12042026-LT-01.qxd 4/12/2026 1:13 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune WHEAT PROCUREMENT SLUGGISH AMID LOW ARRIVALS Officials, farmers say recent rail delayed harvesting; only 115 MT of grain procured so far. P2 » ANEET PADDA CALLS MOHIT SURI AN ALCHEMIST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 33°C | MIN 15°C YESTERDAY MAX 31°C | MIN 16°C VETERAN LYRICIST SAMEER LAUNCHES AUMORA Saiyaara actor Aneet shared an adorable birthday post for filmmaker Mohit Suri on April 11. P4 FORECAST Sameer Anjaan launched Aumora Music in Mumbai as an artiste-first label focused on meaningful music. P4 » SUNSET SUNDAY 6.48 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 5:58 AM » SUNDAY | 12 APRIL 2026 | LUDHIANA Social worker, wife among 10 killed in Vrindavan Residents mourn boat mishap deaths as one of worst tragedies hit dist Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 11 Rakesh Gulati, a victim of Vrindavan boat tragedy, was a social worker in Dugri, Phase 2. He, along with his wife Anju Gulati, had lost life in the tragedy that snuffed out lives of 10 persons from the district. Residents were still not able to believe that Rakesh is no more. When his body reached home, area residents in large numbers gathered to mourn the loss. Rakesh was into property business but he had been devoting maximum time for spirituality. Even his wife Anju Gulati, who also lost life in the tragedy, was supporting her husband in the same, said a resident. “Loss of Rakesh cannot be compensated. He was our leader. He brought many area residents towards spirituality. Since Rakesh had been going to Vrindavan for years, he helped many youths, who were in bad company, in following a devotional life. They were living a blissful life,” said another resident. The couple is survived by a son and a daughter. The son works as an engineer in Pune while the daughter is a char- Tribune News Service Relatives and residents mourn the death of pilgrims, in Dugri on Saturday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN tered accountant at Bengaluru. “Our world has shattered with the death of our parents. We have left nothing to rejoice. Now, darkness has prevailed in our life,” said the wailing children of the couple. Dugri area residents said the couple had been frequently visiting Vrindavan. Since both of their children were staying in other states and busy in their professional lives, the couple was spending much time in spirituality. “Rakesh had been organising Shri Krishna Jagran in Dugri every year. People in a large number used to take part in the event. His death is a setback for us and we may not able to organise religious events and visits to Vrindavan in future,” a resident said. “Whenever residents of the locality faced any issue, Rakesh used to support them. Lack of safety gear cost pilgrims their life, says son of deceased Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Deceased Meenu Bansal (left), Dinky (right), who is missing, and Neha (second left). FILE Mandi Ahmedgarh family in shock as one member dead, another missing Mahesh Sharma Mandi Ahmedgarh, April 11 A woman of a local family here is mourning after her mother-in-law died and sister-in-law went missing in the Vrindavan boat tragedy. Both victims are residents of Dugri, Phase 2, Ludhiana. The family is hoping against hope for the safe return of 21year-old Dinky Bansal, whose name did not appear in any missing lists issued by the Vrindavan administration. “It is over 40 months since we got married our daughter Neha in the family, led by Anoop Bansal and his wife Meenu Bansal, and the couple who always treated her as their daughter,” said Rakesh Garg, adding that Neha was heartbroken on losing her mother-in-law Meenu Bansal and is worried about her sister-in-law Dinky. Neha said it would not be possible for her to perform responsibilities of running a home in the absence of her second mother (mother-inlaw) as during the latter’s lifetime she did not allow her to enter the kitchen. Dinky accompanied her mother who had intended to offer prayers at Vrindavan for improvement in the health of Anoop Bansal, who had been unwell for a long time. Ludhiana, April 11 The death of pilgrims in Vrindavan boat tragedy raised serious questions about the lack of safety measures. Kin of the victims blamed the administration of Vrindavan for failing to implement the safety norms for boats in Yamuna. Nikhil Bansal, son of Meenu Bansal who died in the incident, said he lost his mother as the boat capsized in Yamuna. Even his sister Dinky Bansal was still untraceable. While raising questions over the absent safety measures, he said when a boat had a capacity of about 20 persons, why 40 pilgrims were made to sit in the boat. Further, the people were not given life jackets to meet at emergency. “Had all pilgrims given lifejackets, their lives could have been saved. Even my mother would have been alive today,” Nikhil said. He said though his sister was also missing but her name was not mentioned in the list of missing persons continued on page 3 Over ~5L ‘embezzled’ from Verka plant In complaint to Coop Societies Registrar, Nawanshahr resident alleges cover-up Sukhpreet Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 11 A Nawanshahr resident has filed a complaint with the Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Punjab, alleging embezzlement of Rs 5.42 lakh at the Verka Milk Plant in Ludhiana. The complainant, Bhagwan Dass, alleged officials tried to cover up the fraud under the guise of Diwali gifts. In his complaint dated April 4, Dass accused Daljit Families cling on to hope as four residents still untraced An aerial view of the Verka Milk Plant in Ludhiana. ASHWANI DHIMAN Singh, general manager, and Harjinder Singh, deputy general manager, of misappropri- ating goods worth Rs 5,42,030 and allegedly selling them illegally in the open market. Daljit Singh is currently under suspension in connection with an unrelated matter and co-accused Harjinder is serving as the officiating manager. The complainant said that the accused were trying to “legalise” the misappropriation by showing it as expenditure incurred on Diwali gifts for government officials. The Tribune has accessed a copy of the complaint. continued on page 3 c m y b We have lost a gem of our area. His loss cannot be compensated,” said Suman Gulati, sisterin-law of Anju Gulati. She, while recalling the last call from Anju Gulati, said: “Half an hour after my sisterin-law’s last call, I received a continued on page 3 Ludhiana, April 11 Four residents, one from Jagraon and three from Ludhiana city, remain missing following the tragic boat incident in Vrindavan. Families are clinging to hope even as rescue operations continue, with the incident claiming lives and leaving several untraceable. Among those missing is 21year-old Dinky Bansal, a resident of Dugri, Phase 2. Dinky had boarded the boat with her mother Meenu Bansal, who lost her life in the accident and was cremated in Ludhiana on Saturday. Her brother, Nikhil Bansal, voiced anguish over the absence of her name in the official list of missing persons released by the Vrindavan administration. “My mother’s body was recovered, but my sister is yet to be traced. We are only hoping that she will turn out alive,” he said, adding that he had apprised the Ludhiana administration to ensure her case was not overlooked. Two other Ludhiana resi- Residents prepare for last rites at a crematorium in Jagraon. FIVE BODIES CREMATED IN JAGRAON Tragedy struck Jagraon when five bodies of Vrindavan boat tragedy victims were cremated together on its cremation ground on a single day on Saturday. The pilgrimage to Varindavan was started from Jagraon on Thursday afternoon. dents, Yash Bhalla from Jassian and Monika from Dugri, are also untraceable. Their families have demanded urgent action and clarity from the authorities. Meanwhile, Rishabh Sharma of Jagraon has been reported missing as well. According to organisers, Lovi Behal sustained injuries in the incident and is under treatment.