DC KK Yadav and the NDRF commandant take stock of the situation. Tribune photos: Pawan Sharma

Fact file

• Utter chaos prevailed during the rescue operation as the police and the officials of the NDRF found it quite difficult to handle the curious onlookers.
• SUVs with red beacons atop and motorbikes were seen blocking the way of the ambulances on the narrow road of Ballaram Nagar.
• Two cranes, iron cutters and many other equipment were used during the rescue operation that continued till late in the evening.
• Deputy Commissioner Kamal Kishore Yadav said the SDM would be asked to look into the reasons behind the sudden collapse of the recently-constructed shops and suitable compensation for the victims would also be recommended to the chief minister.

Bathinda, March 23
The voices against setting up of a multi-level parking slot in the primary wing of the Government Girls' Senior Secondary School on the Mall road here have grown shriller.

Terming it as an attempt to usurp prime commercial land situated in the heart of the city, the proposal has sparked off a debate amongst the educationists in the city.

While various government teachers' unions set the protest ball rolling by submitting a memorandum to the block primary education officer on Thursday, more educationists have joined the protest.

An educationist Jagmohan Kaushal reminisces: "Over a decade ago, the land where the AC market is situated today was carved out of the primary school. We protested a lot, but no one heard us. Now, the teachers' unions have grown stronger and have better connected with those at the helm of affairs. I am sure these agitating young teachers would save the school from further fragmentation."

Kaushal added that earlier, the Government Senior Secondary School and its primary wing were situated on one campus. The Mall Road was earmarked in 1975 and it passed through the school premises dividing it into two. He said in 1904, the school was run as middle school for girls from a building situated near the present Arya Girls' School.

Bhag Singh, the first principal of the Desraj Government Senior Secondary School (boys), did his intermediate from the school in question when it was an intermediate college.

"I passed out in 1944 and the school holds special significance for people like me. Many of its alumni are stalwarts in their respective fields. The proposal for a multi-level parking is a move to usurp the prime government land. It is a crime being committed openly and no one is accountable," he said.

"Till 1956, before the Government Rajindra College shifted to its present place, it was being run on the premises of this school," added Prof Paramjit Singh Ramana, dean, Central University of Punjab (CUP), who is an alumnus of the Government Rajindra College.

He said instead of closing down the school, the government should introduce more courses suiting the needs of girl students. "The school is one of the important places in the city and since it is located in the heart of the city, it has an added advantage of easy accessibility. Knocking it down would be like pulling down a temple of learning," he reasoned.

Meanwhile, the DEO (Elementary) Malkit Kaur said her office had no intimation about the school being removed to make way for a multi-level parking. "This school covers the largest area amongst all the primary schools in the district. It currently has 100 students. Besides housing classes, the premises also has office of the local block primary education officer," she added.

Bathinda, March 23
To mark the 81st martyrdom anniversary of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, various social and other organisations today held various types of functions, including blood donation camp and Ayurvedic medical check-up camp, in different parts of the city.

Local MLA Sarup Singla, while participating in a function organised by a local NGO Sahara Jan Sewa at the Arya Samaj Chowk here to commemorate the martyrs today, assured people that life-size statues of the three martyrs would be installed in the Arya Samaj Chowk here. SSP Sukhchain Singh Gill also attended the function. Floral tributes were paid to the bust of Shaheed Bhagat Singh. Several youths wearing yellow turbans in Bhagat Singh's style were also present. President of the NGO Vijay Goyal presented photographs of the martyrs to the MLA and the SSP.

To mark the martyrdom day, another function was organised by a local NGO, Aasra Welfare Society, at the Kikkar Bazar here. The NGO, besides observing the martyrdom day, also organised a blood donation camp in which about 50 persons donated blood.

MLA Sarup Singla, Mayor Baljit Singh Beer Behman, Commandant of 7th Battallion, NDRF, Bathinda, RK Verma and founder president of the NGO Ramesh Mehta paid tributes to Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev at the function.

The management committee of the Public Library, Bathinda, organised a Ayurvedic medical check-up camp at the library building here to mark the occasion. About 260 patients were examined by Dr HS Dhaliwal, Dr Sanjiv Pathak, Dr Anurag and Dr Mandeep Kaur. Sugar tests of about 30 patients were conducted free of cost. Medicines were also given free of cost. The camp was inaugurated by senior vice-president of the library PD Goyal.

The District Congress Committee also observed the martyrdom day here today. Former Congress MLA Harminder Singh Jassi took part in the function and paid tributes to the martyrs. Other leaders who were present or paid tributes, included district president of the party (Urban) Ashok Kumar, KK Aggarwal, Inder Singh Sahni, Mohan Lal Jhumba and Rupinder Bindra.

Meanwhile, on the occasion of the martyrdom day, a march under the ‘Beti Bachao Abhiyan’ was taken out against female foeticide, through the city markets. The march was organised by a daily newspaper, and some other social and voluntary organisations.

The march started from Arya Samaj Chowk and concluded at Jaipalgarh (near local Sports Stadium) where a cultural programme dedicated to the martyrs was held.

The Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo, organised a blood donation camp today to commemorate the martyrdom of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. The camp was inaugurated by Vice-Chancellor Dr DS Hira wherein students and faculty members donated blood.

Members of the Punjab Students’ Union (Shaheed Randhawa) and the Naujwan Bharat Sabha also paid tributes to Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev at a function held at the Punjabi University Regional Centre here today. Rich tributes were paid to the martyrs by observing two-minute silence.

Bathinda, March 23
A delegation of Computer Teachers’ Union, Bathinda, met the District Education Officer (Secondary) Khushbeer Singh regarding their demands.

In a press statement issued here today, the president of the union, Balkaran Singh, and general secretary, Pradeep Maluka, demanded that the vacant posts of accountants be filled so that the salary disbursement of computer teachers is not delayed.

They also demanded that the charge of Edusat labs, made for subjects like Maths, science and English, should be given to the respective teachers. They also demanded that the school principals be issued strict directions about tax deduction of computer teachers. — TNS

Bathinda, March 23
Seven persons, all residents of Giyana village, have been booked by the police for damaging the wheat crop of Ajaib Singh.

Ajaib Singh alleged that the accused, Gurmel Singh, Amreek Singh, Harbans Singh, Gurmeet Singh, Bhagwant Singh, Pappu Singh and Naseeb Singh, damaged his wheat crop aiming to encroach upon the agricultural land.