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Sight leaves city awe-struck Chandigarh, June 8 According to the information provided by the Vigyan Parisar, since the invention of the telescope, only six transits of the Venus have occurred — in 1631, 1639, 1761, 1769, 1874 and 1882. Those who saw the transit today would be able to see it again on June 6, 2012. After that, the event would take place in 2117. Those who were aware of the event thronged schools and the DC office, Sector 17, where elaborate arrangements had been made by the Department of Science and Technology to facilitate students and the general public to witness the celestial event. For city-based star-gazers and amateur astronomers, the day’s beginning proved to be a damp squib since by the time the sun came out of the clouds, a large part of the transit was over. ‘‘In the morning, I had to ask many people who came to my observatory to witness the event to return. Even I was feeling bad that if we miss the sight today, we would have to wait till 2012 to be able to see the event,” said Mr Pradeep Mahajan of the Northern Cross Astronomical Observatory Sector 16. Students at the schools which had been provided with telescopes waited in the rain through the day. Those who showed patience were finally rewarded. Many excited students, who after having waiting for hours, returned home, trotted back to the installed telescopes. For the team of astronomers at the Department of Physics, Punjabi University, Patiala, rain could not have come at a worse time. ‘‘It was going to be an event that was occurring after 122 years. We had made big plans for capturing the event on our cameras. But it was raining so heavily this morning that
all Explaining the event, Mr B.S. Salaria of the department said a transit of Venus occurs when Venus passes directly between the Earth and the Sun. ‘‘When the moon comes in between the Earth and the Sun, it is solar eclipse. However, when Mercury or Venus comes between the two, it is called a transit. Venus, often called the Earth’s sister planet, is the closest to us. The transit was astronomically important from the point of view of measuring astronomical distances, but now it just has rarity value,’’ he said. Explaining details of the transit, Mr Darshan Singh of the department said there are four tangential contacts which take place in the transit. The first contact and the second contact took place within 19 minutes of one another. “We missed these two because of the rain. The third contact was captured by our cameras and so was the last, the final egress before the transit was over,” he said. While the transit was visible either at sunset or sunrise, across the globe, the entire transit, — all four contact points — was visible in India, other parts of Asia and Europe. “This was the only time when we could have seen the complete transit as the 2012 transit would be seen in India only during its egress,” said Mr P.S. Goraya of the Department of Physics. |
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Venus transit to affect Leos,
Librans Chandigarh, June 8 Aries: They may benefit from lotteries and stock exchange. Some may be fortunate enough to inherit property. Taurus: People born under this sign will gain stability whether professional or material. Those who are employed on adhoc basis may get permanent. Gemini:
They will not
Cancer:
They will be enthusiastic and gain wealth, position and property. Their business will expand. Leo: This transit spells all-round success in business and for those in service. It is gainful for all Leos and they will stand to benefit the most from this. Virgo: Those under this sign will have to bear expenditure heavily. The bank balance will decrease which will cause worry. Libra: They can suffer from lever and gastric problems. There is a need to check eating habits. Their expenditure on health and medicines will go up. There are few chances of any savings. Scorpio:
Those born under this sign will enjoy and laugh. They will visit new cities and meet new people. The transit spells success in love life. Married life will improve and unmarried will tie the knot. Saggitarius: They can be embroiled in litigation, fights and complaints. They should avoid gossiping and shun the crowd. Their reputation may suffer. Capricorn:
Increased mobility and conveyance will bring them happiness. They will buy vehicles and property. Aquarius:
It is likely to have beneficial affects on aquarians. Their education horizons will expand. Chances of foreign travel and exposure are high. During long journeys they will meet new people which may prove gainful. Pisces: They will gain goodwill and cooperation of their brothers, sisters and loved ones. They may receive invitations for parties and their social circle will widen. According to Panchkula-based astrologer Ravi Sharma the Venus transit may have negative influence on Taurus and Gemini. Some of the Taureans may suffer from skin and stomach problems. For Geminis loss in stock exchange business is likely. |
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Admn for extention to Gujral Chandigarh, June 8 Now the Administration will first seek permission from Haryana as Mr Gujral is a Haryana cadre IAS officer and then seek the approval of the MHA. Barring the Adviser to the UT Administrator, Mr Lalit Sharma, almost the entire officialdom of the Administration is scheduled to go within the next 10 months. It is learnt that the Adviser wanted Mr Gujral here. Among the first to go in the Finance Secretary. Next in line are MD CITCO, Mr S.P. Singh, The JSF, Mr Dalip Kumar. The MC Commissioner Mr M.P. Singh. The DC Mr Arun Kumar will go into super time scale in February next and may leave. Already the Joint Secretary Home Mr Ashok Sangwan, the DPR, Mr S.P. Arora , the Secretary STA, Mr Naresh Narwal and the Director IT, Mr Vivek Atray are on their way out. |
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Navy ex-Commander killed as his car Chandigarh, June 8 Former Indian Navy Commander J.K. Singh was killed when his car rolled down the almost 40-foot-deep nullah. The water level of the nullah carrying storm water and sewage is around six feet. Eyewitnesses said they saw the car straightaway going into the nullah. The former Navy Commander and a professional sailor was returning home after playing golf in the Chandi Mandir range when the mishap occurred. It is suspected that J.K. Singh might have lost track of the road due to poor visibility as it was raining when the accident took place. The police had to requisition the service of cranes to pull out the car and J.K. Singh but the length of the ropes fell short. Fire brigade also reached the spot. It took a long time to extricate the car as the policemen had to take the help of a ladder of the Fire Department and long ropes to reach the car to hook it to the crane. The police first pulled out J.K. Singh and took him to the hospital where doctors declared him dead before admission. A policeman said J.K. Singh was breathing when he was pulled out after at least an hour of struggle by the policemen who took risk to go down up to the bottom of the nullah without any protection. Another operation to fish out the car from the nullah continued for more than two hours. J.K. Singh’s sister and brother-in-law G.S. Garewal live in Sector 34. The scene at the GMCH, Sector 32, turned touchy when J.K. Singh’s wife fell unconscious after she came to know that her husband had died. People who use the road daily said it was a dangerous turn and there was no sign on the road indicating about the dangerous turn. There was neither any protection wall to prevent vehicles from falling into the nullah, they added. J.K. Singh joined the Indian Navy in 1969 and took pre-mature retirement in 1991. After his retirement he was working as a professional sailor and was on two-month leave. His 25-year-old daughter Chamanpreet is studying in New Zealand while his 22-year-old son Ronny is working in merchant navy. |
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Tehelka chief deposes before military court Chandigarh, June 8 Three general courts martial (GCM) have been convened by the Army and Mr Tejpal is the first witness to be examined in any of these. The GCM began on April 5. The other two GCMs have been convened to try a major general and a brigadier. During examination by the prosecution counsel, Mr Arvind Moudgil, he said that a total of 105 hours of tape had been shot through hidden cameras by the investigating team, and all of it was untouched and unedited. These tapes were handed over to the commission investigating into the matter. He said that only copies of the tapes had been edited and these were cut down about two hours' length. He said though he had been briefed periodically by his team about the developments during the investigation, he had not seen the original footage and had only viewed the final edited version. On being cross-examined by the defence counsel, Major K Ramesh (retd), he confirmed that the tapes had been sent to London for forensic examination and that the purpose of the expose was done in public interest. He also admitted that he had accepted about Rs. 4 crore from two parties, but declined to comment on counsel's question that whether he was pursuing investigative or capitalist journalism. He said that he stood by all statements made by him before the Phukan Commission of Inquiry. Earlier, Mr Tejpal told The Tribune that with a change in the government at the Centre, the process of bringing to justice those allegedly involved in the case, would receive a kickstart. He said that political interference in the matter had delayed the disciplinary process initiated by the Army. What could have been over in 6-8 months had lingered on for over three years, Mr Tejpal, who drove from Delhi this morning to appear before the GCM, said. Accusing the previous BJP government of political vendetta, he said that he had written to the newly elected Prime Minister to withdraw the "false" cases registered against him and his colleagues. Meanwhile, the GCM of Maj-Gen P S K Choudhary is scheduled to re-assemble at Ferozepore tomorrow after a brief adjournment. The trial, which commenced on May 24, is in a preliminary stage. The third GCM, to try Brig Iqbal Singh, was convened at Patiala on May 27, but the proceedings have been held in abeyance as the officer has moved the Delhi High Court. No proceedings will take place till directions are passed by the High Court. |
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Ex-Brigade Commander seeks fresh probe Chandigarh, June 8 Alleging that the terms of reference of the Kargil Review Committee headed by defence analyst K Subramaniam were formulated for the purpose of protecting senior officers, Brigadier Surinder Singh said that he had written to the President, Prime Minister and Defence Minister seeking an independent probe by a serving or retired Supreme Court judge or a retired general. "One is left with strong apprehension that the terms of reference of the committee were formulated with the purpose and design by the then government to avoid scrutiny and accountability of its own role and responsibility and also too bail out senior commanders," he said. He said that he had personally briefed the then Army Chief, Gen V P Malik and the then Director General Military Operations, Lieut-Gen N C Vij (now Chief) about the enhanced threat perceptions in that area, including artillery and missile deployments, on the other side. Both the generals were also aware about the withdrawal of our troops in that area, he said. He said that there had been reports of infiltrations in the south of Siachen Glacier as early as January and February, 1999, which had been duly sent up the chain of command. He said that though the early infiltrations were in an area adjoining his sector, he was not appraised as should have been done. The Brigadier, whose services were terminated after the Kargil war, said that Point 5353 on the LoC, which has created considerable controversy in the past, had never been in Pakistani possession before the conflict. It was around that time PAkistan had set up an observation post on the point to direct Artillery fire. |
Parasitic ailments due to poor hygiene: study Chandigarh, June 8 What bothers the researchers more is that the respondents believe that intestinal paparstic infection (which includes presence of protozoa and several types of worms) is a children’s disease and adults are immune to it. Anaemic appearance and occasional abdominal discomfort too have been found to be common, but going unnoticed. “The adult’s neither accept that they are susceptible to worm infestation nor undergo deworming programmes,’’ adds the NINE research conducted on 224 women chosen randomly. The researchers add that considering the better standards of Dhanas which has the facilities of clean drinking water, sanitary latrines, sewage disposal and a government dispensary, the situation in the other collonoies is likely to be much worse. “We have forwarded the findings of the report to the Health Department”, said Dr Inderjit Walia, Principal of NINE, while talking to The Tribune. Parasitic infections are mainly transmitted by walking barefoot, drinking water and uncovered food. The study puts things in perspective as more than 68 per cent residents who tested positive had cracked and dirty feet and more than 38 per cent of them had cracked and dirty hands. It was found that more than 78 per cent of those who tested positive never washed vegetables and 90 per cent did not washing fruits before consuming them. The study suggests that the Health Department should educate people on health behaviour and practices. They have also recommended for provision of laboratory examination of stool to test for parasitic infections in the UT villages. |
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Demolitions lead to protest
Chandigarh, June 8 Three LPG godowns in Sector 51, near Burail jail, were removed. The enforcement team of the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) carried out the removal of unauthorised construction in 22 flats of the CHB in Sectors 44 and 43. Gas godown owners said the issue of allotting gas godowns should be decided once and for all. In the past, gas godown owners had been given sites which they had rejected, citing high rents. Saying it was public service, Mr Sharanjit Singh said the Administration should sort out this matter and they would remain on strike till then. In Sector 44, a team of the CHB removed gates from rear courtyards of flats. Residents Randhir Sharma and L.M. Sharma said this was highhandedness on the part of the CHB. The team adopted a pick-and-choose policy, they said. The row of flats had its only approach from the rear courtyard, said Mr Randhir Sharma. He alleged that similar gates opened by employees of the CHB in their houses in Sector 45 had been left untouched. In Khuda Ali Sher, residents blocked the road for more than one hour this morning. The team of the Administration felled trees in an effort to demolish a wall. Residents alleged that
this was a pick-and-choose policy as no land in the village was under acquisition. |
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Protesters burn Capt Kanwaljit Singh’s effigy Mohali, June 8 Even rain did not dampen the spirit of the protesters, including a large number of women, who raised slogans against the former Finance Minister and carried out the protest as had been planned despite the weather. Mr D.P. Singh, convener, Kisan Hit Bachao Committee (periphery area), told Chandigarh Tribune that the ashes would be collected and thrown into a nullah at Lakhnour village. He said the protesters would start another agitation during which the persons sitting on chain hunger strike would wear minimum clothes. The clothes removed by them would be parcelled to officials who were determined to uproot people of about 50 villages. Mr D.P. Singh said when the SAD-BJP government took over power in the state, Capt Kanwaljit Singh abolished the land pooling/land exchange scheme launched by the Congress government. The then Finance Minister had assured that farmers would be given the market price if land was acquired by the government. But later farmers were only offered Rs 7 lakh per acre, which was nothing. Mr Tejinder Singh Jakhar, another protester, said the Kharar MLA, Mr Bir Devinder Singh, had been saying that the protesters had not approached him with the problem which was totally wrong. He said he, along with some persons, had tried to meet him twice but he had no time for us. He had been invited to Sohana to listen to the grievances of the affected villagers but he did not turn up. He said when people from his constituency were being uprooted, he should have come on his own to help them out of the situation. He had passed from near Sohana many times but never bothered to stop and ask about the problems of the villagers who were participating in the chain hunger strike. Mr Balwinder Singh Baidwan, general secretary of the committee, said if land was acquired, people would get unemployed. If the government acquired the land, it should provide a share in residential and commercial property to the affected persons so that employment could be generated. |
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Harrowing time for
Shatabdi passengers Chandigarh, June 8 The morning Shatabdi, which left the local railway station at its scheduled time of 6.50 am could reach the New Delhi railway station only around 1 p.m. as it was diverted to the Saharanpur-Meerut-New Delhi section. On its return journey, it could touch the city only around 2.30 am. However, it was the return journey, which proved to be an unpleasant experience for the passengers. Though a majority of trains were diverted to alternative routes by the authorities from New Delhi, Shatabdi was sent on its scheduled routes. Even as railway tracks were being cleared after the train derailment, passengers were stranded for over four hours at Panipat from 8.15 p.m onwards. Temper ran high as the passengers were not provided with food. There was chaos at the Panipat railway station with the authorities failing to entertain any queries about the movement of the train. Railway officials had a tough time pacifying the agitated passengers, who were not provided with the dinner. At about 12.30 a.m. the train chugged off from Panipat and it was after a lot of hue and cry that “dal-chawal” were served to the passengers. |
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Challan drive: parties
to start stir Chandigarh, June 8 At a meeting attended by members of the Congress, Janta Dal (United), Bahujan Samaj Party and the Shiromani Akali Dal, it was decided that an agitation would be started if the Administration did not give up its challaning drive. The meeting was presided over by Mr Ram Pal Sharma of the Congress. The parties decided to wait for Parliament session to get over before starting an agitation. “We want the local Member of Parliament to lead us. He will be in the city once the Parliament session gets over. Our agitation would get underway once he comes back,” he added.
— TNS |
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21 challaned for violating public health bylaws Chandigarh, June 8 A number of items kept in unhygienic conditions and exposed to dust and flies, which were unfit for human consumption, were destroyed. This included ice (210 kg), sugarcane (250 kg), cut fruit (265 kg), sweets and samosas (40 kg) and 48 bottles of spurious aerated water. The residents of the city were advised not to eat overripe, underripe, rotten or cut fruits. |
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10 in fray for lone SGPC seat Chandigarh, June 8 On the last day of filing nominations today, eight candidates filed their nominations. Proiment among were Mr Gurpartap Singh Riar, president of the local unit of SAD, Mr Amrinder Singh sitting member of the SGPC and his wife, Ms Surinder Kaur (covering candidate). Earlier, Mr Balbir Singh, Mr Charan Singh, Mr Kehar Singh, Mr Gurnam Singh, Mr Gurbir Singh, Mr Jaspal Singh, and Mr Amrit Singh had filed papers. |
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SGPC poll: 5 file papers SAS Nagar, June 8 Those who filed their poll papers were Mr Mann Singh (son of Mr Sewak Singh), with his wife Jaspal Kaur as covering candidate, from Sohana as the SAD nominee; Mr Mann Singh (son of Mr Kaka Singh), also from Sohana, as an Independent candidate; and Mr Hardeep Singh, former SGPC member, who filed two sets of nominations papers as an Independent candidate. Mr Hardeep Singh’s wife Raj Bhupinder Kaur filed her papers as the covering candidate. |
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Society to host film show Chandigarh, June 8 |
Youth electrocuted while repairing dish antenna Mohali, June 8 The victim, Ashu Sharma (26), is said to have died on the spot and his body got stuck to the antenna which was later removed by other staff members. A doctor from Fortis Hospital, who visited the spot, declared that Ashu was dead. The incident took place around 11.30 am Mr Harpreet Singh, DSP, told Chandigarh Tribune that the Managing Director of the company which employed the victim, Mr Gurraj Singh
Sarao, was arrested by the police on charges of causing death by negligence. Mr Vinay Kumar, a cousin of the deceased, said he along with the victim were having coffee at a nearby shop and it was raining. He said Mr Gurraj Singh Sarao had an office on the first floor of a showroom in the market. Around that time he came downstairs and asked Ashu Sharma to go to the top of the building to check the dish antenna as it was not giving a proper signal to his computer. Mr Vinay Kumar said that initially Ashu refused to do the work and requested his employer to call an electrician for the job as he was not exactly aware what was to be done. Mr Vinay Kumar alleged that the employer then ordered Ashu to do the work as the latter was on duty. He said that Ashu had taken up a job in marketing with the Saraon Marketing Solutions India Ltd about four months ago. He was staying in a rented accommodation in Phase II here. Members of the family of the deceased, who live in Thlu village in Anandpur Sahib district, reached the scene on hearing about the accident. Mr Harish Chander, father of the victim, alleged that he lost his son due to the negligence of the employer. The father, who works as a mechanical foreman with the
BBMB, said his son had got married on October 29 last year. He said he along with other members of the family rushed for Mohali after hearing about the death of his son. It is learnt that,
Ritu, widow of Ashu Sharma, is three months pregnant. Mr Gurraj Singh Sarao refused to talk to mediapersons about the incident. On visiting the spot it was seen that a broken wooden ladder was lying on the roof top which had been used by the victim to reach the antenna. A woman employee had been sent with Ashu when he went to find the fault with the antenna. When she saw that he had got electrocuted, she rushed downstairs to inform about the incident. The body of Ashu was sent to the local Civil Hospital for post mortem. About a week ago a fire had broken out in the same showroom allegedly due to a short circuit and a meter had got burnt. At that time a fire brigade had been called for help. The police has registered a case under Section 304 of the IPC. |
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Cheating case ordered against couple Panchkula, June 8 The complainant, Mr Surjit Singh, had filed a complaint before the court alleging that Surinder Singh and his wife Meenu, duped him of Rs 2.5 lakh. He alleged that the couple was operating an immigration firm and charged the money from him on the pretext of sending his son to South Korea. He had payed the money to the couple at a hotel in Sector 10, Panchkula. The couple neither sent his son to South Korea nor returned the money. Even they had not returned his son’s passport and other documents till date, he alleged. |
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Man found dead Chandigarh, June 8 The police on receiving an information that a person was lying near the house took him to Sector 32 hospital where he was declared brought dead. The police said there were no apparent marks on the body suggesting it might have been a natural death. It is yet to be confirmed by the medical authorities as what actually happened to the person. The person has a mole in between eyebrows and was wearing a check shirt and red colour shirt. |
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1 killed in Mohali accident SAS Nagar, June 8 The driver of the autorickshaw, Charanjit Singh, a resident of Phase I here, died in the head-on collision. The car driver fled from the scene. The police has registered a case. |
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Chandigarh, June
8
Technically speaking, thunderstorms and rain conditions have emerged from high temperature and moisture, fed from the Arabian Sea. Although the city recorded traces of rainfall yesterday and today (not above 2.5 mm), the change in weather itself was significant, as it hinted towards an early monsoon.
