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Two more bodies found
Chandigarh, December 7
Even as two more bodies have been recovered from the dumping ground in Sector 31 here today, the UT administration’s rescue operation lacked meticulous planning. With the recovery of the bodies, the toll has touched nine. The family of Sukan, a teenager, and Santosh, in his early 20s, who went missing during the disaster, alleged that the authorities called off the rescue operation ignoring their pleas.

(Top) Ganga Devi, grandmother of Sukan, fears the worst as rescuers look for him. His body was found under the debris and rescuers take away the body of Santosh from the dumping ground in Sector 31, Chandigarh, on Monday. Tribune photos: Manoj Mahajan

Admn again found wanting in handling disaster
Chandigarh, December 7
If the rescue operations at the site of yesterday’s tragedy at a Sector 31 dumping ground is anything to go by, the city’s disaster management plan continues to be one of the UT administration’s major weak points, with a wide gap between the plan’s noble intentions and their actual implementation.

Making a living off garbage dumps
Chandigarh, December 7
Unaware of the tragedy that snuffed out the lives of nine ragpickers at a trench in Sector 31 here yesterday, scores of others continue with their daily grind of collecting waste paper and scrap iron across the city. During a casual survey of various parts of the city today, the Tribune team found innocent children rummaging through nauseating garbage bins.



Oblivious of the tragedy that claimed nine lives in Chandigarh on Sunday, this ragpicker is back to business. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

Toothless MC - I
Councillors lack will to check encroachments
Chandigarh, December 7
The MC may constitute teams for encroachment drives every year, but it is powerless when it comes to any stringent action against violators. Reason: councillors have never supported the agenda of revised enforcement laws in the house, tabled several times.
Encroachment by crane owners at the motor market in Mani Majra where the MC keeps conducting anti-encroachment drives. Tribune photo: Nitin Mittal 

H1N1 claims 3 more lives
Chandigarh, December 7
Three people, belonging to different parts of Punjab, who had been suffering from swine flu died in the city today. Meanwhile, five fresh cases have been reported including a nine-year-old student of Carmel Convent School who tested positive for the virus.

COMMUNITY

Parking chaos outside DC office
Underground parking used for dumping records
Chandigarh, December 7
Apathy on the part of the Chandigarh administration and the municipal corporation has resulted in chaos in parking areas outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office and other government offices at the Town Hall Building in Sector 17 here.
Two-wheelers parked inside a corridor near the subdivisional office building of the estate office at Sector 17 in Chandigarh. A Tribune photograph

Water meters have a roadblock — Mayor
Chandigarh, December 7
Ignoring the fact that the municipal corporation has been suffering a loss of more than Rs 25 crore annually due to non-metered water supply to slums and colonies, Mayor Kamlesh did not allow the agenda item of installation of water meters in those areas to be tabled during house meetings for the whole year.

Zirakpur flyover opened to traffic
Zirakpur, December 7
The flyover on the Ambala-Chandigarh national highway was opened to traffic this evening. However, the work on laying underground sewerage is still pending.



Sewerage-laying work in progress on the Chandigarh-Ambala National Highway in Zirakpur on Monday. Tribune photo: Nitin Mittal

Clear handicapped quota backlog, orders HS
Chandigarh, December 7
No appointment should be made in any department until the backlog in quota for the handicapped is cleared by the departments and no promotion should be made till the quota fixed for the handicapped is achieved.

Hypocrisy, perfidy brought to the fore
Chandigarh, December 7
Leading by example as pioneering promoters of cultural renaissance,the Chandigarh administration, in collaboration with the Theatre for Theatre, offered a theatrical bonanza, the week-long Fifth Winter National Theatre Festival. The fest got off to an impressive start with the staging of the Hindi play ‘Chehray’ at the fully packed Tagore Theatre here today.
Artistes in a scene from the play ‘Chehray’ at the Tagore Theatre in Chandigarh on Monday. Tribune photo: Vicky Gharu

Bandh evokes mixed response
Mohali, December 7
Commercial establishments remained closed in response to a call given by Sikh bodies protesting against spiritual leader Ashutosh Maharaj from Divya Jyoti Sansthan here today.


Members of Sikh organisations force shopkeepers to close their establishments in Mohali; and (right) closed shops at a market following a bandh call in Patiala on Monday. Tribune photos: Vicky Gharu, Rajesh Sachar

Health centres for Sectors 66 to 69 sought
Mohali, December 7
The Defence Accounts Pensioners’ Welfare Association has demanded the setting up of primary health centres in Sectors 66 to 69 and installation of security gates in the area to protect residents from criminal elements.

GMADA identifies two sites
Relocation of mechanics
Mohali, December 7
The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) has identified two sites, one in Sector 48 and another in Phase 6, for relocation of motor mechanics.

‘Reversing global warming will lead to extinction’
Chandigarh, December 7
Reversing the process of global warming will result in the extinction of mankind, said Dr Ritesh Arya, a geologist, while talking to to the media here. The fear and hype surrounding the phenomenon was misleading, he claimed.

Free eye check-up camp
Chandigarh, December 7
At least 75 patients were screened for cataract operations during a free eye check-up camp organised by the Lions Club Chandigarh Greater at Karsan here yesterday.

EDUCATION

PU Notes
Campaign on violence against women
Chandigarh, December 7
The department-cum-centre for women’s studies and development, Panjab University, carried out a chain of activities as a part of the 16-day campaign on violence against women on PU campus here today.
An awareness campaign by students of the department of women studies and development at Panjab University in Chandigarh on Monday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

PhD entrance test exemption opposed
Chandigarh, December 7
In agreement with the earlier committee of VK Sibal, legal opinion sought by the Panjab University authorities in the controversial case of PhD candidate Vijay Dhanda has also stated that exemption given to the candidate is incorrect.

A volunteer pins a flag on the jacket of a Panjab University student on the occasion of the Armed Forces Flag Day in Chandigarh on Monday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

PU exams rescheduled
Chandigarh, December 7
Panjab University examinations for BEngg, BE, MTech, LLB, BA LLB (Hons - 5-year integrated course), MCom, MBACIT, MBE, MEFB and PG diploma in personnel management and labour welfare, scheduled for tomorrow, have been postponed. The Controller of Examinations today said that new dates would be released later. — TNS

150 attend NSS camp
Chandigarh, December 7
As many as 150 students participated in a seven-day NSS camp that was organised at Janta Colony by the NSS unit of PEC University of Technology from November 30 to December 6.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Body found
Lalru, December 7
An unidentified body of a man was found near Jharmari barrier at Lalru this morning.

Annual day at PTU regional centre
Patiala, December 7
Enthused students showcased their talent with soulful presentations like giddha, bhangra, group dance, solo dance and modelling at the annual function of the Vaishnoo Maa Computers, regional centre of Punjab Technical University.

Three-day sports conference ends
Patiala, December 7
The three-day national conference on sports, which was going on at Punjabi University’s Kala Bhawan concluded here today.

College student raped
Kharar, December 7
A local college student was allegedly raped at her home in ward No. 11 yesterday.

Diabetes awareness camp
Bassi Pathana, December 7
Mehar Baba Charitable Trust, a social organisation, organised the diabetes, blood pressure awareness and women empowerment camp-cum-road show here yesterday. Trust patron HS Mejie inaugurated the camp. A team of doctors led by Dr JS Gill and field workers of the trust took blood samples and a majority of the persons were found to be diabetic.

Rice millers stage dharna
Bassi Pathana, December 7
Local rice millers staged a dharna in front of the FCI depot here today. They were protesting against the dictatorial attitude of the local AG (depot) staff.

Rice millers stage a dharna against harassment by AG (depot) staff at Bassi Pathana on Monday. Photo: Surinder Bhardwaj

Paddy dumped in open continues to rot
Fatehgarh Sahib, December 7 }
Despite the government’s instructions that paddy stocks be lifted as soon as possible, large quantities of gunny bags filled with the grain that are lying in the open are still rotting. Commission agents in Khamano and Ucha Pind grain markets have accused procuring agencies of “dilly dallying” over the matter for a long time.

Traffic challans fetch police over Rs 21 lakh
Fatehgarh Sahib, December 7
The local traffic police has pocketed over Rs 21.46 lakh realised from traffic offenders challaned for violating the rules this year.

Industrial development to get top priority: MLA
Ambala December 7
Former union minister and local MLA Venod Sharma today said he would focus on industrial development of the constituency during his current tenure.

COURTS

Dinner for CJ
Chandigarh, December 7
The Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association will organise a dinner in the honour of newly appointed Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal of the high court on Thursday.

Two witnesses examined in Israeli’s trial
Chandigarh, December 7
The defence counsel today examined two witnesses in the trial of Lior Avi Ben Moyal in the court of RS Attri, special court judge (NDPS). The court now fixed December 15 as the next date of hearing and the defence was likely to rest its case on that date.

Goldline Electronics told to pay Rs 5,000
Chandigarh, December 7
Failing to install new LCD television bought by a complainant, the District Consumer Disputes and Redressal Forum has directed Goldline Electronics, Sector 35, to pay a compensation of Rs 5,000.

2-day police remand for Whisky’s accomplices
Chandigarh, December 7
A local court today remanded all four suspects arrested yesterday in connection with the murder of a Sector 20 financer to two days’ police custody.

CRIME

4 nabbed for breaching security at PU
Chandigarh, December 7
The Panjab University authorities nabbed four outsiders for breaching security and carrying weapons in their cars here today.

Girl sustains injuries in road mishap
Chandigarh, December 7
A schoolgirl today had a narrow escape when an overloaded motorcycle rammed into her scooter on the road dividing Sectors 32 and 46 here early this morning.


The victim sits on the road after the mishap (left); and the motorcyclist tries to flee from the spot. Tribune photos: Vinay Malik

Motorcyclist killed in mishap
Chandigarh, December 7 Narinder, a motorcyclist, was killed after he was hit by a truck near the railway station here this morning.

Thieves strike at Sec 7 house
Panchkula, December 7
Thieves struck at a house in Sector 7 and ransacked it in the absence of its occupants here. According to the police, the house owner, Ravinder Pal, and his family had gone to Delhi to attend a marriage.

Two booked for duping man of Rs 90 lakh
Chandigarh, December 7
The police has booked a resident of Sector 20 for allegedly duping a man of Rs 90 lakh on the pretext of selling a house.

3 juveniles held, 10 cases solved
Chandigarh, December 7
The police today claimed to have solved 10 cases of theft and burglary in the city with the arrest of three juveniles. The police recovered 17 LPG cylinders from the accused.

SPORTS

Rolling Tigers win roller skating meet
Panchkula, December 7
The Rolling Tigers won 92 medals in the 15th Panchkula District Roller Skating Championship organised by the District Roller Skating Association, which concluded here yesterday.

The Rolling Tigers Academy team, which won the roller skating championship in Chandigarh. A Tribune photograph

15 Punjab teams for BS Kahlon Golf
Chandigarh, December 7
As many as 15 golf clubs of Punjab, including five from the Army, will participate in the second BS Kahlon Memorial Inter-Club Golf Tournament to be played on the greens of the BEPTA Golf Club in Patiala on December 13.

Golf camp from Dec 15
Chandigarh, December 7
A one-month junior golf training programme will be held at the Chandigarh Golf Club for children in the age group of 6-17 years starting December 15.

43 probables for cricket coaching camp
Chandigarh, December 7
The All-India Cricket Federation (AICF) has invited 43 probables for a coaching camp, which will begin tomorrow at Shivalik Public School, Sector 41, here.

Satluj school book berth in final
Panchkula, December 7
The team A of Satluj Public School has entered the finals of the Satluj Under-17 Winter Champions Trophy Cricket Tournament beating APJ, Kharar, by five wickets on Satluj Public School grounds, Sector 4, here today.

Players in action during a semifinal match in Panchkula on Monday. A Tribune photograph