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Trains still running late
Ludhiana, December 22
Even as the thick blanket of fog covering the region cleared a wee bit and visibility also improved after light showers lashed the city and Sun also appeared after a gap of five days, the rail traffic still remains off the track with many of the long-route trains running late.
There was, however, some relief for rail travellers on the Amritsar-Ludhiana-New Delhi section as most of the trains running on this section maintained their respective time schedule on Saturday and Sunday.
Year-end celebrations
Recession casts shadow on travel plans
Ludhiana, December 22
Residents of the city are known to lead life in style and for making their celebrations memorable they don't mind spending a few lakhs to visit overseas destination during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Players of sports wings deprived of hostel facility
Ludhiana, December 22
Though the state government spends crores of rupees to organise World Cup Kabaddi every year, the trainees of the sports wings of the Sports Department have been deprived of even basic facilities.
More than 200 players of different sports have been receiving training at these sports wings in Ludhiana.
The department has offered training to palyers of 18 sports, including
athletics, basketball, boxing, badminton, cycling, football, gymnastics, hockey,
handball, judo, kabaddi, kho-kho, lawn tennis, swimming, table tennis,
volleyball, weightlifting and wrestling, under a residential scheme launched in
the district.
Weather plays spoilsport for Sufi singer’s fans
Ludhiana, December 22
Pakistani Sufi singer Arif Lohar's concert has been cancelled for the second time, much to the disappointment of his fans in the city. Scheduled to be held at Sutlej Club, the concert was cancelled due to inclement weather. Rain and cold weather played spoilsport for hundreds of fans of the celebrated Sufi singer.
 Illegal beacons
Police crack down on violators
Sudhar/Mandi Ahmedgarh, December 22
Taking cognisance of reports of illegal use of red beacons, the police have launched a special drive to challan violators.
The rank and file of the department have been advised to follow zero tolerance against the violators, irrespective of the political allegiance of the violator being caught.
A policeman searches a vehicle that was challaned for illegal use of red beacon. A Tribune photograph
PAU Notes
Research workshop
A two-day “Research and extension specialists’ workshop for fruits, mushroom, agro-forestry along with post-harvest management, farm power and machinery, food technology and agricultural economics” concluded at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) on Sunday.
Blissful nap: A mother holds her child during a healthy baby show at Mothers’ Pride School on Sunday. Photo: Inderjeet Verma
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X-MAS SPIRIT: A Christmas carnival being taken out by Holy Cross Catholic Church on Sunday. Photo: Inderjeet
Verma
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Year 2013 ender
A happening year on cultural front
Ludhiana, December 22
The year witnessed several activities on the cultural, fashion and literary front. Books, including "The Khwahish - A wish" by Sumeet Gogia, "Man Tandoor" by Gurbhajan Singh Gill, "Geet Paraga" by Daljeet Jassal, "A Silent Dream" by Bhagya Shree, in addition to many others, were released in the city. Several literary events, including Punjabi Kavita Kumbh and book exhibitions, were organised at the Punjabi Bhawan.
REPORTERS’ DIARY
Despite check, encroachments galore
While adhering to the High Court's directions, the MC may be trying hard to remove encroachments from the city and facing the wrath of the public; however, fresh encroachments continue to take place every second day in the city, especially in the areas like Bhadaur House, Mata Rani Chowk area, etc. It becomes difficult to pass through the stretch of about half-a-kilometer as shopkeepers in the AC Market and near the Improvement Trust building have conveniently encroached upon the public land.
National highway
Missing reflectors an invitation to mishaps
Doraha, December 22
The absence of reflectors on the diversions on the Sahnewal to Doraha stretch of National Highway No. 1 is putting lives to risk in foggy weather. Though the visibility has reduced considerably, the authorities have failed to install reflectors or repaint the white lines dividing the two sides of the highway.
Kaind Bridge a death trap
Mandi Ahmedgarh, December 22
Residents and travellers moving on the Ludhiana-Malerkotla road are at a risk due to inadequate railing along the Kaind Bridge near
Dehlon. With the authorities concerned turning a blind eye to a damaged portion of the railing, a major tragedy is waiting to happen.
Broken railings along the Kaind Bridge near Dehlon. A Tribune photograph
Teachers’ eligibility
test
15,000 to appear from district
Ludhiana, December 22
The state government will hold the Teachers' Eligibility Test (TET) in Punjab on December 28. Over 15,000 candidates are expected to appear from the Ludhiana district alone.
As the state government has made it mandatory to pass the TET, candidates are leaving no stone unturned to crack it.
PIMACON 2013
Over 1,000 docs attend conference
Ludhiana, December 22
The State Annual Conference of the
IMA, Punjab, ‘PIMACON - 2013’, was organised by the IMA, Ludhiana, at the IMA House, BRS
Nagar, here today. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal inaugurated the conference. In his inaugural address, he applauded the efforts of the IMA for organising this scientific programme and updating the knowledge of the doctors in the state.
From schools
Christmas fete
Ludhiana: Maple Bear Canadian Playway and Nursery School organised a Christmas fete in. Several games were conducted to attract children and their visiting parents. These included ring games, hit the glasses, photo-shoot, wheel of fortune, and hit the lemons. Santa Claus distributed candies and gifts among children. Children dressed as Santa were seen riding a sledge.
Kailash Kher captivates Ludhianvis
Ludhiana, December 22
Celebrated singer Kailash Kher performed live amid cheers of hundreds of his fans in the city. Kher belted out his popular songs including "Teri Diwani", "Saiyan", "Odhni" besides songs of other singers such as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's "Tere Bin Nahi Lagda Dil Mera
Soneya".
Star
performance: Singer Kailash Kher performs in Ludhiana on Sunday. Tribune
Photo: Himanshu Mahajan
Purse containing Rs 10,000 stolen from car at parking
Ludhiana, December 22
High drama took place at a parking lot located near the Aarti Chowk when a man claimed that someone broke the windowpane of his car and stole the purse containing Rs 10,000 here today.
The incident took place this afternoon when Dr Raghuvir Sharma, a resident of
Dugri, was visiting Ghumar Mandi, along with his relatives.
Punjabi Bhawan to digitise rare books
Ludhiana December 22
A team from Punjabi Bhawan has procured rare books and manuscripts for digitisation from a Kapurthala resident.
The team, led by Janmeja Singh Johal, on getting the information that Sadhu Singh of Ballupur village in Kapurathala had rare books at his library, urged him to get them digitised.
Ludhiana scan
Free shoes distributed
Free shoes were distributed among students by the Rotary Club, Ludhiana Central, on Sunday at Shaheed Sukhdev Thapar Memorial Government Senior Secondary School, near ESI Hospital, Ludhiana. The project was sponsored by its president Manjit Singh. The club has been working on many projects with the school for the past many years.
Patients examined at camp
The Ek Noor Charitable Educational and Welfare Trust organised the fifth free medical check-up camp. A team of expert doctors examined patients at the camp. Medical tests were also conducted free of cost. Maheshinder Singh Grewal, political adviser to the Chief Minister, inaugurated the camp.
— TNS
Gadvasu notes
Livestock controls a quarter of agri GDP
Livestock now controls a quarter of the agriculture GDP. In 2010-11, it generated outputs worth Rs 3,40,500 crore (at current prices). This was 28% of the agriculture GDP and about 5% of the country’s GDP. “The total output from livestock was higher than the value of food grains (Rs 3,15,600 crore) and fruits and vegetables (Rs 2,08,800 crore), and this is going to go up substantially,” estimates VK
Taneja, VC of GADVASU. — TNS
Thieves strike at ATM in Sanghol
Khamano, December 22
Some unidentified thieves struck at an ATM booth at Sanghol village last night.
The thieves broke into the booth, but failed to extract any money, said assistant sub-inspector Inderjit Singh, in-charge, Sanghol Chowki.
Man held with 36 bottles of liquor
Samrala, December 22
The local police arrested a person and recovered around 36 bottles of liquor from his possession.
A police team led by assistant sub-inspector Vipun Kumar was patrolling the area around Baghour village when they received information that a person was selling liquor on a bridge located on a minor canal near Manki village.
The accused, later identified as Balwinder Singh, a resident of Manki village, was caught from the spot. Thirty-six bottles of liquor were also seized from
his possession. ASI Vipin Kumar said a case was registered against Balwinder Singh under the Excise Act. The accused, however, was later released after he filed surety documents, said the ASI.
— OC
Assault victim succumbs to injuries
Ludhiana, December 22
The octogenarian, who was attacked by armed robbers during the wee hours on December 18, succumbed to injuries today.
The robbers decamped with cash and valuables from his house in Prem Nagar near the Field Gunj area.
The victim, Amir Singh (80), who used to live alone in the house, was rushed to the Christian Medical College and Hospital. The investigating officer has not ruled out the involvement of an acquaintance behind the attack.
The robbers used a "thapi" (a wooden bat used for washing clothes) for attacking the victim. They also took away the scooter of the victim.
— TNS
Man held for raping minor
Ludhiana, December 22
A man raped a 14-year-old girl in the Focal Point
here last evening. The accused, identified as Akhilesh Kumar, was arrested today.
The victim is Akhilesh's sister-in-law's friend. The police said the accused's sister-in-law took the victim girl to a room where Akhilesh was present. Later, she locked her in the room with Akhilesh.
The victim narrated the entire incident to her parents, following which they informed the police.
Later, the police arrested Akhilesh and his wife's sister.
— TNS
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Despite shivering cold, players from across the state displayed their strength in various athletics events on the second day of the 59th Punjab State School Athletics Meet.
Players from Ludhiana proved their mettle in discus throw (boys), long jump (boys) and pole vault (boys). Divnoor Singh from the city clinched gold medal in discus throw, Harpreet Singh won gold in long jump and Manjit Singh bagged gold in pole vault.