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2 labourers die in roof collapse
Zirakpur, April 13
Two labourers were buried alive when a portion of the roof of a newly constructed house at Sunny Enclave in Bhabhat village came crashing down this morning. Being masons, the victims were busy in plaster work on the top floor of the building when the incident occurred.

Neighbours lift the body of Ramu, who died along with a fellow mason after a portion of the roof of a house collapsed at Sunny Enclave in Bhabhat village, near Zirakpur, on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Wedding on, funeral can wait
Body lies unclaimed for 48 hrs
Chandigarh, April 13
The body of a 25-year-old driver has been in Sector 16 hospital mortuary for over 48 hours. The family has not claimed it as the wedding rituals of his niece are on. The last rites of the man had to wait till the completion of the marriage ceremony today.

Malika’s pain over Nawab’s death puts man behind bars
Chandigarh , April 13
Malika saw her three-year-old companion Nawab crushed to death by a vehicle last night. Ever since she has been disconsolate and refuses to come to terms with the loss. Through the night she howled and refused to go near her food.

Diagnostic centres playing with your lives
Chandigarh, April 13
It will barely take half an hour for a person to develop serious complications, who instead of his own blood group is given blood of a different group. This is precisely what could have happened to 30-year-old Anita, expecting her third child, thanks to the callousness and casual attitude of a diagnostic centre, which gave her a wrong blood report.

City high on money power, low on awareness
Chandigarh, April 13
The City Beautiful is fast emerging as a financial powerhouse in the country. While earlier it was just known for its number one position in terms of per capita ownership of cars, a latest survey has found that the city is also number one in terms of per capita annual income (Rs 26,710), ownership of products priced at over Rs 6000 per 1000 persons, Auto ownership per 1000 population, average monthly spent on fast-moving consumer goods.

AN-32s to fly for 10 more years, says Nigam Chandigarh, April 13 Having served the IAF for about 20 years, the AN-32s will continue serving the IAF for at least another decade. The IAF is undertaking life extension studies on these aircraft, which are the workhorse of its transport fleet. Air Marshal D.C. Nigam, AOC-in-C, Maintenance Command, addresses a press conference at 3 BRD in Chandigarh on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

A play on human displacement Chandigarh, April 13 Bansi Kaul is among the few theatre persons in India who have not surrendered to the spurious attractions of modernity. Suffusing his productions with fresh life, he has evolved a new idiom that incorporates folk elements to make the most complicated of themes seem relevant and relatable. Famous theatre director Bansi Kaul addresses a press conference at the Chandigarh Press Club on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

COMMUNITY

Charge against Raj Khurana to be probed: Hanspal
Mohali, April 13
A Congress committee has been formed to look into the allegation that a party legislator from Rajpura is instigating people against the candidature of Ms Preneet Kaur from the Patiala parliamentary constituency.

BJP gimmicks costing lives, says Lucky
Chandigarh, April 13
The Bharatiya Janata Party is indulging in cheap politics and that too at the cost of innocent lives. Mr Harmohinder Singh Lucky, president of the local unit of the Indian Youth Congress, alleged this in a press note issued here today.

Jain boards Vijay Rath Chandigarh, April 13 The local unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party today launched its third phase of campaigning for the forthcoming parliamentary elections. The function was accompanied with launching of a colourful Vijay Rath which was presented to Mr Satya Pal Jain, party candidate from the city, by Mr Yash Pal Mahajan, president of the local unit. The ‘Rath’ is equipped with a stage, mike, projector, display screen and generator.

Ms Vidyawati Jain, mother of Mr Satya Pal Jain, Bharatiya Janata Party candidate in the forthcoming poll, puts a ‘tilak’ on the forehead of her son at the Vijay Rath Yatra at Kamalam, Sector 33, in Chandigarh on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

Journalist joins poll fray from city
Chandigarh, April 13
Pushp Kumar Singh, a journalist, is the candidate of the Indian Justice Party for the forthcoming parliamentary elections for the local seat. This was announced by Mr Ranjit Singh, convener of the party, while addressing a press conference here today.

PSEB to settle crop damage claims
Mr H.C. Sood, newly appointed member, distribution, Punjab State Electricity Board, today said that the field staff had been asked to submit a report on damage to wheat crop by electric sparking within 24 hours. He said although there are not many cases, even those reported would be settled on priority.

Five persons picked up by Rajpura police?
Mohali, April 13
Five persons were picked up by a police team early in the morning here today. It is learnt that members of the police team raided houses of some persons and nabbed them without telling family members why this was being done.

Baisakhi celebrated with fervour
Chandigarh, April 13
The founding of Khalsa and Baisakhi was celebrated with religious fervour in different parts of the city today. A large number of devotees offered prayers at the gurdwaras. For them, kirtans and recital of passages from the Guru Granth Sahib were held in the gurdwaras. 

Fulfil Baba Saheb’s dream, says Governor
Chandigarh, April 13
A shobha yatra was today organised by the Dr Ambedkar study circle on the eve of 113th birthday of Baba Saheb Dr B.R. Ambedkar. The yatra started from Dr Ambedkar Bhavan in Sector 37 at 2 pm. It passed through Sectors 24, 23, 22, 21 and 20.

Kidney patient awaits help
Chandigarh, April 13
The struggle for survival continues. Even though his mother is willing to donate her kidney, 30-year-old Solan resident, Chaman Lal, has no money for treatment. “Whatever little we had has been spent on my treatment,” Lal asserts. As he tries to make himself comfortable on a chair, his imploring eyes filled with anguish look at you hopefully.

Woman succumbs to burn injuries
Chandigarh, April 13
A mother of three children, who was recently admitted to a hospital with 90 per cent burn injuries, succumbed to her injuries at the GMCH, Sector 32, here last night.

CRIME

Nisha’s death: 3 arrested
Mohali, April 13
The local police arrested three women on a charge of abetment of suicide of Nisha, a married woman, here today. The body of Nisha (32), a school teacher here, was found hanging from a hook in the ceiling at her in-laws’ house in Phase I on April 7.

• 130 CDs seized

BUSINESS

Coolex a big draw
Chandigarh, April 13
City residents have geared up to beat the heat this summer. The recently concluded Coolex — 2004 drew a good response, with people in large numbers booking air-conditioners and coolers, besides going in for sleek double-door refrigerators.

EDUCATION

Tuitions during school timings okay: parents
Chandigarh, April 13
The system to allow students to attend coaching classes for competitive examinations during the school timings has come in for severe criticism by educationists and school principals. On the other hand, parents defend the arrangement on the plea that it allows their wards to devote extra time for competitive examinations.

UK teachers visit St Xavier’s School
Chandigarh, April 13
A delegation of 13 British teachers visited St Xavier’s Senior Secondary School in Sector 44 here on Monday. The teachers, representing the League for the Exchange of Commonwealth Teachers, were on a mission to promote excellence in education.

• A clarification

CULTURE

Colours of nostalgia Chandigarh, April 13 Sudipta Das Majumdar loves to paint home. That’s why he chooses muted, underplayed, soothing hues, which bring out the earthy charm and make the coasts of West Bengal worthy of artistic indulgence. Sudipta Das Majumdar stands in the company of his water colours on display at the IndusInd gallery, Sector 8, Chandigarh.

Nature in varying hues of colour
Chandigarh, April 13 Transcending time and moods of different seasons, it’s nature depicted in an unpretentious and uninhibited manner on the canvas that greets you as you enter Art Folio in Sector 9, which is hosting an exhibition by Nigeria-based artist Rajiv Puri. Rajiv Puri’s works on display at an exhibition in Art Folio, Sector 9, Chandigarh, on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

Punjabi cassette released
Chandigarh, April 13
There is something exclusive for city residents in “Tere Naal Naal Dil Rehanda Nee”. The cassette, with eight foot-tapping Punjabi numbers crooned by Amar Dixit, has a song “Chandigarh di naar”. It was released by the president of the Cultural Ghumar Academy R.D. Garg on Tuesday.

LIFESTYLE

Fitness Trail
Don’t neglect trace elements in body
A balanced and adequate intake of all nutrients, including vitamins and minerals, is required to maintain and sustain good health. According to nutritional experts, an inadequate intake of these necessary nutrients can give rise to various diseases.

Show of exotic thorny plants from April 17

THE National Cactus and Succulent Society of India is all set to woo lovers of exotic thorny plants during the 27th annual show beginning April 17. The show will be held at Lajpat Rai Bhavan, and about 50 cactii and other succulent plant lovers from Chandigarh, Panchkula, Mohali, Patiala, Malerkotla, Hoshiarpur and Delhi are expected to showcase their plants, informs Brig C.S. Bewli, General Secretary of the NCSSI. A cactus in bloom.

Hand bags make fashion statement Chandigarh, April 13 Neera Sharma has just picked up a cheerful spaghetti top to go along with blue denims for the afternoon bash. But the Class X student is still not satisfied. The reason is not hard to see. Despite best attempts, the Sector 40 resident has not been able to find the hand bag of her choice — one with jean pocket motifs. As she walks into a store in Sector 22, Neera realises that something will be “missing” without the mini-hand bag because the stuff is an essential “fashion accessory”.   Bags with cartoon characters and tassels are in vogue. — Tribune photo by Pravesh Chauhan

Bhajji with Malkit on a different pitch
What brings Harbhajan Singh and Malkit Singh — one a famous cricketer and the other a famous singer, who busted the popularity chart in the 80s with his “Tutak tutak tutia” — on a common platform? The answer is their passion to promote regional music, which has brought them together for “Pepsi Banja Staara Yaraa”, a talent hunt contest for aspiring singers of the region.

Feel royal with this solitaire The days of Raj may be long gone, but the mysticism of the royals and their priceless jewels continues. And cashing in on this is the world famous diamond manufacturers, De Beers, who have brought Rajmata Gayatri Devi’s (Rajmata of Jaipur) signature line of solitaire to the city. A unique five-carat diamond with ionised human face on display at Talwar Jewellers in Chandigarh on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by Malkiat Singh

Hadiqa Kiani out to charm India
The pop diva from across the border, Hadiqa Kiani, is now out to charm India with her collection of songs. Universal Music has come up with this Pakistani singer’s new album ‘Rang’. A collection of 14 tunes, Rang is all about dreams, fantasy, desire, images and colours of life.