20052025-JTR-01.qxd 19-05-2025 22:44 Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune TOPPERS CREDIT SUCCESS TO SELF-STUDY, STEADY EFFORT 13 STUDENTS SCORE ABOVE 90 PER CENT DESPITE CHALLENGES The toppers credited their achievements to disciplined selfstudy, consistent effort. P2 The result of Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) have brought a moment of pride for the School of Eminence. P2 » » ANANYA AND ISHAAN PART OF FORBES 30 UNDER 30 ASIA LIST The list has 30 young entrepreneurs, artistes, athletes and more from across the Asia-Pacific region. P4 » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 42°C | MIN 29°C YESTERDAY MAX 41°C | MIN 28°C SUNSET TUESDAY 7.19 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 5:28 AM TUESDAY | 20 MAY 2025 | JALANDHAR Two rubber factories,one sports unit gutted in city Tribune News Service Sanitation staff strike ends, garbage still lying on roads Deepkamal Kaur Tribune News Service Jalandhar, May 19 Roads of the city looked more like garbage dumps till Monday evening. An estimated 25 tonne of waste produced by the city in the last five days has not been lifted by the safai karamcharis of the Municipal Corporation as they had been on strike. The waste from the dumping sites has spilled on the roads, leaving just the half width for the movement of traffic. Managing the garbage issue and the issues of the MC staff has become a headache for the state government. The strike that ended today had been led by former safai karamchari and now AAP leader and chairperson of the Punjab Safai Karamchari Commission Chandan Grewal. The safai karamcharis took a written, signed undertaking from Mayor Vaneet Dhir and MC Commissioner Gautam Jain before calling off the strike. Dhir had taken over as Mayor about four months back on the main agenda that he would ensure proper cleanliness of the city. The main demand flagged by the staff was getting extra wages for working on weekends, festivals and government holidays. They said they need to be given 13 monthly salaries for working on these days over which the authorities assured them that the provision would be moved as a resolution before the MC House in the next meeting. In return, they also sought an assurance from the sanitation staff that they would maintain attendance registers and draw salaries through iHRMS portal. “Our other demands included regularisa- tion of JCB operators, promotions of drivers, sewermen and filling posts of gardener, watchman and baildar. We have also sought assurance for regular appointments and not through outsource mode as is being done via City Livelihood Committees”, said Chandan, adding that he stood with his community on the issues of their alleged exploitation and victimisation. Two weeks back, Local Bodies Minister Dr Ravjot Singh had visited the city and had asked the officials and the MC staff to ensure that proper cleanliness was maintained. The sanitation staff of the MC had retorted saying that they need adequate staff for that. There are about 1200 safai karamcharis in the city. While the city’s limit has been expanding, there has been no fresh recruitment of sanitation staff since 2011. Jalandhar, May 19 Panic gripped the Gadaipur area of the city early this morning after a massive fire broke out at two adjoining rubber and tyre factories around 4 am. Thick black smoke billowed out from the units was visible from nearly a kilometre away, alarming residents and triggering an immediate response from emergency services. The third incident was reported from the Leather Complex area around 8 am where fire broke out at Baba International Sports Factory and goods worth lakhs were gutted in the fire. According to officials in Gadaipur, the fire started suddenly and spread rapidly due to the highly flammable materials stored inside the factories. Residents were the first to notice the flames and informed the factory owners and fire brigade. The Jalandhar Fire Department received the alert at approximately 4:15 am and quickly dispatched teams from its main office as well as a nearby private facility to the site. Despite firefighting efforts c m y b Firemen try to control a massive fire that erupts in two factories at Gadaipur in Jalandhar on Monday. continuing for more than three hours, the flames could not be fully brought under control by the morning. However, no casualties or injuries were reported. Police teams also arrived at the Gadaipur fire scene and assisted in clearing the area to ensure public safety. The two factories, situated near the Focal Point industrial area, were reportedly storing large quantities of rubber and tyre materials, which fuelled the fire. Fire brigade officials said the exact cause of the blaze remains unknown and will be investigated once the inspection of the factories is conducted. The authorities have confirmed that a thorough inspection will be conducted to determine whether the factories had adequate fire safety measures in place. Man found dead mysteriously near Wadala Chowk, probe on Jalandhar, May 19 The body of a man was discovered under suspicious circumstances late Sunday night in a room near Wadala Chowk, raising concerns among locals. The deceased, identified as Mandeep Singh, was reportedly missing earlier in the evening. Residents of the area, familiar with him, began searching and eventually located his body in a room constructed on an empty plot. Police officials from Division Number-7 reached the scene shortly after being alerted by the locals. SHO Bhushan Kumar, confirmed that a severe wound was found on the back of Mandeep’s head. “It appears the injury may have occurred due to a fall, but we are not ruling out the possibility of a foul play,” he said. “A clearer picture will emerge after the postmortem and the statements from family members”, he added. According to people in the area, Mandeep Singh was allegedly a drug addict and often visited the abandoned structure where his body was found. The locals suspect his lifestyle may have played a role in the circumstances surrounding his death. — TNS