C H A N D I G A R H

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TOP STORIES

Airlines draw up contingency plan
Chandigarh, January 6
In order to cope with unprecedented problems posed by persistent fog at the Chandigarh airport, all four airlines operating on this route have drawn up contingency plans for the convenience of passengers. These include refund, hotel accommodation for outstation passengers, arrangements in alternative airlines or taxi service in case of passengers booked for the city-Delhi route.

Cold wave likely to abate during next 2 days
Chandigarh, January 6
The bone chilling cold sweeping across the city and adjoining Punjab and Haryana during the last fortnight further tightened its grip today as the minimum temperature dropped to 3.4 degrees Celsius, while the maximum rose to 15.4 degrees C with fog blanketing many areas in the region.

Even condom machines not spared by thieves
Chandigarh, January 6
Everyone has heard about attempts to rob ATM machines in the city, but thieves trying to break into condom vending machines? That certainly sounds strange.

PUTA for ‘evaluation’ of syndics, VC
Chandigarh, January 6
When it comes to faculty development at Panjab University, the new catchword seems to be ‘evaluation’ On the lines of the ongoing discussions over implementing teachers’ evaluation, the Panjab University Teachers Association is now considering a new proposal for a similar evaluation of all ‘decision makers’ - senate and syndicate members along with the vice chancellor.

Minor deposes in favour of “rapist”
Chandigarh, January 6
A day after the apex court said in a significant judgment that an Indian girl would not lie about sexual assault and courts must believe her, a 13-year-old girl shocked everyone in the court, including her parents, by siding with her “rapist”.

COMMUNITY

Road safety week remains a farce
Chandigarh, January 6
The annual road safety week has become a ritual with the same events being held year after year, with almost the same list of guests. Though the traffic police is observing the ongoing national road safety week and is trying to spread the message of safe driving, it has failed to reach the target audience.

Workshops on road safety
Chandigarh, January 6
The Chandigarh traffic police today organised three workshops in different parts of the city as a part of the ongoing 21st National Road Safety Week.The police said over 100 drivers in the Chandigarh Police took part in the workshop conducted at the Children Traffic Park.

Wrongly parked vehicles on a road near the district courts in Sector 17, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

ONE TOUGH RIDE: A motorcyclist and his family brave the chill with shawls in Chandigarh on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

Despite being a chilly day, people queue up for kerosene at a pump in Sector 29, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

Laying of pipelines from Kajauli waterworks
UT stakes claim, GMADA differs
Mohali, January 6
While Mohali heads for water rationing as early as March again due to shortage of water, the deadlock between GMADA and the UT administration over the laying of two pipelines from Kajauli waterworks has not been broken even at the level of the Punjab Chief Secretary.

New services at sampark centres
Chandigarh, January 6
The IT department of the Chandigarh administration plans to add some new services to those offered at sampark centres in the coming months.

Fire dept flouts recruitment rules
Physically challenged persons for field duty
Chandigarh, January 6
Ignoring the Chandigarh fire and emergency department recruitment rules, the authorities are all set to recruit physically challenged personnel not only on ministerial posts, but also on field duty of the emergency services.

Braille’s birth anniversary observed
Panchkula, January 6
“Not only the government even the society must come forward to encourage the disabled persons. They don’t need sympathy as they accept challenges and therefore, they need positive attitude and cooperation of the people.”

Fog forces drivers to turn on their car lights in the daytime (left); and people cover themselves with woollens to protect them from the chill in Chandigarh on Wednesday. Tribune photos: Manoj Mahajan

Private buses operate illegally at Phase III-A
Mohali, January 6
The local chapter of a human rights group has drawn the attention of the Punjab government towards illegal operation of the private tourists’ buses playing between Mohali and different destinations in Punjab.

Encroachers make hay: The road leading to Sector 48-C and in front of the motor market is crowded with cars needing repairs and mechanics carry out their work at the parking lot adjoining the motor market. Tribune photos: Parvesh Chauhan

Irregularities in auction of parking lot
Vigilance registers case
Chandigarh, January 6
The UT vigilance department today registered its first case of the year against market committee members and officials for allegedly committing irregularities in the auction of a parking lot.

Academic session at PGI begins today
Chandigarh, January 6
The 2010 academic session of the PGI will begin tomorrow. Dr VM Katoch, Secretary, Department of Health Research, Government of India, and Director-General, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, will inaugurate the session at the Bhargava auditorium.

Suicide bid at police HQ
Panchkula, January 6
A woman today tried to commit suicide in front of the state police headquarters, alleging that the police failed to take action against the accused who attempted to murder her son last year. Lakshmi Devi belonging to Hansi in Hisar claimed to have been earning her livelihood in the garb of a eunuch.

Car catches fire, one injured
Zirakpur, January 6
A car accidentally caught fire near Lohgarh village at the Zirakpur-Patiala highway leaving driver of the car with minor burn injuries today. The car was gutted in the accident.

Ruchika’s Expulsion
Report to be submitted today
Chandigarh, January 6
With the UT administration concluding its inquiry against the Sacred Heart School, Sector 26, for the expulsion of Ruchika Girhotra, allegedly under pressure, the report will be submitted by tomorrow evening.

Nabha gets woman empowerment centre
Zirakpur, January 6
Manpreet Kaur Dolly, daughter of late former Akali leader Capt Kanwaljit Singh, today inaugurated a woman empowerment centre at Nabha village. The centre was a part of Mai Bhago Scheme of Punjab cooperative department. It was started by Capt Kanwaljit Singh.

Government and MC employees protest in support of their demands in Sector 17, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph

Encroachments demolished
Chandigarh January 6
A team of the enforcement staff of the Chandigarh Housing Board conducted a demolition drive in Sectors 29 and 47 here today.

Verification drive
Chandigarh, January 6
The District Magistrate, Brijendra Singh, has asked people who have engaged contract labour or labourers on daily wages for petty services to provide details of such persons to the respective SHOs.

• Appointed
• Presentation on saving Sukhna

EDUCATION

From Schools
Rs 4,514 lakh aid for secondary education
Chandigarh, December 6
After a long delay, Rajkiya Madhyamik Shiksha (RMSA) seems to be finally on tract now. UT Home Secretary Ram Niwas today proposed a budget of around Rs 4,514 lakh for providing universal access to secondary education under the project this year.

Varsity hostels get Rs 2 crore
Chandigarh, January 6
In a major move, the university has allocated a budget of about Rs 2 crore for a revamp of its hostels. The move marks the onset of much-promised makeover of university infrastructure.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Debate on traffic awareness today
Fatehgarh Sahib, January 6
The administration has geared up to sensitise people about traffic rules after a large number of accidents took place here during the past year. As many as 157 people had lost their lives in the district in different accidents last year and 99 people had died in just six months from January to June last year. The administration, with the help of traffic police and district transport office, had organised a seven days traffic awareness week to apprise people of traffic rules and basic instructions to the commuters.

Satinder launches second solo album
Patiala, January 6
Punjab anchor and singer Satinder Satti released her second album “Moh--My Love” at Play Ways High School, Patiala, today amidst large number of schoolchildren and parents who had gathered to get a glimpse of their favourite anchor.

Singer Satinder Satti performs with schoolchildren in Patiala on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph

30 fall sick after consuming langar
Ambala, January 6
About 30 residents of Boh and Babyal villages had reportedly fallen ill after partaking langar yesterday. The residents, including children, had been admitted to hospitals in Boh and Babyal villages and Civil Hospital, Ambala Cantt.

Modi college eves clinch judo title
Patiala, January 6
MM Modi College, Patiala, has won the Punjabi University Inter-College Judo Championship (women) and was runners-up in the men category, which was held at Punjabi University, Patiala.

Seminar on road safety
Ropar, January 6
Seminars and various other competitions on road safety held today at several schools in Ropar.

Students briefed on traffic rules
Bassi Pathana, January 6
To educate students about the traffic rules and to spread awareness on traffic sense, the police today organised a seminar at Pine Grove Public School. Bassi Pathana DSP Rajwinder Singh Sohal was the chief guest, while Rajwant Singh in charge presided over.

Labourer kills wife
Kharar, January 6
A migrant labourer today reportedly murdered his wife at Gillco Valley. The accused has been identified as Santosh Kumar, a resident of Mahool village in Chhattisgarh. Santosh has been working as a labourer in the colony for the past few months and was putting up in a temporary hutment adjoining a house under construction.

Truck rams into four vehicles
Fatehgarh Sahib, January 6
An out of control truck hit four vehicles on the Sirhind flyover this morning and badly damaged two of the vehicles. Some passengers of these vehicles also received minor injuries in the accident.

Girl killed in accident
Patiala, January 6
A girl, identified as Bismanjeet Kaur Gracy (17), was killed after being hit by a truck near Leela Bhawan Chowk here this afternoon. As per information given by the family members of the deceased, Bismanjeet was going to distribute blankets to poor people on a two wheeler along with her mother Harchran Kaur.

• Schools closed

COURTS

Afghan national granted bail
Chandigarh, January 6
A local court today granted bail to an Afghan national who had been arrested recently for applying for a new passport on a fake name. The court of district and sessions judge KK Garg today granted bail to Walid, the Afghan national arrested by the crime branch on December 24, after he furnished bail bonds of Rs 20,000.

CRIME

Three held with liquor
Chandigarh, January 6
The police arrested three persons from various parts of the city and seized 105 cartons of liquor from their possession.

Thieves strike at four shops
Mohali, January 6
Thieves decamped with cash and items worth lakhs of rupees from four shops in Phase V even as the chowkidar of the area was made captive by some persons during the period when thefts were being committed.

SPORTS

ITF Tennis Tournament Rishika stuns Napatsakom
Chandigarh, January 6 In a major upset Rishika Sunkara stunned ITF ranked 114 Napatsakom Sankaew, Thailand, in the girls’ singles quarterfinal event of the India ITF World Grade 3 World Ranking Junior Tennis Tournament being played at the Sector 10 Tennis Stadium here today.
Players in action during their match in Chandigarh on Wednesday. Tribune photos: Manoj Mahajan

Paramveer to lock horns with Sunny in semis
Mohali, January 6
Paramveer Bajwa, Punjab, would clash with Sunny Khadare, Maharashtra, in the semifinals of the U-12 British AITA Total Tennis Talent Series being played at The British School, Sector 70, here.

Marathon on Jan 31
Chandigarh, January 6
International and national athletes would compete in maiden marathon to be organised by the department of sports in coordination with the tourism department in the city on January 31.

Lahiri lifts chess championship
Chandigarh, January 6
International master Atanu Lahiri, LIC, West Bengal, became the champion with 8.5 points by comfortably drawing his final round game with Puneet Jaiswal, Jharkhand, at the 1st Chandigarh All-India Open Fide Rating Chess Tournament, which concluded at St Xavier’s Senior Secondary School, Sector 44 C, here today.

Winners of the chess championship are all smiles after winning trophies in Chandigarh on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Parvesh Chauhan

Volleyball
Punjab, Haryana enter semis
Chandigarh, January 6
The Principal Accountant General (AG), Punjab, and Principal AG, Haryana, advanced into the semifinals of the North Zone Accountant General Volleyball Tournament, which commenced at the Sector 7 Sports Complex here today.

12 teams to participate in cricket meet
Chandigarh, January 6
Twelve teams, including Sri Lanka, have confirmed their participation in the 2nd V Hanumantha Rao All-India Under-19 National Cricket Championship to be held at Hyderabad (AP), which is being organised by the Cricket Federation of India (CFI) and Cricket Federation of Hyderabad at the LB International Cricket Stadium and Amberpet Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad, from January 12.

Arjun for national badminton meet
Chandigarh, January 6
Arjun Verma, former state champion, has been seleted for the Under-17 All-India School Games Badminton Championship to be held in Pune from February 1.