09052025-CT-01.qxd 5/9/2025 12:46 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune PGI AUTHORITIES STEP UP EMERGENCY RESPONSE TWO GANGSTERS ARRESTED WITH PISTOLS IN SECTOR 39 TUNES OF PATRIOTISM IN BOLLYWOOD CINEMA Dispatches five ambulances to AIIMSVijaypur in Jammu, holds meet to finalise operational plans. P3 The accused have alleged links to the Happy Passia gang; suspected RDX also recovered. P3 From Ae Mere Watan Ke Logonto Maa Tujhhe Salaam, patriotic songs that forever give you goosebumps. P4 » » PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 35°C | MIN 23°C YESTERDAY MAX 36.8°C | MIN 23.6°C SUNSET FRIDAY 7.05 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 5.33 AM » FRIDAY | 9 MAY 2025 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST /THETRIBUNECHD FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE On Pakistan radar, IAF base, defence labs put on high alert in UT Blackout in tricity Guv Kataria reviews emergency preparedness Nitin Jain Tribune News Service Amid heightened tensions with Pakistan, the authorities enforced a precautionary blackout across the tricity on Thursday evening. Air-raid sirens started blaring in Chandigarh around 9.30 pm to alert the residents to switch off lights. The Electricity Department later snapped the power supply in the city around 9.50 pm. Keeping in view the ongoing emergency situation, DC Nishant Kumar Yadav requested all residents to respond to the sound of the siren and switch off all lights. He advised them against venturing outside or standing on rooftops. A complete two-hour blackout was also enforced across Mohali district from 9.30 pm. The blackout started at 9.50 pm in Panchkula. The emergency blackout was lifted and power supply restored in the entire tricity at 12 midnight. PHOTO: PRADEEP TEWARI 5 schools evacuated Donate blood to build emergency to test preparedness reserves, PGI urges residents Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 8 Continuing with its emergency response preparedness in the wake of escalating tension between India and Pakistan, the UT Education Department today evacuated five government school buildings located near the 3 Base Repair Depot (3 BRD) of the Air Force Station here. The exercise was part of the mock drill involving emergency evacuation of public places. The buildings of five schools in Sectors 47, 48, 49, Ram Darbar and Faidan village were evacuated during the drill. The schoolchildren and faculty members were asked to leave their respective schools while following all emergency protocols. “The principals of all schools located in these areas have been directed to immediately vacate their premises and send the children and staff home. These schools will document the time taken to vacate the buildings and the issues they faced during the exercise, so that we can learn and plan accordingly,” said Harsuhinder Pal Singh Brar, Director, School Education. Meanwhile, the sudden announcement of building evacuation led to panic among the students, their parents and teachers in the schools. However, the authorities concerned apprised the schools about the situation. Tribune News Service BOLSTER OUR EFFORT Chandigarh, May 8 Responding to the escalating tension between India and Pakistan, the PGIMER on Thursday launched a campaign to establish an emergency blood reserve. Under this initiative, the North India’ premier health institute has called upon the public to come forward and donate blood as a powerful, united act of defiance against terrorism and those who support it. “Terrorists spill innocent blood to divide us. We will give our blood to save lives and show them that humanity triumphs over hate. That is the strongest message we can send right now,” said Prof Vivek Lal, Director, PGIMER. Elaborating on the ❝ Join us in this vital movement. Your contribution can save lives, bolster our preparedness, and send a clear message that India stands resilient, united, and unbreakable. ❞ — PROF VIVEK LAL, DIRECTOR, PGIMER importance of preparedness, he said, “This blood donation drive is not just about saving lives, it is about asserting that India’s spirit cannot be shattered by acts of terror.” Prof Lal underscored the importance of proactive readiness, stating, “Preparedness is not panic — it is protection. We must be a step ahead of any crisis in our preparedness to meet it head-on. Having sufficient blood supply is a crucial part of this readiness.” He said the PGIMER was taking strategic steps to establish a dedicated emergency blood reserve. “This reserve will serve as a vital buffer, ensuring that critical blood supplies are readily available. The success of this initiative hinges on the unwavering support of voluntary donors, whose regular contributions will help maintain and replenish this reserve continuously, the PGIMER head asserted. Prof Rati Ram Sharma, Head, Department of Transfusion Medicine, PGIMER, Continued on page 3 Chandigarh, May 8 The UT Administration has pulled all the stops to thwart any possible strike from across the border after Chandigarh was unsuccessfully targeted by Pakistan on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday. The Pakistan’s retaliatory attempt followed India’s missile strikes on terror bases, including Bahawalpur, a stronghold of the Jaish-eMohammad (JeM) terror group to avenge the Pahalgam massacre, as well as drone strikes on several Pakistani cities, including Lahore, in the wee hours of Wednesday. Sources said the Mullanpur Air Force base and DRDO’s two major establishments in Chandigarh — the Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment (DGRE) and the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) — have been put under enhanced security and vigilance. Besides, the international airport in Mohali, which has already been shut since Wednesday after the IAF took control of it and all civilian flights were cancelled till further orders, has also been put under tight security. It was also learnt that coordination between Chandigarh and neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana has been further strengthened with security drills, including special nakas (check-points) at the entry and exit points, put in place to increase the police presence on the ground and check any possible infiltration of terrorists. Taking cognisance of the situation, the Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria personally supervised the civil defence mock drill conducted Governor of Punjab and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria watches a mock drill in Sector 17. PRADEEOP TEWARI PAGE 3 SCHOOLS TO REMAIN SHUT IN TRICITY, PANJAB UNIVERSITY DEFERS EXAMS The Chandigarh Education Department has ordered the closure of all schools in the city on Friday and Saturday. A similar order was also issued by the Mohali district administration. The anganwadis will also remain closed. The Panchkula administration ordered the closure of all schools till Monday. Meanwhile, the Panjab University’s Controller of Examination issued a notification deferring the exams scheduled for May 9, 10 and 12. at the Sector 17 Plaza, one of the busiest public places in the city, this afternoon. He ordered for foolproof arrangements to thwart any possible terror attack in the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana. Meanwhile, the drill a Sector 17 was part of the ongoing exercise being carried out by the UT Administration since Wednesday to test the emergency preparedness in Chandigarh. “Following the reports of Chandigarh being on Pakistan’s radar and the unsuccessful attempts by the Pakistani military to strike installations here, the Governor-cum-Administrator reviewed the security arrangements at all vital installations and public places while directing to beef up the bandobast to thwart any possible terror attack,” a senior UT official told The Tribune. Kataria, it was learnt, sought for the details of the 4th auction: 11 vends Mayor inspects Dadu Majra dump in city find bidders, Tells officers to step up efforts on waste management, beautification of site 10 units still unsold vital installations in the city and its periphery as well and instructed the Administration as well as the state governments concerned to ensure foolproof security details inside, outside and around all vital installations. Such measures will also be taken at all public places, including international airport in Mohali, railway stations, bus stands, malls, government buildings and other spots with considerable public footfall. “The situation is fully under control and there is no need to panic. But, keeping in view the evolving situation and after coming to know about the nefarious designs of our enemy, we have further strengthened our security and response system to foil any possible terror attack,” said an official, while adding that the UT Administration was fully geared up to deal with any exigency. Tribune News Service Tribune News Service WHAT’S ON APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sec 24 & 46 Panchkula: Sector 20 Mohali: Kumbhara Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com POWER SHUTDOWN CHANDIGARH 9 am to 11 am: Parts of Sector 30 INBRIEF CAR, BIKE COLLIDE Chandigarh: Krishan of Sector 25 suffered injuries when his bike was hit by a car being driven by Manender Kumar of South Delhi near the 66 KV light point. TNS Chandigarh, May 8 As many as 10 liquor vends remained unsold even after the fourth round of e-auction held today by the UT Excise and Taxation Department. The department managed to auction 11 liquor vends out of the remaining 21 units and earned a revenue of Rs 60.76 crore against the reserve price of Rs 47.97 crore in today’s auction. The highest bid of Rs 11.11 crore was received for the liquor vend located in Sector 38-D market against the reserve price of Rs 6.18 crore. The second highest bid of Rs 9.90 crore was made for the vend located internal market of Sector 7 against the reserve price of Rs 5.05 crore. The third highest bid of Rs 7.21 crore came for a vend located in internal market of Sector 8 with a reserve price of Rs 7.11 crore. The department was able to auction only seven vends out of 28 during the third round of the auction on April 29. On April 21, the department put up 48 liquor vends, the licences of which were cancelled for the nonpayment of bank guarantee, for auction. It managed to find bidders for only 20 liquor vends. The department earned Rs 131 crore against the total reserve price of Rs 109 crore. On March 21, the department had allotted 96 liquor vends out of a total of 97 through an e-auction and generated Rs 606 crore. However, the department had cancelled the licences of 48 vends. It earned Rs 23 crore by forfeiting the earnest money and security deposits of these defaulters. The today’s auction was scheduled for yesterday, but could not be held as the server of the National Informatics Centre (NIC) was down. P’kula resident found dead in car at Dhakoli Chandigarh, May 8 Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla today visited the dumping ground at Dadu Majra to inspect the ongoing waste management and bio-mining projects. She was accompanied by Manoj Kumar, chairman of sanitation committee; Himanshu Gupta, Joint Commissioner; and other senior officials and councillors. The Joint Commissioner and engineers concerned briefed the Mayor on the current status of the waste-segregation project, emphasising the handling of wet and dry waste and the measures being taken to reduce environmental hazards. They also explained the ongoing management of horticulture waste and initiatives to process organic material into bio-soil for agricultural and landscaping use. Expressing concern over certain lapses, the Mayor instructed the officers concerned to submit a detailed report on the non-operational mist machines installed to control odour and airborne Mohali, May 8 A resident of Sector 20, Panchkula, was found dead in his car under mysterious circumstances at Dhakoli in Zirakpur this morning. The deceased has been identified as Himanshu Gupta, a street vendor. He was married. His family members suspected foul play and demanded a probe into his death. Around 11 pm, Himanshu, along with his friend Shubham, a resident of Mamta Enclave, visited Dhakoli in his car for some work. Shubham reportedly told the police that Himanshu asked him to go home on foot as he wanted to rest for some time in the car. In the morning, he received a phone call from the victim’s mother who said Himanshu had not come home. When he went back to check on his friend, he found him unconscious in the car. He was rushed to a private hospital where the doctors declared him dead on arrival. Meanwhile, the police handed over the body to his kin after post-mortem today. — TNS c m y b Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla inspects projects at the Dadu Majra dump. PHOTO: RAMKRISHAN UPADHYAY SITE MUST NOT REMAIN AN EYESORE: MAYOR “This dumping ground must not remain an eyesore. It is time we make it a model of how waste can be managed responsibly and aesthetically,” said Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla. pollutants at the dumping site. “These machines must be functional. I want a report submitted immediately explaining why these are not in use,” the Mayor stated firmly. She also reviewed the landscaping and beautification plans for the dumping site. She inquired about the TT water connection at the dump and directed the engineers to submit a detailed report in this regard. She told the officers to expedite the transformation of the area, calling for the plantation of neem and other oxygen-generating trees along the boundary wall of the dump. She also stressed the need for growing flowers within and around the site. “This dumping ground must not remain an eyesore. It is time we make it a model of how waste can be managed responsibly and aesthetically,” the Mayor asserted. She urged all departments to act swiftly and efficiently to turn the site into a cleaner and greener space.