Jalandhar, November 14
As many as 17 fire incidents were reported in the city on Divali. However, no loss of life was reported in these incidents.

On Divali, the city Fire Department had made elaborate arrangements to tackle fire incidents. Fire officials claimed that in majority of the incidents, fire rescue teams reached the spot on time and doused the flames.

Out of these 17 incidents, seven incidents were declared major by the Fire Department. In majority of the incidents, fire was triggered by sparks of crackers. In one of the incidents, the roof of a house collapsed due to fire.

A fire official revealed that the first incident of fire was reported from Ladowali Road where a shop, Julka Spare Parts, was gutted. In the second incident, fire engulfed a garment godown, Sumit Sales and Private Limited, in MBD Market where clothes worth several lakhs of rupees and some other valuables were gutted.

In Tagore Nagar, a Honda City car caught fire after sparks of a cracker reportedly fell on it.

In one of the frightening incidents, the roof of a house at Jagatpura collapsed after some waste material lying on the roof caught fire. However, no loss of life was reported. A fire official said the roof collapsed due to the fire because it was already in a dilapidated state.

In Udhey Nagar, a junk dealer shop was destroyed in a fire after a burning cracker fell on the junk stocks inside the shop.

In another major fire incident at Sudama Market, a stock of stubble lying on the back of the shops caught fire due to the sparks of a cracker. Had the fire rescue team not reached the spot on time, fire could have engulfed the numbers of fruit shops near the spot.

At Sagwal village, near Kishangarh, a huge stock of fodder lying in an open plot caught fire. A fire official claimed that the fire could have engulfed the scores of houses located near the plot if the villagers and fire team had collectively not doused the flames.

Some minor fire incidents also took place in the city, in which no major loss was reported. Minor fire incidents took place at Balmiki Gate, Basti Nou, Cheema Nagar, Suchi Pind and Damoria Nagar.

Fire officials alleged that fake calls had also kept them on their toes. "After receiving any fire call, whenever we called back on the same number to confirm the incident, the phone was found switched off.

Jalandhar, November 14
In the murder case of a labourer, who was done to death yesterday at Sarai Khas village, near here, the Maqsoodan police today claimed to have nabbed three youths. Old enmity was said to be the cause behind the crime.

The deceased was identified as Jagtar Singh (30), alias Pardhani, resident of Sarai Khas village, near here. The accused have been identified as Gopi, Sanjeev and Sunny, also resident of the same village.

Police sources said the trio had hacked Jagtar to death in the wee hours on Monday. They had attacked him with sharp-edged weapons and Jagtar sustained serious injuries. He was immediately taken to the Civil Hospital, where he succumbed to the injuries last morning.

The police said acting on a tip off, a naka was laid on the Amanatpur road and after intercepting the accused, the trio was nabbed. The police later also recovered two sharp-edged weapons (kirpans) from the accused.

During interrogation, the accused revealed to the police they had hacked Jagtar to death due to their old rivalry with him. Sources confirmed that the deceased and the accused had clashed with each other several times in the recent past.

A Maqsoodan police official said a case under Section 302 of the IPC was registered.

Jalandhar, November 14
High charges of the change of land use (CLU) and development fees fixed by the Punjab Government as per its new policy last week have come as a bolt from the blue for majority of the marriage palace owners in the district and its satellite towns.

Members of a local marriage palace owners' association have plans to hold a meeting on the issue tomorrow. The palace owners are contemplating over the issue of forming a delegation for holding talks with the officials concerned and government representatives demanding slashing of the amount.

Ranbir Tut, president of a local association of marriage palace owners, says, "If the state government goes ahead with its plans of charging an amount of Rs 40 lakh per acre from owners having palaces on national, state or scheduled roads, and Rs 28 lakh per acre from those owning palaces on other roads, over 50 per cent palace owners in Jalandhar are likely to shut their operations."

He claims, "Many palace owners are farmers who somehow had their fields on the main road, which they converted into palace after taking loans. Even if they go ahead with the policy and get the amount financed, they will not be able to repay loan for another 10 years or so."

Prabhjot Singh Sidhu, secretary of the association and owner of Balle Balle Farms, too, claimed that theamount being claimed by the government was far too high. "If the government continues on its stand, many small palaces will get shut down. Hundreds of daily wagers will lose their livelihood. The palace owners, who would be able to continue, will then have to jack up their prices, charging a higher amount from their clientele," he said, adding that meetings were on with government officials on the matter.

The owner of Royal Retreat, a palace on Tajpur Road, DS Sodhi, claims, "I have not yet made up my mind on the issue. I will discuss it with the association and plan accordingly."

Jalandhar, November 14
Punjabis love to fly and they don’t mind spending a small fortune to air-borne even if it is a 10-minute flight over a city like Jalandhar or Phagwara.

This can be gauged from the fact that ‘City View’, a city-based helicopter service, introduced for the first time in Punjab at Jalandhar and Phagwara, got an overwhelming response. The service has been launched by Aeroxperts, a private aircraft company.

The company, which has started the service with a six-seater Bell-407 helicopter by converting sprawling lawns of Phagwara-based Cabbana Resorts into a make-shift helipad, has drawn a huge response for its 10-minute copter sojourn, aimed at providing people with a better overview of Jalandhar and Phagwara towns.

“It is thrilling to have an aerial view of the city. I had never thought that Jalandhar looked so beautiful from the sky,” said a mesmerised traveller after enjoying the ride along with his family.

“A lot of people are coming forward with queries about the flight. We did not expect that people of Punjab would be so crazy about air travel. We have launched this service in Jalandhar and Phagwara on an experimental basis. We have a permission to continue with our ‘City Flights’ till November 20,” said Capt Manish Dhiman, managing director of Aeroxperts.

Sudhanshu Rajhans, assistant general manager of Phagwara-based Cabbana Resorts, said so far the service was operating on a day-to-day permission from the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) and aviation authorities.

“Initially, we had planned to start the flight from November 10. But due to some technical reasons, we could start it only on Divali day. Though people can enjoy the flight till November 20, it could be extended if the aviation authorities extend the permission and we get the same response,” said Sudhanshu Rajhans.

Manoj Chodha, managing director of Cabbana Resorts, said the flight was a joint venture between Cabbana Resorts and Aeroxperts. “The flight has turned out to be a centre of attraction for people of the Doaba region, particularly for kids and teenagers. Anybody can travel on an airplane simply by buying tickets but enjoying a ride on a helicopter is a different experience altogether. People have a sense of exclusivity when they board a helicopter. They don’t mind spending Rs 3,500 for enjoying an aerial view of the city for 10 minutes,” said Chodha.

He said if the response from public remained like this, the hotel could even buy its own helicopter to provide the service. He said Jalandhar Doordarshan tower - a major city landmark on Nakodar road - was the most admired icon among travellers. “The idea of a helicopter flight came to us from a similar service operating at Niagra Falls in Canada,” said Chodha.

A lot of people are coming forward with queries about the flight. We did not expect that people of Punjab would be so crazy about air travel. We have launched this service in Jalandhar and Phagwara on an experimental basis.
— Capt Manish Dhiman, MD, Aeroxperts

The flight has turned out to be a centre of attraction for people of the Doaba region, particularly for kids and teenagers. Anybody can travel on an airplane by buying tickets but enjoying a ride on a helicopter is a different experience altogether. They don’t mind spending Rs 3,500 for enjoying an aerial view of the city for 10 minutes.
— Manoj Chodha, MD, Cabbana Resorts

Jalandhar, November 14
If Delhi has got smog, Jalandhar, too, isn't really famous for sparkling clean skies. On Divali night this year, not a single star was visible in the fireworks-lit Jalandhar sky.

But the consolation this year was that even as people burst crackers with aplomb, there were many who stuck to a clean, green Divali mantra and celebrated Divali with plants, lit candles and ate sweets giving crackers a miss.

The effect could clearly be seen in much reduced cracker activity in the city compared to previous years.

The change has been brought in the recent years, as the pollution monster has spread its tentacles and respiratory problems have mounted. Nature lovers are slowly growing up to the joys of a cracker-free Divali.

The no-to-crackers agenda works with organisations as well as the common man. One of the strongest votaries for a cracker-free Divali in Punjab is environmentalist Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal. His influence can be gauged by the fact that no crackers were burnt by majority of the people in about 12 villages adjoining Seechewal village this year, owing to a call given by Sant Seechewal to give up crackers.

Villages of Seechewal, Nihaluwal, Talwandi Madho, Muridwal, Chak Chela, Fauji Colony, Saroopwal, among others, abstained from bursting crackers this year.

People in these villages celebrated Divali by lighting thousands of diyas along the banks of the Kali Bein.

About 1,000 students of Sant Avtar Singh Yadgari College and School (collectively) in Seechewal did not burst crackers this year.

Gurwinder Singh of Ahmedpur village said, “We gave up bursting crackers in 2004. In our village 70 per cent of the people have given up bursting crackers going by the call by Baba Seechewal. He has told us that bursting crackers is almost akin to burning currency notes. On top of it, the environment gets polluted and both flora and fauna are harmed. Baba ji distributes plants among us on Divali and we plant them."

The growing takers for a cracker-free Divali abound in the city too.

Balbir Singh, an employee with the Railways said, "I have always been very afraid of bursting crackers. People have been blinded and lost hands due to cracker bursting. It is also very polluting. So I had told my family we will not burst crackers. So neither my wife, nor my son burst crackers on Divali. People in our colony do, but we like an unpolluted Divali.”

Dr Balvir Hastir of the Rotary International sent out a message for a clean, green Divali to his fellow members of the club, many of whom abstained from bursting crackers this year.

Talking to The Tribune, Dr Hastir said, "Crackers give rise to allergies, bronchitis and accidents. This year we had been advocating planting of trees months before Divali. If people can't find any other reason for giving up crackers, saving money might just be a strong reason to pursue them. You can buy double the plants in half the money that it takes to buy crackers. Planting is cheap, it is eco-friendly and it makes your surroundings look good. So why opt for crackers and burn hands."

Dr SPS Grover said, “In 1967-68 when I was in the fourth standard, students of our class suffered grievous injuries due to crackers on Divali. That year our teacher had made us swear that we will not burst crackers. Somehow, the habit stuck and I never burst crackers again. But back then we had never realised that bursting crackers would have such serious repercussions on the environment too."

Jalandhar November 14
The city has reported over 25 snatching incidents in the last two and a half months. In majority of the incidents, women remained the main target of the criminals.

Apart from snatching cash, gold jewellery and other valuables, interestingly, the snatchers had not even spared pets. In some of the recent incidents, motorcycle-borne snatchers had attempted to snatch dogs from residents.

In September, over 12 incidents of snatching took place followed by eight in October and five in the running month.

Surprisingly, the snatchers did not even spare the police. On September 9, a woman Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) was injured after two motorcycle-borne snatchers attempted to snatch her purse. Similarly, on October 15, the wife of an Inspector-rank official was targeted by snatchers, but they could not succeed in their attempt.

Sources claimed that on October 1, two motorcycle-borne youths snatched a dog from a girl. Similarly, on November 4, two motorcycle-borne youths attempted to snatch a dog from a man, Raffi, of Leather Complex here. Raffi had sustained serious injuries in his stomach.

A police official said snatching was a crime which could not be prevented by the police alone and the support of local residents was must to tackle this.

Notably, the city police has nabbed several snatchers and the reason for committing these crime, which the criminals revealed to the police, was their addiction to drugs.

Jalandhar, November 14
A persistent effort on the part of the educational institutes and social organisations against the bursting of crackers on Divali night perhaps had only a little impact on the minds of city residents.

While there was a minimal bursting of crackers till a day ahead of Divali, the bursting of highly polluting crackers, including flower pots, multiple shots and rockets, made the night sky yesterday much smoky.

SP Garg, Superintending Engineer, Punjab Pollution Control Board, said, "We had stationed our equipment for checking the levels of respirable particulate matter at three different locations, including near the Civil Hospital and ESI Hospital, Nakodar Chowk and Gazigulla. The report of the same would be available after analysis on Monday."

The SE said a test for noise pollution, too, was conducted, the report of which would be available tomorrow.

Jalandhar, November 14
Divali and Children's Day were celebrated in the primary section of Apeejay School, Model Town. An assembly was conducted by teachers. Fancy dress competition was organised for class I and II. Children were made aware of the hazards of bursting crackers without parental guidance. They were encouraged to celebrate a safe and cracker-free divali.

DIPS, Urban Estate, Phase I

DIPS, Urban Estate, Phase I, organised a special assembly on the occasion of Children's Day. The assembly was conducted by Sapphire House. The director, Chain of DIPS Institutions, and vice-principal were accorded a floral welcome. The programme began with a speech by Aryan of Grade VIII. Veni recited a poem, Lovepreet and his group presented song "Taare zammen par". A group dance on "Chak dhum dhum" also mesmerised all. Fun games like musical chair, riddles, tongue-twisters and general awareness questions about school were organised for children.

The director praised the assembly. She lauded the efforts of Sapphire House.

Jalandhar, November 14
The Centre for Human Rights Initiative, Training and Research Association (CHITRA) celebrated Divali with the inmates of Guru Nanak Anath Ashram.

Members of CHITRA distributed sweets, fruits, candles and phuljharis among over 100 inmates of the ashram situated on the outskirts of the city.

Convener of CHITRA for Punjab and Chandigarh, SK Kapoor said, “The idea is to send the message out to let people know that Divali light must reach these forgotten corners of our society. We wish more and more people come out and do the same."

The adults and children of the ashram took part in the celebrations with much enthusiasm. Co-convenor of CHITRA Kulwant Singh Nagra also interacted with all of them.