Fact file

It was small task of inspecting the plugged sewer that cost Rupesh Kumar Bansal (26) his life.

While the sewers are cleaned with the latest technology, plugging is done manually.

85 per cent of the main sewer of the city is blocked with silt thereby reducing its capacity to carry the sewage.

The Municipal Corporation, Bathinda (MCB), has elaborately planned cleaning of the trunk pipeline, which was laid around 30 years ago, so as to prepare the city's sewerage system before the onset of monsoon.

The work, which was to be completed by May 30, may take longer now.

Usually, a deflated balloon is inserted into the sewer pipes and is inflated in such a way that it acts as a plug. However, the sewer opposite the Rajindra College is so heavily silted that the ballooning technique could not work and hence, had to be plugged manually, said municipal commissioner Uma Shankar Gupta.

Bathinda, April 13
In less than a year, five people have lost their lives while cleaning muck and grime of sewers in the city.

On April 5, two sewer men fell in a manhole while opening a repaired sewer at Sirki Bazar; on May 22, two people were killed while working in the disposal works on the Mansa Road; two persons lost their lives on May 26 while opening a plug of a sewer at Lal Singh Basti; and on July 14, two men got trapped in the sewer at Lal Singh Basti as earth caved in. In the latter incident, the sewer men were instantly pulled out by passersby.

"Today's incidence was very unfortunate. Since such works are unconventional, a private company was roped in. The company is doing work of a similar nature at Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, it is surprising how this incidence happened," said Mayor Baljit Singh Birbehman.

Birbehman said the Bali Boy India company officials have been summoned to the MCB office on Monday.

“We will direct them to ensure that such tragedies do not happen again,” he said.

He added that in today's incidence, the victim was wearing safety gear. There was a need to investigate the cause of the tragedy. The company has been given a contract of Rs 3 crore to carry out the work, he added.

In all the five deaths, none of the deceased was a regular employee of either the Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board (PWSSB) or the Municipal Corporation Bathinda (MCB). All the deceased were employees of contractors who were awarded various works.

In all the cases, the MCB had blamed contractors for not taking complete safety measures but failed to act sternly against them.

People demanded that close monitoring and past performance of the firms awarded with the civic works should be done.

The PWSSB has declared the sewers in the city as redundant and beyond repair. The sewers were revived using super sucker machines.

Bathinda, April 13
Gushes of water in the main sewer line opposite the Government Rajindra College hampered the rescue operation of an entrapped sewerman.

Since the water flows from the bus stand towards the Mansa road, the deep divers of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), 7th battalion, Ajit Kumar Sahu and Narayan Chandra Mandal, faced a tough time negotiating with heavy volume of water flowing in the pipeline.

The victim Rupesh Kumar Bansal's body had got buried under sand-filled jute bags.

"The current of water is so strong that body seems to have been pushed forward into the sewer pipe. The upper portion of the victim's body was in the pipeline, while the lower part was in the manhole," the deep divers had told the officials of the Municipal Corporation, Bathinda (MCB), present at the spot.

NDRF officials even requested MCB officials to stop the flow of water so that the rescue operation could become swift and easier. On the request of the NDRF, a sucker machine installed at the Haji Rattan Chowk was stopped to slow down the flow of water in the sewer. However, the flow could not be stopped as there was no means to plug it.

Torch lights were used to light up the interiors of the manhole and help the divers look for the body.

In the 30-feet-deep sewer, it had become difficult even for divers to breathe with their oxygen masks and safety gear on.

As soon as the divers were pulled out, they had their suit and helmet full of slush.

After several attempts to pull away the jute bags, the sewerman's body was fished out at around 5:15 pm. It took four hours for the rescue team of the NDRF to bring out the body.

Onlookers, traffic too prove a hindrance

Onlookers and traffic on the GT Road too hampered the rescue operation.

Since most of the policemen had been deployed at the Baisakhi Mela in Talwandi Sabo, only handful of the men in khaki was present to manage the onlookers as well as the traffic.

The MCB workers and officials tried to cordon off the area, but could not. The traffic on the GT Road was not even diverted.

Being Baisakhi, buses full of passengers plied on the road. Many buses halted briefly as curious onlookers hopped on and off to see the proceedings of the rescue operation. 

Bathinda, April 13
The residents of Bathinda and its neighbouring areas were in for a surprise today as the day, which had begun on a warm note, ended with the temperature registering a marked decline. The sun began playing hide and seek post noon and by late afternoon, a cool breeze started blowing. While light rains were recorded in the fringe areas of the district, the city had to settle with a light drizzle.

As per the weather forecast released by the Indian Meteorological Department, thunderstorm accompanied with squall was expected to occur at one or two places over Punjab. As per the forecast, the weather is expected to remain the same in the next 48 hours as well.

After almost two weeks of harsh sun, a fresh western disturbance had hit the area in the beginning of this week making the maximum and minimum temperature dip marginally on Tuesday and Wednesday.

As per the forecast, another round of western disturbance was expected to affect the area today. These disturbances are expected to bring along high velocity winds and cause damage to the standing wheat crop.

While ruling out the possibility of a hailstorm, the department has urged the farmers to keep a tab on the regular updates on Nowcast, which offers forecast every three hours.

Apart from the sporadic incidents of rainfall and thunderstorms, the maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to be recorded around 37 and 23 degree Celsius.

The wind velocity, however, is expected to increase from around 6 kilometre per hour on Sunday to 13 kilometre per hour on Wednesday, which may be a cause of concern for the farmers. While the maximum relative humidity is expected to be around 25-35 per cent, the minimum relative humidity is expected to be recorded between 10 and 15 per cent in the next four days.

Bathinda, April 13
Farmers of the area were an anxious lot and started harvesting their immature crop after high velocity wind coupled with a drizzle lashed the area. Though the crop still needs sunny days for complete ripening, many of the farmers have begun harvesting the crop in view of the inclement weather.

"Farmers begin harvesting as they think the delay may spoil the crop and they may not be able to fetch a good price at a later stage," said Harcharan Singh, a farmer from Mehraj village.

He said it is not good to harvest the immature crop as this would lead to chaos in the grain market where high moisture content makes it difficult to sell the crop.

Jagtar Brar, a farmer from Mehma Sarja village, said there are three or four farmers in the village who were seen taking their harvesting machines to their fields to harvest the wheat crop. Despite being advised by the experts not to harvest the crop with a high moisture content, they are ignoring the advice, he said.

Jagtar Brar said high velocity wind breaks the wheat stalks which cause the wheat grains to fall off.

Farmers fear that their almost ripened crop will get damaged if they fail to sell it in the market at the earliest.

"The fear of damage has made many farmers begin harvesting," said Shahwaris Sidhu, a farmer from Lehra Saunda village. Shahwaris has grown wheat and vegetables on his 18 acres of agricultural land near his village. Rain and high velocity wind is not regarded as good for vegetables at this stage, he said.

"If similar weather condition prevails, then the farmers are likely to witness great loss as it would be difficult to reduce the moisture content in the grains," he said. Farmers fear that such weather conditions would also make it difficult for the combine harvesters to work.

KK Singla, an official in the agriculture department, said farmers are advised not to resort to harvesting if the crop is immature. "This would lead to marketing problems. Farmers should, therefore, harvest the crop only after its complete maturity," Singla said.

Chief Agriculture Officer Rajinder Brar could not be contacted for his comments despite repeated attempts.

Bathinda, April 13
An eve teaser, who had been harassing a girl in Guru Gobind Singh Nagar area of the city, was thrashed by the residents of the area who also set his scooter on fire. The accused has been identified as 35-year-old Rajeev Kumar. He has ben accused of misbehaving with a 12-year-old girl by the local residents and the members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).

Secretary of the local unit of the VHP, Sukhpal Sra, said the matter was brought to his notice a few days ago by the residents of Guru Gobind Singh Nagar.

Bathinda, April 13
To provide students practical exposure of the industry and to enhance their knowledge, Baba Farid Group of Institutions organised educational visits for them.

The students of B.Tech (ECE) paid a visit to DRDO, Dehradoon, where they learnt about military technology. Similarly, the students B.Tech Civil Engineering were taken to Mohali Airport. — TNS

Bathinda, April 13
A kabaddi tournament was organised today at Khokhar village near Rampura in which 122 teams of girls and boys from different villages took part.

The tournament was organised with the help of Sidh Baba Kalu Nath, Gaushala Parbandhak Society and the village panchayat.

President of the club, Jaswinder Singh, said in the friendly matches for girls, Mata Sundri Girls College, Dhadde, got the first prize while Mehraj got the second position.

In the 32 kg category for girls, the B team of village Khokhar got the first position while Baba Bulaji team of Chaoke village got the second position. In the 40 kg category, village Charik got the first position while the Baba Kalu Nath team from Khokhar got the second position.

In the 47 kg event, village Banawali and Dera Sidh Baba, Sivia, got the top positions. In the 58 kg category, team A from Khokhar village, got the first position while the team from village Rampura got the second position.

The best catcher and best raiders during these events were honoured by Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon who was the chief guest at the function.

Sekhon also announced grants for various development works in the village.