23042026-JTR-01.qxd 4/22/2026 11:20 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune CENSUS DUTY ADDS TO TEACHERS’ WORKLOAD ‘NEARLY ONE IN FOUR ADULTS MAY HAVE FATTY LIVER DISEASE’ JHA’S GINNY WEDSS SUNNY 2 A FAMILY ENTERTAINER The federation highlighted that under the ongoing Census, nearly 90% of the work has been assigned to teachers. P2 Sedentary jobs, consumption of processed foods and lack of physical activity are key contributing factors to liver disorders. P3 Ginny Wedss Sunny 2, directed by Prasshant Jha, promises a vibrant mix of humour, drama and music. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 38°C | MIN 20°C YESTERDAY MAX 38°C | MIN 20°C SUNSET THURSDAY 7.01 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 5:50 AM » THURSDAY | 23 APRIL 2026 | JALANDHAR 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. INBRIEF TWO ‘DRUG PEDDLERS’ HELD Phagwara: The Lohian Khas police have arrested a person on the charge of selling intoxicating tablets. Forty intoxicating tablets were seized from the possession of the accused identified as Rajit, resident of ward no 5, Lohian Khas. A case has been registered against the accused. The Bilga police arrested Baljit Singh of Maon Sahib village with 150 intoxicating tablets. OC ILLICIT LIQUOR: MAN BOOKED Phagwara: The Bilga police have booked a villager on the charges of selling illicit liquor. As many as 59 bottles of illicit liquor were recovered from the possession of the accused, identified as Gurmej Singh, a resident of Mao Sahib village, who managed to flee from the spot. OC MURDER BID ACCUSED PO HELD Phagwara: The Shahkot police have arrested a proclaimed offender (PO) absconding since last year. The accused has been identified as Ravi Kumar, a resident of Billi Chaharmi village. The accused is wanted in a case of attempt to murder. OC April heatwave triggers spate of fires across dist Five fire cases reported last week |Fire Dept cancels staff leave Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Jalandhar, April 22 Though it is only April, an unprecedented rise in mercury, heatwave warnings and hectic harvest activity in the region have triggered fire incidents much earlier than usual. At least five to six fires have been reported in Jalandhar and its vicinity over the past week, raising serious concern among the authorities. With daytime temperatures hovering between 37°C and 39°C over the past few days, the harvest season has also prompted warnings from the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL). The Fire Department has cancelled leaves of all employees following a yellow alert issued for the region amid the ongoing heatwave, which is expected to intensify in the coming days. Several areas in the district and the region are also facing power cuts in April-end for which notices were issued by the power department today. Recent fire incidents include a scrap yard fire at Akalpur in Phillaur on Monday, reportedly caused by a short circuit. On Saturday, a fire broke out at a scrap godown on Kala Sanghian Road in Jalandhar, trapping children from migrant families living nearby, who were later rescued. On Wednesday alone, two fire incidents were reported from the region. At Garhshankar, a tractor Fire erupts in hotel kitchen, owner ‘sufffers’ ~10L loss The hotel kitchen after a fire in Kapurthala. A TRIBUNE PHOTOGRAPH Kapurthala, April 22 Panic gripped Sultanpur Lodhi road in Kapurthala on Wednesday morning after a sudden fire broke out in the kitchen of Best Western Hotel, resulting in the damage to property worth over ~10 lakh. However, no loss of life was reported. The fire reportedly started around 10:30 am following a spark in the kitchen chimney, which quickly escalated and spread within the kitchen premises. The hotel staff swung into action, attempting to douse the flames using in-house fire safety equipment while informing the fire brigade. Acting swiftly on the alert received approximately at 10:40 am, a fire brigade team reached the spot and initiated a rescue and firefighting operation. Led by Fire Officer Harpreet Singh, an 11-member team deployed three fire tenders and managed to bring the blaze under control after nearly one-and-a-half hours of strenuous efforts. According to the fire department, preliminary investigations suggest that the fire was caused due to sparking in the kitchen chimney. Hotel MD Rajinder Koda stated that the blaze erupted suddenly after a spark in the chimney, leading to extensive damage to kitchen equipment and materials. He further added that while the financial loss is estimated to be over ~10 lakh, it was fortunate that no injuries or casualties occurred in the incident. — OC A fire incident at the Kala Sangia area in Jalandhar. FILE rider sustained severe burns when his trolley loaded with stubble suddenly caught fire and another blaze at a hotel in Kapurthala caused damage to property worth lakhs today. The Fire Department is also on a high alert amid the dramatic rise in the mercury and the warnings. Maninder Singh, Divisional Fire Officer, Jalandhar, said, “The department is on a high alert and leaves of all employees have been cancelled. At least four or five fire cases have been reported in the past 2-3 days alone. In Jalandhar district, we have a staff of 100 employees and 20 to 22 fire dousing vehicles at our disposal to tackle exigencies. Our teams are on guard for any incidents.” Advisories have also been issued by both the Health Department in Jalandhar and the PSPCL amid heatwave warnings. Civil Surgeon Dr Rajesh Garg issued a health advisory, urging citizens to seek immediate medical help in case of severe headache, restlessness, dizziness, muscle weakness, nausea and vomiting, rapid heartbeat, etc. He appealed to people to do outdoor work only during mornings and evenings. Along with wearing light-colored loose cotton clothes, use of umbrella, hat, Crop residue burnt in fields at Phagwara ~1.85 cr sops under industrial policy Phagwara, April 22 A sudden outbreak of fire in agricultural fields near Pyramid College here caused considerable damage as large quantities of stubble were reduced to ashes, sending thick plumes of smoke across the surrounding areas and raising concern among local residents and farmers. The fire, which reportedly started unexpectedly in fields laden with crop residue, spread quickly due to dry conditions, engulfing a significant portion of the stubble before emergency services could intervene. According to information shared by Fire Department personnel at the scene, the department received an alert regarding the blaze at approximately 4:30 pm. Acting promptly, multiple fire tenders were dispatched to the location. Firefighters launched an immediate operation to contain the flames from spreading further to adjoining fields and nearby areas. After sustained efforts, the fire brigade teams managed to bring the situation under control, averting what could have escalated into a larger incident. Despite the timely response, a substantial amount of stubble had already been destroyed in the fire. The exact cause of the fire remains unknown at this stage. The authorities have initiated a preliminary inquiry to ascertain the circumstances that led to the incident. — OC Tribune News Service Jalandhar, April 22 In a push to support the local industry, the district administration has approved incentives for 12 units amounting to Rs 1.85 crore under the Industrial and Business Development Policy, providing significant financial relief to enterprises in the region. The approvals were granted during a meeting chaired by Deputy Commissioner Varjeet Walia. The incentives include benefits such as GST reimbursement, EDC exemp- towel, etc was also advised. The Civil Surgeon also urged patients in need to call the toll free number 108 for free ambulance service and tollfree number 104 for healthrelated information. Meanwhile, PSPCL has urged farmers and residents to immediately report electrical faults through dedicated helpline numbers to prevent fires caused by electrical issues. For the Jalandhar Circle, including Jalandhar East, Jalandhar West, Jalandhar Cantonment, Model Town and Phagwara, the helpline number 9646116301 has been issued, in addition to the central helpline 1912. tion, CGTMSE fee reimbursement, stamp duty reimbursement, freight assistance and capital subsidy. The DC said the government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, is committed to strengthening industrial growth and creating a conducive environment for businesses. Reviewing key industrial issues during the meeting, Walia directed officials to undertake field visits to various industrial areas and resolve concerns in coordination with industry representatives. TNS 2 Doaba-born sisters win German local bodies poll Our Correspondent Tanda, April 22 In a proud moment for the region, two sisters Harpreet Kaur Sandhu and Kamalpreet Kaur, belonging to Rara village near Tanda, have achieved a remarkable success by winning elections of local bodies in Kelkheim, Germany, bringing laurels to their native place. The elder sister, Harpreet Kaur Sandhu, has been elected for the second consecutive term. Sharing her joy on social media, she thanked supporters for their trust and overwhelming response. In her Facebook post, she wrote, “We are grateful for your trust and support. This victory is not just ours, but belongs to every one of you who believed in us.” She further expressed commitment to serve as a member of the Ausländerbeirat (Foreigners’ Advisory Council) and Stadtparlament (City Parliament), promising to work diligently over the next five years to fulfil public expectations. Highlighting the importance of democratic participation, she especially appreciated first-time voters and emphasized collective responsibility in building a strong and progressive society. File photo of Harpreet Kaur Sandhu and Kamalpreet Kaur. Back in their native village, celebrations and pride were evident among relatives. Farmer leader Amarjit Singh Sandhu, state president of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Azad), expressed immense happiness over the sisters’ achievement. He stated that such accomplishments by family members abroad bring great honour and elevate the pride of the entire community. He shared that the sisters’ father, Narinder Singh Sandhu, had migrated to Germany nearly three decades ago, while the daughters and their mother joined him around 12–15 years ago when they were quite young. Despite living abroad, the family has maintained close ties with their village and had visited before the Covid. Calling it a historic and proud moment, Amarjit Singh said the success of both sisters has not only brought recognition to their family, but also to the entire region, inspiring many others to strive for excellence on the global stage. Illicit liquor racket unearthed at juice shop, house in city, 2 held Tribune News Service Jalandhar, April 22 A juice seller in Jalandhar was found running an illicit liquor business beneath his shop and residence after a joint raid by the police and Excise Department on Wednesday. During the operation, officials recovered around 60 cases of branded and country-made liquor, hidden in concealed underground compartments. The raid was conducted at Raju Juice Corner and the residence of Rajinder Kumar Bhatia, alias Raju Chauhan, in Raj Nagar near Madhuban Colony. The operation was carried out by teams of the Jalandhar Excise Department and the Jalandhar police under the supervision of the Commissioner of Police and the Deputy Commissioner (Excise), Jalandhar Zone. The ground operation was led by Manjit Singh, Excise Inspector (Basti area Joint excise–police raid recovers 60 cases of liquor circle), and DSP Atish Bhatia, along with their teams. Investigations revealed that the accused was allegedly operating an illegal liquor trade in the guise of his juice business. A specially constructed basement was found adjacent to the juice shop, where liquor was concealed. During a subsequent raid at his residence, officials discovered another hidden basement. A section of the basement was cleverly concealed behind a large mirror, appearing to be a solid wall. Behind it lay an underground bunker used to hide the contraband. Raju Chauhan was apprehended by the team at the scene. During the search of both the shop and the residence, approximately 60 cases of various brands of Eng- lish and country-made liquor were recovered from these hidden locations. During this raid, Raju Chauha’s associate Deepak was also arrested. An FIR is being registered at the Basti Bawa Khel police station in this regard. The police said Raju Chauhan was operating this illegal trade in an organised manner. The Jalandhar Excise Department had been keeping the smuggler under surveillance for several days. It was noted that the suspect had installed numerous CCTV cameras on electric poles both inside and outside his house. He used these cameras to manage his illegal operations and monitor the movements and activities of the Excise and Enforcement teams. The Excise Department has stated that similar strict action will continue to be taken against other liquor smugglers in the future. MC’s date palm project ‘falters’ as trees dry up Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, April 22 Many fully grown date palm trees which had been transplanted all along the arterial road of the Old Baradari locality here under a project of the Municipal Corporation have started to wilt. The trees were transplanted around November–December, but with the onset of peak summer, at least 10 of the 60–70 palms have dried up. Former Congress Jalandhar Central MLA Rajinder Beri, who had been criticising the move of the MC right from the beginning, said a few of the trees, which had dried out completely, had been uprooted from the passage. The project is a part of the c m y b plan of Jalandhar Mayor Vaneet Dhir and Jalandhar Central Aam Aadmi Party halqa in-charge Nitin Kohli to impart a heritage street kind of a look to the green passage. Dhir had visited Dubai in October and, taking a cue from there, he is also working on setting up Dubai-style food street in Company Bagh. These date palms have been planted in front of the official residences of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Deputy Commissioner, Commissioner of Police, SSP Rural, District and Sessions Judge and the other top officials right till the entry point of Hansraj Stadium. Former MLA Beri has alleged that the date trees are not native to Jalandhar and any such plantation is a wasteful expenditure, especially when the residents have been asking for basic civic amenities in the city, including good roads. Dhir had earlier said the palm trees had been purchased in bulk from a contractor based in Saharanpur. The price of a tree was Rs 6,500 and an additional amount of Rs 2,000 was being spent for transportation and plantation with the overall cost of planting each tree coming to Rs 8,500. He said, “All dried out trees were being removed and replaced by the contractor at the same site free of cost.” A dry date palm tree in Jalandhar. TRIBUNE PHOTO: MALKIAT SINGH