19052023-LT-01.qxd 5/19/2023 12:36 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune VISITORS SUFFER AS DC OFFICE EMPLOYEES GO ON STRIKE CELEBS SHARE TIPS TO STAY HEALTHY AND IN SHAPE HOMI TALKS ABOUT HIS WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH DIMPLE The strike affected the functioning of the DC office, Registrar office, and other related offices. P2 Whenever I get time, I go to the gym. Taking care of your health is very important, says Mridul Kumar. P3 Saas, Bahu, aur Flamingo, directed by Homi Adajania, stars Dimple Kapadia, Radhika Madan & Isha Talwar.P3 » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 40°C | MIN 23°C YESTERDAY MAX 39°C | MIN 21°C SUNSET FRIDAY 7.17 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 5:28 AM » FRIDAY | 19 MAY 2023 | LUDHIANA Mystery shrouds youth’s death Ludhiana, May 18 A youth was found dead under mysterious circumstances on the Dhandra road on Thursday morning. He was missing since yesterday. The deceased has been identified as Rama Singh, alias Monu. As per information, Monu was picked up from his house by a friend on Thursday evening. He did not return home thereafter and his family was searching for him for the entire night but in vain. On Thursday morning when passers-by noticed a body lying in the empty plot, they informed the police. after identifying the deceased as Monu, the police informed his family. Sources said the deceased was a drug addict and he was under treatment for the past two months. It was being suspected that drug overdose could be the cause of his death but it would be confirmed only after the arrival of the medical report. The family levelled allegations against the deceased’s friend who had taken him along from house and demanded registration of a case against him. — TNS Heavy rain, storm render city residents ‘powerless’ Supply restored in some parts by 8 am, many areas were without power till evening A pole damaged by storm on the Shingar Cinema road; and (right) an uprooted tree near Deepak Hospital in Ludhiana. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN tribune reporters Ludhiana, May 18 Heavy rain and storm that lashed the city late last night to early hours in the morning wreaked havoc on power distribution and supply network in the city with most parts of the city going ‘powerless’ for more than eight hours. While power supply was restored in some parts by 8 am on Thursday, supply remained shut in many other affected areas, including posh PSPCL SUFFERS LOSS OF ~1.80-CR INFRA At the same time, 134 distribution transformers, 719 electric poles, one high-tension cable, a cable tower and 2.45-km length of transmission cables were damaged by heavy rain and storm. “The PSPCL has suffered a financial loss of around ~1.80 crore in terms of power supply infrastructure and equipment,” said SR Vashishat, SPCL Chief Engineer/Central Zone. localities, till noon or evening. With power supply remaining elusive in major parts of the city till mid-day, the people in affected areas had to go without water supply as well in the morning and afternoon with tube wells remaining non-functional due to power failure in many localities, including Ghumar Mandi, Civil Lines, Haibowal, Green Park, Sarabha Nagar, PAU residential complex, Humbran c m y b 15 BIG TREES UPROOTED AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS Muncipal Corporation’s Horticulture wing official Kirpal Singh said they were informed of around 15 uprooted trees at various locations. Road, residential colonies along Ferozepur Road, Sidhwan Canal and most of busy commercial hubs and residential areas in the old city area. Claiming that staff had continued on page 2 Major fire at chemical godown in Khanna Ludhiana, May 18 A massive fire broke out in a chemical godown located behind the vegetable market in a residential area in Model Town, Khanna, on Thursday. Panic spread among area residents as they feared that the fire could spread to adjoining houses. Drums filled with chemicals were reportedly stored in the godown. Some local residents even came out of their houses to save themselves. The godown was situated right in the middle of the residential area since a long time, posing a constant threat of a major accident, alleged residents. The fire was eventually brought under control with the help of three fire tenders in over two-hour operation. Baljit Singh, a resident of the area, said chemical drums were regularly brought to the illegally operated godown and chemical waste was dumped into the sewerage system as well, posing risk to the residents’ lives. Though the administration was aware of the matter, no official dared to take action. “When we questioned the godown owner today regarding the fire incident that posed risk to the lives of residents, the owner said nothing to worry as no one had died in the incident,” he alleged. Residents said they had also complained to the administration and demanded closure of the illegal godown but all their pleas fell on deaf ears. Now, it should be closed permanently. Notably, fire incidents had kept firemen of the district on toes since Wednesday night. Several incidents occurred on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday. Yesterday night around 8 pm, fire incidents were reported at two garment shops in Field Ganj where goods worth several lakhs had gutted. Around 10.57 pm, a fire broke in an empty plot in Rishi Nagar, fire tender rushed there and doused the flames. After that at 1.15 am on Thursday, a fire broke out in a house near Sahnewal but no major loss was reported. At 1.45 am, a fire broke out in a factory on the Machhiwara road. Again at 4.05 am, a fire occured at a snack manufacturing unit on the Lohara road. Firemen took over two hours to douse the flames. On Thursday morning, a fire broke out in a fast food joint in Jagraon and the same was controlled by firemen in minimum-possible time. — TNS Stepfather rapes minor, nabbed Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 18 The Moti Nagar police yesterday arrested a man on the charge of raping his 16-year-old stepdaughter in Bhagat Singh colony. The suspect was identified as Hare Ram. The complainant in this case, the girl’s mother, told the police that she solemnised her second marriage with the above said açcused. Along with her daughter from her first marriage, she had been staying with the suspect at Bhagat Singh colony, she said. On May 17, her daughter was looking depressed and when asked, she informed that her stepfather had been sexually exploiting her. He also threatened her with dire consequences if she revealed anything to anyone. The woman said on Wednesday, she lodged a complaint with the police. Acting on her complaint, the police arrested the suspect on the same day.