Jalandhar, April 29
The district consumer disputes redressal forum has directed Guru Nanak Mission (GNM) Hospital to compensate a Lamba Pind resident with of Rs 1 lakh for carrying out a surgery with faulty transfusion f blood.

The complainant, Girdhari Lal, had said his wife Swarni Devi, who was bleeding and admitted to GNM hospital, died due to the negligence of doctors there. He said he had taken his wife for a medical examination at GNM Hospital.

His wife was admitted to the hospital on September 21, 2006, and he deposited Rs 4,500 there.

The plaintiff said as soon as blood was administered to her on September 24, her condition started deteriorating. Swarni Devi was shifted to the ICU and her ECG test was conducted. The next afternoon, Swarni Devi was discharged in a serious condition and advised to go to some bigger hospital.

He said his wife was taken in an unconscious state to Patel Hospital where she was declared brought dead.

The patient’s husband alleged that the blood provided by the blood bank of the hospital was not suitable for the patient and the doctor there continued giving blood to her despite the fact that her condition was deteriorating due to transfusion.

The opposition parties, including GNM Hospital, GNM Hospital Trust, through its manager, managing committee of the hospital through its chairman, Dr Ravinder Bajaj, Dr Damanjit Singh and New India Assurance Co. Ltd, contested the case.

The hospital management and the doctors said the negligence could not be proved without a documentary evidence in this regard. They said the blood was taken from blood bank at the civil hospital and was fully tested and certified.

They added that the blood was given with due care. The patient had developed inherent late post transfusion problem, which was treated, and the patient referred to Patel Hospital for further treatment.

The forum, presided over by M.M. Bhalla and Surinder Mittal as its member, found it to be a case of negligence on the part of the hospital authorities as it said the blood was either not properly matched or properly administered or else the patient would not have developed such complications immediately during the transfusion.

It found that the hospital was not having proper medical facility to overcome the difficulties and the patient had to be shifted to another hospital where she was declared brought dead.

The forum said negligence on the part of the hospital authorities was proven for they even failed to cite any specific reason for complications after blood administration.

It awarded compensation of Rs 1 lakh to the complainant to be paid jointly by all opposition parties. 

Jalandhar, April 29
If you are fond of peppy street food with a pinch of masala in it, then a visit to the BMC chowk-based “Subhash Chander ke gol-gappe” is a must. The place is always thronged by the passersby, but it becomes all the more busy with youngsters and families coming especially to enjoy the flavour.

And what makes the gol-gappe, chat-paapdi and dahi-bhalle of Subhash Chander special is his years’ old recipe, which he learnt from his father.

Carrying on his family legacy forward Subhash says, “My father started this rehri in early 1950s when we migrated to India after the partition. Initially, my father use to sell gol-gappe near the Company Bagh chowk but then after his death I started managing the work in 1979 and came to this place.”

Subhash starts selling gol-gappe at 5.30 pm daily and packs up at 10 pm.

These days the rush is more because of summers.

“I feel proud when families come together in cars to enjoy the crispy gol-gappe and other foodstuff. Many of my customers come here regularly,” he added. Interestingly, his two brothers also sell gol-gappe and they are equally famous in the city. One of his brother sells gol-gappe near Manbro, whereas the other near LIC office. Harjot Kaur, who came from Mumbai to meet her family here, said, “Whenever I visit Jalandhar, I never forget to savour the tempting chaat-papdi, gol-gappe and other delicious foodstuff of Subhash Chander. They are simply irresistible.”

Jalandhar, April 29
Apeejay School organised an investiture ceremony here on Tuesday to authorise bright and brilliant students of the school to take care of discipline on the campus.

Divisional commissioner S.R. Ladhar was chief guest on the occasion. Principal Ranjana Sud presented badges to head boy Mohit Thukral and head girl Valleri Aggarwal.

Jalandhar, April 29
The students of Innocent Heart School had a narrow escape when the bus in which they were traveling was hit by a truck at Nurpur Chowk on Pathankot road here on Tuesday.

As many as 22 students were on board, out of which six have sustained minor injuries. The injured have been admitted to a private hospital.

The incident took place in the morning.

The bus driver was turning the bus towards Jalandhar when the vehicle was hit from one side by a truck, which was coming from Jalandhar and turning towards the same direction.

As per reports, the truck driver has been handed over to cops. 

Jalandhar, April 29
With hardly a few days left for the Cantonment Board elections, the candidates are leaving no stone unturned to woo the voters and win their confidence. With approximately 4,700 voters, Ward 2, reserved for women, covers the maximum area right from Mohallas 9 to 24, except Mohalla 12.

On the other hand, Ward 3 covers Mohallas 26, 27, 28, Kasturba Nagar quarters 1 to 80, Solanki Lines, area of Khusropur Octroi, Dussehra Chowk to Deep Nagar, Rocket Regiment and Military Farm.

Usha Rani (56): A first-time candidate from Ward 2, Usha is seeking votes in the name of development with an end to some core problems in cantonment. “My first priority is to restart registration of houses. Ever since I started my campaign, people have been highlighting this issue. Apart from this, I will try to provide a permanent solution to the milkmen community which were allotted land in Subhana village.”

She said, “I am also looking forward to raise the standard of the services being provided by the Cantonment Board hospital.

Usha comes from the family of politicians as her father-in-law was an active Congress worker and remained vice-president of Cantonment Board for 15 years. “The social and political image of the family is helping me a lot in convincing people,” she added.

Uma Vashisht (51): An active Congress worker right from her initial days, Uma Vashisht, another greenhorn from Ward 2, is not a new name in Jalandhar cantonment. Elated over the overwhelming support of the residents, she aspires to work at the grassroots level and said, “I have always been an active social worker. Given a chance I would specially like to solve the problem of ‘teh bazaari’, rising house tax, sanitation and dairy people in the cantonment.”

Presently, working as general secretary of the State Women Congress, she also teaches yoga. Born and brought up in Jalandhar cantonment, Uma is a graduate from the local BD Arya Girls College. She said, “I have always worked for the welfare of the public and wish to continue with the same.”

Avinash Chander (57): A businessman by profession, Avinash Chander is a well-known name in Cantonment Board as he won the 1997 elections with a good margin. This time again happy over the decision of the ministry of defence, he said the elections were an open platform for the civilians. The candidate from Ward 3 says, “My first priority is to maintain sanitation in the cantonment, especially in the Bhoor Mandi area where sewerage remains blocked and the residents face a lot of problems.”

While talking about the present Cantonment Board elections, which are being held after a gap of 11 years, he said, “The elections would surely bring transparency in the working of the board. Moreover, the residents would get a fair representation in the board as well.”

Darshan Lal Bajaj (72): Darshan Lal Bajaj is one name who has been associated with the Cantonment Board for many years. He has served as the vice-president of the board continuously for 17 years. And this time again the septuagenarian is contesting from Ward 3.

He says, “Though I am seeking votes on development, my prime concern is for the 80 Kasturba Nagar quarters, which have not been given to the original allotees till date. The quarters were constructed on no-profit-no-loss basis by the government in 1965. As the quarters were constructed for the weaker sections, I am focusing more on this problem.”