Road trip to Leh in a decade-old Maruti Dzire: Covered 6300 km in total
BHPian unoczar recently shared this with other enthusiasts.1.7.22The idea for such an audacious trip was conceived about 10 years ago. Or more, I don't really remember. This was the time when a certain juggernaut named Tanveer Singh was rolling all over the Himachal and much further north. Much further than a sane mind can imagine. His white elephant and its tarp-covered front end still haunt me to this day, thinking about what would I do if I were in such a position. And we are not even talking about the camps he set up in the middle of nowhere and that too in temperatures where we could make igloos. In 2014, I bought a new Royal Enfield Electra with the thought that I would ride it to the northmost road in India. Thoughts that remain only thoughts and never made their way into reality. Currently, I own a Swift Dzire 2014 which has been a solid companion through numerous trips. Never did it give me any trouble. But still, the thought of taking this compact sedan to the unforgiving terrain of Ladakh never came to my mind. I've been following the Ultimate Guide religiously and reading about Ladakh whenever I find free time. I've read uncountable travelogues of 2 wheelers and 4, YouTube videos - don't even ask!Jump to 2022, I've seen enough travelogues with people doing the circuit in smaller cars to muster the strength to plan a trip and planning I have started. Somewhere I read, The best car to do this trip is the car in your Garage. That was enough motivation for me. If you're thinking that the trip is done, you're wrong. I'm still a month away from the start date and thought of starting this log anyway. Will it be this time?13.7.22Initially, the start date was August 27. It has now been pushed to September 16 owing to leaves and stuff. Planning for the trip is currently on hold as we're yet to finalize the dates. I'm already worried as it would be colder when compared to the earlier dates. This was what my initial itinerary looked like. This will be changed and it is currently WIP. 22.7.22Everywhere I've read about this kind of trip - They all say one thing. Preparation! So with the limited resources I have, I've started the preparation. Mentally and theoretically, I've been preparing for this for years. But physically, the preparations started a few weeks ago. Can one prepare enough for this kind of trip? 18.8.22Exactly a month to go for the trip and today is an important day. Why? Today is the day I spoke to my manager at the office and got the leaves approved. It's a big step indeed. Now to speak to my kid's teacher (which wifey already did) about the days of our trip and the classes he might miss. He actually has an Autumn break in the second half of September which was also the reason for the postponement. Also, the wife has to finalize leaves at her office. But, today the trip seems to be materializing and it has pumped in some excitement to the rather mundane days that are passing by currently. Wish I could go now, but wishes are wishes and reality is almost always different. It is this almost that keeps us going, doesn't it? 8/9/22The trip almost died during the last few days cause my mother is not keeping well. I had almost made up my mind to cancel/postpone it AGAIN! And suddenly a few days ago she says... Don't cancel your trip. It sounded like 'Jaa, jee le apni zindagi'. I was like, are you sure? And she said yes! Yes! It might happen finally. So, the day before yesterday I made a hotel booking for our day 1 of the trip. Hotel on NH44 bypass in Sagar, MP. I'm not making any other bookings due to the unpredictable nature of the trip. Everything will be done on the way. Yesterday, got my car serviced. Engine oil replaced, oil filter replaced, fuel filter replaced, tyres checked, battery checked, lights checked, gear oil, brake oil checked, coolant top up. Other things were inspected and look good to go. Brake pads are at 90% and my mechanic friend says so we're good there too. Air filter only cleaned. I'll put a new one in probably Srinagar or Leh. So, final preparations left and off we go. Start date is fixed at 17 Sep. I'm a bit worried about all the rain around us. How's it gonna be in the hills? Time only will tell. Finally the route plan is finalized just a week before the trip. Here it is: This is something I've learned on this trip. YES! We finally did it! The biggest doubt I had before the trip was that if my car would make it. Well, it did, kind of. I'll tell all about it in the log. If I say that we breezed through all the terrain, I would be lying. Even the Innovas and Scorpios were struggling, such is the challenge posed by the hills. Let me quickly delve into penning down my experiences here - I would like to first write briefly about some things and then we'll get into the daily log. So please bear with me and I do apologise for the picture quality. The DSLR I took along for the trip - its battery gave up as soon as we reached Leh. So we used our good old smartphones for the clicking. True that! We experienced a lot of things on this trip. From around two to three hundred metres above sea level, we went to about five thousand metres above sea level! We saw summer, we experienced snowfall, we were drenched in rain and we also shuddered up in the cold! If we talk about roads, we got the smoothest of tarmacs to the most rugged off-road tracks I've ever seen. The car Did not click many pictures of the battered beast but this will have to do. I have to say it exceeded my expectations. Numerous times, I felt that it would give up. Either the engine will fail or the tyres or any of the hundreds of tiny things that are being attacked by the unforgiving roads. But nothing happened! We did not even have to fill air into the tyres up until we were on our way back near Manali! All throughout I was cursing myself for putting her through this, but after every challenge, every steep climb, every water crossing, every stone crossing, it came out with flying colours. Before this trip, I had thoughts of selling this 8-year-old beauty and buying a bigger one. But now I'm at peace with the car, I feel like I'm a part of it when I'm at the wheel and the thoughts of selling are just thoughts now which are away from me. Far away! She will stay with me for as long as possible and I vow to take good care of it. It still gives me around 24-25KMPL on the highway - what more can I ask?The CompanionsAccompanying me on this trip - my wife and my 8-year-old son. My son, Abdullah was excited at first but soon after experiencing the mountains, he said to me - The mountains keep calling, but I must never go! But kudos to my wife, she was a pillar of support throughout! She encouraged me when I was down. I almost gave up twice during this trip, but she egged me on. She helped me through each difficult water/rocky crossing. Even though breathing was difficult, she got down every time and guided me through it. She was like Sam from LOTR, I can't carry it, but I can carry you! She's so afraid of driving in the mountains and I did 99% of the driving but she was never afraid to get down in the cold and tough conditions to guide us through!The RoadsWe got the best roads in the world, we got the worst roads in the world. We got no roads and we got watered roads and sharp stone roads. We went through mud and sand and slush and rocks. You name it, you got it. I said to my family that this trip would be a trip of a lifetime and you couldn't ask for more when it comes to all the types of terrain we saw.The WeatherStarted cloudy near home and ended cloudy. Between that, we faced hot humid weather, bone-chilling winds, rain, snow everything. This is the beauty of this country, it has everything!The KashmirisI cannot even start to imagine what it is like to be a Kashmiri and to be bang right in the middle of a conflict that has gone on. But one thing I did not like - they love to argue, they just won't give up on anything. I'm sure many have experienced this. The Shikara wala will argue with you, the hotel manager will argue with you, and even the auto wala will argue. They just won't stop talking. Of course, I met many nice people and the old folks I spoke to say that the situation is fine now and more peaceful than it ever was. The youth, however, is a different story.The LadakhisThese people are out of this world. The nicest warmest people I've seen or met. Of course, there are bad apples and many cabbies there, but the normal Ladakhi does not discriminate. They will be nice to you and they are not affected by the outside world. There's something about that place that calms you down probably.The FoodWe carried ready-to-eat stuff, we carried cup noodles, oats, biscuits, chips, dry fruits etc. Only needed a few things out of those on rare occasions. You get normal food almost everywhere now. We usually ate at roadside dhabas and focussed on freshly cooked dal, roti and rice. Only in Srinagar, Leh and Delhi, we indulge in local delicacies and the rest of the time we stick to basics. Of course, basics include Fruits, Lays and chewing gum. Yes, chewing gum, it helps keep your teeth clean, helps you stay focussed and doesn't let you munch unnecessarily. Water, we carried a steel bottle each and filled it up at every RO or similar we found. We even filled them at all rivers we could reach and all waterfalls/streams we could touch. But on a few occasions, we had to buy mineral water when there was no option. In Hunder, we had Nala water, that's what they call the stream of pure natural water!The Things we carriedWe did not take too much of the stuff that's recommended online for Ladakh. We stuck to basics, plus some extra stuff. We carried a puncture repair kit (untouched to this day), 12V air compressor from Woscher (not used on the trip), extra coolant, brake oil, spare tyre, jack etc. Coolant and brake oil we used on several occasions just to top up. No jerry cans, never felt short of fuel, the reason being the economy of the Dzire. We carried zip ties and one of them was used on day 1, more on that later. Plus we had our regular stuff - some normal summer clothes, body warmers, jackets, warm caps and gloves. Enough for this time of the year even in snowing conditions. Then we had our med kit, full of stuff and I had a torch, a hunting knife and a Swiss army knife. My 10-year-old (maybe more) leather gloves were handy while driving in sub-zero temperatures. The woollen ones would probably not give much of a grip. We always carried enough cash to last us at least a couple of days, but we almost always paid online. I can't remember a place where they didn't accept online or card payments. One thing I regretted (only till I found a solution) was that I did not take a postpaid connection. Faced a little difficulty for a day but soon after bought a local Jio SIM and it worked even in Shyok River, LOL! With those things out of the way, let's get down to the Daily log. Some statistics first -Dates - 17/9/22 - 4/10/22Odo - 76240KM - 82613KMTotal KMS on trip - 6373KMDiesel spent - Rs.25446Cheapest Diesel at a pump - Rs.81.xx - Swarghat, HP. Actual cheapest diesel Rs.80 at Whisky Nala tent shop. (more on this later)Dearest Diesel - Rs.99.xx - Nizamabad, TSAverage for the trip - 23.02 KMPL - lowest - 18.3 Hunder to Karu via Pangong. highest - 25.5 Delhi to MPTotal Toll - Rs.7350Underbody hits - 500 or 1000 don't really remember! Apparently, there's an engine cover plate to protect the engine underneath the car. That plate lost a screw and was hanging by one screw, got this fixed in Manali. The mechanic said that if that plate had fallen off, you could have been stranded in the middle of nowhere! eek! Day 1 - 17/9/22Start - 6 amToday's destination - Sagar, MP912KMPreparations were ongoing and quite hectic in the few days preceding the Go day. Car was loaded with fuel our bags and stuff the previous day. We just had to get up and go. I was so tired on Friday itself that I called in sick to work and had no energy even to be nervous. Slept early, got up early and actually we would have started by around 5.15-5.30 but Madam Dearest was a bit busy with something and we finally started around 6 am. Everything went well until we bypassed Nagpur and entered the Pench National Park area. There was a storm warning and we were caught right up in it. Visibility was very poor, it was that bad and suddenly the new Bosch wiper blades I got installed gave way. The right side one broke off or whatever and was dangling up and down and up and down. I looked at my wife and she looked back at me. Is this the beginning of something bad? Visibility was zero now and I had to get out, get wet in the torrential downpour and fix it. Yay! It's fixed, we go on and suddenly it happens again. Why?! Again I pull over and try to fix it, this time wife helps and we're both wet, it stays and we get out of the rain area. As soon as it is dry outside, I pull over again in hopes of fixing it well. Something seems broken as it is not how it's supposed to be. Suddenly, a Eureka moment and I asked my wife to bring out a zip tie we had in the trunk. Quickly, she gets it and I tie it into one of the holes and it's set. She then takes out the scissors we're carrying the cuts of the hanging bit. All set! I say to her - Ab ye naya jab hi lagega jab ye zip tie fail hoga! She smiles, and till this day it's like that. Did not fall or break, all through the hills and back! Magic! After that, it was uneventful and we negotiated some bad roads of MH and a tiny bit in MP and we reached our hotel in Sagar. Hotel Kuber Vatika, big huge place with decent rooms. As soon as I reach the desk -Sir aapne 2 adults ki booking ki hai.Toh aur kya, hum do hi hai.Sir child bhi likhna tha.Bhai, chota bachha hai aur bahut thake huye hai. Kal baat karte hai.Ok sir.He wanted me to pay something extra, not online, but in cash. I waved it off and went to crash. Let's see in the morning.Day 2 - 18/9/22Start 7.25amToday's destination - Sonipat, HR745KMToday we were not in any hurry to start. Took our own sweet time to get ready and start our day. There was only one guy at the reception in the morning. Again he tried to bring up last night's topic, I calmly said that we did not take an extra mattress and we're not paying you anything extra. Bye! Navigating through the cattle we made our way to another Dhaba for some local parathas and Poha. The day after that was mostly uneventful except for how to reach and cross Delhi. My plan was to take the Mathura road (less toll and more fun to drive), but as per Google baba both the Mathura road and YEW have exact same toll. On top of that, it also said that YEW and EPE will be faster. I wanted to avoid UP roads cause of obvious reasons but then seeing the current scenario I thought why should I spend an equal amount and take the NH? I went on towards the Yamuna Expressway. Google baba played a trick on us here, we had to go through a couple of villages as that seemed to be the only road to reach the YEW. That spoiled our moods a bit, but we were soon on the YEW and reached Noida by evening. Then onto the EPE for Sonipat and we were there by around 8.30pm. Again we had problems with our hotel reservation which we made on the way. On reaching this place, we were told that he had no tie ups with anything online. Called up goibibo and asked about this, and they said we'll fix you up with an alternative hotel which turned out to be better than what we had booked. So, on our second night, we stayed in Fair Vacanze, a little south of Murthal. Looks like our luck with our hotel booking is not turning out so good. But wait till you read what happened next!Day 3 - 19/9/22Start 8.30amToday's destination - Jammu, J&K550KMAfter last night's gadbad, we were in no mood to start early. And anyways, we just had to cover 500 odd KMs today. Road from Sonipat onwards is smooth all the way to when you enter J&K. We missed this ramp (9Q9X+89Q) and went towards Chandigarh but then took a left further on to meet the correct road. Same thing happened on our way back and we again went into Chandigarh and lost about an hour. I have no idea how is this possible. Anyways, a smooth drive till Pathankot and the scenery also changed a bit. Now, we stopped at a fuel station and thought to book our hotel for the night. So, I told my wife to book a good hotel so that we wouldn't have problems like we had previously. So we checked on Google etc and booked the Grand Hill in Jammu. Navigated to that place which is atop a hill on the highway we were supposed to take the next day. Hoping for the best, we reach and I go into the place and ask the first person I see -Hi, where's the hotel, we have a reservation online.What hotel sir? This is a restaurant.What? we made this booking see (I show him the voucher)*smiles* this is Grand Hill, your booking is for The Grand Hill, it is 5KM in the reverse direction.We made a mistake by seeing 'Grand Hill' on Google and then booking 'The Grand Hill' on ibibo. *facepalm* Now, since we entered J&K, there was no network on any of our SIMs. Already regretting the idea of skipping the postpaid connection. I applied for it and rejected it at the last moment, thinking 'Jo hoga dekha jayega'. We had offline maps for J&K and Ladakh, so I thought we should be good. Frustrated, we go back thinking, Oh no! Not again! But we had no idea that bad luck with hotels is going to get worse. We reach The Grand Hill, a not-so-good hotel like we saw online. So we're tired and try to check in anyway. The man at the reception drops a bomb on us by saying -Ye kab book kiya aapne?Aaj hi - dopahar mei.Oh sorry sir. We already gave that room to another person.What? How can you take a booking without having the rooms?Sorry sir. But we have another room I can give you which has a single bed. I'll throw in extra mattress and dinner for free.I was like whatever now, just get over with it and we eat the food and go off to sleep. At least the AC was working and Jammu weather at the time was hot and humid like Delhi. Phew!Day 4 - 20/9/22Start 8.00amToday's destination - Srinagar, J&K550KMSo, we get up and get ready to leave. Breakfast was added to the booking and upon enquiry he says Abhi Time lagega. I was like we cannot wait because of all the cut-off times and stuff and we leave. It's time to negotiate our way through the Nagrota check post where absolutely no one stopped us or checked anything. Last night we felt the discomfort of not being able to use the mobile phones and were looking for an alternative. Upon enquiry, I found out that if we buy a prepaid SIM in J&K, it will work here and in Ladakh. So I planned to buy one as soon as we enter Srinagar. Some good luck with that and we found a Jio check post right after we exited one of the tunnels. Purchased a SIM for 300/- and it worked just fine for the rest of our trip. Spent 15-20 minutes there and got it activated and called mom too! Easy peasy! Reached Srinagar by 4pm after seeing thousands of trucks lined up for the cut-off times trying to go down and having authentic wazwan cuisine for lunch just before entering Srinagar. On the way, we also visited a bat factory and spoke to locals. Shopped for some walnuts and saffron too! Through the tunnels Stopped for army convoy coming from the other side - 30 minutes! Buried! One thing was beginning to dawn upon me - You cannot mess with the cabs here in J&K (or Ladakh for that matter). You must let them go as soon as they show up in the RVM or honk. They will just not stay behind you (read out-of-state vehicle). We checked in to Hotel Curio's at Srinagar. Decent property and a nice clean place. But again we had trouble with the booking. After a long discussion with the manager, we were settled in to the room without extra charges. He was initially giving us a double occupancy room (but we had a booking for 3 people) and then relented and gave us a triple room. In the evening, we made a round of the Dal Lake and had some snacks at Makai Point and another one near Nishat Gardens. After that we called it a night.Day 5 - 21/9/22Rest day Today was basically a rest day and I intended to wander around Srinagar. So, in the morning we set off towards Gulmarg hoping to do a Gondola ride. Little did we know what was in store for us. Started early morning and grabbed a few bananas on our way to Gulmarg. As soon as we neared the first check post before the climb started, we were hounded by a group of guides (read thugs). I said NO straightforward! I wasn't entertaining them even for a second. Then an old man from their group pleaded with me to listen.Saab ji, aapne 50 rupay yaha entry ke dene hai aur 300 rupay wapas aane pe300 rupay kis cheez ke chacha?Ham aapko ghumayenge, points batayenge, jaha koi rokega hum dekh lenge.I said nothing doing and moved on and paid the Rs.50 for entry and went on for a toilet stop. They even reached their in their Alto and again started to irritate me. The old man was pleading again that this is their only source of income, and if you're not satisfied, do not pay a single rupee. He even said that he'd take us in his Alto instead of the ponies towards the Gondola ride. I said OK and started to follow them. After reaching the top, they shamelessly hand us over to the ponies group and basically, this whole game was to extort money out of us. I had made up my mind not to shell out a single rupee. We moved away from the groups and had breakfast, parathas and tea. Even the shopkeeper was empathetic towards us and said that these guys are like this only. After all the commotion, we were in no mood for any rides and we wandered around the place and turned back. My wife was saying they'll hassle us on the way back and to pay them. I told her sternly in front of them. Ek rupaya bhi nahi dunga mai! That episode done, we made our way back down disappointed and stopped at an Apple orchard and gave the car a much needed wash. Then we headed back towards Srinagar for lunch. I had heard about a place called Chopstick and we went there. Amazing small little place, serves an amazing soup as a welcome thing for free! I had 2 cups! Then we had momos, noodles and their famous Shafali (paratha type with kheema filling). The place is located in a small Muslim Tibetan colony. Full stomachs and after meeting their owner, we said goodbye with a smile on our faces. Then we made our way back to our hotel and I needed to do some things on the car. Luckily behind our hotel were some mechanic shops and I asked them to change the Air Filter (which was pending from earlier) and check other things. All good and we're good to go towards Ladakh. It was late afternoon now and we really needed to relax in a Shikara. Yes! Walked out on towards the road and grabbed an auto rickshaw and let the car rest in the hotel. Reached Dal Lake and again the same story with the Shikara people. Bargaining on the price for the ride. Settled on Rs.1500 for 2 hours ride and had the most amazing time in the lake. The old man who was rowing us was a very gentle and nice chap. Singing traditional kashmiri songs he told us about how the Char Chinar are now just one or two Chinar after the 2014 floods and how the Prince sometimes comes to the palace in the Lake. How the locals farm on the fields inside the lake and live there itself. I never thought all of that was possible in the middle of a lake!? There was even a masjid in the lake apart from a full-fledged market and not to mention - Houseboats. A whole lot of them. After the ride, we paid them happily and made our way towards Lal Chowk for some woman's satisfaction (shopping) and just to stroll about. Done that, we walked back towards our hotel and had dinner at the hotel and retired for the day. The trip is actually going to start tomorrow, yes, we shall enter Ladakh and we need to get up early and encounter mountain passes and whatnot. Excited and tired, we go to sleep! Big day tomorrow as I have never crossed a mountain pass before and I'm nervous. Continue reading unoczar's road trip experience for BHPian comments, insights and more information.
Weather Update: IMD Issues Heatwave Red Alert Across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) hasissued a 'red alert' for Sunday, May 19for Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Punjab, and West Rajasthan. While an 'orange' alert is effective for Uttar Pradesh and East Rajasthan.
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Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann's home district, Sangur, lacks pre-election excitement due to heatwave and 'betrayal'. Voters like Hari Lal and Jagtar Singh express disenchantment. Lok Sabha seat contenders include Simranjit Singh Mann, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, and Sukhpal Singh Khaira.
Strong government removed Article 370: PM Modi
CHANDIGARH: Prime Minister Narendra Modi stepped up his attack on the Congress, saying it was his dhakad (strong) government that brought down the wall of Article 370 in Kashmir which is now moving ahead on the path of development. He emphasized the the progress made by his government and praised Haryanas spirit: Haryana means himmat (courage) and hausla (high morale). Like Haryana, Modi has run the government for 10 years in a dhaakad manner, he said. Addressing his first election rally in the state, Modi said the history of Congress was one of betraying Indias forces. He referred to the Jeep scandal, the first scam during the grand old partys rule. Could a weak government have changed the situation in J&K? Modi asked the gathering. Referring to Haryana contributing a sizable number of soldiers in the armed forces, he said when the Congress was in power, mothers in Haryana were a worried lot thinking about their childrens safety. Have such things stopped now or not? he asked the audience. Today, when you see Rafale aircraft in the skies of Ambala, dont you feel proud? he said. I have come to seek your blessings for the next five years, he said. He slammed the Congress and INDIA bloc partners and said when there is a strong government in power, the enemies think hundred times before doing anything. He said Pakistan, which earlier had bombs in its hands, now has a bheekh ka katora (begging bowl) in its hands. When there is a dhakad sarkar, the enemy is terrified, Modi said. Patriotism runs in the veins of Haryana. Therefore, each house in Haryana is saying phir ek baar Modi sarkar. He remarked, Just 17 days are left for June 4. After four phases of elections, the Congress and INDIA bloc and all their friends and parties have been completely destroyed. These people took several steps against the country; however, the people have given them a befitting reply in the battlefield of elections, he said. The Congress and its partners have drawn a blank in the first four phases of polling, he said. We decided to make India self-reliant and we will work 24x7 for 2047, he asserted. The PM said the welfare of farmers was his priority. Congress did nothing for farmers. They purchased crop of Rs 7.5 lakh crore on MSP in 10 years, but Modi in ten years bought Rs 20 lakh crore crop on MSP that is nearly three times, he said. Among those present at the rally were former Haryana chief minister and the BJPs Lok Sabha poll candidate from Karnal, Manohar Lal Khattar, the partys Ambala and Kurukshetra candidates, Banto Kataria and Naveen Jindal. Today, the sugarcane FRP (fair and remunerative price) is around Rs 350 per quintal, whereas it was Rs 210 during the Congress-led government, he said. More than Rs 650 crore, as part of the Kisan Samman Nidhi, were transferred to the bank accounts of farmers hailing from Ambala, Karnal and Kurukshetra, he added. Referring to the AAP-Congress poll alliance in certain states, he said Congress leaders are holding the jhadoo (broomstick, AAPs poll symbol) in Delhi and Haryana, but claiming that jhadoowala chor hai in Punjab, where the two parties are contesting the election against each other. The PM reiterated his claim that the Congress will redistribute the reservation meant for SCs, STs and OBCs on the basis of religion, and alleged that the opposition party wants to snatch the quota for Dalits in jobs and education.
Nine charred to death, 15 injured as moving bus catches fire in Haryana
CHANDIGARH: At least nine people, including six women, were burnt alive and more than 15 injured when a moving bus carrying devotees from Punjab caught fire near Tauru in Haryanas Nuh district early on Saturday, police said. The incident occurred on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway around 2 am when around 60 people, all residents of Hoshiarpur and Ludhiana, were returning in the bus after visiting pilgrim towns of Ujjan and Mathura-Vrindavan, police said. Nine people, including six women and three men, were killed in the accident. Fifteen people were injured and have been hospitalised. All the injured are stable, said a police official from Tauru. The cause is yet to be ascertained. A probe is underway, he said. After getting information, the police and a fire brigade team reached the spot brought the fire under control, but by then eight people were burnt alive, the police official said. The injured were rushed to the hospital. One of the injured died in the hospital, he said. A local eyewitness said that after seeing the bus on fire, they called out to the driver and asked him to stop. As the bus did not stop, so they chased the bus on a motorcycle and informed the driver, but by then the fire has spread in the bus. In another incident, four students of Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law died in a car crash in Patiala when their speeding SUV met with an accident late on Friday night, police said. Three boys and a girl, all law students, died in the accident. The impact of the collision was so intense that police had to use tractors to pull a part of the crushed wreckage to take out the bodies, a police official said. According to witnesses, the SUV moving in high speed went off the road and crashed into the fields nearby.
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Heavy Rainfall Alert: There will be heavy rain in these states including UP, IMD issued alert
The Meteorological Department said that many areas of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi will experience severe heat from May 18 to 22. Severe heat conditions will continue in Western Uttar Pradesh also on May 18 and 19. Heavy rainfall alert: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday said that severe heat is expected to [] The post Heavy Rainfall Alert: There will be heavy rain in these states including UP, IMD issued alert first appeared on informalnewz .
Will seek transfer of Kartarpur Sahib from Pakistan, says SAD chief Badal
Will seek transfer of Kartarpur Sahib from Pakistan, says SAD chief Badal The Shiromani Akali Dal on Saturday came out with its poll manifesto and said it will seek transfer of Kartarpur Sahib from Pakistan to India through mutual land exchange between the two countries. After releasing his party's manifesto for the June 1 Lok Sabha polls in Punjab, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal said his party makes a commitment to renew the fight for the inclusion of Chandigarh and other Punjabi speaking areas left out of the state. ''Chandigarh was categorically declared to belong to Punjab and was to remain a Union Territory only for five years. We will fight Centre's betrayal of Punjab on this with renewed force,'' he said in a statement. Chandigarh is the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana. Describing its manifesto as 'ailan-nama', Badal said the party will use its mandate to seek transfer of Kartarpur Sahib from Pakistan to India through mutual land exchange between the two countries. ''The party also promises to work through the Government of India seeking that the requirement for passports for pilgrims to Kartarpur Sahib be dropped and be replaced with a simple permit system, he added. The Kartarpur corridor links Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, the final resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev, to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur district. The party manifesto said with people's mandate, it will move to cancel all decisions and settlements on river waters that have been made without Punjab's concurrence and in violation of the nationally accepted Riparian principle. Badal said his party will seek royalty on its river water given to non-Riparian states and will take all political or legal steps necessary for this. The manifesto demanded opening of Attari and Hussainiwala borders with Pakistan for trade and tourism to usher in economic prosperity. It also promised to secure Special Economic Zones (SEZ) status for the entire border. We will engage with the Centre to bring small, medium and MSME industrial units in the border districts, '' it said. It also emphasised the need for industry-focused skill education institutes in this belt. The manifesto said apart from ''discriminating'' against the Sikhs, the Centre is ''discriminating against and terrorising other minorities, including Muslims, Christian, Bodhis and Jainis. SAD will champion their cause in every sphere''. It also announced to oppose any move at enforcing the Uniform Civil Code. The manifesto said the party will seek to put an end to the ''dangerous interference into Sikh religious affairs by non-Sikh forces who have been using some disgruntled Sikh elements as cosmetic front for their nefarious designs to weaken the 'Panth' from within''. Badal said his party would use the people's mandate to create three Special Economic Hubs, developing Mohali as an IT hub, Malwa belt as textile hub and Sri Amritsar Sahib as well Hari ke Patan and areas around Pathankot, Ranjit Sagar Dam as major tourism hub of global scale.
SAD says Hansraj Hans threatened farmers, seeks action
PM Modi provoking people, EC should take action: Mallikarjun Kharge
PM Modi provoking people, EC should take action: Mallikarjun Kharge Reacting to the charge of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that, SP, Congress will run bulldozer over Ram Temple if voted to power, Congress president Malliakarjun Kharge said that the former is provoking people and the Election Commission should take action. He also accused PM Modi of supporting the illegal Mahayuti government in Maharashtra. We have not used bulldozers to date... The Election Commission should take action against those who make instigating speeches. The Prime Minister himself is doing it. He is provoking people. After our government comes, everything will be protected as per our Constitution, we will follow the Constitution, Kharge told reporters here. He was speaking at a press conference in Mumbai. Nationalist Congress Party (SP) Sharad Pawar and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackery were also present. INDIA bloc will win 46 out of 48 seats in Maharashtra. People are saying this themselves. Our alliance will win maximum seats and defeat BJP..., Kharge claimed. The Congress chief also lamented that the party symbol was aken away from the eal parties in Maharashtra, referring to Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party and given to parties supporting the BJP. The illegal 'Mahayuti' government of Maharashtra was formed on the basis of betrayal and conspiracy and the Prime Minister himself is supporting it and his rallies are also being held in Maharashtra and wherever he goes, he tries to create a rift among the people..., he alleged, adding, The party symbol was taken away from the real parties and given to the parties supporting BJP. This is the decision of the court, ECI but everything happens on the instructions of Modi ji.... PM Modi is saying that he is providing 5 kg ration to 80 crore poor. We will give 10 kg after forming the government..., he added. Speaking on the alliance between the Aam Admi Party and Congress in the National Capital for the May 20 Lok Sabha elections and the two parties' decision to go solo in Punjab, the Congress chief said, We have alliance only on 3 seats in Delhi, there is an alliance in Chandigarh, we have given them seats in Gujarat and Haryana, we will work there only. But we are fighting against each other in Punjab. This is a democracy, it is not autocracy. We will do whatever has to be done to defeat BJP, he said. The Congress also said that West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, who recently announced to provide outside support to the INDIA bloc government if it is voted to power after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, is naturally with the anti-BJP front. Mamata ji, first she said that they will support from outside. Recently she has said that if the INDIA government is formed then she will join the government, so, naturally, she is with the alliance, Kharge said. Elections in 6 Lok Sabha seats of Mumbai are scheduled for Phase 5. The seats going to polls are Mumbai North, Mumbai North West, Mumbai North East, Mumbai North Central, Mumbai South and Mumbai South Central. The other constituencies of Maharashtra that will be part of the ongoing election in the fifth phase include Dhule, Dindori, Nashik, Kalyan, Palghar, Bhiwandi and Thane. Maharashtra has 48 Lok Sabha seats, the second largest after Uttar Pradesh. Voting for the first four phases has concluded and for the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha polls, polling is set to be held on May 20. The 2024 Lok Sabha elections are being held in seven phases running from April 19 to June 1. The counting and results will be declared on June 4. (ANI)
Punjab's poll stars go invisible these elections
Punjab's familiar campaigners, including Capt Amarinder Singh, have vanished this Lok Sabha election. Jagmeet Singh Brar, Manpreet Singh Badal, and Balwant Singh Ramoowalia are also absent from the political scene.
Will kingmaker Kangra repose faith in BJP for 4th time on trot?
Kangra's political landscape is shaped by OBCs, Gaddi voters, and SCs, with significant influence in candidate selection and election results.
Weak leaders surrendered to might of AAP, no dissent in Congress: Partap Singh Bajwa
Partap Singh Bajwa, the leader of opposition, discusses Congress's advantage in Punjab elections, addressing internal party dynamics, competition with AAP, BJP, and SAD, past achievements, judiciary issues, and key election issues like women's welfare and national security.
IMD predicts severe heatwave days in north India
NEW DELHI: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast severe heatwave over plains of northwest, Bihar, east and central India in the next five days. The forecast indicates that northwestern India, including the National Capital Territory of Delhi, will experience a period of intense heat for five days. It will include unusually warm night time temperatures, which can intensify the risk of heat-related illness and death, IMD said in its forecast on Thursday. In its advisory, the weather department said intense heat will lead to high health concerns for vulnerable people, such as infants, elderly, and people with chronic diseases. It suggested avoiding heat exposure and dehydration. On Friday, 43 districts of northwest and central India reported temperature over 42 degrees Celsius, Agra Taj recording the highest at 46.9C. IMD observed heat wave conditions at most places over west and east Rajasthan, in some pockets over Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, Punjab, and isolated pockets over east Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. The threshold for a heat wave is met when the maximum temperature of a weather station reaches at least 40 degrees Celsius in the plains, 37 degrees in the coastal areas, and 30 degrees in the hilly regions, and the departure from normal is 4.5C to 6.4C and more. In the case of a warm night, the minimum temperature departure from normal is 4.5C to 6.4C. In the meantime, US-based Climate Central organisation has released the latest climate shift index (CSI) a tool that quantifies the contribution of climate change to daily temperatures showing that western India, including Delhi, will experience a period of intense heat in the next three days. CSI levels above one indicate climate change. According to the index, daily high temperatures are expected to run 3C to more than 6C above average. The organisation has forecast that high temperatures will exceed 45C in many locations. In parts of Haryana state, maximum temperatures could surpass 47C. In addition to maximum temperatures, night time will also be warmer. According to CSI, night time low temperatures are not expected to fall below 34C and in parts of Rajasthan state, nighttime temperatures are not expected to fall below 37C. Experts say human-caused climate change made heatwave conditions more intense. Human-caused climate change has made this intense heat much more likely and the overnight temperatures make this event alarming, said Andrew Pershing of Climate Central.
8 killed, more than 20 injured as bus catches fire in Haryana
The bus was carrying around 60 people, all of whom were residents of Punjab and Chandigarh and were returning from Mathura-Vrindavan.
Tragedy Strikes: Bus Fire in Haryana Claims 8 Lives, Injures 20+
Tragedy Strikes: Bus Fire in Haryana Claims 8 Lives, Injures 20+ At least eight people were burnt alive and more than 20 were injured when a moving bus caught fire near Tauru in Haryana's Nuh district in the early hours of Saturday, police said. The incident occurred around 2 am on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway. The bus was carrying around 60 people, all of whom were residents of Punjab and Chandigarh and were returning from Mathura-Vrindavan, police said. Locals noticed the fire, chased the bus and asked the driver to stop. They also informed the police and the fire department. Eight people were killed and more than 20 were injured in the fire. The injured were rushed to the hospital, police said.
In Anandpur Sahib, focus on green polls
Was under constant watch, says Kejriwal on mistreatment in jail
Liquor seized at Panchkula checkpost
Just 26 women candidates out of 328 in the fray in Punjab
UT poll dept allots symbols to candidates
Profs canvass for Tewari, EC writes to DAV
Documents must with 50k or more cash
HC: What have you done to check wild cannabis growing in the city
Home guard dupes ASIs relative of 2L
Help AAP win 13-0 in Punjab, will work with double zeal for development: CM
In UT, voter slips will be distributed from today
Ambala set for PM rally today amid tight security
Hry rich list: Jindal wealthier than next 9 put together
Only three candidates turn up for joint Q&A
MC starts training prog on sanitary waste mgmt
Punjab contestants feel the heat of empty venues, offer lassi to voters
Chandigarh Sizzles at a Scorching 44.5C!
Chandigarh Sizzles at a Scorching 44.5C! The maximum temperature in the city reached 44.5 degrees Celsius as hot weather conditions continued unabated in Haryana and Punjab, the weather office here said on Friday. According to the Meteorological Department, the common capital of the two states was hotter by six notches above the season's normal limits. Rohtak and Sirsa in Haryana recorded identical maximums of 45.8 degrees Celsius, while heatwave also swept Hisar, Karnal and Ambala, which recorded temperatures of 45.5, 43.4 and 43.4 degrees Celsius, respectively, it said. Bhiwani recorded a maximum temperature of 43.2 degrees Celsius, the MeT department said. In Punjab, the maximum temperature in Amritsar reached 44.3 degrees Celsius, while in Faridkot it was 43 degrees Celsius, it said. According to the weather office, the mercury settled at 44.4 degrees Celsius in Patiala and Pathankot, and 43.8 degrees Celsius in Ludhiana. Gurdaspur recorded a high of 43 degrees Celsius while Mohali registered a maximum of 43.2 degrees Celsius, it said.
Two held in case of 4.60 kg opium recovery in Kurukshetra
BKU SBS members in Kurukshetra come in support of AAP candidate, union president issue warning
Ambala prepare to host PM Modis rally, workers reach out to people
JJP writes to speaker seeking disqualification of its 2 MLAs for anti-party activities
Two Fake Call Centres Busted In Punjab, 155 Arrested
CHANDIGARH, May 17: Two fraudulent call centres were busted and their 155 employees were arrested in Mohali for allegedly scamming people in the US, police said on Friday. Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav said these call centres were run by Gujarat-based kingpins. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Preliminary investigations have revealed that these fake call centres were operating during night hours and the callers were using three different modus operandi to dupe foreign nationals by [] The post Two Fake Call Centres Busted In Punjab, 155 Arrested appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
BJP`s Chandigarh candidate takes jibe at Manish Tewari over switching seats
Tandon exhorted the voters to come out in large numbers and ensure that the Union Territory achieves a record-breaking 90 per cent turnout figure
Father defends Akalis claims against Amritpal
Tickets to turncoats in Punjab: 8 by BJP, 6 by Congress, 5 by AAP
Law unto themselves: BJP Pb chief
Bangar leader Birender, son join Cong campaign in Hry Jatland
Heatwave expected on voting day
4th accused was in court 2 days before Nijjars killing
Posting pics is new trend in old practice of candidates calling on Dera Beas head
Farmers, police clash in Bathinda over protest against BJP candidate
UT, Rlys plan new road to end Chd-Pkl traffic blues
Defamation case against Mansa BJP IT Cell in-charge
PU mulls strategies to boost admissions in 24-25 session
Winning UT seat now a do or die battle for Cong
UT poll officer chairs meet on expenditure
Yogi, Anurag among BJP big guns who will woo Pb voters
Modi a visionary: Sharmas party backs BJP
Bid to deflect attention: Unions on BJPs selective targeting claim
8 crorepati candidates in UT, BJPs Tandon is richest
Ranjit is Devi Lals evil son: JP
BJP's Chandigarh candidate takes jibe at Manish Tewari over switching seats
BJP's Chandigarh candidate takes jibe at Manish Tewari over switching seats The BJP's Chandigarh candidate Sanjay Tandon on Thursday took a jibe at the Congress' Manish Tewari, asking him to share with voters from where he will contest the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. Tandon said while Tewari has been claiming to be a national leader, it has always been a ''mystery'' why he changed his constituency in every election. ''Now that he is contesting from Chandigarh, which constituency will he shift to in the 2029 elections?'' Tandon asked. The BJP candidate also asked why the Congress nominees in Ludhiana and Anandpur Sahib, which were ''rarely'' represented by Tewari in the past, are not calling him to campaign for them. The Congress leader was the MP from Ludhiana between 2009 and 2014. He was elected from Anandpur Sahib in 2019. Tandon claimed Tewari is the only MP running from one constituency to another in the last 10 years for the simple reason that he has nothing to show to his voters. ''He is playing a similar trick on voters in Chandigarh,'' the BJP candidate claimed. Acknowledging the problems of EWS flats at Dhanas Colony, Tandon reaffirmed his dedication to resolving the leasehold-to-freehold issue. He reiterated his promise to provide housing to underprivileged individuals through the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, once elected. Tandon exhorted the voters to come out in large numbers and ensure that the Union Territory achieves a record-breaking 90 per cent turnout figure.
Bangar leader and his son join campaign for Congress in Haryana's jatland
Prominent Haryana politician Birender Singh joined the Congress after BJP denied his son a Hisar ticket, leading to their resignation. Singh, along with his son, supported Jai Prakash JP, criticizing PM Modi and predicting his defeat. Singh also indirectly criticized Hooda, strategized campaign support, and highlighted issues with the nomination process and party leadership responsibility.
Former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda vows to implement OPS and regularize temporary employees in Haryana when Congress government formed, benefiting thousands. Campaigning for AAP's Sushil Gupta in Ladwa, Hooda addresses unemployment issues, promises massive recruitment, opposes BJP policies leading to migration. Congress leaders Ashok Arora and Ladwa MLA Mewa Singh support AAP's Sushil Gupta under the India alliance banner.
Big presence in 3 states, but no ex-servicemen in fray this time
Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh, major contributors to the armed forces, feel neglected by political parties during Lok Sabha elections. Veterans, soldiers, and Veer Naris in the region seek recognition. The states also have a high number of war widows and are associated with the issue of One Rank One Pension (OROP).
BJP MLA Ashok Rana's arson case transferred to Sambhal for probe
BJP MLA Ashok Rana and his son accused of arson and firing at GS Infrastructure Pvt Ltds plant in Bijnor, demanding money, issuing threats, resulting in injuries to a security guard, extensive damage to machinery and vehicles. Complaint filed on April 30, FIR against 20 individuals, anticipatory bail sought and rejected.
Boiler blast in Sonipat factory, two dead, 25 injured
Six workers, including two from Bihar, died in a boiler explosion at a catechu factory in Sonipat's Kundli Industrial Area. Over 20 people were injured. The explosion damaged adjacent buildings near Shri Ganesh factory, highlighting concerns about the district administration's response.
Over 400 properties attached by NIA since 2019, most belonging to terrorists, Naxals
NIA attached 403 properties since 2019, mainly from terrorists, Naxals, and separatists. Ranchi branch attached 206 properties in Bihar and Jharkhand. Jammu branch seized 100 properties, Chandigarh 33 from separatists. Confiscated properties include Khalistani leader's. PFI workers' properties also seized in multiple locations across India.
IndiGo launches daily flight from Abu Dhabi to new Indian cities
Abu Dhabi: Indias low-cost airline, IndiGo, on Thursday, May 16, announced the launch of daily flights from Zayed International Airport, Abu Dhabi to Chandigarh and Kannur. It also announced the resumption of daily flights to Lucknow. IndiGo has added a total of 21 weekly flights in its schedule. This marks a 50 percent increase in Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
After premiering the film at the Toronto International Film Festival, followed by screenings in London, Chandigarh and Dharamshala, the Delhi-born titular trans star Sirat Taneja finally finds her way home
Himachal Pradesh is the most beautiful hilly region of North India which attracts tourists. Situated in the lap of the Western Himalayas, this state is surrounded by mountains and rivers. This state is the origin area of big rivers like Ravi, Chenab, Beas, Yamuna and Sutlej. This area full of natural beauty is a great choice for holidays. Manali is a beautiful tourist destination of Himachal Pradesh, which is about 275 kilometers from Shimla. Seeing Manali surrounded by mountains on all sides gives an experience of thrill and romance. This is a great spot for adventure lovers. This is also the best honeymoon spot. If you are planning to visit here then know 13 special things about this place... Adventurous This is a great spot for adventure lovers. Tourists coming here stay in the village located in the town. Here you enjoy trekking, skiing and rafting. Solan or Solang Valley, located at a distance of 13 kilometers from Manali, attracts tourists. Trekking, skiing and mountaineering camps are organized here. You can also do paragliding, parachuting, skiing and horse riding here. Nature's treasure Seeing Manali surrounded by mountains on all sides gives an experience of thrill and romance. Manali is not only a center of tourist attraction due to its amazing natural beauty, but the real beauty of Kullu Valley can be seen in Manali only. There are many famous places to see and visit here. The joy of the beautiful evening and lazy morning here is something else. Vyas River, Jogini Waterfall, Solang Valley, Rohtang Pass and Himvalley are worth seeing in Manali. Kothi Rahla Falls Kothi is situated at a distance of about 12 kilometers from Manali. A picturesque view of the mountains is visible from here. Here the fast flowing cold water of Beas River presents a wonderful sight. Rahla Falls is situated on the Beas River at a distance of two km from Kothi. Here the water of the waterfall falling from a height of 50 meters attracts the tourists a lot. Take a dip in the hot pool Vashishtha Temple is situated at some distance from Manali. This place is especially known for its hot water source. The temperature of this water is very high. Tourists coming to this place must take a dip in this pond at least once. All the diseases of the body are cured by this water. Forest Tourists reach Manali Sanctuary for capping. This sanctuary is 31.8 square km. It is spread over the area of Manali which is the main attraction center of Manali. This century was inaugurated on 26 February 1954. This sanctuary has been opened under the Punjab Bird and Wild Animals Protection Act, 1933. There are many types of birds and animals in this sanctuary which are quite rare in the country and are not commonly seen. Tourists come here to see Kashmir flying squirrel, Himalayan black bear, flying fox, Himalayan yellow-throated marten and You can see many types of animals like Himalayan Palm Civet etc. whose names you might have never even heard of. Fruit wine The climate of Manali is very good. Due to which Manali is also called the fruit basket of India. Apart from apples and oranges, you can buy homemade fruit wine from here. Road trip by rented car If you are fond of riding a bike, then you can rent a bike in Manali and visit Rohtang Pass. This pass remains open from June to October. Even after the pass is closed, you can still visit Gulaba which is situated at a distance of 50 km from Manali. Rohtang Pass About 53 km from Manali. The famous Rohtang Pass in the distance offers tourists adventurous and breath-taking views of glaciers, peaks and valleys. Religious place There are many religious places in Manali like Hadimba Devi Temple, Manikaran Gurudwara, Vyas Kund, Shiva Temple made of wood etc. River rafting For lovers of river rafting, Beas river in Manali is no less than a paradise. Tourists coming here can enjoy rafting on this river. This rafting is completed in a period of one and a half hour. Air vent There is a unique natural place of wind on the outskirts of Manali 'Jharokha'. This place is surrounded by hills on all three sides. Cold winds continuously blow through those hills. There is also a Shiva temple here, which is completely made of 'wood'. This is the best proof of ancient art skills. Honeymoon destination This is also the best honeymoon spot. If you want, you can roam around in Old Manali by taking a bike on rent. Go to the local market and enjoy delicious food here. If you are fond of eating non-veg, then definitely eat trout here, which is a type of fish. Precautions If you are going to Manali then carry all your safety and trekking equipment. Also make arrangements to avoid snowfall and cold. Landslides also keep happening here. Snowfall occurs here in January and February. How to reach The nearest railway stations to Manali are Chandigarh, Pathankot and Kalka, where you can reach by train from any corner of the country. Manali is located at a distance of 305 km from Chandigarh Railway Station, 293 km from Pathankot and 277 km from Kalka. Its nearest railway station is Joginder Nagar. After reaching Chandigarh or Delhi by train, bus is available to Manali. The distance from Chandigarh to Manali is 309 kilometers. Bhantur airport is near Manali. (PC: Lifeberrys)
