07082025-CT-01.qxd 8/7/2025 1:09 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune MINISTER GAVE NO TIMELINE FOR RLY STATION REVAMP: MP MC CASH CRUNCH TO PERSIST AS 3 PROJECTS HIT THE WALL NATIONAL HANDLOOM DAY: CELEBS' SUSTAINABLE FASHION Tewari expresses displeasure over the reply given by Railways Minister to his question in Parliament. P2 MC unlikely to tide over fiscal crisis soon as proposed revenue-making projects fail to make headway. P3 Several Bollywood actresses have been making conscious choices to support the weavers. P4 » » PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 35°C | MIN 25°C YESTERDAY MAX 34.5°C | MIN 23.7°C SUNSET THURSDAY 7.12 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 5.45 AM » THURSDAY | 7 AUGUST 2025 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST /THETRIBUNECHD FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE 2 die, four hurt in Mohali oxygen cylinder blast Explosion occurs during refilling of cylinders; severed body parts, glass shards strewn at Phase 9 plant Gaurav Kanthwal Tribune News Service WHAT’S ON CHANDIGARH Musical concert: ‘Chasing Light’ by Ragini Tandan at Tagore Theatre, 7 pm, (tickets available on BookMyShow) Music performance: Tabla solo by Rahul Kumar Mishra at the 310th Monthly Baithak Programme of Pracheen Kala Kendra, August 11, 6:30 pm, Pracheen Kala Kendra, Sector 35 APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 34, 56 and Ram Darbar Panchkula: Sector 5 Mohali: Sec 88 and Phase 8 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com Judge’s gunman booked after scuffle at HC Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 6 A scuffle broke out between a court officer and a judge’s gunman on the Punjab and Haryana High Court premises on Wednesday. Late in the evening, the police registered an FIR against gunman ASI Dilbag Singh under multiple sections of the BNS. Court officer Dalvinder Singh and the ASI engaged in a heated conversation over duty-related matters. Dalvinder alleged that during the altercation, ASI Dilbag Singh misbehaved, physically assaulted him and pointed a pistol at him. He claimed that bystanders intervened and restrained the gunman before the situation could escalate. Denying the allegations, the ASI said it was Dalvinder who spoke rudely first. “I never pointed my weapon at anyone. These are false accusations,” he said. A team from the Sector 3 police station reached the Continued on page 2 Mohali, August 6 Two youths died while four others sustained serious injuries as a high-intensity blast rocked an oxygen plant at the Industrial Area in Phase 9 here on Wednesday morning. The deceased were identified as Lucknow native Mohammed Asif (25) and Davinder Kumar (27) of Gramsihari in UP both , employed at Hi-Tech Industries Ltd. Sarvesh (45), Ashok (44), Sachin (24) and Akbar Ali (50) were injured in the incident and rushed to the Phase 6 Civil Hospital. The blast occurred around 9 am when approximately 25 workers had turned up for the morning shift and had just begun the loading and unloading of cylinders from trucks. Oxygen cylinders exploded while being refilled, leaving two workers dead on the spot, and blowing off the roof of the shed. Locals said such was the impact of the explosion that the doors and windows of nearby buildings were also shattered. The explosion site bore a grim look with dismembered body parts, cylinders, broken furniture, and shards of glass strewn all over. The sound of explosions were heard at large distance from the spot. Local said debris of the cylinders fell far away. Cops, fire tenders and ambulance were rushed to THE DECEASED Davinder Kumar (27) Inconsolable relatives of the victims. TRIBUNE PHOTOS: VICKY Mohammed Asif (25) People gather outside the oxygen plant unit at the Industrial Area in Phase 9 on Wednesday. POLITICIANS LEND SUPPORT TO UNIT OWNER Prominent political party leaders from the district, including Mohali MLA’s son Sarabjit Singh Samana of AAP, Balbir Singh Sidhu and Deputy Mayor Kuljit Singh Bedi of Congress, Sanjeev Vashisht of BJP and Paramjit Singh Kahlon of SAD, along with several industrialists reached the site to support the oxygen unit owner in time of need. the spot for relief work. Leakage from some cylinders could be seen after which cops vacated the nearby buildings as a precautionary measure. The Deputy Director (Factories), later, visited the spot and initiated cooling of the cylinders — a process of checking cylinders. Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal said, “On the statement of the kin of the Kambala resident Akbar Ali, one of the injured employees of the firm, a case of death by negligence has been registered at the Phase 11 police station. The explosion took place during refilling. Fur- CASE OF DEATH BY NEGLIGENCE: MOHALI DC ❝ On the statement of the kin of one of the injured employees of the firm, a case of death by negligence has been registered. — Komal Mittal, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER ❞ ther probe is on. The unit has suffered damages and is not operational for the time being.” Hi-Tech Industries Ltd, owned by R Sachdeva, supplies industrial and medical oxygen to major government hospitals of the region. Irate kin of the deceased blocked the way of the ambu- lance carrying the mortal remains. They complained that dismembered body parts were stuck to iron angles even hours after the blast. Neetu, sister-in-law of Davinder, said, “He used to work in the 6 pm-6 am shift, but stayed to work overtime as he was promised Rs 200 extra.” Former Health Minister and Punjab Congress leader Balbir Singh Sidhu has demanded an adequate compensation for the affected families from the government. He said, “They should be provided relief without any delay. The injured must be given free medical treatment.” Prominent political party leaders of Mohali, including Mohali MLA’s son Sarabjit Singh Samana of AAP Bal, bir Singh Sidhu and Deputy Mayor Kuljit Singh Bedi of Congress, Sanjeev Vashisht of BJP and Paramjit Singh Kahlon of SAD, along with several industrialists reached the site to support the unit owner in time of need. Ahead of polls, PU rolls out 5 villages on UT periphery cut off parking stickers for students as rainwater damages causeway Deepankar Sharda Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 6 To restrict outsiders’ entry on the campus, the Panjab University authorities have launched secure parking stickers for day scholars for the 2025–2026 academic session. The move comes at a time when the university is abuzz with activity ahead of the PU Campus Students Council (PUCSC) elections. The parking stickers were officially launched by Vice-Chancellor Renu Vig in the presence of Dean Student Welfare Amit Chauhan, DSW (Women) Namita Gupta, Associate DSW Naresh Kumar, Chief of University Security Vikram Singh and some students, who received the stickers. “The stickers are printed on a high-quality reflective surface, ensuring better visibility during both day and night, ENCRYPTION TO PREVENT DUPLICATION The advanced stickers are embedded with a QR code for digital verification, a tamper-proof hologram and a unique encrypted symbol to prevent misuse and duplication. The QR codes were securely generated in-house by students of the Computer Science and Engineering Department, UIET, who were appointed under the Earn-WhileLearn scheme by the DSW office. and enhancing overall security. Student data for issuing stickers is being collected through the university MIS portal, enabling a centralised, transparent, secure and efficient application process. The initiative is aimed at regulating vehicular movement, strengthening campus security and implementing a modern, technology-driven access control system. Stickers will Bond of love be issued to eligible day scholars,” said Jaspreet Kaur of Department of Botany, who coordinated the project. Applicants need to register through the PUMIS portal and get validation through the respective department chairperson. After the completion of the sticker distribution drive, vehicles without valid stickers will not be allowed entry on the campus. “Misuse, tampering or unauthorised transfer of stickers will attract strict disciplinary action,” Kaur added. The VC, meanwhile, appreciated the efforts of the team for developing and efficiently executing this initiative, in a short span of time. Campus abuzz with student poll activities Meanwhile, the campus is abuzz with election-related Continued on page 2 112 kg of plastic carry bags seized in Sec 26 mandi Tribune News Service Girls select rakhis at the Sector 19 market in Chandigarh on Wednesday. PHOTO: PRADEEP TEWARI Chandigarh, August 6 The MC seized nearly 112 kg of plastic carry bags during a surprise raid at the Sector 26 mandi today. During a visit to the mandi, enforcement teams caught three stockists selling plastic carry bags. The banned items were seized and the stockists were issued challans. The seized plastic was transported to the dry waste processing plant for shredding. An MC official said the UT Administration had banned Continued on page 2 c m y b Gaurav Kanthwal Tribune News Service Mohali, August 6 Overnight rain on hills threw life out of gear downstream as many rainwater overflowed on causeways and roads in parts of Mohali till late in the afternoon. The road connectivity in Jayanti Majri near Chandigarh was snapped since early morning as a seasonal rivulet was in full spate till afternoon. Five villages — Jayanti Majri, Gurha, Kasauli, Karoundi, Baghindi — were cut off after a causeway was damaged near Jayanti Majri village. Residents said hundreds of students could not go to their schools in the area while office-goers and milkmen were stranded in the morning as rainwater gushed through the rivulet, cutting off the connecting road from Chandigarh. Long queues of vehicles and two-wheeler riders were formed on two ends of the road near the rivulet. Village residents slammed the AAP government for failing to build even one bridge in three years despite Kharar MLA Anmol Gagan Mann’s promise. “During rainy season, we cannot reach Chandigarh hospitals as there is proper health facility available in our village,” they alleged. Sham Singh Choudhary, former sarpach of Jayanti Majri, rued, “All governments, be it SAD, Congress and now AAP , have failed to live up to the expectations of people here. Congress leaders Charanjit Singh Channi and Manish Tewari, and Jagmohan Kang, Anmol Gagan Mann and Malwinder Singh Kang of AAP have represented this place at A causeway connecting Chandigarh with five villages washed away near Jayanti Majri village at New Chandigarh on Wednesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: PRADEEP TEWARI MUBARIKPUR CAUSEWAY FLOODED In Mubarikpur, the Dhakoli-Dera Bassi road connectivity was snapped as the Mubarikpur causeway on Ghaggar overflowed after excess water was released from Kaushalya Dam. Road users who take this alternative shortcut on the Zirakpur-Dera Bassi stretch said the administration did not even bother to depute cops at the Zirakpur end. GHAGGAR IN SPATE, HIGH ALERT SOUNDED IN P’KULA P2 high positions in the Parliament and the CM’s office but failed to provide even proper road connectivity.” Anandpur Sahib MP Malwinder Singh Kang had released a grant of Rs 6 lakhs for the repair of the eroded causeway two days ago, but official lethargy ensured that the ramp of the causeway was washed away. No official of the district administration, PWD or GMADA visited the site till afternoon. Sukhna floodgate opened as water level hits danger mark Dushyant Singh Pundir Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 6 One of the three floodgates of Sukhna Lake was opened around 11 am on Wednesday as its water level reached the danger mark of 1,163 ft following rainfall in the catchment area. It has been two years since the lake flood gates were opened to release the excess water into Sukhna Choe. According to officials, the gate was opened at up to the height of six inches and would be closed when the water level would drop to 1,162 ft. The UT Engineering Department has deployed officials at Regulator End of the lake on a 24x7 basis. CCTV cameras have also Continued on page 2 One of the three floodgates at Sukhna Lake opened to release excess water in Chandigarh on Wednesday. PHOTO: PRADEEP TEWARI