19082025-JTR-01.qxd 8/18/2025 11:19 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune MC TO LAUNCH ‘YELLOW LINE’ DRIVE AGAINST ENCROACHMENTS SCHOOLS CLOSED DUE TO RISING WATER LEVELS SWIFT REACTS TO RUMOURS ABOUT HAPPY GILMORE 2 MC is set to initiate a “yellow line” campaign aimed at clearing encroachments across Phagwara. P2 Schools in the Baupur area will remain closed for another week as flood-like conditions persist in the region. P3 Taylor Swift has put an end to all the rumours that she had a cameo as a bear in Happy Gilmore 2. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 32°C | MIN 24°C YESTERDAY MAX 33°C | MIN 23°C SUNSET TUESDAY 7.06 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 5:56 AM » TUESDAY | 19 AUGUST 2025 | JALANDHAR INBRIEF MAN BOOKED FOR SCOOTER LIFTING Phagwara: The Lohian Khas police have booked a miscreant on the charge of stealing a scooter. Harjindar Singh, a resident of Alliwal village, complained to the police that he came to Lohian Khas to purchase groceries on August 17 and parked his scooter in front of a shop from where the accused stole his scooter. OC TWO HELD FOR DRUG PEDDLING Phagwara: The Bilga police have arrested two 'drug peddlers' for selling intoxicating tablets. As many as 40 tablets were recovered from the possession of the accused Harjindar Kumar, alias Jindar Karnail Chand, and Aman Kumar of Bilga village. Aa case has been registered under sections 22/29/ 61/85 of the NDPS Act against the accused. OC Elderly woman dies in hit-&-run at Phagwara Our Correspondent Phagwara, August 18 A road accident claimed the life of an elderly woman in the Gobindpura locality of Phagwara on Sunday. The victim, identified as Mindo, a resident of Gobindpura, was fatally struck by a speeding vehicle driven recklessly by an unidentified person. According to a complaint lodged by her son Balvir, a daily wage labourer, the incident occurred when his mother had gone towards Basant Nagar. Witnesses informed him that near Akali Market, an unknown vehicle, moving at a high speed and in a negligent manner, hit her. The impact left Mindo severely injured, with her right leg fractured and a deep head injury. Local resident Jaswinder Singh immediately arranged transport and rushed her to the Civil Hospital, Phagwara. However, doctors declared her brought dead. The police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 304-A (causing death by negligence), and efforts are underway to trace the unidentified vehicle and its driver. The victim is survived by two sons and a daughter. Breach in dhussi bundh, flood threat looms over 35 villages Ashok Kaura Our Correspondent Phagwara, August 18 The swelling waters of the Beas have triggered a flood crisis in Sultanpur Lodhi, where the rising currents have begun eroding the embankments meant to safeguard dozens of villages. According to officials, the river’s flow has surged to nearly 1.16 lakh cusecs, putting immense pressure on the dhussi embankment, where a 500-600-foot long advance bundh has already sustained damage. The threat looms large over the mand area of Sultanpur Lodhi, where more than 35 villages are at risk of being inundated, if the breaches widen. Drainage Department SDO Khushwinder Singh confirmed the alarming rise in water levels, underscoring the vulnerability of the embankment system. In response, Rajya Sabha member Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal and his volunteers have established a base at the flood site and are working relentlessly to fortify the weak stretches of the bund. They have begun stacking sandbags to create makeshift reinforcements, in hopes of shielding three dozen villages from a full-scale disaster. Despite these efforts, the flood waters have already left a trail of destruction. Reports indicate that around 20 villages are submerged, with Garhshankar, August 18 A student died by hanging himself from a fan in his hostel room in Gur Seva College, Panam, late last evening. However, the reason for the suicide is not known. The police have got the postmortem done and handed over the body to his family members. Davinder Kumar (23), son of Lal Bahadur Pandit and a resident of Somriya Koritola village in Siwan district, Bihar, was a fifth-semester BSc Nursing student. He appeared for an exam yesterday. While other students gathered for dinner, Davinder did not join them. His absence continued during the night attendance, prompting concern among his peers. They knocked on his door and called out to him, but received no response. The students then alerted the college security guards. Upon arrival, the guards and students broke a window to look inside the room, where they found Davinder hanging from the ceiling fan with a rope. He was immediately brought down and rushed to the Civil Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Following the incident, the police informed Davinder Kumar’s family. His elder brother, Jatinder Pandit, uncle Pradeep Kumar, and other rel- MPs Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal and cricketer Harbhajan Singh interact with villagers in flood-hit areas in Sultanpur Lodhi. farmlands and homes bearing the brunt of nature’s fury. Farmers are among the worst hit — Jarnail Singh, a resident of Baupur village, said his 10 acres of paddy crop had gone under water, while another farmer Inderjit lost nearly 40 acres of cultivated land to the floods. The devastation has sparked fears of long-term financial setbacks for families dependent on agriculture in the region. Amid the crisis, relief efforts are being bolstered by not just officials and local volunteers but also prominent figures. Former cricketer Harbhajan Singh has stepped in to support flood victims, providing much-needed assistance to affected communities. His involvement has given a morale boost to families grappling with the crisis, many of whom have been forced to abandon their homes and seek refuge in safer areas. With the Beas showing no signs of receding, tension continues to mount across Sultanpur Lodhi. The flooding has not only ravaged crops but also disrupted daily life, leaving roads, schools, and essential services crippled. As sandbagging and emergency reinforcements continue at the bundh, residents remain on the edge, watching the river’s rising waves with uncertainty. For now, the resilience of the people and the tireless efforts of volunteers are the only barriers holding back an even greater catastrophe. Bhajji visits flood-hit MPs Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal and cricketer Harbhajan Singh Bhajji visited the flood-affected villages of the mand area. With the help of a tractor, both MPs reached the homes of the affected people. Harbhajan Singh Bhajji praised the efforts of Seechewal, saying that whenever people face crises, he always steps forward to help. That is why, from the very first day, he arranged for excavators, JCB machines, and two boats for flood relief. Bhajji assured the farmers that he would raise this issue with the Central and Punjab Governments seriously and remain committed to finding a solution. Davinder Kumar atives arrived at the hospital this afternoon. Based on Jatinder Pandit’s statement, the police initiated action under Section 94 of the BNSS. In his statement, Jatinder mentioned that Davinder had been struggling with his mental health and that the suicide was likely due to this condition. He expressed that the family does not wish for any legal action to be taken. However, he has requested that Davinder’s mobile phone be examined to help uncover the reasons behind the suicide. The deceased’s mobile has been taken into custody and call details have been obtained. The real reason for the suicide will be found out by checking Facebook ID, Instagram ID and other mobile data. Yeoman’s serviceTeenager delivers ration to flood-hit villagers Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Jalandhar, August 18 Back from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands after the death of both his parents as well as guardians, a 17-year-old has become the lifeline for his villager residents. The youth has been immersed in the service of villagers whose houses are inundated ever since floods hit Sultanpur Lodhi. A resident of the island village of Baupur Jadid at Sultanpur Lodhi, Manpreet Singh (17) has been ferrying ration from the local gurdwara via a “beri” boat to the needy families of his village. Come rain or sunshine, Manpreet sets out on a wooden raft everyday and heads to the local gurdwara, which acts as a relief camp, as ration for the village are being stocked there. Armed with packs of water, food, ration and other needfuls, Manpreet traverses the village on the boat disbursing supplies to families who can’t step out due to their houses lower stories being inundated. While his aunt’s family at Baupur is steeped in penury, it is on the two brothers (Manpreet and his brother Amrinder) and her two sons that she now pins hope for a better future. With a mere two acres of landholdings and two acres on contract, the family says they have been robbed of all their livelihood. Jaswinder Kaur, Manpreet’s aunt says, “In 2023, the floods left tonnes of silt in the fields. Barely had we recovered from World Photography Day today Manpreet Singh supplies ration and water bottles to the flood-hit villagers of Baupur Jadid in Sultanpur Lodhi. TRIBUNE PHOTO: MALKIAT SINGH that shock that the waters have damaged our crops again. We Being more handy and equipped with advanced AI technology, smartphone photography boom has taken over the use of dedicated digicameras for capturing images. won’t have anything to give for the contract land either, as all crops are lost. We are already reeling under debts.” Manpreet’s family went to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands with his grandfather who was serving in the Army and was posted there. While Manpreet’s father died four years ago, his mother died when he was just two-year old. Left in the care of his grandmother, he and his brother returned to their native village Baupur Jadid a year ago after their grandmother died too. The duo lives with his paternal aunt (bua) Jaswinder Kaur. Having pursued studies till plus one at Andaman, Manpreet works as a mechanic. The family sustains itself merely on milk from cattle. Jaswinder says, “We have a modest house but thankfully due to being on a height, water did not come in. The Six-month-old girl strangulated by maternal grandparents, 2 held Tribune News Service TRIBUNE PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH Nursing student hangs himself in hostel room Jalandhar, August 18 The grandparents of a sixmonth-old girl have been arrested by the police for strangulating the child to death since they were unwilling to take her resposibility after she was left at their residence by her mother. Daljinder Kaur and Tarsem Singh of village Dalla at Bhogpur were arrested on August 16, three days after the child’s father registered a complaint with the police. The girl was named Eliza. DSP Investigation, Sarabjit , Rai said Salinder Kumar, a factory worker, of Jagatpur, c m y b Pathankot, stated that he had been married to Maninder Kaur over two years ago and Eliza had been born six months ago. Maninder went to her parents’ house along with Eliza on August 6. Salinder said whenever he made calls to his in-laws, they avoided speaking about Eliza, which caused suspicion. A case was registered against Maninder and Daljinder on August 13 for wrongful confinement of his daughter. Subsequently, the girl’s grandfather was also nominated in the case and murder was added to the FIR- after the duo was found guilty of her murder. Eliza SHO Rakesh Kumar and ASI Mahesh Kumar found that Daljinder and Tarsem strangulated the little girl in the absence of her mother. They put the body in a kit bag and on a motorbike rode to village Khakha near toll plaza Cholag, where they disposed it of. As per Daljinder’s statement to the police, Maninder’s daughter Gurjit Kaur, born to her from her previous marriage, was raised by her grandparents, after Maninder had left the girl with them. Daljinder said after being dropped by her husband at their home, on August 7, Maninder was visited by her husband’s relative Jas and the next day, both were missing from the house but Eliza was sleeping on a cot. The duo told the police, unable to bear the responsibilty of bringing up another child, they decided to murder the little girl to relieve themselves of taking care of her. moment we step outside, we need a boat. My younger son is in Gurdaspur with relatives and Manpreet’s brother is in Chennai. We have three cows and two buffalos, milk from which keeps the hearth burning. Our neighbour’s house was inundated, so their cattle are tied at our house. It was while helping them to get water that Manpreet started ‘sewa’ but now it’s his routine.” Jaswinder says, “Our financial condition has been hit due to constant floods. Everyone now stacks six months of ration ahead of monsoons, yet the damage is so unpredictable, you never know what you’re going to lose. Governments should find a solution for the debt-ridden families.” Clash has two hurt, 7 booked Phagwara, August 18 Tension flared at Adalat Chak in Sultanpur Lodhi when a dispute over laying concrete in sewage water escalated in a violent clash, leaving two men injured. The police have registered a case against seven persons. According to a complaint lodged by Manjit Kaur, resident of Adalat Chak, her brothers, Balwinder Singh and Malkeet Singh, started laying concrete in front of their house to cover sewage water. The situation turned violent when an accused allegedly pulled a pair of scissors from his pocket and struck Balwinder on the head with an intent to kill. No arrest has been made till so far.— OC