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Shops gutted in Ambala Cantt market
Ambala, August 6 The loss is yet to be ascertained, but is estimated to be in lakhs. The exact cause of fire could not be ascertained and was being said to be a short circuit. The fire broke out at about 11 am in a paint shop, United Traders. Sunil Mittal, the owner, was present in the shop at that time. Talking to TNS, he said while he was handing over a paint box to a customer, he noticed flames in the back of the shop. He immediately ran to safety and sounded an alarm. His neighbouring shop, Kansi Nath and sons, also deals in paints. Both the shops were soon engulfed in flames as the material was combustible. The fire then spread to the first floor of the shops where the residences are situated. Mangat Ram Jewellers, situated next to these shops, is, however, said to have suffered comparatively less loss. The fire did not spread horizontally and instead rose vertically. As soon as the word of fire spread, shopkeepers in the lane downed their shutters and a crowd gathered near the shops that had caught fire, hampering rescue work of the fire fighters. The narrow lanes and haphazard parking of vehicles added to the vows of the administration trying to control the fire. No efforts were made by the civil administration to stop the incoming traffic to the market. It was only through the efforts of some local shopkeepers that helped divert traffic. Precious moments were lost as there was no provision of foam and instead water was initially used to douse the flames. The officials expressed helplessness and stated that foam was too expensive to purchase and keep and thus was only bought when the need arose. However, had foam been used the damage would have been far less. Even after two hours when the fire could not be controlled, the Army and the Air Force was called in for assistance and foam was also purchased. The fire was finally controlled around 3.30 pm. Deputy commissioner Mohammad Shayin has assured the affected family of some assistance, which would be decided once the loss is estimated. He, however, strongly criticised the encroachments done by people in the market that hampered rescue work. He stated that strict action would be taken soon and the district administration would once again write to the government to strengthen the fire safety services.
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Six sugar mills to be restarted: Kanwaljit
Patiala, August 6 He added that the UPA government had become weak because it had no power to get any Bill passed in the forthcoming monsoon session of the Parliament. Capt Kanwaljit, who was addressing mediapersons at the local Circuit House, added that the UPA government was pursuing wrong policies due to which inflation was rising. He said that it was the responsibility of the Central government to check rising inflation. Capt Kanwaljit Singh further stated that efforts were now on to restart six sugar mills in the state. He added the government had set up a committee of experts from Sugarfed who would advise the government on the feasibility of starting these mills. He added that a sum of Rs 1,400 crore would be invested to upgrade these mills. |
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11 booked for murder
Rajpura, August 6 Gurvinder Bhatia and his friend Ravinder Singh Ravi were attacked yesterday afternoon. While Bhatia, who was already injured as he met with an accident few days back, succumbed to the injuries on way to PGI, Ravi is still undergoing treatment at Government Civil Hospital, Rajpura. Ravi was accompanied by Bhatia when some unidentified people attacked them near the entrance of Patel Memorial National College in the city. Bhatia’s post-mortem was conducted at the civil hospital and the body was handed over to his relatives. A case in this connection has already been registered . |
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MP helps 19 children with heart problems
Ropar, August 6 Four-year-old Mohit Sharma underwent surgery at Gracian Hospital on August 1 and is now healthy. His father Harbans Lal Sharma, a daily wager, said the child has hole in heart since birth. Mohit is among 13 male and six female children who will undergo free surgeries and treatments for their problem. These children are from the areas of Nurpur Bedi, Garshshankar, Dasuya, Hoshiarpur, Talwara, Nawanshahr and Ludhiana. They came across Khanna at a health mela held in February last year. |
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BEIJING 2008 Akash Ghai Tribune News Service
Though the Indian contingent has left for China to participate in the Olympics commencing on August 8, the residents do not want to raise their hopes too high.
“Let’s talk facts. I know we will return empty-handed from China,” says a Sector 9 resident, Raja K.S. Sidhu, joint secretary of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). Sidhu is also going to Beijing in the capacity of IOA’s official to gain experience for the Commonwealth Games-2010. Talking to The Tribune, Sidhu said: “If one goes by the statistics, one can easily judge that there is not even a bleak chance of winning a medal at Beijing. People are pinning hopes on the shooters, but just check their latest records.”
In ‘measured’ games, the capacity of a sportsperson could be easily gauged, added Sidhu, who is also general secretary of the Punjab Shooting Association. He maintained that he was not pessimistic, but did not want to forget the ground reality. Echoing his sentiments, Mukesh Bassi, president of the Chandigarh Club, was of the view that India’s representation in the Olympics was a mere formality.
“Everybody knows what is going to happen there. In the last Olympics, Army shooter Rajyawardhan Singh Rathod saved the country from blushes. But who will do so this time? We are a nation of a billion people, but we can’t think of a single sportsperson who could bring an Olympic medal,” Bassi said. City-based hockey coach N.S. Sodhi said the failure of the Indian hockey team in Olympics qualifier was the biggest shock for the sports fraternity.
“Though there is no hope, miracles do happen,” Sodhi said. Neha, a student of Class IX of DAV Model School, Sector 15, and St John’s High School student Suveer Sachdeva, feel cricket and the government is responsible for this awful situation.
“I want our sportspersons to win laurels for the country in the biggest sports extravaganza, but I think everybody knows the result. Except cricket, nobody takes other sports seriously. I have no hope of any podium finish by Indian sportspersons,” Neha said. Suveer thinks that India should base its sporting scenario on the pattern of China, which is a hot contender for the number one spot in the medal tally.
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YPS, APJ in final
Tribune News Service
Mohali, August 6 YPS beat Paragon team by 99 runs while Abhishek chipped in eight wickets in just 6.3 runs. Earlier, YPS chose to bat after winning the toss. With the help of 72-run knock by Jagnoor, who emerged as the highest scorer, the team put on 163 for two in the allotted 35 overs. But it was Abhishek, who stole the limelight with his dream spell. He virtually wrecked the batting line-up of Paragon with his eight wickets and sent the team back to pavilion on 64 runs. The tournament is being organised by the Mohali Cricket Association. In the second semifinal, a solid 124-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Mandeep (82) and Sumit (35) helped APJ School, Kharar to register 46-run victory over Sant Isher Singh School at the PCA ‘C’ ground here. Batting first, APJ School piled up 204 for 4 in 30 overs. Slamming seven sixes and three boundaries, Mandeep played 82-run knock. In reply, Sant Isher Singh School were dismissed for 158 in 28.5 overs. Kavish Kesar (44), Amardeep (34), Ramandeep (23) and Amarpal (22) were their main scorers. For APJ, Sumit took three wickets for just 11 runs. Brief score: APJ: 204 for 4 in 30 overs (Mandeep 82, Sumit 35, Sahil 17, Gurpartap 1 for 27, Shahbaz 1 for 36). Sant Ishar Singh School: 158 all out in 28.5 overs (Kavish Kesar 44, Amardeep 34, Ramandeep 23, Amarpal 22, Sunmit 3 for 11, Ravi Saini 1 for 22, Sahil 1 for 5, Mandeep 1 for 40, Srijan 1 for 30). Tomorrow, YPS will take on APJ, Kharar, in the final.
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SWAC to meet CAC in semifinal
Chandigarh, August 6 Today AHQ thrashed Training Command
(TC) by 7-1. AHQ started dominating the proceedings from the word ‘Go’. Ramesh Lakra netted the ball in the third minute to give lead to the winners. S. Kumar extended the lead in the 15th minute. After that H. Kumar (23rd min), K.M. Prakash (44th min), Nadeem (53rd min), Billooram (69th min) and Harish Kumar (70th min) chipped in to consolidate the team’s position. For the losing team,
V.C. Sharma reduced the margin with his goal in 55th minute. On the other hand, SWAC beat Maintenance Command (MC) by 2-0 to secure its position in the semi final. J. P. Singh opened the account for SWAC in the 29th minute to lift the morale of the team. In the 50th minute, Domnick doubled the lead. Despite hard attempts, the MC team could not open its account. In another match between Western Air Command
(WAC) and EAC, the former thrashed the latter by 6-1 riding high on the goals by S. Singh,
Kispota, Satvir Singh (two goals), Major Singh. For EAC, Suneel reduced the margin. The match between CAC and SAC held draw at 0-0. Tomorrow the first semi final between WAC and TC will take place at 7.30 am while the second semi final will start at 9.30 am. |
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Over 100 to tee off on Aug 10
Chandigarh, August 6 The first major tournament of its kind will see the retired officers from the Army, the Air Force and the Navy fight it out for the five prizes at stake. According to Col H.S. Baidwan, general secretary of the PGA, the retired defence personnel will be given a gun-shot tee off at 7.30 a.m. and the results will be on the basis of the best gross score in different age-groups. Competition will be in the following age-groups: 50 to 55, 56 to 60, 61 to 65, 66 to 70 and 71 and above. Col Baidwan said retired defence officers from the region could still send in their entries. This is the second major golf tournament being organised by the PGA for a particular segment. Last month the association organised the biggest tournament for caddies in which more than 70 caddies took part. The PGA also conducts an annual India-Pakistan (the two Punjabs) tournaments. |
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22 schools for soccer championship
Chandigarh, August 6 According to the organisers, the competitions will be held in different age groups including under-19, 14 and 12. — TNS
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Rape accused arrested
Nayagaon, August 6 Rakesh, with the help of his two friends Jai Kumar and Dabra, abducted the girl while she was on her way to school. The police arrested Rakesh last evening and the accused is in two days police remand. The victim’s father Kishen, along with other members of his colony, gheraoed the Nayagaon police station this evening demanding action against another resident of Nayagaon in whose farmhouse Rakesh used to work. Kishen alleged that the farmhouse was used by the accused to rape his daughter. He added that the police was not initiating action against Rakesh’s employer as he was a rich, well-connected man. However, the police said there was now no proof so far that Rakesh’s employer was involved in the crime due to which his name had not been included in the FIR. Police sources added that the girl was raped in a room in a khera near here and the room belonged to Jai Kumar. The police said that during the course of investigations if it is revealed that the girl was raped at the farmhouse, immediate action would be taken. The incident took place last Thursday. The victim was going to her school in the morning when Rakesh and two of his friends stopped her on the way. They showed her knives and asked her to sit in an auto-rickshaw. The three took her to a room where Rakesh raped her while his friends stood outside.
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Cops booked for cheating
Mohali, August 6 According to the police, Mahesh Sharma, a resident of Shimla, was staying at a hotel in Phase IX where his lady friend had come to see him. The cops barged into the hotel room and allegedly slapped the girl. They told Sharma that they would book him for adultery if he did not dole out Rs 25,000. Sharma called his friends in Chandigarh to arrange the money. However, while the money was to exchange hands, Sharma’s friends realised that the cops were not from the Mohali police and had no business to harass Sharma. They called the local police. Saurabh Chopra was arrested on the spot while Harminder Singh managed to flee. Chopra has been sent to police remand for a day by a local court here.
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Chandigarh, August 6
