singh will be the Congress nominee for Mandi parliament by poll. Virbhadra, who, along with a battery of loyalists, is camping in Delhi, is also lobbying hard to ensure return of rebels to the party fold before the June 23 bypoll.
Updated on May 27, 2013 09:04 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Glaciers in Himachal receding alarmingly
Glaciers in Himachal Pradesh, especially those along the Chinese border, are receding alarmingly. Since 1962, the total area of glaciers has come down from 2,077 sq km to 1628 sq km. Studies reveal that there has been deglaciation of 21% of the total area since 1962. Glacier retreat was estimated in Chenab, Parbati and Baspa and Spiti basins.
Updated on May 28, 2013 02:20 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Cong, BJP holds up action against violators
With entire focus on the Mandi byelections, both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party have put their plans to expel leaders from the party for their indulgence in anti-party activities on hold.
Updated on May 26, 2013 06:44 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
Kashmir's tourist spillover brings cheers for state tourist industry
Kashmir, this time of the year is brimming with holiday makers, and Himachal Pradesh is sure to gain from neighbour's spillover. After a lull - the hill state is now witnessing a sudden boom in the tourist flow.
Updated on May 26, 2013 06:35 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Gaurav Bisht, Shimla