R E G I O N A L   B R I E F S

PUNJAB

Hoshiarpur
Bike snatched from youth: Three unidentified motorcycle-borne youths snatched a motorcycle from Harpreet Singh of local Gobindpur locality here on Sunday. The police said Harpreet alleged that the accused waylaid him near Bhangi seasonal rivulet while he was returning home from Hoshiarpur. A case has been registered under Section 382 of the Indian Penal Code.

Jalandhar
Mahashivratri celebrated: Celebrating Mahashivaratri, thousands of devotees paid obeisance at various Shiv temples located in the city on Monday. Long queues of devotees were seen outside Devi Talab Mandir on Tanda Road, Geeta Mandir on Model Town, old Shiv Mandir at Gur Mandi, Shivbari near Dhobi Mohalla, Kali Mata Mandir on Sodal road and Shiv Mandir at Shashi Nagar.

Devotees bathe the Shivlingam with milk on Mahashivratri in Jalandhar on Monday. Photo: Sarabjit Singh

Phagwara
5-yr-old dies in wall collapse: A five-year-old student of class 1 of Government Primary School near here lost her life when the wall of a school toilet collapsed. Victim Balpreet Kaur's father Balihar Singh alleged that his daughter died due to the negligent attitude of the school staff who failed to provide medical help in time. Residents of Samradi village in Phillaur subdivision alleged that instead of calling an ambulance or a qualified doctor, the staff sent a student to call a village doctor which led to a delay in providing medical aid to the victim, who thus succumbed to her injuries. They also alleged that though new toilets had been constructed in the school, these were being used only by the staff and the students were forced to use old toilets which are in bad shape.

CHANDIGARH

Chandigarh
Powerlifting meet: The two-day 11th Sub-Junior (Boys) and 19th (Men) Chandigarh State Powerlifting Championships will start here at Sports Complex, Sector 42, from February 25.

HARYANA

Sirsa
Bakrianwali solid waste plant to be upgraded: Urban Local Bodies Minister Gopal Kanda said the solid waste plant at Bakrianwali in Sirsa would be modernised at a cost of Rs 1 crore. He said the state Urban Local Bodies Department would get Rs 534.41 crore during the 13th Finance Commission for sanitation and development activities. He said the government had given the work of maintenance of the statues of martyrs and freedom fighters to the department.

DEHRADUN

Kumaon Briefs
Overloaded truck falls on motorcycle, one killed: One person was killed while another seriously injured when a truck overloaded with sugarcane fell on the motorcycle that they were riding near Kheladiya village in the Khatima area of Udham Singh Nagar district. The deceased has been identified as Panchanand Mandal, a resident of Rattanpur Shaktifarm. The injured, Ranjit, was admitted to a Community Health Centre nearby. The duo were on the way to Nojaliya to distribute invitation cards of wedding of Ranjit’s brother. The driver of the truck fled after the accident. The police is investigating the matter.

Bageshwar villagers resent power cuts: Residents of the rural areas of Bageshwar district are agitated over frequent unscheduled power cuts and low voltage. The villagers have said while small enterprises are on the verge of closure due to continuous problems, the studies of children, who are preparing for board exams, are being affected badly. The worst affected areas are Thakla, Vajyula, Dhaina, Silangwadi, Anaan, Simkuna, Machiyabagad and other villages in the Kafligaud area. The officials concerned have expressed their helplessness in addressing the problem.

Youth falls trying to board bus, dies: A youth died after he fell while trying to board a bus at Rudrapur. It is learnt that 32-year-old Chandan Malik, a resident of Ramnagar locality of Roorkee, was on his way to his native place. He was waiting for a bus at the bus stand at Rudrapur. When he tried to board a bus he fell and became unconscious. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was declared brought dead. Malik was employed in a factory in the industrial hub near Rudrapur.

Injured petrol pump worker dies: A petrol station employee, who was found injured on the railway line near Ramnagar, died while being taken to hospital. The deceased, Ashok Verma, was a resident of the Naga Baba Mandir Road area and was working at a local petrol station. He had left his home for the petrol station on Sunday morning but was later found lying unconscious on the railway line with some injuries. It is being assumed that he might have fallen while crossing the line and injured himself. The police is investigating the case.

Sugar mill worker commits suicide: Manoj Kumar, 20, a resident of Mamoore village, died after consuming a poisonous substance. He was employed as a labourer with a sugar mill in Kitcha. The reason behind Manoj taking the extreme step was yet not known. His cousin told the police that he had just returned after spending a few days in his village.

(Compiled by Rajeev Khanna)