H A R Y A N A

Train services hit by power failure
Ambala, December 23
A snag in the northern power grid early morning today hit the rail traffic between Ambala-Ludhiana, Ambala-Kalka and Ambala-Saharanpur rail sections. More than 12 trains, including several super fast, were held up due to this. The power supply was restored by around 7 am.

Dabwali fire victims resent govt apathy
Dabwali (Sirsa), December 23
Even after seven years of the fire tragedy that claimed 438 lives and left many crippled for life, a section of the victims here expressed resentment that they were not being provided the medical help as promised by the government.

2-yr jail for selling trees
Kaithal, December 23
The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr Baljeet Singh here has sentenced two officials of the Forest Department to two years of imprisonment and fined them Rs 200 each for allegedly misappropriating government funds after selling trees which were property of the Forest Department.

Powers on GPF advances to HoDs
Chandigarh, December 23
The Haryana Government has re-delegated powers to all heads of departments to grant advances withdrawals from the GPF.

Stories from Haryana towns falling in the National Capital Region are put in NCR Tribune.

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Train services hit by power failure
Our Correspondent

Ambala, December 23
A snag in the northern power grid early morning today hit the rail traffic between Ambala-Ludhiana, Ambala-Kalka and Ambala-Saharanpur rail sections. More than 12 trains, including several super fast, were held up due to this. The power supply was restored by around 7 am.

According to the Railways sources, at 4.40 a.m. due to some fault in the northern grid, the entire Railways overhead equipment supply of 25 KVA failed. All trains running through electric lines came to a standstill. The diesel engine trains were also halted as the signal system went out of order on the tracks due to the non-supply of electricity. The local power supply, usually used in emergency, also could not start till 6 a.m.

According to the Railways sources, the 1077 Jhelum Express was stranded for 110 minutes between Gobindgarh and Khanna, the 4553 Up Naggaldam Express got held up between Sadhugarh and Sirhind for 110 minutes, the 4646 Shalimar Express was detained for 45 minutes between Sambhu and Ambala City, the 3074 Himgiri Express came to a halt between Sadhugarh and Sarai Banjara for 40 minutes, the 330 Down Passenger was detained between Mustfabad and Darajpur for 45 minutes, the Howrah-Kalka Mail was held up for 180 minutes between Chandi Mandir and Kalka, the 3152 Saildah Express was detained between Ambala City and Ambala Cantonment for half an hour.

Three electric trains — one from Saharanpur and two from Ambala Cantonment — later used diesel engine. The Shatabadi Express was delayed by 105 minutes from Kalka.

According to a senior official of the mechanical department of the Ambala railway division, about 500 drivers of the Ambala division have been trained to run electric as well as diesel engine. He added that the sudden power collapse today would force the Railways authorities to review its decision to solely depend on the electric locomotive and would give proper importance to its alternative, the diesel locomotive.

The ADRM, Ambala Division, Mr V.K. Sonwane, said that partial traffic on main rail sections were restored by 6.10 a.m. while the normal traffic could be started at 7.10 a.m.

Dabwali fire victims resent govt apathy
Our Correspondent

Dabwali (Sirsa), December 23
Even after seven years of the fire tragedy that claimed 438 lives and left many crippled for life, a section of the victims here expressed resentment that they were not being provided the medical help as promised by the government.

A large number of residents of the town, led by members of the Dabwali Fire Victims Association, held an all-religion prayer meeting at the memorial site at the place of the tragedy here today. The victims alleged that they had been promised that all expenses on their treatment, including that on cosmetic surgery, would be borne by the government, but now the government was refusing to provide the same. A section of the victims alleged that no government aid was being provided for the memorial under construction.

Master Harbans Singh, president of the association, lamented that some victims had been rendered handicapped for life, but the government did not extend a helping hand to them. He pointed out that three girls, Gagandeep, Seema and Geeta, had been rendered handicapped for life as their legs had to be amputated. He alleged that the victims had not been given government jobs as promised. They also alleged that the officers, who had run away from the spot when the incident took place, rather than trying to save the lives of the children, had not been punished. They said these officers had been reinstated.

The Lions Club, in association with the State Bank of India, organised a blood donation camp where 27 volunteers donated blood as a mark of respect for the deceased.

Deputy Commissioner D. Suresh also paid tributes to those who lost their lives in this tragedy. A two-minute silence was observed.

2-yr jail for selling trees
Our Correspondent

Kaithal, December 23
The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr Baljeet Singh here has sentenced two officials of the Forest Department to two years of imprisonment and fined them Rs 200 each for allegedly misappropriating government funds after selling trees which were property of the Forest Department.

The CJM also sentenced Bhanaram and Nafe Singh of Geong village to one-year of imprisonment and fined them for their alleged connivance in the offence. The court has sentenced the officials, Raj Kumar, Block Forest Officer, and Gian Singh, Forest Guard, to two years of imprisonment under Section 409 and one year under Section 120-B.

In another case the CJM sentenced Ishwar Singh and Chamela of Chuhar Majra village to 2 years of imprisonment and fined them Rs 200 each after convicting them under the Arms Act.

Meanwhile, the Kalayat police has registered a case against Bhagat Ram and Satpal, forest guards, on the charge of selling department trees illegally following an enquiry conducted by Mr Krishan Kumar, Inspector of the Chief Ministers’ flying squad.

Powers on GPF advances to HoDs
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 23
The Haryana Government has re-delegated powers to all heads of departments to grant advances withdrawals from the GPF.

A circular issued by the Finance Department states that the decision has been taken to avoid delay in according sanctions of advances or withdrawals from the GPF to the subscribers. According to the circular the heads of departments are also empowered to re-delegate powers vested in them to their subordinate authorities on their responsibility and subject to such restrictions as they may like to impose.