NEIGHBOURHOOD

Two children die as wall collapses
Two 66 KV towers uprooted due to strong winds
Tribune News Service

Shatterd Wailing relatives of the two children who died after a wall collapsed due to strong winds on Sunday. A Tribune photograph

Sirhind/Rajpura, June 12
Two children died when a wall collapsed following the strong winds in Sirhind this morning and two 66 KV electricity towers, too, got uprooted in Rajpura.

The children were passing by an industrial unit near Sirhind bypass when the wall of the industry fell upon them. The victims, 12-year-old Aneesh and 8-year-old Manish, both migrants were out to attend nature’s call.

While Aneesh died on-the-spot under debris of wall, Manish, too, succumbed to injuries in a private hospital.

Both of them belong to poor family of junk dealers in Sirhind. The police from the nearby police station reached the spot and probed the matter. They recorded statements of family members and eyewitness.

According to area residents, the incident occurred with the wink of the eye and both the children got buried under the wall.

Their family members took away the bodies to their native Bharatpur village of Rampur district in Uttar Pradesh.

Inquest proceedings have been initiated in this regard by the Sirhind police.

Meanwhile, the 66 KV electricity towers that got uprooted due to the strong winds near Rajpura has affected power supply in Banur and Zirakpur cities and Dairri, Mohi Kalan and Bhabaat villages.

XEN HS Oberoi said the repair work had been initiated following the damage to 66 KV towers in the morning. “We are trying to restore electricity and have urged the residents to bear with us. It will take three or four days to completely restore electricity,” he said.

He added that power was obtained from alternative sources from nearby areas and residents may have to reel under power cuts for a few days.

Fatehgarh Sahib, June 12
Goods worth Rs 1 lakh were stolen from two houses in ward number-7 of Khamano Kalan area of Fatehgarh Sahib on Friday night. Area residents alleged that thefts took place despite night vigil by watchmen deployed under the community-policing scheme.

A .12 bore double barrel gun with cartridges, three gas cylinders, a television set, cash and jewellery were stolen from the house of Daljit Singh. Daljit is a government servant deployed in Fatehgarh Sahib. About Rs 10,000 and some jewellery was also stolen from another house in the same locality.

Police officials said the family members of both houses were relatives and were not present when the incident took place.

Thieves entered in the house after breaking front locks of the house. The police has registered a case.

Kharar, June 12
Residents here are reeling under unscheduled power cuts. They are forced to live without power for the whole night.

In Mundi Kharar area, power supply remained disrupted on Thursday,

Friday and Saturday night, while during the day there was no power due to maintenance works.

The overloaded transformers fail to bear burden of air-conditioners, coolers, inverters and other electrical gadgets getting charged.

In the new Sunny Enclave, power supply remained out of order for more than 20 hours. Area residents allege that neither the Powercom officials nor area coloniser is ready to listen to their woes.

“Power department officials say that supply to new Sunny Enclave area is in private hands. However, when we tried to contact the coloniser, we didn’t get any response,” the residents added.

Even for small power disruptions, people end up calling number of officials.

Similarly, a few days ago, a crane had dismantled seven poles, which led to power disruption in Daun and nearby areas.

Powercom officials said a new transformer was installed at Mundi Kharar where power supply repeatedly got disrupted due to technical problem.

Similarly, repair work of transformers at Balongi is underway, leading to unscheduled power cuts.

Ambala, June 12
One person died and three were injured seriously when their Indica car collided head-on with a truck near Saha, 12 km from here, on the Ambala-Jagadhari National Highway late last night.

Saha Police reached with an ambulance and took the injured to a private hospital where the person driving the car was declared dead.

All the three, who were injured seriously, were not in a position to say anything since they were unconscious.

Ambala, June 12
There is no trace of the bodies of two youths, who were reportedly drowned near here on May 28.

Sahil and Nitish had reportedly got drowned in the Narwana branch near Jansui head works. A massive hunt for the bodies was launched, but all in vain.

The police, on Thursday, said a body was found near Kirmali village floating in the canal in Kurukshetra district. The relatives of Nitin and Sahil were informed by the Naggal Police that was investigating the case.

The police said Nitin’s relatives came to identify the body. They took the body to General Hospital, Sector 16, Chandigarh.

The post-mortem was conducted today morning. After the post-mortem examination, Nitin’s family members, including his mother, said the body was not of Nitin.

SHO Randhir Singh, Naggal Police Station said if they refused to identify the body, it would be cremated as unclaimed, he replied.

Meanwhile, Suman Kapur, Sahil’s mother has accused the police of not informing her when the body was taken out from the canal.

She said there was no truth in the police claim that they had been informed. Sahil’s mother has expressed apprehensions about her son’s death suspects kidnapping by one of his friends.

Suman said she had given a representation to the police that she suspected the role of one of Sahil’s friends from Ludhiana, who had got money from Sahil in two instalments, to get him a second-hand car and a mobile phone.

Ambala, June 12
Five shops were burgled here last night. According to sources, burglars took away cash and goods worth thousands of rupees from five shops, including four in Rai Market within 50 meters distance, which include Ply Palace, Videocon Showroom, Babbar Radios, Johar Autos and Sharda Traders in Pansari Bazar.

The sources said the burglars had broken shutters of all shops and robbed money lying in the cash box, besides robbing valuable goods. A team of experts from crime branch visited all shops and collected fingerprints. — TNS

Kharar, June 12
The Punjab government has decided to recruit 1,088 ETT teachers in the state soon and would issue an advertisement in this regard.

Director general, Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan, Punjab, B Purushartha said this while on a visit to the Chandigarh Group of Colleges (CGC), Landran campus.

He released “Education Express”, a newspaper, discussing dynamics of education in the state. He further said the Punjab government was concerned about raising the level of education in the state and many teachers had been appointed in the last four years under various education schemes.

He further said the government had allocated Rs 1,200 crore for education in the state, whereas last year, the amount released was Rs 680 crore only.

CGC chairman Satnam Singh Sandhu said the “Education Express” was going to help students at all levels. 

Patiala, June 12
Patiala Mayor Ajit Pal Singh Kohli on Thursday convened a meeting with officials of the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board (PWSSB). During the meeting, Kohli came down heavily on PWSSB officials for their failure to restore the surface of the road after laying the sewerage pipes.

Giving further details, Kohli said one-and-half-year back, the project to lay the underground sewerage pipes in Patiala was undertaken by the PWSSB.

“The estimated cost of the project was Rs 107 crore and under the project, the PWSSB has to lay the underground sewerage pipes, besides setting up the pumping station and the sewerage treatment plant. So far, 70 per cent of the project work is complete. About 123 km of the sewerage line has been laid, but it has come to our notice that PWSSB has failed to stick to the pre-condition that it would restore the surface of the road after laying the sewerage pipes,” said the Mayor.

Kohli further said that during the meeting he instructed the project in charge BL Ranga, Executive Engineer, PWSSB, that within one month time the sewerage board should repair every stretch of the road where the sewerage line has been laid.

“Before the laying of sewerage pipes, the roads were in a perfect condition but after the pipes were laid, potholes could be spotted on all the roads. Hence, instructions have been issued to the PWSSB to do the needful within one month to repair the roads,” he added.

During the meeting, the Mayor also told the PWSSB officials that some of the area residents had connected their sewerage lines with the main line, notwithstanding the fact that underground sewerage system would be functional only after the installation of the main pumping station. “Hence, PWSSB officials have been asked to identify the illegal connections and disconnect the same at the earliest,” said Kohli.

Dera Bassi, June 12
Residents of Dera Bassi, Bhankarpur, Mubarkpur and other adjoining villages have been at the receiving end due to the poor condition of service roads, along both sides of railway over bridge on the national highway.

Potholes on these service roads are becoming serious obstacles for commuters on these roads. Satpal Singh, a resident of Bhankarpur, Mandeep Singh, Gurdeep Singh and Sarpanch Bhal Singh said they had a tough time while driving on the service roads, along both sides of the national highway near the railway over bridge.

During monsoon these service roads turn into ponds and commuters find it tough to cross the roads, they added.

Residents of nearby villages have no other way to go to Dera Bassi and Chandigarh other than these service roads.

Meanwhile, Vaibhav Sharma of GMR company, which constructed the national highway and had the responsibility of repairing and maintaining these service roads, said these roads had come under the GMR company a few months ago and before this, they were under the control of some other company that constructed the railway over bridge. Admitting the poor condition of these service roads, he promised that they would be repaired soon.

Chandigarh, June 12
The UT Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum has directed Oriental Insurance Company and the Southern Roadways Corporation to pay ~ 2.37 lakh to a wholesale dealer of fruits, Gurpreet Singh, for damaging the insured consignment of 561 boxes of apples. The forum also directed them to pay ~ 50,000 as compensation and ~ 7,000 as cost of litigation to the complainant.

In his complaint, Gurpreet, stated that he took services of the Southern Railway Corporation for transporting 561 boxes of apple worth ~ 6.96 lakh to the consignee M/s Abdul Naib Fruit Mango Market, Vijaywara (AP) in December 2008. The consignment was covered under Marine Policy of Oriental Insurance Company, which covered the risk of almost ~ 7 lakh.

The truck, carrying the consignment met with an accident near Karim Nagar. An FIR was lodged and intimation of loss was reported to the insurance company on the next day of the accident.

A surveyor was appointed who assessed the loss and submitted his report to the Southern Railway Corporation on December 15, 2008. Subsequently, another surveyor was deputed, who submitted his report in April 2009 assessing the entitlement of the complainant to the extent of ~ 3.28 lakh, which was less than the actual loss caused to the complaint.

The complainant served a legal notice upon the insurance company and the Southern Railway Corporation. Immediately, they issued a cheque of ~3.28 lakh to the complainant after deducting ~3.25 lakh as salvage charges, which was arbitrarily done by Oriental Insurance.

As per the surveyor report, he admitted the the value of the consignment was ~6.96 lakh. The complainant stated that the salvage was sold for ~1.29 lakh in the presence of the surveyor, out of which he had received only ~ 85,849.

The forum comprising its president, Lakshman Sharma, observed that the report of surveyor was not based on proper appreciation of facts and circumstances of the case. Therefore, the forum was of the opinion that the complainant was entitled to get ~5.65 lakh (as the value of consignment was ~6.96 lakh and salvage charges was ~1.29 lakh). But as the complainant had already received a cheque of ~3.28 lakh, thus he was entitled to get the remaining amount of ~2.37 lakh. 

Chandigarh, June 12
The police claimed to have identified at least three miscreants out of eight, who came at Panjab University’s hostel no. 4 to attack Sukhjit Singh Brar, president of the Panjab University Students’ Union (PUSU) on May 31.

The miscreant, identified as Jaswinder Singh, Daldeep Singh and Anmol, are not university students.

The police claimed that all the attackers, who were carrying “lathis” and swords, were outsiders. The attackers have been identified with the help of CCTV clippings, said the police.

Notably, on May 31, the attackers came in different vehicles and entered hostel no. 4, while threatening other onlookers, including the security guards. One of the security guard Nand Kishore was also attacked by them when he tried to intervene.

The attackers went back, as they found Brar was not in his room. A case in this regard has been registered at the Sector 11 Police Station.

Mohali, June 12
A woman scooter driver, who was injured in the road accident near D Plast Chowk on June 8, succumbed to her injuries at the PGI, Chandigarh, on Saturday.

SPORTS

City on winning spree, defeat Assam in hockey
Deepankar Sharda
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 12
Continuing with their winning streak in the ongoing Senior National Hockey Championship, Chandigarh defeated Assam in their second league match being held at the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Bhopal, today.

After defeating Rajasthan by a margin of 15 goals in the opening match, the city lads defeated Assam by 7-2 to attain full points from the match.

Making their grip on the match from the starting whistle, forward Joga Singh drew the first blood in the third minute of the game following by an ace strike in nets by Preet Inder Singh in the seventh minute of the game.

In the 25th minute of the game, Kulbhusan converted an awarded plenty stroke into goal, after defender of opponent team in lure to stop Gurjant from striking the nets committed foul.

However, Assam, in an effort to reduce the margin, scored a goal before the lemon break whistle.

Joga Singh again opened the account for the team in the second half of the game, when he netted the ball in the 48th minute, whereas his counterpart Gurjant Singh scored the fifth goal of the match in the 55th minute of the game.

Later, fullback Ramandeep scored a goal in the 59th minute of the game whereas another fullback Gagandeep sealed the team’s victory in the 70th minute of the game after taking full advantage of plenty corner. Meanwhile, Assam scored a consoling goal in the 66th minute of the game. The city team will now face Karnataka in their final league match. The match is expected to be a tough competition for the players, as Karnataka team has eight international players, including Olympian Prabhjot Singh, goal keeper Bharat Cheetri, halfback Hari Prashad in the squad.

“We are prepared for the upcoming match. Our team is young and energetic. The boys will surely give their best in the match,” said coach Nariender Singh Sodhi.

Chandigarh, June 12
City lad Saurabh Prashar defeated Sohrab Kalia of Himachal Pradesh in the final qualifying round of the Boys’ (U-12) category, during the CLTA-AITA Super Series Tennis Tournament for Boys’ and Girls’ (U-12, U-16) being held at the Lake Sports Complex and CLTA here today.

Saurabh defeated Sohrab in a one-sided affair by 8-5. In the Boys’ (U-16) group, city lad Dhruv Puniani defeated Mritunjay Badola of Uttar Pradesh by 8-3. In Girls’ (U-16), city player Gayatri Kumariah defeated Purnima Jain from Punjab by 8-0 to move to the next round.

Results

Boys’ (U-12)

Abhimanu Rozra (HAR) defeated MS Kartik 8-7 (4)

Harshit Yadav (DLI) defeated Harmeet Luthra (UP) 8-0

Arnav Bhardwaj (HAR) defeated Kshitiz Gupta 8-4

Drona Walia (UTR) defeated Samay Sandhawalia (HAR) 8-4

Anuj Malik (HAR) defeated Sarvesh Maria (PB) 8-3

Naman Singla (PB) defeated Vipul Mehta (DLI) 8-1

Sourav Kalkal (DLI) defeated Prakhar Pal (UTR) 8-6

Boys’ (U-16)

Shrey Gupta (HAR) defeated Vikas Berwal (HAR) 8-3

Dhruv Pal (UTR) defeated Rohit Kumar (HAR) 8-1

Raghav Talwar (Chandigarh) defeated Abhishek (DLI) 8-2

Barun Gill (Chandigarh) defeated Mayuk Rawat (UTR) 8-2

Karandeep Singh (PB) defeated Mayank Yadav (DLI) 8-7(4)

Rahul Seth (Chandigarh) defeated Sultan Singh Atwal (PB) 8-2

Manish Drall (DLI) defeated Amit Bzad (DLI) 8-3

Girls’ (U-16)

Prinkle Singh (J&K) w/o A Chaudhary (DLI)

Shreya Kalia (HP) defeated Rahat Manrai (Chandigarh) 8-5

Gunuganti Sudhakrithy (AP) defeated Sanjam Preet Kaur (Chandigarh) 8-1

Harsimran Kaur (HAR) defeated Sama Satvika defeated Nikita 8-7 (7)

Nikita defeated Nidhitra Rajmohan (TN) 8-0

P Shivanuja defeated Abhilasha Shokeen (DLI) 8-1

Sachi Berlwal (UTR) defeated Sharvini Shivapuri (DLI) 8-4.

Chandigarh, June 12
Chandigarh Table Tennis (CTT) Association, in their executive committee and annual general body meeting, has announced the annual calendar, under which various tournaments will be conducted this year.

The Open Table Tennis Tournament is schedule to be held from June 24 to 26, Bhavan Vidyalya Ranking Table Tennis Tournament is schedule from July 15 to 17, RS Mehta Memorial Open TT meet will be from August 5 to 7. NPS-18 Table Tennis Ranking Tournament will be held from August 26 to 28 and Chandigarh State TT meet will be held from October 26 to 30. — TNS