112 lives lost in Shimla district this apple season

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HimVani

Shimla (Dec 12): Himachal Pradesh leadership has repeatedly been patting their backs over bumper apple production (4.46 crore boxes) in the state this season, but the fruit seems to have taken a heavy toll with 112 people involved in apple trade losing their lives and 315 others getting critically injured in Shimla district alone. This revealing fact came to light in a written statement made by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal to a query raised by Congress legislator from Kasumpti Sohan Lal in the just-concluded winter Assembly session.

The statement said that in Shimla district 175 accidents were reported during the apple season (from July 1 to November 20), claiming 112 lives and 315 others getting seriously injured. The toll includes 23 lives lost in 30-truck accident engaged in apple transportation. The accidents also caused loss to apple crop, damaging 9,452 apple boxes costing Rs 53 lakh. The worst effected areas were Rampur, Rohru, Chopal, Jubbal, Kotkhai and Theog. The statement said that main causes of accidents were negligent driving, mechanical failure and bad roads owing to rainy season.

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2 COMMENTS

  1. The Himachal Pradesh Government needs congratulations for adding in recent budget to study the feasibility of evacuating apple and potato crops using rope-way systems.The present system of transport is causing immense loss of life,112 people were killed and 315 other were injured in transporting 4.46 crore apple boxes during current apple season in Shimla District alone.It should be ensured that decision be implemented in right earnest at earliest to save further lives.Even this effect tourism as all roads are jam packed with apple laden trucks and get pot holed.The jams for hours and even days are very common

  2. The rope way might be benifical but Hartkoti-Theog road should be recommission on warfooting while government still claiming that it would be hardly complete in 2013

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