25032021-ATR-01.qxd 3/24/2021 10:52 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar TRIBUNE VEERPAL HOPES TO COMPETE ON OLYMPICS MAT SOMEDAY PAGE 2 16-year-old Veerpal Kaur hails from a family of limited means. She has won a silver at Junior National Games. FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY INBRIEF 60-YR-OLD KILLED IN ROAD MISHAP Tarn Taran: A man (60) was killed in a road accident near Machhike village in the Khemkaran border area on Tuesday. The deceased has been identified as Virsa Singh of Rattoke village, who was returning home on his bicycle after looking after his fields. A speeding car (PB-11 8518) coming from the front hit him, killing him on the spot. IO ASI Kulbir Singh said the car driver managed to flee. A case under Sections 304-A, 279 and 427 of the IPC was registered. OC BOOTH-LEVEL OFFICER HONOURED Tarn Taran: Navjot Kaur, a teacher of Government Elementary School, Chohla Sahib, being a booth level officer (BLO) at Polling Booth No. 214 under the Vidhan Sabha constituency of Khadoor Sahib, was honoured for her best performance in the district for downloading the maximum number of eEPIC. Two-day special camps were organised on March 6 and 7 by respective BLOs at the polling booths. BLO Navjot Kaur was honoured by DCcum-District Electoral Officer Kulwant Singh with a certificate and a cash award. The DC said the new voters may download this e-EPIC on their mobiles. OC 2 BIKERS SNATCH PURSE, ARRESTED Tarn Taran: Two miscreants were apprehended after they were trying to run away after snatching a purse from a woman on Jandiala Road outside a HDFC Bank branch here on Tuesday. The victim, Rupinder Kaur Gogi of Gokalpur locality, had just come out of the bank when the motorcycle-born miscreants snatched her purse and were ready to flee when her son with the help of nearby people held the snatchers. The accused, identified as Sajan Singh and Ravi Singh of Kajikot Kalan, were handed over the police. The purse contained ~500 while the cash withdrawn from the bank was with her son. ASI Gurmit Singh said a case under Section 379-B of the IPC was registered. OC BURGLARS STRIKE AT GOVT SCHOOL Amritsar: Miscreants decamped with computers and other material from Government Elementary School at Jajjeani village falling under the Majitha police station here on March 16 though a complaint was lodged only on Tuesday. Pawandeep Kaur, head teacher of the school and resident of Bhoma Wadala village, said on March 16 when she reached the school, she found the locks of three rooms broken. She said when she, along with other staff members, searched the classrooms, she found six computers along with keyboards and monitors, DVR of a camera and a digital thermometer missing. The police have registered a case under Sections 457 and 380 of the IPC and started investigation. TNS HAATHI MERE SAATHI WILL NOT RELEASE THIS FRIDAY PAGE 3 OPRAH WITH MEGHAN, HARRY TO AIR IN INDIA ON MARCH 28 Citing the reason behind it, Eros Now, the producer of the film, has said it is due to the current Covid-19 situation. MAX 28°C | MIN 12°C | YESTERDAY MAX 25°C | MIN 13°C SUNSET THURSDAY 6:45 PM The two-hour primetime special, Oprah with Meghan and Harry premiered in the US on March 7 and made headlines. SUNRISE FRIDAY 6:26 AM THURSDAY | 25 MARCH 2021 | AMRITSAR 2 more succumb to virus, 290 +ve in district Heart patients shouldn’t ignore their condition amid Covid, says expert Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 24 The district tally of Covid positive patients increased to 18,840 on Wednesday after 290 persons came out positive. The district health authorities have also reported two fatalities in the last 24 hours. The deceased have been identified as Satnam Singh, a 50-year-old resident of Doburji and Gurjit Singh, a 52-year-old resident of Manjpur village. The new cases include 195 influenza-like illness cases and 95 contacts of positive patients. Meanwhile, with the recovery of 110 patients, the recovery count has also increased to 16,208. The active case load in the district has increased to 1,983 within the last four weeks, as the district has witnessed a sudden spurt in infections. 68,747 persons jabbed in district so far The district health authorities said a total of 3,352 persons received vaccination on Wednesday. So far, 68,747 persons in the district have received the first dose of the injection, which includes 17,836 healthcare workers, 18,470 frontline workers and 32,441 persons above 45 years of age. Tribune News Service HELPLINE NUMBERS FOR COVID PATIENTS ■ City Control Room Numbers: COVID UPDATE NEW CASES TOTAL CASES NEW DEATHS TOTAL DEATHS NEW RECOVERY TOTAL RECOVERY ACTIVE 290 18,840 2 649 110 16,208 1,983 0183-2500398, 2500498, 2500598 ■ Health Department helpline: 0183-2535322, 0183-2535323 ■ Medical helpline: 104 ■ Contact a doctor: 1800 180 4104 ■ Bed availability and status: Punjab Covid App (updated daily at 5 pm) 6 MORE FROM KAIRON SCHOOL POSITIVE Tarn Taran: Six more staff members of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Kairon, tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday. Principal Neemal Rani said six staff members whose report came out positive include four teachers and a chaukidar and a senior laboratory attendant. A lecturer and one from the computer faculty tested positive on Saturday as well. The infected staff members have been isolated at their respective homes. Deputy Commissioner Kulwant Singh said the district administration received the report of 1,112 samples on Sunday and 51 were detected positive. He said 17,479 persons have been given the Covid-19 injection. There were 397 active cases in the district. OC PAGE 4 Amritsar, March 24 Highlighting the hazards of Covid-19 on cardiovascular health, Dr Yadvinder Singh, an interventional cardiologist said heart patients must seek timely treatment and not ignore worsening of their symptoms or heath conditions out of fear of Covid-19. He said heart patients must not neglect or delay their heart related procedures as it may prove fatal. “In many cases, patients develop serious complications such as formation of blood clots or thrombus, which can lead to 100 per cent blockage of coronary arteries,” he said. Singh said independent studies from Italy, France, USA and China have corroborated a 50 per cent decline in admission of patients with heart ailments due to their or their family’s reluctance to go to a hospital during the pandemic. Referring to this alarming trend, he said: “Heart patients must be aware that they have a cardiac condi- Says Covid patients with pre-existing cardio vascular disease have increased case fatality rate serious ❝In many cases, patients developblood clots complications such as formation of or thrombus, which can lead to 100 per cent blockage of coronary arteries. Independent studies from Italy, France, USA and China have corroborated a 50 per cent decline in admission of patients with heart ailments due to their or their family's reluctance to go to a hospital during the pandemic. Heart patients must be aware that they have a cardiac condition that requires monitoring and in case of any symptom of a heart attack, they must immediately report to a hospital for proper diagnosis and treatment. Dr Yadvinder Singh, AN INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGIST ❞ tion that requires monitoring and in case of any symptom of a heart attack, they must immediately report to a hospital for proper diagnosis and treatment.” Adding that all multi-specialty hospitals have strict protocols to keep Covid and nonCovid patients in separate wards, he said: “Like other viral respiratory tract infection, Covid-19 can cause worse outcomes in patients with preexisting cardio vascular disease (CVD) risk factors or in those with established CVD. This is due to low cardio-respiratory reserve of these patients or by worsening of the underlying CVD due to systemic effects of the illness.” Covid-19 patients with preexisting CVD have increased case fatality rates compared to others, he said. Case fatality rates reported are 6 per cent for hypertensives, 7.3 per cent for diabetics and 10.5 per cent among those with CVD, while the overall casefatality was only 2.3 per cent. Prime suspect in abduction case arrested Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 24 Two weeks after a youth was kidnapped from his house, thrashed and later dumped at Vaniyeke village by several armed persons, the Chheharta police have arrested the prime suspect in the case. He already has 3 criminal cases against him Daljit Singh, alias Prince, was also wanted by the Chheharta police in three criminal cases, including fraud, registered with them in the recent past, said Sukhbir Singh, SHO Chheharta police station. After kidnapping and thrashing a youth, Amanpreet Singh, he had injured another person a couple of days later. His name also figured in the fraud case a week later. Amanpreet Singh was abducted from his house on March 11. On the complaint filed by his father, Kamaljit Singh, the police booked Daljit Singh, alias Prince, a resident of Jawahar Nagar in Chheharta, Sandeep, Ravi and Jimmy. Kamaljit had told continued on page 2 MC to book firms, painters for defacement Youth shot at, 4 booked Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 24 The Amritsar Municipal Corporation painted illegal wall advertisements black in the city on Wednesday. The civic body took such a step for the first time after a couple of decades. Walls of several government hospitals, offices, schools, factories and power colonies can be seen defaced. The wall advertisements are a cheapest mode to advertise the product as there’s no need to pay charges to anyone. Travel agents, quacks, astrologers, corporates, private schools and hospitals, among others, use walls to advertise their products and services. Sushant Bhatia, a newly appointed in-charge of the advertisement wing of the MC, initiated the drive to paint the wall read the rules about ❝Iadvertisements. It is wall Tribune News Service illegal and punishable as it leads to defacement. So, I have decided to paint the wall advertisements black. Posters and flex boards can be removed, but there is no other solution without painting walls black. Sushant Bhatia, ❞ IN-CHARGE, ADVERTISEMENT WING, MC advertisements. “I read the rules about wall advertisements. It is illegal and punishable as it leads to defacement. So, I have decided to paint the wall advertisements black. Posters and flex boards can be removed, but there is no other solution without painting walls black,” said Bhatia. The MC officials said legal action would be taken against firms and painters, which deface walls. “We will curb the practice by registering police cases against painters and firms. There is a provision under the law to book such per- sons. A notice will be served on painters to check noobjection certificate of the MC before going ahead with the work,” he said. It’s pertinent to mention that some wall advertisements mislead public about health and spread irrational belief among masses. Amritsar, March 24 Four armed persons fired at a youth in Gehri Mandi village leaving him critically injured here on Tuesday evening. The victim, identified as Shubham (24), a resident of Gehri Mandi village, was rushed to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital for treatment. His condition is stated to be serious but out of danger. The police have booked four persons — Ghudda, Rana, Ghuggi and their unidentified accomplice. They were on the run. Sub-Inspector Balraj Singh, who is investigating the case, said raids were on to nab the suspects. A preliminary probe hinted at an old enmity between them that led to the incident. Deepak Kumar, father of the victim, said he ran a liquor vend and tavern on Johan Road while his son Shubham Breaking stereotypes about govt school education Department seeks to change mindset, increase enrolment through creative methods Neha Saini Tribune news service Amritsar, March 24 As hundreds of parents facing financial hurdles are considering shifting their wards to government schools, the district Education Department, too, is taking the lead and is set to break the stereotypes against government school education. Adopting innovative ideas to make the ‘Each One, Bring One’ drive, currently underway in the state, successful, enrolment booster teams have also been constituted. Reaching out to parents, these teams are adopting methods such as staging nukkad nataks, recording songs, making shortfilms highlighting the achievements of government schools to spread the message. While the bottom line is to increase Government teachers reach out to parents in Amritsar. the enrolments in government schools, the exercise is also helping change the perspective towards these. Devinder Kumar, social media coordinator, Amritsar, who has been spearheading the creative campaign, says the idea was to instil confidence in government school education. “Rather than just capitalis- ing on the current financial pressure that private school education is putting on parents, we aim to make people aware about the infrastructure we have and academic achievement. We have performed street plays at public spaces such as Company Bagh and Anand Park, where we have received a good response. We have also c m y b recorded songs and made shortfilms that will be released soon. All this exercise will help in getting the facts right about facilities that government schools offer,” he said. The officials of the department, school heads and teachers have been going all out and carrying out door-todoor campaigns to highlight extension and augmentation of infrastructural facilities, innovative teaching techniques, activity-based learning, smart classrooms, educational parks, e-content, option of English medium as well as welfare schemes such as free books, uniforms, midday meal, scholarships to eligible beneficiaries. Apart from awareness rallies, nukkad meetings, nukkad nataks, affixing hoardings at public places, e-prospectus, announcements through public address system of religious places, enrolment camps are offering on the spot registration. Deepika Dean, Headmistress, Government High School, Abdal, has also been carrying out such enrolments camps in her block. “Prior to organising enrolment camps, announcement through public address system of the village Gurudwara is made to make people aware about it. The move will help people gain first-hand knowledge about our academic programmes and extracurricular activities. There is a chance for us to break the stereotypical attitude about government schools and also make people realise that public education system has much more to offer,” Deepika said. Cops investigate the spot where a youth was shot at by four persons in Gehri Mandi, Jandiala Guru, Amritsar. TRIBUNE PHOTO worked with him. He said on Tuesday evening, his son was standing outside the vend when four persons came on two bikes and three others on another motorcycle. He said Ghudda allegedly fired in the air and fled from the spot. Rana, who was on another bike, came behind and fired at Shubham. While a bullet pierced his left arm, another bullet hit Shubham on a thigh. He said he rushed him to the Manawala government hospital from where he was referred to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital. He said the accused had a quarrel with his son a few days ago. Sub-Inspector Balraj Singh said a case under Sections 307 and 34 of the IPC and Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act against the four suspects and raids were on to nab them. Sanitation staff protest corruption in civic body Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 24 Various unions of sanitation workers and employees of the Municipal Corporation raised their voice against the alleged extortion by the sanitary inspectors from safai karamcharis in the city here on Wednesday. The employees led by union leader Ashu Nahar, Sanjay Khosla, Rajkumar Raju and Surinder Tona gathered at the auto workshop and decided to hold a strike if MC officials failed to take action. The union leaders had submitted a memorandum to Mayor Karmajit Singh Rintu and MC Commissioner Komal Mittal on Tuesday and asked to fulfil their demands within 72 hours, otherwise they said they will stop lifting garbage. Sanjay Khosla, president of Nagar Nigam Safai Mazdoor Union, alleged that a sanitary inspector of the MC took ~1lakh as bribe from a safai karamchari to make him rejoin his duty after his medical leave. “The union leaders alleged that the sanitary inspectors first transfer the sanitation worker and then demand bribe to cancel the transfer orders,” Khosla said. Apart from this, the union leaders have other pending demands. Ashu Nahar, president, Municipal Employees’ Union, said: “Yesterday, we had submitted a memorandum to the Mayor and MC Commissioner regarding our demands. If the demands are not met, then the garbage continued on page 2