03052023-LT-01.qxd 5/3/2023 12:21 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune OVERFLOWING SEWERS IRK PEOPLE AT MINI ROSE GARDEN PRIYANKA’S CITADEL RANKS NO. ONE ON PRIME VIDEO SUDHANSHU TO FEATURE IN SOLO SINGLE DIL KI TU ZAMEEN Park remains flooded with sewage due to lack of action by authorities, sewers also overflow on streets. P2 Priyanka Chopra Jonas' spy thriller Citadel is currently at first position on Amazon Prime Videos. P3 Actor Sudhanshu Pandey is back with a solo single, titled Dil Ki Tu Zameen, after almost five years. P3 » » » FORECAST GENERALLY CLOUDY MAX 25°C | MIN 19°C YESTERDAY MAX 24.6°C | MIN 19.6°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 7.06 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 5.40 AM WEDNESDAY | 3 MAY 2023 | LUDHIANA 8 first responders at gas PPCB completes leak site to be honoured inspection of area Tribune News Service PCR cops had shown exemplary courage, says ADCP Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 2 Eight police personnel of the PCR wing of the Ludhiana Commissionerate, who were first responders at the gas leak site at Giaspura on Sunday, have been getting pat on their back from their seniors. These PCR cops, with the help of people present there, had shifted the victims to various hospitals. The Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP), Traffic and Operations, Sameer Verma, while talking to The Tribune on Tuesday said after getting information about the incident, PCR cops were the first to reach the spot. They saw people fainting on the road and an entire family lying unconscious at a clinic. The cops immediately informed the ambulance. Before the arrival of the ambulance, they also arranged an auto-rickshaw and shifted some victims to the hospital. During this exercise, Shavan Kumar, one of the PCR cops, fell unconscious due to the presence of gas. He was also immediately taken to the hospital. The PCR cops had shown an exemplary courage at the spot. They shifted the victims to the hospital without any fear. They also cordoned off the area as a precautionary measure. Though all vic- A video grab shows PCR cops shifting victims in an ambulance. WRITES TO POLICE COMMISSIONER BRAVEHEARTS Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP), Traffic and Operations, Sameer Verma, said he had already appreciated the cops in person and they would also be honoured. He has written to Police Commissioner Mandeep Singh Sidhu for the same. ASI Shavan Kumar, ASI Kamaljit Singh, ASI Sahab Singh, HC Parminder Singh, ASI Bhupinder Singh, ASI Ajaib Singh, ASI Gurjant Singh and ASI Rajeshwar Kumar were the first responders at the Giaspura gas leak spot. They shifted the victims in the ambulance and cordoned off the area. tims were shifted to the hospital, 11 persons succumbed. Lives of four persons could be saved as they got timely treatment, said ADCP Verma. “The cops also informed me about the incident. I, along with ADCP Vaibhav Sehgal, also rushed to the spot. I immediately called NDRF officials at Ladhowal as the situation was seemingly tense and there was a fear of further spread of gas in the area. Once the NDRF team reached the spot, the cops started evacuating people with them,” said ADCP Verma. The ADCP said he had already appreciated the cops in person and they would also be honoured. He has written to Police Commissioner Mandeep Singh Sidhu for the same. ASI Shavan Kumar, ASI Kamaljit Singh, ASI Sahab Singh, HC Parminder Singh, ASI Bhupinder Singh, ASI Ajaib Singh, ASI Gurjant Singh and ASI Rajeshwar Kumar were first responders at the Giaspura gas leak spot. They shifted the victims in the ambulance and cordoned off the area. Ludhiana, May 2 The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) completed the inspection of the Giaspura area up to 500m radius from the gas leak point here this evening. After the inspection, officials revealed that they found 113 industrial units in the 500m radius of the incident site. However, only 2 units were found in the 100m radius and these were not using any kind of acid. Beyond 100m radius, around 12 units were found using acid. PPCB chief engineer Sandeep Bahl said: “The teams visited nearby houses and units up to 500m radius. During checking, it was found that not even a single industrial unit was located up to 50m radius. There are 2 Finds 113 industrial units in 500m radius of the incident site units from 50m to 100m radius. But we did not find any kind of chemical or acid inside these units.” He said they had checked the rest of the units too. As 100m radius was a quite large area in this thickly populated locality, chances were less for acids to travel through sewer lines to this point. He claimed that hydrogen sulphide was found in the samples collected from the spot on April 30. Even, the NDRF also reached the similar conclusion. Final report was yet to be submitted to the Ludhiana DC as some aspects were still being assessed. Increase compensation amount to ~50L: Ex-MLA Ludhiana, May 2 Lok Insaaf Party chief and former MLA Simarjeet Singh Bains raised concern over the failure of government departments to identify the cause of the toxic gas leak in Giaspura. As many as 11 persons died, while others fell in due to the incident reported on the Sua Road. Bains criticised the Bhagwant Mann-led government for not taking the matter seriously as the departments concerned are still unsure of the cause of the poisonous gas leak three days after the incident. While the government has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the families of the deceased, Bains argued that this amount was not enough. A compensation of at least ~50 lakh should be given to each victim’s family. Bains also suggested that the government should offer a government job to the next of kin of each victim and free treatment to those affected by the gas leak. — TNS Property fraud victim gets justice SIT conducting probe prepares report in his favour Ludhiana, May 2 Kuldeep Sharma, a city-based man, who was shuttling from one office to another to get justice in a property fraud case since long, finally got justice as the Special Investigation Team (SIT) conducting probe on his complaint has prepared a report in his favour. Sharma reached the Police Commissioner (CP) office on Monday to express gratitude to the officers who decided the case in his favour. Sharma said after three years of long probe, a case of fraud was registered against coloniser Gulshan Kumar and others in 2021. Since the coloniser had connections in politics and the Police Department, he challenged the FIR and requested the police to reinvestigate the matter. On this, the SIT was formed and it decided the case in favour Kuldeep Sharma outside the Police Commissioner office in Ludhiana. of Gulshan last year and also prepared a FIR cancellation report. Last year, he raised the matter with Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, AAP MLA Rajinderpal Kaur Chhina, Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav and Police Commissioner Mandeep Singh Sidhu to seek justice. On this, the CP asked Joint Commissioner of Police RS Brar, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Tushar Gupta and others to probe the complaint on merit, Sharma said, adding that officers now decided the case in his favour and informed that the FIR against the accused would not be cancelled and further investigation would be carried out as per law. Sharma said the police had also filed a challan in the court in the case. Braving the rain Girls riding a scooty caught unawares during rain in Ludhiana on Tuesday. ASHWANI DHIMAN Court stays release Civil Surgeon’s office staff in upbeat mood New timings create of film ‘Jodi Teri Meri’ REVISED TIMINGS Good experience on the very first day, says Dr Hitinder buzz in the morning Manav Mander Rajneesh Lakhanpal Ludhiana, May 2 A local court has stayed the release of a Punjabi film ‘Jodi Teri Meri’, a biopic on eminent Punjabi singer Amar Singh Chamkila and Bibi Amarjot Kaur. The film was scheduled to be released on May 5. Passing the order, the Court of Civil Judge (Junior Division) Karandeep Kaur has ordered to issue summons to Bollywood actor Diljit Dosanjh, actress Nimrat Khaira, Gurmail Kaur wife of late singer Amar Singh Chamkila, Karaj Gill from Rhythem Boys Entertainment Private Limited and Daljit Thind from Daljit Motions Films returnable by May 8. The orders were pronounced by the court while hearing a petition moved by Ishjeet Randhawa and Sanjot Randhawa, sons of deceased producer Gurdev Singh Randhawa. In the petition, it was pleaded that the widow of Chamkila had given the rights of making the biopic of her husband to their father on October 12, 2012 in writing. She also received an amount of ~5 lakh for the said purpose and undertook to remain bound by aforesaid agreement/writing. No time limit was fixed to make the biopic. It was further averred that on November 3, 2022 their father expired. When the petitioner started making arrangement for mak- Tribune News Service Summons actors Diljit Dosanjh, Nimrat Khaira, others ing the aforesaid biopic and contacted Gurmail Kaur, she started prolonging the matter on one pretext or the other. Later they came to know that defendants in connivance with each other were already making a film on the biography of Amar Singh Chamkila and Bibi Amarjot Kaur. A request was made to them to stop all this, but they did not agree. If all these persons achieve in their designs, it would cause an irreparable loss to them. The film was based and influenced by a book namely “Awaz Mardi Nahi” written by author Gulzar Singh Shonki, added petitioners. It was also submitted that Gurmail Kaur in connivance with Diljit Dosanjh was making one more such film in collaboration with Reliance Entertainment. When it came to their knowledge, they knocked at the door of the court, which has already restrained Reliance Entertainment, Imitiaz Ali producer, actor Daljit Dosanjh, actress Parineeti Chopra and Gurmail Kaur, wife of deceased Punjabi Singer Amar Singh Chamkila, from broadcasting, releasing, uploading and streaming the biopic (film) on Amar Singh Chamkila and Bibi Amarjot Kaur in any manner. Ludhiana, May 2 Staff at the Civil Surgeon’s office was seen in an upbeat mood this morning as everyone reached the office at 7:30 am. The staff reached the office on time and Civil Surgeon Dr Hitinder Kaur, known for her disciple, reached h office well in advance. Visitors also started reaching the office around 8 am. The Civil Surgeon said as per the instructions of the state government, office timings were changed from today. “It was a very good experience on the very first Civil Surgeon Dr Hitinder Kaur in the office on Tuesday. day. The entire staff reached on time and the number of visitors I attended was almost the same before the change in timings. People were aware of the changed timings as it was announced well in advance. It is good for people visiting the offices as their work will be done before afternoon and they will not have to go out in the sun during peak summer months,” she said. Dr Hitinder said it was a refreshing start to a new week and she was looking forward to the coming days where she would also get some quality time for herself. Rajinder Singh, Deputy Mass Media Officer at the Civil Surgeon’s office, said the staff was happy to be in the office during early morning hours. “I found new timings comfortable as we get free early and have later half of the day for ourselves. We found the new timings convenient,” he said. Ramesh Kumar, a visitor to the Civil Surgeon’s office, said he came there for some official work related to his medical certificate. “I am happy that now I will be able to reach my workplace on time and also get the work done. Earlier, I used to take half day to get the work done from any government office as it consumes a lot of time,” he said. Attendance in PSPCL, LIT offices near normal Kuldip Bhatia Ludhiana, May 2 On the first day of the revised working hours of government offices (7.30 am to 2 pm) came into effect, attendance of employees and officials in the zonal office of the Chief Engineer/Central Zone of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) here was near normal. PSPCL Chief Engineer SR Vashishat said a majority of the employees as well as senior officials were present in their respective offices between 7.30 and 8 am. However, presence of public in the offices was negligible, perhaps due to most people not being aware of the revised working hours. PUBLIC PRESENCE NEGLIGIBLE PSPCL Chief Engineer SR Vashishat said a majority of the employees as well as senior officials were present in their respective offices between 7.30 and 8 am. However, presence of public in the offices was negligible, perhaps due to most people not being aware of the revised working hours. “The situation is likely to improve in the next couple of days when people will come to know that the offices will close at 2 pm. Attendance of employees and officials in the divisional and sub-divisional offices across the city and the entire area of Central Zone was also quite impressive considering the fact that today was the first working day with the new schedule,” he said. Vashishat mentioned that some woman employees both in the zonal and other c m y b PSPCL offices, who were entitled to free travel in roadways buses - reached offices in private buses after purchasing tickets. “The government ought to take up the matter with the Transport Department to revise the time table of Roadways buses as well to enable women government employees to avail of free travel facility,” the Chief Engineer suggested. He said cash counters and Suvidha Kendras of PSPCL at various locations in the city had also resumed work as per the revised schedule, but footfall of the public was very low. Meanwhile, the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) office also witnessed full attendance on the first working day and even the chairman, a political appointee, also made it to the office as per the revised working hours, claimed LIT Executive Officer Jatinder Singh. He said except for those on sanctioned or applied leave, all other employees and officials were present in the office at the stipulated time. Today, being the first working day with revised time frame, the number of visitors to the office was low till 9.30 am. People started pouring in for their work by around 10 am, he said. Vehicles at the official parking lot at the Mini-Secretariat in Ludhiana on Tuesday morning. Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 2 It was the first day of the changed timings in government offices today. At 7:30 am, the official parking at the Mini-Secretariat was almost full with officials seen rushing towards their offices. For a change, the jam-packed parking area of the Mini-Secretariat meant for visitors, wore a deserted look till around 8:30 am. Both District Education Officers, Harjit Singh (Secondary) and Baldev Singh (Elementary), were on time, in their seat at 7.30 am, while many of their staff arrived a little late as it was the first day of the new schedule. The media was present at the Mini-Secretariat for interviews and sound bytes lending urgency to the occasion. A female staff member, wishing not to be named, said for women employees, it was a little difficult as they had to prepare breakfast for the entire family and had to drop the kids to school. “I have two kids, who DEOs on time, staff late; visitors not aware of change study at a private school in Shastri Nagar. I got up at 5 am, prepared breakfast and dropped them off. I reached the office 15 minutes late. From tomorrow onward, I will wake up early to ensure everything is on time,” she said, adding that if the government has issued these new directions, these would certainly be beneficial. Baldev Singh, DEO, said officers were on time but the visitors had to be made aware of the changed timings. “It is good that we start work early, we can give more time to the visitors, staff and teachers etc,” he said. At the same time, many teachers said that it would be difficult for them to meet the DEOs in case any issue arises. “Our timings are till 2:30 pm, we can not leave the school or classes to meet the DEOs. There are pros and cons of the changed timings,” said the teacher.