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Rain, duststorm put life out of gear
Roundabouts waterlogged, trees uprooted
Chandigarh, April 25
City witnessed a rain fall of 21 mm today. It was preceded by a squall with wind blowing at a speed of 86 km ph. It caused eye injuries to many and affected telephone lines, apart from uprooting a number of trees. Electricity supply was cut off in many areas with a view to preventing fire incidents.

High-velocity winds accompanied with sleet and heavy showers throw life in Chandigarh and its surrounding areas out of gear on Thursday. Knee-deep water on major roads and (right) uprooted trees were a common sight. — Photos Karam Singh and Parvesh Chauhan

Squall plunges city into darkness
Chandigarh, April 25
High-speed squall in the city during the afternoon hours led to a power breakdown for more than six hours in almost the entire city. Branches of trees fell on high tension wires causing trippings. In some cases, the wires snapped leading to even longer breakdowns.

Meat sale went on despite ban
Chandigarh, April 25
There was hardly any meat in Chandigarh Administration’s claim of banning the slaughter of animals and the sale of non-vegetarian products in the city on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti today.

PU hostel resident assaulted
Chandigarh, April 25
A resident of boys hostel No 2, Panjab University, Arvind Gautam, was allegedly assaulted by two fellow residents and their four to five friends at around 12.30 am in the hostel here today. Arvind received injuries on his forehead, nose and on several other places on his face and was admitted to the PGI.

• Environment studies paper in Sept

COMMUNITY

Upgrading the airport: Jacob to meet Fernandes
Chandigarh, April 25
Even as the Union Civil Aviation Ministry, while acting on objections of the Union Ministry of Defence, has rejected the demand of upgrading the airport here to an international one, the UT Administrator, Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd) will be making one more effort in this regard by meeting the Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, in the next few days.

13 hurt as jeep falls into gorge Panchkula, April 25 As many as 13 persons were injured near Morni this morning when an overloaded Mahindra jeep being used as a taxi fell into a 200-foot deep gorge. This private vehicle was ferrying villagers to the fair being held at the Samlesan Devi temple in Samlotha, 15 km from Morni. Mangled remains of the jeep that fell into a 200-foot-deep gorge near Morni on Thursday. — A Tribune photograph

Councillors to have pay hike
SAS Nagar, April 25
At a time when the SAS Nagar Municipal Council is left with little funds to pay salaries of its employees, the civic body has proposed to increase the monthly salary of the municipal councillors from Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000.

Rath yatra marks Mahavir Jayanti Chandigarh, April 25 Mahavir Jayanti, the birthday of Lord Mahavira, was celebrated with religious fervour in the city. Devotees in large number participated in the “rath yatra” which started from Shri Digamber Jain Mandir in Sector 27. Devotees participate in the “rath yatra” organised on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti in Chandigarh on Thursday. — Photo Manoj Mahajan

Man dies in hospital toilet
Panchkula, April 25
A 52-year-old man died under mysterious circumstances at General Hospital, Sector 6, here this morning. Mahendra Singh was admitted to the hospital by his neighbour two days ago from Mauli Jagran.

CRIME

Shopkeeper defrauded
Chandigarh, April 25
An imposter defrauded a Sector 22-based shopkeeper of four mobile phone sets here yesterday. According to police sources, an unidentified man reached ‘Cord Communication Agency of Tele Communication’ dealing in mobile phone sets and asked the shop owner, Mr Jyoti Parkash, that he wanted to purchase four mobile sets for the IGP Vigilance’s Punjab Office, Sector 17.

BUSINESS

Trendsmith comes to town
Collection of jewellery, lifestyle products
Chandigarh, April 25
The city is not far away from international markets now. The concept, which was introduced in Mumbai some time back, today made a permanent halt in the city, with Samrat Zaveri (of the TBZ— Nirmal Zaveri jewellery group) bringing Trendsmith to town.

Sonali’s presence stormy, but graceful
Chandigarh, April 25

Film actress Sonali Bendre was in city today at Dr Sahib Singh and Sons, Sector 17, the place chosen by Tribhovan Das Bhimji Zaveri for housing Trendsmith, its latest lifestyle jewellery and luxury product line created by Samrat Zaveri. Although expected to land up around 1.30 pm the special guest for the occasion arrived only around 2.15 pm. Actress Sonali Bendre has the feel of glitter at a Sector 17 showroom, which will house Trendsmith collection of lifestyle jewellery at Sector 17 in Chandigarh on Thursday. — Photo Pankaj Sharma

EDUCATION

PU plans two paper setters for each subject
Chandigarh, April 25
Panjab University is seriously contemplating to appoint at least two paper setters for each subject of the university examination. This is against the existing practice of just one paper setter for each paper who usually gives three sets.

L&T takes its pick at PEC Chandigarh, April 25 A technical seminar to promote industry-institute interaction was organised by the Larsen and Toubro group at the Punjab Engineering College, here today. With a view to encourage team spirit, papers were presented by teams of three members each.
A student of Punjab Engineering College gives a presentation before the vice-president of Larsen and Toubro limited, Mr R.K. Gogia, on the college premises in Chandigarh on Thursday. — A Tribune photograph

PEC placement drive: adding the ‘zing’
To promote placement of students of Punjab Engineering College, college authorities have focused their attention on industry-institute interaction and drafted a plan which will come into effect from the ensuing semester.

Clash of exam dates worries students
Chandigarh, April 25
Those students of B Com III appearing in annual examination of Panjab University are a peeved lot who are also appearing in the CA Intermediate examination (Second group). The problem has arisen due to clash of examination dates on May 8.

Mizo students meet Jacob Chandigarh, April 25 A delegation of 40 students from Mizoram called upon the Punjab Governor and UT Administrator, Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd). The children are on a trip sponsored by the Army. The Punjab Governor and UT Administrator, Lieut-Gen J.F.R Jacob (retd), with students from Mizoram in Chandigarh on Thursday. — A Tribune photograph

COURTS

CAT notice to UT Administrator
Chandigarh, April 25
The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has issued a notice against the UT Administrator, UT Law Secretary, District Attorney, Mr M.S. Sihag, and others, acting on a petition filed by the terminated ADA, Ms Anuradha Bali, for June 3.

Plea against club president dismissed
Chandigarh, April 25
Over an year after Mr Ravinder Chopra was elected the president of the Chandigarh Club, a local court yesterday dismissed a suit filed by a former president of the club, Mr R.S. Sachdeva, challenging his election.

CULTURE

NEW RELEASE
New pair in yet another love story
VENUS Records and Tapes Ltd have yet another musical love story “Tumse Achcha Kaun Hai”, on their hands which has a sensational new pair — Nakul Kapoor and Aarti Chhabaria. “Mohabbatein” fame Kim Sharma also co-stars with them. It would be a testing time for Delhi boy Nakul, a state-level gymnast, professional diver and a national champion to make his debut as hero.

SPORTS

St Stephen’s soccer team to tour England, Italy

Chandigarh, April 25 It was a proud moment for 16 young soccer players of the St Stephen’s Soccer Academy, Sector 45, when they got a pat on their back from none other than the Sports Minister, Punjab, Mr Jagmohan Singh Kang, for being selected for a tour of England and Italy beginning May 3. Mr Kang also announced a grant of Rs 21,000 for the academy.
The 16-member St Stephen’s Soccer Academy, Sector 45, team that will tour England and Italy for a series of soccer matches to be held in the first week of May. — A Tribune photograph

Captain's Day golf
Chandigarh, April 25
As many as 227 members will take part in the golf competitions to celebrate Captain’s Day on April 28, according to Dr G.S. Kochhar, Chairman, Media and Publicity.

ADMINISTRATION

e-beat monitoring launched Panchkula, April 25 The ambitious electronic beat monitoring (e-beat) system was launched in the city by the Director General of Police, Haryana, Mr M.S. Malik here today. Mr Gopi K.L., Director of Techmech Engineers, that has designed the electronic beat monitoring system, gives a demonstration during the launch of the system as Haryana DGP M.S. Malik, Ambala IG Alok Joshi, SP Manoj Yadav and Panchkula SP Charu Bali look on. — A Tribune photograph

Govt plans action against illegal colonisers
Chandigarh, April 25
The Housing and Urban Development Minister, Mr Ragunath Sahai Puri, said today that the government would simplify and strengthen the single-window service to provide licences to private colonisers and work out a strategy to take action against illegal colonisers.