Dharamsala, Jan 13 With hundreds of migratory birds flocking to the region, the residents of Dharamsala fear an outbreak of deadly H5N1 virus.

The area around the Pong Dam in Himachal Pradesh is a center of attraction for migratory birds.

People in the area don''t feel safe with the arrival of the birds. They are scared about being infected with the deadly H5N1 virus is real.

"The Government should test the birds that have come here. We are apprehensive if they have got the virus. We are running a small business. If the virus spreads here, then our business will be ruined," Dharam Chand, a villager.

Himachal Pradesh (Kinnaur), Jan. 11 : Scientists of the Agriculture University of Himachal Pradesh and officials of the Kinnaur District administration have organized several workshops for apple growers and owners to enable them to have a better yield. 

Himachal Pradesh is known for producing some of the finest varieties of apples in the world. The apple orchards, as an industry in the State, are a major foreign revenue earner both in raw (fresh fruits) and processed forms. 

Kangra Valley (Himachal Pradesh), Jan. 10 : Fishermen in Himachal Pradesh''s Kangra Valley are searching for fish in the Pong reservoir.

About five tons of fish have disappeared from the water reservoir this year, according to Bodh Raj, the Manager of the Khatiar Fish Collection Society.

The fishermen are attributing it to migratory birds preying on the fish.

A disappointed fisherman, Dharam Pal, said that fishing is not a reliable profession to sustain one''s livelihood.

Kothi (Himachal Pradesh), Jan. 10 : Pushing down temperatures, the recent snowfall here has brought a smile back on the faces of apple growers.

Confident about securing a bumper apple crop in the upcoming season, the farmers say that the timely snowfall is a boon for them.

The apple trees are dormant and require chilling conditions less than seven degree Celsius for a month.

Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh), Jan. 4 : The continuous dry spell in the Dharamshala in Kangra valley of Himachal Pradesh has made apple farmers worried for their produce.

Apple growers in the mid and high hills of the state are worried that their crop will be severely hit unless the weather god obliges them with snow or rainfall.

Usually, sowing of wheat and other crops is complete by late December. However, farmers in most parts of the state are still waiting for rain. Any further delay in sowing will further delay harvesting of the crop.

"Our cultivable land is turning barren. We don''t have any other source of income, we are completely dependent on agriculture," said Kantha Devi, a farmer in Kangra valley.

Kullu, Jan 4 : Power crisis loomed over Himachal Pradesh as the water level in reservoirs had fallen steeply with water flows in rivers and rivulets getting drastically reduced due to plummeting temperatures.

Due to the non-melting of the snow following very low temperatures, the reservoirs are not receiving enough water to maintain the minimum required levels at which the hydel-power projects are operated.

T. Swaminathan, the General Manager of Malana Hydro-Electric power project of said that hydro-power generation is water dependent and during winter season the temperature is very low in the upper reaches and the snow doesn''t melt. Due to this the rivers do not get the requisite amount of water to generate electricity.