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Major fire at PU girls’ hostel, none hurt
Chandigarh, May 12
Residents of the women’s hostel no 5 on the Panjab University campus had a narrow escape early this morning when a major fire broke out in the hostel’s backyard under mysterious circumstances. In the absence of staff trained to deal with such a disaster, nearly 50 hostel inmates managed to douse the flames by themselves.

Fire victims try to cope with loss
Hope for compensation, succour
Panchkula, May 12
Prem Kumar, a native of Uttar Pradesh, feels like a broken man today. His entire family savings that he would have take home next week were wiped out in the major fire that engulfed a slum near the Peer Baba Mazaar in Mansa Devi complex yesterday night.

The Day After

Clockwise from top: A jhuggi dweller offers meal to his children, the damaged currency, a man looks for his belongings and a woman laments her loss after a fire at a slum near the Mansa Devi Complex in Panchkula, on Wednesday. Tribune photos: Nitin Mittal

CBSE students to get certificates online
Chandigarh, May 12
If the Ministry of Human Resource and Development (HRD) has its way, then over 1.6 million students of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) affiliated schools will get their academic certificates online.

Rape On Wheels
Case adjourned as police fails to produce records
Chandigarh, May 12
The police today was unable to present papers in the infamous ‘rape on wheels’ case involving former Home Secretary NK Jain. A local court today adjourned the hearing as the police was not able to produce the records. The case will now come up for hearing on May 22.

Now, Punjabis make it big in football

Dribble past all odds to strike multi-million deals with soccer clubs Chandigarh, May 12 Belying all preconceived notions that soccer is not Punjabis’ cup of tea, a number of football player from the state have made it big in the sport at the top level. Interestingly, all of them are products of the first batch of the Chandigarh Football Academy (CFA), the country’s only state-run academy, which was started in 2000.

City Beautiful’s Signs of Confusion

Clockwise: A signboard depicting the layout plan of Sector 10 has been defaced using spray paint; another defaced sinage of Poinsettia and Ixora Garden in Sector 11; an e-sampark centre signboard is hard to locate as it is covered by tree leaves; a dispensary wall eats into a sinage of Government Central Crafts Institute in Sector 11 and posters cover a signboard specifying speed limit in Sector 11, Chandigarh. Tribune photos: S Chandan

DO THEY SERVE THE PURPOSE? Leaves of trees covering streetlights lead to poor visibility on roads and are a threat to commuters in Mohali. Tribune photos: Vicky Gharu

COMMUNITY

Gadkari dresses down UPA govt Chandigarh, May 12 Charging the Congress-led UPA government with letting the poor down, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Nitin Gadkari today came down heavily on the “wrong economic policies” of the Congress-led government, headed by economist-turned-politician and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, which he alleged had pushed up inflation to 11 per cent as against around 2 per cent in South-East Asian countries.

From left: Harmohan Dhawan, Satya Pal Jain, Nitin Gadkari, Sanjay Tandon, Ranjana Shai, Balbir Punj and Navjot Sidhu during a rally in Sector 25, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. Tribune photo: S Chandan

BJP sounds MC poll bugle
Chandigarh, May 12
Still smarting under the crushing defeat of last year’s Lok Sabha elections, the BJP today sounded the bugle for the 2011 Chandigarh municipal corporation elections during the visit of party president Nitin Gadkari.

335 health officials given appointment letters
Mohali, May 12
Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla gave away appointment letters to 335 newly appointed staff members at the State Institute of Health and Family Welfare in Phase VI here.

Piled-up earth drains Sec-46 residents Chandigarh, May 6 The clouds that have made a few passing appearances over the past few days in the blue summer skies have surely brought smiles to the faces of most city residents but have left denizens of 60 houses in Sector 46 C a worried lot. A heap of loose soil piled up behind houses adjoining the road separating Sectors 46 and 47 in Chandigarh. Tribune photo: Vicky Gharu

Govt boost for tourism in city
Chandigarh, May 12
The Union Government has prioritised number of Tourism projects to be taken up during 2010-11, including creation of infrastructure, facilities for Crafts Mela at Kalagram at Rs 4.78 crore, development of new gardens as tourist spots at Rs 5 crore, setting up multimedia laser show at Rs 3.50 crore, musical fountain at shopping centre, Sector 17.

IT Park
MHA inquiry into irregularities
Probe officer begins scrutiny
Chandigarh, May 12
The inquiry officer appointed by the ministry of home affairs (MHA) today initiated probe into the irregularities pointed out in a special audit regarding alleged irregularities in land allotment to certain IT giants in the Rajiv Gandhi Chandigarh Technology Park (RGCTP).

Suspected Dengue
Confusion over girl’s diagnosis
Chandigarh, May 12
Even as the condition of a 20-year-old girl, Pooja, who was admitted to the Government Multispecialty Hospital, Sector 16 yesterday with dengue like symptoms further deteriorated today and she was shifted to PGI, confusion continues to prevail over the diagnosis of the disease.

Combating Social Evils
Gul Panag joins forces with UT
Chandigarh, May 12
In order to generate awareness on the prevailing menace of female foeticide and drug addiction in the city, the UT health department has enrolled a new NGO — Col Shamsher Singh Foundation — under the ongoing Partnership Initiative Programme.

Liquor
e-Pass system for issuance of licence
Chandigarh, May 12
The excise and taxation department of the UT administration has introduced an e-Pass system for issuance of licences to wholesale and retail agencies. The entire operation involving issuance of permits, passes and licences for liquor has been fully integrated and computerised.

Tributes paid to Florence Nightingale
Chandigarh, May 12
To mark the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing profession, “International Nurses’ Week” celebration started at PGI here today. This year’s celebrations are being held on “Delivering Quality, Serving Communities: Nurses Leading Chronic Care”.

Development suffers as board fails to release funds
Panchkula, May 12
Development works in the Shivalik belt of the district have been hit severely as the Shivalik Development Board (SDB) has failed to release funds for 2009-10. The board had failed to formulated any scheme for the underdeveloped areas of the belt.

Wasnik appeals party workers to fight foeticide Chandigarh, May 12 Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Mukul Wasnik has called upon the party workers to work for eradicating the menace of foeticide. Wasnik was addressing a meeting of the Congress Sewa Dal at Balmiki Bhawan in Sector 24 here today. Union Minister for Social Justice Mukul Wasnik raises a sword at a Congress Sewa Dal camp in Chandigarh on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph

UT keen to ban flexible plastic bags
Chandigarh, May 12
After putting ban on the use of polythene in the city, the UT Administration is now considering prohibiting use of flexible plastic containers as well. But the inflow of polythene from the neighbouring Panchkula and Mohali has in a way beaten the very purpose of banning the use of polythene.

EDUCATION

UT to follow Delhi in implementing EWS quota
Chandigarh, May 12
After several months of brain storming sessions, UT administration is now looking up to Delhi for reserving 15 per cent school seats for students belonging to the economically weaker section (EWS).

Limca Book of Records Quiz YPS wins Chandigarh final Mohali, May 12 Yadavindra Public School (YPS), Mohali, won the Chandigarh city final of Limca Book of Records Quiz, 2010, held at Manav Mangal Smart School here today. The winners from Chandigarh would now be amongst 80 schools to compete in the national semifinals. Winners of the Limca Book of Records Quiz at Manav Mangal Smart School in Mohali on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph

Experts dwell on ‘national building code’
Chandigarh, May 12
A seminar on “National building code” was held at Punjab and Chandigarh State Centre of Institution of Engineers in Sector 19 here. The main purpose of the seminar was to have opinion of experts in the fields of buildings, structural engineering and town planners on existing provisions of the code.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Patiala set to welcome Captain
Patiala, May 12
With former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh expected to arrive in his hometown tomorrow morning, hoarding with message, “Sare Punjabi vich machi hahakaar, samuh Punjabi udekde kad awage Captain di sarkar (There is hue and cry in entire state and people of Punjab are waiting for the Amarinder government to take over the reins of the state)” have come up in several city areas.

Rs 8 lakh looted from brothers at gunpoint
Fatehgarh Sahib, May 12
Five unidentified armed robbers took away Rs 8 lakh from two brothers, both commission agents, from Guru Nanak Colony in Mandi Gobindgarh this evening. The robbers also fired gunshots when some local youth chased them and blocked their path towards the GT Road.

Dowry Death
Parents allege delay in post-mortem report
Rajpura, May 12
Parents of a Mohali-based woman, who was allegedly killed by her in-laws, last week for not bringing enough dowry alleged delay in the post mortem report. Gagandeep Kaur, resident of Mohali, died under mysterious circumstances on Saturday and her in-laws and husband were booked by the police in this connection.

Punjab info panel settled 11,654 cases till 2009
Patiala, May 12
The State Information Commission has achieved a big success by disposing of approximately 90 per cent of the cases till December 31, 2009. As per the figures given by Information Commissioner Darbara Singh Kahlon, out of 12,955 cases from various parts of the state, 11,654 were disposed of till December-end last year.

MP honours Sandeep for cracking IAS Morinda, May 12 Sandeep Kaur’s success in cracking IAS examination is a befitting reply to those who kill daughters in Punjab. Rajya Sabha MP Avinash Rai Khanna said this while honouring Sandeep, a peon’s daughter from Morinda, who secured 138th rank in the All-India Civil Services examination and has brought laurels to her family.
Rajya Sabha MP Avinash Rai Khanna honours Sandeep Kaur for securing 138th rank in the All-India Civil Services examination. A Tribune photograph

School comes to rescue of jail inmates
Patiala, May 12
In order to help jail inmates of Central jail, Patiala, who are keen on achieving higher education, city-based KK International School has decided to provide free education to these jail inmates.

Summer camp trials on May 18
Patiala, May 12
The Sports Department, Punjabi University, Patiala, is going to conduct trials for sports wing and summer coaching camps for various disciplines. Dr Raj Kumar Sharma, director, sports, informed that the university was going to conduct these trials on May 18, beginning at 7 am at the university’s sports complex.

2 killed, 1 injured in accident
Bassi Pathana, May 12
Two persons were killed on the spot and one was seriously injured when their car had a head-on collision with a speeding tanker bearing No. PB-10 BX-7951 near Ucha Jattan on the Ludhiana Morinda road last night. The driver of the canter fled.

Engineer killed in road mishap
Zirakpur, May 12
A 22-year-old engineer died after his motorcycle rammed into a divider near Singhpura village on Tuesday night. The deceased was identified as Tushar Mahajan, a resident of Phase X, Mohali.

Child crushed to death under tractor
Ropar, May 12
Two-and-a-half year old Rashi, a resident of Hussainpur village was crushed under a tractor trolley today. As per the police, Rashi’s grandmother Prem had gone to fetch her back from aanganwari.

10 hurt as auto overturns
Ambala, May 12
As many as 10 persons were injured on the Ambala -Naraingarh road near village Handesra village when a three-wheeler overturned today noon. Three of the injured have been sent to the PGI, Chandigarh.

Nursing Day celebrated
Rajpura, May 12
Nursing week and International Nursing Day was celebrated by Swift Institute of Nursing as a mark of respect to Florence Nightingale.

COURTS

Consumer Courts
Travel company fined Rs 10,000
Chandigarh, May 12
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed city-based Golden Travel Company to refund a sum of Rs 15,000 paid as advance by a complainant, Chander Pal Tyagi, after it failed to provide him with the bus service as promised.

18-month jail for death due to rash driving
Chandigarh, May 12
Civil Judge-cum-Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Anshul Berry today awarded one-and-half years of imprisonment to Sanjay Choudhary for causing death due to rash and negligent driving. He was also fined Rs 1,000.

CRIME

Two held for thefts
Chandigarh, May 12
The Chandigarh police has arrested two persons in connection with thefts at Morinda and Kajheri village. The accused have been identified as Dalip Kumar (22) and Manoj (15). While Dalip is a resident of Sector 53, Manoj resides in Kajheri village.

2 held for theft
Chandigarh, May 12
The police arrested Doni Bhatia and Suraj for threatening Kamlesh Jha, a resident of Sector 24, and stealing an LCD screen from a house in Sector 15 after breaking open the lock yesterday. Two others involved in the case, Manjit and Ruby, are at large. A case has been registered.

SPORTS

Shubham dazzles in St Soldier’s win Panchkula, May 12 Excellent performance by Shubham (unbeaten knock of 74 and two wickets for seven runs) helped St Soldier’s Loyalists, Panchkula, to beat Mountview Wizards, Baltana, by 47 runs in a league match of the sixth Satluj Hot Weather Cricket Tournament held on the school premises here today. A batsman plays a shot at Panchkula on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph

Nimrat to face Bani in U-12 final Mohali, May 12 Local player Nimrat Walia and Bani from Punjab will meet in the under-12 category final of The British Total Tennis AITA Talent Series Tournament being played at The British School, Sector 70, here. Players in action during a tennis match in Mohali on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph

New sports policy on cards Three-day Khalsai fest begins Fatehgarh Sahib, May 12 Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said today the state government would announce its sports policy in a few days. Aimed at promoting traditional sports of Punjab, the new sports policy would also aim at creating world-class sports infrastructure. Girls perform gatka during the Khalsai Games at Fatehgarh Sahib on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph

Cricket Meet
49 probables announced
Panchkula, May 12
The Cricket Federation of Haryana has announced 49 probables for the 2nd All -India Chaudhary Ranbir Singh Hooda (under-17) Nationals Cricket Championship. The preparatory coaching camp is to to be held in Panchkula and Chandigarh from June 1 to June 4.

Snooker
Aman, Pardeep enter q-finals
Chandigarh, May 12
Aman Bhasin, Pankaj Gulati and Pardeep Kinger have entered the quarterfinals of snooker (best of five frames) at the ongoing 9th Saurabh Khattar Memorial Billiards and Snooker Championship at the Chandigarh Club, Sector 1, here today.

Media putting contest
Chandigarh, May 12
A media putting competition will be held at the CGA Golf Range on May 15 at 10 am. Chandigarh Golf Association general secretary CSR Reddy said those journalists interested in taking part in this mega putting contest could give their names to the office of the CGA Golf Range by e-mail or telephone.

Katoch Shield final from today
Mohali, May 12
The four-day final between the district teams of Chandigarh and Patiala for the Katoch Shield (seniors) would get underway at the Punjab Cricket Association’s Stadium from tomorrow.