Sleep apnea treatment at DMCH 
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Sept 22 — Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, has started a complete sleep lab here. It is claimed to be a pioneering effort in the treatment of sleep apnea in the region.

Dr G.S. Wander, Medical Superintendent said, after running the sleep tab on an experimental basis for five months, it had been made fully operative by the Chest department, DMCH. Previously, the treatment of sleep apnea was available in Delhi only, and that too at a prohibitive cost. DMCH had kept the fee nominal so that more people could benefit from it.

Dr U.P. Sidhu, Reader, Chest Department DMCH, said that it had been estimated that 118 million Americans suffered from the disorder and driving licenses were not issued to patients to prevent road accidents, whereas in India, there was no such provision.

The patients were always at a high risk of meeting with an accident could fall asleep at an inappropriate time at any place even at the wheel. The therapy required overnight stay by the patient in the sleep lab after completing routine chores. The patient needs to wear a mask over the nose and pressure from an air-blower is forced through the nasal passage. Smooth breathing is provided to the patient, which results in normal sleep for the patient.

Dr Sidhu said that common symptoms of sleep apnea were depression, irritability, sexual dysfunction, learning and memory difficulties and high blood pressure which increased the risk of heart attack.

Ban imposed on storage, sale of crackers 
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Sept 22 — As a precautionary measure, the district administration has imposed a complete ban on the storage and sale of crackers and other fire works in all congested areas of the city.

This decision was taken at a meeting of the representatives of wholesale dealers of crackers and concerned officers held here, under the chairmanship of S.K. Sandhu, Deputy Commissioner.

Officers of the police, municipal corporation and fire brigade expressed concern about the sale of crackers on Daresi road, in a congested area surrounded by many hosiery units, which was dangerous. It was decided to provide open space for putting up stalls in the Daresi ground for wholesale dealers and Mr Sandhu directed them to immediately supply the list of authorised dealers, allotting space.

Mr Sandhu said that the storage of crackers would not be allowed in Gur Mandi and asked the concerned officers to conduct surprise searches in that area. He warned of strict legal action against defaulters. At the request of the dealers, the administration decided to allow the retail sale of crackers on the roads more than 40 feet wide and also earmarked 11 specific places including Sarabha Nagar market, the open area at Rarewala market, the space behind Arora Palace, open area of Focal Point, open area of Urban Estate, Daresi ground, parking place of Rose garden, open area near Salem Tabri, open area of Dholewal Chowk, grain market and Multipurpose hall for the sale of crackers.

The Deputy Commissioner also directed the dealers to store fireworks in their stores outside municipal limits and supply a list of the godowns to the administration and cautioned that in case any storage area was found at places other than those given in the list, a case would be registered against the dealer and the owner of the premises. The dealers were also told only to sell the 16 approved types of fireworks and those manufactured by the authorised firms only. He also warned that dealers caught selling local made unsafe crackers would be strictly punished.

Mr Sandhu directed the dealers to abide by the safety measures suggested by the fire department, including having fire fighting arrangements, sufficient distance between two shops and no electric wires and fittings over the stalls. He asked SDMs and DSPs of the concerned areas to make special checks and keep strict vigilance.

The Deputy Commissioner said that these instructions and guidelines would also be strictly implemented in other cities and towns of the district, including Khanna, Samrala, Payal, Raikot, Jagraon, Machhiwara, Maloud, Doraha and Sahnewal.

Among others who attended the meeting were Mr S. R. Kaler, ADC, Mr Harjinder Singh, Joint Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Mr Harsuhinder Singh Assistant Commissioner (General) and SDMs of all the sub- divisions.

DC order to officials 
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Sept 22 — The Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.K. Sandhu, has directed officers to come prepared for redress of complaints in the weekly sangat darshan programme and said only those officers should attend the programme, who were directly concerned with the complaints of the public.

Presiding over the sangat darshan at the mini secretariat here yesterday, the Deputy Commissioner instructed the SSP, Jagraon, to inquire into the allegations of Rajinder Singh of Burj Hari village that during the watch duty entrusted to him by the village panchayat, he was manhandled and beaten up by a police official’s son. Dealing with another complaint of Ms Pushpa Rani against a local property dealer, Mr Sandhu asked the police to book the accused property dealer.

More than 30 complaints were taken up during the session and most of them were disposed of at the spot.