Bathinda, October 16
Raising his voice against the inflated numbers of dengue cases reported in a section of the media in the city, the District Health Officer Dr RS Randhawa today came down heavily upon the practical difficulties being faced in the implementation of government guidelines over data collection.

While interacting with the Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP), Punjab, project coordinator Dr Deepak Bhatia at the sixth annual conference of the Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine (IAPSM), Punjab chapter, held at the Adesh Institute of Medical Science and Research (AIMSR), Dr Randhawa said that in the absence of cooperation from the private practitioners in the city, the number of dengue cases reported in a section of the media are inflated.

"As part of their moral duty, all the private practitioners should report confirmed dengue cases to the Civil Hospital, which is not being done. Moreover, the method of reporting these cases for data collection is very tedious. At the grassroots level, the multipurpose health worker fills these forms, which at times, has vague information.

So many viral cases are being reported as dengue. Of the 95 patients in the OPD on Saturday, 25 were admitted and only one was a confirmed case of dengue," he said.

Emphasizing on the fact that he is an ophthalmologist and is caught up in the quagmire of prevention, treatment and reporting of dengue Dr Randhawa said that data collection policies wear a different hue when implemented practically.

"The private practitioners simply refuse to share any data for the IDSP project. For instance, we have had private practitioners telling the patients that they suffer from jaundice (hepatitis) but do not specify the kind of jaundice, nor do they report to the Civil Hospital, which creates confusion in treatment," Dr Randhawa said while dwelling on the problems in data collection.

Speaking about the problem of mismatch of the same kind of data from two institutions, he added that when the samples of patients were tested, the jaundice patients were found suffering from Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E. hepatitis E is caused by unfit drinking water.

When the health department got 60 water samples tested locally, only one was found to be unfit for human consumption and 59 were fit. "We were surprised, so we sent four samples for testing to the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) wherein three samples failed the test and the fourth was found to be partially fit for consumption. Now who should we believe?" he asked.

He lamented that lack of coordination with not only the private practitioners but even within the different government departments had led to the chaos. Stating the example of a hospital being run by a sect, Dr Randhawa said that the health centres without dengue confirmatory testing facilities too are treating dengue patients.

Bathinda October 16
The Bathinda district reported the maximum number of dengue patients. Now, there is good news for the residents of the city, which must allay the fear from their minds.

The larvae of Aedes mosquito, could not be destroyed by the fogging done by the administration and resulted in an increase in the number of dengue patients to 273, despite the efforts of the Health Department. It will now become inactive due to the lowering of the temperature with the onset of winter.

The number of positive cases through Mac Elisa, a confirmatory laboratory test for dengue, is decreasing. Last time, on Friday there was nine samples were found to be positive. However, all these patients recovered and were even discharged by the time the report came.

SMO Dr Satish Goyal said, "There is around 30-35 per cent dip in the 
Mac Elisa positive cases of dengue patients as compared to 60 per cent 
when the epidemic was at its peak."

"In this season, the number of patients of viral fever also increases. The public, without any confirmation, panics, due to the simple seasonal viral fever and fear it is dengue fever. It is all because they are gripped by the terror of the disease. However, now the residents will heave a sigh of relief as the larva of the dengue causing mosquito cannot be mature in the low temperature."

A few days back, a death due to dengue was reported by a section of the media. On this, Dr Goyal said, "The patient was already suffering from septicaemia which was the cause of the death, not the dengue fever. However, these kinds of reports create unnecessary terror in the minds of the people, which should not be the case."

The doctors, while asking the patients to remain cautious asked them to get themselves checked in case of doubt, but said they should refrain from a panic attack as not all fever is a case of dengue and low platelet count can be attributed to other physiological causes also.

Bathinda, October 16
Though the officials of the Municipal Corporation, Bathinda, claim to catch stray cattle from the city but it actually does not have any specialized vehicle to transfer stray cattle and trained employees.

The workers of the gaushalas and their specially designed trucks are meant to support the Municipal Corporation while transporting the stray cattle.

President of Shri Gaushala, Jeeva Ram Goyal admitted that the corporation authorities ask their men to relocate stray cattle from the crowded places either to the gaushala or to the outskirts of the city.

People may get some respite from the problem by next month as the newly-built gaushala may start operations by next month, he said.

Presently, there are three gaushalas in the city including the one that is 100 years old in Sirki Bazar. The others are at Ganesha Basti and Dabwali road.

All the three gaushalas have more than 2200 animals.

The new gaushala coming up at Dabwali road will accommodate 600 animals under four sheds (200 animals under each shed) but in the beginning, only two sheds will operate and the other two will be completed after two months.

Presently, there is only one truck canter which was purchased after the funds were released by the Animal Welfare Board, Chennai, around five years ago. The vehicle is fitted with a special lift which helps in lifting the sick and detained animal into the truck.

Gaushala workers said the Bathinda Municipal Corporation gives a mere Rs 17 per day to keep the stray cattle but its actual cost is between Rs 40 Rs 50 per day.

Bathinda Mayor Baljit Singh Bir Behman claimed that the corporation has the adequate staff and hires vehicles to transport the stray cattle.

Bathinda, October 16
The city knows no respite from the nuisance created by the stray cattle as another death, caused by rampaging bulls, has come to light.

This time, a resident of Jhunjunu in Rajasthan, identified as Mool Chand, become the victim. Mool Chand was walking towards his rented accommodation near Bhatti road yesterday in the morning.

He was living alone in Prajapat Colony and had been working in a sweet shop nearby where he used to make packets of sweets for the last few months.

Volunteers of an NGO, Naujawan Welfare Society, rushed him to the local Civil Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries last night.

Sonu Maheshwari, a volunteer working with the NGO, said Rs 6,000 was recovered from his possession and efforts are being made to contact his relatives in Rajasthan.

He said the matter was brought to the notice of the police and local municipal corporation officials who took away a few stray cattle from the area today. "But it is not sure whether they have taken away the bull that hit the poor man from Rajasthan," he said.

In earlier incidents of deaths due to stray cattle menace, a milkman had lost his life in Kamla Nehru Colony, an elderly woman was killed in Parasram Nagar and a young boy was killed on the 100-feet road while he was returning from a party in the evening.

In yesterday's incident, the stray cattle lifted Mool Chand by his horns and banged him down twice on the ground while he was walking down the lane near his house.

Residents of the area said they had brought the matter of stray cattle menace to the notice of the authorities concerned many times but to no avail.

"The cattle that hit people earlier are still roaming free and nobody listens to the people's problems," said Tarsem, a resident of Ajit road.

Tarsem received injuries twice in the past two months due to the stray cattle menace.

He said the animals were dangerous not only for two- wheeler riders but also for those commuting in four-wheelers."

"Though the Punjab government claims to bring reforms, transparency and development in Bathinda but the death of people on the roads has not shaken it," said Rahul Brar, an advocate who lives in the Model Town area.

The car of Rahul's cousin got badly damaged near the Rose Garden and its occupants received injuries a few days ago as a stray bull collided with the vehicle. 

Bathinda October 16
The Methodist Church of Bathinda, belonging to the British era, has completed 159 years of its existence. It is said to have come into existence even before 1852. However, there is no written record of its presence at that time.

Every year, the faithful celebrate its birth anniversary on October 17 because in the late seventies, on this date, the Punjab and Haryana High Court legalised the church property and gave its ownership to the present maintainers.

Father George C. Masih, who is taking care of the church for the last eight years, said, "It is considered as the oldest and the largest church in the Punjab region. An archaeological survey was done by the Department of Archaeology of the Giani Zail Singh College and on testing the structure's material and other soil tests, they concluded that the building is more than 200 years old."

In Bible, it is written that every human should share one-tenth of his income with the church and following this principle, the Christians of the area are maintaining this church on their own.

"Though we have a proof that this building is a historical monument and it should be preserved like any other historical structure. Even then, no government pays any heed to our hues and cries for the preservation of this important building. The fund for the maintenance of the church is generated by our people only," said the Father. Interestingly, in the late seventies, the railway department also claimed the ownership of the church.

A case was filed against the department by the minority groups in the High Court. The group showed the old proofs of the building's existence way back in 1852 and argued that the railway department came into being only in 1857.

A cake was cut on Sunday to mark the birthday of the church. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma

On October 17, the minority won the case as well as the church from the railways. Therefore, every year on the same date, the caretakers and the devotees celebrate their victory as the birthday of the church.

"This year, the celebration has been done a day earlier, i.e. on October 16 because it is a Sunday, a holiday, and our programme would continue till midnight, when we would cut a cake and burst fireworks," said the Father.

On Christmas, the church witnesses a huge rush of devotees, who come from Haryana and Rajasthan to mark their presence.

A member of the State Commission for Minorities, Emmanuel Paul Gill, said, "We have around 10-15 historical churches in the state which should be marked as historical monuments by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The minority community in the region should not be made to feel isolated."

Bathinda, October 16
A jilted lover committed suicide on the occasion of Karva Chauth yesterday. The deceased has been identified as 19-year-old Gurjinder Singh, a resident of Naruana village.

According to details available, Gurjinder left his house along with his few friends last evening and sat beside the water tanks of the water works department. He started talking over the phone with his beloved and got upset over something before jumping into one of the water tanks.

Efforts were made to retrieve his body but in vain. Senior police officials, including the Sadar police station in-charge Gurjeet Singh Romana, too reached the spot. The body was recovered in the wee hours today.

Police officials said they would initiate inquest proceedings in this regard after recording statements of the family members and friends of the deceased. The body was handed over to family members after conducting post-mortem examination at the Civil Hospital.

Bathinda, October 16
The sixth annual conference of Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine (IAPSM), Punjab chapter, was held at the Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (AIMSR) here today.

The theme of the conference was "epidemiological surveillance for effective disease control programs" wherein eminent doctors of respective fields emphasised on the need to have a consolidated data about various diseases.

Joint director, Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP), National Centers for Disease Control, New Delhi, Dr Jagvir Singh delivered the keynote address.

In his address, he talked about the past, present and future of the IDSP, a project that has been able to start consolidation of data of diseases at district, state as well as national levels.

Professor and head of department of community medicine, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, Dr Rajesh Kumar spoke about epidemiological field training for the IDSP.

In the plenary session, project coordinator of the IDSP, Chandigarh, Dr Deepak Bhatia spoke on the present status of the IDSP in Punjab.

Professor and head of department of community medicine, AIMSR, Bathinda, Dr Sunder Lal talked about sentinel surveillance in HIV, professor and head department of community medicine, Government Medical College, Bathinda, Dr Tejbir Singh spoke on the IDSP non-communicable disease while District Health Officer Dr RS Randhawa talked about district rapid teams for the IDSP.

Surveillance medical officer, Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization (IPPI), Punjab, Dr Mehtab Singh spoke on acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance. A panel discussion was also held to discuss inclusion of IDSP in MBBS curriculum.

Dr A Benjamin and Dr Anurag Chaudhary presented free papers.

The chief guest at the event was Dr HS Gill, chairman of the Adesh Group, while guests of honour were director principal of the Adesh Medical College Dr GPI Singh and deputy medical superintendent Dr Gurpreet Singh Gill.

Bathinda, October 16
Plight of people fighting against corruption was highlighted at a seminar organised by various NGOs from Mansa, Bathinda and Goniana areas today.

Extending support to the movement launched by social activist Anna Hazare, members of the NGO promised to help fighting against corrupt government functionaries and politicians.

Speaking on the occasion, Vikram Singla from Goniana said these days, corruption rules right from a peon to the top official in most of the government offices across the country.

Apart from the volunteers of NGOs, many RTI activists expressed their view on the problems being faced by whistle blowers.

The activists shared their bitter experiences with the police, administration and other officials who had either refuse to release information or tried to threat the applicants.

Those who spoke at the seminar included Madan Lal engineer president of Grahak Jago manch, Suresh Goyal, Satpal Singla, Hans Raj and others.

They urged people to use the RTI Act as a tool to fight against corruption.

They also expressed their views on efforts initiated by Anna Hazare and talked about the Janlokpal Bill and the Right to Service Act.

Bathinda, October 16
Officials from the Kotwali police station refused to initiate any action against the truck driver who rammed the vehicle into an electricity pole in front of the railway station last night.

The incident took place at around 8.30 pm when a truck loaded with cardboards made a wrong entry into a lane in front of the station and hit the electricity pole leading to chaos and disruption of power supply in the nearby areas.

Even as police officials from the Kotwali police station reached the spot and streamlined the traffic, they did not initiate any action against the erring truck driver for driving the vehicle on the wrong side of the double lane.

The truck could not be removed from the place even after two hours and people had a tough time passing through the road towards the railway station.

SHO Jagdeesh Lal could not be contacted for comments as he was not well.

ASI Sandhura Singh, who had gone to the spot last night, said no action had been taken in this regard for want of complaint either by any commuter or the Powercom.

When asked then how do policemen issue challans to commuters who violate traffic norms while driving in wrong lanes, he replied that the incident took place late at night.

Hardeep Singh Sidhu, XEN of Powercom, said a junior engineer visited the spot last night and the accused truck driver had been identified as a former driver of the Powercom. "A penalty would be imposed on the driver for damaging the property of Powercom," he said.

He said the power in the area surrounding the place of accident was not disrupted due to the accident but it was a fault in the lines of railway station.

He said the 3000-KW power wires got broken last night due to short circuit at the railway station due to their internal fault. The short circuit further damaged the internal system of the grid, which supplied power in areas of Vishal Nagar, Green Avenue, Gol Diggi and other surrounding areas.

The problem was sorted out by snapping the power supply from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm today.

Bathinda, October 16
The Bathinda police claimed to have arrested one person with a stolen laptop. The accused has been identified as Suraj Bahadur of Ajit road.

In his complaint to the police, Varun Kumar of the Railway Colony stated that three laptops of different companies were stolen by the accused on October 1 after breaking open the locks of the shutter of his shop. The thief was identified by the shopkeeper himself and informed the police about it.

A case in this connection has been registered under Sections 457 and 380 of the IPC at the Civil Lines police station.

Bathinda, October 16
Four persons have been held for gambling. The accused have been identified as Sukhpal Palo of Guru Nanak Pura, Jagdish Chander of Puja Wala Mohalla, Vijay and Sukhpal Singh of Amarpura Basti. An amount of Rs 2,950 has also been recovered from their possession. A case under the Gambling Act has been registered at the Sadar police station.

In another case, a resident of Haji Rattan has been arrested for gambling. A sum of Rs 2,140 has been recovered from his possession and a case has been registered at Sadar police station.