
Naresh K Thakur
Naresh K Thakur is a staff reporter in Hindustan Times’ Himachal bureau. Based at Dharamshala, he covers Tibetan affairs, local politics and environmental issues.
Articles by Naresh K Thakur

From gram sabha to Vidhan Sabha: BJP chief sets target for 2022
By Naresh K Thakur
UPDATED ON FEB 18, 2021 04:01 PM IST
Addressing the Himachal party working committee meeting in Dharamshala, JP Nadda says BJP’s economic model is driven by “integrated humanism”

Samples of crows found dead near Pong Lake in Himachal test positive for bird flu
PUBLISHED ON JAN 09, 2021 01:04 PM IST
More than 3,700 birds, most of them migratory, have been found dead due to the H5N1 virus in the Pong Wetland since December 31.

Bird flu death toll rises to 3,500 in Himachal’s Pong Dam, CM to review situation
By Naresh K Thakur | Hindustan Times, Shimla, Dharamshala/shimla
UPDATED ON JAN 07, 2021 10:30 PM IST
Thakur will chair two meetings to review the situation arising from the bird flu outbreak and Covid-19.

Poultry farmers in trouble due to bird flu outbreak in Himachal’s Pong Dam
By Naresh K Thakur | Hindustan Times, Dharamshala, Dharamshala
UPDATED ON JAN 06, 2021 09:49 PM IST
The origin of the virus is yet to be ascertained.

Sale of poultry, fish banned in four sub divisions of Kangra district to control bird flu spread
By Naresh K Thakur | Hindustan Times, Dharamshala
UPDATED ON JAN 06, 2021 01:05 AM IST
After lab reports confirm H5N1 virus led to death of over 2,500 migratory birds at Pong Dam in a week, strict curbs, including fine of ₹50,000, imposed in adjoining Fatehpur, Dehra, Jawali and Indora sub divisions.

Avian flu causing migratory birds’ death at HP’s Pong Dam, toll rises to 2,400
By Naresh K Thakur | Hindustan Times, Dharamshala, Dharamshala
PUBLISHED ON JAN 04, 2021 09:54 PM IST
Lab reports expected on Tuesday, while post-mortem reports rule out poisoning

To revive Kangra art, serve it on a plate
By Naresh K Thakur | Hindustan Times, Dharamshala, Dharamshala
UPDATED ON JAN 03, 2021 06:43 PM IST
Kangra administration takes initiative to create affordable objet d’art with prints of the art form at affordable costs

Migratory birds continue to die, officials shut HP’s Pong wetland
By Naresh K Thakur | Hindustan Times/Dharamshala, Dharamshala
UPDATED ON JAN 03, 2021 12:36 AM IST
Over 1,000 birds of different species have mysteriously died since December 28; authorities have ruled out poisoning

70 tourists stranded in Kangra’s Kareri Lake due to heavy snow rescued
By Naresh K Thakur | Hindustan Times, Dharamshala, Dharamshala
UPDATED ON DEC 28, 2020 08:20 PM IST
The tourists had gone on a trek to the lake despite being warned of snowfall forecast.

Himachal sees two-fold increase in fatalities in over one month
By Naresh K Thakur | Hindustan Times, Dharamshala, Dharamshala
UPDATED ON DEC 14, 2020 12:27 AM IST
There has been a jump of 154% in the Covid-linked deaths since November 1.

Amid spike in Kangra, plan to make ayurvedic college, private hospitals Covid treatment facilities
By Naresh K Thakur | Hindustan Times, Dharamshala, Dharamshala
UPDATED ON DEC 09, 2020 05:24 PM IST
With 6,190 infections in the district so far, Kangra is at third position in terms of the number of cases, after Shimla and Mandi. At present, there are 1,370 active cases in the district.

Mandi, Kullu & Lahaul-Spiti record highest Covid positivity rates in Himachal
By Gaurav Bisht & Naresh K Thakur | Hindustan Times, Shimla/Dharamshala
UPDATED ON DEC 04, 2020 10:20 PM IST
The tribal district of Lahaul-Spiti, which saw a spurt in the cases after the opening of the Atal Tunnel, has the positivity rate of 13.75%.

18 deaths, 837 new Covid-19 cases in Himachal
By Naresh K Thakur | Hindustan Times, Dharamshala, Dharamshala
UPDATED ON DEC 03, 2020 10:17 PM IST
There are 7,837 active cases in the state.

How HP lost control over Covid battle
By Gaurav Bisht/Naresh K Thakur | Hindustan Times, Shimla, Shimla/dharamshala
UPDATED ON NOV 25, 2020 01:32 AM IST
More than 12,300 cases and 238 fatalities were recorded this month as compared to the previous highest tally of 8,938 cases in September since the outbreak.

Himachal to go Haryana way on job quota for local youngsters
By Gaurav Bisht and Naresh K Thakur | Hindustan Times/Shimla
UPDATED ON NOV 10, 2020 05:47 PM IST
A poll promise, BJP mulls 70% quota in jobs for natives in hill state that has an unemployment rate of 13.5%.

Himachal’s buyback policy for plastic yields positive result
By Naresh K Thakur | Hindustan Times/Dharamshala, Dharamshala
UPDATED ON OCT 29, 2020 12:44 AM IST
A year on, Dharamshala MC collects 20 tonnes of single-use non-recyclable plastic waste under scheme of which 13 tonnes have been used by Solan cement plant as fuel

Political corruption slowly creeping into BJP, says former Himachal Pradesh CM Shanta Kumar
By Naresh K Thakur | Hindustan Times, Dharamshala, Dharamshala
UPDATED ON OCT 22, 2020 11:48 PM IST
Former Himachal Pradesh chieg minister was referring to a plea against him and Vivekananda Medical Research Trust (VMRT), which he heads. Filed by a Palampur resident, Bhuvnesh Chand Sood, the plea was rejected by the high court on October 16.

Heavy social media use causing sleep disorders among college students in HP: Study
By Naresh K Thakur | Hindustan Times, Dharamshala, Dharamshala
UPDATED ON OCT 16, 2020 09:46 PM IST
Over 1,400 college students from across the state participated in the survey.

World Bank asks HP govt to honour IDP agreement
By Naresh K Thakur | Hindustan Times, Dharamshala, Dharamshala
UPDATED ON OCT 06, 2020 10:14 PM IST
The World Bank had approved $80-mn loan in February for the integrated development project for water management, increasing farm productivity in HP

NCRB’s 2019 crime statistics: Homicides down, rape on the rise in Himachal
By Naresh K Thakur | Hindustan Times, Dharamshala
UPDATED ON OCT 05, 2020 12:40 AM IST
As many as 1,833 violent crimes were reported in the state in 2019 as compared to the 1,861 cases reported in 2018.

HP records 25% monsoon rain deficit, 76% in Sept
By Naresh K Thakur | Hindustan Times, Dharamshala, Dharamshala
UPDATED ON SEP 28, 2020 08:45 PM IST
About 567.2mm rain was reported this season against the normal average of 761 mm.

To keep virus away, Spiti valley to remain closed for tourists till October 31
By Naresh K Thakur | Hindustan Times, Dharamshala, Dharamshala
UPDATED ON SEP 17, 2020 10:20 PM IST

3-storeyed illegal building comes up in McLeodganj under MC’s nose
By Naresh K Thakur | Hindustan Times/Dharamshala, Dharamshala
UPDATED ON SEP 16, 2020 12:57 AM IST
Located 250 metres from the Dalai Lama’s residence, Tibetan-origin hotel owner gets notice for not only encroaching land but also building structure without civic body and town planning department’s approval

Farmer protests against agri ordinances politically motivated: Shanta Kumar
By Naresh K Thakur | Hindustan Times/Dharamshala, Dharamshala
UPDATED ON SEP 15, 2020 12:13 AM IST
Says people have grossly misunderstood the recommendations of the report and there will be no effect on the MSP

Mandi reports maximum 162 rapes in Himachal over past three years
By Naresh K Thakur | Hindustan Times/Dharamshala, Dharamshala
UPDATED ON SEP 12, 2020 05:06 PM IST
According to a reply filed by the home department during the monsoon session of the assembly, 249 rapes were registered in the state in 2017, 344 in 2018, 358 in 2019 and 183 cases till July 31, 2020

Temples open in Himachal Pradesh but Covid scare keeps devotees away
By Naresh K Thakur | Hindustan Times, Dharamshala, Dharamshala
PUBLISHED ON SEP 10, 2020 10:23 PM IST
FAITH BECKONS Shrines reopened after five months but wore a deserted look with only a few local devotees offering prayers

Offerings at Himachal’s temples dipped 90%
By Naresh K Thakur and Punkaj Bhaartiya | Hindustan Times, Dharamshala/Hamirpur
UPDATED ON SEP 05, 2020 05:10 PM IST
Kangra district magistrate Rakesh Kumar Prajapati, who is also the commissioner of temple trusts of government-controlled shrines in the district, said offerings at temples increase during festivals

Himachal’s Covid-19 tally rises to 5,637; 3,000 cases reported in August alone
By Naresh K Thakur | Hindustan Times/Shimla, Dharamshala
UPDATED ON AUG 29, 2020 02:04 AM IST

McLeodganj’s iconic Nowrojee General Store to shut shop after 160 years
By Naresh K Thakur | Hindustan Times, Chandigarh
PUBLISHED ON AUG 24, 2020 02:50 PM IST
Business turns unviable for Delhi-based Parsi owner as one of the oldest stores of the British era in Himachal Pradesh closes down in September

Kangra Cong leaders bury the hatchet; draw up plan to corner govt
By Naresh K Thakur | Hindustan Times/Dharamshala, Dharamashala
UPDATED ON AUG 23, 2020 12:39 AM IST