Jalandhar, November 14
Dental patients in peripheral villages have been left to bear the brunt of the dental fortnight, which is being organised to provide free treatment to dental patients in the Civil Hospital, Jalandhar, and other three centres simultaneously. The 15-day dental camp, which started on November 3 and will conclude on November 17, aims to provide free dentures to 100 edentulous patients across the district.

To make this dental fortnight thrive, all the dental surgeons of the district have been diverted to the health centres of Nakodar, Phillaur, Basti Gujan and Civil Hospital, Jalandhar.

This diversion has become incomprehensible in the light of the fact that out of the total 22 dental units of the district, nearly nine have been non-functional due to chronic non-availability of dental surgeons or crumbled infrastructure.

As dental surgeons working at peripheral stations are called to these four centres, there is no one to cater to both routine and emergency dental patients at distant units.

Though doctors claim that they have informally informed their patients of the shift, it seems nearly impossible to convey the fact to a population of 50,000 to 1,00,000, which each dental unit is meant to cater to.

Being unaware of the absence of dental surgeons, patients still report at these units.

When the TNS team reached at the dental unit in PHC Adampur, an assistant said the doctor will not be available even for the next few days as he is out for ‘some training’ at Jalandhar.

On being asked about the number of patients reporting in the absence of the doctor, she replied, “Yes, patients usually come to see the doctor, but we tell them that he will be available after a few days.”

It has also been learnt that no propaganda campaign was chalked out to sensitise masses in the villages situated around the centers where the camp is being organised.

There is not even a single dental technician available across the district, to provide logistic support in the fabrication of dentures in the governmental establishments.

“As no dental technician is available for the camp, every step of dental fabrication is carried out by the dental surgeons,” said a surgeon on condition of anonymity.

In the absence of technicians, we are not even able to provide dentures to our routine patients. Even for this camp, we are bound to seek services of private technicians, added the same doctor when asked why free dentures can’t be delivered at the respective dental units.

So, owing to the non-availability of dental technicians, all dental units across the district have been failing to provide dentures to needy patients.

Jalandhar, November 14
A large number of children took out a rally under the aegis of the Punjab Surakhsha Samiti to spread awareness among the general public against the illegal trade of drugs here on Children’s Day on Saturday.

Nawanshahr, November 14
With a view to check the recurrence of the chaotic scenes at the common mess set up here at the JSFH Khalsa High School for the players who are here to participate in the Punjab State Rural Games, Deputy Commissioner Gurkirat Kirpal Singh has deputed senior civil and police officers to ensure smooth service of food to players.

On Thursday, due to lack of controlling system, the players threw plates at the dinner venue. The Deputy Commissioner had to intervene to ensure proper law and order as well as supply of food to all the players.

On the second day, ADC Harminder Singh, SDM Virpal Singh, Nawanshahr Tehsildar Barjinder Singh, Balachaur Tehsildar Gurcharan Singh Brar, DSP Satpal Singh Bhangu, SHO (city) Raj Kumar along with police force and employees of the DC office, were seen controlling the players at the common mess.

Now the question arises if the civil and police officials are to perform this duty, what are the officials of the Sports Department, coaches and in charges accompanying the teams doing?

S.L. Lotey, Assistant Director, Sports, when contacted, said officials of different departments were also put on duty to monitor the arrangements at the common mess.

Regarding the presence of senior civil and police officials to discipline the players at the pandal, he said without the active cooperation of the district administration, such mega events could not be organised.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who presided over the inaugural ceremony of the Punjab State Rural Games on Friday, said the incident was brought to his notice and he had asked the DC to conduct an inquiry.

Phagwara, November 14
Rail traffic on Phagwara-Jalandhar section was disrupted for more than 15 minutes, due to a scuffle involving two youths (son and nephew of a railway employee) and train staff of Jammu-bound Swaraj Express near Chiherru Railway Station on Friday.

According to sources, the tussle started when two youths identified as Vaneet Kumar, son of a railway employee Vijay Kumar, and his cousin Sanjay, sitting in the SLR coach against rules were asked to leave the coach by Assistant Driver Parmod Kumar at Chiherru station. Assistant driver Parmod Kumar objected but the youths were adamant to sit in the same coach claiming they were also from the railway family.

Meanwhile, the youths went to the cabin of train driver Rang Lal Shah and entered into a scuffle. Youths alleged that the assistant driver beat them up mercilessly.

Personnel of the Railway Police and Railway Protection Force reached the spot and took the youths into their custody. The train left for its destination after 15 minutes of the scuffle and normal up line rail traffic could be restored.

As no formal message was referred to the security forces, both the youths were released later in the evening.

Phagwara, November 14
An unidentified middle-aged woman was crushed by a Nawanshahar-bound DMU train near the Satnampura railway crossing on Friday night. The Woman was crossing the railway lines. The GRP brought the critically injured woman to the Phagwara Civil Hospital where the doctors declared her brought dead.

Tarn Taran: Saraj Singh (50), resident of Boparai village, near Patti, died in a road accident on Friday evening. Saraj was coming back from Patti township to his native village Boparai on his motorcycle when he was hit from the back by a minibus, being driven by Sewa Singh, resident of Jand village. Saraj fell down and died. A case under sections 304 A, 279 and 427 of the IPC has been registered against Sewa Singh.