Ludhiana, July 1
Passengers aboard an air-conditioned chair car coach (C-1) of the 12497 New Delhi-Ludhiana Shan-e-Punjab Train had a providential escape when the undercarriage of the coach caught fire at the Ludhiana railway station this afternoon.

Two railway employees, Sat Pal and Ram Niwas, deployed to oversee the undercarriage of the train, detected thick smoke and flames coming out of the coach C-1 as the train entered platform number two at 12.08 pm.

An alert was sounded, with the senior railway officials and fire-fighting staff of the Railways rushing to the platform. The coach was immediately evacuated and the fire was controlled in a few minutes.

Panic gripped passengers of the coach who, till then, were unaware that the undercarriage was on fire. Station superintendent RK Sharma said on the face of it, the fire was caused due to overheating of the electrical equipment of the air-conditioning system lying underneath the coach.

“Although the fire was brought under control in a few minutes as it had apparently started only when the train was entering the platform, had the train been away from the railway station, the fire could have turned into a major tragedy,” said Sharma.

Shan-e-Punjab, which had a scheduled stoppage of five minutes at Ludhiana, departed after 35 minutes. As the air-conditioning system of the coach was damaged due to the fire, the passengers were adjusted in other AC chair car bogies before the train commenced its onward journey for Amritsar.

The passengers in the C-1 coach, who had rushed out on seeing the fire-fighting equipment outside their coach, had some anxious moments till the railway officials announced that the fire had been put out and the situation was under control. Rajwant Singh, a passenger, said those travelling in the particular coach (C-1) had absolutely no idea that they were just a few minutes away from a major tragedy. “All of us heaved a sigh of relief as the fire was controlled and the train commenced its onward journey after 35 minutes,” he said.

Ludhiana, July 1
A 40-year-old man, employed with a paper mill in Ladhowal, died after he was stuck in a rotator belt meant to put coal in the furnace.

The deceased was identified as Kamlesh Thakur, a native of Darbangha, Bihar. He was living in the migrant quarters at Ladhowal.

The incident took place at midnight when he was putting coal on the rubber belt. His feet got stuck in the rotator and he suffered serious injuries. Kamlesh’s co-workers came to his rescue and rushed him to a private multispeciality hospital where he was declared brought dead. Investigating officer Amrik Singh said the police had initiated inquest proceeding under Section 174 of the CrPC.

In the second incident, 32-year-old Prem Parkash, a railway employee, died under mysterious circumstances in the Ladhowal area.

After attending a retirement party, Prem Parkash returned home. His wife, who was in the kitchen, was shocked to find Prem Parkash unconscious. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was declared brought dead. The reason behind his death is yet to be ascertained.

In the third incident, an inmate died under mysterious circumstances at the Central Jail today. The deceased was identified as Jagjit Singh of Moga. He was booked in a case of fraud and had been undergoing jail term since October 10, 2013. He was a drug addict and was undergoing treatment at the de-addiction centre of the jail. He was deployed as a watchman at the centre.

It was learnt that he fell unconscious and was taken to the Civil Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.

Rs 2 per litre more Milkfed, Punjab, has increased the cost of Verka milk by Rs 2. Dr Surjeet Singh, manager, Verka Milk Plant, Ludhiana, said, “The cost of full cream milk has gone up from Rs 44 to Rs 46, standard milk will cost Rs 42 instead of Rs 40, while for double toned milk, residents will have to shell out Rs 34.” 

Ludhiana, July 1
The contractual staff (Class IV) of the Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) protested outside the Verka Milk Plant and demanding regularisation of their jobs, today.

The protesting employees said they have been working with the university (earlier at PAU) for the past 8-10 years and are yet to get recognition for their services. They alleged huge disparity in the pay of the contractual staff.

The senior most contractual staff, working under the ICAR or UGC schemes, gets around Rs 6,000 a month while other contractual staff, gets around Rs 7,500 a month. There were others getting Rs 6,500 a month.

The president of the Dairy Farm of GADVASU, Jaskaran Singh, said there were about 700 such employees on contract, who deserve to be regularised.

The farm varsity has advertised the posts of Class III employees but the fate of Class IV contractual staff still hangs in balance. “We have submitted a charter of demands to the authorities and have asked them to do something till Friday, else we will intensify our stir,” said the president.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, July 1
With an intent to achieve target of the Rotary India Literacy Mission to collect one million books for the needy students through 1,500 libraries across the nation, a local unit of the International Service Organisation has installed book bins at various schools of local town and surrounding localities.

Mobile teams of volunteers have also been constituted to collect books from donors from their premises. They will be facilitating Rotary message of ‘Donate a book, teach a child.”

District Governor Dr Arun Gupta and District Governor Elect Dharam Veer Garg informed that office- bearers and activists of various units of Rotary Club have already installed book bins at schools of their respective areas which would be used for collecting books.

Separate teams, each led by Pardeep Sethi, Lalit Kaura, Dr Vikas Hind and Avtar Krishan, have been constituted to monitor collection of books from various centres and update the number on official website www.rotaryteach.org on a daily basis.

Elaborating on the project, Dr Arun Gupta and Dharam Vir Garg said the organisation has resolved to establish at least 1,500 libraries in the nation by collecting books from students and their parents.

To make the project even more effective, book bins seeking donations would be placed at various schools, malls, petrol pumps, coffee shops and public offices of various localities inhabited by Rotarians.

Pardeep Sharda and SP Sofat, convener and chairman, respectively, of the Local Literacy Committee said they have received a warm response to the projects and office-bearers and activists of other social organisations have also joined hands with the parent organisation for the noble cause.

Atlases, globes, drawing books, set of crayons, color pencils, Amar Chitra Kathas and books with very simple content in English, Hindi and Punjabi have been sought 
for donation. 

Ludhiana, July 1
More than 100 companies visited the PCTE and conducted placement drive and recruited students of MBA and PGDM course. A total of 169 students were placed and more than 225 job opportunities were offered to students. “This year, even international students were recruited by companies to work in the African region,” said Ajay Kumar, training and placement officer. He further added that, “Of 103 companies that visited the campus, 14 companies had to go back as all students were already placed.” Dr KNS Kang, director general-cum-chairman of the PCTE Group of Institutes, said, “We are quite satisfied with the placements this year.”

Ludhiana, July 1
Due to delay in laying water pipes in Sunil Park by the Municipal Corporation, a resident of the area had to face inconvenience for over ten days.

The road outside house number 132, Sunil Park, was dug by the MC for laying water pipes but due to the slow pace of the work, the owner of the house could not park his vehicle inside the house for 10 days.

“I requested workers to fill the road as I was facing a lot of problem, but they did not pay a heed. Today evening they gave me an assurance that the road will be leveled at the earliest. But this is no way, MC needs to tighten its noose around workers who cause nuisance to general public,” rued the owner of the house.

Jagraon, July 1
The Youth Congress activists denounced the increase in the fuel price and rail fare by the BJP-led NDA Government in Jagraon.

A large number of activists, led by Punjab Youth Congress general secretary Kamaljit Singh Brar and district president Deepak Khadoor, held a protest march on Tehsil Road, Jagraon.

Later on, activists staged a protest at Main Chowk and also blocked the traffic on the Ludhiana-Ferozepur highway for a few minutes. The protesters raised slogans against the Union Government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

While addressing the protesters during the occasion, Kamaljit Brar said the BJP had promised the common people of regulating the rising prices. “But the NDA government has failed to keep the promise. It has been proved that the BJP raised the issue of inflation only to take political advantage in the elections. They are not serious about the problems being faced by the common people due to the rising prices,” said Brar.

Deepak Khadoor urged the Union Government to roll back the decision of raising prices of petrol and diesel.

“A few days back, the Central Government increased the railway fares and now it has hiked the prices of petrol and diesel, thus putting extra burden on the middle class people. If the government does not take back these decisions, the Youth Congress will hold protests all over the country,” said Khadoor.

Ludhiana, July 1
Members of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Ludhiana condemned the government for considering the imposition of ten per cent tax on room rate by the Municipal Corporation.

The general secretary of the association, Amarvir Singh, said the industry is already passing through a tough phase. “We are already paying eight per cent tax in the room rate in the form of luxury tax. So there is no point in imposing one more tax,” said the general secretary. We will shut hotels and give keys to the Chief Minister, if the decision is not take back, said Amarvir.

Ludhiana, July 1
The Taxation Bar Association organised a seminar to create awareness on changes in the Income Tax return forms. The attendees were also told how to download TDS forms.

Association general secretary Jatinder Khurana elaborated on the changes. He said as per the changes made to the previous year’s forms, a resident individual whose total income is not more than Rs 5 lakh has been given a rebate of Rs 2,000 or 100 per cent of tax, whichever is less.

“Education cess will be calculated on the amount left after this rebate,” he said.

“Till last year, there was an option in the return form that asked whether the person wants refund through a cheque or wants it to be directly transferred to the account. Now, there is only one column that says refund will be directly credited to the bank account,” said Khurana.

District Taxation Bar Association (Direct Taxes), too, organised a seminar to explain to its members concepts such as unexplained cash credits and unexplained investments.

The seminar was addressed by the District Taxation Bar Association president Anup Kumar Jain.

He said, “When there is a credit entry in an assessee’s books of account and the assessee is not able to explain what it pertains to or the explanation offered is not, in the opinion of the assessing officer, satisfactory, then that amount may be added to the income of the assessee for that year.

Mandi Ahmedgarh/ Raikot, July 1
On the occasion of Founder’s Day celebrations of the State Bank of India, staff vowed to make their organisation the first choice for financial dealings. 

Ludhiana, July 1
On Doctor’s Day today, patients got a gift in the form of hiked fee at government hospitals. Services provided by government hospitals across the state have become costlier from today after the Primary Health Systems Corporation increased the rates by 10 to 50 per cent.

“It is second hike in the past 14 months. Earlier, OPD charges were Rs 2 and these were increased to Rs 5. Now, these stand at Rs 10. Rates of services at government hospitals should not be revised so frequently,” said Asha Devi, a patient at the Civil Hospital.

Although Health and Family Welfare Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani, on his recent visit to the city, had said he would look into the matter of hike in the blood unit rates, nothing has been done on that front too.

The blood charges have been revised from Rs 300 to Rs 500 in government hospitals and from Rs 750 to Rs 1,450 in private facilities.

Ramadin, another patient at the Civil Hospital, said instead of giving some relief to patients, the government was increasing charges.

“Prices of all commodities and services are skyrocketing. Now, instead of giving us some relief, fee and other charges at government hospitals, too, have been increased,” said Ramadin.

Ludhiana, July 1
As a mark of protest on Doctor’s Day, rural medical officers today observed a two-hour pen-down strike from 8 am onwards.

Wearing black badges, the medical officers protested against the government’s failure to supply medicines to rural dispensaries for the past year and a half.

“Medicines are out of stock at most dispensaries are running without basic medicines. We are just demanding these basic necessities without which we are unable to treat our patients,” said Dr Anand Malhotra, general secretary of the Rural Medical Services Association (RMSA).

To add to their woes, the government has directed block development and panchayat officers (BDPOs) to monitor their functioning.

Dr Harsh, a member of the RMSA, said: “The order should be withdrawn as it is not justified that officials junior to us in rank monitor our work.”

Another grievance being raised by rural medical officers is that the state government has made no recruitments since 2011, despite the fact that 400 of the total 1,186 rural dispensaries across the state are without RMOs.

“Due to the shortage of staff, we are overburdened. One rural medical officer has to take care of three dispensaries,” said another doctor.

Ludhiana, July 1
Hero DMC Heart Institute has launched a unique facility of sending health tips through SMS alerts. The tips will pertain to diseases such as cardiac problems, diabetes and hypertension. Over 11,000 people have registered to the free service within two weeks.

DMCH Managing Society secretary Prem Kumar Gupta, on launching the scheme, said: “The hospital has been regularly conducting free health check-up camps, but the management has always been keen to create health awareness through modern means of mass communication.”

Ludhiana, July 1
Acting on the letter sent by the Municipal Corporation Commissioner directing building branch officials to act tough against illegal constructions in the city, two such buildings were demolished in the Zone B area here today.

Although, the owner of one of the buildings resisted, MC officials, with the help of the police, raze the illegal structure.

Assistant Town Planner, Zone B, Monica said an unauthorised shop was being built in GTB Nagar, Chandigarh Road, which was demolished by the MC team. The ATP said the owner had failed to get the building plan approved from the civic body.

A five-foot encroachment in the Maya Puri area on Tibba Road was also razed. The owner had got the building plan for the residence approved, but had encroached upon five feet of public land and constructed a ceiling too.

“The owners resisted, but we managed to demolish the encroachment with the help of police force,” said the ATP.

The ATP said the Zone B office was receiving two to three complaints of illegal constructions on a aily basis.

“This, however, does not mean that all complaints are valid,” she said.

The official, however, accepted that the number of illegal constructions had gone up in recent times.

Since new Commissioner Pradeep Aggarwal has joined office, over 50 illegal constructions have been removed in the city. Aggarwal, in a letter sent on June 26, has given 15 days’ time to officials of the building branch department to act against illegal constructions or else be ready to face the music.

Zorawar Singh strikes a pose in Ludhiana on Tuesday. Tribune Photo: Himanshu mahajan

Ludhiana, July 1
Model-turned-actor Zorawar Singh is excited about his debut movie. In the city to promote the movie, “Ho Javey Je Pyaar”, he said he hoped to make a mark in Punjabi cinema.

“I am extremely happy to be working in Punjabi cinema. I hope I can make a mark and get noticed in my very first offering,” said Zorawar, who has modelled for eminent international designers such as Vikram Phadnis.

Besides walking down the ramp at Lakme Fashion Week, Blenders Pride Fashion Tour and Pune Fashion Week, Zorawar has been an active theatre artiste.

Talking about the film, he said: “This is a story about the basic human emotion—love. It can be between lovers, parents and two complete strangers.”

The film tells the story of young lovers, Sartaaj and Gurnoor (played by Feroza Kaur Heer) and the problems they have to face. It is set to release on July 11.

Ludhiana, July 1
A woman passenger and an auto-rickshaw driver had a narrow escape after their vehicle collided with a pickup truck on Ferozepur road near Barelwal Chowk this afternoon.

When the auto-rickshaw, coming from the Lodhi Club road, was crossing the Barewal Chowk light point, his vehicle came in front of the speeding pickup truck that was heading towards Mullapur.

Both vehicles applied brakes and tried to change directions, but could not avoid a collision. While the pickup truck hit the traffic signal pole, the auto-rickshaw driver lost control over the vehicle and fell from it.

The woman had to jump from the moving vehicle to save herself. Both drivers and the woman sustained minor injuries in the accident. 

Machhiwara, July 1
A woman of Machiwara, who was allegedly set ablaze by her close relatives on June 22, succumbed to her burn injuries at PGI, Chandigarh.

The police have registered a case of murder against seven persons, including her brother-in-law, in this regard.

The woman identified as Sukhjit Kaur, a resident of Dhakka Colony, Machhiwara, in her statement to the Machhiwara police claimed that she had brought a home by paying Rs 2 lakh on lease from her brother-in-law. As per the agreement, she was supposed to leave the house after receiving the said amount. But last night, her brother-in-law, along with six persons including a woman, started dispossessing her of the house and when she tried to stop them, they allegedly poured diesel on her and set her on fire.

She was rushed to Civil Hospital, Machhiwara, after some neighbours heard her screaming for help.

The Station House Officer, Machiwara, Jarnail Singh, said two persons, identified as Lashman Singh and Amardeep Singh, have been arrested while, others are still at large.

The two accused have been awarded police remand for two days.

Meanwhile, Pardeep Singh, husband of the deceased, has urged the authorities to get hold of the remaining accused at the earliest.

The Station House Officer (SHO) further claimed that they have now changed Section 307 to 302 of the IPC. Futher investigations are on in the case, said the SHO.

Sukhjit Kaur was allegedly set ablaze by her brother-in-law and six others on June 22. She sucumbed to her burn injuries at the PGI, Chandigarh. While two accused have been arrested, the remaining are still at large. 

Ludhiana, July 1
The District Roller Skating Association, Ludhiana, organised a weeklong training clinic under the aegis of Punjab Roller Skating Association at Leisure Valley Skating Rink, Sarabha Nagar. A large number of skaters from all over the state attended the programme.

Former national coach JS Dhaliwal covered all latest training skills needed to improve speed, with special emphasis on the development of correct body angles, in addition to covering all specific exercises vital to achieve strength, agility and stamina.

State association president DS Sidhu visited the programme on the concluding day and interacted with the campers.