10062025-CT-01.qxd 6/10/2025 12:44 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune CAVE-IN NEAR SHOPPING MALL SITE IN SECTOR 68 OF MOHALI MOCK DRILL HELD AT TAJ TO TEST EMERGENCY RESPONSE THOKO TAALI IS BACK AND SO IS NAVJOT SINGH SIDHU! A transformer, two power poles and a vehicle damaged due to a cave-in near an under-construction mall. P2 A large-scale mock drill conducted at Taj in Sector 17 to assess emergency readiness of the Administration. P3 The original laughter king returns to his rightful place — on the throne, right next to laughter queen Archana. P4 » » Panchkula to get integrated command & control centre APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 29 and 56, and Dhanas Panchkula: Sector 15 Mohali: Sectors 68 and 71 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com INBRIEF JEWELLER HELD IN ARMS CASE Mohali: The police arrested a jeweller with a pistol and three live rounds from his shop in Jhanjheri. A case under the Arms Act was registered against the suspect, Harish Verma, at the Sadar Kharar police station on June 6. Harish is already booked in a case registered at the Kharar police station. TNS TWO KAJHERI MEN HELD FOR MURDER Chandigarh: Two persons have been arrested for murder. The suspects were identified as Monu and Amit, both residents of Kajheri. In a complaint to the police, Deepak Kumar of Sector 52 accused them of killing his friend Dharminder at his residence on June 8. A case under Sections 117(1), 103(1) and 3(5) of the BNS Act was registered at the Sector 36 police station. TNS Plumber held with 9 kg ganja Tribune News Service Chandigarh, June 9 The police have arrested a plumber and seized nearly 9 kg of ganja from him in the Ram Darbar area. The suspect was identified as Deepak Kumar (28), originally from Vaishali district in Bihar and currently residing in Hallomajra. According to police officials, the arrest took place around 1:30 pm on Sunday when SI Suneel Kumar and his team were on routine patrolling duty. Near the BSF headquarters, they noticed a suspicious man carrying a large white bag coming from the forest area. On spotting continued on page 2 Development authority gives nod to ~587.94-cr budget for 2025-26 fiscal Tribune News Service Chandigarh, June 9 Panchkula is set to witness a major boost in smart city infrastructure with the establishment of an integrated command and control centre (ICCC). The project was approved during the third meeting of the Panchkula Metropolitan Development Authority (PMDA), chaired by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. A budget of Rs 587.94 crore has been sanctioned for the financial year 2025–26. The ICCC, aimed at strengthening urban governance and improving emergency response, will cost Rs 208.92 crore and is expected to be completed within nine months. It will incorporate AI-powered CCTV surveillance, adaptive traffic control, automatic number plate recognition, red light violation detection, emergency call boxes and public address systems. It will also integrate with the Haryana Police Dial112 helpline and support realtime monitoring of solid waste, lighting, and water supply/sewerage systems via supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system. Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini chairs a meeting of the Panchkula Metropolitan Development Authority. CENTRE TO BE SET UP AT COST OF ~208.92 CRORE ■ The integrated command and control centre, aimed at strengthening urban governance and improving emergency response, will cost ~208.92 crore and is expected to be completed within nine months. The PMDA also approved the beautification and rejuvenation of two key water streams — Jal Dhara (MDC to Rajiv-Indira Colony) and Singh Nallah Chowk (Sector 1 to Industrial Area, Phase 1) — at a cost of Rs 95.42 crore. Approval was also granted for a world-class shooting range complex to be devel- Jharkhand woman killed in hit-&-run at Chandimandir Tribune News Service Panchkula, June 9 A woman from Jharkhand was killed in a hit-and-run near Chandimandir railway station. The deceased was identified as Manita, who hailed from Latehar district. She, along with her two friends Anita and Saraswati, was on a trip to Himachal Pradesh. On June 7, she and Saraswati came to Chandimandir from Shimla by bus while Anita chose to stay behind. The two friends got off the bus near the Chandimandir railway station and were crossing the road when a fast-moving car hit Manita and sped away. Saraswati, who was a little ahead of Manita, had a close shave. Manita was rushed to the Sector 6 Civil Hospital. Owing to the severity of her head and limb injuries, she was referred to the PGI in Chandigarh. She succumbed to her injuries on Monday. SPEEDING CAR CLAIMS PEDESTRIAN’S LIFE Chandigarh: A man was injured when a car hit him at the Industrial Area, Phase 1. Complainant Bablu Gautham, a resident of Hallomajra, stated that an unidentified white Hyundai i20 hit his friend Subodh near Geeta Press on Sunday and sped away. Subodh was admitted to the Government Medical College and Hospital in Sector 32 for treatment. A case has been registered under Sections 281 and 125(A) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at the Industrial Area police station. TNS The Chandimandir police have initiated a probe and registered a case against the unidentified driver of the car. Efforts were being made to trace the vehicle through CCTV footage from the nearby toll plaza, the police said. Manita’s family was informed about the tragedy. ■ It will incorporate AI-powered ■ The command and control CCTV surveillance, adaptive traffic control, automatic number plate recognition, red light violation detection, emergency call boxes and public address systems. centre will also integrate with the Haryana Police Dial-112 helpline and support realtime monitoring of solid waste, lighting, and water supply/sewerage systems. pleted by June 15, and announced the development of a model road from Majri Chowk, Sector 1, to the Railway Station, which will feature cycle tracks, footpaths and green landscaping. KM Pandurang, CEO, PMDA, provided updates on previous projects and confirmed that continued on page 2 oped in Sector 32 for Rs 173.48 crore. Complete all road repairs by June 15, orders CM Chief Minister Saini emphasised the need to beautify all parks and strengthen Panchkula’s road network. He directed that all road repair work should be com- Panchkula, June 9 The body of a 75-year-old man was found under suspicious circumstances at his house in Sector 1 here on Monday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Arya Prakash, who lived with his wife in the house. Sources said the body, which appeared to be several days old, was found after a relative visited the couple’s house and noticed foul smell. Upon receiving the alert, a team from the Sector 10 police post reached the house and conducted a thorough inspection. A forensic team was also called in to assist with the investigation. The body has been sent to the mortuary at the Sector 6 Civil Hospital for a postmortem examination. Cops said the exact cause of death would be confirmed only after the autopsy report was received. The police said they were investigating the case from all angles. Cops are questioning neighbours and family members to uncover the circumstances surrounding the incident. FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE AMRAVATI MALL MURDER CASE Four days on, car used by shooters found abandoned near PGI Bullet shell recovered from vehicle Tribune News Service Panchkula, June 9 The police have recovered the vehicle used in the murder case of transporter Sonu Naulta abandoned near the PGIMER, Chandigarh. The recovery of the vehicle, a Tata Nexon, comes four days after the incident that left Naulta dead and his cousin critically injured in the parking lot of a mall in Amravati Enclave. Initial reports had indicated the use of a Swift car, but authorities have now clarified that it was a false lead. Investigators believe that the Tata Nexon may contain crucial forensic evidence. The recovered vehicle was registered in the name of Zameel from Pinjore. Cops are questioning him in connection with the case. A bullet shell was found inside the vehicle. CCTV footage from the PGIMER and nearby locations is being scrutinised to establish the route taken by the shooters post-crime. Autorickshaw drivers are being questioned and transport activity around the mall and the PGI area is being scanned. The two main suspects, Piyush Piplani and Ankush, are yet to be apprehended. In a bizarre twist, Piplani released two conflicting videos online, one alleging that he carried out the murder on the orders of Anmol Bishnoi, who is gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s cousin, and another naming Arzoo Bishnoi as an accomplice. The police have traced the IP addresses linked to these uploads and are treating the videos with caution, considering the possibility of deliberate misdirection. Social media footprints, financial dealings, and associations of both the accused and the victim are being analysed. Investigators are also looking into the origins of the weapons used in the shooting. The women, who had accompanied Naulta and his cousin on the day of the attack, have been questioned for more insights. According to DCP (Crime) Amit Dahiya, five police teams have been deployed for an an extensive manhunt. At 43.8°C, city records season’s hottest day; rain unlikely for 2 days, says MeT Biweekly Hisar flight becomes operational Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Chandigarh, June 9 Monday breached Sunday’s heat as Chandigarh today recorded the season’s highest day temperature of 43.8°C, which was 1.7 degrees more than yesterday’s 42.1°C, the weathermen said. According to the Meteorological Centre, Chandigarh, the department’s observatory at Sector 39 here recorded the highest maximum temperature of 43.8°C on Monday. It said the heatwave was recorded in Chandigarh, Ambala, Rohtak, Sirsa, and Bathinda in the region. While Sirsa recorded the maximum of 46.4°C, which was the highest in the region, Samrala near Ludhiana logged 46.1°C to remain the hottest town in Punjab. The MeT Department has predicted further rise in the maximum temperature by 1 to 2 degrees during the next two days with warm night conditions likely at isolated Mohali, June 9 A new flight between Hisar and Chandigarh became operational from here today. The twice-a-week flight — which is a 72-seater aircraft — will operate on Mondays and Fridays. The flight departs from Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport in Chandigarh for Maharaja Agrasen Airport in Hisar at 3:30 pm. The Hisar airport, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, became fully operational on April 14. In another development, Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal held a meeting with the airport authorities and related departments such as GMADA, Municipal Corporation and Rural Development and Panchayats at the District Administrative Complex to make the airfield around Shaheed Bhagat continued on page 2 TRIBUNE PHOTO: PRADEEP TEWARI WHAT’S ON Tribune News Service MAX 44°C | MIN 28°C YESTERDAY MAX 43.8°C | MIN 28°C SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 5.21 AM /THETRIBUNECHD Elderly man found dead at P’kula home MAINLY CLEAR SKY SUNSET TUESDAY 7.24 PM » TUESDAY | 10 JUNE 2025 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST Commuters cover their faces to protect themselves from the heatwave in Chandigarh on Monday. places till June 11. However, the minimum temperature in Chandigarh on Monday remained 28°C, which was 0.9 degree less than Sunday’s minimum reading and above normal by 1.6 degrees. Monday’s maximum day temperature in the city was 1.7 degrees above yesterday’s mercury reading and was above normal by 5 notches. The weathermen have also predicted thunderstorm and lighting at isolated places but there is no possibility of rain in Chandigarh and the region for the next couple of days. Meanwhile, the intense heat wave forced the residents to stay indoors, especially during the peak afternoon time. The rising mercury has also led to the spike in the sale of air-conditioners, coolers, fans, and refrigerators in the city. Illegal construction near power lines to invite penal action in UT Two liquor vends sold Tribune News Service Chandigarh, June 9 City residents may face penal action if constructed or extended buildings, balconies, boundary walls or other structures are close to overhead power lines or electricity poles and lines have been encroached upon. “Unauthorised constructions that pose significant safety risks and violate electrical safety regulations may lead to penal action,” said an official of Chandigarh Power Distribution Limited (CPDL). Regulations 60 and 61 of the Central Electricity Authority (Measures Relating to Safety and Electric Supply) Regulations, 2010, and Sections 53, SAFETY SAVES MINIMUM DISTANCE REQUIRED BETWEEN POWER LINE AND STRUCTURES ■ Stay away from all electrical installations like electricity poles, transformers, streetlights, pillar box, etc, especially if they are waterlogged ■ Don’t fly kites near the electrical installation as it could be fatal ■ Don’t park vehicle or keep flammable materials near electricity meter ■ Install an earth leakage circuit breaker to avoid shocks & mishaps POWER LOAD Low voltage lines HORIZONTAL CLEARANCE 1.2 metres 3.7 metres 1.2 metres 3.7 metres 2 metres (UP TO 415 VOLTS) High voltage lines (ABOVE 415 VOLTS & UP TO 11 KV) High voltage lines (ABOVE 11 KV AND UP TO 33 KV) Extra high voltage lines Dwellings near an electricity >> pole in Sector 29, Chandigarh, on Monday. PRADEEP TEWARI 68(5) and 161 of the Electricity Act, 2003, mandated minimum clearances/distance that must be maintained between electricity lines/installations and nearby VERTICAL CLEARANCE 2.5 metres (ABOVE 33 KV) structures. These regulations aim to prevent accidents and ensure public safety. The official stated that any loss of life or property resulting from non-compliance with these regulations will hold the violator(s) accountable. “Penal action may be initiated against those who fail to adhere to the prescribed safety standards,” stated the offi- c m y b 3.7 metres (plus 2 metres (plus 0.3m for every addl 0.3 m for every 33 kV or part thereof) addl 33 kV or part thereof cial. The CPDL advised the building owners to remove any unauthorised structures that violate these clearance requirements. Failure to comply may result in the removal of such structures by the Municipal Corporation or the authority concerned in accordance with the provisions of the relevant rules and regulations, the official added. in 12th round of auction Tribune News Service Chandigarh, June 9 After two failed attempts, the UT Excise and Taxation Department managed to allot two liquor vends during an auction held here today. The department earned a revenue of Rs 4.69 crore against the reserve price of Rs 4.66 crore with the allotment of a liquor vend each in Sectors 25 and 41. The department had invited bids for the allotment of 10 leftover liquor vends. Even after 12th round of auction, eight vends remained unsold. The department had failed to allot even a single vends in the previous two rounds held on June 2 and 6. On May 29, two of the 11 vends put up for auction had found takers. However, the allottee of a liquor vend in Sector 22 had surrendered the licence to the department. During the eighth round of auction held on May 26, the department was able to sell only one liquor vend out of 11 and earned a revenue of Rs 3.51 crore. One of the allottees withdrew later. Earlier, it managed to allot one liquor vend in the seventh round of auction on continued on page 2