15042026-LT-01.qxd 4/14/2026 10:44 PM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune AI-ENABLED STETHOSCOPE TO BOOST MISSION JEEVANI DELHI-KATRA E-WAY BOON FOR COMMUTERS SAVOUR DELICIOUS SNACKS AT SHIMLA’S RESTAURANT CHINATOWN AI-enabled stethoscopes have become an integral part of the dist admn’s initiative to reducing maternal mortality rate. P2 The link with the e-way at Malerkotla has proven to be boon for Ludhiana, Malerkotla, Barnala & Sangrur dists’ commuters. P3 Restaurant Chinatown at Middle Bazaar in Shimla offers mouthwatering Chinese snacks at affordable prices. P4 » » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 35°C | MIN 16°C YESTERDAY MAX 36°C | MIN 17°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 6.54 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 5:57 AM WEDNESDAY | 15 APRIL 2026 | LUDHIANA Ludhiana survivor recalls horrific tragedy, says social media reel became lifesaver VRINDAVAN MISHAP Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 14 A social media reel proved to be a lifesaver for 55-year-old Rajinder Kaur, a resident of Dugri, Ludhiana, who managed to survive the Vrindavan boat tragedy. After jumping into the water when the boat capsized, Rajinder implemented the tips she had seen in a reel on social media and managed to stay alive. While recounting the horror and seeing her death from so close, Rajinder said “After falling into the water, I didn’t open my mouth and held my breath. I straightened both my arms and started moving my legs. Later, the boatmen came to my rescue and pulled me out. I also told the boatmen about another youth and a woman, who were also saved.” She shared that about 38 persons were aboard the boat. “Suddenly, it was stopped Rajinder Kaur shares details of her near-death experience. mid-way and everyone started asking why it had been stopped. The boatman told them to move to another boat, to which she and other women on board refused. Later, four elderly people moved to the other boat and were fortunate enough to not face the tragedy. Within a minute a pontoon bridge came very close rapidly and collided with our boat, which got entangled in the bridge rope and capsized. After this, the entire bridge fell on top of the boat and sank it. When the boat started capsizing, she grabbed it because she was standing there filming it. When the bridge fell over the boat, she let go of the boat and jumped into the water. “The people trapped under the boat couldn’t be rescued because the bridge fell over them and didn’t allow them to move or swim,” Rajinder said, She added that, “I was close to death and suddenly I remembered watching a reel on Instagram, which taught how to avoid drowning. I followed those steps: Holding my breath, closing my mouth, straightening my arms and moving my legs. This prevented me from drowning as the water could not enter my mouth and nose. Later, another boatman came and threw a inflated tube, which I grabbed and came out alive.” 15 pilgrims had died in the tragedy, of which 12 belonged to Ludhiana and Jagraon area, while four belonged to other places in Punjab, of which one is still missing. Jagraon resident critical, son seeks govt help A Jagraon resident, Rekha Jain, injured in the Vrindavan accident, is said to be critical and undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Chandigarh. Rekha’s son, Shwet Jain, released a video, stating that his mother was facing severe difficulty in breathing. She was brought to the PGI in Chandigarh on oxygen support on Monday. However, she was admitted to a general ward, where approximately 100 patients were already present and vetilator was not available. Due to lack of timely and proper treatment, her health deteriorated further. So, they shifted her to a private hospital in Chandigarh. Shwet, seen crying in the video, said that the administration and the government had been making tall claims, but they were receiving no help. The SDM of Jagraon was not answering their calls. Now, their mother has been admitted to a private hospital in Sector 34, Chandigarh. They are bearing the entire cost of her treatment. Jain appealed to the Punjab Government for help. He said his father had died two years back and now his mother was his world. Due to poor financial condition, he said he could not afford the treatment of his mother. Shopkeeper’s son confronts armed youth during robbery Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 14 A courageous B Pharmacy student fought back armed snatchers during a daring snatching incident at his father’s shop, though the culprits ultimately escaped. The incident occurred at around 8:30 pm on Sunday at RP Biling Material Shop, located on 33-Foot Road in Ludhiana. Manish Gupta, son of shop owner Ram Nath Gupta, was sitting in the shop and talking on his phone with some client when three miscreants arrived on a motorcycle. Two of them, armed with sharpedged weapons, barged into the shop, while the third accomplice waited outside on the bike. The snatchers threatened Manish, abused him, snatched his phone and took cash from the counter. As they tried to flee, Manish chased and caught one of them. He punched the robber, knocking him to the ground. However, the third accomplice standing outside began throwing bricks at Manish, forcing him to release the robber. The three criminals then attacked Manish again as they escaped on a black Splendor motorcycle. The entire sequence was captured on the shop’s CCTV cameras, the footage of which went viral on social media on Tuesday. Manish, who helps his father at the shop while pursuing his studies, later said: “When they started running, I caught one of them. Then their third accomplice attacked me with bricks, forcing me to let him go.” SUV driver escapes unhurt in mishap Instructions put up at the Civil Hospital in Ludhiana for Amarnath pilgrims who will come to get their medical tests conducted; and (right) a counter for collecting tokens in this regard. Medical tests for Amarnath Yatra devotees to begin from April 15 Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 14 The medical examination of devotees registering for the annual Amarnath Yatra will commence from April 15 at the Civil Hospital here, bringing relief to pilgrims after earlier confusion about the venue. The tests will be conducted daily from 8 am to 2 pm on the first floor of the Mother and Child Hospital (MCH). Six medicine specialists have been deputed for the exercise, with three to four doc- tors on duty each day. Shiney Aggarwal (SDH, Khanna) will be at the Civil Hospital on Mondays and Tuesdays, while Shivam Dutt (CHC, Machhiwara) will be present on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Sandeep Manav (Civil Hospital, Samrala) will be deputed on Fridays and Saturdays. In addition, Vishaldeep Chopra and Avtar Singh will be stationed at the Civil Hospital throughout the week. Hitinder Kaur, Director of Health and Family Welfare, issued orders in this regard. Akhil Sareen, SMO, Civil Hospital, confirmed that a four-tier system had been put in place and pilgrims would move from token counters to registration, ECG and examination counters. “We have installed speakers so that no applicant misses their turn. All arrangements, including seating, washrooms and drinking water, have been made,” he said. The process will follow four stages, beginning at the token counter, moving to reg- istration, then to the ECG counter, and finally to the examination counter. A devotee expressed relief, stating that, “Earlier, there was confusion that medicals would be done at Khanna or Machhiwara, but now I am assured it will be at the Civil Hospital.” Medical examination will not be done on the OPD premises. If any staff member/outsider is caught misguiding/demanding money from any patient, strict action will be taken, added Sareen. Jatta aayi Baisakhi Ludhiana, April 14 A high-speed Mahindra Thar overturned on Pakhowal Road on Tuesday morning after the driver reportedly swerved to avoid hitting a stray dog. While the vehicle was severely damaged, losing two of its wheels in the impact, the driver had a miraculous escape. The incident took place around 7 am near Daad village. According to eye witnesses, the white Thar was heading from Phullanwal Chowk towards Lalton at high speed. As the vehicle approached the main road near Daad village, a dog suddenly darted across its path. In a bid to save the animal, the driver slammed the brakes, causing the vehicle to lose control. The SUV reportedly crashed into the side divider and flipped multiple times on the road. It came to a halt in the middle of the thoroughfare with its front completely wrecked. Local resident Deep, an eyewitness, stated that the sound of the crash was deafening. Passersby pulled out the trapped driver from the mangled remains of the SUV. He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment of his injuries. — TNS A CCTV grab shows a robber attempting to loot the shop in Ludhiana on Sunday. Sewadar dies changing ‘chola’ of Nishan Sahib Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 14 A major accident occurred on the auspicious occasion of Baisakhi at Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Kartar Nagar on Dugri Road in Ludhiana. A sewadar fell from a height of 60 feet when a cable holding a lift snapped during the Nishan Sahib’s ‘chola’-changing service on Tuesday morning. The deceased has been identified as Maninder Singh (40). He had been serving at the gurdwara for 12 years. The deceased’s brother, Gurpreet Singh, said that Maninder had been changing the cloth of Nishan Sahib at the gurdwara Sahib for the past 12 years. He would devoutly participate in the ‘chola’-changing service every Sankranti and Baisakhi. On Tuesday morning, around 9 am, he went to offer a new ‘chola’ to the Nishan Sahib. According to eye witnesses, Maninder had successfully reached a height of 60 feet and had tied a knot in the Nishan Sahib when the cable of the lift he was using to ascend suddenly snapped. Following this, the lift carrying Maninder fell on the floor. Immediately after the accident, the devotees and volunteers present there rushed him to the nearest hospital in a serious condition, but his injuries were so severe that he died on the way. Doctors declared him brought dead. Gurpreet said, “My brother served the Guru’s house selflessly. Little did we know that the devotion with which he left home today would make this his last service.” Maninder is survived by his wife and a 10-year-old son, who studies in a school. He used to run a grocery store to support his family. He also has two brothers. ADC visits grain market, directs officials to speed up procurement Ludhiana, April 14 Additional Deputy Commissioner Poonam Singh on Tuesday directed officials of the Food and Civil Supplies Department and procurement agencies to ensure prompt purchase and hassle-free lifting of wheat from mandis. During her visit to the Gill Road grain market, the ADC stated that any inordinate delay in the procurement of grains was unwarranted and intolerable. She instructed the officials to make elaborate arrangements by mobilising the entire government machinery so that the harvest was procured promptly as soon as it arrives in the market. Singh stressed the need for a foolproof mechanism to be put in place for seamless procurement so that farmers do not face any inconvenience in the mandis. — TNS Baisakhi finds a new beat in city’s malls Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 14 From the rhythmic dhol beats echoing through luxury clubs to malls recreating village scenes with charpoys, charkhas and some mock fields, Ludhiana’s Baisakhi has stepped beyond gurdwaras and rural fairs, into the city’s modern leisure hubs. The shift reflects how urban culture embraces tradition, blending commerce, entertainment and heritage into one festive frame. On Saturday, the Sutlej Club came alive as singer Jasbir Jassi enthralled visitors with his energetic performance, while at Lodhi Children in traditional attire celebrate Baisakhi, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the region. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN c m y b Club, Kanwar Grewal made audiences sway to his soulful beats. The dance floors turned into makeshift melas, with bhangra and giddha, adding rustic charm to the otherwise polished club ambience. Every major mall in the city — Pavilion Mall, Wave Mall, Silver Arc and MBD Mall — was aesthetically decked up for the occasion. Traditional troupes in vibrant phulkari dupattas performed bhangra and giddha, while rustic backdrops with spinning charkhas and mock fields brought alive the rural scene. Wave Mall went a step further, hosting turban-tying competitions, poetry recitals and calligraphy corners, turning the shopping space into a cultural hub. The décor and activities offered city dwellers a glimpse of Punjab’s agrarian roots, albeit in air-conditioned comfort. For many, the celebrations are a reminder of changing times. Satwinder Kaur, an elderly visitor, reflected, “We used to visit melas and fairs in villages, but today’s generation celebrates in clubs and malls. Spaces are limited and celebrations have taken a twist.” A youngster who attended Jassi’s event shared, “It was fun, the décor was all rustic, depicting a village scene. I’ve never been to a village, but I think it will be really fun to enjoy a fair there. This gave us just a glimpse of it”. Adding to the chorus, Harpreet Singh, a shop owner at Pavilion Mall, remarked, “These celebrations bring footfall and festivity together. People come for shopping, but end up staying for the performances, it’s commerce and culture hand-in-hand”. Meanwhile, Ravneet Kaur, a college student, observed, “For us, malls are the new mela sites. We get to dress up, click pictures and enjoy the vibe. It’s tradition in a modern frame”. Ludhiana’s Baisakhi now thrives in spaces that mirror its evolving identity, rooted in tradition, yet resonating with modernity.