09032024-LT-01.qxd 09-03-2024 01:03 Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune MAHASHIVRATRI CELEBRATED WITH FERVOUR IN CITY MEDIA MOGUL RUPERT MURDOCH GETS ENGAGED HUMA QURESHI TO PORTRAY AN AUTO-RICKSHAW DRIVER Devotees thronged temples to seek blessings of Lord Shiva on the occasion of Mahashivratri in the city. P2 Media Mogul Rupert Murdoch has got engaged to a retired molecular biologist, Elena Zhukova. P4 Huma to be seen playing a female auto-rickshaw driver in a yet-untitled film directed by Vipul Mehta. P4 » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 26°C | MIN 11°C YESTERDAY MAX 25°C | MIN 11°C SUNSET SATURDAY 6.30 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 6:42 AM » SATURDAY | 9 MARCH 2024 | LUDHIANA Central pollution board too ‘fails’ topinpoint culprits of 11 deaths VB nabs woman wanted in impersonation case Joint panel probe report finds ‘faults’ with sewer lines at victims’ houses GIASPURA GAS TRAGEDY Nitin Jain Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 8 Nothing else but “faulty” sewer lines at houses of victims appeared to be the possible cause of the gas leak tragedy at Giaspura in Ludhiana last year. It seems to be the crux of the fresh inquiry report submitted by the joint panel, comprising senior functionaries of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Delhi, before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) into the Giaspura has leak tragedy. In a 58-page report, a copy of which is with The Tribune, the joint Central panel, comprising MoEF&CC Deputy Inspector General of Forests (DIGF) Raja Ram Singh, CPCB Member Secretary, Bharat Kumar Sharma and Delhi IIT chemical engineering professor Sreedevi Upadhyayula, has found “faults” with the sewer lines at the houses of the victims without pinpointing any culprits of 11 lives lost in the tragedy. The NGT was, however, yet to take up the report. Earlier, the NGT had on October 13 last “rejected” the report of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) Chairman-led joint inquiry committee while terming it “not convincing” and had ordered a fresh independent probe 12 booked for kidnapping, beating up man Ludhiana, March 8 A man was kidnapped and beaten up by around 12 persons. The Sadar police yesterday registered a case against Sandeep a resident of Lohara, and 11 unidentified persons. Complainant Rajinder Singh of Salem Tabri told the police that on March 1 he, along with his nephew, was present at Palam Enclave where Sandeep, along with his accomplices, came and beaten him. Later, they bundled him into a car and took him to Lohara. After thrashing him, they fled the scene. — TNS NDRF personnel at the gas leak tragedy site near Giaspura. FILE into the sudden release of very high concentration of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) gas from a roadside manhole in Giaspura here on April 30 last, which had claimed 11 lives, including five of a family, and had left four injured. Listing out the possible cause of gas leak, the joint committee reported that as there were no ventilating gullies in the main sewer line on affected sites, the toxic H2S sewer gas could have travelled into branch sewer connected to houdis (vents) of victims’ houses. “The same is supported by the fact that people on the opposite side of the affected roadside, where there is no houdi remained unaffected,” it said. Further, the probe panel noted that this H2S gas from sewer could have diffused all night on April 29 from the houdis into the ground floor of the affected premises, which were closed and unventilated, through their domestic sewer pipes under the washbasin and adjacent to it, which were connected with the houdis directly (without any “P” or “O” seals, which prevent gas flow) and also into the houdi of the sewer branch of one of the victims’ place. Producing elevation drawings of the houdis and their connection to the main sewer with manholes, the inquiry committee observed that the H2S being denser than air, and therefore, the ground floor of closed unventilated victims’ place could have turned into a toxic gas chamber with H2S gas concentration reaching dangerous levels by the early morning of April 30. “In case of fatalities at one of the affected premises, the H2S being heavier accumulated near the houdis connected to sewer lines reached dangerous concentration. The persons when came in close proximity to houdis that were not properly covered inhaled H2S and fell down and further inhaled peak concentration at the floor level, resulting deaths, depending upon contact duration and victims’ immunity/ health conditions,” the NGT-appointed experts submitted while reasoning that a pet dog, which was tied with chain on the rooftop, was found safe and alive supported such possibilities. Recommendations To avoid such incidents in the R’sthan youth held with 2 kg opium Ludhiana, March 8 The crime wing of the Police Commissionerate claimed to have nabbed a Rajasthanbased youth and recovered 2 kg of opium from his possession. He came to the city to deliver opium to his clients. He has been identified as Manvir Benipal, alias Pintu (22), of Jodhpur, Rajashthan. He is a student of BA. Crime wing in-charge Inspector Beant Juneja in a statement issued stated that he was leading a police party on GT Road, here, where suspicious persons were being frisked by them. During the exercise, a pedestrian was stopped for checking and The suspect in police custody in Ludhiana. TRIBUNE PHOTO during the search of his belongings, 2 kg of opium was recovered from him. During preliminary questioning, the suspect revealed that he was a student of BA and he came to Ludhiana to deliver opium to their clients, said inspector Juneja, adding that he seems to have links Despite high rate, gold remains good option for investment Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 8 Gold, favourite of Indian women, has reached an alltime high at Rs 65,000 per 10 gm (24 carat). If businessmen are to be believed, it will reach Rs 70K by the end of this year. The yellow metal is not just a treasure for women, for investment point of view too, it remains a good option. Anand Sekri, president, Jewellers’ Association, Ludhiana, said the new generation, which was educated and smart, deals in metal index. “They buy and sell gold and future, the Central joint panel made following recommendations The Municipal Corporation (MC) should develop SOPs for providing NOC, permitting houses’ connection to sewer line only with ‘P’ — or ‘O’ — seals or other suitable seals to prevent gas flow from sewer line, and also for maintenance of sewer, including desilting of sewer. Periodic monitoring shall be carried out by respective agencies. The MC should ensure proper plumbing plan of households while sanctioning building plan and providing proper sewer/ water connections to households ensuring P-traps, S-traps and water seal to avoid flow of sewer gas into houdis or houses. The MC should spread awareness among local people about such plumbing practices and also benefits of P S traps and , water seal. It shall be ensured no houses/ premises have sewer connections without such plumbing connections. Separate stormwater drainage systems need to be designed and constructed so that load of sewer lines will be minimised. Schemes for proper augmentation of sewerage network should be taken up to meet present and future wastewater load as per manual of the Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organisation (CPHEEO). Industrial units located upstream of manholes of branch sewer (from sampled location), where high concentrations of Fe, Cu, Cr and Ni were observed, should be continued on page 2 make huge profits as in international market too, gold is 2,160 US dollar per ounce, which is highest till date,” said Sekri. “Gold is to be given in weddings in India, there is no denying the fact. At the same time, we get surprised to see that even if it has reached an all-time high rate, there is no compromise at all. The mindset of women is like you should buy more gold than diamonds or stones as it will give you security (buy back). And in coming times, gold will be more expensive. They believe that for every woman, gold is the ultimate investment,” said a jeweller on the college road. Jewellers maintained since not everyone can afford to buy the purest form of gold, people have started getting their jewellery made in 18 carats or 14 carats. “We get every kind of customer. During demonetisation, people purchased gold at Rs 65,000-Rs 70,000 per 10 gm. Even today, when the rates are genuinely high, most of the buyers refuse to budge on quality. But there are only a few people who prefer to compromise over quality as 18 carat or 14 carat are still budget-friendly”, said a senior sales woman at a leading gold showroom here. with big suppliers of Rajasthan and his further questioning might lead to their arrest. Sources said the crime wing had also identified some Ludhiana-based clients of the youth and their whereabouts would be investigated. More arrests are likely in the case in days to come. — TNS Couple dupes man of ~19.5L Ludhiana, March 8 A city resident was duped of Rs 19.5 lakh by a couple on the pretext of supplying printing machines. They have been identified as Balraj Dalal and his wife Yashoda Dalal. Complainant Manav Chadha of Kundanpuri said he required four colour offset printing machines and the couple offered to buy the same. They had taken Rs 40 lakh from him but failed to deliver them. When he asked them if they could not deliver the machines they should return his money, they started making excuses. After many requests, they returned Rs 20.5 lakh. Recently, he lodged a police complaint after which a case was registered on Thursday. — TNS c m y b The suspect in custody of Vigilance Bureau sleuths in Ludhiana. TRIBUNE PHOTO Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 8 The Vigilance Bureau (VB), Ludhiana, arrested Pooja Rani, wife of Hardeep Singh, who along with the woman and four others suspects, had been collecting money from people by posing as vigilance and CBI officials. She was produced in court and sent to two-day police remand for further investigation in the case. Disclosing this here today, an official spokesperson for the state VB said four accomplices of Pooja Rani had already been arrested for taking two cheques amounting to Rs 25 lakh from a farmer by threatening him to involve him in a false case by HER SPOUSE ON THE RUN The nabbed woman, Pooja Rani, her husband Hardeep Singh and four others suspects had been collecting money from people by posing as Vigilance and CBI officials. While four accomplices had already been arrested earlier, Hardeep, a resident of Khamano town in Fatehgarh Sahib district, has been absconding. posing as vigilance officials from the Chandigarh office. In the case, Manjeet Singh and Paramjeet Singh of Mehlon village in Samrala tehsil, Parminder Singh, a resident of Akash Colony, Hoshiarpur, and Pinder Sodhi of Chabbewal, Hoshiarpur district, are in judicial custody. Suspect Hardeep, a resident of Khamano town in Fatehgarh Sahib district, has been absconding. The spokesperson said after making extra efforts, Pooja Rani was arrested while roaming in a taxi near the Ladhowal toll plaza, here. The VB team recovered two mobile phones and important documents related to the case from her possession. During probe, it came to light that the suspect had extorted Rs 52 lakh from a family of Pehowa village in Haryana in June 2023 after conducting a raid on their premises by impersonating themselves as CBI officials. Two arrested with heroin Ludhiana, March 8 The Police Division 8 yesterday arrested two persons and seized 200 gm heroin from their possession. The suspects were on the way to deliver heroin to their clients. They have been identified as Gursewak Singh and Sarabjit Singh, both residents of Kot Dharam Chand. Investigating officer ASI Sukhwinder Singh said he, along with the police party, was patrolling in Upkar Nagar to keep a tab over anti-social elements. On suspicion, a Tata Nano car (bearing registration no. PBCH 7593) was signalled to stop for checking. When the two occupants of the vehicle were frisked, 200 gm of heroin was seized. A small digital weighing machine and a small polythene were also seized from them. The ASI said now, the police remand of the suspects would be sought from court so that in further questioning, their links could be explored and big suppliers involved in the drug chain be nabbed. A case under the NDPS Act was registered by the police. — TNS
The Tribune, now published from Chandigarh, started publication on February 2, 1881, in Lahore (now in Pakistan). It was started by Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, a public-spirited philanthropist, and is run by a trust comprising four eminent persons as trustees.
The Tribune, the largest selling daily in North India, publishes news and views without any bias or prejudice of any kind. Restraint and moderation, rather than agitational language and partisanship, are the hallmarks of the paper. It is an independent newspaper in the real sense of the term.
The English edition apart, the 133-year-old Tribune has two sister publications, Punjabi Tribune (in Punjabi) and Dainik Tribune (in Hindi).