09082025-CT-01.qxd 8/9/2025 12:43 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune KATARIA INAUGURATES TRAUMA BLOCK AT SEC 32 HOSPITAL DOWNPOUR, FESTIVE RUSH CHOKE MOHALI ROADS EX-PREZ KOVIND ATTENDS CONVOCATION CELEBRATIONS The UT Administrator also confers academic awards on meritorious students at convocation. P4 Car catches fire at the flyover near Nijjher Chowk adding to traffic jam in Mohali. P7 Opens Usha Hasteer Auditorium, a state-of-the-art hub for intellectual exchange at Plaksha varsity. P7 » » Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 8 The heavy rain left most key roads and busy roundabouts of the city waterlogged, causing traffic chaos during the peak evening hours. The city recorded 86 mm rainfall in the past 12 hours from 8 am to 8 pm. The rain intensified around 5.20 pm when most commuters were returning home from offices. Savita Devi, an employee of the Punjab Government, said the rain caused huge traffic jams on the busy roundabouts. The heavy rain continued for half an hour, bringing traffic to a grinding halt at many places. She said it took her over an hour to reach home in Mohali. Ram Singh, an employee of the Chandigarh Administration, said it was a nightmare travelling in Chandigarh in the rainy season. The condition of the roads is pitiable at many places. Sukhna floodgate opened again Chandigarh: Following the heavy rain in the city and the Sukhna Lake catchment area, one of the three floodgates was today opened again around 7.30 pm. The water level in the lake reached near the danger mark of 1,163 feet. Earlier, the floodgate was opened around 11 am on Wednesday and closed after 12 hours, around 11 pm the same day. The floodgate was opened to release the excess lake water into the Ghaggar river through the Sukhna Choe. According to officials, the gate was opened at up to the height of three inches when the water level reached 1,162.95 feet and it would be closed when the level receded to nearly 1,162 ft. On Wednesday, the floodgate was opened after two years, up to the height of six inches and was closed when the water level dipped to 1,162.20 ft. The UT Engineering Department has deployed officials at the regulator end of the lake on a 24x7 basis and installed CCTV cameras to regularly monitor the water LIGHTNING STRIKES HOUSE IN SEC 39-D Lightning struck a house in Sector 39-D during the rain. A portion of the house (No. 3043) was damaged. The members of the family said they had a miraculous escape. level. A control room has also been established to coordinate with the district admin- istration of Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula for a proper communication during the opening of floodgates. The officials said the district administrations of the neighbouring districts were alerted before opening of the floodgate. The department had opened the floodgates to check their working condition on June 28. Floodgates were opened four times in 2023, six times in 2022, and five times in 2021. The opening of two floodgates in August 2020 caused a severe flooding in the lowlying areas of Zirakpur situated alongside the Sukhna Choe. On September 24, 2018, the floodgates were opened after a gap of 10 years. WHAT’S ON MOHALI CONVOCATION: Plaksha University's first convocation ceremony. ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan will be chief guest and deliver keynote address at Usha Hasteer Auditorium, Sector 101, IT City Road, Mohali, August 9, 10 am Braving rain, people select rakhis at a shop in the Sector 19 market, Chandigarh, on Friday evening. Festive mood was witnessed across the city on the eve of Raksha Bandhan. TRIBUNE PHOTO: PARDEEP TEWARI APNI MANDI Chd: Sec 40, 43, 49 Panchkula: Sector 14 Mohali: Sectors 71 and 82 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com Shotgun bullet wounds cause of national shooter Sippy Sidhu’s death: Doc testifies MURDER CASE Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 8 Wounds inflicted by bullets fired from a shotgun caused the death of 35-year-old national-level shooter and advocate Sukhmanpreet Singh Siddhu, alias Sippy Sidhu, revealed the prosecution witness, Dr Amandeep Singh, Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector-32, Chandigarh. Dr Amandeep, who was part of the team that conducted the post-mortem of the deceased, was examined by the prosecution in the CBI court here today. The post- Committee gets power to remove illegal vendors from mandi Tribune News Service Bond of love SIPPY FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Ramkrishan Upadhyay A patient and her attendants cross a waterlogged area at the PGI on Friday; and (right) vehicles stuck in a traffic jam after the rain. TRIBUNE PHOTOS: PARDEEP TEWARI PLASTIC PIECE ALSO FOUND IN WOUND During the examination-in-chief in the court, Dr Amandeep was also shown the clothes of the deceased by the prosecution. Describing the injuries found on the body, he said the pellets were recovered from the victim's body, sealed in a jar and handed over to the investigating officer. A broken plastic cushion attached to pellet was also found in the track of the wound. The witness identified the signatures of the other doctors who were part of the post-mortem team. mortem report was released on September 21, 2015. Sippy Sidhu was allegedly murdered in a park in Sector 27 on the night of 20 September, 2015. During the examination-inchief, Dr Amandeep was also shown the clothes of the deceased by the prosecution. Describing the injuries found on the body, he said the pellets were recovered from the victim’s body, sealed in a jar and handed over to the investigating officer. A broken plastic cushion was also found in the track of the wound. The witness identified the signatures of the other doctors who were part of the post-mortem team. The CBI arrested Kalyani Singh, on June 15, 2022, on the allegation that she murdered Sidhu. It had claimed in the chargesheet that Kalyani was seen talking to Sidhu and thereafter killing him with a firearm in the park. The board of the doctors, who conducted the postmortem, said “cause of death in this case in our opinion is haemorrhagic shock consequent of shotgun firearm ammunition injury as described in the report.” Initially, the case was investigated by the Chandigarh Police. After sometime, it was transferred to the CBI. After six years of investigation, the CBI also failed to find the culprits and filed an un-trace report in December 2020, with the request to allow further investigation. However, the court did not accept the untrace report and asked the CBI to further investigate the case. The court has already framed charges against accused Kalyani for the offences punishable under Sections under 302, 120 B, 201 of the IPC and 25, 27 and 54 of the Arms Act. c m y b Ghaggar river flows near danger mark Tribune News Service Panchkula, August 8 The district administration has issued a weather advisory after continuous heavy rainfall in the upper regions pushed the water level of the Ghaggar river perilously close to the danger mark. Officials have urged residents to stay away from rivers, streams and waterlogged areas. People have been strictly warned against standing on bridges, riverbanks or near drains to watch or record videos of the rising water, as this could prove life-threatening. The administration has also advised against unnecessary travel during the rainy season. In case of an emergency, citizens can contact the Flood Control Room on 0172-2562135 for help. Panchkula Deputy Commissioner Monika Gupta has appealed to the residents to "stay alert, stay safe", and avoid going near the water bodies. MAX 33°C | MIN 25°C YESTERDAY MAX 35.8°C | MIN 26.2°C SUNRISE SUNDAY 5.45 AM /THETRIBUNECHD Rain causes traffic chaos during peak hours RAIN SUNSET SATURDAY 7.12 PM » SATURDAY | 9 AUGUST 2025 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST Chandigarh, August 8 Looking to rein in encroachments, the UT Administration has notified bylaws giving the Market Committee powers to issue challans against illegal vendors at the Sector-26 grain, fruit and vegetable market. The notification was issued after the Administrator approved the proposal moved by the State Agricultural Marketing Board, Chandigarh. The Market Committee will now not only be authorised to issue challans against the illegal vendors but also seize their items. Under the new rules, the Market Committee has been authorised to issue a maximum challan of littering up to Rs 10,000 under Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 notified by the UT Administration. Committee Administrator Paviter Singh confirmed that the notification for the bylaws has been issued. As per the notification, “vendor” means a person engaged in vending of articles or offering services to the general public in notified market area, either from a temporary built-up structure or by moving from place to place. It also covers hawkers, peddlers and squatters among others. A street vendor who has been registered with the Municipal Corporation (MC) shall only be allowed to carry out business strictly within the designated vending zone and within the permissible limit of area allocated for vending. Violators will be liable to pay the penalty of Rs 1,500 for a first-time violation and Rs 2,500 for a second violation, while a third violation will result in a Rs 10,000 fine as well as seizure of goods. The mandi supervisior-cum-fee collector will conduct the seizure. The street vendor whose goods have been seized will have no right to reclaim them as it will be auctioned as per the schedule notified by the Committee from time to time. Also responsible for sanitation service The committee will also be responsible for providing the sanitation services as per the provisions of waste management rules in the principal market yard or sub-market yard. Mohit Sood, president of the Grain Market Welfare Association, has welcomed the notification.