B A T H I N D A    E D I T I O N

Two labourers killed in sewer tank 
Bathinda, May 22
Two labourers were killed while removing the old screen chamber at the Municipal Corporation's sewerage project near the ITI today. The incident took place at around 6:30 pm when the labourers, under contractor Sushil Mittal, were working on replacing the screen chamber.

Atma Ram, who survived, undergoing treatment at the Civil Hospital. Tribune photos: Pawan Sharma

Four women among nine cops suspended
Bathinda, May 22
Nine cops of the Community Policing Resource Centre (CPRC), including four women cops, were suspended here today, following a surprise checking by the Bathinda SSP Sukchain Singh Gill.

MC polls: SAD names candidates
Muktsar, May 22
Going a step ahead of the Congress, the SAD today finalized the names of its candidates for the Bariwala Nagar Panchayat elections to be held on  June 7, in Muktsar district.

Fazilka girl gets 30th rank in PMET
Fazilka, May 22
Alisha Sethi of Fazilka has secured the 30th rank in the Punjab Pre-Medical Test (PMET).

Two labourers killed in sewer tank 
Megha Mann
Tribune News Service

The sewer tank near the ITI Chowk where two labourers were killed on Tuesday evening. Tribune photos: Pawan Sharma

Bathinda, May 22
Two labourers were killed while removing the old screen chamber at the Municipal Corporation's sewerage project near the ITI today.

The incident took place at around 6:30 pm when the labourers, under contractor Sushil Mittal, were working on replacing the screen chamber. After the old chamber was removed, the contractor and his men stood examining the spot.

Suddenly, one of the men, Atma Ram, standing nearby, fell into the tank. In panic, Sushil Mittal dived to rescue him instead of taking the staircase down the pit. “But he found it difficult to stay afloat in the toxic waters. To save him, two labourers, Murari and Bablu, also jumped inside,” said the municipal corporation officials.

Sushil Mittal and Atma Ram, who fell down accidentally, caught hold of the staircase and saved themselves.

However, Murari and Bablu could not survive in the toxic waters and died inside.

The volunteers of the NGO, Sahara Welfare Society, rushed to the spot and pulled the two out. They were rushed to the Civil Hospital where the doctors declared them dead on arrival. Even Sushil and Atma Ram sustained serious injuries.

The possibility of the labourers dying after inhaling toxic gases emanating from the tank has been ruled out as the tank was open, thus giving an outlet to the toxic gases. The labourers could have died due to the toxic water entering their lungs or due to head injuries.

The sewer pumping station at the ITI Chowk pumps out the entire city's sewage in the sludge carrier that leads to a vacant area on the Dabwali road.

For the last few days, the sluice valve controlling the outlets of the sewage was out of order. After repairing the sluice valve, the contractor saw that even the screen chamber needed repair and hence, it was being changed.

Four women among nine cops suspended
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 22
Nine cops of the Community Policing Resource Centre (CPRC), including four women cops, were suspended here today, following a surprise checking by the Bathinda SSP Sukchain Singh Gill.

Implementing the directions of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal to streamline the police department and ensure improvement in police-public relations, the SSP made a surprise visit to the CPRC, where he found nine cops absent from duty.

Taking a serious note of their alleged dereliction of duty, the Senior Superintendent of Police placed all of them under suspension.

Among the nine, besides the constables and head constables, an assistant sub-inspector has also been included.

Talking over the phone, this evening, Senior Superintendent of Police Sukhchain Singh Gill said, “Nine cops including four women have been suspended for dereliction of duty. I have strictly warned the entire staff to be responsible and punctual in performing their duties."

MC polls: SAD names candidates
Archit Watts/TNS

Muktsar, May 22
Going a step ahead of the Congress, the SAD today finalized the names of its candidates for the Bariwala Nagar Panchayat elections to be held on 
June 7, in Muktsar district.

The names of all the 11 candidates were announced at a core committee meeting of the SAD leaders, which included Harvinderpal Singh Shelly from ward 1, Bood Chand from ward 2, Om Parkash for ward 3, Tirtha Devi from ward 4, Charandas Channa from ward 5, Vijay Kumar from ward 6, Suraj Kumar from ward 7, Baljinder Singh Rangpuri from ward 8, Rajinder Kumar from ward 9, Jaswinder Kaur from ward 10 and Harmel Singh from ward 11. Manjeet Singh Barkandi, district president of SAD, said the party would contest the elections on its agenda of development.

However, the Congress was yet to finalize the names of its candidates. Gurdas Girdhar, district president of the Congress, said they held a meeting of their senior members and would decide the names by tomorrow morning.

After the announcement of elections on May 21, the nomination process has started. But on the second day today, not even a single candidate, so far, filed the nominations. 

Fazilka girl gets 30th rank in PMET

Fazilka, May 22
Alisha Sethi of Fazilka has secured the 30th rank in the Punjab Pre-Medical Test (PMET).

Daughter of a local government medical officer NK Sethi and principal Anju Sethi, Alisha is satisfied over her performance. “Every one should have big dreams and make their best efforts to fulfill them. I studied for 15 to 16 hours a day to achieve the target,” said a jubilant Alisha.

The student of local Holy Heart Day Boarding Public School, Alisha said she wanted to serve the poor and the needy as a radiologist.

“We are proud to have a brilliant student like Alisha who topped the classes till matriculation,” said Ritu Bhusari, the principal of the school.

Alisha thanked her parents, principal and the teachers for their valuable contribution in her success. — OC