C H A N D I G A R H

Top stories | Community | Business | Education

Culture | Lifestyle | Health | Sports

TOP STORIES

Moderate polling in city Villagers lead the show
Chandigarh, May 10
Moderate polling was reported in the city today. According to official tentative figures available here tonight, 51 per cent of the 5.26 lakh electorate exercised their right to vote.

Only 37 pc cast vote in Mohali
Mohali, May 10
In a poor response to the most important democratic process in the country, only 37 per cent of the total voters in Mohali cast their vote today for electing their representative to the Lok Sabha.

Mr B.B. Mohanty (extreme right), election observer, checks a polling booth at Gian Jyoti Public School, Phase II, Mohali, on Monday. — Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan

Village boycotts polling
Panchkula, May 10
Irked over the lack of development in the area, residents of Thathar village in the Morni area of the Kalka Assembly segment of the Ambala parliamentary constituency boycotted polling today.

Protest against Admn over missing names in voters list

Chandigarh, May 10 Thousands of city residents today found that they had been left out of the voters list despite having valid voter identity cards. They couldn’t vote City residents, who found their names missing from the voter list, show their cards to Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal in Chandigarh on Monday. — Tribune photo by Pawan Sharma

Clashes, cane charge mar polling
SAD workers hurt, booked 

Dera Bassi, May 10 Violence marred the Lok Sabha elections in over 12 polling stations in Banur segment of Patiala parliamentary constituency here today. More than 12 workers of the Congress and the SAD were injured in incidents of violence at many villages, including Bartana, Chhat, Neembuan, besides Dera Bassi township during polling. Policemen drag a supporter of the SAD during a mild cane charge on the Kalka-Ambala highway on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

1 held, 2 booked for misbehaving with polling staff

Chandigarh, May 10 A drunken voter along with another one, who had an altercation with the polling staff over his name missing from the voters list, was today arrested for allegedly misbehaving. Twentyseven vehicles were impounded for allegedly ferrying voters in violation of the Representation of the People’s Act (RPI). The impounded vehicles used for ferrying voters to polling booths in violation of the Representation of People’s Act on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

7 EVMs replaced due to minor snags
Chandigarh, May 10
There were complaints of more than a dozen electronic voting machines (EVMs) causing trouble during polling in different parts of the city today. The polling work was suspended for more 30 minutes at various places due to this. The machines were replaced with new ones. At many places voters sought extension in the polling time.

Ninetyeight-year-old Dhian Kaur being helped by her grandson Jaspal Bhatti to cast her vote at a polling booth in Chandigarh on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

Where polling continued till 7 pm
Chandigarh, May 10
The Indira Colony polling station saw an almost unending queue in the evening, resulting in the polling ending at 7 p.m. Police sources said voters in the queue had entered the polling enclosure, which forced the polling staff to allow them to cast their vote. According to the rules, if a voter enters the polling enclosure, he will be allowed to vote. People ran to join the queue and political parties circulated voters’ slips while they were standing.

Traffic curbs irk motorists
Panchkula, May 10
Traffic restrictions imposed for the smooth conduct of the Lok Sabha poll proved to be a nightmare for hundreds of motorists entering and passing through the township today. With the local police going overboard in “regulating” the traffic, the motorists were at the receiving end. Chaos reigned supreme with Haryana Police personnel putting their worst foot forward and allegedly harassing the motorists.

Election sidelights

CHANDIGARH CALLING Voting day became synonymous with a holiday for city residents who, after casting their votes, spent the entire day just having a good time. Through with their duty of casting vote early in the morning before the queues began forming, some of them chose to drive uphill, away from the scorching summer sun, while others descended at the newly opened multiplex in large numbers. SC order on school fee Rural-urban divide Stars and poll Villain campaigner Ice-cream parlour Solar reflectors 3-day weekend

COMMUNITY

Crowds are out again Chandigarh, May 10 Pollskrieg-2004 kept city residents busy casting their vote today. If the crowds swelled at polling booths till the early evening, leaving the city roads deserted, people suddenly came out in the evening to have a feel of the holiday. The Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh was a hot favourite for a stroll for poll-weary souls on Monday. — A Tribune photograph

He dares to stare death
Chandigarh, May 10
He stares death in the face every night as he douses himself in petrol, sets himself on fire and jumps 60 feet down into a ‘well of fire’. Ram Prasad Azad, a stuntman from Delhi, dares anyone to imitate his stunts.

BUSINESS

Market Pulse
Lifebuoy has new shape
Chandigarh, May 10
Lifebuoy has been relaunched with a new curved shape, changing its 109-year-old brick shape, to offer an easy grip and modern look. The new curved shape is the second major change in Lifebuoy’s history, after the relaunch of 2002. In 2002, after 107 years of its existence as a carbolic soap, Lifebuoy was relaunched as a milled toilet soap offering better germ protection.

EDUCATION

Scholarships for the disabled
Chandigarh, May 10
The National Centre for the Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) and Samsung India Electronics have launched a nationwide scheme for scholarships for technology-based courses for the disabled.

2 city engineers to join IIM Ahmedabad
Chandigarh, May 10
Two city engineers have made it to the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad, the top management institute of the country. Considering himself to be lucky, Prashant Chadha, a former student of production engineering from Punjab Engineering College (PEC), has been selected for IIM Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Lucknow and Kozhikode. Talking to Chandigarh Tribune, Prashant said he had fared well in the interview, as he was asked questions on his favourite subject, Inventory Control.

CULTURE

‘Pune Highway’ to unfold in city
Chandigarh, May 10
The Durga Das Foundation, Spice Telecom and The Tribune Group of Publications bring to theatre afficianadoes yet another gripping production by Mumbai-based Rahul Da Cunha. This will be Da Cunha’s second time in the city on the foundation’s invitation, the first being when he directed and staged the popular “Love Letters”.

Punjabi singers to perform
Chandigarh, May 10
Brilliant Entertainment Networks has announced the launch of the worldwide bhangra concert series. The concert will witness Punjabi and Indipop artistes like Daler Mehndi, Stereo Nation, Apache Indian, Baba Sehgal, Anamika, Jassi, Mika and Malkit Singh, among others, performing together live to an audience of over 25,000. Tickets are available at Zodiac outlets in Chandigarh.

LIFESTYLE

Packaging in style, decorating with class
If design and style have become a part of the mundane lifestyle, can the special occasions escape the onslaught of jazz and style? Adding that extra zing, colour and fizz to your special occasion is Ms Japneet Kaur Bawa and her mother, Ms Puneet Kaur.

Pakhis for packing dress material; and right: Japneet Kaur Bawa with her exquisite packaging material for special occasions. — Tribune photos by Pawan Sharma

Students make ‘the final expression’

FIVE final-year students of the Government College of Art have joined hands to give expression to their creativity. Titled as “The Final Expression” the onging exhibition at Kalagram provides variety in terms of media — oil, etching, aquatint and stone and wood sculpture. Creations by students of the Government College of Art on display at Kalagram in Chandigarh. — A Tribune photograph

Wedded to theatre, musicals his love
George Pulinkala can take even the most sensible human being to the world of fantasy by exploiting his deep-rooted desire for eternal childhood. After establishing himself as the most sought-after musical director in the region with his earlier productions, “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Annie”, Pulinkala is here again to take you to yet another adventure trip to the magical island of “Neverland” with his mega-musical “Peter Pan”, that opened at St Kabir in Chandigarh on Monday.

Dress up in style this summer
Numero Uno, a denimwear brand, has introduced its latest summerwear collection. Cool and chic, the collection is stylised towards the basic look, which is very in this season. According to Mr Narinder Singh, managing director of Hi-Fashion Clothing Company, “Corresponding to the current trends, the Numero Uno girl collection offers, short denim kurtas that have been stylised with floral embroideries and range between Rs 499 and Rs 599. These are available in cool cotton and crip linen”.

HEALTH

Endoscopic disc surgery camp today
Chandigarh, May 10
Patients suffering from spine, knee disorders and sports injuries will be examined at a medical camp being organised here tomorrow by Dr Mohinder Kaushal, an arthroscopic and spinal endoscopic expert of north India.

Fortis nurses raise funds for the poor
Mohali, May 10
A fund-raising cultural programme, the proceeds of which will go to poor patients, is the highlight of the week-long celebrations of “nurses week” at Fortis Heart and Multi-Speciality Hospital.