27042026-JTR-01.qxd 4/26/2026 10:33 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune KATHUNANGAL FARMER BUILDS HI-TECH 1,000-LITRE DAIRY UNIT OUTSOURCE NON-ACADEMIC WORK & EASE TEACHERS’ BURDEN LEGENDARY PHOTOGRAPHER RAGHU RAI PASSES AWAY AT 83 He says farmers interested in dairy farming should begin on a small scale with a limited number of milch animals. P2 Provide adequate resources, fair compensation for duties & hire unemployed youth to carry out Census.P3 He was the first recipient of the Academy of Fine Arts Photography Award – William Klein – celebrating his career. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 40°C | MIN 22°C YESTERDAY MAX 40°C | MIN 21°C SUNSET MONDAY 7.04 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 5:46 AM » MONDAY | 27 APRIL 2026 | JALANDHAR Heatwave grips Jalandhar as mercury stays above 40°C Residents forced to stay indoors Tribune News Service Jalandhar, April 26 As Jalandhar sizzles under an intense heatwave with the mercury consistently crossing the 40 degree Celsius mark over the past few days, daily life in the city has slowed considerably, pushing residents to stay indoors. From late morning to early evening, major roads and residential lanes appear unusually quiet as people reschedule routines to cope with the prolonged spell of extreme heat. Residents said stepping out even briefly feels unbearable, with the heat causing dizziness and exhaustion. Vendors struggle Amid the harsh conditions, makeshift stalls selling sugarcane juice, lemonade and other cool drinks have sprung up across the city, witnessing a surge in demand. However, even as business picks up, vendors say the extreme heat is taking a toll on their working hours. Gurjit Singh, a sugarcane juice seller near Doaba Chowk, said, “There is demand throughout the day, but standing in this heat is exhausting. By afternoon, it Man alleges ~9.3L fraud by finance scheme operators Phagwara, April 26 Gurpreet Singh, a resident of City Enclave in Kapurthala, has allegedly been cheated of Rs 9.30 lakh by operators of an unregistered finance scheme. SSP Gaurav Toora stated that according to the complaint, the victim alleged that Rajni Bala and her husband Vikramjit Singh, alias Raja, convinced him to invest money in a finance business they claimed to be jointly running under the name “Raja Finance.” The complainant stated that he knew the couple, which led him to trust their claims. The accused reportedly visited Gurpreet Singh’s residence and persuaded him to invest in their company, promising financial returns. Acting on their assurances, he initially invested Rs 3 lakh. Over time, he continued to invest through different transactions, taking the total amount to Rs 9.30 lakh. To secure the investment, Vikramjit Singh allegedly issued a cheque for Rs 9.30 lakh dated February 20, 2025. However, before the cheque could be presented, Vikramjit Singh died on February 7, 2025. Following his death, the complainant approached Rajni Bala, who is stated to be a partner in the same venture, seeking the return of his money. Despite repeated requests, she allegedly failed to repay the amount. The complaint further noted that the “Raja Finance” company was not registered, raising suspicion about the legitimacy of the operation. — OC Applicants are required to enter their previous roll number, fill in personal details and select the subjects they wish to reappear in the registration form. FILE ‘Special mercy chance’ for Class X, XII PSEB students Registration begins today Tribune News Service Girls shield themselves from the scorching sun during a hot afternoon in Jalandhar. PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH becomes difficult to continue without breaks. People are buying more drinks, but we also get tired quickly. The heat drains energy.” Nitish, a vegetable seller near Preet Nagar, said, “Earlier, I worked from morning till late evening, but now most sales happen after sunset as people avoid stepping out during the day.” Students skip classes, report health issues The heatwave has also taken its toll on academic routines as well. Students say it is becoming difficult to attend classes regularly. Nancy, a postgraduate student at KMV College, said, “I am avoiding stepping out between 11 am and 3 pm. The heat affects concentration and causes fatigue. I had fever and dizziness earlier this month. My friends have also stopped coming regularly due to scorching heat” Rise in heat-related illnesses Doctors are reporting a steady increase in heat-related ailments. Dr Anshuman Verma, a renowned paediatrician in Jalandhar, said, “We are seeing a spike in cases of heat exhaustion and environmental hypothermia in newborns. Earlier, such cases were rare, but now we are getting two or three cases daily.” He also noted an increase in jaundice and diarrhoea cases. “High temperatures accelerate food spoilage, especially at roadside stalls where storage is often inadequate. The number of such cases has doubled and on some days even tripled,” he added. Power cuts worsen discomfort Frequent power cuts are com- pounding the problem, particularly during evening hours. On Saturday, several areas again faced outages lasting nearly two hours from 8:45 pm to 10:30 pm. Swati, a resident of Aman Nagar, said, “Power cuts during dinner time have become frequent. After a long, exhausting day, it is very difficult to manage without fans or coolers. Even nights offer little relief.” With temperatures expected to remain above normal in the coming days, residents continue to adjust their routines while concerns over health and daily livelihoods persist. Fight against cancer Jalandhar, April 26 The Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) will open online registration from April 27 for its one-time “special mercy chance” examination, offering a last and final opportunity to students who have been unable to clear their Class X or Class XII board examinations over the years. The board has issued a public notice, confirming that the scheme covers candidates from both regular and open school streams, who appeared in the PSEB examinations at any point between March 2010 and March 2025. As per official notice issued by the PSEB Controller of MP Kang inaugurates projects Residents participate in a walkathon to raise awareness about cancer in Jalandhar on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO Nawanshahr, April 26 MP from Anandpur Sahib Malvinder Singh Kang inaugurated several development projects in Sarhal Kazian village under the Banga constituency on Saturday. The MP dedicated a newly constructed community hall and a cremation ground facility to the public. Kang stated that approximately Rs 9 lakh has been spent on various development works in the village. He emphasised that the government is committed to ensuring uninterrupted funding for rural development projects. Highlighting his priorities, Kang said the holistic development of villages remains a key focus. — TNS 2 city girls selected for Punjab U-17 cricket team Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Jalandhar, April 26 Jalandhar continues to make its mark in grassroots sports development as two young cricketers, Aarti Sharma and Vanisha, have been selected for the upcoming Under-17 girls’ cricket tournament to be held in Rohtak. Adding to the city’s achievement, physical education teacher Sharandeep Kaur has been appointed as the coach of the state U-17 girls’ team. The tournament is being organised by the School Games Federation of India. Sharandeep Kaur, who teaches at Government Senior Secondary School for Girls, Adarsh Nagar, has been Vanisha mentoring aspiring cricketers for several years. Her dedication has played a crucial role in shaping the skills and confidence of many young players, including the newly selected duo. Aarti Sharma is a student of the same government school, while Vanisha studies at Guru Angad Dev Public School. Speaking about her journey, Aarti shared that she began playing cricket four years ago, inspired by limited resources but strong determination. Coming from a modest background, her father is a carpenter, she credits her family’s support as a key factor in her progress. She also looks up to international cricketer Ellyse Perry as her role model. “There are several players whose game I enjoy and learn from,” she said, adding that she dreams of representing India one day. “I am very enthusiastic and working hard every day to achieve my goal.” Coach Sharandeep Kaur c m y b Aarti Sharma expressed immense pride in her students’ achievements. “These girls are sincere and dedicated. It’s rewarding to see their hard work paying off,” she said. Despite infrastructural challenges, including ongoing construction at Burlton Park where training sessions are usually held, Kaur has ensured that practice continues uninterrupted by arranging alternative venues. Currently, around 25 girls between the ages of 11 and 20 are receiving free cricket training under the guidance of the Jalandhar Cricket Association (JCA). Kaur’s consistent efforts have created a supportive environment for young athletes, especially girls, to pursue cricket seriously. The selection of Aarti and Vanisha, along with Kaur’s appointment as coach, highlights the growing strength of women’s cricket in the region and underscores the importance of grassroots coaching in nurturing future talent, the coach said. Examinations, the candidate must have cleared at least one subject. Additionally, three categories of candidates are eligible to apply under this special provision. First, the candidates who have exhausted all attempts to clear their reappear or compartment examinations. Second, the candidates who were declared failed, provided they have passed at least one main subject. Third, candidates who wish to improve their performance under the division improvement category. The board has made it clear that this is a strictly one time relaxation and will not be extended or repeated, urging all eligible candidates to avail themselves of the opportunity without delay. The examination form along with detailed instructions and guidelines will be available on the board’s official website. Applicants are required to enter their previous roll number, fill in personal details, select the subjects they wish to reappear in and upload relevant documents. The application will be considered complete only after payment of the prescribed examination fee through the online portal. A detailed date sheet and further guidelines regarding the examination schedule will be uploaded on the board’s official website in due course. Students have been strongly advised to ensure complete accuracy while filling in the application form, particularly regarding their roll number, subject selection and personal details and to complete the registration process well in advance to avoid last minute technical difficulties. Month on, power supply restored to Phagwara mandi after MP steps in Our Correspondent RELIEF FOR WORKERS Phagwara, April 26 After nearly a month without electricity, the city’s main vegetable market saw power supply restored on Saturday following the intervention of MP Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal, easing hardships faced by traders and labourers. According to details, labourers and traders in the mandi had been forced to work without electricity for nearly a month. The lack of lighting not only disrupted business activities, but also raised safety concerns, especially during early morning and evening hours. Workers reportedly had to rely on mobile phone flashlights and makeshift arrangements to continue their daily operations. The issue came to light when local representatives and market members informed the MP about the prolonged disruption. Responding promptly, Dr Chabbewal visited the mandi and stayed at the site for several hours, coordinating directly with officials and technical staff to ensure that the fault was identified and fixed without further delay. Eyewitnesses said the MP remained present for nearly five hours until the electricity supply was restored. His intervention included supervising repair work and pushing for immediate administrative action. Photographs from the site show him interacting with workers, market committee members, and Workers reportedly had to rely on mobile phone flashlights and makeshift arrangements to continue their daily operations. officials during the restoration process. Members of the market committee stated that they had repeatedly raised the issue earlier but received no timely resolution. They added that the restoration has brought significant relief, allowing normal trading activities to resume. Improved lighting is also expected to enhance safety conditions for workers and customers. Local residents and traders acknowledged the intervention, noting that consistent power supply is essential for maintaining hygiene, storage, and daily operations in such markets. They emphasized that delays in addressing basic infrastructure issues can severely impact livelihoods. Dr Chabbewal, highlighting the importance of responsive governance, said public representatives must act swiftly when essential services are disrupted. He stressed that ensuring basic amenities like electricity is critical for both economic activity and public welfare. With electricity now restored, the mandi has returned to normal functioning, but traders have urged the authorities to implement measures to prevent similar outages in the future.