Pilgrims to be dispatched in batches
Naina Devi, August 4
A day after the unfortunate stampede at the Naina Devi Shrine that killed around 147 persons from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, the district administration woke from its slumber to chalk out a plan to ensure the safety of pilgrims.

12 dead were from Mansa
Mansa, August 4
Over 12 persons from Mansa district were killed in the Naina Devi temple stampede yesterday . According to information Raj Rani, wife of Vijay Kumar, and her cousins Sony Kumar (13), son of Pawan Kumar, Ashu (9), son of Pawan Kumar, were killed in this stampede.

Disaster control unit mooted
Amritsar, August 4
Prof Laxmi Kanta Chawla, state health minister, today mooted the setting up of a disaster management authority to help cope with national calamities and tragedies like the Naina Devi stampede.

Aided school teachers approach CM for withdrawal of case
Chandigarh, August 4
The Punjab State Aided School Teachers and Other Employees Union has urged Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and education minister Upinderjit Kaur to take up with the Punjab Governor the issue of withdrawing the FIR registered against 133 employees, including 68 women teachers, mostly from Moga.

Tribune Impact
Case against 1; salary cut for other cops
Ludhiana, August 4
“Spank one and the others will take a clue,” is the mantra of the city police to teach a lesson to nearly 150 policemen whom the PSEB caught stealing power last week. SSP R.K. Jaiswal has ordered registration of a case against one of the accused only, saying that the PSEB had demanded registration of a case if the policemen did not pay the penalty of Rs 4.56 lakh.

Chief secy reviews refinery project Bathinda, August 4 Chief secretary Ramesh Inder Singh today reviewed the progress of the Rs 18,000-crore Guru Gobind Singh refinery project in the district. The chief secretary was accompanied by senior officers of the government, including S.S. Channi, principal secretary, industries, D.S. Bains, secretary, local bodies, and Karan Avtar Singh, managing director, PSIDC.

Chief secretary Ramesh Inder Singh presses the button of a rolling unit at under-construction refinery near Bathinda on Monday. — Tribune photo by Kulbir Beera

COMMUNITY

‘Govt in league with anti-Punjab forces’
Chandigarh, August 4
The Shiromani Akali Dal Amritsar (Panch Pardhani) here today alleged that the Badal government had been promoting and protecting anti-Sikh and anti-Punjab forces. At a press conference, Daljit Singh Bittu and other leaders of the party alleged that the protected included the Nirankari chief in1978 and now Sirsa Dera chief.

State yet to define a ‘war hero’
Chandigarh, August 4
The Punjab government has not defined a “war hero” for the purpose of rehabilitating families of the soldiers killed or disabled “in action”. According to rules framed in 1999, the Punjab government fixed January 1, 1999, as the cut-off date to determine the status of a soldier as a “war hero”.

TEEJ BONHOMIE: A participant gives final touches to her teammate’s costume at the 5th Teej Mela at Swami Vivekananda Girls College in Bathinda on Monday. — Tribune photo by Malkiat Singh

Energy Conservation
Power board turns to comedians
Patiala, August 4
In order to make electricity consumers in Punjab aware of energy conservation needs and desist them from stealing power, the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), has taken services of Jaspal Bhatti, a renowned satirist, and other stars like Rajesh Puri, Savita Bhatti and Anchal.

Experts debate renewable energy
Chandigarh, August 4
US Department of State, under the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate and Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA), today held a two-day workshop on “Grid Connected Renewable Energy and Cogeneration / Independent Power”.

Close shave for Brahmpura
Tarn Taran, August 4
Rural development and panchayat minister Ranjit Singh Brahmpura had an escape unhurt when the stage collapsed. Security guards of the minister rescued him. The incident took place today afternoon at Kallaha village, 12 km from here, where Brahmpura was to launch the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in the district.

Security beefed up in areas adjoining J-K
Pathankot, August 4
In view of the prevailing situation in Jammu and other districts of J&K adjoining Punjab over the controversial issue of the cancellation of land allotted to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, the Gurdaspur police has taken preventive measures to keep the situation in Punjab area near Madhopur and Kathlore under control.