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Coldest day in 16 years
Chandigarh, February 5
The day temperature today fell drastically to settle at 9 degrees below normal. The maximum day temperature was 12.8 degrees — the lowest recorded in 16 years. It was in 1992 that the day temperature had plummeted to 12.6 degrees.

Cool Girls: Undeterred by the chill and fog, these young girls make their way to school in Chandigarh on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Getting the better of grief...
They join hands to save lives
Chandigarh, February 5
On February 5 last, Ramnik and Jaideep Sekhon’s son died in a tragic car crash at the rotary dividing Sectors 3 and 4. The site was pitch dark. None of the six occupants of Honda City could see the roundabout ahead.

Ramnik Sekhon who lost her son in a road accident last year. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Jaspal Bhatti does a spoof on regionalism in art promoted by Raj Thackarey, at Sector 17 on Tuesday. Launching a satire on the divisive forces, Jaspal Bhatti Film School proposed a “Divide India Film Festival” with an aim to engineer a divide in viewers on the basis of language and region. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Film Fest
No large crowds, yet a draw
Chandigarh, February 5
The second Chandigarh film festival did not attract large crowds, but it did attracted serious audiences. Unlike last time when free passes went waste, ticketed shows did the festival a lot of good this year.

Varsity review panel cancels admission
Chandigarh, February 5
In a decision that may result in embarrassment to Panjab University, the committee constituted to review the admission of a girl student in MCA, has decided to recommend to the syndicate to cancel the admission.

COMMUNITY

Encroachment poses threat to commuters Chandigarh, February 5 Encroachment by a few residents in Sector 44-B, mainly lawyers, has become a nuisance for the rest.The encroachment poses a serious threat to the lives of commuters as it obstructs vision. Encroachment by a house owner in Sector 44, Chandigarh. — A Tribune photograph

Art commission proposal shelved?
Chandigarh, February 5
The proposal to set up an urban art commission in the city seems to have been shelved. According to the mayor, Pardeep Chabbra, the UT home secretary, Krishna Mohan, today stated that there was no move to form the commission and the administration could take up the pending work on its own.

IAF mulls repair units for heavy aircraft
Chandigarh, February 5
The IAF is examining the feasibility of setting up repair and overhaul facilities for its IL-76 strategic freighter within the country. At present, these aircraft are sent to Russia for major overhaul.

Printing press set up at paraplegic centre
Chandigarh, February 5
In order to a give a boost to vocational avenues available to the inmates of the Army-run Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre (PRC) at Mohali, a printing press has been set up at the centre.

Admn makes way for LPG-driven non-AC taxis
Chandigarh, February 5
After the success of AC taxis in the city, the Chandigarh administration has decided to start low-cost LPG-driven non-AC taxis. UT home secretary Krishna Mohan said applications for non-AC taxis would be invited and the rate would be Rs 6 per km.

Panel on IT park constituted
Chandigarh, February 5
The Chandigarh administration has constituted an empowered committee to deal with issues relating to the development of the IT habitat at the IT park here. The Chandigarh Housing Board is developing residential, commercial and related infrastructural facilities as an integrated project on 123 acres in collaboration with a private builder.

AFWWA president visits 3 BRD              Advises soldiers’ wives to lead self-sufficient life Chandigarh, February 5 On a four-day visit to 3 Base Repair Depot here, Rachita Nayyar, president, Air Force Wives Welfare Association, Maintenance Command, interacted with the wives of air warriors here today. Participants perform during a cultural programme organised by the Air Force Wives Welfare Association, 3 BRD, in Chandigarh on Tuesday. Protest by PSEB employees Chandigarh, February 5 The Punjab State Electricity Board Employees Forum held a protest at the rally ground, Sector 25, here today. Employees said privatisation should be stopped and vacant posts filled.

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EDUCATION

PU Mass Comm Dept
HC notice on Khosla’s appointment as chairman
Chandigarh, February 5
Professor-cum-former head of Panjab University’s Mass Communication Department Dr Sanjay Wadwalkar has again challenged the appointment of Dr Mohanmeet Khosla as the department chairperson-cum-head.

PU Notes
UILS students to attend global conference
Chandigarh, February 5
The University Institute of Legal Studies has done the university proud by receiving an invitation to compete in the 54th session of the Harvard National Model United Nations Conference-2008 to be held at Boston, USA, from February 14-17.

From Schools & Colleges
St Stephen's extends holidays till Feb 10
Chandigarh, February 5
The primary school (Classes I to V) of St Stephen's School, Sector 45-B, Chandigarh, will remain closed till February 10. The school will re-open on Monday, February 11 at 8 am.

UK delegation talks of common varsity syllabi
Chandigarh, February 5
A meeting between a high-level British delegation led by minister of state for home Liam Byrne and UT Administrator Gen S.F. Rodrigues (retd) was held today to discuss the university-level syllabi and educational curriculum.

COURTS

Consumer Courts
Petitioner told to pay Rs 18,000 to respondent
Chandigarh, February 5
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed a petitioner, Gurcharan Singh, to pay Rs 18,000 as compensation to one of the respondents Tajinder Singh after the UT Car Point, Sector 7, paid him compensation.

Notice to UT SSP, home secy
Chandigarh, February 5
Taking up a petition filed by social activist-cum-convener of People for Animals’ Haryana unit Naresh Kadyan seeking the registration of a case against You Tube, Google and others for posting a “highly objectionable video clip” featuring former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Justice Nawab Singh of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice of motion

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Admn gears up to combat bird flu
Ambala, February 5
With the dreaded bird flu virus spreading at various places in West Bengal, the district health authorities and the animal husbandry department have initiated measures to prevent its spread in the area.

From Colleges
Meritorious students awarded
Rajpura, February 5
A number of meritorious students of PMN College were conferred with various awards during the annual day celebration of the college that were held on its campus, here. Students, who had performed exceeding well in academics, sports and other extra curricular activities, were presented with mementos.

Police crackdown on illicit drug traders
Fatehgarh Sahib, February 5
The district police carried out an extensive operation to nab those reportedly promoting illicit drug trade in the district, late last evening. Acting of tip-offs, the police raided a medical shop and the house of an alleged drug peddler from where they recovered huge caches of scheduled drugs.

Woman’s body found
Dera Bassi, February 5
The body of an unidentified woman in her 30s was recovered from the Ambala-Kalka railway tracks here this morning. According to the railway police, the woman seemed to belong to a well-to-do family and was well dressed. She seemed to have committed suicide by throwing herself before the train last night.

Pbi varsity team cycling champ
Patiala, February 5
Punjabi University won the overall trophy for men in the All-India Inter-University cycling championship, which concluded at the Punjabi University complex here today. The hosts, riding on a crest of individual titles garnered by ace rider Sarpreet Singh, accumulated 67 points to annex the title.

SPORTS

Kila Raipur sports fest from February 8 Chandigarh, February 5 Addressing a press conference here today, chief organiser of Kila Raipur sports festival Sukhvir Grewal said around 5,000 sportspersons will participate in the 73rd edition of the festival which will commence in Ludhiana on February 8. Sukhvir Grewal addresses the media in Chandigarh on Tuesday. — A Tribune photograph

Golden Bells students bag 9 taekwondo medals Mohali, February 5 Students of the Golden Bells Public School, Sector 77, bagged six golds, two silvers and one bronze medal at the 3rd Inter-School Colour Belts Taekwondo Championship held on February 2 at Guru Nanak VBT Polytechnic, Phase 1 here. The taekwondo champs from Golden Bells Public School. — A Tribune photograph

Tennis adviser for CLTA workshop
Chandigarh, February 5
Doug MacCurdy, a player development adviser with the International Tennis Federation, will be conducting an orientation programme at the CLTA. The programme is scheduled to be held from February 18 to 25 and will be a big boost to players from the city.

Roller hockey champ aims at higher goals
Chandigarh, February 5
“I started it as a hobby, but gradually discovered that the game of Roller hockey is very exciting,” said Rohit Bajaj, who won a gold medal during the national games held at Vishakapatnam recently.

PU inter-college yoga results declared
Chandigarh, February 5
DAV College, Abohar, won the Panjab University Inter-College Yoga Championship for men held at the PU gymnasium hall here today. The team garnered 770.5 points. The second place was bagged by Shri Guru Gobind Singh College, Sector 26, with 764.5 points, whereas DAV College, Sector 10, finished third with 526 points.

Haryana under-19 T20 probables
Chandigarh, February 5
The Haryana Twenty20 Cricket Association has selected 31 probables to attend a coaching camp for the forthcoming National under-19 T20 Cricket Championship to be held in Hyderabad from February 18 to 22, 2008.

HEALTH

GIMRC starts epilepsy clinic
Chandigarh, February 5
The Government Institute of Mentally Retarded Children, Sector 32, has started an epilepsy clinic from 2.30 pm to 5 pm every Tuesday. According to Prof B.S. Chavan, GIMRC joint director, the facility has been started to provide special care to patients with epilepsy.

CRIME

Man booked for eve-teasing
Chandigarh, February 5
Manbir Singh of Sonepat has been booked for allegedly eve-teasing a girl near DAV College. The girl alleged that she was passing by the auditorium when the incident happened.

One held for raping septuagenarian
Mohali, February 5
Satwinder Singh, a student of Panjab University Evening College, was arrested by the local police today for raping a 72-year-old woman of Parol village near here. According to the police, Satwinder alias Gola, who is a resident of the same village, was drunk when he raped the old woman.