15062022-LT-01.qxd 14-06-2022 23:58 Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana TRIBUNE DORAHA CIVIC BODY CHIEF SUDARSHAN PAPPU JOINS AAP PAGE 2 Pappu joins the Aam Aadmi Party in the presence of MLAs Manwinder Singh Giaspura and Pappi Prashar. FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY SHAKTI ARORA RETURNS TO TELEVISION AFTER THREE YEARS MAX 43°C | MIN 30°C | YESTERDAY MAX 42°C | MIN 30°C Two state-owned AC Volvo buses to ply from Ludhiana daily Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 14 From tomorrow onwards, travel from Ludhiana to Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in New Delhi will be cheaper by almost 60 per cent. Two state-owned air-conditioned Volvo buses will now ply between Ludhiana and IGI Airport in New Delhi daily. The fare for single ticket will be ~990, the administration has confirmed. Besides, more state-owned buses from other cities such as Amritsar, Jalandhar and Kapurthala will also halt at the Ludhiana bypass to pick and drop local passengers, the officials have said. Sharing details, local officials of the Transport Department told The Tribune here today that on the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to end the monopoly of private operators, especially those owned by an influential political family of the state, the schedule of the state-owned buses to be run between Ludhiana and IGI Airport in New Delhi had been finalised. All logistics had been done to roll out the much-needed service from June 15 onwards. According to the schedule, a Punjab Roadways (PR) Ludhiana depot bus will leave Ludhiana at 9 am daily to reach IGI Airport in New Delhi at 5 pm and another PRTC bus will depart from here at 6.20 pm to arrive at IGI Airport in New Delhi at 1 am. In Ludhiana, the bus will depart from counter number 5 at the bus stand. While the PR bus will depart from IGI Airport in New Delhi at 10 pm the same day to reach back to Ludhiana at 6 am, the PRTC bus will start its return journey from IGI Airport in New Delhi at 3.10 am to arrive in Ludhiana at 9.50 am. A total of 20 AC Volvo buses will be rolled out daily from June 15 onwards from eight different cities - three from Amritsar, one from Pathankot, six from Jalandhar, two from Ludhiana, four from Chandigarh, one each from Hoshiarpur and Kapurthala and two from Patiala. These state-owned buses will charge fare of ~990 per passenger for one side, which will be 60 per cent less than ~2,500 charged by private operators for a single ticket. “The state-owned buses will be better off than the private ones and will provide better facilities, besides safety and security, to the commuters,” the officials said, adding that the time table and fare details would be uploaded on the website and other online platforms of the state-owned service providers. Commuters can book their tickets online at www.punbusonline.com or directly at the bus stand counter. TIME TABLE From Amritsar Pathankot Jalandhar Ludhiana Chandigarh Hoshiarpur Kapurthala Patiala Departure 9 am 12 noon 1.40 pm 1.40 pm 7.40 am 11 am 1.15 pm 3.30 pm 7 pm 8.30 pm 9 am 6.20 pm 1.40 pm 5.50 pm 7.40 am 4.35 pm 6.40 am 10.45 am 12.40 pm 4 pm Arrival at airport Return 7.20 pm 2.40 am 9.50 pm 7.20 am 12.30 am 5 am 2.30 am 1.15 pm 5 pm 10 pm 7.30 pm 1.15 am 9 pm 2 am 11.30 pm 4 am 3 am 4.30 am 6.30 am 8 am 5 pm 10 pm 1 am 3.10 am 9 pm 10.40 pm 12.30 am 1 am 2.15 pm 2.45 pm 10.45 pm 11.40 pm 4.30 pm 8.50 pm 10 pm 11.10 pm 6.40 pm 1.30 am 10 pm 6 am RHEA SHARES UNSEEN PICS OF SSR ON HIS DEATH ANNIVERSARY Post the five-year leap in Kundali Bhagya, we will see introduction of a strong character with shades of grey. From today, travel to Delhi airport at 60% cheaper rates Nitin Jain PAGE 3 ONLINE BOOKING You can book your ticket online at punbusonline.com or directly at the bus stand counter. The state-owned buses ❝than the private ones andwill be better off will provide better facilities, besides safety and security, to the commuters. The time table and fare details will be uploaded on the website and other online platforms of the state-owned service providers. — Officials ❞ SUNSET WEDNESDAY 7:33 PM PAGE 4 Rhea Chakraborty took to social media on June 14 & dropped a few unseen photos with Sushant Singh Rajput. SUNRISE THURSDAY 5:23 AM WEDNESDAY | 15 JUNE 2022 | LUDHIANA Major fire breaks out at hosiery unit No loss of life reported; goods, machinery worth lakhs destroyed in incident Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 14 A major fire broke out at a hosiery unit, Vijay Apparels, in Pipal Wala chowk in Daresi here this morning. Loss of goods and machinery worth several lakhs was reported in the incident. Firemen faced a tough time to douse the flames as the factory was situated in the narrow lanes and the fire tenders could not reach there. The firemen had to lay a long hosepipe to spray water on the building. The hosiery owner closed the factory last night. Someone informed him about the flames coming out of the building this morning. By the time the factory owner reached there, the fire had engulfed the entire first floor where a huge stock of woollens and expensive machinery were kept. He managed to save some stock, but most of the stock and machinery were reduced to ashes. Rajinder Kumar, a fireman, said after getting information about the incident, he, along with his team, reached the spot within 10 minutes. Since the hosiery unit was situated in a narrow lane, the fire tender could not enter the lane and the firemen had to lay a 500m long hosepipe to start the fire-fighting operations. “It took around two hours to douse the flames. While dousing the flames, the roof of the second floor had collapsed. A short-circuit is stated to be the reason behind the fire. However, the exact cause is yet to be ascertained. We are checking whether the factory owner had obtained the fire NOC or not,” said Rajinder. A fire-fighting operation underway at the hosiery unit in Daresi; and (below) a factory worker collects items after the fire in Ludhiana on Tuesday. TRIBUNE PHOTOS: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN ANOTHER FIRE AT YARN MILL BUILDING CONSTRUCTED IN 1935, SAY RESIDENTS As per information, the two storey-building is owned by Mohan Lal Trust and Vidya Parchar Trust. The ground floor of the building was given on rent to Bhavesh Yarns, while the first floor was given to Vijay Apparels, which manufactures woollens. The third floor is lying vacant due its dilapidated condition. Daresi residents said the building was constructed in 1935 and it was in a poor condition. The residents said they had urged the Trust several times that it should either repair the building or get it vacated to prevent any untoward incident, but all their pleas fell on deaf ears. The building also did not have fire arrangements and the NOC. He said if the fire was not controlled on time, it could have spread in Bhavesh Yarns situated on the ground floor of the building. Even Another fire broke out on the ground floor of a yarn mill, Parasnath Combers, at Budhewaa-Kohara on the Chandigarh road on Tuesday morning. Fire tenders from Ludhiana and Samrala were pressed into service to douse the flames. Sub-fire officer Aatish Rai, who led the fire-fighting operation, said it took around 8 hours to douse the flames. He said the mill had no fire arrangements. incident, ❝After getting information about thewithin 10 I, along with my team, reached the spot minutes. Since the hosiery unit was situated in a narrow lane, the fire tender could not enter the lane and firemen had to lay a 500m long hosepipe to start the fire-fighting operations. Rajinder Kumar, A FIREMAN several other hosieries, commercial buildings and residences situated near the affected hosiery could have been affected. ❞ Kamal Kant, who owns Bhavesh Yarns on the ground floor of the building, appreciated the role of the firemen. He said had the firemen not reached on time, the fire could have spread in his unit also and it could have also engulfed the adjoining buildings. ~3-lakh gunpoint robbery solved, five in police net Man stabs friend to death, flees Firm employee mastermind behind the crime that took place around 2 weeks ago: Cops Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 14 The Ludhiana police today claimed to have solved the ~3-lakh robbery from an employee of Eastman Company with the arrest of five persons. An employee of the company turned out to be the mastermind behind the robbery that took place around two weeks ago. Those arrested have been identified as Arun Kumar (42) of Lohara, Chalkhan Shukla, alias Pappu, (42) of New Shimlapuri, Ram Dyal (35) of Gobindsar, Gurvinder Singh (38) of New Shimlapuri and Harpal Singh (32) of Daba. Police Commissioner Kaustubh Sharma addresses a press conference in Ludhiana on Tuesday. PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN THE CASE Police Commissioner Dr Kaustubh Sharma said the suspects shot at Ajay Kumar, an employee of Eastman Company, in Focal Point and robbed him of ~3 lakh on June 1. During probe, the role of a company employee, Gurvinder, came to the fore. Gurvinder, the mastermind behind the crime, was working in the Finance Department of the company. Police Commissioner Kaustubh Sharma, ADCP (Crime) Jagatpreet Singh, ADCP Tushar Gupta, ACP (Crime) Harbhinder Singh and CIA in-charge Inspector Beant Juneja addressed a press conference in this regard here today. The Police Commissioner said the suspects shot at Ajay Kumar, an employee of Eastman Company, in Focal Point and robbed him of ~3 lakh on June 1. During probe, the role of a company employee, Gurvinder, came to the fore. The CIA today got a tip-off that these persons, who were sitting in an empty plot, were planning to commit a major bank dacoity. Accordingly, the CIA team conducted a raid and arrested the suspects. The police also recovered two pistols, six live cartridges, two motorcycles, three sharp weapons, ~50,000 and 1,000 intoxicating tablets from their possession. The suspects procured the weapons from some UPbased weapon suppliers. Juneja said the same gang had also looted ~3 lakh from a factory employee on the Jaspal Bangar road, Sahnewal, on December 10, 2021. This case was also solved with the arrest of the suspects. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 14 A man was found murdered in Choti Jawaddi here this morning. The deceased has been identified as Kuldeep Singh (30). The police said Kuldeep’s friend allegedly stabbed him to death after heated arguments. The incident came to light this morning when some passersby noticed a person lying in a pool of blood on the roadside. He immediately informed the police about the incident. Dugri SHO SubInspector Neeraj Chaudhary reached the spot and shifted body to the Civil Hospital. According to information, Kuldeep was consuming liquor with his friends last Police and forensic team members examine the crime spot in Choti Jawaddi, Ludhiana, on Tuesday. PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN night during which he had arguments with one of his friends, Sonu. In no time, the argument took ghastly turn and Sonu stabbed the victim with a knife. The suspect fled from the spot after committing the crime. The police said a case of murder was registered against Sonu and raids were being conducted to nab him. Hotels, restaurants ‘serve’ liquor to minors in parties 17 more contract infection in dist Parents fail to keep an eye on their wards, law-enforcing agencies look the other way Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 14 Several hotels and restaurants in the city are allegedly serving liquor to children below 18 years of age when the latter throw a party on their premises. Due to the lackadaisical attitude of law-enforcing agencies, hotel owners prefer to look the other way, putting the lives of children at risk even as parents also fail to keep an eye on their wards. Children from Classes X, XI and XII plan parties at hotels and they are served with beer, wine, vodka, whiskey and vapes. One of the children regularly attending parties said: “Trends have changed and we are no longer part of the old schools. Everyone wants hard drinks in parties these days. You may serve them any food item, but they want hard drinks of their own choice”. The mother of a 17-year-old boy complained that due to peer pressure, they had to send children to such parties. Else, they blame their parents for being “outdated”. “I do not sleep till late at night and wait for him to return home in senses. Not only boys, but also girls get heavily drunk in parties. Children are too innocent to realise what is good or bad for them and they are provided with every drink they want to have. They lose senses and puke after consuming too much alcohol, but they call it fashion,” rued the woman. ‘Lack of checking to blame’ Amarvir Singh, president of the Hotel and Restaurant Association, here, condemned the hotels/restaurants serving liquor or hookah to children. He said lack of checking by lawenforcing agencies was the major reason behind this. “I will write to the Police Commissioner and the Punjab Chief Minister on this sensitive issue so that a separate force could be deputed to keep a check on c m y b hotels/restaurants serving hard drinks to children. At the same time, such parties are not possible without the knowledge of parents. Ultimately, parents have to clear the bill in most of the cases,” said Amarvir Singh. We act after plaint: Cop One of the police officials on condition of anonymity said the police take action on the basis of any complaint. “We act if we get any complaint,” he said. Ludhiana, June 14 The district witnessed 17 fresh Covid cases, while no new death was reported due to the virus today. The active case count now stands at 75. As many as 71 patients are in home isola- COVID-19 FIGURES SAMPLES POSITIVE ACTIVE 36,34,978 1,10,036 75 13 DEATHS 2,282 For any information related to Covid Contact: 0161-2444193 & 4622276 A health worker administers the Covid vaccine to a girl in Ludhiana. PHOTO: INDERJEET VERMA tion, while five are admitted to hospitals. A total of 1,10,036 people have tested positive for the virus so far, while 2,282 people have succumbed to the virus till now. — TNS