Bathinda, June 7
Bathinda today registered a maximum temperature of 45.2 degree Celsius, the highest so far this summer.

Due to the rise in temperature, cases of sunstroke have started surfacing. While the extreme heat conditions claimed one life yesterday, a youth, who suffered sun stroke today, was under treatment at the Civil Hospital, Bathinda.

So far, the heat has claimed seven lives. On an average, about three persons have been suffering from sun stroke due to the sweltering heat every day in the area. Unannounced and unscheduled power cuts have also been adding to the woes of the residents.

Though the mercury touched the 45.2 degree Celsius mark on May 18, in Bathinda and its adjoining areas, the untimely rains, which lashed the region in the last ten days of May, brought down the temperature considerably.

Even the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) authorities were forced to close some units of the Ropar and Lehra Mohabbat-based thermal power plants after the demand for power from every sector including agriculture fell drastically due to a fall in temperature in those days.

However, mercury started witnessing a jump in the last few days after the heat wave gripped the region and today it touched 45.2 degree Celsius, four degree above the normal temperature. The minimum temperature recorded today was 29.5 degree Celsius.

Bathinda, once known as the 'Sharjah of Punjab', due to the presence of sand dunes, witnessed 47.1 degree Celsius temperature on June 21, 2010.

Due to the blistering sun, the people of the region have preferred to remain indoors and hence, most of the lanes and bylanes wore a deserted look today. The sale of air-conditioners and water coolers also picked up due to the rise in mercury.

Rinku, a garment showroom owner on the Mall road, said the number of customers visiting his showroom, had gone down and the turnover had fallen. He said people preferred shopping in the evening, which was comparatively comfortable.

Vijay Goyal, President, Sahara Jan Sewa, an NGO, said they had made arrangements to provide chilled drinking water at the railway station to provide respite to passengers from the searing heat.

Bathinda, June 7
Following the deterioration in the health condition of an AIE (Alternative Innovative Education) teacher Charanjit Kaur from Moga, who was observing fast-unto-death in support of the demands of the AIE Teachers Front, Punjab, from June 1 outside the Mini-secretariat here, was today shifted to the emergency ward of the local Civil Hospital. Charanjit's health condition was deteriorating as she was unable to ingest even water.

On the instructions of the administration, a 'Dial 108' ambulance vehicle today reached the site of the protest, being observed by the AIE teachers here.

The pharmacist along with the driver of the ambulance asked the protesters that they had come to take Charanjit Kaur to the hospital for treatment. On this, the protesters initially opposed the move of the administration and raised slogans against the Punjab government.

However, after sometime, the protesters allowed the staff of the ambulance to take Charanjit Kaur to hospital, but they again staged a demonstration in front of the ambulance and raised slogans.

Immediately after the shifting of Charanjit Kaur from the protest venue, another AIE teacher, Sarbjit Kaur from Faridkot, started fast-unto-death. President of the Front Dhiraj Kumar announced that they would continue their fast-unto-death till the acceptance of their demands.

He said in case Sarbjit Kaur was also shifted to the hospital by the administration, then another AIE teacher would go on fast-unto-death

After the shifting of Charanjit Kaur to the local civil hospital, she was admitted to the emergency ward where she was administered glucose and antibiotics for infection in the abdomen. The hospital staff also samples of her her blood and urine for tests.

The emergency medical officer Dr Arun Bansal said this afternoon that the health condition of Charanjit Kaur was now better and she had been shifted to the medical ward from the emergency ward. He said the results of her blood and urine samples had also been found to be normal.

The demands of the protesters are regular jobs to AIE teachers with B. Ed. and ETT degrees, admission to ETT course in July to Plus II pass teachers, and a chance to improve Plus II class to those with less than 50 per cent marks in Plus II.

Ferozepur, June 7
Gurcharan Singh, a youth of Chooriwala village of this district, was found murdered under mysterious circumstances in the fields, located on the banks of Sutlej river, flowing between Kaluwada and Chooriwala villages of the district.

Police sources said though a case was registered under Sections 302, 148 and 149 of the IPC against six persons at the Sadar police station, the truth would surface only when the investigation begins. Sources added that though Surjeet Singh, uncle of the deceased, had levelled allegations against Bhuli and Raj Singh, residents of Kaluwada village and four others for murdering Gurcharan, no arrests in this connection had been made so far.

Harjit Singh Pannu, SP (D), said the deceased, who entertained some guest with liquor in his house in Chooriwala village on Sunday, left for Kaluwada village in the evening the same day. However, he did not return to his house.There were injury marks on Gurcharan Singh’s body. The body was handed over to his kin after postmortem in the local civil hospital.

In another case, the body of an unidentified youth was found lying in the fields, near Chugge Nihale Wala village of the district. Police suspected that the youth, who was roaming in the area under the influence of liquor, had died due to sunstroke.

Abohar, June 7
The students of DAV campus here have marked entry in the top-ten merit list of various exams conducted by the Panjab University. Savita Rani of Gopi Chand Arya Mahila College has maintained her second position in the BCA exam.

She had got second position in BCA (I) last year with 83.6 per cent marks and has retained it in BCA (II) with 84 per cent marks, principal Dr Neelam Arun Mittu informed.

In BCA (III), Sunaina of DAV College has got Vth position while Abhinav Kathuria secured VIIIth position in the PU merit list, principal Dr BB Sharma said. In most of the results declared so far, the campus students have recorded 100 per cent success in different streams.

Fazilka, June 7
Dozens of members of Beopar Mandal and citizens celebrated the 72nd anniversary (foundation day) of the local Clock Tower by lighting candles there last evening. The members were led by the Beopar Mandal president Ashok Gulbadhar and press secretary Liladhar Sharma.

On the foundation day of the historic monument, the area around it was totally under the cover of darkness as no light installed by the MC one year back after spending thousands of rupees to give it an attractive look, was illuminated, thanks to the apathy of the administration.

The four watches installed at a height of about 100-feet in all four corners of the Clock Tower were also out of order. “A person should be deployed to maintain these watches,” demanded Liladhar Sharma.

Ashok Gulbadhar and the shopkeepers around the Clock Tower demanded that a library set up in the basement of the Clock Tower, which was closed a few years back, should be reopened.

Ram Narain Clock Tower of Fazilka, set up on June 6, 1939 is famous for its unique design and masonry and is also a symbol of the rich cultural heritage of this historical town. The photograph of this antique piece adorns the Punjab Art Gallery at Chandigarh. It is said that one such Clock Tower of similar design is also situated in Lyallpur in Pakistan.

In pre-partition days, both the Clock Towers were popular in united Punjab. With the efforts of its president Anil Sethi, the MC (Fazilka) had taken up the initiative of preserving the Clock Tower by keeping it pollution free. The council made the area a car free zone by setting up barricades on all entry and exit points.

Bathinda, June 7
A bilateral total knee replacement surgery was performed by the Adesh Hospital and Research Centre, Muktsar.

This type of surgery was done for the first time in the region, the institute claimed.

Dr Shoubick Kaushal operated on Kulwant Singh, a 56-year-old resident of Kotli Dawan village in the Muktsar district.

He had bilateral severe geno varus with large lytic lesion in right upper one-third of tibia. The patient was mobilised on the second day after surgery.

Bathinda, June 7
Students of Delhi International School, Faridkot, brought laurels to their alma mater by securing 100 per cent result in the CBSE secondary school examination-2011.

Issuing a press release, the college authorities informed that a total of 37 students had apperead in the examination and all the students got through with good marks.

Principal Navneet Thakur congratulated the students and the staff on their success.

Bathinda, June 7
The chain hunger strike daily by two members of the Inclusive Education Volunteers Association (IEVA) entered its second day outside the Mini-secretariat here today. Anju Bala from Maur and Baljit Kaur from Nathana today observed hunger strike in support of their demands.

These volunteers impart education to mentally retarded and physically challenged students in the government primary schools. They also provide education to students who can not come to school by visiting their homes.

President of the association Inderjit Singh said that in lieu of their services, they were being paid a meagre honorarium of Rs 2500 per month. He said they demanded from the government that the provision of home-based education should be scrapped, besides enhancement in their honorarium to Rs 10,000 per month. — TNS

Bathinda, June 7
The PRTC Pensioners Association, Bathinda, today observed Pension Day at the main bus stand here.

Five senior pensioners, Gurcharan Singh Bahia, Harnek Singh, Des Raj Singh, Gurdev Singh and Major Singh, were honoured for their services, to the association.

Besides, Sukhdeep Kaur, wife of late inspector Basant Singh and Sukhwinder Kaur, wife of late Gurjant Singh were also honoured.

Pensioners who have financially helped the association, were also honoured. Resolutions seeking pension through government treasuries, abolition of contract system in the PRTC, regularisation of daily and temporary workers etc were passed. — TNS