Gaurav Bisht
Gaurav Bisht heads Hindustan Times’ Himachal bureau. He covers politics in the hill state and other issues concerning the masses.
Articles by Gaurav Bisht
Barbs fly in HP House over suspension of 5 Cong MLAs
By Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
PUBLISHED ON MAR 03, 2021 01:39 AM IST
Himachal Pradesh assembly on Tuesday saw the members of ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and opposition Congress trading barbs over the suspension of five legislators, including leader of opposition Mukesh Agnihotri
Covid infections in Himachal see 168% increase in a week
By Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
PUBLISHED ON MAR 02, 2021 01:18 AM IST
Coronavirus cases in Himachal, which had plateaued out in January, have registered a steep increase yet again with as many as 389 new infections being recorded in the last week of the February and on the first day of March, an increase of 168
Ahead of MC polls in Himachal, BJP attempts to mend fences with Dhumal
By Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
UPDATED ON MAR 02, 2021 12:51 AM IST
In the run up to municipal corporation elections in Dharamshala, Solan, Mandi and Palampur, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has started reaching out to hitherto sidelined leaders, including former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and his supporters
HP assembly session off to stormy start, 5 Cong MLAs suspended
By Gaurav Bisht
UPDATED ON FEB 26, 2021 03:53 PM IST
Leader of opposition Mukesh Agnihotri among the five Congress members suspended for the entire budget session after gherao of governor
Year on, demand to cancel cases against Covid-19 guideline violators in HP
By Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
PUBLISHED ON FEB 25, 2021 05:19 PM IST
Though the BJP government is undecided, the issue is likely to come up in the budget session of the assembly, beginning on Friday
Cong gears up to corner Jai Ram govt in HP budget session
By Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
PUBLISHED ON FEB 25, 2021 12:20 AM IST
The Vidhan Sabha is reassembling after seven months as the winter session, which was slated for December 7, was called off due to the surge in Covid cases.
Himachal cabinet gives nod for holding MC polls on party symbols
By Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
PUBLISHED ON FEB 23, 2021 09:58 PM IST
The Himachal Pradesh cabinet gave nod to hold municipal corporation elections on party symbols
MC elections to be held on party symbol in Himachal
By Gaurav Bisht
PUBLISHED ON FEB 22, 2021 03:16 PM IST
Proposal to amend rules for municipal corporation elections in Mandi, Palampur, Solan and Dhramshala next month
Post-Covid, Indian Institute of Advanced Study in Shimla opens doors for tourists
By Gaurav Bisht
PUBLISHED ON FEB 18, 2021 11:47 AM IST
Nearly 2 lakh tourists visited the British-era 18th century building, formerly known as Viceregal Lodge, every year before the lockdown
Himachal’s ginger to boost Delhi’s immunity
By Gaurav Bisht
PUBLISHED ON FEB 15, 2021 04:17 PM IST
State govt draws up plan to support growers in Sirmaur district and supply spice to NCR before branching out to other metros
With 68% under 40, young blood ready to take on grassroots governance in Himachal
By Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
UPDATED ON FEB 13, 2021 06:20 PM IST
In the recently held Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) polls in the hill state, more than 68% of the representatives elected to zila parishads, block development committees, panchayats and urban bodies are below the age of 40 years.
320 homestays in HP’s Spiti open doors for tourists from Feb 17
By Gaurav Bisht
UPDATED ON FEB 11, 2021 04:53 PM IST
Hotels will function from April as they are facing water scarcity due to sub-zero temperatures, heavy snow spells
Spiti puts brakes on car rallies in snow leopard habitat
By Gaurav Bisht
UPDATED ON FEB 09, 2021 04:26 PM IST
Bid to protect natural habitat of vulnerable wildlife species that come to lower elevation in Himachal Pradesh during winter
Villagers in Himachal’s tribal areas pass resolutions against dam
By Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
UPDATED ON FEB 08, 2021 09:32 PM IST
- All villages plan to pass resolutions against hydel projects and send them to the Governor and the President of India.
With 1,600 glacial lakes, Himachal at flood risk
By Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
PUBLISHED ON FEB 08, 2021 06:26 PM IST
There has been a 32% increase in lakes in the Chenab basin, 94% increase in the Ravi basin and 97% increase in the Sutlej basin while there has been a 36% drop in lakes in the Beas basin
HP cabinet decisions: Budget session to be held from Feb 26 to March 20
By Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
PUBLISHED ON FEB 05, 2021 07:56 PM IST
Chief minister Jai Ram Thakur will present the budget on March 6; schools for Classes 6 and 7 to reopen on February 15 Key decisionsCM Jai Ram Thakur to present budget on March 6Schools to reopen for Classes 6 and 7 from February 15Students to be provided dry ration as mid-day meals suspended till March 31.Right of Way Policy, 2021 draft to be notified to boost investment in the telecom sectorWater Sports and Allied Activities Draft Rules, 2021 and Himachal Pradesh Miscellaneous Adventure Activities (Amendment) Rules, 2021 notified to make adventure sports safer150 various posts to be filled up in public works department Key decisions
AAP seeks to gain foothold in Himachal with 2022 elections
By Gaurav Bisht
PUBLISHED ON FEB 04, 2021 02:04 PM IST
The Aam Aadmi Party opened its office in Shimla on Sunday and announced it would contest all 68 seats
Himachal ramps up testing after 60 teachers test positive for Covid-19 in three days
By Gaurav Bisht
PUBLISHED ON FEB 02, 2021 01:50 PM IST
The state health department has made it mandatory for government teachers to undergo the coronavirus test before reporting for duty as schools reopened on February 1
Feral dogs in HP’s high-altitude areas pose threat to wildlife, livestock
By Gaurav Bisht
UPDATED ON FEB 01, 2021 04:28 PM IST
Himachal’s forest department survey finds the problem acute in Spiti; such dogs are reported to be leading to biodiversity loss and competing with large carnivores such as the snow leopard
Himachal on road to progress from model to number 1 state: Nadda
By Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
PUBLISHED ON JAN 25, 2021 06:36 PM IST
BJP president JP Nadda on Monday said that Himachal Pradesh has come a long way in 50 years and he is confident the state will continue its journey of progress to emerge as the number 1 state by its 75th anniversary
HP to develop remote India-China border areas after youth exodus
By Gaurav Bisht | Hindustan Times, Shimla, Shimla
UPDATED ON JAN 07, 2021 10:52 PM IST
The Centre allocated Rs 17 crore this fiscal for development of such regions
HP steps up Covid testing after tourist surge
By Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
UPDATED ON JAN 05, 2021 05:50 PM IST
Though hotel occupancy has gone up to 75%, a welcome change from 15% last year when the Covid-19 lockdown hit the industry hard, the visitor influx raises concerns about an infection spike
PRI polls: 9 of 13 panchayats in Spiti choose village heads through consensus
By Gaurav Bisht | Hindustan Times, Shimla, Shimla
UPDATED ON JAN 04, 2021 09:49 PM IST
The polling for panchayats in Spiti is slated for January 17.
Honey trap gang busted in Kullu was active for 15 years
By Gaurav Bisht | Hindustan Times, Shimla
PUBLISHED ON JAN 01, 2021 04:23 PM IST
37-year-old woman, who was the kingpin of the seven-member gang that targeted affluent people, was among those arrested last month.
Atal Tunnel reverses winter migration from Lahaul-Spiti
By Gaurav Bisht | Hindustan Times, Shimla, Shimla
UPDATED ON DEC 26, 2020 12:06 AM IST
Survey finds all-weather connectivity has brought down winter migration from 70% to 30% from snowbound tribal district of Himachal Pradesh
Private university in HP sold 45,000 fake degrees, reveals SIT probe
By Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
PUBLISHED ON DEC 24, 2020 06:56 PM IST
Each degree related to technical subjects was sold to students within and outside Himachal Pradesh for ₹1 lakh to ₹3 lakh, says crime investigation department official
Worry over finances after Covid outbreak impacting mental health in HP: Survey
By Gaurav Bisht, Shimla
UPDATED ON DEC 22, 2020 07:36 PM IST
Government employees were relatively secure about their finances, but workers in private enterprises and the self-employed faced loss of income, leading to the anxiety and depression
BJP, Congress draw strategies for panchayat polls in Himachal
By Gaurav Bisht | Hindustan Times, Shimla, Shimla
UPDATED ON DEC 21, 2020 07:16 PM IST
Though the polls are held without using party symbols, political parties view control over gram panchayats as building blocks to consolidate their power.
West Bengal woman reunited with family after four years
By Gaurav Bisht | Hindustan Times, Shimla, Shimla
UPDATED ON DEC 19, 2020 04:55 PM IST
Haryana Police anti-trafficking cell helps trace woman to Nari Niketan at Mashobra
50% of Himachalis feel depressed by consuming Covid content: Survey
By Gaurav Bisht | Hindustan Times, Shimla, Shimla
UPDATED ON DEC 17, 2020 08:45 PM IST
Respondents were asked to answer nine questions such as whether they had lost their job due to the pandemic and if they had experienced suicidal thoughts or suicidal tendencies during the pandemic.