Bathinda, November 25
Despite tall claims of streamlining the traffic by taking initiatives and releasing funds, it seems that a little has been done to save lives of the commuters. As per the data procured under the Right to Information Act (RTI), Bathinda tops the chart of road accident deaths in seven districts of Malwa, with 511 deaths reported during the past three years.

While the city traffic policemen attribute to rising number of vehicles comprising of SUVs as the major cause of the road accident deaths, people blame traffic officials for not nailing down the rash drivers, especially the heavy vehicles and SUVs.

As per the district wise details of the state, procured by Pardeep Kumar, a resident of Parasram Nagar, Ludhiana has the maximum deaths in the road accident followed by Patiala. While Bathinda tops seven districts of Malwa comprising of Muktsar, Moga, Mansa, Fazilka, Ferozepur, Faridkot and the police district Barnala.

From 2011 till March, as many as 677 cases pertaining to the road accident deaths have been registered with 419 injured and 511 deaths.

In Moga, 476 cases have been registered with 416 deaths and 291 injuries, Fazilka 121 injured and 351 deaths, Ferozepur 270 injured and 344 deaths, Faridkot 157 injured and 267 deaths, Muktsar 161 injured and 265 deaths, Barnala 328 injured and 249 deaths and Mansa had the least number of cases 237 registered with 181 injured persons and 175 deaths.

The information revealed that 102 persons lost their lives in just three months this year in the area falling under the Ludhiana rural police station and the lowest number of deaths, 19 reported in the first three months this year in Batala and Pathankot.

A total 10,740 people have lost their lives so far. Bathinda city traffic in charge, Bharpur Singh, said most of the accidents reported in Bathinda were due to the rising increasing traffic.

“Many lives were lost last year during the onset of winters as high speed vehicles collide due to low visibility after fog,” he said.

He claimed that the city traffic was creating awareness among the schoolchildren and others to reduce the number of accidents.

Bathinda, November 25
Cholamandalam MS General Insurance Company Limited, Jindal Complex GT Road, Bathinda, has been directed to pay a sum of Rs 3.55 lakh as insurance besides Rs 20,000 cost and compensation by the District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum.

In a complaint lodged with the forum, Pooja, the complainant, and her other family members, had complained that the insurance company had repudiated the insurance claim after her husband’s death, over frivolous ground.

Pooja’ husband was comprehensively insured with the insurance company. He was killed in a road accident in Bathinda. The company had rejected the insurance claim saying that the driving licence of the deceased had not been renewed. Contesting the claims of the company, the complainant’s lawyer, Ashok Gupta, argued that the validity of the driving licence was valid few months before the accident. Delay in renewing a valid licence prior to the accident does not in any way doubt the driving skill of the deceased.

“The deceased had validity of the licence of car and motorbike but had met the expiry date of Light Transport Vehicle (LTV) when the accident occurred,” Gupta said. He added that the precedent laid by the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Punjab, wherein earlier too, similar cases have been settled in favour of the complainant. After hearing the arguments both the parties, the forum observed deficiency on the part of the insurance company and directed it to pay Rs 3.55 lakh.

Bathinda, November 25
The policemen returning from the night duty were seen today enjoying liquor and other beverages in the open. City residents witnessed the policemen in uniform outside the liquor vends and the non-vegetarian eating joints.

An SHO level policeman, accompanied by five to six police personnel, was seen enjoying the liquor openly on the GT Road. After ordering non-vegetarian food and snacks from a nearby restaurant, he asked the owner of a hotel to arrange table and chairs in the parking area where he spent around 45 minutes.

Some city residents brought the matter to the notice of newly-appointed SSP, Gurpreet Singh Bhullar. The SSP assured that a strict action against the erring policemen. The policemen consuming liquor were asked to leave the place immediately or else they would face an action by a police patrolling party.

When contacted the SSP, he said though it was not illegal for the policemen to consume liquor yet they should maintain the dignity of the uniform. “I have passed strict orders to the police not to consume liquor in uniform even if they are off duty,” Bhullar claimed.

Bathinda, November 25
Days before the general manager of Northern Railways was scheduled to arrive at the Bathinda junction, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Anil Kumar Kathpal inspected the junction early this morning. While the GM will review the junction as part of his inspection tour of Bathinda, Dhuri and Jakhal, the DRM came to review the arrangements for the GM's visit scheduled for November 29.

The DRM accompanied by senior railway officials reached Bathinda junction at 7 am today by a special train. During the inspection, he reviewed the prevailing conditions at platform numbers 4, 5, 6 and 7 and pulled up the junction officials for lapses in maintenance and directed them to put their act together before the GM's visit.

He instructed the junction officials to develop the park near platform number 7. He also reviewed the whitewash, floor, furniture of the VIP and the press conference rooms and directed the staff to make some changes.

When asked why the ticket window at the station could not be kept open 24x7, he said, "The railways have been facing a fund crunch. The expenditure exceeds the income of the railways. As a ripple effect, there is a shortage of manpower because of which the ticket window can't be kept open all the through day and night," the DRM said.

He also added that for the convenience of passengers, more ticket windows have been opened in the city. The DRM expressed the hope that passengers would avail the benefit of those windows to avoid heavy rush at the ticket counters inside the station during peak hours.

He also stated that the division was working towards phasing out the old token manual system and installing the automatic system in its place. The train driver or the assistant driver collects a new token from every halt station and discards the one collected from the earlier station. The tokens are meant to give the go ahead to the train signalling that the line ahead is clear. The automatic system would give red or green signal to the train driver indicating whether the track is clear or not.

While earlier, the DRM pulled up the authorities over the lack of sanitation at the platforms, he said the railway authorities were in the process of approving a new contract at the earliest when asked when the junction would get a final solution to its sanitation woes.

Bathinda, November 25
Central University of Punjab organised a programme in the memory eminent Sikh scholar and writer Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha here today. The programme was organised by the Centre for Comparative Literature of the university as part of its series of conducting lectures on unmatched literary figures.

In remembrance of the contribution of Bhai Nabha, a tribute was paid to him. Dr Zameerpal Kaur, officiating in-charge of the centre, introduced the key speakers. Eminent scholar Dr Jagmail Singh Bhathuan, who has done a lot of research on Bhai Kahn Singh, spoke about his teachings and contribution in detail.

Prof JS Grewal, former vice-chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, expressed pleasure at the recognition being offered to such a stalwart and also spoke about his contribution to the culture of Punjab.

Major Adarsh Pal Singh, the grandson of Bhai Kahn Singh showed pictures from the life of the writer and spoke about various aspects of his personality. A documentary on the life and works of Bhai Kahn Singh was also shown.

Prof RG Saini, in-charge examinations, proposed a vote of thanks.

Bathinda, November 25
Giani Zail Singh Punjab Technical University Campus may soon add another feather to its cap. Now, students of Giani Zail Singh Punjab Technical University (GZS-PTU) Campus may have a chance to undergo an industrial training in South Korean universities.

Director of the campus, Dr Jasbir Singh Hundal, had recently visited the country and held discussions with two universities regarding the industrial training. Dr Hundal was at Jeju in South Korea to attend an international level conference. He expressed hope that the discussions will bear fruit and will open new avenues for the students of the campus. He stated that if the universities gave their nod, the students will be able to undergo the industrial training in the South Korean universities during their BTech and will also have options of completing their MTech and PhD from there.

Dr Hundal stated that he had held talks with Dean (international affairs) of Myongji University (Seoul) Ginseng Yang and Dean (international affairs) of the Inha University (Incheon) Kyeong Choi and Dyeong Jyong. He added that the Inha University has offered to waive off the tuition fee of the students of the GZS-PTU while they will have to bear the expenses of accommodation during their stay.

Dr Hundal stated that he also met the students of the GZS-PTU, Kanwaljeet Kaur, Gurveer Kaur and Amit Kumar, who are currently undergoing their industrial training at the Dongguk University in Seoul.

Bathinda, November 25
A refresher course was conducted at the SSD School here today for the 59th National School Games which will be held in the city from November 28 to December 3. The officers who have been given the various responsibilities for the games attended the course. These included the officers who will conduct the games and are responsible for preparing and maintenance of the grounds and conveners.

The course was conducted under the guidance of the Deputy Director (Sports) Sarabjeet Singh Toor of the School Education Department. Present during the course were AEO (Sports) Pavittar Kaur and Deputy District Education Officer Krishan Kumar Gupta.

Principal of the Dashmesh College of Education for Girls, Surinder Singh,Shavinder Singh, Manthan Singh, Snatosh Dutta, Santokh Singh Gill and Colonel Dr Anand Sarup Pal were also present during the camp.

Shalinder Singh spoke about the rules in the game of hockey, duties of a referee and umpire decision among other things. Manthan Singh spoke on the rules in a game of kabaddi and Santosh Singh on boxing.

At the conclusion of the course, Sarabjeet Singh asked all to work hard to ensure that the National School Games are conducted successfully.