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TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

Vajra Corps holds mock drill under Vajra Sahayta
Mall evacuated, low-intensity bomb diffused
Jalandhar, March 7
A high degree of preparedness and timely coordination by different agencies during a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) disaster in a shopping mall was witnessed today with Vajra Corps holding the Vajra Sahayta.

The NBC QRT team of Vajra Corps during the Vajra Sahayta exercise at Ansal Plaza in Jalandhar on Wednesday. Tribune photos: Malkiat Singh

Board exams cast a shadow on Holi celebrations
Jalandhar, March 7
Markets are flooded with colours and water guns, but buyers are missing as children are busy preparing for their annual examinations.

EARLIER STORIES

	Clean sweep in district surprises even SAD-BJP March 7, 2012
	Security stepped up; 1,400 policemen deployed March 6, 2012
	2 held for Blind murder March 5, 2012
	Centre approves STP for city March 4, 2012
	Expenditure under scanner March 3, 2012
	2 held for armed robbery March 2, 2012
	Most ‘ill-equipped’ school of city March 1, 2012
	Strike hits transport, banking services February 29, 2012
	Jaundice outbreak in Than Singh village February 28, 2012
	Labourer attacked, robbed February 27, 2012
	Overcharging on at ISBT February 26, 2012
	Hostel wall issue resolved February 25, 2012

Police steps up security to keep tab on hooligans
The city police erects a barricade ahead of Holi in Jalandhar on Wednesday. Jalandhar, March 7
The police has made elaborated security arrangements to prevent any untoward incident during Holi. The district (city and rural) police authorities have decided to come heavily on drunkards, hooligans and other anti-social elements. Talking to The Tribune, ADCP (Crime) HPS Khakh said special teams have been constituted

The city police erects a barricade ahead of Holi in Jalandhar on Wednesday. Photo: Sarabjit Singh

women’s day
Architects of society
Jalandhar, March 7
Below the drudgery and conservative fabric of the city lie the stories of hundreds of women who are known to display extraordinary courage in the face of circumstances that others run away from. These are homely, everyday women sans the hype, whose dedication makes the world a safer and a better place. As the world celebrates the International Women's Day on Thursday, The Tribune shares the extraordinary stories of some of these Jalandhar women who stood up to life and undertook noble causes.

Boxing tourney concludes
Jalandhar, March 7
Mahrishi Dayanand University (MDU), Rohtak, won the overall boxing championship trophy for men, while Guru Nanak Dev University was declared runners-up during the all-India inter-university boxing championship, hosted by Lovely Professional University, which concluded today.

Student hurt at level crossing
Jalandhar, March 7
A B.Com-III student of DAV College was seriously injured after the bike he was riding was hit by a train at the DAV college level crossing.

Apeejay College of Fine Arts’ students top in varsity exams
Jalandhar, March 7
Students of the Apeejay College of Fine Arts bagged top positions in semester-I examinations of various postgraduate courses conducted by Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar.

Exhibition of equipment to deal with CBRN disaster held
Jalandhar, March 7
“Vajra Sahayta”, a mock drill on aid to civil population during a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) disaster, apart from showing operational readiness was also an eyeopener for the officials of the district administration of Jalandhar and Kapurthala.

Councillor in jail, road cries for repair
Jalandhar, March 7
The badly damaged stretch of Nakodar Road near Wadala Chowk in Jalandhar. The road between TV Tower and Wadala Chowk has been crying for repair for the past several months. The reason may the absence the area councillor. Ever since the elected councillor of the area Ram Simran Singh Makkar (SAD) was sent behind bars in a murder case, residents here have nobody to address their development issues.

The badly damaged stretch of Nakodar Road near Wadala Chowk in Jalandhar. Photos: Sarabjit Singh

Speaking Out

Vajra Corps holds mock drill under Vajra Sahayta
Mall evacuated, low-intensity bomb diffused
Kusum Arora
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 7
A high degree of preparedness and timely coordination by different agencies during a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) disaster in a shopping mall was witnessed today with Vajra Corps holding the Vajra Sahayta.

The mock drill exercise was to help the civil authorities in a CBRN disaster. The drill was conducted at the local Ansal Plaza situated on the Jalandhar- Phagwara highway with an aim to synergise the efforts of all stakeholders and check their preparedness to face such a crisis.

The exercise saw fully equipped 45 experts of the 8th battalion of the National Disaster Rescue Force (NDRF) based at Ghaziabad, a 22-member team of the Nuclear Biological & Chemical (NBC) Quick Reaction Team (QRT) platoon of the Vajra Corps and the local administration in action to ward off the CBRN disaster.

The exercise began with the quick response of the NBC suit clad NBC QRT team of the Vajra Corps, headed by Captain KRDS Guleria, cordoning the mall. This was followed by evacuation and detection of the area by their men. A situation was given wherein a low intensity bomb was shown planted in the mall around 10.15 am leading to casualties.

It was demonstrated that the chemical radiation of the bomb had spread in an area of 450 to 500 metres, which required the NDRF and the NBC teams to act fast and save precious lives.

Talking to The Tribune, Col KB Yadava from Sun Area (Headquarters), Vajra Corps, said: “The possibility of the CBRN weapons falling in hands of rogue elements and their misuse to target people and industrial establishments to cause panic, loss of life and property cannot be ruled out. Such a mock drill is an attempt to make the local administration aware of the timely action required by them.”

Col Yadava said apart from relying on the NDRF, which is a specialised taskforce, the Vajra Corps has an NBC platoon. “The officers and the jawans of this platoon undergo 24X7 training at the corps headquarters. The NSC platoon team is a specialised force of the Army, which has been trained at the NBC wing of the College of Military Engineering, Pune,” he added.

Commander of the 8th battalion of the NDRF Gopi Chand, who led the team and initiated the operation said: “In such situations, it is the timely response of the local administration, coordination and evacuation that matters the most. The primary aim remains to reduce the risk of loss of property and detect its short and long term loss on that particular affected area.”

The NDRF and the NBC QRT team had also set up a First Aid Post (FAP) with the basic medical assistance. At a small distance from the mall, a camp was organised by the NDRF team to check the decontamination of contaminated individuals, bathe them, and detect the amount of loss due to the chemical radiation of the bomb.

Earlier in the day, a discussion between senior Army officers of the Vajra Corps, the NBC QRT, the NDRF, police officials and the medical assistance teams from the Civil Hospital was also held to analyse the procedure and work out mechanisms to an improved response.

Board exams cast a shadow on Holi celebrations
Aparna Banerji
Tribune News Service

A woman buys a water gun; and (right) women play Holi at Chhoti Baradari in Jalandhar on Wednesday. Tribune Photos: Malkiat Singh

Jalandhar, March 7
Markets are flooded with colours and water guns, but buyers are missing as children are busy preparing for their annual examinations.

For students, Holi will be their date with their, mathematics, history, physics or commerce books. While some students are planning to celebrate the festival of colours despite tight schedule, , a few are not ready to take any chance.

A shopkeeper with a Holi stall at a local market said: “My son is busy studying for his exams. The exams have spoilt the Holi fun and have also hit our business hard.”

Sandeep, another shopkeeper at the Model Town market, said: “We are finding no customers this year.”

Shveta a housewife, who has come to shop for her toddler said: “We will be celebrating Holi for our son. Some friends will be gathering together for Holi.”

Police steps up security to keep tab on hooligans
Bipin Bhardwaj
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 7
The police has made elaborated security arrangements to prevent any untoward incident during Holi.

The district (city and rural) police authorities have decided to come heavily on drunkards, hooligans and other anti-social elements. Talking to The Tribune, ADCP (Crime) HPS Khakh said special teams have been constituted under the leadership of the area Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) to keep a tab on hooligans and trouble makers.

Besides, Police Control Room (PCR) vehicles and mobile police parties would be deployed at different strategic places, hospitals, markets, bus stands, railway stations and other congested and busy public places, he said.The traffic police has been asked to be on its toes and not to spare violators that include multiple riding, over-speeding, drunken driving and using pressure horns, the ADCP added.In communally sensitive areas, effective patrolling will be undertaken. Barricades are being put up at various places in and around the city and its periphery, he added.

What’s new

* Colour packets ranging from Rs 5 to herbal packs of Rs 180 are available in the market this year. The desi (local made) colours cost less, but there are not good for shin and eyes

* Spray colours are available between Rs 25 and Rs 80

* There is also the option of special colours which can easily dissolve in water

* There is a delightful range of water guns available in the market The fad this year is the new water tank pichkaris. These come with an attached water tank

* These pichkaris come in apple (Rs 280), robot (Rs 230), kitty (Rs 220) avatars and also include special back-pack water-tank pichkaris

women’s day
Architects of society
Aparna Banerji
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 7
Below the drudgery and conservative fabric of the city lie the stories of hundreds of women who are known to display extraordinary courage in the face of circumstances that others run away from. These are homely, everyday women sans the hype, whose dedication makes the world a safer and a better place. As the world celebrates the International Women's Day on Thursday, The Tribune shares the extraordinary stories of some of these Jalandhar women who stood up to life and undertook noble causes.

Jaswinder Kaur
She runs the Kamal self-help group Dhilwan village. She started this group in April 1999 after her marriage and says she has been lucky to have a supportive husband and three sons. To date, she has not charged a penny for any of the voluntary support offered to countless village women in need. She has started groups of women who sew footballs, are engaged in embroidery work and make bags. With more than 150 women initiated into this movement, she has toured villages, fought battles (domestic and others) that they couldn't fight for themselves and has been a support system for the village women. She thanks her family and her mentor Saroj Rani, the pioneer who showed her and countless Punjabi women the way.

Harsharanjit Kaur
She has provided comfort to many teenaged girls who would have lost it if she wasn't around. Earlier associated with an NGO, she gave it up for greater demands at home. She has counselled and carried out lectures for hundreds of school girls providing sex education and helping them speck out things that they couldn't share with their parents. She does it all free of cost. With diplomas in naturopathy and counselling, she adopts the 'natural' path to inform and educate her young pupils informing them about healthy dieting and living patterns, helping them dig out causes of infections and sexual scenarios or problems that they were ashamed to talk to anyone at home about. She is also known for her tree plantation drives. Last year, she planted 150 saplings.

Surjit Kaur
A counterpart of Jaswinder, she is a hope for the women in Lamma Pind. About four years ago, she was wary of finding her way around in her village but today she tours across the district for causes involving women. Her Saheli self-help group has about 10 women and there are many more that she directly or indirectly supports. She runs stitching programmes and a beauty parlour which have made many other village women self sufficient.

Inderjit Kaur
The robust sarpanch of Beer Pind. Things have changed since she was elected the sarpanch in 2003. She formed the Punjab Panchayat Federation, informing village panchayats about their rights and giving tips on expanding their sphere of working. She also started training camps for men and women of her village and has been one of the pioneers in the plantation boom across Punjab. Her village school was made into a model educational institution primarily with her efforts. She is also the woman behind mobilising the female foeticide movement across Punjab. She will receive a state award for her contribution and work by the SSA on March 8.

Student hurt at level crossing
Our Correspondent

Jalandhar, March 7
A B.Com-III student of DAV College was seriously injured after the bike he was riding was hit by a train at the DAV college level crossing.

The victim has been identified as Gulraj Singh, a resident of the Basti Bawa Khel locality here. Assistant sub-inspector, Government Railway Police, Bramin Kumar said the incident took place this afternoon when the student tried to cross the level crossing.

Instead of crossing through the railway overbridge, he opted for a shortcut, a GRP official said. The moment he tried to cross the railway line, the Jammu-bound Ahmadabad Express rammed into his bike.

The impact of the collision was so intense that victim fell meters away from the train and his bike was badly crushed under the train.

He was immediately rushed to a nearby private hospital where his condition is stated to be critical, the police said.

From colleges
Apeejay College of Fine Arts’ students top in varsity exams
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 7
Students of the Apeejay College of Fine Arts bagged top positions in semester-I examinations of various postgraduate courses conducted by Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar.

Ramneet Kaur, student of MA (Fine Arts) bagged the first position by scoring 334 marks out of 400. Reena, student of MA (Dance), bagged the second position in the university by scoring 360 marks out of 400.

Varinder Singh from MA (Instrumental) stood first in the varsity by scoring 317 marks out of 400.

DAV placements

As many as 20 students of DAV College bagged placement with the Genpact company.

The placement drive was organised by the training and placement cell of the college.

Guest lecture

The GNA Institute of Management and Technology, Phagwara, organised a guest lecture on “Current issues in HR” by Deepika Chauhan, an HR consultant from Ludhiana. The lecture was organised for the students of MBA-semester IV, MBA-semester II, BBA-semester VI.

Exhibition of equipment to deal with CBRN disaster held
Kusum Arora
Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 7
“Vajra Sahayta”, a mock drill on aid to civil population during a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) disaster, apart from showing operational readiness was also an eyeopener for the officials of the district administration of Jalandhar and Kapurthala.

NDRF team members explain the working of the equipment used to deal with CBRN disasters during an exhibition in Jalandhar on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Malkiat Singh

The exercise, held jointly by Vajra Corps and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Ghaziabad, gave a chance to those present to understand the functioning of the hi-tech equipment used by the NDRF in such circumstances. The NDRF and the nuclear biological and chemical (NBC) team of Vajra Corps put up an exhibition of the equipment to deal with CBRN disaster at the Ansal Plaza mall.

From the chemical disaster management equipment to the management of nuclear and radiological emergence, the exhibition presented the support system of the NDRF in natural disasters like earthquake, tsunami, flood and man-made disasters like fire, building collapse and much more.

Officials from the local administration, including police personnel, and even Army personnel, asked questions about the role of such equipment. “It is for the first time that we have seen the equipment used by the Army and other such specialised forces in such circumstances,” said a member of a local medical team.

The NBC suits, made by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and worn by the team of Vajra Corps and the NDRF, remained the centre of attraction for those present in the exhibition. The onlookers were curious to know the manufacturing and the utility of NBC suits for the forces.

Further, a specialised set of equipment to check water contamination during any kind of chemical leakage in water bodies was also shown. It was highlighted how special tests are conducted by the NDRF to inform the local masses about water contamination. “It just takes two to three minutes for these tests to confirm any kind of chemical contamination in water”, said a member of NDRF.

The exhibition also showcased pictures of various disaster relief works conducted by NDRF teams across the country.

Councillor in jail, road cries for repair
Our Correspondent

Jalandhar, March 7
The road between TV Tower and Wadala Chowk has been crying for repair for the past several months. The reason may the absence the area councillor.

Ever since the elected councillor of the area Ram Simran Singh Makkar (SAD) was sent behind bars in a murder case, residents here have nobody to address their development issues.

A 1-km stretch of the road has developed huge potholes and giving commuters a tough time. Residents of the area alleged that though the stretch of the road was re-laid a few years ago, the same started developing pits after a few months only.

Manjit Kaur, a resident of Ward 60, alleged that due to bad road she got her legs injured. “I was riding bicycle on the road and fell down as I lost balance due to potholes in the road and injured my legs.”

Every day, one or two commuters got injured due to dilapidated road, another resident Ramesh Kumar alleged.

The Mayor, Rakesh Rathore, when asked about the cause of bad plight of the road, said, “The road has been re-laid a few months ago and it has now developed some potholes. I will check its status and if there is a need to re-lay the same, it will be done soon and if only patch work is required, it will also be initiated soon for the convenience of residents.”

As the councillor of the ward is behind bars, the Mayor has asked private societies and area residents to come to him directly for their problems regarding the ward and he would solve them on priority.