News / Author / Ajay Ramola

Ajay Ramola

Articles by Ajay Ramola

Couple duped by cyber fraudsters running fake site for Kedarnath chopper service

The doctor couple, Sangeeta Laha and Suprabhat Laha from Kolkata said they were asked to transfer ₹15,408 for booking a helicopter ride for the annual Kedarnath Yatra

The accused had listed his own mobile number on the fake website as that of an agent of helicopter service. (File image)

cities

Published on Sep 15, 2022 04:52 PM IST

ByAjay Ramola

Tricolour gifted by Mahatma Gandhi preserved with utmost care by Mussoorie duo

The doctor duo has made it a point to preserve the Khadi Tricolour that was gifted to them by a Delhi-based family, which was passed down to them directly from Mahatma Gandhi

Dr Sunil Sanon with the Khadi national flag presented to him by the Jaiprakash Agarwal family who got it from Mahatma Gandhi in 1946 during his visit to Mussoorie. (HT Photo)

cities

Published on Aug 18, 2022 06:26 PM IST

ByAjay Ramola

Pilgrim influx to Kedarnath Dham crosses 10.08 lakh, breaks all previous records

The four Himalayan pilgrimage sites Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath- collectively called Char Dham, are located in the mountainous terrain of Garhwal Himalayas

So far, a total of 10,08,083 pilgrims visited the shrine till Monday. (HT file photo)

india news

Published on Aug 17, 2022 04:56 PM IST

ByAjay Ramola

Uttarakhand working on policy for small hydropower projects: Official

Experts have welcomed the move but have cautioned against what they described as too much government interference, saying this is one reason why micro and medium hydropower generation in the state is far from its potential.

Uttarakhand villagers said watermills, like this one in Uttarkashi’s Chaijula, could be repaired and upgraded to produce power

cities

Updated on Aug 13, 2022 04:12 PM IST

ByAjay Ramola

4 washed away in separate incidents as heavy rains lash Uttarakhand

Four people were washed away in separate incidents in Dehradun, Pithoragarh and Pauri districts as the water level increased in rivers increased due to heavy rains in Uttarakhand

Scores of roads were blocked due to landslides and boulder fall after heavy overnight rains in Uttarakhand (Sourced)

cities

Published on Jul 25, 2022 07:00 PM IST

ByAjay Ramola

Uttarakhand: Heavy rain wreaks havoc; one person dies in Tehri

Char Dham Yatra was affected due to overnight rains and debris accumulation on the Badrinath Kedarnath Highway on Wednesday forced the district administration to divert the route for pilgrims

In Tehri district, a newly elected gram Pradhan (village head) died when a boulder fell on his car. (HT picture)

india news

Updated on Jul 06, 2022 06:58 PM IST

ByAjay Ramola

Falling rocks along Char Dham route kill 3 pilgrims, injure 12: Officials

Uttarakhand’s emergency operation centre has received confirmation of death of 206 pilgrims during the Char Dham pilgrimage

One pilgrim was killed and five injured when rocks fell on a vehicle near Munkatiya near Sonprayaag. (ANI)

cities

Published on Jun 30, 2022 08:46 PM IST

ByAjay Ramola

201 pilgrims died during Char Dham: Govt data

Heavy rainfall and subsequent landslides are also posing a major challenge for the state government in the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.

Devotees going to Kedarnath Temple by mule ride, palanquin and other ways as part of their Char Dham Yatra in Rudraprayag (ANI File Photo)(HT_PRINT)

india news

Updated on Jun 27, 2022 05:41 AM IST

ByAjay Ramola

Over 3 million pilgrims register for Char Dham yatra so far this year

At least 3.3 million pilgrims have registered for the Char Dham yatra and Gurdwara Hemkund Sahib of which nearly 2.3 million have already visited the Himalayan shrines since the pilgrimage started on May 3

Over 2,380,467 pilgrims have already visited the four shrines — 313,466 to Yamunotri, 404,607 to Gangotri, 766,510 to Kedarnath and 800,096 to Badrinath. (ANI)

india news

Updated on Jun 24, 2022 07:45 AM IST

ByAjay Ramola, Mussoorie

Char Dham, Gurdwara Hemkund Sahib pilgrims cross 2.3 millions

In 2019, over 3.2 million pilgrims visited the Char Dham shrines before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic led to curbs on the pilgrimage for the past two years

cities

Published on Jun 23, 2022 09:27 PM IST

ByAjay Ramola

500 water ATMs to be set up in Uttarakhand to reduce use of bottled water

Around 60 water ATMs have already been set up along with the water testing display units at various points from Rishikesh to Devprayag

Devotees going to Kedarnath Temple by mule ride, palanquin and other ways as part of their Char Dham Yatra in Rudraprayag (ANI File Photo)

cities

Published on Jun 21, 2022 10:50 PM IST

ByAjay Ramola

Char Dham: Himalayan ecology faces the stress of post-pandemic pilgrim surge

Problems don’t just exist during the yatra, but at entry points and roads leading up to the four dhams, characterized this year by long traffic jams on narrow mountain roads

In the 40 days since the Char Dham Yatra began on May 3, 1.94 million pilgrims have visited the four holy sites in Uttarakhand’s upper reaches. (FILE)

india news

Updated on Jun 13, 2022 11:28 AM IST

ByAjay Ramola, Neeraj Santoshi and Amit Bathla, Hindustan Times, Dehradun/mussoorie

Uttarakhand govt forms panel to improve health facilities for Char Dham pilgrims

The decision comes after 150 pilgrims died due to cardiac arrest and other health-related ailments during the Char Dham Yatra.

The four-member expert panel will be headed by the director of National Health Mission, Saroj Naithani. (File Photo)

cities

Published on Jun 09, 2022 06:00 PM IST

ByAjay Ramola

Char Dham yatra: Uttarakhand to screen pilgrims aged above 50 after 101 deaths

The Char Dham yatra began on May 3, after a two-year hiatus caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The yatra comprises pilgrimage to Yamunotri and Gangotri in Uttarkashi, Kedarnath in Rudraprayag and Badrinath in Chamoli districts -- all located in the mountainous terrain of Garhwal Himalayas.

cities

Updated on May 30, 2022 02:44 AM IST

ByAjay Ramola, Mussoorie

99 pilgrims die during char dham yatra

According to officials familiar with the matter, eight more people died during the yatra on Saturday.

“We are making all possible all efforts to prevent the death of the pilgrims most of whom are elderly persons,

india news

Published on May 29, 2022 01:58 AM IST

ByAjay Ramola, Mussoorie

Yamunotri highway’s 15-metre stretch caves in; 3,000 Char Dham pilgrims stranded

Movement of buses and other heavy vehicles was suspended after a 15-metre stretch of Yamunotri Highway between Rana Chatti and Sayana Chatti caved in late on Wednesday.

Officials said that the stranded pilgrims were taken to safe shelters in ashrams and nearby guest houses around Sayana Chatti after a 15-metre stretch of the Yamunotri highway caved in. (ANI)

cities

Updated on May 19, 2022 06:06 PM IST

ByAjay Ramola

Amid pilgrim rush, Uttarakhand faces littering concerns

The higher reaches of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand are littered with garbage that lakhs of pilgrims throw while on the Char Dham pilgrimage, creating a new ecological danger, experts and activists said.

During the Char Dham pilgrimage in Uttarakhand, a person on average generates a minimum 7-9 kg of waste. (HT photo)

india news

Updated on May 16, 2022 06:17 AM IST

ByAjay Ramola, Mussoorie

27 deaths during Char Dham yatra: U’khand govt seeks report from med officers

The Uttarakhand health department has instructed the chief medical officers of the three districts in Char Dham area that there should be no shortage of health services at any level.

The number of pilgrims reaching the Char Dham has crossed 3 lakhs. (HT Photo)

india news

Published on May 12, 2022 08:00 PM IST

ByAjay Ramola

3 Uttarakhand villages that don’t celebrate Holi due to a curse by an ancient Goddess

Villagers believe that the Goddess does not like noise and colours and if anyone tries to celebrate the festival, they suffer due to the curse of the Goddess. Since that time, the villagers from these three villages do not celebrate Holi.

Kweeli village, one of three villages where the festival of Holi is not celebrated in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. (HT PHOTO.)

india news

Published on Mar 18, 2022 01:01 AM IST

ByAjay Ramola

Houses in Tehri develop cracks, residents seek speedy rehabilitation

Fresh land subsidence has triggered fears among residents that the houses that have developed cracks could cave in

Several villages are facing land subsidence. (HT Photo)

cities

Published on Feb 22, 2022 03:54 PM IST

ByAjay Ramola

In Mussoorie, Congress candidate’s cousin sister campaigns against her

The Congress candidate from Mussoorie, Godavari Thapli, is facing tough resistance from her cousin sister, Kalpana Gurang, who is campaigning for the BJP candidate Ganesh Joshi.

Congress candidate from Mussoorie, Godavari Thapli (left) and her cousin sister, Kalpana Gurang (right)

elections

Published on Feb 09, 2022 06:44 PM IST

ByAjay Ramola

After PM Modi dons Uttarakhandi cap, Mussoorie artist starts getting queries

CDS General Bipin Rawat was the first celebrity of that stature to adorn the Uttarakhandi cap when it was gifted to him last year, said Sameer Shukla, who is the brain behind the creation of the Brahmkamal cap.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wore an Uttarakhand cap during the Republic Day Parade on Wednesday. (ANI Photo)

india news

Updated on Jan 27, 2022 01:45 AM IST

ByAjay Ramola

Dozens of trainee IAS officers test positive for Covid-19

Rajiv Dikshit, nodal health officer, Dehradun, said the number could rise and that the trainees were tested after arriving at the academy via Dehradun on Sunday

Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie. (HT/File)

india news

Published on Jan 19, 2022 04:42 PM IST

ByAjay Ramola

18th century George Everest house gets facelift, thrown open to public

Uttarakhand tourism minister Satpal Maharaj dedicated the restored iconic heritage house of George Everest, a cartographic museum and an observatory at Park Estate in Mussoorie to the public.

It is in this house that Everest, then the Surveyor General of India lived between 1832 and 1843, when he returned to England. (Uttarakhand tourism department)

india news

Updated on Dec 08, 2021 06:34 AM IST

ByAjay Ramola

Uttarakhand govt mulls promoting electric vehicles on Char Dham routes

The state government has received several proposals for such rallies and it is planning to link these rallies with other tourism schemes and circuits so that tourists are able to get a glimpse of the pristine culture of the state and the same would also benefit the locals involved in tourism activities.

State tourism minister Satpal Maharaj flagging off the Hoossein memorial rally in Mussoorie on Wednesday. (HT PHOTO.)

cities

Updated on Nov 11, 2021 01:01 AM IST

ByAjay Ramola

From Mussoorie’s Landour, Ruskin Bond’s New Year wish for his readers

Ruskin Bond who turned 86 in May this year has been busy as ever writing his next book, this time his lockdown diary, which, he says, may likely be titled ‘It is a Wonderful Life’.

Ruskin Bond with his family in Mussoorie.(HT PHOTO)

india news

Published on Dec 31, 2020 10:10 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Mussoorie | ByAjay Ramola

Extended weekend sees rush of tourists in Mussoorie

The easing of the Covid-19-related restrictions on tourism activities has encouraged travellers. Hoteliers said they were expecting a further improvement in the arrivals after almost no business for six months

Long queues of tourist vehicles in Mussoorie on Saturday.(HT photo)

cities

Published on Oct 03, 2020 04:46 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Mussoorie | ByAjay Ramola

7 injured in blast at a quarter in elite academy for civil servants

Devender Aswal, station house officer at Mussoorie police station, said the injured were rushed to the LBSNAA Hospital where all are undergoing treatment for minor burns.

Police said the incident might have occurred due to the faulty regulator connection resulting in the leak and blast.

india news

Updated on Jul 29, 2020 05:43 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Mussoorie | ByAjay Ramola | Edited by Ashutosh Tripathi

With heat wave in the north India, Nainital, Mussoorie witness tourist influx

The situation is more serious in Nainital, where the administration has decided to stop tourists outside the hill station every time parking in the city is full, allowing them in only when the traffic and parking can be managed inside.

There was a major traffic snarl on approach roads to Nainital with up to 3 to 4 km long line of vehicles that were being allowed slowly into the small hill station on Sunday, June 2, 2019.(HT Photo)

cities

Published on Jun 04, 2019 03:07 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Nainital / Mussoorie | ByNeeraj Santoshi and Ajay Ramola

Threats to Mussoorie’s ecology due to overexploitation, demographic changes

The changes have led to problems like acute water shortage, traffic congestion, inadequate parking space and shortage of enough living space in the small hill station.

Increasing tourist influx, coupled with rampant construction, has put additional pressure on rich biodiversity, water resources and the green cover of Mussoorie.(HT File)

cities

Published on May 30, 2019 02:48 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Mussoorie | ByAjay Ramola

Copy

Whatsapp Twitter Facebook Linkedin

Ajay Ramola

The doctor couple, Sangeeta Laha and Suprabhat Laha from Kolkata said they were asked to transfer ₹15,408 for booking a helicopter ride for the annual Kedarnath Yatra

The doctor duo has made it a point to preserve the Khadi Tricolour that was gifted to them by a Delhi-based family, which was passed down to them directly from Mahatma Gandhi

The four Himalayan pilgrimage sites Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath- collectively called Char Dham, are located in the mountainous terrain of Garhwal Himalayas

Experts have welcomed the move but have cautioned against what they described as too much government interference, saying this is one reason why micro and medium hydropower generation in the state is far from its potential.

Four people were washed away in separate incidents in Dehradun, Pithoragarh and Pauri districts as the water level increased in rivers increased due to heavy rains in Uttarakhand

Char Dham Yatra was affected due to overnight rains and debris accumulation on the Badrinath Kedarnath Highway on Wednesday forced the district administration to divert the route for pilgrims

Uttarakhand’s emergency operation centre has received confirmation of death of 206 pilgrims during the Char Dham pilgrimage

Heavy rainfall and subsequent landslides are also posing a major challenge for the state government in the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.

At least 3.3 million pilgrims have registered for the Char Dham yatra and Gurdwara Hemkund Sahib of which nearly 2.3 million have already visited the Himalayan shrines since the pilgrimage started on May 3

In 2019, over 3.2 million pilgrims visited the Char Dham shrines before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic led to curbs on the pilgrimage for the past two years

Around 60 water ATMs have already been set up along with the water testing display units at various points from Rishikesh to Devprayag

Problems don’t just exist during the yatra, but at entry points and roads leading up to the four dhams, characterized this year by long traffic jams on narrow mountain roads

The decision comes after 150 pilgrims died due to cardiac arrest and other health-related ailments during the Char Dham Yatra.

The Char Dham yatra began on May 3, after a two-year hiatus caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The yatra comprises pilgrimage to Yamunotri and Gangotri in Uttarkashi, Kedarnath in Rudraprayag and Badrinath in Chamoli districts -- all located in the mountainous terrain of Garhwal Himalayas.

According to officials familiar with the matter, eight more people died during the yatra on Saturday.

Movement of buses and other heavy vehicles was suspended after a 15-metre stretch of Yamunotri Highway between Rana Chatti and Sayana Chatti caved in late on Wednesday.

The higher reaches of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand are littered with garbage that lakhs of pilgrims throw while on the Char Dham pilgrimage, creating a new ecological danger, experts and activists said.

The Uttarakhand health department has instructed the chief medical officers of the three districts in Char Dham area that there should be no shortage of health services at any level.

Villagers believe that the Goddess does not like noise and colours and if anyone tries to celebrate the festival, they suffer due to the curse of the Goddess. Since that time, the villagers from these three villages do not celebrate Holi.

Fresh land subsidence has triggered fears among residents that the houses that have developed cracks could cave in

The Congress candidate from Mussoorie, Godavari Thapli, is facing tough resistance from her cousin sister, Kalpana Gurang, who is campaigning for the BJP candidate Ganesh Joshi.

CDS General Bipin Rawat was the first celebrity of that stature to adorn the Uttarakhandi cap when it was gifted to him last year, said Sameer Shukla, who is the brain behind the creation of the Brahmkamal cap.

Rajiv Dikshit, nodal health officer, Dehradun, said the number could rise and that the trainees were tested after arriving at the academy via Dehradun on Sunday

Uttarakhand tourism minister Satpal Maharaj dedicated the restored iconic heritage house of George Everest, a cartographic museum and an observatory at Park Estate in Mussoorie to the public.

Ruskin Bond who turned 86 in May this year has been busy as ever writing his next book, this time his lockdown diary, which, he says, may likely be titled ‘It is a Wonderful Life’.

The easing of the Covid-19-related restrictions on tourism activities has encouraged travellers. Hoteliers said they were expecting a further improvement in the arrivals after almost no business for six months

Devender Aswal, station house officer at Mussoorie police station, said the injured were rushed to the LBSNAA Hospital where all are undergoing treatment for minor burns.

The situation is more serious in Nainital, where the administration has decided to stop tourists outside the hill station every time parking in the city is full, allowing them in only when the traffic and parking can be managed inside.

The changes have led to problems like acute water shortage, traffic congestion, inadequate parking space and shortage of enough living space in the small hill station.

Join Hindustan Times

Create free account and unlock exciting features like