Amritsar, December 24
Strike by sweepers at Jallianwala Memorial Civil Hospital here has made things difficult for the patients as well as the hospital staff. With the strike entering its fourth day today, garbage could be seen scattered everywhere in the hospital forcing attendants of the patients to sweep floors of the wards themselves.

The sweepers have even refused to clean the washrooms because of the strike. Attendant of a patient Jagpal Singh said, "We have to clean the wards to remove the garbage."

The sweepers said they are paid only Rs 2,200 a month. “We want that we should be employed directly by the hospital instead of paying us through the contractor. He even deducts money whenever the hospital charges a fine from him stating deficiency in services." The employee said they get Rs 1,700-1,800 per month in hand.

Hospital Senior Medical Officer Dr Balbir Singh Dhillon said the dispute is between the sweepers and the contractor. He said Punjab Health Systems Corporation had signed a contract with the contractor for the upkeep of hygiene at the hospital. He said the corporation pays Rs 72, 000 per month to the contractor for the services. He said the contractor has assured to arrange for alternative workforce for the job. “We can only levy a fine of Rs 1,000 per day for the deficiency in services.”

Amritsar, December 24
Six persons have been booked for allegedly attacking Sandeep Singh, sarpanch of Rupowali village late last night. The attack took place outside a private hospital on the Mall Road here.

The Civil Lines police has booked six persons and registered a case under Section 307, 323, 427, 148, 149 IPC and 25, 27, 54, 59 of the Arms Act in this connection. The accused have been identified as Amritpal Singh, Narinder Pal Singh both residents of Rupowali village, Jyoti of Teja Kalan, Sukhjinder Singh of Chowk Mehma and two other unidentified persons.

Sandeep Singh, in his complaint to the police, alleged that Danial Masih had suffered a heart attack and he and his friend Navtej Singh took him to a private hospital.

He alleged that while they were standing outside the hospital, the accused came in cars and indulged in a verbal dual with them. Amritpal took out a .12-bore rifle and shot at him.

He said the accused were attacked him for taking an injured Danial Masih with him to the hospital.

Parveen Kumar, in-charge Lawrence Road police chowki, said though a case has been registered in this connection, no arrests have been made so far.

Amritsar, December 24
The 120-year-old Victoria jubilee hospital known as Shri Guru Teg Bahadur (SGTB) hospital will soon have a new address and a name. Government Medical College plans to shift the hospital to the upcoming building of Bebe Nanki Mother and Child Care Centre at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, which was inaugurated recently.

At the new address, the SGTB Hospital will work as mother care wing of the centre. The college authorities are waiting for the works at Bebe Nanak Centre to get completed before the shift. The centre was inaugurated by the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on November 13, amidst much fanfare.

Sources say it will take a month and a half more to get the lights installed here. The state government had hurriedly inaugurated the building without waiting for the works to get completed before the ceremony.

The nine-storey building will have state-of-the-art-facilities.

Inaugurated in 1891, the SGTB Hospital, then known as Victoria Jubilee Hospital, was attached with GMC in 1920 to provide clinical training to students of medicine. However, in the present situation, the hospital only houses the gynaecology ward.

The hospital was later renamed SGTB Hospital in 1975 to commemorate the martyrdom of the ninth Sikh Master Guru Teg Bahadur.

Major portion of the hospital building has already been abandoned.

Amritsar, December 24
Reckless driving was the reason behind majority of deaths in road accidents since January this year. While 58 precious lives were lost, 78 persons were injured seriously in the road accidents.

Traffic police officials put rash driving as the main reason behind the mishaps. Illegal encroachments, bad road conditions and flouting of traffic norms especially by the youth as well as drivers of heavy vehicle have made the situation worse.

Compared to the last year, the number of accidents as well as the number of those killed and injured is about the same. In 2011, 104 cases of road accidents were reported while the number was 114 in 2010. The number of those killed last year was 59 while the number of those injured was 75.

Out of the 104 cases registered in this regard, 77 cases were still under investigation while 26 cases are pending in the court. “The data does not give the true picture of the traffic scenario in the city especially in the periphery areas such as Tarn Taran road, Sultanwind Road, Putlighar, Bus stand, Bhandari Bridge, hall gate etc," a traffic police official said on the condition of anonymity. “Scant regard for traffic norms among the youth is a major cause of worry, which results in rash driving. Action against them invites severe criticism from the parents," he said.

He said a large number of illegal auto-rickshaws plying in the city were to blame for the accidents. He said underage driving must be discouraged.