21092026-CT-01.qxd 9/21/2026 12:52 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune GEN Z RAISES VOICE AGAINST DRUGS AT SECTOR 17 PLAZA TEJAL, ANUSHKA GUIDE INDIA-A TO WIN OVER AUSTRALIA-A DEEPVEER WELCOMES SECOND CHILD Youngsters raise their voice against drug abuse and take a pledge to stay away from drugs. P3 Tejal and Anushka share 126-run stand to guide India-A to 4-wicket win over Australia-A. P3 Actors Deepika Padukone & Ranveer Singh welcomed their second child together on Saturday, a baby girl. P4 » » AIR QUALITY INDEX CHANDIGARH 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD GPS-based mechanism proposed to enforce licence suspension Dushyant Singh Pundir Tribune News Service WHAT’S ON APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 43 & 45 Mohali: Sectors 70, 78 & Phase 5 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com POWER SHUTDOWN CHANDIGARH 9 am to 11 am: Parts of Sector 35 10 am to 2 pm: Sectors 19, 24, 34, 37, 52 10 am to 4 pm: Sector 25 (Bhaskar Colony, PU campus), Khuda Ali Sher 12 noon to 5.30 pm: Chitkara School, cremation ground, JNV School, Himachal Seva Sadan 2 pm to 4 pm: Sector 33 Chandigarh, September 20 The UT Administration has sought the Centre’s assistance to block cab aggregator apps whose licences have been suspended, as their services continue to be accessed by drivers and commuters. The Administration has proposed a GPS-based mechanism to restrict the operation of the suspended platforms in the city. In the meantime, enforcement teams are challaning vehicles operating through the suspended apps and impounding them where required. A senior official said the action was aimed at discouraging drivers and passengers from using the suspended platforms. The Administration has written to the Central Government seeking technical assistance to make the licence suspension effective. According to the official, a GPS-based blocking mechanism would strengthen enforcement against the suspended aggregators and help ensure compliance with regulations. The Administration, however, is also keen to An official of the transport authority challans taxis in Chandigarh. FILE PHOTO ensure that cab availability and transport connectivity across the Tricity are not adversely affected. The UT Administration had recently suspended the licences of four cab aggregators. Following the action, enforcement teams have been checking vehicles associated with these platforms. However, with the apps continuing to remain available on mobile phones, bookings can still be made through them. Meanwhile, the UT Administration launched Bharat Taxi on Friday. Officials said the service had received an encouraging response, with around five lakh people registering and nearly one lakh taxi drivers joining the platform. The Administration suspended the aggregator licences of Uber, Rapido, Ola and inDrive for six months Monthafterrecarpeting,Haibatpur Road dug up for sewer connection Rural sports fest kicks off Tribune News Service Mohali, September 20 Punjabi singer and actor Ranjit Bawa inaugurated the Village Sports Festival 2026 at the Kallewal PDC Sports Ground, Majri, on the Kharar-Kurali Bypass, marking the beginning of the third edition of the major rural sports event in Punjab. More than 25,000 athletes and 2,000 teams from villages across the state are participating in football and volleyball competitions. The tournament will be held in various stages across Punjab, with the grand finale scheduled to take place in Mohali in November. The festival is aimed at promoting sports in villages and providing rural youth with opportunities to develop and showcase their talent and compete at various levels. Mohali, September 20 Local residents raised concerns after a large portion of the newly recarpeted Haibatpur Road, near Dera Bassi, was dug up with a JCB machine on Saturday night, reportedly to lay a sewerage connection. The excavation was carried out around 8 pm, despite it being a holiday. Following complaints from residents, a team of the Dera Bassi Municipal Council reached the spot and stopped the work. The earthmoving machine was impounded. Residents said the road had been recarpeted only about a month ago at a cost of nearly Rs 1 crore. They questioned the need to dig up a large portion of the road soon after its recarpeting and raised concerns over the possible wastage of public A portion of Haibatpur Road in Dera Bassi being dug up on Saturday night. money and damage to the newly laid surface. They also demanded that the administration clarify whether the required permission had been obtained from the department concerned before the excavation. They called for an impartial inquiry and immediate restoration of the road. Pradeep Kumar, who was overseeing the work at the site, said the road would be restored to its previous condition. Ravneet Singh, Executive Officer, Dera Bassi Municipal Council, said, “The JCB machine has been seized from the spot and locked at the Municipal Council office. A fine will be imposed and further legal action taken in the matter.” each over alleged non-compliance with the Motor Vehicles Aggregators Rules, 2025. The alleged violations include requirements related to fares, driver insurance and training, vehicle eligibility and safety standards. “When several competitors disappear and commuters are left increasingly dependent on one platform, that choice disappears too,” said Ram Kumar, a daily passenger. FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Graduate constituency records 14.68% turnout in PU Senate poll Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 20 The graduate constituency, the largest of the eight constituencies of the Panjab University Senate, recorded a marginal increase in voter turnout today, with 14.68 per cent of registered graduates casting their votes. The turnout was slightly higher than the 14.57 per cent recorded in the previous election, when 3.61 lakh voters were eligible to cast vote. Earlier, 91.72 per cent of teachers and 100 per cent of principals had exercised their franchise in their respective categories. The registered graduates’ constituency includes voters from diverse fields, including politics, academics, civil services, sports and other professions. “The entire polling process was conducted smoothly, with voters exercising their franchise without disruption. No untoward incident has been reported. I appreciate the cooperation of all candidates, voters, polling personnel, security staff and other stakeholders in ensuring the peaceful conduct of the election,” said Prof YP Verma, Registrar, Panjab University, and returning officer for the election. The university had set up 281 polling booths across its Polling for the Panjab University Senate elections underway at the GMSSS, Sector 37, Chandigarh, on Sunday. PHOTO: PARDEEP TEWARI electoral network, nine more than the 272 booths used during the 2021 election. Voting for the graduate constituency was held across Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and Chandigarh. A total of 51 candidates contested for 15 Ordinary Fellow seats from the registered graduates’ constituency, making it a multi-cornered contest. Polling was conducted in the presence of police personnel and university security staff. Elections for other categories, including teaching departments, affiliated colleges and professors, were Ride for world peace Chandigarh, September 20 A grieving family from Jagadhri turned personal tragedy into hope for others by donating the organs and corneas of their 27-year-old son, Kuldeep Singh, who died in a road accident. His kidneys and corneas were transplanted at the PGIMER, giving two patients suffering from renal failure a new lease of life and restoring sight to two others. For the family of Kuldeep, the days following the accident brought a grief no family is ever prepared to face. A resident of Jagadhri in Yamunanagar district, Kuldeep was admitted to the PGIMER on September 15 after sustaining a severe head injury in the accident. He was reportedly riding his scooter when he fell after hitting a speed breaker. ing home. The house, the famiFor his mother, Bira Rani, ly and everything around us the reality of losing her son feels different without him. But was devastating. For his when we think that his organs younger brother, Parminder, have given someone another the loss of his elder brother chance to live and his corneas came as a profound shock. may help someone see, we feel Amid their overthat a part of Kuldeep whelming grief, the is still with us. We family was counwant his life to carry a selled about organ message of hope for donation. Despite others.” their immense pain, For Parminder, the they consented to loss has also become the donation of a deeply personal Kuldeep’s kidneys call to prevent other and corneas. Donor Kuldeep Singh families from sufferBoth kidneys and ing a similar fate. corneas were successfully He said, “What happened to retrieved and transplanted at my elder brother should not the PGIMER. Bira Rani spoke happen to anyone else. I will of the pain of losing Kuldeep work towards creating awareand the solace the family draws ness about accidents and profrom his donation. She said, “It moting road safety so that othis impossible for us to accept ers can be protected from that Kuldeep is no longer com- such tragedies.” Tribune News Service Expressing gratitude to the family, Prof Vivek Lal, Director, PGIMER, said, “There are moments when no words can ease a family’s pain. Kuldeep’s family was facing the unimaginable loss of a 27-year-old youth, yet in that moment of profound grief, they found the strength to think of others. Their decision has transformed a personal tragedy into hope for other families. This is the extraordinary compassion that makes organ donation a true gift of life.” Swati Thapa, Transplant Coordinator at the PGIMER, who counselled the family and facilitated consent for organ donation, said, “Speaking to a family that has just lost a young son and brother is one of the most emotionally difficult moments in the organ donation process.” c m y b held in earlier phases. The counting of votes will begin at 9.30 am on September 23, following which the results will be formally declared. The ballot boxes have been kept in a strong room at the university’s gymnasium hall under security. The previous 91-member elected body completed its four-year term on October 31, 2024. The university has since functioned without an elected Senate for nearly two years. The election to the registered graduates’ constituency was held for the first time in five years. AAP steps up membership drive in city Tribune News Service Cyclists participate in “Cyclothon – Ride for World Peace & Nasha Mukt Bharat”, organised by Rotary International District 3080 in collaboration with the Chandigarh Traffic Police, at Sukhna Lake on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: PARDEEP TEWARI In death, youth gives new lease of life to 2 P’kula cops create green corridor for Tribune News Service MAX 35°C | MIN 22°C YESTERDAY MAX 35°C | MIN 23.4°C SUNRISE TUESDAY 6.11 AM /THETRIBUNECHD UT Admn seeks Centre’s help to block suspended cab apps PARTLY CLOUDY SUNSET MONDAY 6.21 PM » MONDAY | 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST transportation of organs to Delhi Panchkula, September 20 The police created a green corridor from Command Hospital, Chandimandir Cantonment, to Chandigarh Airport today, ensuring timely transportation of organs donated by the family of an Army man after his father was declared brain dead. According to DCP (Crime & Traffic) Amrinder Singh, the corridor was routed through Old Panchkula up to the Zirakpur border to keep the ambulance free of traffic stoppages. Two kidneys, one liver and two eyes were subsequently flown to Safdarjung Hospital and Army Hospital in Delhi. Traffic teams under SHO (Traffic) Varinder Kumar remained deployed along the route, closely monitoring move- Chandigarh, September 20 The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today held a membership drive across the city, with residents and workers of other political parties joining its ranks. Senior party leaders welcomed the new members and formally inducted them by presenting AAP stoles. Chandigarh AAP president Vijaypal Singh, women wing president Sukhraj Kaur Sandhu and general secretary Sunny Aulakh among others were present on the occasion. Party leaders said residents were troubled by what they described as the BJP government’s policies, including rising taxes and arbitrary billing. They also alleged that the Congress was embroiled in internal factionalism. The leaders said the AAP continued to raise issues concerning ordinary people and fight for their rights. The newly inducted members said they would work to take the party’s ideology and issues concerning public welfare to every household and strengthen the organisation. House burgled in Dera Bassi Organs being transported through a green corridor in Panchkula. 2 kidneys, liver, 2 eyes flown to Safdarjung and Army hospitals after Army man’s father declared brain dead ment to ensure the ambulance reached the airport within the stipulated time, with coordination maintained with police personnel of other districts through which the route passed. Commissioner of Police Pankaj Nain said deciding to donate a loved one’s organs was an emotional and coura- geous decision for any family. He said the effort was not merely about managing traffic but about extending support to a cause connected with saving lives. He credited the timely transport of organs to close coordination between the police, medical teams and other agencies. — TNS Mohali, September 20 A locked house in Vishal Enclave, Mirpur village, Dera Bassi, was burgled after its owner, Jyoti, went to her ancestral village, Hallomajra. On returning, she found the main gate lock broken and belongings scattered. Gold and silver jewellery, cash, a washing machine, refrigerator, LED lights and other valuables were stolen. The police have registered a case. — TNS