23072026-LT-01.qxd 7/23/2026 12:18 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune INDOOR BASKETBALL COURT DUG UP FOR REPAIRS ENSURE ALL GIRLS GET HPV VACCINE ON TIME, LOCALS TOLD 5-HOUR EVENING OF TIMELESS QAWWALIS, MUSIC AT MOBE Despite being opened less than a year ago, the flagship initiative lands in trouble over defects. P2 Immunisation officer assures parents that vaccine has been tested and is completely safe. P3 Sana Khan will present an evening of soulful melodies and timeless qawwalis at Mobe on July 24. P4 » » » FORECAST GENERALLY CLOUDY MAX 32°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 31°C | MIN 27°C SUNSET THURSDAY 7.22 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 5:37 AM THURSDAY | 23 JULY 2026 | LUDHIANA 15 deaths in over 2 yrs: Crash barriers still missing on 13-km elevated road Four months ago, DC had directed NHAI officials to install safety feature Sukhpreet Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 22 Nearly 15 persons have lost their lives in accidents on the city’s Rs 756-crore elevated road since it was opened to traffic in March 2024, yet the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has not installed metal crash barriers on the central median. The safety feature remains missing for over four months after Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain directed NHAI officials to install the barriers, raising serious concerns over safety of commuters. The issue has again come into focus after a recent accident in which a speeding car lost control, overturned several times and crossed over to the opposite carriageway, resulting in a major collision. Road safety experts said a properly designed median crash barrier could have prevented the vehicle from entering the opposite lane, reducing the chances of a serious crash. The 13-km elevated corridor, built at a cost of Rs 756 crore, connects Bharat Nagar Chowk with the octroi post on Ferozepur Road. Despite carrying thousands of vehicles Elevated road that needs crash barriers in Ludhiana. ASHWANI DHIMAN every day, the elevated stretch still lacks metal median crash barriers, which are considered an important safety feature on high-speed roads to prevent crossover accidents. The issue is not new. In June 2025, former employees associated with the project wrote to senior NHAI officials, alleging that the mandatory median crash barriers had not been installed despite the project being declared complete. Following the complaint, the NHAI ordered an inquiry and sought a report from the Project Director. The complainants also alleged that the mandatory road safety audit had not been conducted before the completion certificate was issued. In November 2024, the NHAI itself had started repairing around 2,500 damaged crash barriers after an inspection found several of them had weakened within months of the project’s completion, raising questions over construction quality. However, the issue of the missing median crash barriers remained unresolved. On March 10, Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain had directed NHAI officials to install metal crash barriers after repeated concerns over accidents on the elevated road. When contacted again, he said: “I had directed the NHAI officials to install metal crash barriers. If multiple deaths have been reported, I will ask them again to expedite the work as it is a serious issue.” The Public Action Committee (PAC), Ludhiana, has also questioned the absence of the median crash barriers, alleging that the missing safety feature has contributed to repeated fatal accidents on the elevated corridor. The committee has demanded a technical and financial audit of the project, claiming that around 15 lives have already been lost on the stretch and that several mandatory safety measures are yet to be provided. Road safety expert Rahul Verma said the median crash barriers were mandatory on elevated highways under the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) guidelines as they prevent vehicles from crossing into oncoming traffic during high-speed collisions. Commuters have also repeatedly demanded that the NHAI should install the barriers without further delay. c m y b 16-yr-old girl gang-raped, three booked Nikhil Bhardwaj Toll plaza made free for 3 hours Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 22 A shocking case of alleged gang rape of a 16-year-old girl came to light in Ludhiana. On the complaint of the victim’s mother, the Moti Nagar police have registered a case against three persons. In her complaint, the victim’s mother, a native of Bihar currently residing in a rented house in Ludhiana along with her family, said her daughter left home on July 21 to go to a factory for work. When she did not reach there and failed to return home even after a long time, they began searching for her. Later, the girl was found in a lane behind her house. She was crying. The girl said three persons had lured her on the way, made her sit in their car and took her to a secluded spot. The suspects offered her a cold drink laced with some intoxicant. The girl consumed the same after which she became unconscious. Afterwards, the suspects allegedly raped her. After the incident, they threatened to kill her. Later, the miscreants dumped her in the lane behind her house and fled the scene. The police registered a case against Manish Kumar, Naresh Kumar and Saurav Kumar. Raids are being conducted at various locations to nab the suspects. Farmers protest at the Ladhowal Toll Plaza. ASHWANI DHIMAN Sukhpreet Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 22 Farmers’ organisations under the banner of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Wednesday made the Ladhowal Toll Plaza toll-free for commuters for three hours as part of a nationwide protest against Centre’s policies. Before beginning the protest, farmer leaders passed a resolution condemning the alleged police action against protesters at Jantar Mantar and Delhi University. They demanded unconditional release of those arrested and sought the resignation of the Union Education Minister over the issue. Addressing the gathering, the farmer leaders opposed the proposed India-US Free Trade Agreement, alleging that it would adversely affect farmers and the country’s economy. They urged the Centre to withdraw the proposal and implement pending demands accepted during previous rounds of talks with farmer organisations. The unions reiterated their demand for a legal guarantee of MSP for all crops based on the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission. The farmers raised slogans against the Centre and sought immediate action on their long-pending demands. The protest remained peaceful and traffic movement continued normally during the protest. Textile firm owner, kin booked on harassment charges Ludhiana, July 22 The Sarabha Nagar police have registered a case against city-based prominent textile company owner and his four family members on the basis of a complaint given by his daughter-in-law for allegedly harassing her. The complainant told the police that she got married to the son of a textile firm owner in 2016 and gave birth to two children. Her husband had an illicit relationship. She even apprised her in-laws about the matter but they ignored it. When she raised the issues, she started facing torture at home. The suspects even used to harass her for not fulfilling their dowry demands, she alleged. The complainant asserted that she gave expensive gifts to her husband and in-laws but they did not mend their ways. On May 22, she was brutally beaten up by her husband who also threatened to kill her. When she called the police, they came but returned without taking any action due to the ‘family influence’. She also made serious allegations against her brotherin-law for mentally and physically abusing her . SHO, Sarabha Nagar, inspector Vijay Kumar, said after the registration of the FIR, further probe into the case was launched. — TNS