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Sector 17 inferno ruins a home, shatters dreams of a bride-to-be
Chandigarh/ Dabwali Dhab (Malout), June 9
It was yet another night when Ravinder’s wife was praying for his safe return. Despite being proud of her husband’s selfless efforts in disaster management services, deep down in her heart, she had always feared such an eventuality.
Finally, the shattering news reached her, followed by the charred body of the 46-year-old airman.
Fireman Ravinder’s wife, mother and elder son mourn his death at their residence in Dadu Majra. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan
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Relatives and friends of fireman Amandeep stand outside the mortuary of the GMSH-16 on Monday. Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari
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Can’t believe I am alive, says fireman
Chandigarh, June 9
Thirty-two-year-old Sachin could not believe he managed to defeat death as he regained consciousness early this morning after witnessing the inferno last night. “I can’t believe I am alive. A chill goes down my spine when I recall how the building collapsed and we saw our fellow beings get buried under the debris,”
Sachin, who was admitted to Government Multi-Speciality Hospital (GMSH), Sector 16, said today.
NIELIT suffers loss of crores
Chandigarh, June 9
The fire incident at the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology
(NIELIT) in Sector 17 suffered a loss of infrastructure of around Rs 8 crore, besides business earnings worth several
crores. Ashwani Sharma, Managing Director of the NIELIT who arrived here from Delhi this morning, said they had suffered an estimated loss of Rs 8 crore.
Members of the National Disaster Response Force try to douse the fire at Sector 17, Chandigarh, on Monday.
Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari
Fire incidents: No lessons learnt
Chandigarh, June 9
Learning no lessons from major fire incidents in the past in which its staff had to struggle through a maze of encroachments to reach the spot, the Fire Department has failed to take up the issue with the Estate Office for action against violators.
The previous incidents speak for themselves.
Building violations are aplenty at the Sector 22-B market opposite the Sector 17 ISBT that has seen three major fire incidents in the past five years. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan
An inspection in futility
Chandigarh, June 9
The Fire and Emergency Committee constituted to inspect fire stations
last year had pointed out various anomalies in their report. The committee consisting of municipal corporation (MC) councillors inspected seven fire stations in the city and submitted its report to the civic body. The report highlighted the “non-serious approach” of MC officials towards fire safety in the city. Non-functional phone sets, ambulances in bad shape and lack of firefighting suits were some of the shortcomings pointed out in the inspection report.
Violation of bylaws galore in collapsed building’s vicinity
Chandigarh, June 9
Building violations that hampered the firefighting operation at the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) building in Sector 17 exist in nearby buildings as well.
Precious time was wasted yesterday as firefighters struggled to break walls constructed in shop-cum-office (SCO) 115-116.
A concrete wall built on the premises of SCO 1-2-3 in Sector 17-B, Chandigarh.
Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari
Punjab govt offices running from unsafe building
Chandigarh, June 9
In the turn of events starting from the inferno followed by the death of two firemen in a building collapse at Sector 17, the UT Administration today restricted the entry of general public to shop-cum-offices in the vicinity.
Section 144 of the CrPC was invoked to restrict entry to these commercial sites, one of which, i.e. SCO 125-126-127, has already been declared unsafe by the UT Engineering Department two years ago.
6 years on, a firefighter’s family awaits compensatory job
Chandigarh, June 9
The family of a firefighter who died on duty in 2008 is still waiting for a job on compensatory ground.
Amarjeet Singh died at the age of 44 years while dousing fire at a Sector 22 house. He is survived by his wife and two sons.
Although, the family was given a compensation of Rs 3 lakh, they moved court, demanding a job.
Constable assaults reporter
 Chandigarh, June 9
A reporter with a vernacular daily was allegedly assaulted by a commando on duty at the site of building collapse in Sector 17. The UT police, however, have booked the reporter for obstructing a government servant from performing duty and causing hurt under Sections 353 and 323 of the
IPC.
A UT constable thrashes a reporter at the building collapse site in Chandigarh on Monday. A
Tribune photograph
Department’s ill-preparedness exposed
Panchkula, June 9
The ill-preparedness of the Panchkula Fire Department came to the fore when fire broke out at 10 places here today.
After the department received a call at the fire station about the fire incidents, the firemen were seen wearing multi-layered ordinary clothes in the absence of firefighting suits. Also, they were unable to locate various equipment there as these were not available at the station.
Mohali Fire Dept faces staff crunch
Mohali, June 9
The Mohali Fire Brigade, which is said to be equipped with adequate paraphernalia of fire tenders, has been battling with severe staff shortage.
The fire office, where three fire calls have been received daily on an average, has just five fire officers, 14 fire personnel and six drivers as a total staff for all its three shifts.
Fire tenders at the fire station in Phase I, Mohali. A Tribune photograph
Kiosk gutted in Mohali market
Mohali, June 9
A kiosk in the Phase 1 market went up in flames this morning. The fire in the kiosk of bags and suitcases was noticed in the morning at around 8.40am.
“We got information about the incident at 8.48am and we reached the spot within two-three minutes and controlled the fire,” said a fire official.
 Development works
Residents allege admn inaction
Mohali, June 9
Several residents of the Balongi village are holding protests to urge the District Administration to expedite the development works and start with the construction of internal roads at the earliest here.
A protester on hunger strike being examined by a doctor at Balongi village. A Tribune photograph
Ticket aspirants try to impress Haryana Chief Minister
Panchkula, June 9
Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s function on Saturday provided a platform to the aspirants vying for ticket from Panchkula in the upcoming Vidhan Sabha elections.
The aspirants profoundly boasted about the number of followers they had, that may serve as the basis for getting the ticket.
Building Violations
Zirakpur MC moves court against builders
Zirakpur, June 9
Tightening noose around violators of building bylaws, Zirakpur Municipal Council (MC) has decided to move court against 32 builders and has sought permission to demolish their illegal constructions in the civic body limits.
The builders have allegedly violated the Punjab Municipal Act by converting residential areas into commercial ones in Peer Muchhalla in the Zirakpur MC limited.
‘Dedh Inch Upper,’ a one-man show
Chandigarh, June 9
The week-long solo theatre festival being organised by city-based theatre group, Citi Entertainment Network, got underway at Punjab Kala Bhawan with ‘Dedh Inch Upper’ being staged today.
The play written by Nirmal Verma revolves around the protagonist, a middle-aged man, who shares his life’s bitter experiences while sitting alone in a pub.
Artistes stage a play, ‘Dedh Inch Upper,’ at Punjab Kala Bhawan, Sector 16, in Chandigarh on Monday. Tribune Photo: S Chandan
Traders’ delegation meets AETC
Chandigarh, June 9
A delegation of the Chandigarh Beopar Mandal (CBM) today met RC Bhalla, Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner
(AETC) and take up VAT-related issues on behalf of traders of the city.
 Ailing patient needs help
Chandigarh, June 9
A 45-year-old patient suffering from heart failure has been surviving on life support for the past six months at the PGIMER in Chandigarh. He has been awaiting a potential organ donor. A resident of Sangrur, Saroop Singh was diagnosed with heart problem six years ago. His family has been shuttling between hospitals in the region to find brain-dead patients.
Saroop requires a donor with Blood Group A positive. He is one of the various victims of organ failure across the country. Despite the hospitals finding a large number of brain-dead patients (accident victims) everyday, consent of dying member’s family for the same is a challenge in such cases.
TNS
Suraj Bhan takes over as CRPF IGP
Chandigarh, June 9
Suraj Bhan Kajal joined the North West Sector HQ CRPF Chandigarh as IGP today.
The 1984 batch CRPF cadre officer, Suraj, had joined the force as Deputy Superintendent of Police.
He has served in operations during the terrorism days in Punjab and against Naxalism in Jharkhand. After taking over, the IGP said it was a great moment for him to take over the prestigious post of the North West office.
TNS
Curbing Corporal Punishment
Circulars issued to schools
chandigarh, June 9
To curb the practice of corporal punishment in schools, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued a circular to the heads of all schools affiliated to it.
As per the circular, since there is no definition of corporal punishment for children under the Indian law, the board on the basis of provisions of the RTE Act-2009 has classified corporal punishment as physical punishment, mental harassment and discrimination.
From schools
World Ocean Day celebrated
Chandigarh:
World Ocean Day was celebrated by the kindergarten wing at Doon International School, Sector 69, today. On the occasion, the children were educated on aquatic life and the world that exists underwater. Meanwhile, a stick puppet show was also organised wherein the students spoke on different varieties of fishes found in the ocean.
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
1,250 forms submitted online
chandigarh, june 9
As many as 1,250 forms were submitted at various centres on the first day of the online submission of admission forms at government colleges in the city.
An official revealed that the submission of forms was underway at various colleges till evening.
Sources said a special team today visited all
colleges to find out problems being faced by the faculty or help desk members in dealing with such cases.
Students file their admission forms online at a help desk set up at the Government College for Girls, Sector 11, in Chandigarh on Monday. Tribune Photo: S Chandan
LLB entrance exam
Rumours circulate about question paper leak on PU campus
Chandigarh, june 9
The rumours about question paper leak circulated among candidates appearing for the entrance test for the Bachelor of Law (LLB) at Panjab University today.
The issue was a hot
topic of debate among candidates, who took the entrance exam at the varsity, which was also conducted at 14 centres in the city.
Students make their way through a traffic jam at Panjab University on Monday. Several cars were parked on the roadside, causing snarls. Tribune Photo: Manoj Mahajan
UG combined entrance test result out
Chandigarh, june 9
Panjab University (PU) has declared the result of PU – Combined Entrance Test
(CET) Undergraduate (UG)-2014, conducted on May 24.
PU Controller of Examinations Prof Parvinder Singh said the result is available on PU website
http://results.puchd.ac.in/cet/.
Signature campaign against rape cases
Chandigarh, june 9
The Students for Society (SFS), Students Federation of India (SFI) and Ambedkar Students’ Association
(ASA) today staged a protest — against serial rape cases in Uttar Pradesh and across the country — at the Student
Centre, Panjab University.
Students take part in a signature campaign at Panjab University on Monday. Tribune Photo: Manoj Mahajan
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honour in the sabre individual event
held at Singapore.
The event commenced from June 4 to 8. Walia has earlier won a bronze in the individual and team events (U-12) of the National Fencing Championship at Nasik
(Maharashtra). His coach Jayachitra Anbuchelvan congratulated his disciple while, Anil
Arora, general secretary, Punjab Fencing Association, facilitated Walia for the achievement.
OC
Local tennis player Rishabh Sharda upset fifth seed R Bollipalli in straight sets during the first round (main draw) of the ongoing CLTA’s Asian (Under-14) Boys and Girls Tennis Tournament at the CLTA Courts, Sector 10, here today.
Starting the proceedings, Rishab named both the sets at convincing margin of 6-2 and 6-4. Top ranking players, Amit Beniwal and S
Yedula, defeated their respective rivals to pave way for the second round.
