HEALTH

Samaritans can help save his life
Shivani Bhakoo

Ludhiana, July 8
Little did Radhey Sham know, when he stepped into the city all alone with dreams of good fortune in his eyes, that he will have to face a lot of problems in saving his life which, at this stage, is dependent on help from Samaritans.

Eleven-years-old Radhey Sham, a migrant labourer from Uttar Pradesh, had come to his paternal uncle Nanke in the city a few months ago to make a comfortable living for himself and a good fortune for his family.

He has been struggling for life in the Christian Medical College and Hospital. His family is in UP. After an accident, his uncle, a vegetable vendor, got him admitted to the hospital. The boy used to assist his uncle in selling vegetables in the city.

“Radhey Sham met with an accident about 20 days ago. He used to sell vegetables on a rehri. Unfortunately, I was not with him when the accident took place. He was going on the road and a tempo driver was reversing his vehicle. The driver did not see him and he was crushed between the rehri and the tempo,” said his uncle.

He was taken to the CMCH immediately. He was discharged from the hospital after treatment. But a few days later, the child complained of severe pain in the abdomen and was readmitted to the CMCH.

Dr V.P. Singh, in charge, Paediatric Surgery Department, CMCH, said there was an injury in his abdomen. Later, a CT scan showed an abdomen distention which developed into traumatic pancreatitis. “It is a serious disease,” said the doctor.

Dr Ashwani, the attending doctor at Ward No 2, Paediatric Surgery (ICU), CMCH, said the patient needed an intravenous nutrition. “He needs to be given a treatment for about two weeks. It will cost between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,200 daily. Besides this, some medicines will also be required which will cost up to Rs 500 daily. His life can be saved if proper treatment is given to him,” said Dr Ashwani.

Nanke, his uncle, with whom the victim is staying, said, “The boy belongs to Rajapur village in UP. His father has already expired. He is the eldest son in the family. His mother has not been told anything about the accident. I know, she will not be able to bear this shock. Being the eldest child in the family, his mother had sent him here for a good fortune,” maintained Nanke.

He said he, along with some other migrant labourers from the same village, had collected some money from people which had already been spent on his treatment. “We cannot bear the cost of treatment now. I am asking doctors whether the child will be saved or not, but they are tight-lipped,” he said.

The donors can contact the attending doctors at Ward No 2, Paediatric Surgery (ICU), CMCH.

DMCH standoff with union continues
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 8
In yet another move to resolve the ongoing crises between the management and the union of the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), a meeting is being held with the intervention of Mr A.K. Sinha, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), at the Mini Secretariat here this evening.

Even though earlier rounds of such talks have proved futile, the union expects a positive outcome from the meeting that started late in the evening and was continuing till the filing of this report.

The management and union have been at loggerheads for about a month demanding certain privileges for he DMCH employees which the management led by Mr Prem Nath Gupta, secretary, managing society, has termed as unreasonable.

In the interest of the patients, the district administration has agreed to intervene in several rounds of tripartite talks. The outcome of today’s meeting is likely to be known later this evening.

SPORTS

Gurnam Namdhari XI clinch hockey title
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, July 8
Gurnam Namdhari XI quelled a strong challenge before emerging victorious 1-0 against the Punjab Police, Ludhiana, to clinch the title in the first Alankar Tony Memorial six-a-side Hockey Tournament organised by the Aryan Hockey Club at the astroturf ground of Punjab Agricultural University here yesterday.

The final was a ding-dong battle as both the teams made repeated forays into each other’s territory but failed to pierce through the defence. After the first barren half, Gurnam Namdhari XI’s players exerted full pressure over their opponents and these tactics paid dividends in the 14th minute when Gurmeet Singh found the target to put his side ahead 1-0.

The local policemen made some attempts to score the equaliser but could not capitalise on the chances that came their way and finally lost the battle by one goal.

Earlier in the semifinal, Gurnam Namdhari XI thrashed Namdhari XI of Bhaini Sahib 3-0 with Sardar Singh scoring a brace and Gurmeet contributed one goal. In the second semifinal, Punjab Police, Ludhiana, proved their supremacy over Master XI by registering a 2-0 win. Mandeep Gill struck twice (18th and 35th minute).

In the sub-junior section (boys), MP XI scraped past Harpal Club 1-0 to lift the title. Damandeep Singh scored the goal in the first half. In the semifinals, MP XI blanked Laddi Club 4-0 while Harpal Club got the better of Prithipal XI 1-0.

In the girl’s section, Tony Club beat Ludhiana Hockey Centre 2-0 to bag the trophy. Amandep Kaur scored a brace (17th and 29th minute).

Dr K.S. Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, distributed the prizes. Mr S.K. Prabhakar, Chief Manager, State Bank of India, presided over the prize distribution function. Mr Devi Dyal, president, Punjab Rural Sports Promotion Council, Mr Teja Singh Dhaliwal, general secretary, Punjab Basketball Association, Ramandeep Singh, former captain, Indian hockey team, were also present on the occasion.

Sardar Singh of Gurnam Namdhari XI was adjudged the ‘player of the tournament’. Damandeep Singh of MP XI and Amandeep Kaur of Tony Club were declared the ‘best players’ among sub junior boys and girls, respectively.

National Bridge Championship on Nov 23
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, July 8
The Ludhiana Bridge Association under the aegis of the Punjab Bridge Association (PBA) will organise the 44th National Bridge Championship here at the Sutlej Club from November 23 to December 3.

This was informed by Mr K.R. Lakhanpal, president, Punjab Bridge Association, after the meeting of the executive committee of the association held here today. He said around 250 teams comprising more than 1,500 players from all over the country would participate in this 11-day event to be held for the first time in Punjab.

An organising committee with Mr Anurag Aggarwal, Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, as its head was formed to chalk out the programme for the meet. During the meeting, Mr Aggarwal was unanimously elected the president of the Ludhiana Bridge Association, Mr Lakhanpal said.

The meeting was chaired by Mr Lakhanpal and attended among others by Mr Anurag Aggarwal, Mr Vishwajeet Khanna, Mr A.K. Kundra and Mr D.S. Kang (vice-presidents of the PBA), Mr Krishan Goyal, vice-president, Bridge Federation of India, Mr Dinesh Gogna, treasurer, Mr Harpal Singh Kanwar, District Sports Officer, Ludhiana, Mr J.S. Toor, Director, Students Welfare, Punjab Agricultural University, and members of the executive committee of PBA.