New Delhi, Aug 26 (PTI) These are the top stories from the northern region at 8.30 pm.

These are the top stories from the northern region at 8.30 pm. DEL11 JK-SITUATION Normal life remains affected in Kashmir Srinagar: Normal life remained affected in Kashmir for the 22nd consecutive day on Monday as markets and schools were shut, but the movement of private vehicles in the city improved, officials said.

DEL31 JK-LOC-BUS Cross-LoC bus service from Poonch to Rawalakot resumes Jammu: A week after it was suspended, the Poonch-Rawalakot cross-LoC bus service resumed on Monday, with 46 stranded passengers, including 40 from PoK, returning home, an official said. DES48 JK-POONCH-SCHOOLS Higher secondary schools reopen in J&K's Poonch Jammu: Higher secondary schools reopened in Poonch district of Jammu region on Monday after remaining closed for over three weeks due to restrictions imposed in the wake of abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status earlier this month, an official said.

DES43 RJ-ASARAM-COURT Court refuses early hearing on Asaram Bapu's plea Jodhpur: In a blow to godman Asaram Bapu, a divison bench of the Rajasthan High Court here on Monday turned down his plea for an early hearing against his conviction in a sexual assault case. DES5 RJ-TENSION Raj: 45 arrested for pelting stones at VHP rally Jaipur: Police have arrested 45 people in Gangapur City of Rajasthan's Sawai Madhopur district where tension prevailed after some people pelted stones at a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) rally, a senior police officer said on Monday.

SONIPAT DES11 HR-SELF IMMOLATION Man tires self-immolation when Hry CM's 'Jan Ashirwad Yatra' was passing through Sonipat (Hry): A man attempted self-immolation in Rathdhana village of Sonipat district on Monday when Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar's 'Jan Ashirwad Yatra' was passing through the area. DES3 UP-MAYAWATI-KASHMIR Mayawati questions Oppn's attempted visit to Kashmir Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati on Monday lashed out at the Opposition parties' attempted visit to Srinagar after the scrapping of Jammu and Kashmir's special status.

DES6 UP-PRIYANKA-RAE BARELI Priyanka to visit Rae Bareli rail coach factory Lucknow: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will visit Rae Bareli on Tuesday to express solidarity with the workers of a rail coach factory who are agitating against corporatisation of the unit. DES38 UP-AKHILESH-2NDLD BJP SP, BSP accuse Centre of misusing probe agencies; BJP refutes allegation Lucknow: The Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party slammed the BJP-led Centre on Monday for "misusing probe agencies" for its political interests, a charge rubbished by the saffron party.

DES45 NHRC-UP-SCHOOL-LD MEAL NHRC notice to UP chief secy over rotis, salt served in midday meal Lucknow: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sent a notice to Uttar Pradesh chief secretary after taking cognisance of reports that children of a government-run primary school in Mirzapur were served rotis and salt for their midday meal. DES28 HP-CM-HOTELS No HPTDC hotel for sale: Himachal CM after faux pas on govt website Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Monday denied that the government planned to sell any state-run hotel, two days after a website suggested that it aimed to shed ownership of 14 properties.

DES40 PB-FLOODS-BHAKRA Release of water from Bhakra dam reduced on Punjab's request Chandigarh: Release of excess water through spillway gates from the Bhakra dam has been reduced to about 8,000 cusecs following a request from Punjab government, an official said on Monday..