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Dist Disaster Management Authority ill-equipped
Blankets turn shrouds for factory collapse victims
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Devi Talab hospital says ‘no’ to injured factory workers
NGO to provide artificial limbs to injured victims
Labourers demand helpdesk
Industrialists’ attitude callous: Labourers
crime file
2 schools served notices for saying no to polio drops
from schools and colleges
Man killed, niece gangraped
Sanjay Dutt to be new celluloid Sardar
Man killed, boy injured in mishaps
7 vehicle lifters held
Kabbadi player dies
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Dist Disaster Management Authority ill-equipped
Since the day it was constituted, the DDMA, having officials from different departments and the local NGOs, has been holding meetings, seminars and trainings camps. However, as far as the requisite paraphernalia and technology to initiate a rescue operation is concerned, the DDMA has been solely dependent on the Army and the paramilitary forces. Sources said the DDMA headed by the District Project Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner had recently sent a proposal worth crores to the Central government for providing the required equipment for conducting rescue operation. “We have submitted a detailed proposal with micro and macro details of the kind of equipment required for the functioning of the DDMA. Once the equipment is available, the DDMA would be in a better position to meet any such eventuality,” said an official. “In the past, the DDMA has conducted training of engineers, architects and even masons,” said a member of the DDMA. Even on Sunday night, though the officials of the DDMA were the first ones to reach the factory collapse site, they ended up wasting seven hours due to lack of requisite equipment to conduct such operations. “What can the DDMA do without the required machinery and equipment? If the DDMA had the equipment to rescue workers trapped under the debris, the extent of loss would have been less,” said a team member of the DDMA. The DDMA was constituted under the Disaster Management Act, which was envisaged for the creation of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), headed by the Prime Minister, on December 23, 2005.
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Blankets turn shrouds for factory collapse victims
Jalandhar, April 18 With blankets falling all over from the concrete which is being pulled down for the past three days for digging out survivors and the not-so-lucky ones, they are being used to wrap their bodies. Till Wednesday, the rescuers extracted 12 bodies from the rubble, out of which three were yet to be identified. A majority of the bodies are mutilated as they were crushed under tonnes of concrete. Officials engage in rescue operation said that the bodies were being wrapped in blankets to prevent mental trauma to the deceased’s relatives. “There is every possibility that after seeing the crushed or mutilated bodies, the deceased’s relatives or their counterparts may turn aggressive or may resort to violence at the sight,” one of the rescuers requesting anonymity said. Some of the injured extracted from the rubble also managed to get blankets while they were being taken to hospitals. Ram Parkash, one of the factory workers whose brother Shiv Shankar got crushed under the debris and other relative Jai Parkash could not be traced as yet, said, “Yes, I have seen the bodies being taken out wrapped in blankets. I think its God’s wish because the labourers who couldn't relish the warm of cosy blankets while they were alive, at least got it now after they are dead,” “Even in the cold, we had to sleep on the floor without mattresses as we cannot afford to buy such expensive blankets,” another factory worker said. A labourer said that even during some special occasions or festivals, the factory owner never offered them a complementary blanket or even at a discounted rate. Some labourers also rued that they were made to work for 12 hours, but they never got their salaries on time.
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Devi Talab hospital says ‘no’ to injured factory workers
Jalandhar, April 18 Chotu, a 24-year-old labourer, found by a Civil Hospital staff member at the accident site, had claimed that he was denied treatment at Devi Talab Charitable Hospital. Today, as many as 11 patients, who were discharged from Shri Devi Talab Charitable Hospital early on Monday morning, made it to the Civil Hospital for treatment. While three of them were admitted to the trauma ward, another three were first admitted to the emergency then made to sit in the first-aid room of the trauma ward. Talking to The Tribune, 35-year-old Bipin Kumar, said: “We had spent some time at Devi Talab hospital when we were told to move. Our wounds have not healed as yet. Some of us were hurriedly bandaged. Others were given first aid and told to go home. We were suffering from acute pain in our back and feet. Some of us had fractures, but we were asked to leave.” Munishwar (28), who still had marks of wounds on his forehead and nose, which hadn’t even been bandaged, said: “As many as 35 to 40 of us were rushed to the hospital. Most of us were told that we do not need any treatment. We went back to our homes, but we had constant pain in our body. We then approached the Talking to The Tribune, a nurse at the trauma ward reception said: “Some of them are stable. The doctors are deciding what to do with the rest.” A visit to Shri Devi Talab Charitable Hospital revealed that a majority of the beds in various wards were empty and it had been the same for the past two days. Of the survivors, there were only eight patients at Devi Talab hospital on Monday, nine on Tuesday and the number came to down eight again today. Only three to four patients are seen there and the rest have been discharged. These patients also include two shifted from the Civil Hospital yesterday. 61 rescued, 16 in patients in hospitals
Even as 61 workers have been rescued since the day of the factory collapse in Jalandhar, only eight to nine patients are admitted to Devi Talab hospital. Seven workers are undergoing treatment at the Civil Hospital. At Devi Talab hospital, the staff had been claiming that there were two to three patients admitted to the ICU for the past two days. While two patients - Surinder and Amarjit - had been shifted from the Civil Hospital to Devi Talab hospital on April 17, they were shifted to the ICU on Wednesday. But they are nowhere to be seen at the ICU. The reason for shifting Surinder to the ICU was said to be his haemoglobin coming down to five on April 17. About Amarjit, the ICU nurse said there was a complication in his foot. At the orthopaedic ward, too, at least two to three labourers who were earlier found admitted or asking for treatment, were discharged. The in charge of the ward claimed that they were discharging all patients whose condition had stabilised.
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NGO to provide artificial limbs to injured victims
The state spokesman of the NGO, Raj Kumar Chaudhary, said artificial limbs would be provided to the victims at Viklang Kendra of the NGO at Ludhiana. Chaudhary said the victims or their relatives could contact him on his mobile number 94176307666 or at the local office of the NGO at Bharat Vikas Bhawan, Krishan Nagar, Mandi Road, opposite Madan Flour Mill in Jalandhar. Several associations have started langars near the site for the rescue teams. Meanwhile, a volunteer of Dera Sacha Saudha sustained injuries as he had slipped from the rubble during rescue operation. He was rushed to the Civil Hospital.
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Labourers demand helpdesk
Jalandhar, April 18 “We are running from pillar to post to get the details of the bodies recovered, but no body is helping us. At times, we rush to the Civil Hospital and then sometimes we end up reaching Shree Devi Talaab Charitable hospital. Where should we go? There is no helpdesk and no team or camp to assist us,” said Brij Mohan, a migrant labourer. Labourers said the administration and the team of doctors should set up a helpdesk, as a majority of them were finding it difficult to ascertain facts about the bodies recovered. Another labourer said: “The state government is talking of compensation, but we helpless labourers have no details of our loved ones. On the very first day, some labourers informed me that my brother’s body had been recovered from the debris and we ended up running everywhere. There is utter chaos and the administration should set up a dedicated helpdesk.” Labourers said the relatives of those trapped under the debris had reached Jalandhar and they were finding it difficult to know about their loved ones. |
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Industrialists’ attitude callous: Labourers
Jalandhar April 18 The rescue operation had been going on for the past three days, but the industrialists here had not shown any gesture of announcing the closing of factories for a day to mourn the deaths of labourers. Despite the occurrence of such a big disaster, work was in full swing in other industries situated adjacent to the factory which had collapsed, Ramesh Yadav, a migrant labourer, rued. “Industrialists have not closed their units because we are migrant labourers and the industry will not get any material benefit from it,” Yadav alleged, adding that on many occasions in the past industrialists had resorted to a complete bundh for demanding relief or benefits for the industry.
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3 travel agents hurt in attack
Our Correspondent
Jalandhar, April 18 The travel agents were rushed to the Civil Hospital. The travel agents - Prem Bhalla, Vishal Bhalla and Vikas Bhalla - run travel agency Desvidesh Visa near Narinder Cinema here. They told the police that they had old enmity with the assailants - Vikas and Sahil, who also run a travel agency here. This after afternoon, Vikas and Sahil along with other armed accomplices barged into their office and started smashing furniture and other equipment and injured them with sharp-edged weapons, they alleged. Deputy Superintendent of Police Jasvir Singh reached the spot and started investigation. Two held with Inspector’s stolen pistol
The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) today arrested two youths and recovered a 9-mm pistol and eight live cartridges from them. The recovered weapon was of CIA Inspector Sulakhan Singh, posted in Kapurthala, which he had lost a year back in Ladhewali village. The cops had erected a naka at Dheena village. The police said on suspicion when cops signalled two pedestrians to stop for checking, they tried to flee but were caught by the police. The accused were identified as Vijay Kumar, resident of Ladhewali village, and Ravi Kumar, resident of Kaki village. They were band musicians by profession, the police said. On search, the police recovered the weapon and cartridges from them. The police said both the accused had a criminal past as several cases of snatchings, loot and burglaries had been registered against them at various police stations in the city. |
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2 schools served notices for saying no to polio drops
However, one of the schools, Angels’ Paradise, today allowed the teams to administer the drops to children. Civil Surgeon Dr Manjit Singh Randhawa said, “The other two schools have been served notices.” He said the department would make sure that the students of the schools were immunised against polio. “The non-immunised children may become carriers of the disease. We cannot take any chance,” said Randhawa. In a previous polio immunisation drive, seven schools in the city had acted in the same manner by disallowing immunisation of enrolled students. Later a notice from the District Magistrate had made schools fall in line. “We have already informed the District Education Officer (Elementary) and Deputy Commissioner about it,” said Dr Randhawa. The district Health Department had yesterday took a decision to extend the polio immunisation drive for one more day, as a result of which children in the age group of 0-5 years were administered polio drops in the Verka and Sakatri Bagh area today.
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HMV students bag gold in English Olympiad
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, April 18 Principal Dr Rekha Kalia Bhardwaj congratulated the achievers for their brilliant performance. Cancer awareness camp
The NSS unit of Guru Nanak Dev University, Regional Campus, Ladhewali, in association with the Department of Law organised a cancer awareness camp on the campus on Tuesday. Oncologist Dr Anubha from a local hospital delivered a lecture on the disease, its symptoms and cures. Automobile dealers’ visit
Members of the Automobile Dealers Association (ADA), Phagwara, visited the GNA Institute of Management and Technology, Phagwara, for an industry-academia interface. A training session on stress management was also organised for the ADA members. |
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Man killed, niece gangraped
Amritsar, April 18 The victim stated in her complaint that she along with her maternal uncle Manpreet Singh and his friend Amrinder Singh alias Sunny were going to Chandigarh from Muchhal village. She said when they reached a filling station near Chauhan village on the main GT Road to fill petrol, four unidentified persons intercepted their vehicle and attacked them with sharp-edged weapons. She alleged the accused bundled her into their SUV vehicle and raped her one by one. She said they abandoned her near Batala. She said she somehow reached her house at Muchhal village to find her uncle Manpreet Singh dead. She said she came to know that his friend Sunny was critically injured in the attack and was admitted in a hospital. SPS Parmar, district police chief, Amritsar rural police district said the matter is under investigation and it will become clear within a couple of days. “Preliminary investigations have raised many questions over the victim’s statement. Moreover, the man who was killed by unidentified persons was a drug peddler. We are investigating in to the case and nothing concrete can be said at this moment,” said Parmar. A special investigative team headed by SP (Detective) and DSP (Detective) has been constituted in this regard, he said. He said the medical examination of the victim is yet to be conducted. DSP (Detective) Nahar Singh said as per the initial probe the accused hit the vehicle in which the victims were travelling near Rayya. “One of the victims is in the hospital and is not fit to record his statement,” he said.
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Sanjay Dutt to be new celluloid Sardar
Amritsar, April 18 Sharing this with the mediapersons at Radisson Blu Hotel during his visit to Amritsar today, Sanjay said the film is based on a real incident in which 21 Sikhs fought valiantly with an army of 10,000 Afghan tribesmen in 1897. “I, along with Ajay Devgan, am working on the film’s script. I am also trying to rope in Punjab Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal, who did schooling with me at Sanawar, in the project.” On whether the audiences can expect more of his negative shades after his commendable performance in ‘Agneepath’, he said such roles seldom come an actor’s way in his career. “It was a challenge to essay a villain’s role after playing a protagonist all my life, but I am happy that the people liked it.” He said currently he was shooting for Ajay Devgan’s ‘Son of Sardar’ which is being shot in Patiala. “It is a comedy-cum-action film, in which I am playing the role of the head of a family.” He said he would love to be a part of more action films in future. On the sequel of Munna Bhai series, he said they are all set to start shooting for the third part of the series, which has been tentatively titled ‘Munna Bhai ki Atmakatha’. Replying to a query, he admitted that he has sang a few lines in his upcoming film ‘Department’. On his stint as the host of Big Boss Season 5, Sanjay said it was a good experience as one starts connecting with the house mates as a family after some time. He said it was more challenging then acting on the silver screen as the host has to indulge in direct interaction at the spur of a moment. On his visit to Amritsar, Sanjay said it has been a wonderful experience visiting and paying obeisance at the Golden Temple. What else draws him to the holy city? “It is sumptuous cuisine ‘kulcha, tikkas, and fish. I love relishing them all.” When asked about his message to youth in Punjab where drug addiction is on the rise, the actor said, “There is no bigger addiction than life. Live it to the fullest and stay away from drugs.”
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Man killed, boy injured in mishaps
Amritsar, April 18 The police has registered a case against the driver of the bus. The accused fled from the spot leaving the bus behind. He has been identified as Sansar Chand Sharma, a resident of Feru Chak, Tehsil Heera Nagar, Kathua. Head constables Gurdeep Singh and Sarwan Singh called the emergency ambulance service which rushed the victim to GNDH. Later a slip found from the pocket of the victim helped in establishing his identity as Avtar Singh. The police is yet to find his residential address. The post-mortem examination has not been conducted so far. Investigating officer Gurmej Singh said the victim’s body has been kept for 72-hour for identification. He said raids on to nab Sansar Chand who had been absconding since the incident. In another incident, Amritpal Singh (13) of Guru Ram Dass Nagar, Kot Khalsa, sustained serious injuries when he was hit by a car. The incident occurred near Putlighar area on April 12. However, the case was reported to police only yesterday evening. He along with his father Hardial Singh was going towards Putlighar when the accused came from the opposite side and hit their vehicle. Amritpal was rushed to nearby private hospital while the accused identified as Raj Kumar escaped from the spot.
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Amritsar, April 18 The accused are drug addicts and were armed with sharp-edged weapons. A police team was immediately rushed to the spot and arrested the accused. — TNS
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Seven years after it was constituted, the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) is still ill-prepared and ill-equipped.
Jalandhar, April 18
Jalandhar, April 18
Amritpreet Kaur Kahlon and Palakdeep Kaur, both students of Hans Raj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya (HMV), bagged gold medals for their outstanding performance in the second International English Olympiad.
Principal Dr Rekha Kalia Bhardwaj congratulated the achievers for their brilliant performance.
Jalandhar, April 18
Jalandhar, April 18
Amritsar, April 18