23022021-CT-01.qxd 2/23/2021 12:32 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh TRIBUNE TUESDAY | 23 FEBRUARY 2021 | CHANDIGARH 20 PHD STUDENTS ALLOTTED HOSTELS AT PANJAB VARSITY PAGE 2 With 20 students getting hostel rooms, allotment starts at the PU on the condition of single-person occupancy. FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY TRICITY COVID REPORT CHD P’KULA MOHALI SAMPLES TESTED 2,44,956 1,76,643 1,93,943 POSITIVE 21,463 10,751 19,988 NEGATIVE 2,22,545 — 1,73,838 RECOVERED 20,908 10,495 19,195 ACTIVE 205 108 410 CHANGE 19 3 25 DEATHS 350 148 383 NEW 1 0 1 AIR QUALITY INDEX MAX 29°C | MIN 14°C | YESTERDAY MAX 27.8°C | MIN 13.1°C SUNSET TUESDAY 6.17 PM PANCHKULA 199 MOHALI 182 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD INBRIEF FOETUS FOUND AT MAULI JAGRAN Chandigarh: A foetus was found at Mauli Jagran on Sunday. Residents found the foetus on the slip road near the railway bridge at Mauli Jagran. The police were informed, who visited the spot. A case under Section 318 (concealment of birth by secret disposal of body) of the IPC has been registered at the Mauli Jagran police station. TNS DONATION BOX AT SHRINE STOLEN Chandigarh: Unknown persons stole a donation box from a gurdwara in Sector 63 on the intervening night of February 20 and 21. Complainant Rupinder Singh reported that the suspect entered the gurdwara after breaking the lock of the main door. The police have registered a case at the Sector 36 police station. TNS 203 vendors allotted sites Tribune News Service Panchkula, February 22 The Panchkula Municipal Corporation today conducted a draw of lots for the allocation of vending sites in Sectors 2, 4, 8, 10, 11, 12 and 15 under the vendor rehabilitation initiative. The civic body had received 308 applications and sites were allocated to 203 registered street vendors. Only those vendors, who are residents of the district, were allowed to participate in the Those sans P’kula residence proof allege discrimination VENDORSPEAK Why weren’t we informed earlier if sites were to be allotted to those who belong to the district? A street vendor, ❝ ❞ who lives in Chandigarh process, which annoyed those who had been working in the city for years, but don’t have a local residence proof. A number of street vendors from Chandigarh, who also reached the Community Centre in Sector 12, expressed displeasure over “discrimination in the allotment.” MC Joint Commissioner Sanyam Garg said it was decided in a recent meeting that local vendors will be given preference. As per a survey, there are 3,718 registered street vendors in Panchkula. Of these, 2,000 hold a local residence proof. VENDORS ENCROACH ON PARKING LOT, PAVEMENTS IN SECTOR 22 PAGE 3 Vendors have encroached on parking lots and other open spaces at Sec 22 market in front of the Sector 17 ISBT. SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6.54 AM TWITTER/THETRIBUNECHD FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Crowding, complacency led to surge in Covid, says Dr Talwar In Punjab, no social distancing; samples sent to check new variant Tribune News Service 127 PAGE 2 Fed up with false assurances, players send notice to the university authorities demanding release of the 2019 awards. Naina Mishra CHANDIGARH 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SPORTSPERSONS TO MOVE COURT OVER DELAY IN CASH AWARDS Chandigarh, February 22 Non-adherence to social distancing norms at marriage functions and complacent attitude of the public towards Covid-19 have contributed to a sudden upsurge in the cases of infection in Punjab, said a former Director of the PGI, Dr KK Talwar, who is also the Health Adviser to the Punjab Government. Recently, some students and teachers also tested positive for coronavirus in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Ludhiana, and other districts. This prompted the health authorities to check for a new strain of the virus. Dr Talwar said the Punjab Government had sent some samples for genome testing to the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi, to check for the possibility Hit by truck, woman dies Chandigarh, February 22 A 60-year-old woman pedestrian was killed after being hit by a truck near the Shastri Nagar light point. According to the police, Shanti, a resident of Shastri Nagar, was hit by a truck on February 21. She was injured and rushed to Government Multi-Specialty Hospital, Sector 16, where doctors declared her brought dead. The police said the truck was being driven by Ankush Kumar of Mani Majra. A case has been registered at the IT Park police station. The suspect was arrested and later released on bail. — TNS RE-INFECTION UNLIKELY BEHIND INCREASE IN INFECTIONS, SAYS VIROLOGIST FROM THE PGI Ruling out the possibility of re-infection in Punjab, Dr Mini P Singh, Department of Virology, PGI, said, “It is too immature to say that the surge is caused due to a new variant of coronavirus without conducting any molecular analysis. It is unlikely that that the surge is due to reinfection because there are only a few hundred of cases till date. If reinfection was so rampant, why did it not happen in September?” CHANDIGARH, TOO, SEES SURGE IN CASES From 131 cases in the week ending February 14, the UT saw 187 cases in the week ending February 21 — an increase of 42%. From 123 cases on February 13, the active caseload rose to 205 on Monday. of another strain of the virus. “We will check whether the new strain, if any, is more infectious to children as many students have tested positive of late in government schools. These children may not be severely symptomatic but can transmit virus to other people.” “Crowding has started in Punjab as so many marriage functions took place this month with social distancing norms going for a toss. This may have contributed to the virus spread as well. We have increased testing in Punjab and contact tracing. We will impose some restrictions to control the spread,” he said. Punjab is among the five states in the country to witness an upsurge in daily Covid cases over the past week, recording a 47.30 per cent jump in 24hour infections between February 14 and 20. 1 death, 49 cases in Mohali dist MOHALI: One more fatality was witnessed due to Covid19 during the past 24 hours, taking the death toll in the district to 383. Meanwhile, 49 fresh cases surfaced, while 23 more patients recovered from the virus. Among the new cases, 39 were reported from Mohali (urban), one from Kurali, two from Kharar and seven from Dhakoli. The district has so far seen 19,988 cases, while 19,195 patients have been cured. There are now 410 active cases in the district. — TNS 38 more infected, 10 new cases one fatality in UT in P’kula dist CHANDIGARH: With 38 cases and one Covid death, the UT case tally has reached 21,463 and the death toll 350. As many as 20,908 patients have recovered from the virus. There are now 205 active cases in the district. — TNS PANCHKULA : The district on Monday reported 10 fresh cases, taking the tally to 10,751. The Covid toll remained at 148. While 10,495 patients have recovered from the disease so far, 108 cases are still active. — TNS 415 vaccinated in Panchkula Panchkula, February 22 As many as 415 healthcare and frontline workers were administered the Covid-19 vaccine today against the overall target of 616, registering a coverage rate of 67.37 per cent. Of the total vaccinated beneficiaries, 245 received the second dose.The vaccination drive was held at seven sites, including the Civil Hospital in Sector 6 and MLA Hostel. Over 10,000 beneficiaries have been vaccinated in the district so far. — TNS Firefighters douse the flames at the dumping ground in Dadu Majra, Chandigarh, on Monday. Day after massive fire, Dadu Majra residents battle smoke Sandeep Rana Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 22 Those near the Dadu Majra dumping ground have been living in a hell-like condition for the past two days. The smoke emanating from the fire that broke out at the dumping ground on Sunday continued to trouble people today as well. Fire was doused this morning, but thick smoke blanketed the sky and also entered houses near the ground. The smoke inconvenienced people in neighbouring areas — Dhanas, Sectors 25 and 38, Panjab University and even some parts of Sector 22. “The smog caused irritation to my eyes and throat. Our masks and curtains are ruined as the smog entered our houses,” said Dadu Majra resident Dayal Krishan, president, Joint Action Committee for raising the dumping ground issues. Many residents had a sleepless night. Irritated by the smoke, some of them came out on roads at night and even reached the dumping ground to know the status from officials concerned. Commuters make their way through thick smoke in Dadu Majra, Chandigarh, on Monday. TRIBUNE PHOTOS: NITIN MITTAL They later protested against the UT Administration and local MP Kirron Kher. “The Administration does not listen to people’s grievances. They are not bothered about our deteriorating health,” said Parshotham, a resident of the Dadu Majra colony. “What did the MC spend ~33 crore on? Even after spending so much, the situation has not improved,” added Ravi. Dayal Krishan even suspected the fire was deliberately caused. “The matter should be probed. In the summer season, it is possi- ble that fire breaks out just like that, but the same is not possible in the winter,” he added. “This is the second fire incident in the past five months during the pandemic. The incident needs to be probed for any mischievous acts ahead of the Swachh Survekshan Survey,” commented Vinod Vashisht, convener of the City Forum of Residents Welfare Organisation. A fire official said five fire tenders were pressed into service to control the smoke today. The reason of the fire could not be known. Area near wetland in Modi govt insensitive towards poor: Cong P’kula hit by bird flu Contractor held for raping minor Tribune News Service Kharar, February 22 The police have arrested a civil contractor for allegedly raping a 16-year-old labourer employed with him in Kharar. The suspect has been identi- Tribune News Service Panchkula, February 22 Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Kumar Ahuja today declared the area adjacent to the wetlands used by migratory birds in Alipur Naggal village as infected with avian influenza (H5N1). The area within 1-km radius from the epicentre has been declared an “infected zone” and the area between 1-10-km radius from the epicentre as a “surveillance zone”. Ahuja said no birds’ eggs or feed of avian species would be moved from the alert and surveillance zones to any other place. However, healthy birds, eggs or feed from free areas could enter these areas. “In exercise of the powers conferred under the Act, the area adjacent to the wetlands used by migratory birds at Alipur Naggal village is infected with avian influenza,’’ a press note said. Panchkula, February 22 The Panchkula Congress unit today staged a protest against the unprecedented hike in fuel prices and the three contentious farm laws. Former Deputy Chief Minister Chander Mohan, who was leading the demonstration, termed the farmers’ protest a people’s movement. “These black laws are not limited to the farmers but will have direct consequences on ordinary citizens. If the laws are implemented, basic food items will become expensive,” he said while addressing a conference at Bishnoi Victim found 1-month pregnant Former Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Chander Mohan and Congress activists hold a protest against the rising fuel prices, in Panchkula on Monday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: RAVI KUMAR Bhawan in Sector 15. The Congress leader further said the consecutive hike in the petrol prices had proven that the Modi government was insensitive towards the poor. Mohan said it was their duty to stand in solidarity with the farmers and his party would hold protests daily in different residential sectors to press for their demands. Caught in snarls, motorists see red in traffic cops’ green trial Under the initiative, aimed at easing congestion, motorists get only one green light while manoeuvring rotary in city Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 22 The decision of the UT traffic police to provide a single green light while manoeuvring the Kisan Bhawan (Sector 22/23/35/36) roundabout on a trial basis to ensure smooth flow of traffic led to traffic snarls, defeating its purpose. In order to ease traffic congestion caused by vehicles stopping in the middle of the road at the red signal on the rotary, the police today provided a green signal to the traffic. However, this led to traffic snarls on the roads leading to the Kisan Bhawan chowk, including the roads separating Sector 22 and 23, and Sector 22 and 35. Serpentine queues of vehicles were witnessed, especially during the morning and evening hours. Amrit Singh, who was heading towards Sector 36 from Sector 35 on Dakshin Marg, got stuck in a ‘EXISTING SYSTEM MORE EFFICIENT’ The system halts the traffic moving on the other three roads, which leads to more inconvenience. I feel the existing system is more efficient. ❝ ❞ Amrit Singh, A MOTORIST A TRAFFIC JAM AT THE SECTOR 22/23/35/36 LIGHT POINT IN CHANDIGARH ON MONDAY. NITIN MITTAL c m y b Tribune News Service queue for at least seven minutes in the evening. “The system halts the traffic moving on the other three roads, which leads to more inconvenience. I feel the already existing system is more efficient,” he said. The helpline of the traffic police also received several calls from commuters, who complained about long traffic jams on the roads leading to the chowk. Police officials said the trial would continue tomorrow. fied as Mohammed Feroz (20), a native of Bihar. He lived near the victim’s shanty. On a statement of the victim’s mother, a case has been registered against the suspect under Section 376 of the IPC and the POCSO Act at the Kharar City police station. The victim’s mother told the police that the suspect entered their house on the night of February 20 and committed the crime. Later, he fled the spot after threatening her daughter with dire consequences. The victim told the police that he had been raping her for the past sometime. Doctors at the Kharar Civil Hospital found the victim one-month pregnant. Investigating officer Lakhwinder said the suspect was arrested today.