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P4 » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 35°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 27°C SUNSET SUNDAY 6.20 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 6:11 AM SUNDAY | 21 SEPTEMBER 2025 | LUDHIANA Seek funds for repair works, dist US citizen Rupinder was a PO, facing lookout circular admn tells govt schools,for delay, say officials hospitals Lack of initiative on part of institutions to be blamed Suspects managed her entry, exit via Madras, Nepal airports Mahesh Sharma NO FUND CRUNCH, SAYS DEO Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 20 While many principals and teachers of government schools have been voicing concerns over the absence of grants for urgent repair works, the district administration has clarified that funds are available for both education and health sectors. Officials maintained that the problem lies not in the release of funds but in lack of initiative on part of the institutions concerned to get the same. Teachers complained that no financial aid had been received for months, leaving school buildings in miserable condition after the recent heavy rainfall. “No grant has received since March. Even minor repair works could not be carried out due to fund shortage,” said a teacher of Government Senior Secondary School, Cemetery Road. Similar issues were reported from Man dies as motorcycle, minibus collide Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 20 A powerful collision occurred between a minibus and a motorcycle on Chawa Road in Shamaspur village here, which resulted in the death of a biker. The minibus dragged the motorcycle on the road after the collision due to which the bike caught fire. The deceased has been identified as Jaskaran Singh, a 29-year-old resident of Raipur village here. He was the only brother of his two sisters and their father had passed away recently. 29-year-old victim was sole breadwinner in family According to bystanders, the speeding minibus coming from a factory near the village of Shamaspur on Chawa Road collided headon with a motorcycle, which caused the motorcyclist’s death. The man fell from his bike due to the collision and died on the spot. However, the bus driver dragged the motorcycle for another 50m, due to which the two-wheeler caught fire. The Samrala police got information about the incident and initiated a probe. The residents said the victim was returning home in Raipur village from Mohali after completing his shift and was the sole breadwinner in his family. Meanwhile, his family demanded that strict action should be taken against the minibus driver, who fled the scene after the accident. HEALTH & WELLNESS The Tribune is starting a Q and A column to address your health-related queries. Please mail your questions (not exceeding 40 words) at healthandwellness@tribunemail.com. The Tribune’s panel of doctors will answer all your healthrelated concerns. DEO Dimple Madan, who holds dual charge of secondary and primary education, dismissed allegations of fund shortage. “Funds are being released regularly. Schools must approach us for their requirements. We are ready to provide assistance but they have to come out of their comfort zones and get the task accomplished,” she said. A roof of a classroom at a school damaged due to heavy rains in Ludhiana. FILE Government Senior Secondary School, Model Town. According to sources, a list having nearly 2,000 rooms and portions of school buildings damaged during the floods was submitted to the Education Department for urgent attention. District Education Officer (DEO) Dimple Madan, who holds dual charge of secondary and primary education, dismissed allegations of fund shortage. “Funds are being released regularly. In fact, last instalments remain unutilised in many schools. The issue is that schools must approach us for their requirements. We are ready to provide assistance but they have to come out of their comfort zones and get the task accomplished,” she said. Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain reiterated that funds for both education and health sectors had already been set aside. “The district administration is committed to providing financial and infrastructural support to schools and hospitals. Health and educational institutions must approach us for their requirements and we will provide help. I have instructed the DEO and Civil Surgeon to ensure modernisation and safety in institutions. Any help required will be extended on a priority basis,” he assured. One-yr-old abducted child rescued, woman among 2 land in police net Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 20 The Government Railway Police (GRP) claimed to have solved the case in which a one-year-old child was abducted from the city railway station. The police arrested two suspects, including a woman, and rescued the child safely. The suspects were identified as Indradev, a resident of Gonda, and Anita Yadav, also a resident of UP . Station House Officer, GRP , Ludhiana, inspector Palvinder Singh said three days ago, a one-year-old child was kidnapped in the wee hours from the Ludhiana railway station. The police solved the case and recovered him from the Giaspura area. After the incident, the police also recovered the CCTV footage in which the suspects were seen taking the child out of the sta- Cops address mediapersons in Ludhiana on Saturday. tion premises. Now, further investigation was being done to inquire if the suspects were involved in child trafficking and they had stolen any child in the past. A case was registered against them. SP GRP Balram Rana, said , , the Ludhiana GRP police team checked approximately 250 CCTV cameras. The biggest lead came from Dholewal Chowk, where the woman was seen getting off an autorickshaw with her stepbrother. The police team began tracking the CCTV footage from there, and with the help of human intelligence, they first apprehended Indradev, who revealed her whereabouts. Later, she was also nabbed. The complainant, Lalita, a resident of Palia Buzurg village in Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh, had come to Lud- hiana by train with her two children, her younger son Raj (1) and elder son Sanskar (4). She, along with her children, had come to meet her husband in the night. But her husband Ashish told her that the factory gate was closed from outside and she would not be able to get entry now. Hence, she should sleep at the station with the children and come there in the morning. Ashish, the child’s father, said while his children and wife were sleeping at the station that night, a man and woman arrived. After a short conversation, they laid down their beds next to each other and slept. Later in the night, the suspects took the child along with them while his wife as sleeping. It was in the morning only when she woke up and was shocked to see that their child was missing. Ludhiana, September 20 Indian-origin US citizen Rupinder Kaur Pandher, aka ‘ Rupy’, who was allegedly killed by Sukhjeet Singh Sonu at the behest of her would-be-groom was herself declared a proclaimed offender (PO) in a case registered against her at the NRI police station here. As a Lookout Circular (LOC) had also been issued for her arrest, the suspects had planned her entry in India from the Madras airport and also her return to the US through Nepal for fear of being caught. As nature would have done it, Rupy had insisted to visit India and stay at Kilaraipur against advice and warnings of her relatives, including her sister Kamaldeep Kaur Khairah, who is pursuing her case now. Lamenting that the investigating police failed to recover her sister’s belongings, including jewellery, valuables and documents, Khairah said she would soon plan a visit to Punjab and stay here till justice was provided and all accomplices of the conspirator, Charanjit Singh Grewal, are nabbed along with paraphernalia used for preparing fake documents. Khairah has also produced a copy of an FIR registered against Sonu at the PAU police station under Section 420 for allegedly duping a renowned real estate dealer of lakhs of rupees in multiple A picture of prime conspirator Charanjit Grewal with victim Rupinder Kaur Pandher, put by him on a social networking site. cases. This defied the police’s claim that Sonu was not having a criminal past. It was learnt that earlier also Rupy visited India a few years ago after her father’s death in connection with management of the latter’s immovable property at Agar Nagar in Ludhiana, Chandigarh and Rauni in the Khanna subdivision. Khairah alleged that the suspects had exploited the helplessness of Rupy for alluring her to Kilaraipur and then eliminating her as they thought that none of her siblings would be coming to India to pursue her murder case. According to Khairah, Rupy had four siblings and one of the brothers had died in 2008. Another brother and a sister are confined to bed due to illnesses. “As I am the only one who can come physically and pursue the case, I will soon plan a visit along with my husband and we will stay in the city till all suspects are arrested by Jail inmate escapes from court premises Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 20 A jail inmate escaped from the court premises, after eluding a police official. The suspect escaped in a filmy style. According to sources, when the police officer brought him from jail for hearing, his leg was bandaged due to which the official was allegedly little careless. The suspect was limping, pretending to have a leg injury. Later, he fled before entering the court gate. The police are searching for the suspect. He has been identified as Balwinder Singh, alias Bindu, a resident of Tarn Taran. According to information, Balwinder has two cases registered against him under the POCSO Act. The first one was filed on February 26 while the second was filed on March 25. A team of officials of the Daresi police station had been formed to search for the suspect. the police,” she said. Meanwhile, Grewal has pleaded innocence on his social media account and paid gratitude to his community in the region for supporting him. “I will tell my side stories. I did not kill her or I did not pay any one for her murder. Please trust me. I will not let you down, my family, friends and village. Thanks for the support and love.” Reads the text message uploaded on the Facebook account of Grewal. He has also uploaded his picture with Rupy at a shrine. The victim was allegedly killed by Sukhjeet of Kilaraipur village at the behest of Grewal, the 75-year-old UKbased NRI from Mehma Singh Wala village. Dehlon SHO Sukhjinder Singh on the other hand claimed that the investigation was going on during extended police remand of Sukhjeet and the police would recover all valuables related to the case. Dy Mayor inspects road repair works Ludhiana, September 20 With the Municipal Corporation (MC) taking up road repair works across the city, Deputy Mayor Prince Johar inspected ongoing works at the Gill canal bridge and nearby areas. During the inspection, the Deputy Mayor directed officials to cover all roads and ensure quality of works. Directions were also issued to avoid humps on roads after completion of repair works. Humps are witnessed when excessive hotmix material is poured on damaged portions. — TNS 71 malaria cases this year so far, more than double last year’s count Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 20 Ludhiana is witnessing a concerning rise in malaria cases this year, marking the highest tally in eight years, even as dengue remains relatively under control. With 71 malaria cases reported this year so far — more than double last year’s count — the district Health Department has intensified surveillance and prevention efforts. In contrast, dengue cases have stayed comparatively low at 60, thanks to proactive campaigns and early intervention. The contrasting trends have prompted health officials to focus on both containment and community awareness to curb the spread of vector-borne diseases. Travel history has emerged as a key factor in the reported malaria cases as 18 patients had recently visited states such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and 34 are migrants from other states, at present residing in Ludhiana. Civil Surgeon Ramandeep Kaur said: “We’ve deployed 325 teams across Ludhiana to monitor and control vectorborne diseases. Urban zones have received 56 breeding checkers due to higher population density.” Health Dept intensifies surveillance, prevention efforts In Ludhiana city, 25 Health Department teams and 25 NGO teams are actively inspecting mosquito breeding grounds, supported by 50 anti-larvae squads conducting daily inspections. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water on a road in Ludhiana on Saturday. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN Officials attribute the malaria spike to increased rainfall and waterlogging, which have created ideal mosquito breeding conditions. “Stagnant water in coolers, containers and open c m y b spaces is a major concern,” said a health official. Dengue cases remain relatively low at 60 so far, compared to 474 last year. To prevent a surge, the district administration has ramped up its ‘Har Shukarvaar, dengue te Vaar’ campaign. Health teams have visited 25,905 houses and checked 54,901 containers, of which 186 were found positive for mosquito larvae. Larvicide spray- ing was carried out in affected areas in collaboration with the Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra. The Civil Surgeon emphasised the importance of public cooperation: “Residents must keep their surroundings clean and avoid water stagnation,” she said. Dr Pragati from the district administration and Dr Sheetal Narang from the Health Department are personally supervising field activities, stressing timely inspections and immediate destruction of breeding sites. District Epidemologist Sheetal said: “Community participation is key. Simple steps such as using mosquito nets, wearing full-sleeved clothing and maintaining hygiene can go a long way.” As Ludhiana braces for the post-monsoon season, health officials remain vigilant, determined to curb the spread and protect public health. Malaria vs dengue Malaria and dengue are both mosquito-borne diseases, but they differ in cause, symptoms and transmission. Malaria is caused by a parasite (plasmodium) transmitted through the bite of the anopheles mosquito while dengue is caused by a virus spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Malaria often leads to recurring high fever with chills, body aches and sweating, whereas dengue typically presents with sudden high fever, severe headache, joint pain and sometimes a skin rash. Unlike malaria, dengue can progress to a more serious form known as dengue hemorrhagic fever, which may cause internal bleeding and low platelet count. Early diagnosis and prevention are key to managing both.