04112023-JTR-01.qxd 11/4/2023 12:39 AM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune 838 STUDENTS GET DEGREES AT HMV CONVOCATION ROHITASHV GOUR VISITS HIS ACTING SCHOOL AFTER 20 YRS HOUSE OF THE DRAGON WILL RETURN WITH SEASON TWO Hans Raj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya awarded degrees to pass-outs of academic year 2021-22. P2 Rohitashv visits his acting school in Delhi, rekindling a sense of nostalgia & reconnection with his roots. P4 Season 2 of Game of Thronesspin-off House of the Dragonwill premiere on HBO in “early summer” of 2024. P4 » » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 29°C | MIN 15°C YESTERDAY MAX 30°C | MIN 16°C SUNSET SATURDAY 5:33 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 6:39 AM SATURDAY | 4 NOVEMBER 2023 | JALANDHAR City’s air quality enters red zone ADCs take stock of INBRIEF PURSE SNATCHED FROM CASHIER Air Quality Index turns ‘severe’; pollution-induced smog at dusk and dawn adds to woes Phagwara: An unidentified motorcycle-borne miscreant snatched a purse from a woman in Hargobind Nagar here. The victim, identified as Harleen Kaur, a resident of Batala, was working as cashier in HDFC Bank, Phagwara branch. The incident took place while she was returning to her rented house after work. She told the police that the purse contained a mobile phone, keys of the bank, ~1,000 and ATM cards. The police have registered a case under Section 379 of the IPC against the suspect. OC Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Jalandhar, November 3 After weeks of flitting between green and yellow, the air quality of Jalandhar has now reached the red zone. This means the air quality has begun to oscillate between poor and severe levels. This dramatic change in the Air Quality Index (AQI) has occurred in less than a week. The average AQI recorded in the past two days was above the 200 mark (poor), while the maximum limit touched 359 and 458 (severe). While vehicular pollution and construction dust choking the air in Jalandhar, aggravated pollution levels in the winter months in northern plains of Punjab along with rising farm fires tend to take the air quality to toxic levels creating problems for people with respiratory diseases. In the month of October and on the first day of November, the air quality level was satisfactory to moderate. The first significant increase in the AQI level was observed on November 2 and 3. The average AQI on November 2 was 220 (maximum 458 and minimum 76). Similarly, the average AQI on November 3 was 273 (maximum 359 and minimum 99). Pollution-induced smog, which is seen usually from TWO NABBED WITH 10-GM HEROIN Phagwara: The Nakodar Sadar police have arrested two drug peddlers on the charge of selling heroin. The suspects have been identified as Vinod Kumar, alias Sonu Mota, a resident of Jain Colony, Shahkot, and Naresh Kumar, alias Akash, a resident of Said Pur Jhirri village falling under the Shahkot police station. Investigating officer (IO) Jasbir Singh said 10 grams of heroin were recovered from their possession. A case under Sections 21(b), 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act has been registered against the suspects. OC MAN BOOKED FOR NEGLIGENT DRIVING Phagwara: The Lohian Khas police have booked a car driver on the charge of causing death by negligence. Investigating officer (IO) Govinder Singh said the suspect had been identified as Ranvir Singh, a resident of Chak Bahmannia near the toll plaza. In his complaint to the police, Sandeep Singh, a resident of Rai Ke Kalan village falling under the Nand Garh police station, Bathinda, said the suspect, who was driving the car at a high speed and in a negligent manner, hit his wife Amandeep Kaur at Nihaluwal village on September 15. She suffered serious injuries in the mishap. She succumbed to her injuries on September 23. The investigating officer said a case under Sections 304-A (causing death by negligence) and 279 (rash driving on a public road) of the IPC has been registered against the car driver. OC Smog engulfs Jalandhar with the average AQI at 273 on Friday. PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH AQI Date 28 October IN PAST 7 DAYS October 29 October 30 October 31 November 1 November 2 November 3 Average Minimum Maximum 147 80 234 122 31 271 182 75 287 186 124 303 151 61 266 220 76 458 273 99 359 PATIENTS’ STATISTICS BEING REVIEWED ❝So far, we haven’t had an increase in cases, which can indicate a need for alarm. However, the patients’ statistics are being reviewed regularly and if an increase is registered, we will definitely issue advisories. A meeting will also be held on Monday to review the situation. ❞ — Dr Raman Sharma, CIVIL SURGEON, JALANDHAR December onward, has begun to envelop the city right at the onset of November, reducing visibility considerably at the dusk and the dawn. The AQI in Jalandhar on October 28 was recorded at 147, which was moderate. The average AQI for the past week flitted between Height of callousness the satisfactory and moderate levels of 74 and 188, with the AQI graphs marked yellow and green. Before November, the high- est increase in AQI was witnessed on October 26 (300). However, the average AQI for October 26 was 188. The average AQI even on Dasehra day (October 24) was 95. Dr HJ Singh, chest specialist and bronchoscopist, said: “There is a sudden spurt of cough, spasms and respiratory problems in children. Our general OPD has registered a 20 per cent increase in patients. Yesterday was a very busy day with several chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients turning up. This is just the start of the season and already so many cases are coming up. Children, immunocompromised patients and those with cardiac ailments, chronic patients of asthma, COPD and other respiratory problems need to be extra cautious at this time. The problem aggravates in those with upper respiratory tract infections. Patients are also advised to keep indoors and not to go for morning walks at such a time.” Dr Raman Sharma, Civil Surgeon, Jalandhar, said: “So far, we haven’t had an increase in cases, which can indicate a need for alarm. However, the patients’ statistics are being reviewed regularly and if an increase is registered, we will definitely issue advisories. A meeting will also be held on Monday to review the situation.” stubble burning in Nakodar, Phillaur Tribune Reporters Phagwara, November 3 Additional Deputy Commissioner VS Bajwa (Development) and Additional Deputy Commissioner Jasbir Singh (Urban Development) took stock of stubble burning scenario in the Nakodar and Phillaur sub-divisions today. Presiding over the meetings, they asked all cluster/nodal officers in the sub-divisions to galvanise all resources and ensure that farmers do not burn the stubble at any cost. The ADCs said the officers must visit every village to check the situation. The peasantry was asked to make extensive use of the available agricultural machinery provided by the Agriculture Department for effectively managing stubble without resorting to burning. They said those violating the orders must be penalised. Bajwa said one case of stubble burning was reported in Nakodar and the erring farmer had been challaned. All cluster/nodal officers in the sub-divisions had been told that the next 10-12 days were crucial and they should take immediate action against the offenders. SDM Irwin Kaur told offi- Ask officers to ensure farmers don’t burn stubble at any cost PROGRESSIVE FARMERS FETED Additional Deputy Commissioner VS Bajwa (Development) and Additional Deputy Commissioner Jasbir Singh (Urban Development) said active involvement of farmer groups, cooperative societies and panchayats could help in eliminating the menace. They also asked SDM Irwin Kaur and SDM Amanpal Singh to honour progressive farmers for their contribution to curb stubble burning by utilising subsidised machinery. cers that the pollution control board was sending satellite images of stubble burning, which should be reported immediately. The ADCs said active involvement of farmer groups, cooperative societies and panchayats could help in eliminating the menace. They also asked SDM Irwin Kaur and SDM Amanpal Singh to honour progressive farmers for their contribution to curb stubble burning by utilising subsidised machinery. Speeding Mercedes injures pedestrian Tribune News Service CAR DRIVER ALSO HURT, ARRESTED Despite the fact that air quality these days has become a cause for concern in the district with increase in farm fire cases, crackers were burnt during the concluding ceremony of the Surjit Hockey Tournament in Jalandhar on Friday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: MALKIAT SINGH Jalandhar, November 3 A speeding Mercedes car hit a youth while he was trying to cross the road on foot in the Rama Mandi area here last night. The victim, identified as Tarsem Singh, a resident of Ekta Nagar in Rama Mandi, saw the car approaching and even tried to change his way, but was hit by the speeding vehicle. The incident was captured on CCTV camera. The car driver seemed to have lost control over the vehicle. The SHO of the Rama Mandi police station said the car driver, identified as Rajinder, seemed to be under the influence of some intoxicants. Since airbags of the car opened, he suffered minor injuries. He has been arrested and a case under Sections 279, 337 and 338 of the IPC has been registered against him. The victim suffered serious injuries in the mishap. He was shifted to a private hospital, where his condition is stated to be critical. The SHO of the Rama Mandi police station said the car driver, identified as Rajinder, seemed to be under the influence of some intoxicants. Since airbags of the car opened, he suffered minor injuries. He has been arrested and a case under Sections 279, 337 and 338 of the IPC has been registered against him. Coloniser dies in road accident Jalandhar: A coloniser, Karan Gupta, died in a road accident on the Jalandhar-Phagwara highway. Karan was the son of businessman Rakesh Gupta, who owns a marriage palace here. Karan was returning home in his Innova SUV on Thursday night. His vehicle rammed into a truck parked near Paragpur village. He died on the spot. The Cantonment Police team reached the spot. The body was handed over to the family members after the postmortem examination. Gurjinder’s hat-trick helps Indian Oil Mumbai lift title Ex-councillor takes up issue of SURJIT HOCKEY MEET Jalandhar, November 3 International player Gurjinder Singh’s hat-trick helped Indian Oil Mumbai lift the title of the 40th Indian Oil Servo Surjit Hockey Tournament by defeating CAG Delhi (5-3) at Surjit Hockey Stadium here today. The winning team, which lifted the trophy for the fifth time, was awarded a cash prize of ~5.50 lakh, sponsored by Gakhal Brothers (USA), and a trophy in memory of Baldev Singh Randhawa. The runner-up team was awarded a cash prize of ~2.51 lakh, sponsored by Balwinder Singh Saini (Germany) in memory of his father, and a trophy in memory of NK Agarwal. Player of the Tournament Olympian Manpreet Singh (Punjab Police Jalandhar) was awarded a cash prize of TRIBUNE PHOTO: MALKIAT SINGH Tribune News Service Players of Indian Oil Mumbai in jubilant mood after winning the trophy in Jalandhar on Friday. ~51,000, sponsored by Ranbir Singh Rana Tut in memory of his father. Rising Player of the Tournament Rajbir Singh (Indian Oil) was awarded a cash prize of ~31,000 (sponsored by GS Dhillon IG). Both teams were honoured with shoes by Nitin Kohli, president of Hockey Punjab and owner of Tracer Shoes. Chief guest Harpal Singh Cheema announced ~ 20 lakh for Surjit Hockey Society and congratulated Punjabi players who won gold medal for the hockey team in the Asian Games. Before the final match, Punjabi singer Harjit Har- man enthralled the audience with his songs. Girls of St Francis School, Kartarpur, mesmerised the audience with giddha and bhangra performances. In the 13th minute of the game, Indian Oil international Gurjinder Singh converted the fourth penalty corner to c m y b make the score 1-0. In the 15th minute, CAG Delhi’s Venkatesh Telugu converted the 6th penalty corner into a goal to equalise the score (11). In the 22nd minute of the second quarter of the game, Gurjinder Singh of Indian Oil once again scored through a penalty corner to make the score 2-1. Indian Oil Mumbai was leading 2-1 at half time. In the 48th minute, CAG Delhi’s Pramod converted the penalty stroke into a goal to level the score at 2-2. In the 49th minute, Olympian Dilpreet Singh of Indian Oil converted the penalty corner into a goal to take the score to 3-2. In the 55th minute, Indian Oil’s Sumit Kumar scored a penalty corner to take the score to 4-2. In the 56th minute, CAG Delhi’s Pramod converted the penalty stroke into a goal to make the score 4-3. In the next minute, Indian Oil’s Gurjinder Singh converted another penalty corner to take the score to 5-3. defunct street lights with MC Jalandhar, November 3 Former councillor of ward number 78 Jagdish Samrai today handed over a memorandum to senior officials of the Municipal Corporation and informed them about several dark points existing in the area where street lights have not been installed. The memorandum was addressed to the MC Commissioner. Samrai said this was the 11th memorandum that he had submitted with the same request. He mentioned exact 10 dates when he had sent the memorandum and letters to officials with a request letter being sent on December 5 last year. “I never got any solution or any answer to my queries. There are several mohallas in my ward where there are no lights. How can one live amidst such circumstances? Don’t we have a right to all this,” he asked. Former councillor Jagdish Samrai hands over a memorandum to an MC official in Jalandhar. TRIBUNE PHOTO New Ratan Nagar, Shaheed Babu Labh Singh Nagar, New Amar Nagar, New Guru Nanak Nagar, Baba Kahan Dass Nagar and Shiv Nagar are among several other colonies where most lights are either not working or have not been installed, the former Congress councillor alleged. “Around 35 street lights have been lying defunct. Whenever we call those responsible for maintenance, they tell us that they have not received their salaries. The festive season is already here and the city is grappling under darkness because of the indifferent attitude of MC officials,” Samrai rued. “Residents don’t feel safe at night. Anything can happen but who cares for the general public,” he questioned. Samrai said the issue was not new but was a long pending demand of the people of Jalandhar. — TNS