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Tricity groans under 8-hr power shocker
Chandigarh, July 30
The eight-hour power cut due to the failure in the northern grid brought life to a grinding halt in the tricity, affecting the lives of over 1.5 million residents. Complete chaos prevailed as the essential services right from power and water supply to the running of trains were badly affected. Being rush hour, commuters were caught in traffic snarls as traffic lights failed to function.

Passengers wait for trains at the Chandigarh railway station on Monday. Several trains were delayed due to power failure. Tribune photo: S Chandan

Water crisis makes it worse
Chandigarh, July 30
For Anita, a resident of Sector 45, it was a bad start to the day with neither power nor water at her house. She had to rush to the nearby Burail village to fill buckets to meet water needs of her household. She was unaware of the collapse of the northern grid as power cut and water shortage is a routine affair for most residents.

Patients spend hours on road
Mohali, July 30
The power failure today exposed the “ill-preparedness” of the Civil Hospital in Phase 6. Soon after the power shutdown at around 2.15 am, the entire hospital complex, except the emergency ward, plunged into darkness in the absence of power back-up.

Patients and their attendants sit outside the Civil Hospital at Phase 6 in Mohali on Sunday night in the absence of a power back-up. A Tribune photograph

Medical services hit
Chandigarh, July 30
Patients and their attendants had to sweat it out at city hospitals. While routine diagnostic investigation at the New OPD of the PGI was hit due to non-availability of power, elevators at Nehru Hospital were rendered useless.

Brain dead accident victim dies
Chandigarh, July 30
Tragedy struck the family of 20-year-old Arsh Bhatia, who was injured in a car accident at Matka Chowk on July 28, and died at the PGI today. His body will be cremated when his father Aswini Bhatia, who runs a store in the US, arrives in the city tomorrow, said Harish, cousin of the deceased.

4 get life term for kidnapping boy
Chandigarh, July 30
Additional District and Sessions Judge VP Sirohi today sentenced four persons to life imprisonment for kidnapping a six-year-old boy in 2008. The court sentenced Prem Singh of Kishangarh village, Sandeep Kumar of Dhanas, Vishal, alias Manish, and Sahil, alias Kesar, both residents of Dhaska village in Yamunanagar district, to life imprisonment.

Bindra's exit disappoints fans
Chandigarh, July 30
“At international events such as Olympics, players are under immense pressure," said Lt Col (retd) JS Dhillon, Abhinav Bindra's coach, when asked about the golden boy’s departure from the 10m Air Rifle event that had left his fans disappointed. Thumping down all hopes of the local shooting lovers, the local boy and defending champion failed to prove his mettle in the London Olympics 2012. Beijing Olympics gold medallist and 10m Air Rifle defending champion, Abhinav Bindra, made an early exit denting India's hopes of its first medal.

COMMUNITY

power pangs
Sleepless night for the elderly, housewives
Chandigarh, July 30
Eightyfive-year-old Vidyawati, who is suffering from joint problems, was not able to sleep last night due to grid failure last night. As there was eight-hour long power cut in Sector-49 area, she continuously inquired about the power situation from her 29-year-old granddaughter Manisha, who is also working in a private firm. Manisha remained on her bedside through out the night and provided relief to her with a hand fan.

13 trains delayed, passengers harried
Chandigarh, July 30
Hundreds of passengers had a harrowing time at the railway station today when the trains got delayed due to power failure for about three to four hours. As many as 13 trains were delayed, including Shatabdi, Jan Shatabdi, Kalka Bandra making passangers wait for hours together.

Shatabdi Express was delayed by two hours in Chandigarh on Monday. Tribune photo : S Chandan

Water problems in schools
Chandigarh, July 30
Early Monday morning’s blackout left many local schools struggling for water and witnessed thin attendance. Rakesh Sachdeva, principal, DAV-15, said that attendance was low by 10 to15 per cent in the school today.

Risking their lives: A view of a passenger train at the Railway Station in Ambala on Monday. tribune photo: dev dutt sharma

Complainants return empty-handed
Chandigarh, July 30
Services were severely affected at the police headquarters in Sector 9 today following power failure. With computers not functioning, services at the passport window, foreigners window, public window as well as all other departments at the police headquarters could not be executed resulting in inconvenience to visitors who had to return empty handed. The complainants had to return empty-handed.

Mohali crippled
Mohali, July 30
About 10-hour long power cut virtually threw life in the city and its peripheral areas out of gear. In absence of power and water, the supply of which was severely affected due to failure of the northern power grid, morning routine was disrupted of most of the families here.

PU hostellers have a ‘night out’
Chandigarh, July 30
Boarders at Panjab University (PU) hostels had a harrowing time last night due to the prolonged power cut. In the absence of power backup facility, a number of hostellers had to take their beddings out in the galleries to beat the heat. The hostellers were no t able to bathe before leaving for classes as there was no water supply.

rape case
SSP forms special investigation team
Mohali, July 30
The Mohali Senior Superintendent of the police GS Bhullar today constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to investigate a case involving rape of a 19 year-old-girl and subsequent circulation of its video clip here.

Chandigarh scan
Income tax awareness camp
The Chandigarh Beopar Mandal organised an income tax awareness camp and on-the-spot returns facility for traders at Rajasthan Bhawan, Sector-33, Chandigarh. The Beopar Mandal joined hands with the ICAI to organise this camp. It was attended by hundreds of prominent traders and members of the Beopar Mandal.

An income tax awareness camp in progress at Rajasthan Bhawan, Sector 33, Chandigarh.

School notes
Language expert visits city
Chandigarh: Emma Stubbs, Senior Vice-President, Pearson Language Testing, visited Chandigarh to meet the increasing number of partners and students enrolling for English language tests.

CHB to go in for amendment in regulation 16
Chandigarh, July 30
To bring about a major change in the clause governing the sale of flats, the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) is going in for amendment in regulation 16 of the CHB (Management and Sale of Tenements) Regulations, 1979. Once approved, the ban on the sale of a dwelling unit before five years from the date of possession will be lifted.

Comes out with new scheme
CHANDIGARH: After a gap of two years, the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) is coming out with a 2,000-flat general housing scheme in the southern belt of the city. An exercise to identify the land in Sectors 53 and 54 has already been carried out by the CHB.

Before constructing house, get building plans sanctioned
Chandigarh, July 30
In future, constructing a house without getting plans sanctioned will not be compoundable. In such cases, the UT Estate Office will not sanction the building plans. Earlier, a fee was charged to compound the construction up to DPC level by property owners.

It will be a sad Raksha Bandhan for Alok's sister
Panchkula, July 30
For Aditi, the only sister of Alok, it will be a sad Raksha Bandhan this time. Panchkula resident Alok Gupta was shot dead on the Christmas eve in Canada. The Canada police is investigating the matter. It has slapped second-degree murder charge on the main accused, William Andrew Whiteside, and has not ruled out the involvement of some other person in the crime.

Alok and his sister Aditi in happier times.

Suffocating experience for those stuck in lifts in Panchkula
Panchkula, July 30
Manoj Sharma(42), had just stepped into the lift of his society when suddenly the power went off and it became completely dark and suffocating. He kept on pressing alarm bell till help came.

EDUCATION

CTU to start 10 special buses for students
Chandigarh, July 30
Following Anupama’s tragic death, the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) has now swung into action. It has finalised the routes of 10 buses, which have been introduced exclusively for schoolchildren from several points of the city.

BCom counselling concludes at PU
Chandigarh, July 30
The third counselling for B.Com admissions in the city colleges completed today. More than 1,000 students lined up at Panjab University (PU) for admission to nearly 500 seats, which remained vacant after the second movement list was declared. The final counselling started on July 29 and about 250 seats were allocated to students under both reserved and general categories.

Students wait for counselling outside the Law Auditorium at Panjab University on Monday. Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari

Faculty files nominations for PUTA elections
Chandigarh, July 30
The Progressive Democratic Teachers’ Front (PDTF) group led by Akshaya Kumar (English) on one side and Tankeshwar lobby on the other side today filed the final nominations for the Panjab University Teachers’ Association (PUTA). The final list was declared today after the scrutiny of the nomination papers of the applicants. PUTA has 623 registered voters. The key issues to be taken up in the elections will be the recruitment of teachers to nearly 55 per cent vacant posts, increasing the retirement age of faculty members from 60 years to 65 years and timely promotion of teachers.

46 Mohali schools get recognition under RTE Act
Mohali, July 30
As many as 46 schools out of the total 393 in Mohali district have so far been given recognition by the district education officer after finding them to be working in accordance with the norms and standards specified under the Right to Education (RTE) Act.

Toddlers relish monsoon delicacies
Mohali, July 30
In order to develop their intelligence, the little ones of St Soldier School were engaged in a number of activities related to monsoon. The fun-filled activities started on July 25 with the Blue Day celebrations. Toddlers attired in blue dresses were engaged in activities like paper folding, puddle play and floating paper boats.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

New Civil Surgeon takes over amid controversy
Fatehgarh Sahib, July 30
Dr Jagpal Singh, who had been working as the Deputy Medical Commissioner at local Civil Hospital joined as the new Civil Surgeon of Fatehgarh Sahib here today in place of Dr. Jai Singh. Dr. Jai Singh was caught red-handed by the Vigilance Bureau while accepting bribe from Ajmer Singh president District Sweet Maker's Association.

Doorstep service for taxpayers
Fatehgarh Sahib, July 30
Inspite of inclement weather long queues of taxpayers were witnessed at the kiosk set up by the income tax department at Sirhind town here today. Hundreds of tax payers particularly employees turned up in large number to deposit their tax returns at the Kiosk.

25-year-old youth dies on his birthday
Ambala, July 30
A 25-year-old youth lost his life after he bumped his head into a pillar as his bike jumped off due to an unmarked speed breaker here last night. The youth has been identified as Saras Sharma. Saras, who was returning home after celebrating his 25th birthday, became the victim of an unmarked speed breaker on the Ambala-Hisar road.

Illegal construction on choe
Dera Bassi, July 30
Residents of some villages near Lalru have expressed fear of flood due to the illegal constructions on the beds of choes here. Along with other illegal constructions, a brick kiln owner has constructed a bridge on the choe, which falls between the Aganpur and Gholumajra link road. The bridge was constructed for an easy access to his Aggarwal BKO Aganpur, brick kiln without any permission of drainage and other concerned department.

An illegal construction on bed of choe at Aganpur village near Lalru. photo by writer

‘Empower youth to promote national integration’
Patiala, July 30
While delivering the first “Sadhbhavna” lecture at the local Khalsa College here today, Baltej Singh Mann, Professor and Head of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur National Integration Chair at Punjabi University, Patiala, emphasised the need for educating and empowering the youth to promote national integration in India.

Youth held for raping minor, sent to judicial remand
Kalka, July 30
A youth was arrested today for raping a minor girl, who is slum dweller of Bharon Ki Ser village adjacent to Kalka. The police sources confirmed that Ankush, father of the victim, has lodged a complaint in the police station that Dev Anand, his neighbor has repeatedly been raping his minor girl for the past more than six months on the pretext that he would marry her.

One dies as truck rams into grocery shop
Dera Bassi, July 30
One person was crushed to death while an engineering student sustained severe injuries after an uncontrolled truck rammed into a grocery shop, situated at Malakpur village on the Lalru-Handesra road, here this evening. The injured student had been shifted to the PGI, Chandigarh, from Lalru where his condition is said to be critical.

COURTS

Murder in sector 22
Court extends custody of accused
Chandigarh, July 30
A local court today extended the police custody of two accused, Sanchit Verma and Nazir Khan, arrested for murder in Sector 22. The two accused will now be produced in the court on August 2. Kailash Chand, a shopkeeper, was shot dead at his shop in Sector 22 on July 26 while his brother and servant were seriously injured.

CRIME

PUSU state ‘president’ held for involvement in shootouts
Mohali, July 30
The Mohali police today arrested the main accused, Baljit Chaudhary, of the three shootout cases in Mohali and two in Chandigarh. Chaudhary (about 35) claimed to be state president of Panjab University Students Union (PUSU) and was the main hitman in the five shootouts, involving groups of the PU students.

Gang of vehicle thieves busted, 3 held
Chandigarh, July 30
The UT Police today busted a gang of vehicle thieves who used to target vehicles of couples hanging out in parks and gardens of the city and steal their two-wheelers. The police has recovered nine motorcycles and one car from their possession. It arrested Mandeep Sharma, Dharambir Singh, both residents of Kansal village, Mohali district, and Vikas, a resident of Mohali.

The accused in police custody in Chandigarh on Monday. Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari

Two more eve-teasers held
Mohali, July 30 The local police claimed to have arrested two more accused in the Kurali eve-teasing case here today.

Clash leaves eight injured
Chandigarh, July 30
Eight persons sustained injuries following a violent clash in Daddu Majra Colony late last night. The police has registered a cross case on the complaint of both the parties. Four persons, including a woman, were arrested for the attack and efforts are on to arrest the remaining accused.

Doctor’s bike stolen
Chandigarh, July 30
A bike belonging to a junior resident doctor was stolen from the PGI today. Dr Munish Rohila, junior resident, pathology department, PGI, Chandigarh, reported that someone had stolen his motorcycle from the parking lot near Research Block ‘A’ on the intervening night of July 17 and 18. A case of theft has been registered at the Sector 1 police station. TNS

SPORTS

BILLIARDS TOURNEY
Sumit outdoes Rajat to win first tournament
Chandigarh, July 30
Billards player, Sumit Talwar won the first tournament of The Pro Circuit League 6 tournament series, held last night. In a well-contested final match, he defeated Rajat Khaneja 3-2 with the highest break of 63.

Local football team emerge victorious
Chandigarh, July 30
Brining laurels to City Beautiful, the local football team bagged the title of Bajaj Allianz All-India Junior Football Tournament, at Pune, here today. The team, while playing under the supervision of Gurpreet Bedi won their maiden title after defeating Kerala Komets by 1-0.Surash Singh ensured team’s victory.

Mohd Hassan, Farheen bag titles in carrom tournament
Chandigarh, July 30
Carrom players, Mohd Hassan and Farheen of St Stephen’s School bagged the Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles titles, respectively, in the 15th St Stephen’s Carrom Ranking tournament concluded, here today. Hassan defeated Gagandeep in straight two games by 23-11, 22-19 while Farheen outclassed her sister Tuba in a three games set.

A player aims at a shot during the carrom competition at St Stephen’s School, Sector 45, in Chandigarh on Monday. tribune photo: manoj mahajan

8-wicket win for Satluj team
Panchkula, July 30
In the ongoing Satluj Champions trophy for boys (U-14), the host team defeated Saupin’s School, Sector 32, by 8 wickets, here today.

Nishant bags gold in tae kwon do
Chandigarh, July 30
Nishant Jaggal, a Class IX student of Manav Mangal High School, Sector 21, has won a gold medal in tae kwon do in the U-14 category during a state-level championship being held at the skating rink in Sector 10 here. — TNS