22052026-LT-01.qxd 22-05-2026 00:57 Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune TWO PLAYERS TO REPRESENT INDIA AT BASKETBALL QUALIFIERS Fatehjeet Singh and Joypreet Singh from the LBA have been selected in India under-18 team. P3 » MP SEECHEWAL INAUGURATES CRICKET ACADEMY MANISH MALHOTRA TAKES ASSAM TO CANNES FILM FEST Seechewal said that motivating youth towards sports is the need of the hour so they can achieve their dreams.P3 Mother-daughter duo Urmimala Baruah and Snigdha Baruah wore clothes designed by Manish Malhotra. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 43°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 44°C | MIN 27°C SUNSET FRIDAY 7.13 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 5:25 AM FRIDAY | 22 MAY 2026 | LUDHIANA Two weeks to go, only 525 girls administered HPV vaccine in dist Launched on March 5, 90-day drive aimed at vaccinating nearly 40K girls Manav Mander Tribune News Service The mangled remains of the vehicle that met with a mishap in Ludhiana. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN College student dies as speeding Thar hits divider Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 21 A speeding Mahindra Thar crashed into a divider in Ludhiana in the wee hours of Thursday. The vehicle was damaged from the front side and airbags were also deployed. A college student died in the accident while his four friends received injuries. The injured were admitted to a nearby private hospital where their condition was stated to be out of danger. The deceased was identified as Aryan Veer Singh (22), a resident of Kiran Vihar, here. After getting information, the police reached the scene. As per the police, Aryan had told his father that he, along with his four friends, was going to eat eggs on the night intervening May 20 and 21. Around 4.30 am, the deceased’s father got information that when his son, along with the friends, was returning home, the Mahindra Thar (bearing registration number PB10KM9190), in which they were travelling in, went out of control and rammed into the divider near the MC Zone D cut. The investigating officer, ASI Devinder Singh said there were five youths in the vehicle and all of them were friends. The youth driving the vehicle lost control over it, which led to the accident. The impact of the collision was so severe that the vehicle was damaged from the front side. The ASI said the deceased’s father did not want to pursue any legal proceedings so they took away the body without getting the autopsy done. Meanwhile, the police said CCTV cameras were also being checked to inquire about circumstances under which the accident occurred. Sources said deceased’s friend Divansh was injured in the accident and suffered a head injury. Another friend, Yuvraj Gill, also sustained injuries on his arm. Other two friends suffered minor injuries. Vehicle rams into stationary truck, driver dies A man died when a Tata-1109 vehicle rammed into another truck (with Gujarat registration number) parked by the roadside without any parking lights or reflectors on, near the Ludhiana Dugri flyover. The impact of the mishap was so severe that the driver died on the spot. The police registered a case and launched a probe. In his statement to the police, complainant Ravinder Singh of Ghagar Sarai village, Rajpura, said his 34-year-old brother, Gurjant Singh, was travelling in his truck to Ferozepur via Chandigarh Road, Sector 32, here on Wednesday night to pick up a load. As he was descending the flyover on Gill Canal Road, an unknown truck was parked near the divider. The complainant alleged that the truck was parked on the road in a negligent manner. It had no rear reflectors or parking indicators. Gurjant did not see the truck parked on the road due to darkness and his vehicle rammed into it. He died on the spot and his vehicle was completely damaged. ASI Dilbag Singh said the police seized both trucks. A case was filed against the absconding driver of the parked vehicle. Footage from nearby CCTV cameras was also being checked to trace the suspect driver and he would be arrested soon. Ludhiana, May 21 After over two months, only 525 girls have been vaccinated so far under the 90-day human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign in Ludhiana district. Launched on March 5, the drive aimed at vaccinating nearly 40,000 girls aged 14, who had entered their 15th year but initial response was poor due to lack of awareness and parental hesitation. According to the district immunisation officer, Dr Harpreet Singh, 525 girls have been vaccinated so far, with 35 doses administered on Thursday itself, signalling a gradual improvement in participation. The vaccine, given as a single dose, offers nearly 82 per cent protection against cervical cancer. The quadrivalent vac- A girl being administered human papillomavirus vaccine in Ludhiana. WHY VACCINATION MATTERS Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the country and the fourth most common worldwide. Experts stress that timely vaccination and awareness could prevent a large proportion of cases. cine being used covers multiple HPV strains. Dr Harpreet said efforts were being intensified to expand services and improve accessibility. “We are working closely with schools and government institutions to spread awareness and motivate parents. The pace is slowly gaining and we hope to cover more Tough days Assn seeks high-level probe in singer murder case Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Workers cover themselves from the blazing sun at the railway station in Ludhiana. The city recorded the maximum of 43°C on Thursday, which was four degrees above normal. TRIBUNE PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN Man at old age home alleges his room Amid austerity push, Guv plundered, seeks FIR against suspect visits city with only 3 cars Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 21 Vimal Kumar (71), residing at Geeta Vridh Ashram, Threekey, Ludhiana, has been running from pillar to post to seek registration of a case against the suspended member of the ashram committee who ransacked and plundered his room. Vimal had earlier also filed a complaint with the Punjab State Human Rights Commission, which had directed the Ludhiana police to investigate the matter and take necessary action. He said after spending considerable time of his life in Pune, he had been staying at Gita Vridh Ashram, in Ludhiana, for the past over three years. On November 20, 2025, his room number 13 at the ashram was vandalised, plundered and burgled. Around 11 am, Saurav Singla, along with 6-7 boys, came and on the pretext of helping him, shifted him to another room in lieu of painting the room. They started picking his stuff and putting them Vimal Kumar, an inmate of Geeta Vridh Ashram, in Ludhiana. FILED COMPLAINT WITH RIGHTS PANEL IN PAST Vimal Kumar had earlier also filed a complaint with the Punjab State Human Rights Commission, which had directed the Ludhiana police to investigate the matter and take necessary action. ‘NOT GETTING SATISFACTORY REPLY FROM COPS’ The victim said he was told that his complaint was marked to ACP (South) Angrej Singh but he was not sure if any probe was being initiated by the police or not. He was not getting any satisfactory reply from the police. Meanwhile, the ACP said he had not received any directions for inquiry into the matter. He urged the complainant to visit his office and the police would take action as per law. into gunny bags and taking them out. “They were taking away my laptop and camera, opening my trunk and drawers of my table and taking stuff out, taking fixtures on the wall, three lamps, taking away my study table and a side table, on which thousands of handwritten sheets were there along with files and diaries. I was flabber- ground before the campaign concludes,” he added. Health officials emphasised that the vaccine was a crucial preventive measure against cervical cancer, which remains one of the leading causes of cancerrelated deaths among women in the country. They urged parents to come forward and ensure their daughters were protected. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the country and the fourth most common worldwide. Experts stress that timely vaccination and awareness could prevent a large proportion of cases. “HPV vaccine is safe and highly effective. Parents must come forward to ensure their daughters aged 14–15 years receive this protection during the campaign,” said Dr Raman-deep Kaur, Civil Surgeon, Ludhiana. gasted, running helterskelter, saving my laptop from being put into a gunny bag to saving my sony camera or electric kettle or induction cooker. When I pleaded with Saurav that in the gunny bags the valuable items will get spoiled, he said you were not supposed to keep any of these stuff inside the ashram,” recalled Vimal. He said he was told that his complaint was marked to Assistant Commissioner of Police (South) Angrej Singh but he was not sure if any inquiry was being initiated by the police or not. He was not getting any satisfactory reply from the police. Vimal claimed that the ashram management had already sacked Sourav from the committee and he wants registration of a criminal case against him. Assistant Commissioner of Police Angrej Singh said he had not received any directions for inquiry into the matter. He urged the complainant to visit his office and the police would take action as per law. c m y b Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 21 Taking all austerity measures to save fuel in the ongoing crisis, Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria came to the city with only three official vehicles. The Governor visited the city to preside over ‘Samagam 4.0’ Leaders Conclave 2026 Fashion and Textiles’ at Park Plaza here. The convoy of the Governor included a total of three official vehicles. One of the officials said it was an attempt by the Governor to save fuel as he had been appealing to the masses also to save the same and in Chandigarh too, he has announced a ‘ n o-car-day’ on Wednesday and he himself went in a golf cart to the office. “Generally, the convoy of the Governor includes up to 10 vehicles with Pilot/Escort by the Punjab Police, Governor’s official car, Close Security Escort, back-up vehicle, an ambulance or additional police vehicle, etc. But we were informed that a total three vehicles are coming from Chandigarh, including the one in which the Governor is travelling,” the official said. The Governor has set a personal example by ditching petrol/diesel vehicles in favour of e-buses and golf carts and the appeal by him forced senior UT Administration officials to use vehicles for one day and pictures were circulated with officials coming on bicycles, golf carts, etc, on Wednesday. Ludhiana, May 21 The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) had demanded a high-level probe and strict action in the murder case of Punjabi singer Inder Kaur, alias Yashinder. “The Punjabi film industry’s young singer Inder Kaur is no longer among us. Her tragic death has shocked the entire film fraternity. She had reportedly been missing since May 13, and after six days, her body was recovered from a canal in Ludhiana. She was only 29 years old — an age where her future in the Punjabi film industry was bright and full of promise. You left this world far too soon, Inder Kaur. It was not the age to say goodbye to life,” AICWA stated in a statement. “Inder Kaur was a resident of Jamalpur, Ludhiana. She was not just an artiste, but also an important part of the film industry family. Her untimely death has created an atmosphere of grief across Punjab and the entire Indian film industry,” it further stated. It was disturbing to see how easily artistes and members of the Indian film industry were becoming victims of attacks, murders, suicides and other tragic incidents. The AICWA appeals to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to order a high-level investigation into the murder of Inder Kaur and ensure strict and immediate action against all suspects involved in the case, it said. Autopsy likely to be held today Convoy of Governor Gulab Chand Kataria arrives at a hotel in Ludhiana. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN The post-mortem examination of singer Inder Kaur could not be conducted on Thursday as the forensic expert was not available. A police official said the autopsy can be conducted on Friday as the expert was likely to visit the Civil Hospital on Friday. Since the body was badly decomposed, doctors could not conduct the same and only a forensic expert can give a clear report, which will be helpful in investigation.