Bathinda, June 18
Pioneers in the field of stem cell banking, LifeCell, a Chennai-based company, has launched the first family cord blood bank in the city and the second of its kind in Punjab. The first one was opened in Ludhiana.

Talking to The Tribune here today, Dr Ashok Goyal of Goyal Clinical Laboratory, told that the umbilical cord blood is a rich source of stem cells and the bank will facilitate to store them from any willing family for a certain fee, adding that the cells will be vital in saving life of a person suffering from leukaemia, thalassemia, blood cancer and bone marrow transplant. “Expectant parents can save the cord blood of their baby for Rs 79,000 for a period of 21 years and it is a one-time investment by a family for a secure future,” Goyal added.

Goyal said that the bank would keep the stem cells in hi-tech nitrogen vapour tanks at -196 degrees Celsius. “Cord blood is the blood that remains in the umbilical cord after the baby is born and the umbilical cord is cut,” he said. Although once considered medical waste, he added that it is rich in stem cells.

Stem cells are master cells responsible for producing all of the mature cells in the blood and immune system which further form white cells that fight infection in the body and the red cells that carry oxygen and platelets that promote clotting,” Goyal said. “Cord blood has become a very common source of stem cells for transplantations. Permanent cures are possible for some diseases using stem cell therapies,” he said. However, the cord blood, with its rich sources of blood stem cells, can be used to treat over 80 diseases.

Bathinda, June 18
(BKU) activists staged a demonstration in front of the office of the agriculture department here today. They were protesting against the alleged defective paddy transplanting machines that they were provided with.

The farmers believed that the machines could delay paddy plantation, as a large number of farmers had opted for them to transplant the crop keeping in view the labour shortage, which they had experienced in the past few years. The protesters said they had already paid Rs 1 lakh as advance money against the machine's total price of Rs 2.50 lakh.

They alleged that as per the specification of the machine, they could transplant paddy on 8 acres of land in 2 hours with 50 per cent saving on diesel. But the output was far below than their expectation.

The farmers said they met Manpreet Singh Dhillon, managing director, Nua Seeds Pvt Ltd, Ludhiana, from where they had purchased these machines. But the MD did not listen to their pleas. They alleged that the officials of the local agriculture department and the dealer were hand-in-glove.

Jagseer Singh, a farmer from Jeeda village, said he was assured by the Ludhiana-based dealer that the machine was capable of planting about 35-40 saplings per square metre against 20, if done manually. However, they were able to plant only 10-15 saplings.

Manjit Singh, a farmer of Naruana village, said the cost of transplanting paddy by these machines on an acre rose from Rs 500 to Rs 2,000 per acre. "On the other hand, we were assured that these machines would augment our income by about Rs 4,000 per acre," he said, adding that the machine was not viable.

When contacted, Paramjeet Singh Sandhu, chief agriculture officer, said he had formed a committee to look into the matter, which would visit the sites where the paddy was being planted. It would also be seen whether the machines purchased by farmers conformed to the specifications or the farmers were not handling the machines properly, he added.

Bathinda, June 18
Additional district magistrate (ADM) Upjeet Singh Brar has prohibited the use of cyber cafés by persons whose identity cannot be established.

According to a press note issued here today, cyber café owners have been asked to check visitors’ identity proofs and maintain a daily ‘in and out’ register recording their name, address and telephone number. The time of logging in and logging off for each of the Internet users would have to be recorded on the register.

As per the directive issued by the ADM, every visitor to a cyber café must produce an authenticated photo identity card (ID) carrying his full residential address. It could be his passport, college ID, PAN card, election card, driving license or an office ID. The user will have to make an entry in the register and sign it.

The ADM also asked the Internet joints to do away with the practice of setting up isolated cubicles.

The order has been issued under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and will remain valid up to August 17.

Ferozepur, June 18
Amid speculations regarding the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal planning to contest Assembly elections from Jalalabad Assembly seat, the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has scheduled a special two-day sangat darshan in Jalalabad starting from Friday.

During this two-day visit, Badal will attend sangat darshan programme at village Behak Bodla, Mahatam Nagar and Jalalabad on June 19 followed by another series of sangat darshan programme at village Nukerian and Chak Janesar on June 20.

Badal will be accompanied by irrigation minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Sher Singh Ghubaya, MP, and other senior SAD leaders. — OC

Bathinda, June 18
More than 20 patients had to be moved to safety after a fire broke out at the Nagpal Superspecialty Hospital on the Mall Road here this evening. All the patients were safe and no one was injured, Dr G.S Nagpal, owner of the hospital, said.

Eyewitnesses said they saw smoke emanating from the OPD wing around 7 pm and called up the fire station.

It took around an hour for three fire tenders to douse the flames and bring the situation under control, they added.

Fire officials suspected short circuit as a reason behind the mishap.

After the fire broke out, hospital staff, police, volunteers of two NGOs — Sahara Jan Sewa and Naujawan Welfare Society — began evacuation procedures.

“We have shifted critical patients safely to nearby Surya Hospital. They have been accommodated there for at least the next 24 hours.” Dr Nagpal said.

However, some of the patients admitted to the ICU wing of the hospital alleged that the hospital staff never bothered evacuating them.

They rather shut one of the rooms of the ICU wing in which patients were admitted, they added.

Fazilka, June 18
The State Bank of India, Abhun branch, on Malout road caught fire on Wednesday night. Furniture, computers and other material were gutted. Shot circuit is stated to be the cause of fire.

According to the information, the villagers saw smoke emanting from the bank building about 9 pm. Villagers informed the bank officials who called up fire fighters. However, computers, furniture were reduced to ashes, record room and strong room of the bank were saved. — OC

Mansa, June 18
A man and his wife were allegedly killed by his brother in Mansa on Wednesday night. According to police, Lakhwinder Singh a resident of ward no. 21 in Mansa allegedly killed his brother Pinderpal Singh and his wife Rani Kaur on the night of June 17 with the help of his companion Jagseer Singh.

Police said that the dispute over property was the reason behind the incident. Pinderpal was killed outside the city on Sirsa road around 10 pm. Later, the accused killed Rani Kaur at 4 am on June 18, police sources said, adding that sharp-edged weapon was used in the crime.

Police has a registered a case against Lakhwinder Singh Lakha and Jagseer Singh under sections 302 and 34 of the IPC. This case was registered on the statement of Rajpal Singh, brother in-law of the deceased. — OC

Fazilka, June 18
A newly married woman was allegedly strangulated to death by her in-laws in Fazilka today. According to the FIR lodged with the City police by mother of the deceased, Bimla Devi, a resident of Muktsar, the marriage of her daughter, Seema Rani (23), was solemnised to one Roop Chand of Fazilka in December 2008 and the family had given sufficient household articles, bike and refrigerator, to the family of bridegroom. 

After two months of the marriage, Roop Chand, his mother Kaila Rani, brother in-law Balraj, his wife Kanta, Ginni, daughter of Balraj and younger brother Des Raj started torturing Seema for dowry.

It has been alleged in the FIR that Seema was strangulated to death by her in-laws on Wednesday night. City police, Fazilka, has registered a case under section 302 of the IPC against the above mentioned six persons.

The post mortem examination of deceased was not conducted till the filing of news as her parents were demanding an autopsy at Muktsar or Ferozepur. — OC