Bhillai, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, Nov. 11 : Kicking off the Congress party’s campaign in poll-bound Chhattisgarh on Monday, party general secretary Rahul Gandhi urged the people to vote the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) out of power.

Chhattisgarh is among the six states headed for staggered assembly polls in November-December this year.

The six state elections will test the political temperature in India before a general election in early 2009. Congress has been losing ground to the BJP in state elections over the past year.

Jagdalpur (Raipur), Nov. 11 : Four Teak trees named Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatrughana after characters of Hindu scripture Ramayana, have been a major attraction for the people in Machkot jungles of Chhattisgarh’s Jagdalpur area.

The naming also shows the love the people have for the trees.

One of these generations’ old trees Bharat died. The incident sent a wave of disappointment among all here. The incident drew investigating officials to ascertain the actual cause of death and make a detailed study about the tree.

Raipur, Nov. 7 : Several tribal girls of Raipur are getting access to education and acquiring vocational skills.

A visit to the Manpur area on the outskirts of Raipur showcases how tribal girls, are being offered an opportunity to educate themselves and learn various artistic skills.

Rukmani Markam, a student of the Kasturba Gandhi Avasiya Balika Vidyalaya in Manpur, said: “We are very happy to be here. The staff and teachers are very encouraging. We have been provided all required things.”

Deepa, another student, said: “ We are taught all subjects here. And, we are also encouraged to rise in life.”

Raipur, Sep. 22 : A fossil, estimated to be 60 centimetres long, has reportedly been discovered in a private house in Chhattisgarh’s Dhamtari District.

The head of the discovered structure is nine centimetres in size, while the forefeet and rear feet are 8 centimetres and 25 centimetres in size respectively.

"The skin and the teeth of the specimen is intact and it is an extraordinary finding. This seems to be a reptile or a predecessor of dinosaurs," said Dr. Kenny of the Indian Forest Services. 

Raipur, May 23 : Police here have seized nine tons of gelatin sticks from an unclaimed vehicle.