NEIGHBOURHOOD

Woman set on fire
Husband, in-laws booked
Suman Bhatnagar

Ambala, January 1
A labourer, who was working at an under-construction house, was killed today when the shuttering of the building collapsed all of a sudden.

The deceased was identified as Ganesh Paswan, a resident of Bihar. Ganesh was reportedly removing the shuttering of a room. The shuttering collapsed all of a sudden and the labourer got buried under it.

He was rushed to the local Civil Hospital where doctors declared him brought dead. The police is investigating the matter. — OC

Dera Bassi, January 1
Burglars decamped with cash, jewellery and valuables worth lakhs of rupees from five houses at the Gupta Colony here yesterday.

Harnek Singh, a resident of the colony, said he and his wife had gone to the local electricity office when the burglars struck at their house. After returning from the market, they saw that the door lock was broken and household items were scattered in rooms. He said the estimated loss was over Rs 2 lakh. The stolen items included three gold rings, one chain and Rs 10,000 cash.

Sunil Kumar, another resident, said he had lost valuables worth over Rs 1.5 lakh, including four tola gold and silver ornaments, and Rs 10,000 cash. At the time of the incident, he was at work, while his wife and daughter had gone to the market.

Burglars decamped with valuables worth Rs 50,000 cash from another house of the colony resident.

Satish, son of Surat Ram, who runs a shop in the Dera Bassi main market, said two gold rings, Rs 6,000 cash and some other valuables were found missing from his house.

Sarup Singh, the last victim of the burglary, said a gold kara weighing nearly 3 tola, one gold ring and Rs 10,000 cash were found missing from his house.

Gurdyal Singh, SHO, Dera Bassi, said a case had been registered against unidentified thieves under Sections 457 and 380 of the IPC.

Dera Bassi, January 1
Two factory workers were killed after a machine fell on them when they were working at Prerna Steel Company situated at the Focal Point, Dera Bassi, yesterday.

One worker died on the spot, while the other succumbed to his injuries at the GMCH, Sector 32, in Chandigarh.

The deceased have been identified as Vikas Kumar and Pintu, hailing from Bihar and presently living in the town.

As per information, a part of the machine, being operated by the workers, fell on them. Pintu died on the spot, while Vikas succumbed to his injuries at the GMCH-32, Chandigarh, today.

The police has registered a case against the owner of the factory and the management under Section 304-A of the IPC.

ASI Nand Lal said the bodies of the victims would be handed over to the family after postmortem.

Chandigarh, January 1
The New Year may see robust healthcare facilities in the city. For, the recommendation of setting up a 100-bed rehabilitation centre in Chandigarh has found favour with the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The centre will not only have doctors and nurses but also physiotherapists, social workers and psychologists. The High Court has given its nod to another recommendation for strengthening neurosurgical and other specialty services in hospitals in the periphery.

The directions are significant as at present about 300 patients, on an average, are treated in the emergency ward of the PGI daily. The bed strength in the emergency is 110, which is based on calculations made nearly 15 years ago. The directions for ensuring improvement in the medical care and infrastructure facilities by the Division Bench of Chief Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri and Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain came on a petition filed against the the Chandigarh Administration by an NGO, World Human Rights Protection Council.

After the High Court admitted the petition, the PGI was asked to file its response. An affidavit was then filed by the Head of the Department of Neurosurgery, PGIMER, stating that a committee was constituted to give suggestions.

The committee said taking into account the fact that 300 patients came to the PGI daily, there was a need to strengthen neurosurgical and other specialty services, including plastic, urology, cardiac and medical, in peripheral hospitals such as Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, Government Multi-Specialty Hospital, Sector 16 and Civil Hospitals of Panchkula, Mohali, Kalka, Kharar and Kurali.

This was essential so that the patients could be initially scanned and treated at these centres and referred to the PGI, if required. Strengthening of services would mean creation of sustainable services, the committee said.

It added: "At present, about 300 patients are being treated in the emergency ward of the PGI each day whereas the present bed strength of emergency is 110 patients, which was based on calculations about 15 years ago.

"Staff and budgetary allocations which are based on 110-bed strength are grossly inadequate and need to be enhanced to provide appropriate quality of services in all aspects of patient care. The emergency complex need not only have doctors, nurses, radiologists, cardiologists, anesthesia technicians but also social workers, psychologists".

Taking on record the suggestions, the Bench disposed of the petition with the directions to the PGI to implement them.

Mohali, January 1
A resident of Phase IX here complained to the police that his daughter, who was mentally unfit, had allegedly been kidnapped by a resident of Fatehgarh Sahib.

The victim’s father told the police that the girl was undergoing treatment. Harpreet Singh, a resident of Bilaspur village, had kidnapped her on the pretext of marrying her.

A case under Sections 363 and 366 of the IPC was registered in this regard. — OC

Mohali, January 1
The police has arrested three Delhi-based persons, including two women, for allegedly duping people by selling fake gold ornaments and coins.

The police said Shankar of Nangloi in Delhi was arrested and Rs 2 lakh earned from the sale of fake ornaments was recovered from him. The police also recovered 200 fake gold coins from his custody.

Following investigations, the police also arrested Guddi Devi and Moti Devi of Delhi in this connection and recovered fake ornaments from their possession.

A case under Sections 420, 406, 467, 468, 454, 457 and 380 of the IPC has been registered against the accused. 

Chandigarh, January 1
A 21-year-old cyclist was killed after a Safari SUV hit him at the Matka roundabout at 9 pm.

The injured, Suresh of Nayagaon, was taken to the PGI and he succumbed to his injuries there.The police has booked accused Sandeep, a resident of Mohali, in a case for causing death due to negligent driving.

The driver of the Safari was coming from Sector 17 towards Sector 9 when he lost balance and rammed into the divider and then onto the roundabout, which was damaged. Cyclist Suresh came under its wheels and died later while being treated at the PGI.

He was a salesman and was returning home after work. The mishap led to a traffic jam on the road.