HEALTH

PGI to have 18-bed Burns Unit
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 2
The PGIMER will shortly have an 18-bed Burns Unit exclusively dedicated to patients with burns, said Prof RK Sharma, Head of Department, Plastic Surgery, at a press conference held at the institute, here today.

Stating that the Central ministry had sanctioned a sum of Rs 6 crore for the unit, Professor Sharma said that the unit would have a 10-bed intensive care unit and eight step down beds for stabilising seriously burnt patients.

While the unit will have complete and comprehensive patient care facilities, an attached operation theatre and more nurses will be provided at the unit.

Costing nearly Rs 3lakh, the unit will also have a few shower trolleys to bathe burns patients. Maintaining that they were getting the maximum number of burns patients from the region, Professor Sharma said that against 380 last year, 100 had already come in with burns injuries in the last three months alone.

“The single largest cause for burn injuries after stove bursts has been kundi connections and high tension wires passing over residential areas. In cases with electrical burns, most patients lose their limbs also. If this can be addressed, the number of patients is likely to go down,” he said.

Maintaining that a burns unit was a very costly proposition, he said that treatment of burns, too, is as expensive. “It costs nearly Rs 1000 for every 1 per cent of burn every day. Here, of course, the charges will be very nominal since the government will provide support,” he explained.

Professor Sharma also announced that the Department of Plastic Surgery, PGIMER, would hold a daylong ‘Burns Update-2006’ on May 6 that will see participation from plastic surgeons from all over the country in the scientific deliberations.

Various controversial issues in the management of burns patients will be discussed at length to help form a consensus among surgeons providing burn care at various centres.

SPORTS

10 best players’ selection annoys ex-Olympians
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 2
A group of hockey Olympians today expressed annoyance against the 10 best Sikh hockey players selected by a panel headed by former Chief Justice of India J.S. Verma and comprising the likes of former Olympians like Leslie Claudius.

At a press conference held at the Chandigarh Press Club here, the Olympians comprising Tarlochan Singh Bawa, Dharam Singh, Balbir Singh, Harcharan Singh, Harmeek Singh, Surinder Singh Sodhi, Baldev Singh, Rajinder Singh Senior, Baljeet Singh Saini and Baljeet Singh Dhillon expressed their reactions against the function which was held in Delhi recently.

They stated that hockey was a team game and had always delivered a message of team spirit and national integration. But these types of moves instil a feel a individualism and categorisation.

“Our resentment is not against particular players who were honoured, but with the criterion the organisers have adopted while choosing the players. The players should not have been shortlisted according to their religion. Ours is a secular country and narrow religious considerations should be curbed as it is not in the interest of the game. A player plays for the country, and not for his religion”, expressed Tarlochan Singh Bawa, a veteran gold medallist hockey Olympian of 1948.

“There have been many occasions where hockey players have been honoured and felicitated and it has always been accepted, but this particular move is not digestible to us,” said Harmeek Singh, another ex- Olympian.

“Such moves are only leading to cracks among the entire hockey build-up. These steps create ill-feelings not only among the Indian hockey society but also among Punjabis. These are not in any way a positive step and should be avoided at any cost”, said another ex- Olympian.

Camp to make caddies golfers begins
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 2
The CGA’s “Talent Hunt” programme commenced at its course here today. As many as 16 caddies are participating in the coaching camp.

The camp was inaugurated by Mr C.S.R. Reddy, president of the CGA Golf Range.

The training will be held on Mondays and Thursdays, spread over a period of two months, under the supervision of coach Jesse Grewal.

“This mission is a continuous process and more such camps will be held in the near future and we hope that some of these golfers will join the amateur as well as professional circuits,” said Mr J.S. Cheema, general secretary, CGA.

Godrej Cricket Club bt Anron Cycles
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 2
Godrej Cricket Club beat Anron Cycles by five wickets in the 2nd Hot Weather Cup League Cricket Tournament at St Stephens School, Togan here today.

In the second match FCI defeated PSWH XI by 8 wickets.

Brief score: Anron Cycles: 169 for 8 in 20 overs (Gurvinder 72, Tejwant 37, Raj Anmol 33, Naresh Dhingrs 2 for 28, Vijay 2 for 29, Amritpal 2 for 31).

GCC: 171 for 5 in 17.4 overs (Satish 82, Vanit 37, Amritpal 24 n o, Harman 2 for 41, Harvinder 2 for 46).

PSWH XI 97 for 8 (Surinder 30, Avnish 20).

FCI XI 98 for 2 (Varun 36, Ravinder 34, Navneet Thapar 2 for 26).

Cricket trials on May 5

Chandigarh, May 2
The trials for the selection of under-19 year cricket team for the Chandigarh Cricket Association will be held on May 5 at 3 pm at DAV School, Sector 8, Chandigarh.

The team will take part in the Inter-District Tournament organised by the Punjab Cricket Association.

According to a press note, all players either studying or living in Chandigarh will be eligible for the trials. The players must be below 19 years as on 1.9.2006.

The players must bring a photocopy of the birth certificate or a certificate from the respective institute confirming the date of birth. TNS