Sculptor Mourned, Quake Felt & Tourism Billions Planned: Shimla This Week
Himachal Pradesh's capital had a week full of milestones: the state mourned legendary sculptor Professor M.C. Saxena, a moderate earthquake shook Shimla district, helicopter connectivity opened to Rampur, and Chief Minister Sukhu announced a sweeping ₹15,000 crore tourism investment plan for the next five years.
Shimla Mourns Legendary Sculptor Prof M.C. Saxena
Shimla bid farewell this week to Professor M.C. Saxena, a legendary sculptor whose work helped define the visual cultural identity of Himachal Pradesh over several decades. Saxena, who passed away at his home, was remembered by artists, educators and civic leaders as a rare creative force who combined deep classical training with an instinctive feel for the mountain landscape and its people. His sculptures graced public spaces across Himachal Pradesh and his influence on generations of art students at institutions in and around Shimla was described as incalculable by former pupils. The cultural community called for a permanent memorial in his honour, and state arts bodies announced that a commemorative exhibition of his works would be organised in the coming weeks to allow the public to celebrate a career that spanned more than five decades. [3]
4.1 Magnitude Earthquake Rattles Shimla District
A moderate intensity earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale struck Shimla district this week, sending tremors through residential neighbourhoods and briefly alarming residents across several tehsils. The National Centre for Seismology confirmed the quake's parameters and said there was no immediate report of structural damage or casualties, though officials advised people in older buildings to exercise caution given the region's seismic vulnerability. The tremor was felt clearly in central Shimla and in surrounding areas including Fagu and Theog, where residents reported objects falling from shelves and mild cracking in older structures. Authorities said a team of engineers had been dispatched to inspect public buildings and heritage structures in the affected zones as a precautionary measure. [4]
Himachal Launches Helicopter Services Between Shimla and Rampur
Himachal Pradesh launched a new helicopter service connecting Shimla with Rampur this week, reducing travel time along the challenging mountainous corridor from several hours by road to under thirty minutes by air. The service is intended to ease connectivity for residents of Kinnaur and Rampur subdivisions who have long faced logistical difficulties reaching Shimla for administrative, medical and commercial purposes, particularly during winter months when road conditions deteriorate sharply. Officials said the route would operate on specific days of the week with capacity for a small number of passengers per flight, and that fares had been set with affordability in mind to ensure the service was accessible beyond business travellers. The launch was described as a pilot project, with the government indicating it would expand the network of intra-state helicopter routes if demand proved sufficient. [6]
CM Sukhu Unveils ₹15,000 Crore Tourism Investment Plan for Five Years
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu this week unveiled an ambitious plan to invest ₹15,000 crore in Himachal Pradesh's tourism sector over the next five years, pledging to transform the state into a year-round travel destination that attracts domestic and international visitors beyond the traditional summer peaks. The plan includes development of new adventure tourism circuits, upgradation of existing hill stations, improved road and accommodation infrastructure in lesser-visited districts, and a major push to promote Himachal's cultural heritage alongside its natural landscapes. Sukhu said the investment would generate tens of thousands of jobs across hospitality, transport and handicraft sectors and reduce the state's reliance on seasonal tourism patterns that left local economies exposed during off-peak months. Industry associations welcomed the announcement but called for a detailed implementation roadmap to ensure the funds were deployed effectively within the projected timeline. [8]
Sources: [3] Himachal Scape · [4] The New Indian Express · [6] The Statesman · [8] The News Himachal