Himachal-o-Meter

The state’s ups and downs this week

HRTC Registers Increase In Profit

Shimla: Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC), which was running in losses for many years, has started showing signs of recovery. The HRTC’s figures of first two months of 2018 show healthy signs under the new government. The corporation has registered an increase of Rs. 12.5 crore in income in January and February as compared to the same period in 2017. The corporation in 2017 earned Rs. 123.68 crore; this year it has increased to Rs. 136.26 crore during the same period.   HRTC management has started an extensive operation of sudden raids in corporation buses that could be one of the reasons behind an increase in revenue. This operation was started in the past too that revealed many cases of discrepancies by conductors. The corporation has constituted 10 flying squads to keep a check on the corrupt practices in HRTC buses all over the state.

Four Himachalies Among 39 Killed In Iraq

Shimla : External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, in Rajya Sabha, confirmed the death of 39 Indians, including four Himachalies, kidnapped in Iraq three years ago. In her statement, she said that DNA tests have confirmed the death of 39 Indians kidnapped from Mosul in Iraq I June 2015. DNA testing by Martyrs Foundation has established the identity of 38 Indians while there has been 70% matching of the DNA for the 39th person, said Swaraj. Out of total 39 deceased, 31 belonged to Punjab, four to Himachal Pradesh and rest were from Bihar and West Bengal. Bodies of the deceased were exhumed from a mass grave in Iraq’s Badosh where locals said some bodies were buried by the ISIS. Deep penetration radars were used to establish that the mound indeed was a mass grave, Swaraj said. Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh will be flying to Iraq to bring back their mortal remains to India on a special flight.

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