Jalandhar, January 7
Although the incidence of diseases, especially respiratory ailments, is increasing with decreasing temperatures everyday, the declining mercury has also resulted in a significant decrease in tuberculosis (TB) patients.

With the mercury hovering around at 4-8 degree Celsius in the past few days, the rate of TB patients in the district tuberculosis unit and its allied centres, across the district, witnessed a low this year.

Although the incidence of TB follows the same pattern every year during the peak winter season in the state, the reasons for the sudden decline in the prevalence of the disease are yet to be ascertained.

“Significant decrease in the number of TB patients being reported is witnessed during the peak winter months every year. A study of the pattern of the last few years reveals that the incidence of the disease rebounds again after March. However, the factors behind the directly proportional relationship between decrease in temperature and the disease are yet unknown,” said Dr Rajeev Sharma, District Tuberculosis Officer, Jalandhar.

“The OPD in the district TB unit has witnessed around 50 per cent decrease in the last few days”, he added.

On the other hand, the receding mercury has exaggerated the problems of the respiratory tract among the neonates and children. Around half of the total OPD volume consists only of kids suffering from chest infection.

“Around 40-50 per cent of the total patients being reported in the department of neonatology suffer from pneumonia and asthmatic bronchitis. Moreover, cases of viral diarrhoea are also on the increase in the past few days. Around 8-10 per cent of the total cases being reported are with viral diarrhoea,” said Dr Balbir Singh, senior Neonatologist at the civil hospital. 

Gurdaspur, January 7
Emotions ran high while tears welled up in the eyes of one and all when an elderly Kuldeep Kaur, mother of sepoy Gurdeep Singh, collapsed remembering her brave son, who lost his life during the Operation Vijay at Kargil. He was the only son of the old woman.

The old woman had come all the way from Jammu for a felicitation ceremony during the 49th Raising Day celebrations of The 8th Battalion of Sikh Regiment at Tibri Cantonment. The raising day celebrations started on January 6 and will conclude on January 8. She was among the relatives of 26 Kargil martyrs, who were felicitated by the first Commanding Officer of the battalion, Brigadier (retd) Jaswant Singh Sandhu. Weeping at the irreparable loss of her son, she said, “The mere sight of a soldier from the battalion reminds me of my son in the olive green, who died young fighting for the nation. This honour brought back the memories of the day he died,” she said sobbing.

An inconsolable Bacha Kaur, mother of sepoy Janbir Singh said, “It was a beautiful journey cut short as my son had a small stint of just two years in the service. I kept on persuading him to proceed on leave for some days during the war but he was adamant and my worst fears turned true. Destiny had something else in store for him and I lost my young son.”

Even Brig Sandhu was in tears while addressing the relatives of Kargir martyrs. Seeing them sobbing, he said crying, “It hurts to see young widows cry?..for the loss in their lives. Even the Army does not want a war, but ?governments plan ?and the families bear the losses forever.”

Such was the pulse of the honour ceremony that from the war widows to the young Army officers’ wives and the veterans, all ended up crying.

Surinder Kaur, wife of niab-subedar Ravail Singh, said though she lost the man in her life, but such honour ceremonies reminded her of the supreme sacrifice made by her husband. “My world had come crashing down the day we received the news of my husband martyrdom. But, I have still sent my son in the Army. It had to be a family legacy and my son had carried it forward,” she added.

Like Surinder Kaur, there were many other war widows who expressed their desire to send their sons to the same battalion as second generation soldiers. Mukhtiar Kaur, mother of sepoy Janbir Singh, who had come from Moga, especially asked about recruitment of her grandson, who too wanted to join the Army.

“I want that my grandson should join the 8the Sikh Battalion as my younger son had served here,” she maintained proudly. Earlier in the day, Commanding Officer (CO) of the battalion Col A.K. Srivastava, along with Brig Sandhu, the first CO of the battalion, laid a wreath at the war memorial of the battalion. Col Srivastava highlighted that the battalion was committed to provide the best welfare measures to the war widows. “It was an occasion for the battalion to remember the gallant soldiers who fought like warriors during the Kargil war,” he added.

Hoshiarpur, January 7
Surjit Singh of Kaloa (Tanda) got a bullet injury in his shoulder when police constable Devinder Singh, driver of SHO, Sadar police station, Jiwan Lal, shot at him from his service revolver near the DAV College here, last night.

Surjit Singh was admitted to the local Civil Hospital.

According to police sources, Devinder Singh was coming to the Sadar police station after leaving the SHO at his residence when he saw a car (No DL 3CV 0125) parked on the road side.

He stopped his vehicle and inquired about the owner of the car from Surjit Singh, who was present near the vehicle.

Devinder Singh was angered when Surjit questioned his (Devinder’s) right to enquire about the identity of the owner.

A quarrel ensued during which, Som Nath, a meat seller of the area, and three more unidentified persons came out in support of Surjit and allegedly assaulted Devinder Singh with sharp edged weapons.

Devinder Singh fired a volley of shots from his service revolver in self-defence. One shot hit the shoulder of Surjit Singh. When they tried to flee in the car, Devinder Singh also fired a shot at one of the tyres of the car, due to which it burst.

Jalandhar, January 7
Had the reality shows not provided a platform, scores of budding artists like us would have passed unnoticed. Hundreds of promising youngsters would have lived anonymous lives if it wasn’t for reality TV.

Local girl Sugandha Mishra, who dazzled as one of the finalists at Sa Re Ga Ma - a musical show which had been on air for the past several months - expressed these views while talking to mediapersons here today.

Sugandha said, “Such shows should be promoted to provide a launch pad to thousands of others like us, whose talent needs to be explored.”

A perfect blend of wit and vocal brilliance, she said retaining a sound memory is the inherent trait that enables one to pull off comic and classical singing acts with equal panache.

Some singing stars of the silver screen are also brilliant comedians behind the screen, she added.

Sugandha, who had sung the title song of the Anil Kapoor starrer No Problem, said besides various Hindi movies, she was also a part of various national and international projects being overseen by Sajid-Wajid, whom she terms as her mentors.