13072026-CT-01.qxd 7/13/2026 12:50 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune MAYRA IN QUARTERFINAL OF BADMINTON TOURNAMENT PLAYERS’ AUCTION FOR CHD GOLF LEAGUE CONCLUDES SINGER JASMINE SANDLAS ANNOUNCES ENGAGEMENT Mayra Katlaria defeats Fazilka’s Sherin 15-6, 15-8 in the girls’ U-11 category of north zone meet. P3 The Chandigarh Golf League has expanded to 24 franchise teams, including three new ones. P3 Jasmine leaves fans surprised as she announces her engagement at The Dream Girl India Tour in Delhi. P4 » » WHAT’S ON POWER SHUTDOWN Drug supply network busted; Nigerian national arrested Panchkula, July 12 The Anti-Narcotics Cell has arrested a Nigerian national who was allegedly involved in an interstate cocaine trafficking network. The accused, Aja Ogbonna, was arrested during the investigation of an NDPS Act case registered at the Chandimandir police station. Investigators said the accused, who ran a clothing and footwear business in Delhi, had been supplying cocaine for nearly five years. On June 17, the Anti-Narcotics Cell received a tip-off that Anchit, alias Chintu, a resident of Peer Muchalla, would deliver cocaine near Herbal Park in Sector 26. Acting on the information, a police team laid a trap and arrested him along with his SUV . During the search, the police recovered 87 cocaine pellets weighing 43 grams. A case under the NDPS Act was registered at the Chandimandir police station. During interrogation, Anchit allegedly disclosed that he had purchased the cocaine from a Nigerian Continued on page 3 Two men from Manimajra washed away in Ghaggar; one body found Had gone to catch fish in swollen river near Bhankharpur bridge at Mubarikpur Tribune News Service Zirakpur, July 12 Two residents of Manimajra, both in their mid-40s, were washed away in the swollen Ghaggar river near the Bhankharpur bridge at Mubarikpur, while their companion managed to survive. One of the bodies was recovered on Sunday morning, nearly 40 hours after the men went missing. According to local residents, Surender, Darshan and Chanda, all residents of Indira Colony, Manimajra, had travelled to the river in an auto-rickshaw to catch fish on Friday afternoon. Darshan reportedly slipped into the swollen river and was swept away by the strong current. Surender tried to rescue him but was also carried away, while Chanda managed to cling to bushes and come out safely. After being informed, family members searched for the two missing men until late in the evening but could not locate them. Mubarikpur 13 VULNERABLE POINTS ■ The Panchkula administration has NDRF personnel carry out a search operation near the Ghaggar where Darshan and Surender (inset) were swept away. police post in-charge Kulwant Singh said rescue and search operations, involving the NDRF and other agencies, had been underway for the past two days. Darshan’s body was recovered on Sunday morning, while the search identified 13 flood-prone locations for round-the-clock monitoring ■ These include the Sector 21 Ghaggar bridge near Shani Mandir, both sides of the Majri Chowk bridge, the river areas near Burj Kotian, Dewanwala, Chandi, Thapli, Balu Thapli, Barun and Chamla villages ■ The Tangri river near Barwala bridge, Khetparali village, Raipur Rani (Morni T-point) and both sides of the Kaushalya river near Mallah bridge will also remain under surveillance for Surender continued. Surender’s wife said, “The three friends left home around 2.30 pm. Chanda later returned to inform us, after which we reached the spot along with other family members and the colony pradhan.” Both victims were around 45 years old. Surender is survived by his wife and three sons. The Panchkula and Mohali administrations have appealed to residents not to venture near water bodies during monsoon, warning that RWA protests proposed BKU protest today, traffic curbs in city vending zone in Sec 11-D Tribune News Service Chandigarh, July 12 The Residents Welfare Association (RWA) of Sector 11 has objected to the Municipal Corporation’s (MC) proposal to create a new vending zone in Sector 11-D. In a statement, RWA president IP Singh and vice-president AS Prashar said, “We strongly oppose the move. There is already chaos in the market and it appears that the MC authorities have learnt no lesson from the recent broad daylight murder in the Sector 11-D market.” They alleged that the high volume of business transactions had started attracting criminal elements to the area. They also criticised the Market Welfare Association (MWA), saying it had failed to address the growing problems. “The MWA has taken no steps to improve the situation. There is hardly any space for pedestrians, let alone parking. There is no arrangement to regulate the available parking space by deploying staff, as is being done by the MWAs of Sectors 19 and 22,” they said. The RWA has alleged that the market had been “cap- tured” by chemists and that despite making good profits, they had failed to provide basic facilities. It said the original concept of Chandigarh as a planned city, where every sector catered to the daily needs of residents, had been diluted after shops were allowed to change from their originally designated trades. The office-bearers claimed that over 90 per cent of the shops in the market were occupied by chemists because of the new OPD at the PGI, leaving residents unable to purchase essential daily-use items. They pointed out that a vending zone already existed in the form of the rehri market in Sector 11-D. Under the vending policy, the site had been cleared about a decade ago, and nearly 100 booths on the ground and first floors were constructed and allotted to displaced vendors and others. They claimed that more than half of these booths were now lying vacant or had been sold by the original allottees. “There is no vacant space in the market to create another vending zone. Besides, a vending zone already exists in Sector 15, just across the Continued on page 3 Chandigarh, July 12 Three days after the massive traffic disruption caused by the farmer protest brought Chandigarh to a standstill, the city is set to face fresh traffic restrictions as the local authorities have permitted the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU-Rajewal) to hold another protest on July 13. Keeping in view the arrival of protesting farmers and their supporters, the UT police have announced traffic restrictions for Monday from 10.30 am to 3 pm on several major roads in the city. The affected routes include the stretch from the Sector 51/52 light point to the ISBT Sector 43 chowk; the Sector 34-35/4344 junction (South End Chowk) to the Sector 21-22/3435 junction (Piccadilly Chowk), including the Aroma light point on Himalayan Marg. Restrictions will also be in place on the road from Piccadilly Chowk to the Sector 20/21-33/34 junction on Dakshin Marg, including Kisan Bhawan Chowk and the Sector 20/30-32/33 junction . Traffic movement will also be affected on the stretch from the Sector 20/21-33/34 junction via the Sector 33/34-44/45 junction and the Sector 44/45-50/51 junction (Gaushala Chowk) to the Mohali barrier on Sarovar Path, including the Sector 20/21 light point and the Sector 45-46/49-50 junction. Meanwhile, the traffic restrictions have prompted some schools to revise their timings, as several school buses failed to reach their designated stops on time during the previous protest. The rally will be held to protest issues related to Punjab’s water resources and the proposed India-US Free Trade Agreement. doing so could prove fatal. In view of the active monsoon and the Meteorological Department’s forecast of heavy rain over the coming days, the Panchkula police have imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNS. The orders prohibit adults and children from going near the banks of natural or man-made rivers, drains, tributaries and dams, including the Ghaggar, Kaushalya and Tangri rivers, within Panchkula district. Entering rivers or their dry beds for personal, social, religious or political activities has also been prohibited. Meanwhile, a police team from Sector 21 visited the Chhath Ghat on the Ghaggar river and urged residents to stay away from rivers, drains and waterlogged areas. The police warned that the force of the current is often difficult to assess and even a moment of carelessness can prove fatal. Motorists were also advised not to attempt crossing flooded roads, rivers or drains. Merc runs over 2 near Sector 26 club, one critical Chandigarh, July 12 Two persons were injured after a Mercedes SUV allegedly ran them over and fled the spot near the Sector 26 nightclub area on Saturday evening, just a few metres from the local police station. The accused has been identified as 21-year-old Akhil, a resident of Faridabad. He was in Chandigarh to meet his cousin and the car belonged to Akhil’s uncle, who is from Haryana, claimed sources. Two more persons, who were accompanying the accused, have also been identified. Police officials said the accused would be booked as per the victims’ statements. The luxury SUV reportedly , without front and rear number plates, allegedly sped through the service road outside the clubs after a party had ended. According to eyewitnesses, the driver drove into pedestrians, trapping two persons beneath the vehicle before reversing and fleeing. The incident was recorded by several bystanders and captured on CCTV cameras installed at nearby junctions. According to sources, the accused also abused a few people before escaping. A video grab of the vehicle involved in the accident. Onlookers smashed the vehicle’s windows in an attempt to stop it, but the driver managed to flee. The injured have been identified as Amjad, a resident of Bapu Dham Colony in Sector 26, and Alanc Preet, a resident of Sector 44. Both were rushed to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32. One of the victims is stated to be in a critical condition. Preliminary investigation revealed that the two victims had visited a nightclub in Sector 26. As they came out along with others, the speeding Mercedes allegedly rammed into them. “The impact threw both victims onto the road. The driver did not stop after the collision. Instead, he reversed the vehicle, hitting another person, who narrowly escaped,” an eyewitness said. Videos of the incident soon went viral on social media. Woman killed, 2 daughters hurt in hit-and-run accident Mohali, July 12 A 46-year-old woman was killed and her two daughters were seriously injured after being hit by a speeding vehicle on the ChandigarhAmbala National Highway near the Sarsini cut in Lalru on Saturday evening. The deceased, Usha Devi, a resident of Sarsini village, died on the spot. Her daughter, Shanu Shukla (26), suf- fered a leg fracture, while another daughter, Shivani Shukla (23), also sustained injuries in the accident, which occurred around 6 pm. The Sarsini cut on the Chandigarh-Ambala National Highway has been identified as an accident-prone spot, with both the traffic police and the National Highways Authority of India Continued on page 3 Mango Mela concludes Artistes perform on the concluding day of Mango Mela at Yadavindra Garden, Pinjore, on Sunday. Around 40,000 people visited the fair. TRIBUNE PHOTO: VICKY PAGE 2 Auction of remaining Sec 39 mandi sites likely next month Dushyant Singh Pundir Tribune News Service Chandigarh, July 12 The UT Administration is likely to resume the auction of plots at the new wholesale fruit, vegetable and grain market in Sector 39 next month. According to officials, the State Agricultural Marketing Board is expected to receive environmental clearance for the project later this month. The approval will pave the way for the auction of the remaining plots and enable the Administration to begin the process of shifting traders from the existing Sector 26 mandi to the new facility by the end of the year. The officials said the board had applied for environmental clearance, following which the State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) sought certain clarifications. These have since been addressed, and the proposal has been submitted to the competent authority for approval. Once environmental clearance is received, the board will auction the remaining 80 c m y b Shifting of Sector 26 facility may begin by year-end FILE Tribune News Service FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Tribune News Service APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 43 & 45 Mohali: Sectors 70, 78 & Phase 5 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com CHANDIGARH 10 am to 2 pm: Parts of Pipaliya Town, Mariwala Town, Shantinagar, New Darshanibag, Old Darshinibag in Manimajra 11 am to 1 pm: Sectors 2, 3 and 11 MAX 37°C | MIN 25°C YESTERDAY MAX 36.1°C | MIN 26.2°C SUNRISE TUESDAY 5:31 AM /THETRIBUNECHD TRIBUNE PHOTO: VICKY PARTLY CLOUDY SUNSET MONDAY 7.25 PM » MONDAY | 13 JULY 2026 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST 80 PLOTS YET TO BE AUCTIONED ■ After environmental clearance, the auction of remaining 80 plots will begin ■ Of the 92 plots, only 12 were auctioned during the first phase ■ Next auction will be open to all eligible buyers, including traders from outside plots, each measuring 120 square yards, and begin other developmental works at the new mandi. Of the 92 plots planned in the new mandi, only 12 were auctioned during the first phase. Authorities have decided that the next auction will be open to all eligible buyers, including traders from outside Chandigarh, and no preference will be given to commission agents (arhtiyas). The Administration has also revised the reserve price of showroom plots following the implementation of new collector rates. The reserve price has increased from Rs 3.70 crore to Rs 5.40 crore. Once completed, the Sector 39 mandi will provide modern trading, storage and logistics facilities while addressing congestion and infrastructure constraints at the existing market. The officials said the detailed project report (DPR) had been approved by the Engineering Department. According to the DPR Continued on page 3