Bathinda, November 14
The deadly city roads continue to snuff out precious lives in Bathinda. While Jagdeep Singh, a resident of Fakkarsar Theri village near Gidderbaha, was killed on the Barnala road last evening after his bike collided with iron barricades put up by the Army, Darshan Singh was crushed by a car near Bhagat Chowk today.

Volunteers of the NGO Sahara Jan Sewa who helped in shifting the bodies of both the victims, said, "This is the second major accident on Barnala road due to the iron barricades."

The barricades have been put up by Army at two places on the narrow Barnala road in front of the two entrances to the cantonment area.

"In view of the rising road accidents, involving the iron barricades, these should be removed as one fails to see them during the night due to the high speed of the vehicles," said Vijay Goyal, president of the NGO.

"The iron barricades have also been installed in a similar manner on the Dabwali road where too it has become a major cause of road accidents. One fails to see these barricades in the middle of the roads and are not removed either by the traffic policemen or army," said Tek Chand, one of the volunteers.

The NGO volunteers said, "Two road accidents have been reported in the city in the past 24 hours wherein two persons have lost their lives. In the second incident, the deceased, a labourer was having food at a roadside joint and was crushed by a car."

Apart from the road accidents involving high speed and engineering faults on the roads, the stray cattle too have become a major reason for fatal road accidents on the city roads, said the volunteers. They pointed out that there are over 2,000 stray cattle roaming on the city roads. "Despite taking up the matter with the corporation authorities, nothing has been done in this regard so far," said Vinod Kumar, who had also fallen prey to a road mishap due to the iron barricades.

Bathinda, November 14
With winters just round the corner and the Meteorological Department forecasting the onset of foggy conditions soon, passengers frequently taking the trains to travel from Bathinda to other places will have to suffer. The railway has announced that as many as six trains will be cancelled from December 31 to February 15.

Despite guidelines pertaining to installation of fog cut lights on train engines, trains serving to sections other than metropolitan cities are yet to be covered under the project. As per experts, the fog-cut lights have the ability to help train drivers see in dense fog conditions.

Apart from cancellation of some of the major and most-in-demand trains, the wait of passengers for the trains to arrive on scheduled time will also get longer as the long-distance trains will start getting late by close to 12-18 hours and run behind schedule thereby adding to the chaos. Railway officials advised that it would be best if the passengers check the updated time of arrival and departure of trains in the railways' official website or call on the railway enquiry number before arriving at the stations and then having to wait for several hours. The officials also stated that they would try their best to keep the time-table at the Bathinda junction updated for the convenience of the passengers.

Trains to be cancelled

Udhyan Abha Express (3008 Down, 3007 Up)

Bikaner-Bathinda-Sarai Express (12455 Up, 12456 Down)

Ambala-Shri Ganganagar Express (24525 Up, 24526 Down)

Amritsar-Ajmer Express (19611 Up, 19612 Down)

Ferozepur-Delhi passenger train (54641 Up, 54642 Down)

Bathinda, November 14
The Health Department and the administration took out an awareness rally on the occasion of Children's Day today as part of the Beti Bachao campaign. Flagging off the rally from Government Senior Secondary School, Parasram Nagar, the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Sonali Giri said, "Daughters are our pride."

Sonali said we should not be gender biased and always remember that women have become pioneers in all fields. Quoting Gurbani she said even the scriptures advocate men and women equal. A signature campaign was also held at the occasion. Starting from Parasram Nagar School, the rally passed through areas of Pratap Nagar and culminated back at the school.

ADC (D) Sonali Giri, District Education Officer (secondary) Dr Amarjit Kaur Kotfatta and District Family Welfare Officer Dr Ravanjit Singh participated in rally with the children. People were made aware of respecting daughters.

Later, a candle march was also taken out by the Health Department in Bathinda in the presence of CPS Sarup Chand Singla. Prominent among others present included acting Civil Surgeon Dr RS Randhawa, PNDT cell nodal officer Dr Kundanpal and mass media officer Jagtar Singh.

Bathinda, November 14
Drama ensued at the Bathinda bus stand today after a group of students raised slogans against the PRTC alleging that the driver of a Chandigarh-bound bus denied them entry in the bus. Following an altercation with the students, the driver also parked the bus at one corner and stood aside.

Students of DAV College Gurpreet Singh and Balkaran Singh, students of Government Rajindra College Gurtej Singh and students of Government ITI College said they have bus passes on the basis of which they have the right to travel in government buses but the drivers of the PRTC buses are never keen on letting them in the buses.

They also alleged that the drivers and conductors of these buses also often misbehave with them despite the fact that they know that the students belonging to far flung villages travel in these buses to travel to and from colleges.

Elaborating on the day’s incident, they stated that students who had to go to Bhucho, Rampura and Tapa boarded the PRTC bus PB65V5827, driver Dilbag Singh asked them to de-board the bus immediately and make space for other passengers.

They further accused the driver of misbehaving with them and telling them that when the college students crowd the buses, other passengers don’t board the bus. While the students began raising slogans against the PRTC and the driver, Dilbagh also parked his bus aside and refused to leave at its scheduled time of 12:37pm.

Defending his behaviour, Dilbagh said he had only asked the students to board the bus after other long-distance passengers and alleged that misunderstanding his request; the students began to misbehave with him and started raising slogans.

Speaking to Bathinda Tribune, GM of Bathinda bus stand, Rajinder Joshi, said that he would look into the matter and in case the driver was found guilty of misbehaving with students, action would be taken against him.

Bathinda, November 14
The police today identified four car lifters and registered a case against them at the Kotwali police station.

The accused have been identified as Gurpreet Singh, Lakhvir Singh, Amritpal Singh and Raj Singh, all residents of villages near Bathinda.

Investigating Officer Malkit Singh said, "The accused have been identified on the basis of information which reveals that these men have formed a gang to lift vehicles from Bathinda and nearby areas" He said the accused lift the luxury vehicles from Punjab and sell them in nearby states.

They also change the number plates and prepare fake documents. A case under Sections 379, 420, 465, 468 and 471 of the IPC has been registered against the accused. Raids are on to nab the accused, the police said. —TNS

Bathinda, November 14
Educational institutes in the city organised functions to celebrate Children’s Day today. To mark the day, Delhi Public School organised a sports meet for its students studying in nursery to Class II.

AEO (sports) Pavittar Kaur was present during the function as the chief guest while principal of Kids Care Playway School Anu Goyal was present as the guest of honour. To make the competitions interesting for the students, several fun sporting activities were organised by the school.

Students participated in ‘get ready for party race’, ‘ball race’, ‘teddy relay race’, ‘find items in sand’, ‘burst balloons and run’, ‘kangaroo race’ and several other activities. While students of Class II presented a colourful drill item, students of prep and Class I presented an entertaining dance performance on ‘Chak De India’.

AEO Pavittar Kaur, along with the principal of the school Arunjee felicitated the winners of the competitions.

The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) also observed Children’s Day at Behman Diwana village. The program was held in collaboration with Justice Social Welfare (Save Girl Child) which district and session judge-cum-chairman District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Tejwinder Singh presided over.

Congratulating children on the occasion of Children’s Day today he called upon children to be good citizens of country. He appealed the parents to save their children from bad affects of drugs addiction and falling into bad company. He also thanked the secretary of Justice Social Welfare (Save Girl Child) Jai Singh appealing to support the social causes so that more such programs could be held in future and needy children could be helped. He said, “The daughters are pride of family.”

At the event, secretary of District Bar Association Kamaljit Singh Kuti, lawyer Mandeep Kaur Dhillon, senior assistant Mandeep Kaur were also present. At the onset of seminar Jeevan Kumar told people about services Punjab Legal Services Authority Chandigarh offers. He told about permanent lok adalat, mediation and conciliation center, 375 A CRPC etc services.The day was also celebrated with great enthusiasm on the premises of Lord Rama Public School. Teachers in the role of students conducted the morning assembly and some skits and small activities were also organised for the entertainment of children. Speech on the life of Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru was given by the vice-principal.

Fancy dress competition was held on the occasion. Students came dressed as Jawahar Lal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi, MotherTeresa, Indira Gandhi, etc.

Bachpan Playway School also celebrated the day at its branch in Mata Jeeve Nagar by organising a fashion show on the eve of Children’s Day. Little toddlers came dressed in vibrant dresses. Best student from the each class was awarded and a token of appreciation was given to all the participants. Children from Dhobiana Basti and nearby areas, all students of the Prayaas International School also participated in the function organised in the school to mark the day. IPS Dr Jitendra Kumar Jain was the chief guest on the occasion. 

Bathinda, November 14
Officials and members of the cooperative societies today organised the 61st All-India Cooperative week.

Harbant Singh Jattana, deputy registrar of the cooperative societies, Bathinda, said the cooperative societies play a vital role in the development of state.

He said the societies have contributed in the green and white revolution and helped the farmers in getting fair price for their milk and other products. Assistant registrar Kuldeep Kumar threw light upon the role of the cooperative societies.—TNS

Bathinda, November 14
Following the directive of the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, Chandigarh, the District Education Office (secondary) under the guidance of DEO Amarjit Kaur Kotfatta today organised district-level students’ science congress at Teachers’ Home here today. The competitions were held under the supervision of District Science Supervisor Baljit Singh Sandoha.

As many as 31 teams, comprising of students from 29 schools of the district participated in the congress. While 15 teams competed in junior group (10-14 years), 16 teams participated in the senior group (14 to 17 years).

Coordinator of the congress Harmesh Verma said this year the congress was organised on the theme of ‘Understanding weather and Environment’ which had further been divided into sub-themes like ‘Weather around you’, ‘Impact of human activities on weather and environment’ and ‘Weather, environment and health’.

In the junior group the team of Government Senior Secondary School Jhumba won the first position while the second prize went to the Delhi Public School Bathinda and the third place went to Government High School Bhunder. In the senior group, Delhi Public School, Bathinda, won the first position, Government Girls Senior Secondary School bagged the second position while the third place went to Government Senior Secondary School, Sivian.

Bathinda, November 14
A medical camp at the Phul Town Development Club would be held at Max Super Speciality Hospital (MSSH), Bathinda, on November 16 from 10am to 3pm where free consultation to people for cardiac, gastro and ENT ailments would be provided.

People can also avail free medical check-ups like BMI, ECG, BP, RBS and hearing tests. Dr Sajaad Manzoor, cardiologist, Dr Ajesh Bansal- gastroenterologist, and Dr Rohit Goyal, ENT specialist, at the MSSH will be consulting patients at the camp. 

Bathinda, November 14
Students of BA Physical Education (part III) of Government Rajindra College today organised various sporting competitions under the guidance of the head of the department of physical education Prof Surjit Singh and Prof Jagjivan Kaur. The meet was inaugurated by the principal of the college Vijay Kumar Goyal.

In the boys’ competitions, while Gurmel Singh won the 800 metres race, Gurjit Singh won the 100m race. Palwinder Singh won the 200m race, Kawaljeet Singh won the 400m race, Gagandeep Singh won the shot put throw contest and another Gagandeep Singh won the long jump contest.

In the girls’ competitions, Muskaan Sharma won the shot put contest and the 100 m race, Ramandeep Kaur won the 200m race and Pradeep JKaur won the long jump contest. Gagandeep Singh and Muskaan Sharma were named the best male and female athletes, respectively. —TNS

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