25082026-LT-01.qxd 8/25/2026 12:55 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune PEOPLE BEAR BRUNT AS PRICES OF BASIC COMMODITIES RISE In the past around three months, essential items have become 20 per cent costlier. P2 » PAU’S OILSEEDS SECTION BAGS NATIONAL AWARD The ‘best performer award’ was conferred on oilseeds section for outstanding research. P3 » KAZIAH LIZ MEJO CROWNED MISS UNIVERSE INDIA 2026 FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 36°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 35°C | MIN 26°C SUNSET TUESDAY 6:54 PM Law student Kaziah Liz Mejo from Kerala was crowned Miss Universe India 2026 in Jaipur. P4 SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 5:55 AM » TUESDAY | 25 AUGUST 2026 | LUDHIANA Swine flu cases spike in district amidcases, 20 reported this month; exercise caution, say docs humid weather conditions Of total 30 Manav Mander PRECAUTIONS Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 24 Amid the humid and changing weather conditions, the district has reported nearly 30 cases of H1N1. Commonly known as swine flu, H1N1 is a seasonal influenza virus that moves mainly through tiny drops of water in the air when a sick person coughs, sneezes or talks. According to sources, the district has reported nearly 30 positive patients of swine flu this year so far with the maximum of 20 being reported in this month itself. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has confirmed that there was no new strain of H1N1 and the influenza strains currently circulating are well matched with the vaccine strains recommended for the Northern Hemisphere. The Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) is daily receiving many cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) remain at home with isolation/stay separate in the house so that other family members can not get infected. Medicines are given according to symptoms. In the second category, there are patients who are children, pregnant women, people over 65, patients with heart, lungs, acne, kidney, liver-related illnesses, AIDS patients or those who are taking steroids. Such patients require anti-viral medicine but flu testing is not needed. Home isolation and therapy should be done. In the third category, there are patients with symptoms of first and second categories and one or more of the following symptoms - breathlessness, pain in chest, dizziness, fall in BP, bleeding in mucus, etc. Such patients should take flu medicines, go for flu testing also and they should be admitted to a hospital immediately. F&CC poll today; AAP backs sons of 2 MLAs again, BJP fields Ruchi Sukhpreet Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 24 The battle for the two vacant seats of the Municipal Corporation’s Finance and Contracts Committee (F&CC) has intensified ahead of Tuesday’s General House meeting, with the ruling AAP backing Aman Bagga and Yuvraj Sidhu again while the BJP has field Ward 73 councillor Ruchi Gulati and the Congress has already nominated Ward 26 councillor Gaurav Bhatti. The election has become politically significant as the two seats are being filled after the earlier nominations of Aman Bagga, son of MLA Madan Lal Bagga, and Yuvraj Sidhu, son of MLA Kulwant Singh Sidhu, was challenged by the Opposition. The High Court subsequently directed that the two councillor members be elected from among the councillors under Section 42(4) of the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act. The ruling party’s decision to back the sons of the two MLAs again has also caused some unease within the AAP camp. At a meeting of AAP councillors, some members are learnt to have raised the question over the decision to repeat the nominations. There is also uncertainty over the attendance of some councillors at Tuesday’s meeting. The numbers make the contest interesting. The House has 48 AAP councillors, 26 Congress councillors, 19 BJP councillors and two SAD councillors. With two seats at stake, the ruling party does not have enough numbers to take both seats for granted if the Opposition coordinates its voting strategy. BJP district president Sunil Moudgill said: “We have fielded Ruchi Gulati as our candidate and already made a strategy and will definitely win a seat in the committee members election.” AAP MLA Central Ashok Prashar Pappi said: “We have fielded Yuvraj Sidhu and Aman Bagga with the consent of all councillors and party leaders and we will win both seats in the Tuesday’s election”. Shyam Sunder Malhotra, leader of Opposition from the Congress, said: “We have already fielded Gaurav Bhatti as our candidate and AAP leaders are convincing their Focus on voting process The MC has made elaborate arrangements for the election in view of the controversy surrounding the process. The meeting will be held at Guru Nanak Dev Bhawan at 11 am on Tuesday. An office order issued by the MC, in compliance with the High Court directions, has assigned officials to ensure smooth conduct of the meeting and continuous videography. According to MC officials, 12 CCTV cameras will cover the proceedings. Six videography personnel have also been deployed to record the election process, including the voting and counting. A mock exercise was conducted to check the arrangements. Complete recording is to be preserved as part of the official MC records. The MC has said every councillor will get an equal opportunity to vote. The voting is expected to be through a show of hands, followed by counting to determine the continued on page 2 ■ Hand hygiene: Wash hands ■ Isolate, if unwell: Stay home diarrhoea (more common in kids) frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based sanitiser. ■ Respiratory etiquette: Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or elbow while coughing or sneezing. ■ Mask: Wear a mask in crowded places, especially if you or those around you have flu-like symptoms. ■ Avoid close contact: Maintain distance from individuals showing symptoms of respiratory illness. and avoid work, school or public gatherings if you develop symptoms. ■ Vaccination: Consider seasonal flu vaccine, particularly for highrisk groups, after consulting your physician. ■ Don’t self-medicate: Avoid taking antiviral drugs or antibiotics without medical advice. ■ Nutrition and rest: Maintain adequate hydration, a balanced diet and sufficient rest to support immunity. and many of the patients have been admitted to the hospital as well. Dr Rajesh Mahajan, professor and head of general medicine at the DMCH, said patients especially the elderly, children, pregnant women and those with preexisting conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, or lung disease should report to a doctor without delay if they notice difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath, persistent high fever (above 102°F) and not responding to medication, chest pain or pressure, bluish discoloration of lips or face, severe drowsiness, confusion or dizziness, persistent vomiting or inability to keep fluids down. Civil Surgeon Ramandeep Kaur said people should avoid going to crowded places and wear masks whenever going out. Swine flu was a droplet infection and could spread from one person to another. Patients of swine flu are divided into three types. In the first category, there are patients who complain of fever, cough and throat infection, mild diarrhoea and headache. Such patients do not need antiviral therapy and flu testing. They are suggested to Minor abducted at knifepoint, raped for 2 days Water supply line leakages to blame for most cave-ins, locals demand city-wide inspection COMMON SYMPTOMS ■ Fever (often sudden onset, sometimes with chills) ■ Cough and sore throat ■ Runny or stuffy nose ■ Body aches and headache ■ Fatigue and weakness ■ Occasionally vomiting or CP holdsmeeting on efforts to curb crime Sukhpreet Singh Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Cops during a meeting in Ludhiana on Monday. Ludhiana, August 24 Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma chaired a districtwide review meeting in which all senior officials, police station heads and police post incharges took part. The meeting focused on the timely disposal of pending cases, intensified action against proclaimed offenders, progress under the “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, and strengthening crime detection efforts. The officials were directed to adopt a proactive approach, own councillors to come with full attendance as they have again fielded the sons of two MLAs as candidates”. ensure close supervision of ongoing police works and take all necessary measures to maintain law and order. The police station heads were directed to ensure action on every complaint and provide justice to the complainants and also directed to clear backlog of complaints lying at stations. Sources said after the recent reshuffling in the Punjab Police, several new police officials had joined the city and the CP also distributed work among them. — TNS Ludhiana, August 24 A 15-year-old girl was abducted at knifepoint by a Jagraon-based man and raped for two days. The victim’s mother has accused Darshan Singh, a mason from Jagraon, of abducting her daughter from their house by brandishing a knife and holding her captive for two days while subjecting her to rape. The woman alleged that the police failed to take immediate action despite filing of a complaint, forcing her and social organisations to stage a dharna at the Sudhar police station late on Saturday night. Following the protest, a case under the POCSO Act was registered on Sunday. SHO, Sudhar, SI Kulwinder Singh, said raids were being conducted to nab the man. — TNS Ludhiana, August 24 Two fresh road cave-ins at busy locations in the city on Monday have again raised concerns over the condition of city roads, with residents and shopkeepers pointing to water-supply leakages and underground utility problems as possible reasons behind the repeated sinking of roads. A portion of Pakhowal Road 2 fresh road cave-ins occurred at busy locations The portion of Pakhowal Road that caved in on Monday. near Imperial Hotel caved in while another road portion near Kailash Chowk also sank during the day. Both stretches witness heavy traffic, making the sudden appearance of damaged portions a safety concern for motorists, particularly twowheeler riders. Residents said road cave-ins were being reported at differ- ent locations after underground water-supply and sewerage problems. They demanded that the Municipal Corporation carry out a citywide technical inspection of roads, water-supply lines, sewerage networks and drainage points to identify vulnerable stretches before they develop into major cave-ins. The latest incident on Pakhowal Road has also brought back memories of a major cave-in reported at the same stretch around six months ago. Residents said a nearly 10foot portion of the road had caved in, following which the issue was highlighted and the MC recarpeted the road. Rohit Verma, a resident of Pakhowal Road, said the recurrence needed a closer examination. “The road was repaired and re-carpeted only around six months ago after a major cave-in. If it has started sinking again, the problem may be below the road. There could be leakage in the water-supply or sewerage pipes, making the soil soft. The MC should find the actual cause,” he said. Another commuter, Arvind Sharma, said repeated repairs would not solve the problem unless underground infrastructure was checked. “A busy road cannot be left to develop a depression again and again. The authorities should inspect the entire stretch and fix the leakage, if any, before restoring the surface,” he said. Dimpy Bhatia, a shopkeeper near Kailash Chowk said: “A road cave-in reported on Monday and we have informed the MC officials regarding the same but later officials deployed teams and the cave-in was repaired in the evening”. Executive Engineer Randeep Singh said: “We are already identifying the problem in the area where leakages are making roads vulnerable. So far, the affected point has been closed to avoid any accidents. We have made the road cave-in covered with barricades to avoid any untoward situation”. No trace of missing 19-yr-old son for 4 months, Doc obstructs way of ambulance elderly man runs from pillar to post for justice carrying patient over ‘road rage’ Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 24 The day of 60-year-old Bhan Singh (name changed) starts with prayers and endless rounds of Jagatpuri police chowki, railway station, hospitals and other places to look for his 19-year-old son Raja, who went missing under mysterious circumstances in April. The police have failed to register an FIR in the matter. It is not the first time that he is not being given a patient hearing by the police, his 11-year-old daughter was raped by a shopkeeper and in that case too, justice eludes him as the police did not listen to his appeals. Says no action yet in minor daughter’s two-year-old rape case Clad in torn and unclean kurta-pyjama and having a small cotton towel to wipe his tears repeatedly, the man said he belonged to Mathura and was working as a daily wager in the city for over two decades now. “Raja, my young son was my strength in this old age but he is missing for over four months. It has become a ritual to visit the Jagatpuri police chowki, bus stand, hospitals and the railway station to search for my son who was my emotional and physical support. He worked with me as a daily wager,” the victim said while tears rolled down his cheeks. Bhan Singh said he had bought a motorcycle for his son on instalments about two years ago. His son Raja used to sit with a few people at a park near his house and his friends used to use his bike on several occasions. One year ago, when the bike was taken by one of them, it was not returned. When Bhan asked his son about it, he was told that the vehicle dealer had taken it to be returned after a few days. But his son had a fight over the bike with the persons who were using it. “In April, he again went somewhere with one of the suspects but did not return. That was the last day I saw him. My wife had a paralysis attack and is admitted to a government hospital as I am not able to bear the treatment cost. She has lost her senses. About a month ago, the police told me that my son’s bike was found. It was lost over a year ago, how come the vehicle was found and not my son? From whom it was found and why the police failed to probe the person,” asked the old man, adding that nobody was there to answer his questions. Besides, the minor girl of the victim, who was raped about c m y b two years ago, has lost her senses. “She roams all around and abuses me and doesn’t listen to me. When she was raped, I made several rounds at the police chowki but nobody listened to my pleas. I was trying to forget that trauma and now another one is added, which has shattered me completely. The thought of who will look after my two minor children and ailing wife if something happens to me haunts me,” said the helpless father. SHO Jasvir Singh, said: “Since the matter has come to my notice, I will personally look into it and find why justice had been delayed. I will try to find out the missing youth.” Ludhiana, August 24 A city-based doctor had a scuffle with an ambulance driver near the DMCH here after a minor collision between the vehicle and his SUV. After the collision, the doctor, in a fit of rage, snatched keys of the vehicle. When he snatched the keys of the vehicle, the AC went off and the patient inside began to feel unwell. The Police Division 8 registered a case against the doctor, identified as Harman Sobti, a resident of the city. The complainant, Arshdeep Singh of Sri Muktsar Sahib, told the police that on August 22 he and his assistant Jagdeep Singh were going in their ambulance to drop a patient, Maya Devi, at her house. As they reached the junction leading to the DMCH, the driver of a Audi Q7 vehicle going ahead of them suddenly applied brakes and the ambulance hit the car from the rear. ASI Balwinder Singh said after registering a case under Sections 125 (act of endangering life and personal safety of others), 126 (wrongful restraint), 281 (rash driving), 285 (danger or obstruction in public way or line of navigation), 304 (snatching), 351 (criminal intimidation) and 194 of the Motor Vehicles Act, further investigation was launched. Meanwhile, Dr Harman Sobti said: “The ambulance driver was driving at a high speed and he hit my SUV from the rear despite there was enough space to cross. When I got out of my vehicle, I was shocked to see that the driver was under the influence of some intoxicants. The police registered a case without recording my statement. I will also lodge a complaint on Tuesday against the ambulance driver and would seek registration of a case. I took the ambulance keys as the driver was not in a condition to drive. I even shifted the patient, who was not critical, to a hospital safely. My car was also damaged in the mishap.” — TNS