C H A N D I G A R H

A severe squall hit the city on Saturday evening. A pall of dust, that reduced visibility, enveloped the city and its surroundings. This photo was taken by Manoj Mahajan on the traffic lights at an intersection on the Chandigarh-Panchkula road.

Squall hits region, causes major power breakdown
CHANDIGARH, May 27 — A squall with wind speeds touching 105 km per hour resulted in total disruption in life as a major power breakdown occurred in large parts of northern India, while vehicular traffic was disrupted on the highways as well as within the city and its surrounding areas here this evening.

Punwire staff fear the firm may be declared sick
SAS NAGAR, May 27 — With the 24th annual general meeting of Punjab Wireless Systems Limited (Punwire) scheduled at PCA stadium, Phase IX here on May 29, the Punwire Employees Union (Radio), Punwire Marts Employees Union and members of the Punwire Executive Association have expressed an apprehension that the company would be declared a sick unit.

COMMUNITY

City-Ambala highway not safe for driving
ZIRAKPUR, May 27 — Encroachment by shopkeepers and vendors in the local market has resulted in traffic hazards on the Chandigarh-Ambala highway here for the past many years.

Tributes to Pandit Nehru
CHANDIGARH, May 27 — A special function was organised by the local unit of the Congress to pay homage to Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru here today.

PU alumni clear Civil Services exam
CHANDIGARH, May 27 — A research scholar of the Department of Geography in Panjab University, Umesh Chander Datta, has been ranked 73 in the All-India Civil Services Examination, the results of which were declared by the UPSC yesterday.

• Former Tribune employee dead

CRIME

Rash driving case registered
CHANDIGARH, May 27 — Mr Anil Sharma, a resident of Mauli Jagran, was injured when the scooter he was riding was hit by a car near traffic lights of SGGS College in Sector 26. Mr Sharma has been admitted to the PGI.

City cop loses legs in Frankfurt
CHANDIGARH, May 27 — For SI Ram Dayal of the Chandigarh police, it was a mission which changed his life and the one which he would like to forget in a hurry.

BUSINESS

MNCs’ role in Indian market discussed
CHANDIGARH, May 27 — Multi-nationals in India are not producing world-class goods for Indian market which gives a great opportunity to Indian companies.

Exhibition opened
CHANDIGARH, May 27 — The Education Department, Chandigarh Administration, here today organised an exhibition-cum-sale of ladies garments, hand-painted, block and screen printed linen, sarees, dupattas and gift items for children at Latpat Rai Bhavan in Sector-15.

COURTS

University gets court notice
CHANDIGARH, May 27 — Issuing a notice of motion for July 20 to Punjabi University at Patiala and another respondent, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court here has directed that the students of SAS Nagar based Guru Amar Dass Business School “shall not be compelled to appear in the examinations as private students, requiring them to pay an additional fee”.

Jain case hearing on May 31
CHANDIGARH, May 27 — The bail application of former UT Home Secretary, N.K. Jain, will come up before the Additional District and Sessions Judge and Special Judge for the Central Bureau of Investigation cases, Mr Lakhbir Singh, on May 31.

CULTURE

Gloomy women await liberation from orthodox social practices.— A painting by Prem Singh

Need to curb unhealthy cultural practices As elsewhere in the country, the modern city of Chandigarh and its countryside is not free from the unhealthy cultural and traditional practices. Take, for instance, the birth of a child which is a potential asset in womanhood. Without childbirth almost all would say that womanhood is incomplete. A great deal of social satisfaction is attached to the act of childbirth.

Bhatti on the prowl... looking for talent
CHANDIGARH, May 27 — While Jaspal Bhatti, who virtually single-handedly brought Chandigarh on the small screen productions map of the country, is yet to begin shooting of his new Punjabi and Hindi serials , the city is agog with activity as more than one serials are already under production here.

HEALTH

Cheering up kids with magic
CHANDIGARH, May 27 — It was a magic show with a difference. In the audience at the Advanced Paediatric Centre auditorium at the PGI were 150-odd children admitted to the centre.

127 donate blood
DERA BASSI, May 27 — As many as 127 persons donated blood at a camp organised by the Bharat Vikas Parishad, of Dera Bassi in an industrial unit at Haitbatpur village near here today.

Hyperactivity, conduct disorders discussed at workshop
CHANDIGARH, May 27 — Issues like hyperactivity, conduct disorders, social problems, attitude of society, learning disabilities, aggression, self injurious behaviour and eating problems were discussed at a one-day workshop for parents of mentally retarded children organised by the Sector 32 Government Institute for Mentally Retarded Children.

SPORT

City wrestlers for national camp
CHANDIGARH, May 27 — Eight grapplers of the city, including four girls, have been selected by the Wrestling Federation of India for a national junior camp in preparation for the World Junior Meet in France from July 7 to 9.

Carrom tourney begins
CHANDIGARH, May 27 — The first Bangiya Sanskritik Sammilani Carrom Tournament began here today at the Sector 35 Bangiya Bhavan. The two-day meet is being held in the memory of Gaur Roy. 

ADMINISTRATION

Housing plan for class III, IV employees
SAS NAGAR, May 27 — Acting on a long-pending demand of housing for its employees, the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) will now offer the low income group and middle income group category houses to its class III and IV employees under a new housing scheme.