Chandigarh, June 22
With the functioning of mortuary at the PGI, coming to a virtual halt following technical problems in the airconditioned chambers which are meant for keeping the bodies, the relatives of the deceased especially in the medico-legal cases, are the ones at the receiving end.

Incidentally, second part of the mortuary is closed down for the past one week following renovation and upgradation of the 25-year-old chambers from a capacity of four to 12. And the cold room is also out of order due to leakage in the airconditioning system, sources add.

In this process the relatives of the deceased, whose bodies have to be kept overnight in the mortuary, are being forced to bring ice slabs from outside to preserve them.

According to sources, the functional part of the mortuary (other than the one being renovated) was out of order as the temperature could not being maintained at a steady 4C° due to a technical snag. The main reason why the snag was not corrected is that the company, which maintains these chambers, had refused to do so unless a unclaimed body rotting there for last 20 days, was removed from one of them.

An unidentified man had been admitted to the PGI on May 30 and had died on June 3. However, despite repeated requests by the PGI Histopathology Department (under which the functioning of the mortuary comes), to police officials to dispose of this unclaimed body, no action has been taken. “The PGI Engineering Department maintains the mortuary but the chambers are maintained by the manufacturing company,” sources add.

While talking to Chandigarh Tribune, a relative of Jagdish Chand, who died in the PGI yesterday at around 12.30 p.m, alleged that they had to face a lot of problems when the body was brought to the mortuary at around 2.30 p.m. “It was only when the body was brought to the mortuary that we came to know that since the timing for the post mortem was over, we would have to wait for the next day,” he added.

Since it was a medico-legal case, the police verification took some more time and at around 3.30 p.m., they were informed that the body would have to be kept overnight and for that they would be required to bring ice slabs from Sector 15 market. “Shouldn’t the premier institute of the region at least ascertain that bereaved relatives are not unnecessary harassed and make alternate arrangement for keeping the body overnight if required to do so, “ added another relative of the deceased.

Chandigarh, June 22
The seven-member badminton team including two girls (under-15 category), was back in city after a 12-day stint at Czech Republic. The shuttlers had gone to Czech Republic for International Youth Teams Badminton Tournament (under-15) held at Cesky Krumlov from June 8 to 10 where teams from Croatia, Poland, Slovakia, Austria and Slovenia also participated. Surinder Mahajan of Sports Authority of India, who accompanied the team as coach said the players displayed remarkably in four-match series-cum-training programme.

Mahajan said coaches in Czech Republic gave training to our players three times in a day and he on his part demonstrated Indian style of training techniques to players of that country. He said even though our players were in the range of 11 to 13 years, but in comparison to other players from other countries, they showed their prowess in playing to their optimum potential. There was a seminar-cum-interaction on development of badminton and other inputs needed to market the game with new scoring system being experimented, he added.

When asked about the nature of the tournament, Mahajan said for the past 10 years, SK Balcar company had been organising the tournament under the banner ‘SK Balcar Sportvini International Youths Tournament for under-15 section in individual events only. It was only this year that the organisers decided to introduce mixed teams championships and first time any team from India took part.

Samridhi, one of the team members, said she was now renewed with optimism of performing better in future. The coaches there were very cordial and liked their style of play and further brushed up their skills, she added. Prerak Sharma, the youngest player in the whole tournament, said he will like to first work on his weaknesses as told by the experts there.

Panchkula, June 22
For protecting the residents and their properties from anti-social elements, the Panchkula Deputy Commissioner today ordered “able-bodied adult males” of all villages and small towns in the district to carry out night patrolling.

The order, issued under Section 3 of the Punjab Village and Small Towns Patrol Act, 1918, will be in force for two months from today, according to sources in the administration.

The DC, Mrs Jyoti Arora, said the decision was taken keeping in view of the increase in the number of migrants with criminal background from other states. She asserted that a number of such migrants had taken shelter in Panchkula district and were seeking employment as labourers.

Describing such elements as “dangerous for the human life and property”, the DC added that immediate night patrolling in all the villages and small towns had become a necessity.

The DC further ordered that the gram panchayats shall be responsible for the patrolling in areas under their jurisdiction.

Apart from this, the DC has directed to the Subdivisional Officers of Panchkula and Kalka, and the Block Development and Panchayat Officers of Pinjore, Raipur Rani, Barwala and Morni to ensure the regulation of requisite patrol by the village panchayats.