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Fire safety a casualty in nursing homes
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Muktsar farmers set record
Paddy not to be allocated to defaulting rice mills
Punsup suspends district manager for pilferage
BJP asks Sukhbir for a concrete proposal on FDI
Vinod Khanna, Salaria eye LS ticket
Why are meters out of stock, PowerCom asked
No housing project on Ludhiana Metro route
Panel on subsidy bill yet to be notified
Crumbling heritage
Excise staff observe black day
Two-day mega medical camp at Badal village
Slain gangster's father to move rights
panel
Lakhan Majra rly station to be commissioned today
Efforts to stop female foeticide
HC sets aside suspension of two panchayat members
Gang of highway robbers busted
NRI held with 3 kg heroin at Amritsar airport
Newborn kept in mortuary, dies
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Fire safety a casualty in nursing homes
Ludhiana, September 26 A quick survey of fire safety measures in health institutions of the city revealed nursing homes with in-patient facilities were ignorant of even basic fire safety norms. At some of these health centres, even standard firefighting equipment was either missing or non-functional. At least three nursing homes, one each in the old city and Civil Lines and one on the Pakhowal Road, fire extinguishers were bearing expiry date and staff members had little or no knowledge of firefighting. Hospitals better off However, a majority of hospitals are well equipped to deal with any fire related emergency. "We have nearly 500 fire extinguishers, besides a good number of hydrants and an overhead water tank to deal with fire incidents," said Hemant Ohri, head of fire safety at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH). SPS Apollo Hospitals claims to have state-of-the-art equipment and trained staff as far as fire safety is concerned. "The hospital has smoke and heat sensors, a sprinkler system, hydrants, fire extinguishers and trained staff," said DGM (Projects) Shubhkaram Singh Sidhu. “Sufficient fire extinguishers are available at the hospital. Besides, the staff has been trained in basics of firefighting and dealing with emergencies," said AG Isaiah, General Superintendent at Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH). Dr Karamvir Goyal, Senior Medical Officer of the Civil Hospital, made similar claims. KL Kakkar, Fire Safety Officer, Municipal Fire Brigade, said all hospitals had to obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the fire department which was renewed every year. On fire safety measures in private nursing homes, he said, no mechanism was in place to enforce regulatory measures. "We carry out inspections regularly, but staff shortage comes in the way of extensive coverage," he added. Patiala hospitals no better Even three years after six infants were charred to death when a phototherapy unit at the Government Rajindra Hospital caught fire, the hospital still lacks fire safety measures. Though the nursery has been reconstructed, one can still see loose electricity wires hanging all over. Besides, the ward does not have a firefighting system. College principal Dr KD Singh claimed the hospital had already installed a firefighting system in many wards. A senior doctor at Mata Kaushalya Hospital said Taking stock In most of the health centres, even standard firefighting equipment is either missing or non-functional Fire extinguishers have passed the expiry date and staff members have little or no knowledge of firefighting measures Official word No mechanism is in place to enforce regulatory measures in nursing homes. We carry out inspections on a regular basis, but staff shortage comes in the way of extensive coverage — KL Kakkar, Fire Safety Officer
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Muktsar farmers set record
Muktsar, September 26 District Agriculture Officer Beant Singh said 50 farmers of the village had sown the paddy directly. He said it all happened due to the progressive approach of farmer Ravinder Singh
Brar, who took the initiative of directly sowing paddy three years ago.
"Ravinder not only saved money on plantation, but also obtained more yield than those who had adopted the conventional transplantation method. This motivated others to follow
suit." Brar said he started sowing paddy directly in 2010 and got handsome results. "A number of people from the village and nearby villages approached me to learn about the advantages and disadvantages of direct sowing." He said this year he had directly sown paddy over 25 acres and the yield had increased by two quintals per acre. "This saved almost 50 per cent water besides Rs 5,000 per acre as input cost," he said. Agriculture Department officials said they had sown basmati directly on 25 acres of land in the district and obtained good results.
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Paddy not to be allocated to defaulting rice mills
Chandigarh, September 26 Officially, the procurement of paddy, which is likely to be close to 125 lakh tonne against the arrangement made by the government for 150 lakh this year, would begin on October 1. But the arrival of paddy is likely to pick up after October 15. Transplantation of paddy was delayed this time because of a dry spell in June-July. “Already, 2,100 rice mills have shelled more than 70 per cent of the paddy given to them last year and deposited the rice in the central pool. By October 15, about 500 more rice mills are expected to achieve the 70 per cent target,” said a senior official of the Food and Supplies Department. However, there are more than 3,450 functional rice mills in the state. “We have decided not to allocate paddy to those mills which will default on milling of 70 per cent of the paddy given last year by October 15,” said the official. Moreover, this year, mills will be allocated paddy against a bank guarantee and there won't be joint custody of the paddy stacked at the mills. An official said a mill with one tonne milling capacity would be allocated 3,000 tonne paddy for milling against a bank guarantee of Rs 30 lakh. Earlier, such guarantee was negligible and there were several instances of pilferage of paddy before shelling, thus leading to lot of litigation and registration of fraud cases. Earlier, the paddy stacked at the mills used to be in the joint custody of the mill owner and staff of the government procurement agency. However, this year, the official said, it had been decided that the paddy would be in sole custody of the miller and staff of procurement agencies would conduct the physical verification of stock at regular intervals and report shortage, if any is found. In case staff members fail to report the detected shortage of stock, action would be taken against them. Obviously, in case of any fraud, bank guarantee would be encashed accordingly.
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Punsup suspends district manager for pilferage
Chandigarh, September 26 The suspension and transfer come a day after a detailed report of preliminary inquiries on pilferage and charges of illegalities was carried in the Tribune. Confirming the development, Capt (retd) PS Shergill, the Managing Director, said Harveet Singh Sehgal, District Manager of Nawanshahr, had been suspended and SS Pandher, Regional Manager of Sangrur, had been issued orders for transfer to the headquarters. The department has submitted the entire case findings to the Vigilance department for booking the guilty. Harveet Singh Sehgal has been suspended for allegedly asking his staff members to pay money for greasing palms of senior officers. The matter cropped up at a meeting of the district managers in the headquarters recently. The DM named two officials for indulging in corruption. The MD ordered immediate suspension of both the employees, after which he interfered again and said that "actually, only one was corrupt". After the orders for suspension of the employees concerned, staff at the centre came to the headquarters and complained against the MD, wondering how he was asking them to raise money for officers in the headquarters. Following a complaint by the staff members, a formal inquiry was ordered by the MD, which found the DM guilty on several counts. A detailed report has been submitted to the Vigilance Bureau office. The Sangrur regional manager has been summoned to the headquarters to avoid his interference in an ongoing inquiry into pilferage at his centre, said Captain Shergill. Millers in Lehragaga had alleged they were being charged Rs one as “special fee”. A large number of sacks buried in the back rows were highly underweight and were allegedly siphoned off. Staff members had complained that Inspector Vikramjit Singh openly asked for money from millers and even asked them to generate funds to be paid to the Regional Manager.
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Rahul’s 2-day Punjab visit from October 10
Chandigarh, September 26 Sources said Rahul is keen on a first-hand feedback on the reasons for the party’s defeat. He also wants to gauge the mood of party workers. Youth Congress leaders are reportedly demanding a share in the allocation of the party ticket as had been done during the last elections. Among the claimants is former minister Gurchet Bhullar’s son Sukhpal Bhullar from the Khadur Sahib constituency. Announcing the visit today, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Capt Amarinder Singh said during his visit to the three cities, Rahul would interacte with a cross-section of people, including party workers, office-bearers, Members of Parliament, legislators and those who had unsuccessfully contested the assembly and parliamentary elections in 2009 and 2012, respectively. The Pradesh Congress president said ahead of the Congress general secretary’s visit, he had constituted a state-level committee that would be headed by him. He had also set up three separate committees for Amritsar, Jalandhar and Patiala headed by senior leaders Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, Choudhary Jagjit Singh and Laal Singh, respectively.
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BJP asks Sukhbir for a concrete proposal on FDI
Chandigarh, September 26 Adviser to the Chief Minister and BJP general secretary Kamal Sharma said the BJP was ready to examine any concrete proposal put forward by the Deputy CM. He said the proposal would be forwarded to the party high command which would take a final decision on the matter. Sharma claimed that too much was being read into Sukhbir's recent statement that the SAD would welcome FDI in case a national consensus was evolved on the issue. "There is no question of a national consensus on this matter," he said. Sharma denied that the position of Punjab farmers was any different from those in the rest of the country, adding the party was equally concerned about the welfare of state farmers. It seems the issue of FDI is becoming a political one with the SAD and BJP both keen to safeguard their vote bank. While the BJP is clearly against FDI because small traders comprise its vote bank, the SAD finds itself in a quandary because it has both pro and anti-FDI lobbies in the party. While a large number of SAD MLAs representing the farmers are in favour of FDI, there is an anti-FDI lobby headed by candidates representing the trading class who were elected on the SAD ticket for the first time. Sukhbir, who wants the SAD to be a secular party with little reliance on the BJP, cannot afford to ignore the voice of these MLAs. Sukhbir is accordingly toeing a middle path, indicating to farmers that he is essentially in favour of FDI but making it clear that it should be implemented only if the Centre takes the BJP on board. Party officials as well as SAD ministers and even the State Mandi Board chief are making pro-FDI noises to send the "right" signal to retailers who might want to invest in the state. This means retail into the state could be encouraged indirectly. Retailers can set up shop in Ludhiana under the present guidelines approved by the Centre in case the state approves of the same.
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Vinod Khanna, Salaria eye LS ticket
Pathankot, September 26 The event will be an opportunity for ticket aspirants to showcase their political skills in the runup to the General Election. Pathankot falls in the Gurdaspur parliamentary seat and has a sizeable BJP vote bank. State BJP president Ashwani Sharma had won the seat in the last assembly elections by more than 40,000 votes. Three-time Gurdaspur Member of Parliament Vinod Khanna will be trying to gain a foothold in the party rank and file as his prolonged absence from the constituency during his term as MP is being questioned by many of his detractors. The film star was in the twin towns of Gurdaspur and Pathankot in July but leaders like BJP national executive member Swaran Salaria and Ashwani Sharma distanced themselves from his visit. "This was a clear indication that the actor was not welcome in this constituency because for the last several years he has remained incommunicado from the masses," remarked a New Delhi-based BJP leader. On the other hand, Swaran Salaria, who has the backing of a powerful lobby within the BJP in New Delhi, has been actively nurturing the constituency. He had played a key role in the last assembly elections by helping Seema Devi, Dinesh Babbu and Ashwani Sharma win from the Bhoa, Sujanpur and Pathankot Vidhan Sabha seats. Political observers say without Salaria's help, the BJP could not have won these seats. Former Minister Master Mohan Lal, who was denied the party ticket in the last assembly elections allegedly by his bete noire Ashwani Sharma is also in contention and is said to be re-working his contacts in the BJP and the RSS to stage a comeback. The other ticket contender is educationist SK Punj whose proximity to RSS Sarsanghachalak Mohan Bhagwat is well known. Prominent among others expected to attend the rally are Navjot Sidhu, Anurag Thakur, both Members of Parliament, and former Chairman of the Pathankot Improvement Trust Anil Vasudeva. Party insiders claim that if senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley decides to contest from Amritsar, Sidhu may be shifted to the Gurdaspur seat. This development may well change the political permutations and combinations in the party as it may mean curtains for some top stalwarts eyeing the Gurdaspur seat. The Contenders Three-time Gurdaspur MP Vinod Khanna will be trying to gain a foothold in the party rank and file His prolonged absence from the constituency as MP is being questioned by his detractors Swaran Salaria has the backing of a powerful lobby within the BJP in New Delhi He had played a key role in the victories of BJP candidates from the Bhoa, Sujanpur and Pathankot asembly seats
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Why are meters out of stock, PowerCom asked
Patiala, September 26 A retired Superintending Engineer of the erstwhile Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), Gurnek Singh Brar, filed the petition. PSERC has further instructed the Power Corporation to send an advance copy of the reply to the petitioner. The petition will come up for hearing on October 10. As per the copy of the petition, Brar has stated that PSPCL has failed to ensure adequate stock of single phase meters, which has directly affected its service. There has been a delay in releasing new connections and replacing defective meters. The petitioner has further stated that not only were the consumers being harassed but the corporation was also incurring financial loss because of the unrestricted power consumption by consumers whose faulty meters hadn't been replaced.
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No housing project on Ludhiana Metro route
Chandigarh, September 26 He said the letter had been written after it was reported that a housing project was going to be approved in the area earmarked for the metro route. There are two corridors of the metro project. One is from the Ayalli Chowk to BBMB power house and the other is from Gill Road to Rahon Road, octroi post. The land for the project will be provided free of cost by the state government.
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Panel on subsidy bill yet to be notified
Chandigarh, September 26 Sukhbir had at a cabinet meeting on August 28 asked ministers Parminder Singh Dhindsa and Madan Mohan Mittal to rationalise the fat agriculture power bill and ensure that free power was being used for agricultural purposes alone. He had asked them to hold a meeting in this regard at the earliest. But the committee has not been able to meet as it has yet to be notified. Finance Minister Dhindsa said: " We have not been able to hold a meeting as the committee exists only on paper. As such, the meeting will have no sanctity." The committee was asked to suggest ways to reduce the agricultural subsidy bill which has risen to Rs 5,700 crore from Rs 2,600 crore five years ago. The BJP had been alleging that power meant for the farm sector is not being accounted for properly.
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Crumbling heritage
Sangrur, September 26 The 14 samadhis are over 125 years old and include those of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's maternal grandfather Maharaja Gajpat Singh and maternal uncle Maharaja Bhag Singh, rulers of the erstwhile Jind State. These samadhis are located inside the 'Shahi Samadhan' complex outside Nabha Gate here. It also has the samadhis of other rulers of erstwhile Jind State, Maharaja Fateh Singh, Maharaja Sangat Singh, Maharaja Sarup Singh, Maharaja Raghubir Singh, Maharaja Ranbir Singh and Maharaja Rajbir Singh. Since the samadhis haven't been looked after, they are slowly crumbling with time. The writings etched in stone at the complex are illegible, the paintings on the wall have faded away and most of the samadhis are covered in overgrowth and debris. The government had taken an initiative to renovate the complex with the Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board in January, 2011, inviting different firms to develop Sangrur as a tourist destination. The government had announced an amount of about Rs 1.10 crore to renovate 'Shahi Samadhan". But so far no such initiative has been taken by the government.
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Excise staff observe black day
Chandigarh, September 26 AK Sharma, Chandigarh Zone President, All India Association of Central Excise Gazetted and Non-Gazetted Executive Officers, said cadre restructuring was the only way to provide relief to staff struggling for a promotion for decades. Sharma said the association had raised the issue of the dwindling number of promotions since a directly recruited Inspector was getting promoted just once throughout his service of more than 30 years. He said similarly placed Income tax Inspectors were getting four to five promotions in the same period. Sharma also demanded the removal of anomalies in the 6th pay commission report. —TNS
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Two-day mega medical camp at Badal village
Bathinda, September 26 Figures compiled by the Population-Based Cancer Registry cell of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) shows that in all, 63 cases of caner were reported at the camp. The test samples of 57 other patients were under examination. Principal Investigator of the Cancer Registry cell, Dr Manjit Singh Bal, said the number was significant. " But more than the number, it was the range of cancers that is disturbing. With all kinds of cancer cases reported, it is difficult to say what is causing cancer in the area," he said. Of the 63 cases reported at the camp, 44 were women-19 had breast cancer and13 cancer of the cervix. The rest of the patients, men and women, had cancer in the lungs, kidneys, brain, mouth, stomach, nasopharynx, neck, lymph nodes, rectum etc "If water is the problem, then more cases of stomach and intestinal cancer should have been reported," he observed. An oncologist said: "Water and air pollution can't be ignored.Neither can the indiscriminate use of pesticides and fertilisers." Almost all age groups were found to be afflicted with cancer.The youngest patient at the camp was a 10-year-old boy of Karniwal village, who was suffering from brain tumour.The oldest was a 70-year-old woman, sources said. Stats say it all Of the 63 cases reported at the camp, 44 were women 19 of them had breast cancer and13 cancer of the cervix The rest of the patients, men and women, had cancer in the lungs, kidneys, brain, mouth, stomach, nasopharynx, neck, lymph nodes, rectum etc Almost all age groups were found to be afflicted with cancer The youngest patient at the camp was a 10-year-old boy of Karniwal village, who had brain tumour The oldest was a 70-year-old woman
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Slain gangster's father to move rights
panel
Chandigarh, September 26 He said he was not satisfied with the manner in which the case was handled and presented before the
PHRC. "We are left with no choice but to approach the commission," he
said. Sukhchain Singh Gill, the SSP, has communicated to the PHRC that the district police had constituted a special committee under the supervision of SP (Detective) Amarjit Singh to carry out a separate investigation. The commission has now sought a report from Home Department. The SSP had said in his report: "On September 6, a police party intercepted a vehicle driven by Shera in Kamla Nehru Colony. A girl was sitting next to him. Shera tried to flee. When the policemen blocked their way, the girl shouted 'open fire and get the car out of here'. Shera then opened fire on the policemen, who retaliated and killed the gangster on the spot". The Bathinda police had pointed out that Gurshahid Singh alias Shera was one of the most wanted criminals in the state. He was wanted in 11 different cases of murder, robbery, kidnappings and extortion.
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Lakhan Majra rly station to be commissioned today
New Delhi, September 26 The building of the station at Lakhan Majra is envisaged to provide rail connectivity to public across eight villages - Bahasi, Kherak, Gugaheri, Nandakheri, Chiri, Poli, Indergarh and Lakhan Majra - having a population density of nearly one lakh along the railway track between Karainthi-Kilazafargarh section of the Delhi-Bathinda rail route. Six passenger trains will be provided a halt of one minute each at Lakhan Majra station. The train services are Rohtak-Jind passenger, Delhi-Ferozepur passenger, Delhi-Jakhal passenger, Jind-Delhi passenger and Jakhal-Delhi passenger. A senior official of the Northern Railway said Lakhan Majra station had been constructed following demands of locals. The station has two rail-level platforms of 400-metre length each, and has passenger amenities like water and toilet facilities.
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Efforts to stop female foeticide
Chandigarh, September 26 Under this model, the district administration adopted a carrot and stick policy. Besides, an intensive anti-female foeticide drive was undertaken by Upkar Coordination Society, an NGO. Every single village in the district was covered and a track of all pregnant women, especially those already with girls, kept with the help of a specially developed computer software. The model was upgraded under the "Mother and Child Tracking System" and applied all over Punjab. The "tracking system" lays emphasis on "early registration of pregnancy to track down every pregnant woman till the time of delivery". The pregnant women "in the second trimester are followed rigorously, if they fail to report in time at the sub-centre of the hospital concerned". Taking up the matter, a Division Bench of the High Court has ruled that the Deputy Commissioners would be "held liable for any violation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994, in their respective districts". The directions by the Bench of Justice Jasbir Singh and Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain came on a petition by Girish Memorial Charitable Trust seeking directions to the authorities concerned to take appropriate steps for stopping female foeticide. In response to an order passed by the Bench on July 19, a status report by way of an affidavit was filed by the Punjab, Director, Health Services, Dr Karanjit Singh. In the affidavit, he stated that the Nawanshahr model, prepared by then Deputy Commissioner Krishan Kumar, had been ordered to be implemented in all the districts of Punjab. Disposing of the petition, the Bench concluded: "As per the information supplied, at the sub-division level, senior medical officers and at district level, chief medical officers have been appointed as appropriate authorities. "The officers are also made personally responsible regarding implementation of the scheme. “They are supposed to undertake periodical checking to ensure strict enforcement of the provisions of the Act and shall submit fortnightly reports to the Deputy Commissioners concerned". The model A track of all pregnant women, especially those with girls, kept with the help of a specially developed computer software The "tracking system" lays emphasis on early registration of pregnancy The aim is to to track down every pregnant woman till the time of delivery Pregnant women in the second trimester are pursued rigorously if they fail to report in time at the hospital
sub-centre
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HC sets aside suspension of two panchayat members
Chandigarh, September 26 The cost is to be shared equally and recovered personally from themfor being paid to the petitioners Nirmala Devi and another. The two were elected members of the Lubana Teku Gram Panchayat in Patiala in May 2008. On March 16, 2011, the Gram Panchayat and Panchayat Officer complained to the Nabha Block Development and Panchayat Officer that they were absent during a meeting. He, in turn, forwarded the report to the Director, Panchayat. Nirmala Devi said she could not attend the meeting on January 17, 2011, as she had gone to Bhadson for her husband's checkup who had cancer. She said her husband's condition was critical and he ultimately died on September 24, 2011. The other petitioner said she could not attend the meeting because of old age though she had attended 50 gram panchayat meetings earlier. Taking up the matter, Justice Ranjit Singh observed: “Without considering this plea in a legal or sympathetic manner, the Director, Panchayat, decided to suspend the petitioners vide order dated June 14, 2012.” Setting aside the suspension orders, Justice Ranjit Singh added: “The Director or the other officials concerned ought to realise that interference by suspending or removing an elected representative is an exercise which should not be resorted to lightly…. “The officer exercising the powers has to see that the absence is without a reasonable cause... Mere absence cannot lead to suspension or removal. Only such absence which is without a reasonable cause can lead to suspension or removal…. "If the Director had applied his mind to the facts of this case, obviously he could not have been so harsh to the petitioner, whose husband was suffering from cancer and ultimately breathed his last…. “The attitude shown by the Director and upheld by the Secretary is nothing short of being inhuman, besides being illegal reflecting non-application of mind. It is an abuse of process to suppress the play of democracy at the grass root level”.
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Gang of highway robbers busted
Fatehgarh Sahib, September 26 Identified as Heera Singh alias Davinder, a resident of village Bhamarsi Bheed, the accused had murdered the victim after snatching his Innova vehicle. He has been involved in various highway robberies and murders in the state. After murdering Raj Kumar, a resident of village Bhanjal in district Una of Himachal Pradesh on July 22, 2008, he had also stolen a mobile and Rs 1,600 from the victim. Heera's other five accomplices identified as Charanjit Singh alias Channi and Aalamjit Singh, both residents of Patran, Devinder Singh of Moga, Rajvinder Singh and Ajrat Ali, both residents of Hanumangarh district in Rajasthan, had already been arrested by the police. Senior Superintendent of Police Hardyal Singh Mann informed the media here today that the CIA staff had received information that the accused Heera was lodged in Chittorgarh Jail in a case registered under Sections 391/12, 307, 336, 186 and was brought from there on a production warrant. Mann said at the investigation the accused had told the police that after murdering Raj Kumar he had shifted to Nagrana village in Sirsa district of Haryana. After his arrest by the Rajasthan police, the accused had given his address as Dashmesh Nagar, Moga. Police had also recovered a Tata Safari with a fake registration number UP 92E 5559 and its original number being UP 92E 7074. A case of theft had already been registered at Uri police station of Uttar Pradesh. The accused said he along with two other persons, who have been identified as Harbhajan Singh alias Happy, a resident of Moga and Tejinder Singh alias Mithu Lambad of Jalandhar, were involved in a number of highway robberies and murders in Punjab and Rajasthan and several cases had been registered against them in both the states. The main accused used to change his name and address frequently to dodge the police. Several cases under the Arms Act have been registered against him in Patiala, Kapurthala and
Jalandhar.
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NRI held with 3 kg heroin at Amritsar airport
Amritsar, September 26 Sarabjit, who originally hails from Gunachaur village in Nawanshahr, was boarding the Jet Airways flight for Delhi late last night when he was arrested following a tipoff. He was scheduled to fly to Toronto from Delhi. The Special Operations Cell received information that a consignment of heroin was being smuggled through Guru Ram Das International Airport at Amritsar. It shared the information with the Customs Department that launched a search operation. Heroin weighing 2.92 kg was found in the Sarabjit’s suitcase. PK Tikoo, Assistant Commissioner, said the Customs authorities also arrested Balwinder Singh of Gunachaur, who drove Sarabjit to the airport. The Customs officials got suspicious when they found a suitcase with a plywood cover. "We removed the cover to find the contraband," said Tikoo. He said Sarabjit was well-settled in Canada and it was, perhaps, the lure of easy money that had pushed him towards the illegal trade. Tikoo said he was pursuaded by Sukhi, a Canada-based notorious smuggler, to carrythe consignment to Canada in return for a handsome reward. Tikoo said Sarabjit was handed over the contraband on his way to Amritsar. Amritsar has emerged as a major transit route for smuggling heroin to European countries, say sources.
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Newborn kept in mortuary, dies
Nawanshahr, September 26 The aggrieved family has lodged a complaint against the private nursing home with Deputy Commissioner Tanu M Kashayap and SSP Dhanpret Kaur. Faqir Singh, resident of village Balakipur, has stated in his complaint that her daughter-in-law Jaspreet Kaur was on family way. She was taken to SB Nursing Home, Banga on Sunday evening. At about 9.30 pm, he was told by the nursing home staff that Jaspreet gave birth to premature male twins, who died after birth. The infants were kept in a mortuary at Dhahan Kaleran Hospital, but the next day, when the infants were taken out of the freezer of the mortuary for cremation, one of them was found to be breathing. Doctors at the Dhahan Kaleran hospital struggled for about three hours to revive the newborn but in vain, alleged Faqir Singh, adding that negligence on the part of the doctors at SB Nursing Home had led to the infant’s death. Kashyap has asked the Banga SDM Vijay Syal to conduct an inquiry. She has also directed the Civil Surgeon Dr Sondhi to constitute a medical board to ascertain the cause of the death.
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Yesterday's fire incident in the neo-natal ICU of a city hospital has once again brought to the fore the crucial aspect of preparedness of medical institutions in dealing with such eventualities.
A quick survey of fire safety measures in health institutions of the city revealed nursing homes with in-patient facilities were ignorant of even basic fire safety norms.
Muktsar, September 26
Chandigarh, September 26
Surrounded by debris with bushes growing over them, the 'Shahi
Samadhan' of Sher-e-Punjab Maharaja Ranjit Singh's close relatives are in a terrible state of neglect.
The 14 samadhis are over 125 years old and include those of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's maternal grandfather Maharaja Gajpat Singh and maternal uncle Maharaja Bhag Singh, rulers of the erstwhile Jind State.