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5 lives snuffed out in bus-car collision
Chandigarh, August 23
The deceased youngsters, identified as Gaurav Garg (24), Balroop Singh (22) and Deepanshu Gupta (23), all students of the Chandigarh Group of Colleges (CGC), Landran, were driving towards Chandigarh on the road separating Sector 49 and 50 when their car hit a Volvo bus of the Himachal Roadways Transport Corporation (HRTC), which was going to Delhi after taking a halt at the Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT), Sector 43.
The police and the Fire Department were informed soon after the accident. Rajesh Shukla, SHO of the Sector 34 police station, stated that soon after reaching the spot, they started operations to rescue the passengers trapped in the bus. “A recovery van was called and the bus was lifted to rescue the injured,” the SHO added. The Fire Control Room received the call at 2.18 am, following which three fire tenders from the Sector 17, Sector 32 and Ram Darbar fire stations were dispatched. Gursharanjeet Singh, the fireman who was heading the rescue operations, said the car was in flames when they reached the spot. “After dousing the fire, we broke the windowpanes of the car to open the doors. But that didn’t help as the doors were badly jammed. The doors had to be cut with cutters, which took around 20 minutes,” he said. Sources said the youngsters had died before the flames could be doused, as there was no visible movement inside the car. While Gaurav, an MBA student, and Balroop, a BTech student, hailed from Shimla, Deepanshu, an MBA student, was from Rewari district in Haryana. They had taken leave from the college and were supposed to visit their parents.
Cutters used to remove students’ bodies
The doors of the charred car got jammed. These were cut with cutters to remove bodies.
Bus driver booked
Bus driver has been booked under section 279 (rash driving), 304-A (causing death by negligence) and 337 of the IPC.
Youths were on way to fetch chilled water
On Friday, the three youths were at a friend’s place in Phase 3B2, Mohali. Around eight friends had dinner together at Night Food Street and returned to Mohali. The three victims left the PG to get chilled water and met with an accident.
The deceAsed: UK, Chinese nationals among injured
The injured have been identified as Naresh Kumar, Dhiraj Baloria, Richa, Puneet Parmar, Deepali, Meera Kanwar, Ashish, Gaurav, Pardeep, all residents of Kangra district; Amrit, from Bihar; Ananya, a UK national; Chinese national Chen and his one-year-old daughter Ileana; bus driver Surinder Singh, from Delhi, and conductor Rishi.
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Car was tossed, bus flipped
Chandigarh, August 23 Suresh stated that the car, which was moving towards the road separating Sectors 45 and 46, hit the bus near its front wheel and was tossed into the air. “There was a blast in the car’s engine and it caught fire before landing on the road,” he stated. Suresh said after the collision, the bus moved a little ahead and flipped twice. “I rushed inside the check post to get assistance,” he added. He, along with his colleagues, tried to douse the fire with water. “We tried our best to save the youngsters. The entire car was burning,” he added. He could hear the shrieks of the passengers trapped in the bus. “I could hear a girl crying for help,” he added. A police party reached the spot and started rescue operations. “While most of the bus passengers were rescued, those trapped under it could be rescued only after a recovery van arrived there,” he added. The injured were rushed to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, in ambulances and police vehicles.
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Sector 45/46/49/50 light point mishap-prone
Chandigarh, August 23 The locals, who are aware of the fact, always exercise cautious while crossing the junction during night hours. The light point has witnessed some major accidents in the last few years claiming human lives. In majority of the accidents, buses were involved and these accidents were reported during late night or wee hours. Bachan Singh, a resident of Sector 45, said accidents were frequent at the light point. “I make it a point to look around for traffic before crossing the light point as heavy transport vehicles are driven at a high speed here,” Singh said. Shashank, a resident of Sector 48, said since buses ply on this road, he preferred to slow down his vehicle ahead of the intersection. “I don’t take a chance even if the traffic light is green. Who knows an overspeeding bus might jump the red light,” he said.
Fatal intersection
February 27, 2011: A 22-year-old resident of Jalandhar was killed when his car was hit by a speeding Haryana Roadways bus at the light point of Sectors 45/46/49/50. December 2, 2011: Over 25 persons sustained injuries in a head-on collision between a Himachal Roadways bus and an SUV. June 14, 2012: A 23-year-old girl student of Panjab University (PU) was killed while another student of the university was seriously injured when the car they were travelling in collided with a Himachal Roadways bus in the wee hours. June 19, 2014: In a freak road accident, the driver of a Himachal Roadways bus died after he fell out of the window and came under the rear tyre of the bus following sudden application of brakes. The bus was crossing a green signal when the driver had to apply brakes as a Zen car being driven by a girl suddenly came in front of it.
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Rs 10 lakh looted at gunpoint
Panchkula, August 23 The incident occurred at about 11.30 pm last night when liquor contractors, Parvinder Singh and Sohal Lal Sharma, a youth BJP leader, were sitting in an Innova car outside the liquor vend. They had two bags (containing the day’s collection of Rs 10 lakh). The robbers reached there in a Swift Dezire car. In a complaint to the police, the victims alleged that one of the armed robbers told them to lower the glass of their car window. When Parvinder Singh, who was sitting on driver’s seat, resisted, one of the robbers opened fire, they alleged. The robbers snatched the two bags containing the cash and other items, including an iPad, cash books and some important documents, from them and sped away, the complainants alleged. The car used in the crime had a Chandigarh registration number, said the victims. The victims informed the police and a team from the Chandi Mandir police station reached the spot. The impounded the Innova car. Talking to The Tribune, ACP Jagtar Singh said the all entry and exit points of the city were sealed soon after receiving the information. Robbery messages were also sent to the police of the neighbouring states, the claimed “We have laid a trap to nab the suspects. The police are also keeping an eye on every Swift Dezire car registered in Chandigarh,” the ACP added.
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Heart-rending scenes at GMSH-16
Chandigarh, August 23 Since morning, friends of the youths, Balroop Singh, Gaurav Garg and Deepanshu Gupta, from the Chandigarh Group of Colleges, Landran, started arriving at the hospital and mourned the deaths. By the afternoon, Balroop Singh’s parents and elder brother Uday arrived at the hospital. The inconsolable parents wanted to take the body and return to Shimla. Balroop’s father Swaran Singh is a businessman. Soon, Gaurav Garg’s parents too reached the hospital. Failing to come to the terms, Gaurav’s mother cried while sitting on the road. Visitors and patients also gathered there to lend emotional support to the bereaved families. The family members of Deepanshu Gupta too reached the hospital and were visibly shattered.
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Deceased NRI couple’s relatives shell-shocked
Chandigarh, August 23 Though the couple’s nine-year-old daughter Ananya, who was travelling with them in the ill-fated bus that collided with a car at Sector 45/46/49/50 light point, escaped with a hip fracture and multiple head-arms injuries, her condition is stated to be critical following excessive bleeding. She is kept under observation after being operated twice within a span of about five hours at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32. The NRI family was on its way to Delhi after meeting Roopesh’s younger brother in Dharamsala. They had reached India last week and straightaway headed to Jamnagar to meet their parents. Roopesh had plans to meet his elder brother in Delhi before catching a flight back to the United Kingdom (UK). The incident left all the relatives shell-shocked while the serious condition of the nine-year-old has scared the family members. Soon after learning about the incident, Roopesh’s brothers reached the GMCH-32. “Doctors are keeping Ananya under observation as her condition is critical. We are praying to the Almighty to cure her soon. She does not know that her parents are no more,” said a member of the family. Woman escapes with injuries, daughter serious
Deepali, a resident of Dharamsala, who was travelling with her mother on the bus, sustained serious head injuries and her condition is stated to be critical. She has been put on a ventilator. Deepali suffered an extra axial haemorrhage as the bus overturned and her head repeatedly hit seat corners and the window edge. She was reportedly sleeping at the time of the accident. Deepali was rushed to the GMCH with multiple injuries on her head and face. Meanwhile, her mother Meera Devi sustained injuries on neck, the left leg and chest. “Doctors have kept them under observation and Deepali’s condition is stated to be critical. She was hit badly on head,” said Deepali’s sister.
HRTC announces compensation
Ram Kumar Gautam, Executive Director, HRTC, visited the GMCH-32 after learning about the accident. He announced a compensation of Rs 25,000 to the bus passengers, who succumbed to their injuries. Meanwhile, the Transport Department has decided to bear the medical expenses of the passengers hurt in the mishap. The HRTC officials have scrutinised the footage of the CCTV cameras installed at CRPF check-post near the accident site. “From the CCTV footage, it seems that the bus was not being driven at high speed. Another bus of the HRTC and a PCR of the Chandigarh Police was following the ill-fated Volvo bus,” said Gautam. Bus driver Surinder sustained injuries on head, hands, left shin bone and right ribs while the bus conductor Rishi sustained bruises on the face.
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BJP to push for metropolitan planning commission for city
Chandigarh, August 23 During a meeting of the BJP State Executive Committee held today, party leaders, including MP Kirron Kher, resolved the issue. Earlier, BJP councillor Satinder Singh had raised this demand on various fronts but UT officials were reportedly sitting over the matter. Yesterday, Satinder Singh raised the issue in front of the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju. Today, the BJP acceded to the demand. In 2011, the UT Administration had decided to set up such a committee. However, it was not brought into effect so far. As per the 74th Constitutional Amendment, all states and union territories with a population of more than 10 lakh have been instructed to notify the committee. Chandigarh is spread over an area of 114 sq km and has a population of nearly 11 lakh. Most of the population of the city resides in urban areas. Once the committee is constituted, it would undertake the macro-planning of the city, including what kind of mega projects the UT should have, decisions of the Municipal Corporation, developmental plans for the city, levying of taxes etc. Elected representatives would be among the members of the committee. Jain demands constitution of panels for city’s development
Former MP Satya Pal Jain urged the Centre to constitute an ‘Inter-State Development Council’, ‘Union Home Minister’s Advisory Council’ and about 10 other advisory sub-committees to interact on issues concerning the city’s development. The committees will also ensure public participation in the decision-making process. Jain met Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Friday and discussed the issues concerning the city’s development.
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Stray dogs attack 22-year-old youth
Chandigarh, August 23 Kuldeep Singh, the owner of the flour mill, said he had complained about the stray animal menace in the area to the Municipal Corporation on a number of occasions but to no avail. Following the incident today, he rang up the MC’s Helpline number but those who attended the call expressed their helplessness, he said. Kuldeep Singh said for fear of stray dogs, children and senior citizens find it difficult to walk alone in the area.
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SAD leaders seek rollback
Tribune News Service
Mohali, August 23 The local party leaders, including Paramjit Singh Kahlon, Amrik Singh, Phool Raj Singh, Gurmukh Singh Sohal, SS Barnala, all former municipal councillors of the town, have recently written to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi and Member of Parliament from Anandpur Sahib Prem Singh Chandumajra to rollback the decision to impose property tax in the town. Talking to Chandigarh Tribune, Paramjit Singh Kahlon said: “We had made promises to local residents on party directions during the election campaign of Chandumajra that the SAD would not allow the MC to impose property tax in the town. “Now people have been asking us about its status. So we have written a letter to the party high command to take back the decision,” said Kahlon. He said the residents have already paid all development charges to PUDA so there was no logic behind imposing the tax here. The MMC has given ultimatum to the residents to deposit the tax till August 30 to avoid any fine. “We have appealed to the party high command to take a decision in this regard as soon as possible and cancel the corporation’s ultimatum immediately,” Kahlon added.
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Assn takes up industry issues with MC Commissioner
Mohali, August 23 The Commissioner was also accompanied by the officials concerned. Gupta assured the MIA that the necessary work would be carried out on a priority basis in Phases VII and VIII of the Industrial Area. It was also decided that a separate area would be allotted to various dhabas to check traffic bottlenecks in the Industrial Area. The Commissioner said the corporation was committed to providing the best facilities to the industries but at the same time the industry should also maintain the infrastructure provided by the civic body. The MIA assured the Commissioner that it was willing to work with the corporation in the public-private-partnership mode to ensure the maintenance of the green area and cleanliness of the Industrial Area. The Commissioner asked the MIA to draft a model under which the corporation and the industry could work together.
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Trader dies in accidental firing
Mohali, August 23 According to sub-inspector Navin Pal Singh Lehal, Station House Officer of Phase XI Police Station, Gajinder Singh was cleaning his revolver last night as he had to go to Bijnaur (Uttar Pradesh), where he was running a production plant of mosquito coils. The bullet pierced the head of the victim. The victim is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter. “After completing the proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC, we have handed over the body to his kin,” Lehal said.
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155 youth donate blood at camp
Panchkula, August 23 A team of doctors from the PGI, Chandigarh, collected the blood units at the camp that was inaugurated by Vinod Bhagai, a property dealer-turned social worker. This was the second annual camp organised by the management of the firm on the eve of Sai Sandhya, a discourse organised by the Shirdi Sai Sewa Samiti, Panchkula, said BM Sehgal, president of the samiti.
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College students’ death leaves friends stunned
Mohali, August 23 Balroop, along with Gaurav Garg and Deepanshu Gupta, was killed in a collision between a bus and a car at the Sector 45-46 light point in Chandigarh today. Three of them were students of the Chandigarh Group of Colleges (CGC), Landran. Balroop Singh was pursuing BTech (Mechanical) Semester V while Gaurav Garg and Deepanshu Gupta were doing MBA Semester II. Gaurav and Balroop, residents of Shimla, were staying in the college hostel while Deepanshu had been residing in a paying guest accommodation at Phase IIIB2 here. Sachin, who was in a shock after getting the news about his friends getting killed in an accident, said Balroop came to the hostel room in the afternoon before leaving the college premises at around 4.30 pm yesterday. “He told me that he and Gaurav were going to their respective homes to spend the weekend with their parents. I don’t know what their plan was and why they didn’t go to Shimla,” said Sachin. The deceased’s other friends, including Nikhil Sharma, Akshay Sharma, Navdeep Singh, Lovepreet Singh and Gagandeep Singh, too were stunned to know about the fatal accident. “Balroop had attended his classes yesterday before leaving the college. I cannot believe he is not alive,” said Akshay Sharma, Balroop and Gaurav’s classmate. CGC chairman Satnam Singh Sandhu and president Rashpal Singh Dhaliwal said both the students had left the college premises after taking required permission. “We were told that they were leaving for their respective homes,” said Sandhu. Instead of going to Shimla, Gaurav and Balroop reached Deepanshu’s place where some of other friends, all students of the same college, had gathered. Vikram, Deepanshu’s roommate, said all the friends, who had gathered at Deepanshu’s room, had their dinner at the Night Food Street located opposite the PGI in Chandigarh at around 12 midnight and returned to the accommodation. “Later, the trio went out in a car to fetch water but did not return for two-three hours. We made several calls on their mobile phones but they were not answered,” said Vikram. “We are shocked to hear the news,” said the CGC chairman, who said they would hold a condolence meeting on the college premises on Monday. “All the classes will remain suspended the day after tomorrow. We would also provide special conveyance to students going to attend the ‘bhog’ ceremony of the deceased,” said Sandhu.
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pu elections Foreign students say parties give no heed to their needs Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 23 Although all parties claim to be voicing concerns of varsity students, the foreign students, who comprise less than five per cent strength of total voters, have failed to grab their attention. As per the university records, there are around 400 students hailing from Afghanistan, Iran and Bhutan who are pursuing various courses on the campus. The foreign students who have taken admission to the university in this academic year are clueless as to how their issues could be taken up with the Administration when none of the parties had raised any of their problems with the authorities. “As we are new to this place, some local representatives should be assigned to us who can make us familiar with this city and the varsity. This will save us a lot of time in getting adjusted to the new culture,” said Mohammad Ashraf, a student of public administration who hails from Afghanistan. “The Administration takes a lot of time in providing us with urgent documents that we require to stay here. A lot of time is wasted in procuring these,” said another Afghani student, Mohammad Ali. Another student from Afghanistan, Sangar, said: “Due to the miserable conditions and inadequate facilities in hostels, we are forced to spend a lot on residing outside the campus.” Talking about problems faced by students wanting to pursue PhD, Iranian student Hossein, a research scholar from the Department of Laws, said: “The time taken by the authorities in converting student visa to research visa takes anywhere between six months and two years. We end up sitting idle during this time and have to spend a lot on food and accommodation.” “The varsity must organise some interactive programmes to help us intermingle with other students on the campus. We are looked upon as strangers by most of them,” said Yaser, who came from Iran two years ago. Problems being faced by foreign students
What leaders say We are aware of problems faced by foreign students. We, however, can’t do much to help them because of the involvement of embassies in their administrative matters. We do interact with foreign students on a regular basis to help them become familiar with the
university. Procedures that foreign students are expected to follow are not in our hands. The only thing that we can do is to extend them moral
support.
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NSUI raises demands of dental interns
Chandigarh, August 23 The students demanded that the no-objection certificate be signed despite the fact that the intern quota of number of patients has been fulfilled or not. All students who have cleared the exam in revaluation should be attendance for attendance for a month and a half besides stipend for the same period, they said. Other demands included making Saturday a half working day and reduction in examination fee. NSUI workers said as the principal, Ashish Jain, had failed to accept most of the demands, they would be continuing the strike on Monday. Hunger strike called off
After the PU authorities accepted their demands, NSUI members sitting on a hunger strike outside the Girls’ Hostel No. 8 withdrew their protest. A meeting of the NSUI members was called by the authorities to resolve the issue. NSUI leader Manoj Lubana said the main demand of allowing girls to go to the library at night with a gate pass was accepted. Other demands including an increase in the number of guest entries and the number of female guards, cleanliness in the mess and canteens, installation of inverters and emergency lights and yearlong availability of geysers were also accepted, he said.
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National workshop
Chandigarh: A national workshop on application of GIS in transportation systems was organised at the PEC University of Technology. Nearly 100 participants including urban planners and civil engineers from different parts of the country attended the workshop. The objective of the workshop was to discuss critical issues and the challenges of public transport systems with the possible application of geographical information systems (GIS). The Surveyor General of India, Dr Swarna Subba Rao, was the chief guest during the inaugural session. Lectures on spectroscopy
The department of chemistry of the MCM DAV College for Women organised a two-day science academies lecture workshop on “spectroscopy—application in chemistry”. The workshop, organised in association with the Indian Academy of Sciences, Bengaluru; Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi; and the National Academy of Sciences, Allahabad; intended to provide undergraduate and postgraduate students with a platform to understand several aspects of spectroscopy and its application in chemistry. Speakers from renowned institutes addressed the students. Society inaugurated
The department of economics of the Dev Samaj College for Women, Sector 45-B, inaugurated its Economics Society. The chief guest, Director Public Instructions (Colleges) Sandeep Hans, interacted with students. He emphasised importance of economic studies in the present scenario and encouraged the students to participate in activities of the society. The event was followed by an economics quiz and some cultural activities. World Photography Day
On the eve of World Photography Day, Gyanm College of Competitions, Sector 34, organised a photography competition for its students to celebrate 175 years of photography. Out of more than 100 entries received for the contest, three pictures were chosen by a panel headed by internationally acclaimed photographer Subhash Sapru. Winners of the contest were Hanish Singh, Jassey Sachdev and Amisha Sharma. On-the-spot contest
To give wings to the imagination of budding photographers of MCM College, the department of mass communication organised an on-the-spot photography contest. The theme was ‘’Expressions’’. Students from all streams participated in the contest. Simran bagged the first prize, while the second position was shared by Farheen and Pratibha. — TNS
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Students display talent
Chandigarh: The AKSIPS Group of Smart Schools celebrated Founder’s Day by organising the Student of the Year 2014 competition. Students from various campuses performed for the most coveted title. Dance, songs and other entertaining activities captivated the audience. The students who bagged the coveted title were Lavisha (AKSIPS-41), Gautam Rana (AKSIPS-65), Kunjam (AKSIPS-45) and Arushi Sharma (AKSIPS-125). Lecture on consumer rights
Around 70 students attended a lecture on the Consumer Act 1986 at PML SD Public School, Sector 32. Kajal and Sukhjeet from the State Legal Service Authority delivered the lecture. English recitation
St Joseph’s Senior Secondary School, Sector 44, organised an inter-house English recitation competition. The students of Class I from the four houses—Ranjit House, Tagore House, Raman House and Ashoka House—participated in the competition with great zeal. Installation ceremony
The installation ceremony of the Interact Club was held at Sri Guru Harkrishan Senior Secondary Public School. Rotary Club, Chandigarh, president Dr Paramjit Singh attended the ceremony. Holiday camp
Students of Government Senior Secondary School, Raipur Khurd, attended a free Holiday Home Camp for schoolchildren at Sadhupul, Himachal Pradesh. The Holiday Home Society in collaboration with the Social Welfare and Educational Department organised the event. Sanskrit week
In order to promote Sanskrit, Government High School, Dadu Majra, celebrated Sanskrit Saptah. The weeklong activity was held under the guidance of headmistress Lovleen Kaur. — TNS
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BCom counselling tomorrow
Chandigarh: The fourth counselling of BCom-I at PU-affiliated colleges of Chandigarh and the department of evening studies, PU, will be held on August 25 at the Law Auditorium. Students can refer to the website bcomadmissions.puchd.ac.in for details about the number of seats and the schedule. 350 attend health camp
The Youth Welfare Association, Panjab University, organised a free health check-up camp in association with the Bharat Vikas Parishad (youth wing) at the UIET, Sector 25. More than 350 students and staff members attended the camp. The team of doctors conducted free tests for blood sugar, blood pressure, eyesight and dental hygiene besides general health check-up to assess health disorders arising from a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits. Expert gives lecture on interdisciplinary study
Noted Indian scientist and professor at IISER Somdatta Sinha said that there could not be any all-encompassing definition of life and any single stream of science could not define and explain it. Prof Sinha was delivering the prestigious Panjab University Colloquium on the topic “Life: Where all Sciences Meet”. She discussed interdisciplinary teaching and research in theoretical biology. — TNS
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PU professor honoured
Chandigarh, August 23 The professor has been honoured for his research contributions in the field of science. The award was given to him at a state-level function. He received Rs 2 lakh, a citation and a trophy as a token of appreciation from the Haryana government.
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3 students, NRI couple killed in Friday night accident at sector 45/46/49/50 light point
The accident was reported at around 2.08 am. The car, which was reportedly running at a high speed, hit the bus and was tossed into the air before catching fire. The bus flipped twice up to 20 metres. The NRI couple, Roopesh Nawakhale and Kavita Nawakhale, who were travelling by the bus, were crushed under it.
