NEIGHBOURHOOD

buried alive
‘Labourers could be saved’
Our Correspondent

Fathers of the deceased labourers wait for their sons’s bodies at the Civil Hospital in Ambala City on Thursday. Photo by writer

Ambala, May 3
Two migrant labourers, who were buried alive under the heap of mud in Devi Nagar village while laying drinking water pipeline in 15 feet deep trench on Wednesday, could have survived had the rescue operation been carried out timely under the supervision of some technical experts.

Not only the senior officers of the public heath department buyt also the contractor was not present on the spot to execute the rescue operation in a proper way.

The driver of the JCB machine and a few other labourers started digging out the heap of mud from the trench in an unprofessional manner, which took around two hours. The head of one of the deceased was partially severed when the sharp daggers of the JCB machine hit him while digging out the mud. The other deceased also sustained severe injuries on his hand following the struck of the machine. The injuries on the bodies were noticed when they were brought to the Civil Hospital.

All the required safety measures should have taken as the labourers were laying pipe lines under 15 feet deep trench. One of the retired officers of the public health department said that in such risky jobs at least some officer of the department should have remained present there. He added that only the contractor should not be held responsible for it, the department should also be made accountable.

The father of the deceased, Tota Ram, reached from Baudan this noon demanded action against the contractor. The state president of Bhartiya Majdoor Sangh, Jang Bahadur, urged the government to pay Rs 5 lakh each to the next kin of deceased as compensation.

Meanwhile, the police has registered a case of negligent against the contractor under Section 304 A (causing death by negligent act).

The bodies of the deceased were handed over to their relatives after the postmortem examination this noon. The Deputy Commissioner Shekhar Vidharthi has asked for a detailed report from the department in this regard.

Dera Bassi, April May 3
Blocking of sand mining in the Ghaggar river has caused the shortage of sand and affected the development works of construction work in the nearby areas.

The price of sand has been doubled and those involved in the construction business are buying it on high prices.

Sources said that despite completing all the conditions for ensuring legal sand mining as demarcation of the auctioned sites by the mining department, the mining could not be started because some of the top political leaders of the ruling party were wanted their share in the sand mining business.

Sources, on the condition of anonymity, said that the demarcation process for identifying the auctioned sites on the river was completed but the police had not been allowing the sand mining on the influence of political leaders of the ruling party who wanted their share in it.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner Mohali Varun Roojam said that the legal sand mining from auctioned sites was not blocked only illegal mining was stopped from the sites which were not auctioned by the mining department. He assured that he would check the issue and ask the mining department officials to ensure the starting of sand mining from Ghaggar river from the auctioned sites soon.

However, in-charge of the mining department, Gurinder Singh, said that mining was blocked some time ago to check the illegal mining from unauthorised sites and now the process was on to identify the auctioned sites and that the mining would start soon. Meanwhile, the SHO Dera Bassi Gurdyal Singh said that it was decided in the meeting of the SDM Dera Bassi to check the illegal mining to stop mining. But later, they had not received any communication from the side of administration and mining department to allow the sand mining.

As per information, the sand mining from all the auctioned sites was lying blocked. It was stopped on Meerpur auctioned site, Rampur kalan, Bakarpur, Alamgeer, Pragpur, Khanpur Khurd, Basma and Amlala. Those involved in the business of sand mining told that the demarcation work to identify the legal auctioned sites for legal mining was completed but the police was not allowing them to resume it.

On the other hand, those involved in the construction work at housing projects and at bridges, said that they were facing problems in getting sand due to stoppage of mining.

They informed that they were buying sand on the rate of Rs 25 per feet, which was, earlier, available on Rs 10 per feet.

A truck of 400 feet sand was available at Rs 10,000 that was, earlier, available at Rs 4,000.

Owners of some of the housing projects as expressed their concern over the sand shortage. It was badly affecting the construction works because sand was not available easily on genuine prices and that shortage was affecting the development projects and sand mining should be started soon, they added.

Chandigarh, May 3
A 36-year-old woman riding a bicycle died as she was crushed under the wheels of a rashly driven truck at the transport traffic light point in Sector 26 here this morning.

The victim, Usha Devi, was a resident of Mani Majra. She received a head injury and was declared brought dead at the Government Multi-Speciality Hospital in Sector 16.

The driver of the vehicle drove away from the spot. The vehicle was intercepted by a passersby after a chase. The driver then fled, leaving behind the truck, which was impounded.

The cyclist was going towards the Industrial Area, where she worked when the truck hit her bicycle from the rear. She was survived by her husband, Jawahar Lal, and four children.

The body was handed over to the family after post-mortem examination. A case of causing death due to negligence was registered under Section 304-A of the IPC at the police station in Sector 26.

Narrow escape: A car that was damaged after it rammed into a tree at Industrial Area Phase I near railway bridge in Chandigarh on Thursday. tribune photo: parvesh chauhan

In another mishap, three members of a Mohali-based family, including a woman, were injured when their Indigo car rammed into a tree near the poultry farm roundabout near Hallo Majra here this afternoon.

The car was at great speed when a front tyre burst. As a result, it rammed into a tree. The three victims were rushed to the PGI and were admitted there.

The woman sustained a fracture. The police removed the car, which got stuck in the tree, with difficulty. A case was not registered.

In connection with an accident on April 28, the police arrested Gurinder Singh of Sector 69 in Mohali for injuring a four-year-old girl at Kajheri village in Sector 61.

The girl was playing outside her house when the Honda Activa being driven by the accused hit her, causing critical injuries.

The girl recorded her statement, following which the accused was arrested and later freed on bail. A case of rash and negligent driving was registered at the police station in Sector 36.

Mohali, May 3
With the arrest of one more member of women snatcher gang, the Mohali police today claimed to have busted the gang and recovered jewellery worth Rs 2.5 lakh from them.

Giving details, Mohali SSP GS Bhullar said that the police has arrested Rano from Nabha, another member of the gang.

With her arrest the number of the arrested women snatchers has reached three as the police had already arrested two other members from in front of Gurudwara Singh Shahedaan two days ago. Bhullar said that there were about eight women in the gang who used to snatch the jewellery from in and around the religious places.

“They mainly targeted the old-aged women,” added Bhullar, claiming that about three cases of snatching at different places have been solved with their arrest.

Chandigarh, May 3
After batsmen gave their best on the first day, it’s bowlers of the home team that displayed a brilliant class and bundled out Jalandhar on a mere total of 48 runs in their first innings on the second day during the ongoing ML Markan Trophy for Boys (U-16) being held at DAV School, Sector 8, here today.

Earlier, after resuming from their overnight score of 338 for five in 98 overs, the Chandigarh team scored a total of 390 runs in their first innings. Later, the visiting side failed to face the bowling attack of Sagar Sharma, who completed his five-wicket haul after grabbing five for two and Bhagminder Singh who claimed three for 15. On the other hand, for Jalandhar, Sahil Mahay (11) was the only batsman to cross the double figure.

After facing the follow on, Jalandhar team ended the day with a total score of 121 for seven in 57 overs during their second innings.

Opener Rajat Sharma (35) and Mohit Mariya (23) were the main scorers for the team. In the second innings, leg spinner Sagar Sharma again strike and grabbed two for nine, while Vineet Dhaka took two for 26.

In the second match, Ropar took a 75-run lead against Ludhiana. Chasing Ropar’s 315 runs, Ludhiana were shot out for 240 in 85.2 overs.

In the third match, Patiala team was bowled out for 111 in 61.2 overs against Mohali and Mohali in their second innings scored 211 for four in 68 overs till the end of the day’s play.

Brief scores (Match I):

Chandigarh (1st innings): 390 for all out in 111.5 overs (Lakshay Rakhra 151, Vineet Dhaka 131, Bhagminder Singh 28; Manikaran 3 for 92, Karan Kahlon 4 for 80, Rohit Chaudhary 2 for 85).

Jalandhar (1st innings): 48 all out in 20.5 overs (Sahil Mahay 11; Sagar Sharma 5 for 2, Bhagminder Singh 3 for 15).

Jalandhar (IInd innings): 121 for 7 in 57 overs at close of day’s play (Rajat Sharma 35, Mohit Mariya 23; Sagar Sharma 2 for 9; Vineet Dhaka 2 for 26).

Match II:

Ropar (1st innings): 315 all out in 80.1 overs (Sahil Chander 76, Jagdeep 54, Amritpal 46, Rohit Sharma 29; Sher Bahadur 4 for 81, Manan Jain 2 for 80, Ramandeep 2 for 47).

Ludhiana (1st innings): 240 all out in 85.2 overs (Ramandeep 31, Rohit Verma 38, Manan Jain 34, Dipin Chitkara 25; Resham 5 for 87, Jagdeep 4 for 103).

Ropar (2nd innings): 137 for 2 in 33 overs (Sahil 62 not out, Jagdeep 31 not out, Sanchit 38; Manan Jain 1 for 47, Anirudh 1 for 31).

Match III:

Mohali (1st innings): 160 all out in 69 overs (Shubham 45, Siddharth 38; Sudeep 5 for 46, Gurtek Singh 3 for 34).

Patiala (1st innings): 111 all out in 61.2 overs (Akul Pandove 12; Sanbir Singh 49, Amolpreet 30; Harmanveer 5 for 21, Amish Sidhu 4 for 51).

Mohali (2nd innings): 211 for 4 in 68 overs (Shubman Gill 68, Taranpreet 64; Gurtek 2 for 73, Amolpreet 1 for 25, Rahul 1 for 37).

Chandigarh, May 3
The Chandigarh Basketball Association has selected 12 cagers in boys and girls category to participate in the Sub-Junior Basketball National Championship to be held in Goa from May 6 to 12 here.

Selected players: Boys-Chinmay, Ekteshwar, Ajayraj, Sargunjeet, Arshdeep, Jaspreet, Harnoor, Jaskaran, Ridhilata, Abhay, Aditya, Prabhnandan and Yashveer.

Girls-Amrit, Kamal, Manpreet, Simran, Muskan, Aanchal, Sunita, Ridhilata, Dilchirag, Ramya, Urunika and Harleen. — TNS