27032021-JTR-01.qxd 3/26/2021 11:13 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar TRIBUNE WHEN A ‘FOREST’ TAKES ROOT AMID CONCRETE JUNGLE Space is no constraint for this city-based IVF specialist Dr Mandeep, who uses grow bags for a thriving terrace garden. FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY INBRIEF NO CHANGE IN CURFEW TIMINGS Jalandhar: The district administration on Friday clarified that there was no change in timing of night curfew. It will remain in effect from 9 pm to 5 am. Also, there were no directions for opening schools. Notably, rumours were being spread on social media that timings were changed after which the administration asked residents not to believe in rumours. “Any person spreading rumours will be booked under the IT Act,” the release mentioned. “Whenever any official and authenticated information is received from the government, it will be immediately shared by the District Administration Jalandhar and District Public Relations Officer on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Please subscribe to these handles/pages for regular update on official information,” said the administration. TNS ‘MAKE BEST USE OF ECI’S APPS’ Kapurthala: DC-cum-District Election Officer Deepti Uppal has asked residents of the district to avail maximum of three mobile applications launched by the Election Commission for convenience of voters. She said through the Voter Helpline App, any person who is turning 18 years of age on January 1, 2022 and is a resident of Kapurthala district, can apply for vote. The e-epic can also be downloaded through this app, but it’s only for registered voters between 18 years and 19 years during 2021. Through Garuda app, BLOs can register, delete votes and make corrections. In addition, anyone with a disability can apply to cast their vote through the PWD app. She said more information can be through toll-free number 1950. TNS PAGE 2 ASHA BHOSLE HONOURED WITH MAHARASHTRA RATNA AWARD DC INSPECTS OXYGEN PLANT Jalandhar: DC Ghanshyam Thori on Thursday inspected newly developed oxygen generation plant at the Civil Hospital. He said the administration has appointed permanent staff to operate and supervise the functioning of the plant to ensure uninterrupted supply of oxygen to patients at the Covid Care Centre. Four technical operators and supervisors will oversee the plant, he added. Thori said plant having 700LPM capacity started in December last year at a cost of Rs 88.20 lakh, has been given to a Jalandhar-based private firm adding the plant would produce 225-230 oxygen cylinders daily. TNS WHEN KUNAL AND ANJALI RECREATED GHUNGHAT KI… Asha Bhosle took to social media and shared a video, which features Asha with her granddaughter Zanai. MAX 33°C | MIN 15°C | YESTERDAY MAX 30°C | MIN 13°C SUNSET SATURDAY 6:43 PM PAGE 4 Holi is around the corner and the team of Sargam Ki Sadhe Satii was the first one to celebrate the festival. SUNRISE SUNDAY 6:21 AM SATURDAY | 27 MARCH 2021 | JALANDHAR Life disrupted as bandh evokes huge response Tehsil, banks forcibly shut by agitators | Markets closed | Buses stay off roads Tribune News Service Jalandhar, March 26 The Bharat Bandh call given by the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha today coincided with completion of four months of their ongoing protest at borders of Delhi saw a massive support from all sections of society. Shopkeepers, industrialists, transporters, educational institutes, lawyers, dairy operators and street vendors extended full support to farmers who have been agitating against the Centre to repeal three controversial agri laws. As the markets remained closed, highways were completely blocked using tractortrailers. Only ambulances and emergency vehicles were allowed to reach their destinations. Buses remained completely off the road and rail traffic, too, remained paralysed. Even internal lanes of the city saw very little traffic. Farmers, farm labourers, arhtiyas and activists, took out a rally in the city on tractors, cars and two-wheelers. They carried banners and raised slogans against the Centre. Women participated in Bharat Bandh in large numbers and sat on roads, railway tracks and important intersections of the city. Some supporters also got public sector banks, including Punjab National Bank and SBI, forcefully shut. Bankers agreed to close down the business for civilians, while they continued to work inside due to the closing of financial year. Some youngsters also got shops and telecom company’s offices forcibly shut. Tehsil In Nawanshahr, residents support farmers, hit roads Tribune News Service On the Bharat Bandh call given by the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, farmers block the Jalandhar-Amritsar National Highway in Jalandhar on Friday; and (below) a market wears a deserted look; and a farmer asks tehsil employees and visitors to move out of the building. TRIBUNE PHOTOS Complex, which was functioning as usual and had around 50 applicants waiting to deposit cash for registries was closed. Tehsidar was forced to ask the applicants to come some other day. The applicants got a bit panicky initially. The main protest site was PAP Chowk where farmers started to assemble in huge numbers since early morning. Members of all main organisations, including the Bharatiya Kisan Union, Doaba Kisan Sangharsh Commit- tee, Kisan Mazdoor Union and Kirti Kisan Union. Shopkeepers and youth gathered at Model Town and held a silent protest in favour of farmers. They stood at various intersections holding placards ‘No farmers, No food’ and assured farming community that they would continue to extend them support. Lawyers held a protest outside the judicial complex where members of the District Bar Association gave speech in favour of farmers. Jalandhar, March 26 Sab samajh chuke ne ki je desh da anndata barbaad hunda hai, taan desh barbaad ho jaayega, were the lines screamed by farmer leaders from protest sites during Bharat Bandh in Nawanshahr on Friday. Almost entire district remained closed and residents supported the bandh. The farmers sat at the Langroa bypass and made speeches against the BJP government throughout the day. It was a huge rally as people from all walks of life participated and came to listen to the speeches of farmer leaders. Eh ladai hun sirf kisaana di nai, balki Modi sarkar virudh poore desh di ladai bann gayi hai (Now, this fight has not limited to farmers only, but it has become a fight of the nation against the Modi government),” said Kirti Kisan Union leader Surinder Singh Bains. Other unions that participat- The farmers sat at the Langroa bypass and made speeches against the BJP government throughout the day. It was a huge rally as people from all walks of life participated ed in the bandh were Istri Jagriti Manch, Auto Workers’ Union and Arhtiya Association. Members of the aforesaid unions supported the bandh and union leaders took turns to encourage people to raise their voices against the present government. On March 23, a mahasabha was held in Nawanshahr to mark the martyrdom of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru. Balbir Singh Rajewal, leader of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, had announced from the stage and garnered support for the March 26 Bharat Bandh. continued on page 2 Residents hold a protest at Langroa Bypass in Nawanshahr. Second wave wreaking havoc, 118 deaths reported in fortnight TV SHOW TO FOCUS ON GOVT SCHOOLS Jalandhar: A special programme will be aired on DD Punjabi from March 27 to inform about achievements and changes in the infrastructure of government schools. The programme will shown every Saturday and Sunday from 3.30 pm to 4 pm under the title ‘Navian Pairhaan’. It will provide district-wise information about the infrastructure of government schools, modern-teaching techniques, achievements of students and facilities being provided to students. The programme will update people about the government schools, besides playing an important role to motive parents to enrol their kids in the government schools. TNS PAGE 3 Over 4,500 fresh cases surface in just two weeks in dist Tribune News Service ALL SHOPS STAY SHUT: A market wears a deserted look in Hoshiarpur on Friday. TRIBUNE PHOTO Bandh: Hoshiarpur markets, roads wear a deserted look Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, March 26 The Bharat Bandh evoked huge response in Hoshiarpur and surrounding areas on Friday. In Hoshiarpur city and other towns of the district, shopkeepers voluntarily closed their shops and fully supported farmers’ movement against the three farm laws. Roads, markets, mandis and bus stands, among others remained deserted. Various farm unions organised protests on Hoshiarpur-Phagwara road, Naloiyan Chowk, Lachowal toll plaza, Adda Bagpur-Satour on Dasuya road, Nangal Shaheedan toll plaza on Chandigarh road, Nasrala, Bullowal and Garhdiwala Mangarh toll plaza. Along with this, main dana mandi and sabzi mandi of Hoshiarpur were completely affected. Meanwhile, some banks opened in the morning, but were closed by farmers. Public and private buses remained off the roads, thus causing heavy inconvenience to passengers. The police had made complete arrangements to maintain law and order. Several check points were set up by the district police, which were monitored by SSP Navjot Singh Mahal. Farm leader Gurdeep Singh Khunkhun said the call for the Bharat Bandh has received massive response from all sections of society. He said shopkeepers of Hoshiarpur city and towns were standing shoulder to shoulder with farmers. In Garhshankar, chemists, grocery and taverns remained closed in the city. Those going for ‘Hola Mohalla’ and ambulances were allowed to reach their respective destinations by agitating farmers. The roads wore a deserted look and a small number of vehicles could be seen plying. Mahilpur, Chabbewal, Jhungian, Pandori Beet and Samundra remained completely closed. c m y b Jalandhar, March 26 The coronavirus situation in Jalandhar has been getting scarier each day. As many as 494 new cases were detected on Friday with 13 deaths reported due to infection. The death toll has touched an alarming number of 118 in Jalandhar in just a fortnight. The total toll stood at 755 as on March 12 which went up to 873 in just two weeks. While the number of active cases stood at 1,356 a fortnight back, today it stands at alltime high of 3,116. As many as 4,507 cases have come up in just two weeks time. There has been practically no control over the spread of the disease despite the fact that the schools and colleges across the state were ordered to be shut by the state government since the past one week. The ongoing vaccination drive, too, is being sped up but still there little impact of the same on the rising numbers. Doctors treating patients have said that while more cases were being reported from urban areas in the first wave, now the number was more from rural areas. They also said that younger lot was reporting moderate to severe forms of symptoms. A Civil Hospital doctor shared that a 22-year-old boy, without comorbidity, reached hospi- HELPLINE NUMBERS FOR COVID PATIENTS ■ Helpline number of Ambu- lance: 108 ■ Emergency helpline: 104 ■ Jalandhar Helpline for Covid JALANDHAR UPDATE NEW CASES TOTAL CASES NEW DEATHS TOTAL DEATHS RESULT AWAITED TOTAL DISCHARGED ACTIVE 494 27,863 13 873 3,307 23,874 3,116 or other medical queries: 0181-2224848 ■ District Immunisation Officer contact: 94171-64164 ■ Website for Covid bed info: https://jalandhar.nic.in/ ing public functions, which is a bigger cause of concern. IMA National vice-president Dr Navjot Dahiya said, “Stricter actions need to be taken against all those violating norms. More awareness ought to be spread on the need for early detection and timely medication.” ADC (D) Vishesh Sarangal opined, “Clearly, the second wave has been bigger and dangerous. More deaths are being reported as the patients are ignoring initial symptoms and reaching hospital only when their condition gets serious. The footfall at the vaccination sites is also somehow less and we are urging more people to come forward for the jab.” Admn calls for increasing bed capacity by 30% Hoshiarpur reports 14 deaths, highest single-day toll since Covid outbreak PAGE 2 Kapurthala reports 327 cases, its highest-ever single-day spike tal in a serious condition and had to be directly taken under ventilator. There are also reports that the patients and their families are not following the quarantine norms and are going to bazaars and attend- Deputy Commissioner Jalandhar Ghanshyam Thori on Friday exhorted all 19 private Covid care hospitals to increase their bed capacity by 30 per cent with immediate effect. He said with consistent efforts of administration as many as 50 additional beds have been arranged in 10 key Covid care hospitals which would take the number to 141 from the existing 91. Sarvodya Hospital and New Ruby Hospital have added five beds each while Patel Hospital has added nine. Besides, eight beds have continued on page 2