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P4 » FORECAST GENERALLY CLOUDY MAX 26°C | MIN 20°C YESTERDAY MAX 33°C | MIN 19°C SUNSET MONDAY 6.02 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 6:19 AM MONDAY | 6 OCTOBER 2025 | LUDHIANA Soil erosion at Sasrali, heavy rain forecast panic villagers Bandh strengthening work intensified by authorities to prevent any untoward incident Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Sasrali colony (Ludhiana), October 5 Soil erosion at the embankment of the Sultej in Sasrali Colony village continues to raise fear of breach and to prevent any untoward incident, the bandh strengthening work has been intensified by the authorities. Further, heavy rain forecast for two to three days has also panicked villagers. It is learnt that the weatherman has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in the region on October 6 to 7. The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has opened floodgates of Bhakra and Pong dams on Saturday to release 40,000 cusecs of water in a controlled manner in the Sutlej and Beas. The Tribune team visited Sasrali Colony on Sunday to take stock of the present situation and found that the bandh erosion was taking place at some places and to prevent breach in the bandh, sand beds were being laid by Man, kin, aides booked for bid to kill wife Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 5 The Ludhiana police registered a case against a man, his family members and aides for attempting to kill his wife by assaulting her brutally. The incident occurred on October 1 and the police registered a case against the assailants on Saturday. The suspects were identified as victim’s husband Paramjit Singh, mother-in-law Gurmeet Kaur, Bachi, Kulvir Kaur, Lakhi, Bittu, Nirmal Singh, Gurnam Singh and brother-inlaw Avtar Singh Lalu. The complainant, Manjit Kaur, a resident of Vardhman Nagar, Rahon road, told the police that on October 1 when she was alone at home, the suspects came and beat her up. Even her mother-in-law tried to kill her by strangling and dragged her out of the house. When she was going towards the Basti Jodhewal police station in an auto-rickshaw, the suspects again came and abused her. She said her husband Paramjit Singh took out his kirpan and hit her hand with it. Later, she was rushed to the CMCH. The victim demanded that the police should take strict action against the suspects. SI Sukhwinder Singh said after registering a case against the assailants, further investigation was launched by the police in the matter. Sources said a family dispute was said to be the cause behind the murderous attack. 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. Workers arrange sand bags to strengthen the bandh at Sasrali Colony on Sunday. INDERJEET VERMA workers on a war footing. Former sarpanch of Sasrali Colony Karam Singh said water was released from Bhakra and Pong dams, which increased the flow of water at Sasrali. Till Saturday evening, the water level was not even touching the bandh but from the midnight, the water level has increased and the strong current of water had been hitting the bandh, causing soil erosion at several points. “Bandh is weakening at some places and to prevent it, sand bags are being put alongside the embankment to prevent further soil erosion. Fear of breach in the bandh seems imminent as strong water current is hitting the embankment. We are still hopeful that the way the bandh strengthening work is going on, any untoward situ- ation may be averted,” the former sarpanch said. An elderly man, Punjab Singh, who was roaming near the bandh to check the erosion, said the recent flood-like situation had caused huge damages to crops and fields in Sasrali. Over 100 acres of agricultural land had also submerged in the river, leaving farmers in the lurch. “Bandh in Sasrali Colony had not witnessed any floodlike situation in the past 70 years and even during the 1988 floods in the state, the embankment in Sasrali had not witnessed any major damage and even no loss of crops was then reported. BJP state spokesperson Pritpal Singh Baliawal said the administration had already deployed teams and the bandh strengthening work was going on. Water released from dams had already reached the river embankment, which caused soil erosion at some points but the situation is under control. Day after Bittu’s review of works, AAP’s Arora inaugurates bridge BJP leader had announced that two bridges will be opened within week Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 5 Just a day after Union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu inspected the progress of four key bridges over the Sidhwan Canal — prompted by a report in these columns, highlighting delays — political momentum surged. Bittu, representing the BJP had announced that two bridges would be opened within a week and assured that work on the remaining ones was being fast-tracked. In a swift counter-move, AAP’s MLA Sanjeev Arora, Minister for Power, Industry and Commerce, Investment Promotion, and NRI Affairs, inaugurated one of the bridges opposite Baklavi restaurant on Sunday morning, signalling a clear intent to claim credit for the development. With both parties vying for visibility and public approval, the bridge project has become a stage for political one-upmanship. Arora said another bridge is expected to open within 10 days while the remaining two are slated for completion in the next couple of months — setting the scene for more ribbon-cutting ceremonies and, likely, more credit battles. Arora said after becoming a member of parliament in the Rajya Sabha in 2022, he met Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari. Since then, he had held multiple meetings with the Secretary of MoRTH and the Chairpersons of NHAI, following a series of communications. He has consistently raised concerns related to the NHAI and other infrastructure projects with them. “The completion of the four bridges will significantly ease traffic congestion, particularly in Ludhiana’s South City areas. Earlier, area residents had to face traffic congestion as the existing bridges were not enough to handle the increased traffic on the road,” he said. With a cost of Rs 16 crore, the four bridges on Sidhwan Canal are being constructed approximately 300m from the F2 Raceway Bridge and Barewal Bridge, on both right and left sides. Minister Sanjeev Arora inaugurates a bridge over Sidhwan Canal in South City on Sunday. 189 kg of suspected Gangster Vicky Nihang disguised Man suffers bullet adulterated paneer himself to evade policemen injury as miscreants Cut hair, trimmed beard, removed Nihang-style turban open fire at cops seized in Jagraon Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 5 In a joint operation conducted by the CIA Staff, Jagraon, and the Food Safety Team (FST), Ludhiana, officials intercepted a vehicle carrying a large consignment of paneer suspected to be adulterated. The operation was carried out near Rangarh Bhullar village on Sidhwan Bet Road, Jagraon, under the supervision of Civil Surgeon Ramandeep Kaur. During the inspection, the officials found 189 kg of paneer being transported in non-refrigerated conditions. It was allegedly purchased from Nirvana, Haryana, at the rate of Rs 210 per kg and was intended for distribution among fast food vendors and roadside dhabas operating between Jagraon and Nakodar. Acting promptly, the Food Safety Team collected samples of the paneer on the spot, which have been dispatched to the State Food Laboratory for detailed analysis in accordance with the FSSAI guidelines. The guidelines mandate strict adherence to hygiene, temperature control and quality standards during the production, storage and transportation of dairy products. As per standard food safety protocols, the remaining stock was destroyed on the spot to prevent it from entering the food supply chain. Dr Ramandeep Kaur urged food business operators and vendors to strictly comply with the FSSAI norms to safeguard public health. Dr Sandeep Singh emphasised that routine checks and surprise inspections would be continued across the district to curb the sale of substandard food items and maintain food safety standards. — TNS Ludhiana, October 5 Gurpreet Singh, alias Vicky Nihang, the suspect in the murder of Instagram influencer Kartik Baggan, who was arrested on Saturday by the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) after exchange of fire, had disguised himself to evade the police. Vicky also cut his hair and trimmed his beard. He had also stopped wearing the Nihang turban. He was reportedly staying at the home of a distant relative in Sidhwan Bet. The police said they were able to locate the suspect with the help of human intelligence. Vicky was arrested by the police’s Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) on Saturday after an encounter. When the police were chasing him, he opened fire, prompting the former to shoot him in 3 NABBED EARLIER IN KARTIK BAGGAN MURDER CASE Two suspects in the murder case, Amandeep Singh, alias Sam, and Sahil, were arrested from Hazur Sahib, Nanded in Maharashtra last month by the Ludhiana police. Third suspect Sahil was nabbed from the city. the leg. He was then brought to Jagraon and later to the Ludhiana Civil Hospital. After his photo surfaced, it was revealed that he had cut his hair. In August, Vicky, along with two of his aides, murdered Kartik. He was shot four times in a market near Ghati Mohalla. When the police began a probe, CCTV footage from outside Kartik’s home surfaced, showing Vicky and the two other suspects following Kartik on a bike. However, then the police were unaware of any rivalry. A few days after the murder, the gangsters took responsibility for Kartik’s murder. After the crime, a social media post surfaced. Notably, two suspects in the murder case, Amandeep Singh, alias Sam, and Sahil, were arrested from Hazur Sahib, Nanded in Maharashtra last month by the Ludhiana police. Third suspect Sahil was nabbed from the city. During interrogation, it was revealed that on August 10, Kartik and Sam, had a fight over bike parking and the latter was also assaulted brutally by Kartik. Afterwards, they exchanged threats on social media. This rivalry led to Kartik’s murder. Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 5 An incident came to the fore in the Lalton area on Pakhowal Road, here, in which two bike-borne persons opened fire at the police and a bullet hit a civilian who was standing near the naka. As per information, PCR Incharge ASI Sunita, along with a police team, had set up a checkpoint. When two youths on a Hero Splendor motorcycle were signalled to stop, the suspects opened fire at the police. The police team from the Lalton police post under the Sadar police station laid a checkpoint in the Lalton area. Two young men reached the place on a Splendor motorcycle. The police signalled the suspects to stop. A private person, Lakhwinder Singh, was also present near the checkpoint. When the police tried to stop the miscreants, they became enraged. The suspects started firing at the police. The police personnel were saved but Lakhwinder, who was present at the checkpoint, was hit by a bullet. Sources say that the man was helping the police at the scene. Lakhwinder, who was seriously injured, was admitted to a private hospital. After firing shots, the miscreants fled the checkpoint. The police have started searching for the suspects. Sadar police station incharge inspector Avneet Kaur said both suspects were coming from the wrong side. When ASI Sunita signalled them to stop after seeing them coming from the wrong side, the incident occurred. The police have now begun the process to identify the suspects. Lack of sheds gives farmers tough time after rainfall at grain market Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 5 Rainfall received this morning exposed glaring infrastructural gaps at the grain market located on Gill Road near Arora Palace here. With no adequate shed facility available, farmers were seen hurriedly covering their harvested paddy produce with tarpaulins to protect it from moisture damage. What added to their woes was the fact that the limited shed area at the market was already occupied — not by grain but by trucks loaded with cement sacks. The presence of the vehicles irked farmers, who questioned why non-agricultural goods were being stored Produce of farmers covered with tarpaulins; and (right) trucks loaded with cement parked under sheds at the grain market in Ludhiana. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN in a space meant to safeguard food grains. “Who allowed the trucks to be stationed here?” asked several farmers. “The rain caught us off guard early this morning. We rushed to cover our produce with tarpaulins but it’s not a foolproof solution. Sheds are too few and some are misused,” said Gurdev Singh from Mansuran village. Tek Singh, another farmer present at the market, said: c m y b “We’ve been demanding proper shed infrastructure for years. Today’s situation shows how urgent the need is. The lifting of produce is going on but grains awaiting their turn are left exposed. This is unacceptable.” A market worker shared, “When it rains suddenly, we scramble to cover grains. But it’s impossible to save everything in time. Water stagnation also damages the pro- duce and we’ve already seen signs of spoilage.” Experts warn that moisture exposure can lead to mold, discoloration and fungal growth — factors that severely impact the quality and market value of the crop. According to the Meteorological Centre, Chandigarh, 4.4 mm of rainfall was received this morning, bringing the minimum temperature down to 19.0°C. “The harvesting is picking up pace and farmers must focus on proper storage. We are ensuring that the sold produce is lifted but the produce under progressive lifting must be stored properly to ensure the optimal moisture content, said an official from the Mandi Board. The incident has reignited calls for the modernisation of grain markets and better planning to ensure that the agricultural infrastructure serves its intended purpose.