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City roads turn into rivulets
161.8 mm of rainfall recorded*Phones go dead *Traffic comes to a halt
Chandigarh, July 5
Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula received a whopping 127.8 mm of rainfall till 8.30 a.m. today and life in the region came to a virtual standstill. Waterlogging, flooded roads, traffic jams and mayhem greeted the residents of the city who woke to find the city in a virtual deluge.

Vehicles stranded on the Sarangpur-Mullanpur road as an electric pole falls due to heavy rain on Tuesday; and (right) vehicles move at a snail’s pace on a flooded road in Chandigarh. — Tribune photos by Pradeep Tewari and Manoj Mahajan

Woman washed away in Chandi Mandir
Panchkula, July 5
A woman was washed away in Chandi Mandir, while traffic snarls, water-logged roads, and fear of a repeat of floods in the slum colonies along the nullahs (seasonal rivulets) loomed large today, as water came gushing down in Ghaggar river and the seasonal rivulets passing through Panchkula.

The Ghaggar in spate near Panchkula on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

REGIONAL BRIEFS

RAINING CATS AND DOGS: Rain or sunshine, an umbrella is always out and open. This frame shows two girls in Sector 23 protecting themselves from the heavy rains that lashed Chandigarh on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by Pradeep Tewari.

	Nod to commercial use of industrial land July 5, 2005
	Rain no restraint; 53 pc polling to parishad wards July 4, 2005
	Major traffic jam for 6 hours July 3, 2005
	Stars spurn fans’ attention July 2, 2005
	Most Nari Niketan inmates mentally disabled July 1, 2005
	‘Illegal’ colonies come up around Panchkula June 30, 2005
	Rodrigues hints at new power tariff policy for UT June 29, 2005
	Bedlam at MC House meeting June 28, 2005
	Pre-monsoon showers hit city June 27, 2005
	Illegal colony razed in Mohali June 26, 2005

Causeway, bundh washed away

Chandigarh, July 5 The downpour played havoc with the residents of Kishangarh village as rainwater that descended from the lower Shivaliks catchment area partially washed out approaches of a causeway on the Chandigarh-Kishangarh-Suketri road adjacent to Sukhna Lake this morning. The downpour on Tuesday washed away roads in Kishangarh village in Chandigarh. — A Tribune photograph

Rain pours misery in Zirakpur
Zirakpur, July 5
Continuous showers for the past 12 hours brought misery to thousands of residents of various colonies in low-lying areas in Zirakpur, Dera Bassi and Lalru today. While the ill-equipped Zirakpur Nagar Panchayat failed to tackle rainwater problems in different colonies in Bartana, Bhabhat, Lohgarh, Dhakauli, Himmatgarh, Zirakpur, Bishanpura and surrounding villages, the rainwater flooded various colonies in Mubarikpur, Dera Bassi and Lalru.

Children cross a flooded street through a temporary bandh constructed by residents with the help of gunny bags in the High Land Housing Society in Bartana near Zirakpur on Tuesday.

Stranded motorcyclists being helped by children to drag their vehicles out of knee-deep water in Zirakpur on Tuesday. —  Tribune photographs

Flood control centres in place, says ADC
Banur, July 5
After receiving news of the rising water level in the Ghaggar river, Mr Shiv Dular Singh Dhillon, Additional Deputy Commissioner (general), Patiala, reached Chhat village and inspected the area. He also took a round of a kuccha road surrounding the Chhat Bir Zoo and asked the officials concerned to be alert.

Iran-India gas pipeline by 2010

Chandigarh, July 5 The proposed gas pipeline between Iran and India will become reality by 2010, the visiting Iranian Ambassador to India, Mr S.Z. Yaghoubi, said here today. “The gas which India receives from Iran will be the cheapest form of energy and the project once commissioned will generate lot of employment for the people of India, Iran and Pakistan,’’ he told mediapersons and industry representatives while addressing them during an interactive session on “Business Opportunities between Iran and India’’, organised by CII, Northern Region here today.

The Iranian Ambassador to India, Mr S.Z. Yaghoubi, addressing the participants during an interactive session on “Business opportunities between Iran and India” in Chandigarh on Tuesday. Also seen in the picture is Mr Partap Aggarwal, vice-chairman, CII, Chandigarh council. A Tribune photo

Envoy of Iran meets Rodrigues
Chandigarh, July 5
Mr Siyavosh Zargar Yaghoubi, Ambassador of Iran, called on Gen S.F. Rodrigues (retd), the Governor of Punjab and the UT Administrator, here today. They discussed the emerging world scenario and various other issues of general interest.

Governor for action plan on child care
Chandigarh, July 5
Increasing drug abuse cases among children in Punjab have sent the highest offices of the state thinking. Coupled with the challenge of bringing adolescents back from the verge of drug disaster is the concern that stems from the falling sex ratio.

COMMUNITY

Celebrations despite rain
Chandigarh, July 5
It was celebration time as results of Zila Parishad elections started pouring in this afternoon. Rain did not dampen their spirits. The results of the Hallomajra constituency were the last to come due to several rounds of counting but the wait was worth it for supporters of Ms Kuldeep Kaur who won against her nearest rival Ms Harinder Kaur, by a margin of 635 votes.

Cong emerges winner
Chandigarh, July 5
Regardless of the rivalry in the local unit of the Congress, which was visible during the Zila Parishad elections, candidates with alliance with the Congress managed to bag at least six seats. The remaining three seats in the 10-member parishad have been captured by candidates inclined towards the BJP.

I’m ready to take over as Cong chief: Birender
Panchkula, July 5
Endorsing the policy of ‘one man, one post’, Haryana Finance Minister, Birender Singh today said he was ready to resign as Minister and take over the post of state Congress President.

Disowned by family, penniless man looks for kidney donor

Chandigarh, July 5 Thirty-two-year-old Raj Kumar is unable to cope with the double blow that fate has dealt him. First he lost both his kidneys to a prolonged illness, which he could never get treated for want of money and awareness; then he was forsaken by his own family, which expressed inability to bear the burden of his treatment. Raj Kumar (right) with his wife and child. He has lost both his kidneys and is desperately looking for a kidney donor after his family also deserted him. — A Tribune photograph

Kataria blames UPA govt for attack
Panchkula, July 5
The former member of Parliament and senior BJP leader, Mr Rattan Lal Kataria, today decried the attack on Ram Janmabhoomi at Ayodhya. Speaking to TNS here today, Mr Kataria said the attack was on the sovereignity of the country. This was aimed at creating communal trouble.

VHP holds protest at Sec 17 plaza
Chandigarh, July 5
The local unit of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) today held a demonstration in the Sector 17 plaza in protest against attack on the premises of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya.

Basanti Devi award for Prof Talwar

Chandigarh, July 5 Prof K.K. Talwar, Director, PGIMER, was today awarded the Basanti Devi Amir Chand Prize for 2003 of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) by the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Ambumani Ramadoss. The award was given for his work on the utility of endomyocardial biopsy in tropical heart muscle disease at a ceremony held at New Delhi.

Dr H.M. Swami (left) Director-Principal, Government Medical College, Sector 32, Chandigarh, who won the ICMR Dr M.K. Seshadri Prize 2002, and Dr K.K. Talwar (extreme right), Director, PGI, Chandigarh, who won the ICMR Basanti Devi Amir Chand Prize 2003, at ICMR Award Ceremony held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

Press Club expedition flagged off

Chandigarh, July 5 To mark the silver jubilee celebrations of the Chandigarh Press Club, a 16-member team of journalists left on a nine-day trekking expedition to the Pangong Lake in Ladakh here today. The expedition was flagged off by president of the club Jagtar Singh Sidhu. A 16-member team of the Chandigarh Press Club, which left for the Pangong Lake in Ladakh on a nine-day trekking expedition in Chandigarh on Tuesday. A Tribune photograph

2 buffaloes killed as shed collapses
Mohali, July 5
Two buffaloes and five calves got killed when a shed collapsed due to heavy rain in Rurka village, near here, this morning. According to information, two buffaloes died soon after the roof of the shed collapsed while the calves also died a little later. Nine heads of cattle sustained injuries.

Amarnath Yatra registration
Mohali, July 5
Registration for Amarnath Yatra via the traditional Chandanwari route will be done by the Jammu and Kashmir Bank, Phase-2. Mr Raman Koushal, Chief Manager, said ‘darshan’ would commence from July 11 and go on till August 19.

CRIME

Police turns a blind eye to ‘killer’ buses

Chandigarh, July 5 One day, two mishaps and both fatal. Each involving a roadways bus. Even though buses continue to crush the safety of city residents under ruthless wheels, the Chandigarh police has done precious little to prevent them from causing accidents. Though senior officers refuse to hand over the exact figures, the sources in the police headquarters admit that buses — both local and the ones coming from outside — are involved in a substantial number of road mishaps.

A file photo of a road mishap involving a roadways bus.

Youth held for theft
Chandigarh, July 5
The local police today arrested a youth on the charge of committing theft in eight shops in Ram Darbar late last night. The police claims to recover 24 stolen wall clocks from him. His two accomplices are at large.

Sec 47 resident hangs himself to death
Chandigarh, July 5
A 40-year-old man allegedly hanged himself to death at his Sector 47 residence late last night. The deceased has left a suicide note holding no one responsible for his death, police sources said.

School bus overturns, 6 hurt
Chandigarh, July 5
Students of Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Sector 26, had a miraculous escape today when their school bus turned turtle in Sector 11 here. Sources in the police said the accident occurred early this morning when the bus overturned after hitting a road divider near the roundabout in Sector 11.

4 vehicles stolen
Chandigarh, July 5
As many as four vehicles, including two cars, were reportedly stolen from the city in the past 48 hours. Mr Jasbir Singh of Dadu Majra Colony reported to the police that his Maruti car (CH-01-J-2748) was stolen from Sector 41 on Sunday.

EDUCATION

Confusion in Panjab varsity over admissions
Chandigarh, July 5
Panjab University can’t set its house in order on the issue of admitting students to the Department of Evening Studies. While it has been unable to frame a foolproof plan to admit only “working students”, it reverts back to the “old plans” despite formulating such procedures year after year.

It rained chaos at class XI admission centre

Chandigarh, July 5 Chaos marked day two of the centralised admissions to Class XI in government schools as rain played havoc with the arrangements made by the UT Education Department at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 23, here today. Parents and applicants were packed like sardines in the admission counselling hall and squeezed into corridors of the school while the fee counters witnessed “unmanageable” rush forcing authorities to collect forms and fee and close down counters till the crowds subsided. An applicant with her mother find her way to the admission couselling hall at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 23, in Chandigarh on Tuesday; and (right) flooded ground on the school campus. — Tribune photographs

Girls’ ITI to be upgraded
Mohali, July 5
The local ITI for Girls has been chosen to be upgraded as a centre of excellence by the D.G.E&T and Government of India under a centrally sponsored scheme. According to a press note issued by the institute here today, a sum of Rs 1.6 crore would be spent on the renovation of the building, on procuring state-of-the-art equipment, providing training to faculty members and on holding seminars and workshops.

CULTURE

Shahnamah heritage on display Chandigarh, July 5 A painting exhibition on “Shahnamah-the everlasting heritage” opened today at Art Gallery, Department of Fine Arts, Panjab University, Chandigarh. The Shahnamah is an impressive monument of poetry and historiography. A painting exhibition on “Shahnamah-the everlasting heritage” that opened on Tuesday at Art Gallery, Department of Fine Arts, Panjab University.

HEALTH

How to tackle snake bite victims
Mohali, July 5
“Poisonous snake bites are medical emergencies and can be dangerous if not attended to quickly. Because of their smaller body size, children are at higher risk of death or serious complications.”

Awareness drive on anaemia
Chandigarh, July 5
The Chandigarh branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has launched a campaign to create awareness on anaemia, its reasons and remedies. As part of the campaign, different sections of society are being told about the symptoms of anaemia, said Prof B.S. Chavan, state president of the IMA.

SPORTS

Indian hockey probables practice at Sec 42 stadium

Chandigarh, July 5 Probables of Indian hockey team practiced for more than two hours at the Sector 42 hockey stadium here this evening. These 23 probables practiced at the stadium for the second time. Indian hockey probables during a practice session at the Sector 42 hockey stadium in Chandigarh on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

City to have all-weather pool by next year Chandigarh, July 5 Swimming aficionados are in for a special treat. For, the city is going to have its first “all-weather pool” and water enthusiasts can now look forward to the luxury of swimming right through the year!