R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Amritsar
SAFE MOTHERHOOD: Twenty-five members of the Obstetrics and Gynaecological society on Monday embarked upon on a cycle rally from Wagah Indo-Pakistan Border to Agra to mark the 47th all-India congress of Obstetrics and Gynaecology there. The rally was flagged off by DIG BSF Hemant Prohit. Dedicated to armed forces the rally carries message of safe “motherhood” The rallyists, including a German couple would reach Agra on January 4.

BEREAVED: Dr Jasdeep Kaur, daughter-in-law of SGPC member Jang Bhadur Singh Rai was killed in a car accident on Chandigarh-Garhshankar road. Dr Parmveer Singh Rai son of the member received serious injuries.

CAMP BY RELIANCE: A two-day camp to redress customers’ problems relating to billing, handsets and other services was held here on Monday by Reliance India mobile phone company.

Pathankot
LOAN MELA: Punjab National Bank (PNB) on Monday organised a loan mela at Dinanagar 25 km from here. An amount of Rs 2.88 crore was distributed through 11 branches of the bank in Gurdaspur district in the shape of housing loan, education loan, and agriculture loan.

SUICIDE BID: Surinder Singh (40) a resident here allegedly consumed some poisonous substance on Monday. He was admitted into the civil hospital here where his condition was said to be critical.

Phagwara
TRACK RACING CLUB: The Janata Track Racing Club, Punjab on Monday demanded that ban on the course races of dogs with hares should be lifted in months of November-December as hares damaged crops of wheat and cauliflowers in these months.

Samana
SUICIDE: Ms Seema Goel (35) poured kerosene and set herself ablaze. She was admitted in the Rajindera Hospital, Patiala where she succumbed to her burns.

HARYANA

Kaithal
NSS CAMP: NSS volunteers at a camp at Kangthli Government Middle School, 20 km from here, on Sunday held a rally to create awakening among people against female foeticide. Dr Rajinder Thukral and Dr Subhash Garg of the Bharat Vikas Parishad, held a free medical camp. Doctors from Bharat Laboratories took blood samples for blood group identification. The NSS volunteers dug a drain to carry village waste water to the pond.

IRRIGATION FACILITIES: The Irrigation Department has completed 57 construction works at a cost of Rs 17.70 crore, Deputy Commissioner Anurag Aggarwal said here on Monday. Works include bundhs and channels and construction of Pundri drain has been completed at a cost of Rs 90 lakh and Rajound distributary has been constructed at a cost of Rs 216 lakh.

CITY STAR: Ms Babita was chosen ‘City Star 2003' at a function organised by the Swaranjali Kala Samiti at the RKSD College here on Sunday. Mr Mukesh Kumar won second position. Ms Sunita Dhariwal, State Congress president, cultural cell, Ms Rama Sharma, lecturer (Music), Bhagwan Parsu Ram College, Kurukshetra, and Mr Budh Ram, music expert from Delhi, were the judges.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Hamirpur
TAKES OVER: Mr S.L. Sharma, Additional Sessions Judge has taken over as presiding officer of the Fast-Track court at Hamirpur. He was senior Sub Judge at Hamirpur before promotion.

Kumarhatti
38 challaned: The police patrolling on the Kalka-Shimla national highway has been intensified to check smuggling of liquor. At a naka at Deli near Parwanoo nearly 500 vehicles were checked on Monday. As many as 38 motorists were challaned and rupees 9550 charged as fine.