15112023-TTC-01.qxd 15-11-2023 00:32 Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 7 NO. 315 | 14 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2021-2023 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 TIES WITH CHINA NEED TO BE MANAGED WELL, SAYS US NSA WORLD /thetribunechd NIA ATTACHES ASSETS OF 2 LeT OPERATIVES IN PULWAMA J&K WHOLESALE INFLATION GOYAL VISITS TESLA PLANT FALLS TO --0.52% IN IN US AS GOVT MULLS DUTY OCTOBER BUSINESS CUT ON EVs BACK PAGE wednesday | 15 november 2023 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Rescuers drilling through rubble Delhi AQI back to ‘severe’,no let-up in straw burning cases to reach workers stuck in tunnel Tribune News Service Laying steel pipes to create safe passage for labourers to crawl Neeraj Mohan Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 14 Rescue operations continued for the third consecutive day on Tuesday to save 40 workers trapped inside a collapsed under-construction tunnel on the Brahmkhal-Yamunotri national highway in Uttarakhand. Authorities said all trapped labourers were safe and communication was being maintained with them through walkie-talkie sets. Food and oxygen supplies are being ensured to them. The workers were constructing the tunnel when a landslide caused a part of it to cave in on Sunday morning. The rescue operation involves drilling the tunnel with heavy machinery to insert 900-mm diameter steel pipe sections, one after the other, through the debris-blocked area and create an escape passage for the workers who can then crawl to safety. Five engineers of the Uttarakhand Irrigation Department are already at the site, helping lay the pipes and provide technical assistance. A total of 160 relief IN BRIEF Make adultery crime again, says Parl panel NEW DELHI: A parliamentary panel has suggested bringing back IPC Section 377 to make adultery a crime again. It was partially struck down by the Supreme Court in 2018. IANS 6-mth jail proposed for selling adulterated food NEW DELHI: A parliamentary panel has recommended a minimum jail term of six months for those selling adulterated food or drinks along with a minimum fine of ~25,000. PTI Rescue operations underway after a portion of a tunnel under construction on a highway collapsed in Uttarkashi. PTI 4,531-METRE TUNNEL The site is located between Dharasu and Barkot on the Yamunotri NH. The length of the tunnel is 4,531m. Around 2,340m tunnel has been constructed from the Silkyara end and 1,600m has been built from the Dandalgaon end. A 30m portion collapsed 270m from the Silkyara end. workers have been deployed. A temporary helipad has been established five kilometre from the site. The Uttarak- WORKER SPEAKS TO SON DANDALGAON Gabbar Singh Negi, one of the 40 labourers trapped in the tunnel, spoke to his son on Tuesday. “I was allowed UTTARAKHAND to speak to my father for a few seconds using the pipe through which oxygen is being supplied to the stranded workers,” Akash Singh Negi said. SILKYARA hand Government today acknowledged that rubble, which continues to fall from upper sections of the tunnel, was hampering rescue work with experts now recommending installation of steel pipes continued on page 11 New Delhi, November 14 The air pollution levels in the national Capital continued to deteriorate for the second consecutive day with the air quality index (AQI) reaching the ‘severe’ category at most locations. The city, along with adjoining National Capital Region (NCR), remained shrouded in a thick layer of smog, registering ‘severe’ and ‘very poor’ levels of air quality, coinciding with the inaugural day of the India International Trade Fair. AQI readings by the Central Pollution Control Board at 24 locations surpassed 401, with the city’s average hitting 397 (‘very poor’) at 4 pm, worsening from 358 on Monday and 218 on Sunday. For the second day in a row, Delhi ranked among one of the most polluted cities globally, according to Swiss air purifier company IQAir. The neighbouring cities of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Greater Noida too grappled with ‘very poor’ air quality. The spike in pollution levels post Diwali is due to bursting of firecrackers and farm fires, the latter being the continued on page 11 Anti-smog guns spray water to curb pollution in Delhi. MUKESH AGGARWAL CAPITAL’S AQI LEVELS IN NCR 397 NEHRU NAGAR ANAND VIHAR ITO PUNJABI BAGH RK PURAM 450 439 427 423 422 GURUGRAM FARIDABAD NOIDA GHAZIABAD GREATER NOIDA 386 384 364 356 348 AIR QUALITY INDEX 401-500 SEVERE 301-400 VERY POOR 201-300 POOR 101-200 MODERATE 51-100 SATISFACTORY 0-50 GOOD Farm fires surge to 1,776 in Punjab PATIALA: Punjab witnessed a spike in farm fires for the second consecutive day. After witnessing 1,624 farm fire incidents on Monday, 1,776 cases of stubble burning were reported from across the state on Tuesday. The total count has now reached 28,117. A total of 4,387 farm fires have been reported from across the state in the past three days, with 987 being reported on Diwali. INSIDE New Delhi, November 14 Sahara group chief Subrata Roy died of cardio respiratory arrest in Mumbai on Tuesday night. He was 75. A company statement from Sahara India said, “Sahara Sriji, an inspirational leader and visionary, passed away on November 14 at 10.30 pm due to cardio respiratory arrest following an extended battle with complications arising from metastatic malignancy, hypertension and diabetes.” It said he was admitted to Kokilaben hospital on November 12. He founded Sahara India Parivar in 1978 and operated a number of businesses, including Amby Valley. In February 2014, the SC ordered his detention for failure to appear in a dispute with SEBI. He was out on bail. — TNS In Gaza, mass grave ‘dug’ to bury patients Their sons killed in fake encounter, Israeli forces seize Hamas legislative council building, police headquarters kin to challenge Sandeep Dikshit Hamas were becoming a AFT relief to Capt KASHMIR WOMAN EVACUATED political issue in Israel and Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 14 All hospitals in north Gaza would shut down in 48 hours, warned the local health authorities even as Israeli tanks had broken through to seize the Hamas legislative council, police headquarters and an engineering faculty used for production of weapons, said the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). The IDF had surrounded the Al Shifa hospital in Gaza City, Jerusalem: An Indian woman from Kashmir, Lubna Nazir Shaboo, and her daughter, Karima, who had sought immediate evacuation from Gaza, safely reached Egypt with the help of Indian missions, according to her husband. under which it said was the Hamas headquarters. Hamas said there were 650 patients and 5,000-7,000 displaced civilians with the lives of 36 premature babies especially at risk. Reports said civilians trapped in the hospital were digging a mass grave to bury 40 patients who died in recent days. The IDF announced the first hostage death of 19-yearold Noa Marciano in Gaza. The kidnapped soldier apparently died in an Israeli bombing. The hostages held by their families began a fiveday march from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem to demand the government be more proactive in ensuring their release. Hamas sought to also capitalise on the situation by announcing it could release up to 70 women and children in return for a five-day truce. The story of internal displacement in Gaza continued amidst shortage of water, food, electricity and medicines. 4.3 LMT paddy arrives On song, India look to tame Kiwis on Diwali, VB to probe Rohit Mahajan Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 14 The Vigilance Bureau today launched an inquiry into an alleged paddy scam where nearly 4.7 lakh metric tonne (LMT) of paddy arrived in several grain markets in Punjab on Diwali. The inquiry aims to find out how much of the paddy arrival was bogus. Director, VB, Varinder Kumar has set up 44 teams to probe the matter. The teams have seized records regarding the arrival of paddy before and on Diwali from Sahara group chief Subrata dies at 75 44 teams set up across Punjab, records seized several grain markets. Sources said the VB was also seeking records from commission agents (arhtiyas) so that it could tally it with the data in the grain markets. “It is an enormous task. The seizure of records is just the first step. The entries will have to be cross-checked with continued on page 11 Mumbai, November 14 Kane Williamson and Rohit Sharma, most laidback and coolest of men, cultivate forgetfulness. Williamson doesn’t wish to remember that his team lost four matches in a row before qualifying for the semifinals of the World Cup. Rohit doesn’t wish to dwell on the fact that India have regularly suffered losses to New Zealand in knockout matches of ICC events, including the 2019 World Cup semifinals and the 2021 Word Test Championships final. Kane Williamson and Rohit Sharma during practice session in Mumbai. PTI CRICKET WORLD CUP When they clash in the semifinals of the World Cup here tomorrow, the two captains and TODAY’S TIE TEAMS VENUE TIME India vs New Zealand Mumbai 2pm their teams would wish to banish unpleasant memories — go continued on page 13 Arjun Sharma Jammu, November 14 Each time Haji Mohammad Yusuf sees the photo of his late son Abrar Ahmed, killed in a ‘staged encounter’ in Kashmir, he finds it difficult to hold back his tears. His four-year-old grandson seated beside him at his house in Rajouri, Yusuf appears visibly agitated over the latest “tragedy” that has befallen his family — The Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) on Monday suspended the life sentence awarded to the Indian Army confirms dismissal of officer INSIDE Army Captain by the Summary General Court Martial for killing Ahmed and his two relatives in a fake encounter. “If not him, who killed my son,” Yusuf asks angrily, his voice choking. Ahmed and the other two deceased, Mohammad Abrar and Imtiaz Ahmed, belonged to Kotranka in Rajouri district of Jammu division. The fake encounter took place at Amshipora in Shopian continued on page 11 EAM S Jaishankar with UK Home Secretary James Cleverly in London. PTI EAM raises extremism with British Home Secy New Delhi, November 14 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has raised India’s concerns regarding extremist activities and extradition of economic fugitives with British Home Secretary James Cleverly. Jaishankar also discussed a free trade agreement (FTA), besides cooperation in defence and science and technology with his counterpart David Cameron. There have been tensions between India and the UK over attacks by Khalistani separatists on the Indian High Commission in London and unpleasantness with the Indian High Commissioner in Glasgow. “They discussed global challenges, including the situation Also takes up FTA and extradition of fugitives in Israel and Gaza and Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine... also covered the importance of the Indo-Pacific region to global growth and prosperity,” said a UK statement. At a special Diwali reception, Jaishankar dwelt on the forward movement in ties with the UK. “We are focusing on an enhanced trade partnership. In common terms, it’s called FTA. We hope to find a landing point that works for both of us,” hoped Jaishankar, who arrived in the UK on Saturday on a five-day visit. — TNS edit: India talks tough As probe began, Jind principal took 50 ‘Biki’ Oberoi, who ushered in uber-luxury hotel era, passes away girls on 3-day trip to ‘influence’ them Sandeep Dikshit Tribune News Service Deepender Deswal Tribune News Service Hisar, November 14 Even after the district authorities got a letter regarding sexual harassment of several girls, the accused principal of Government Senior Secondary School in Jind district and some teachers took about 50 girl students on a three-day trip (from October 25-27) to Amritsar and the Attari border. The shocking fact came to No approval was taken from higher-ups for tour light during an interaction with some of the students who went on the trip. The district authorities, including the Education Department, had started an investigation against the principal on October 25 on the basis of the letter. On October 27, the Additional Chief Secretary ordered his suspension. Sources revealed to The Tribune that while most of the girls were unaware about the probe, the principal and other teachers were apparently aware of it. “The teachers looked upset and behaved in a bizarre way with us on the trip,” one of the students said, adding that they had started the continued on page 11 New Delhi, November 14 PRS ‘Biki’ Oberoi, the inheritor of India’s first five-star hotel chain who honed and refined his legendary father Mohan Singh Oberoi’s legacy, passed away on Tuesday morning at the age of 94 years. Biki as a child was witness to his father running the Calcutta hotel during World War II and took over the mantle in 1984 after the group had expanded to nine hotels. Under him, the group’s busi- ness now spans hotels, cruises and resorts in seven countries under three brands — Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, Trident Hotels and Maiden Hotel. With advancing age, Biki had made his nephew Arjun the executive chairman of the group and son Vikramjit the CEO. Arjun is the son of Tilak ‘Tikki’ Raj Singh Oberoi, who had worked in tandem with younger brother Biki to develop the hotel chain but passed away prematurely in 1984. Oberoi Sr was born in Bhaun c m y b PRS ‘BIKI’ OBEROI FEB 3, 1929 - NOV 14, 2023 village of Pakistan’s Punjab province and worked at The Cecil in Shimla. He went on to buy it out with all his family wealth in 1934. In 1938, he capitalised on the cholera epidemic-induced rock bottom rates for Grand Hotel in Calcutta to buy it out. Five years later, Mohan Singh Oberoi became the first Indian to own an upmarket hotel chain when he bought out Associated Hotels of India in 1943. Biki in 1954 was asked to run the Maidens in Delhi and then the Grand Hotel in Calcutta. He was also given charge of four hotels in Pakistan but those were acquired by the Government of Pakistan after the 1965 war. Biki and elder brother ‘Tikki’ then took the plunge in the large hotel format in 1965 by setting up the Oberoi next to the sylvan Delhi Golf Course. In 1968, Associated Hotels of India merged with East India Hotels and the next project was The Trident in Mumbai in 1973 and its sister hotel The Oberoi in 1986. By then Tikki had passed away and the family patriarch had health problems, continued on page 11