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PRTC comes to city bus service’s rescue
Bathinda crush Barnala in U-16 cricket
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School bus overturns, 9 kids hurt
‘No chicken pox scare’
Training plan for out-of-school kids
Handball tourney: St Xavier’s emerges overall champion
School worker booked for molesting
Shopkeepers irked over encroachments
MC opens membership for swimming pool
Chemist shops raided
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PRTC comes to city bus service’s rescue
Bathinda, May 3 Even 20 days after its launch, the service is being run on a "trial" basis according to the PRTC officials. PRTC Managing Director DPS Kharbanda told Bathinda Tribune that the project is facing teething troubles. "The project is currently being run on a trial basis and it needs to be streamlined. We have fixed the routes as per the requirements listed by the Municipal Corporation," he said. The PRTC has extended three, of the five permitted routes. Presently, 20 drivers and conductors from the PRTC have been deputed to run the buses. Because of the shortage of staff, the buses are being run only from 8 am to 5 pm. To iron out the problem of staff shortage, the PRTC would be outsourcing 13 drivers and 13 conductors within a week. "Once the staff strength is adequate, we would put up time-table of the city bus service at all 30 bus shelters proposed in the city. The timings of these buses would be synchronized with the railway time-table. In the case of events like religious congregation or other public gatherings, buses can be allotted on special routes," he added. Meanwhile, the drivers running these buses said they are being harassed. One of the drivers claimed that none of them have been given a day off even once. "We have been working continuously for the past 20 days. If we talk to the higher authorities about availing our weekly offs, we are threatened with dire consequences," said one of the drivers. The drivers said the PRTC should assign them a separate counter at the bus stand for the benefit of passengers. Also, there is no provision for cleaning these buses. Since April 13, the buses have not been washed even once. The drivers and conductors double up as cleaners and clean the buses from the inside using sticks and broom. In the absence of adequate staff, the buses are run from 8 am to 5 pm instead of 6 am to 1:30 pm and 1:30 pm to 9 pm. As per the rules, the bus service should be in two shifts daily, which is impossible to follow in the present situation. Taking advantage of the situation, auto-rickshaw drivers start demanding Rs 60 as fare from the bus stand to Giani Zail Singh Engineering College after 5 pm. "People are being fleeced and harassed," added another driver. As the buses are not run on time and neither has any time-table been assigned. Therefore, commuters in the city are in a fix. Presently, the interval for making the city bus available at a particular spot is one hour, which actually should be less than 35 minutes. "Discouraged by this, attendance in city buses have declined," confessed a conductor.
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Bathinda crush Barnala in U-16 cricket
Bathinda, May 3 The Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) is organising the tournament. The host's decision to bat first after winning the toss soon turned out to be a blunder on Wednesday morning when the cherry was handed over to the left-arm spinners of Bathinda, Palash and Jagrit. The duo together weaved magic that could not found an answer from almost the entire batting line-up of the hosts, who were bundled out for only 23 runs. The spinners together showed the way to the pavilion to nine Barnala batsmen. The deadly spell by Palash who grabbed six wickets giving away just one run in 4.2 overs, was well supported by Jagrit who took three wickets at the cost of eight runs. Sukhraj took one wicket. Apparently upbeat over their bowlers' show, Bathinda's batsmen too joined the party and piled a huge score before declaring the first inning at 203 for 6. Harmandeep, with 46 runs, was the highest scorer while Rahul and Manmohan scored 41 and 40 runs, respectively. Jashanpreet also batted well and scored 35 runs. Chasing the mammoth target of 181 runs to avoid an innings defeat, the Barnala batsmen once again failed to figure out the enigmatic spell by Bathinda's spinner duo and were bowled out for 81 runs, suffering defeat by an inning and 100 runs. Palash once again delivered a match-winning spell and took five wickets while Jagrit and Rahul shared two wickets each. Bathinda cricket buffs feel dejected: Though Bathinda registered a thumping victory in the match, the budding crickets and lovers of the game here are a dejected lot as their plan to witness the match was thwarted due to the shifting of the venue from Bathinda to Barnala. As per the schedule prepared by the PCA, Bathinda was to host the match. But the match was shifted to Barnala due to the absence of a suitable ground. When contacted, OD Sharma, honorary general secretary of the Bathinda District Cricket Association (BDCA), and coordinator for the tourney, said the venue was shifted due to the absence of a suitable ground. It may be mentioned that the cricket ground in Bathinda over the years has been turned into a hockey stadium while the ground of the Police Public School that was being used by the BDCA for the last few months was also pre-occupied because of the ongoing selection trial for the posts of jail warden. |
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School bus overturns, 9 kids hurt
Bathinda, May 3 The bus driver, who was driving at a high speed, failed to control the vehicle while overtaking a tractor-trolley. Its front wheels hit the divider near the Ambuja Cement Factory, damaging two electricity poles. The bus then overturned on the other side of the road. Investigating officer, ASI Roop Singh from Thermal police station, said the accident took place at 7. 47 am. Eye-witnesses said the mini-bus carrying the children was being driven at a very high speed. Despite the fact that the school was barely a kilometre away from the place of the accident, and there was enough time to reach the school on schedule, the bus driver was driving rashly at a very high speed, ASI Roop Singh said. He said a case under sections 279 and 337 of the IPC has been registered against the driver, identified as Jagdeep Singh, a resident of Ajit Road. He has been booked for rash driving and putting the lives of children at risk. He is yet to be arrested by the police. Volunteers of the NGO, Sahara Jan Sewa, reached the site of the accident with two ambulances and shifted the injured students to the Bathinda Civil Hospital. Volunteers of the NGO said a 21-year-old youth, Amandeep from Sardargarh village, was already there, helping the students, who were in a state of panic. With many commuters travelling on the road turning a blind eye to the accident, Amandeep, who was passing by, parked his bike and extended a helping hand to the children. He rescued many children who were trapped in the bus. He too was injured by the broken window panes and was taken to the hospital with injuries. The parents of the schoolchildren, who were in a state of panic, too reached the Civil Hospital. Three of the nine injured schoolchildren were given stitches at the hospital while those who had suffered minor bruises, were discharged. The parents of the injured students said they would not allow their kids to travel again in the buses till the school authorities assured their safety on road. Principal, Sanawar Public School, Ravinder Kaur, said she too was in a van behind the bus involved in the accident. She said the driver, who was earlier a conductor, was trained and had been driving for the last few years. He was trying to overtake a tractor-trolley and lost control after one of the front wheels hit the divider. The school bus service is given on contract and the vehicle involved in the accident was inducted into the fleet just 15 days ago. "We will issue circulars to all the parents to get their children ready well on time during the morning hours. We would also take stringent measures so that such incidents do not take place again," the principal said.
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‘No chicken pox scare’
Bathinda, May 3 As per the information available, during the last 15 days, three cases of chicken pox (two from Bathinda and one from Goniana Mandi) were reported at the Women and Children Hospital here. One case (of a seven-year-old boy) was from Harbans Nagar, and the second case (of a 10-year-old girl) was from Basant Bihar, both in Bathinda. The third case was of a teenaged boy from Goniana Mandi. A local private practitioner, Dr Jagjit Chawla said he had examined and treated two cases in the past fortnight while Dr Ashwani Mittal and Dr Ajay Gupta, two other local doctors, said no case of chicken pox had come to them in the last fortnight. The child specialist at the local Women and Children Hospital, Dr Satish Jindal today said chicken pox was a benign but highly contagious infection, caused by varicella-zoster virus. Dr Jindal also said the disease is characterised by fever followed by vesicular eruption (fluid filled lesion) after 24 hours of fever. However, the chicken pox is more severe among young infants and adults. Besides, the disease is common in late winter and early spring, he added. Secondary infection of the lesion is the most common complication. Other complications included pneumonia, weakness of lower limbs and encephalitis. Itching is also common. Dr Jindal said the treatment is mainly symptomatic and consists of anti-histaminic to reduce itching, paracetamol for fever, plenty of liquid and rest.
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Training plan for out-of-school kids
Bathinda, May 3 As part of an annual exercise, out-of-school children are identified under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA) and divided into two groups: one from 6 to 7 years and the other in the 7 to 14 years of age group. In Punjab, 2,584 children in the 6 to 7 years of age-group have been identified. Besides, 696 children with special needs have been identified under the Integrated Education for “The task is not an easy one. We have to pay many visits to the slum areas and industrial areas to find such children. The biggest task is to convince their parents to let them study. Most of these children are from below poverty line (BPL) families and are the earning members of their families,” said Amarjit Kaur, one of the educators at a special training centre being run here. Once the children are identified, their parents and guardians are counselled to let them study. The children in the age group of 6 to 7 years are sent to the nearest regular government schools. To prepare them mentally for regular schools, they would be taught at the special training centres from May 1, 2012 till March 31, 2013. “If a child attains the mental ability of getting admitted to the mainstream within two months of studying at a special training centre, he or she would be admitted to the regular school. The child need not wait for the entire year to be a part of regular schools,” education department officials clarified. Children in the age group of 7 to 14 years are sent to non-residential special training centres. These students are taught for a year and then admitted to classes, with respect to their age, in the mainstream. Students undertake bridge course as per their intelligence quotient and age. Every training centre would have at least ten children and one special trainer. During special training, monthly assessment report of each child would be sent to the SSA state office through district education officer.
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Handball tourney: St Xavier’s emerges overall champion
Bathinda, May 3 The District Handball Association organised the two-day tourney at St. Xavier’s School. The school emerged victorious in all the groups. The school won the title in U-17/19 girls and U-17/19 boys. Over 15 teams from across the district took part in the championship.
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School worker booked for molesting
Bathinda, May 3 The accused, Raju, a resident of Gopal Nagar, has been booked by the Civil Lines police station under Sections 354 and 323 of the IPC. SHO Gurdev Singh Bhalla said the incident took place yesterday during the school hours, between 11 am to 12 noon. He said that the woman complained to the police that the worker was making obscene gestures and caught hold of her wrist and then molested her. She then raised an alarm and brought the matter into the notice of the school authorities. The accused, however, managed to flee. The SHO said the accused was deployed to paint the walls and other areas by the school authorities. Transformer stolen A transformer of the Powercom was stolen from Baghapurana road. A complaint was lodged with the police by assistant engineer of the Powercom, Bhagta Bhaika. Police has registered a case under Section 379 of the IPC. Brothers booked for threatening Two brothers, Jaswant Singh and Lakhvir Singh, both residents of Surjitpura Diyalpura Bhaika and some unidentified persons have been booked by the police for allegedly threatening a couple and pressurising them to withdraw a police complaint. A case under Sections 352, 427, 506, 148 and 149 of the IPC has been registered against both the accused at Diyalpura police station. In a complaint to the police, Major Singh said his wife got a case of rape registered against the accused Jaswant Singh's son, Raj Bhjupinder Singh. In a bid to force the couple to reach a compromise, the accused along with his brother and some others, reached his house on the night of April 24. They tried to pressurise them and then threatened them with dire consequences. The matter was brought to the notice of tye police and the accused Jaswant Singh was arrested by the police and a case was registered against him. Six booked for beating Six persons, three unidentified, have been booked by the police for attacking and inflicting injuries upon a resident of Nehianwala village. The complainant in the case, Jabarjang Singh, said he had gone to meet his sister at Talwandi Sabo where the accused Sikandar Singh and Kala Singh, both residents of Talwandi Sabo and Ravi Singh, a resident of Jeewan Singhwala, beat him. He said the accused suspect that he was involved in the murder of the brother of Sikandar Singh. Police has registered a case under Sections 325, 323, 148 and 149 of the IPC at Talwandi Sabo police station. Two killed in accident Two persons lost their lives in separate accidents. As pert the sources, the incident took place when Gurpreet Singh of Kalian Malka village was going to his village from Bhagta. All of a sudden, a speeding Maruti car driven by an unidentified driver hit him. The registration number of the vehicle was noted down by some passersby who later informed the police about it. The victim was rushed to the hospital where the doctors declared him brought dead. A case has been registered under Sections 304-A, 427 and 279 of the IPC at Nathana police station. In another road accident, an unidentified vehicle hit a resident of Balianwali village leading to his death. The deceased, Balvir Singh, was standing in front of the Power Grid on Maur Road in Rampura when the speeding vehicle hit him. A case under Sections 304-A and 279 of the Indian penal Code has been registered against the unidentified vehicle and driver at the Rampura city police station.
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Shopkeepers irked over encroachments
Bathinda, May 3 During his visit to the grain market, the chairman, market committee, Gurteg Singh was apprised of the problem. Commission agent association's president Satish Kumar Bansal and Sabzi Mandi Association president Mahinder Kumar told the chairman that many shopkeepers store their sand, gravel and iron rods in front of their shops, thereby encroaching upon the footpaths. They reasoned that such encroachments pose a problem to the commission agents and farmers, who bring their produce to the grain market for selling. They said that the erring shopkeepers have been requested to refrain from such activity, but to no avail. The “sufferers” have now threatened the erring shopkeepers of the market as well as the chairman of staging a dharna if the erring shop owners do not mend their ways. Meanwhile, Gurteg Singh expressed satisfaction over the pace at which wheat is being procured. He added that this season, 15 per cent more wheat was expected to arrive at the market as compared to last year. Prominent among others present were member, market committee Joginder Singh, commission agent Davinder Singh Goldy, secretary, market committee Darshan Kumar, superintendent Bant Singh, auditor Gurcharan Singh and others.
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MC opens membership for swimming pool
Bathinda, May 3 Assistant Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Kamal Kant Goyal, said students would be charged Rs 500 per month for the entire season, while the others would be charged Rs 1,000. One life guard has been deployed to look after the safety of the swimmer, while the sports department provides a trainer to the sports students. Kamal Kant said last year, altogether 358 people got the membership and the Municipal Corporation collected a revenue of Rs 2.14 lakhs from it. However, this year, only nine persons have applied so far, Goyal informed.
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Chemist shops raided
Bathinda, May 3 The raiding party inspected the shops and checked the records related to the sale and purchase there. The drug inspector Lakhwant Singh said this evening that the police had the information that some chemists had been selling medicines, which were being used by the drug addicts as intoxicants. However during the checking of the shops, they had not recovered any intoxicants from there, he added.
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Bathinda, May 3
Bathinda, May 3
