26082025-LT-01.qxd 8/26/2025 12:49 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune SOE AT KIDWAI NAGAR YET TO SEE LIGHT OF DAY Even after more than three years, the project remains incomplete in Kidwai Nagar. P2 » ONE DEAD, THREE INJURED IN ROAD MISHAP GAURAV, ZEISHAN AMONG 16 CONTESTANTS IN BIGG BOSS A canter hit a bike on a highway in Swaddi near Jagraon, killing a youth, while injuring three others. P2 Drama is on as Salman Khan-hosted reality TV show Bigg Boss kickstarted its 19th season on Sunday night. P4 » » FORECAST GENERALLY CLOUDY MAX 28°C | MIN 23°C YESTERDAY MAX 29°C | MIN 22°C SUNSET TUESDAY 6.53 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 5:56 AM TUESDAY | 26 AUGUST 2025 | LUDHIANA With top cop’s initiative, 26 dark zones in city lit up for public safety High mast lights have been installed first time near public parks, in public areas 26 dark zones been lit ❝So far,these lights andhavepolice willup by installing the study Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 25 Taking steps towards safety and security of city residents, the initiative of Ludhiana Commissioner of Police (CP) Swapan Sharma yielded fruits as on his recommendations, as many as 26 high mast lights have been installed in the designated 26 dark zones. The dark zones were identified by the police after holding deliberations with police stations heads, representatives of society and other cross-section of people. The top cop had written a letter to the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT), seeking immediate installation of these lights and agreeing to his suggestion, the lights have been installed now. The high mast lights have been installed first time in public areas and near public parks to ensure anti- social elements should not roam freely and commit any crime. One each high mast light has been installed in dark zones identified at Shivpuri, Pavillion more areas to identify dark zones and would seek installation of more such lights for the safety of the public. — Swapan Sharma, CP ❞ A high mast light installed on Domoria bridge. ASHWANI DHIMAN Mall, opposite Shudh Mishthan, Haibowal chowk, Domoria Bridge, Bhuriwala Gurdwara, Maharaj Plaazo Market, Ghati chowk, Nali Mohalla, Bhagat Singh Nagar, Sarabha Nagar-I Block, BRS-G Block, Tuition Market, Mintgumri Chowk, Baba Deep Singh Gurdwara, Jhandu Chowk, Rishi Nagar, Midha Chowk, Libra bus stand Model Town and opposite Satpaul Mittal School. Three lights each have been installed around Rose Garden and the Gurdev Nagar area. Talking to The Tribune on Monday, the Commissioner of Police said the high mast light was a tall lighting structure — usually standing anywhere from 40 to over 150 feet high — designed to brighten up large outdoor areas. You’ll often see them along highways, at airports or around big stadiums. With several lights mounted at the top, they spread light evenly across wide spaces, helping cut down on shadows and making the area safer and easier to see at night. These lights are daily switched on in evening hours till the sunrise. After the installation of the lights, the Police Department have received a postive feedback from residents. A senior police official said the city had over 1,500 safe city cameras and almost important city points were covered with these cameras. Whenever any crime occurs in these dark zones, identification of snatchers or robbers becomes a challenge for the police but the installation of these lights would serve as a deterrent for criminals as safe cameras or cameras installed in houses or business establishments can easily record the faces of the suspects. Install lights in our constituencies, say MLAs After the Commissioner of Police’s initiative, sources said MLAs had also joined race, asking LIT officials to install more such lights in their constituencies. Now, the LIT had also reportedly floated tenders to install more high mast lights in the city. Cops probing if grenade delivered through drone from Pakistan 5 suspects were nabbed with grenade, gun on Aug 23 Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 25 After the arrest of five youths of Tarn Taran along with a live hand grenade and an illegal weapon from the Sidhwan Bet area by the Ludhaina rural police after exchange of fire, the police found international connection of the nabbed suspects. Besides probing various angles, the police were also investigating if the grenade was delivered through drone in the border area from the Pakistan side. Notably on August 23, five persons identified as Arjun Singh, alias Taj (18), a resident of Mugal Chak Gill village; Amjid Masih, alias Benny (22), Sajan (18), both residents of Kakka Kandiala village, Tarn Taran; Balraj Singh (22), a resident of Pandori Gola village, Tarn Taran; and Manpreet Singh of Mugal Chak Gill village, Tarn Taran, (20), were arrested. One hand grenade, an illegal pistol and a Scorpio N SUV was recovered from them. They were on the way to attack a bakery owner in Nakodar but their timely arrest averted the grenade attack. A senior police official privy to the investigation said: “It is Cops during a probe near the crime scene at Sidhwan Bet. FILE being suspected that the hand grenade might be delivered from the Pakistan side through a drone. Earlier also, cases in which Pakistan suppliers delivered arms and ammunition through drone to smugglers and criminal elements were reported here. In this case, a Tarn Taran’s village Mughal Chak-based person is suspected to have received a grenade from the border area and then delivered to these five youths for further using the same in attacking a bakery owner in Nakodar. The police had been conducting raids to nab the Tarn Taran man and his arrest would only confirm if he received delivery through drone from Pakistan”. DSP (Investigation), Ludhaina rural, Inderjit Singh said the police were exploring various angles and the angle of delivery of grenade through drone from the neighbouring country was also being verified. “Exploiting youths who are between 18 to 22 years of age for grenade attack is a serious matter and the police will dig deep to unearth every connection whether national or international. It is also quite possible that there might be other youths who had already been working for these anti-national elements” the DSP said. Huge amount demanded from bakery owner Police sources said Kapania Bakery owner in Nakodar had received an extortion call from some foreign number demanding lakhs of rupees, and when he did not pay the money, the suspect sent his men with grenade to kill the owner. Fortunately, the attack was averted. Man dies as car falls into Sidhwan Canal Stock reduced to ashes in cosmetic shop fire Tribune News Service Lovleen Bains Doraha, August 25 A 29-year-old man of Ghulal village died when his Maruti Swift car fell into the Sidhwan Canal near Ajnaud village while he was travelling from Raikot towards his village late on Sunday night. The body, along with the car, was taken out early on Monday morning after onlookers saw tyres of the car in the canal. The postmortem examination will be conducted on Tuesday. A case under Section 194 of the BNS has been registered at the Doraha police station. The deceased has been identified as Paramveer Singh of Ghulal village. He had gone to meet his friends The car of Paramveer Singh (inset) lying in the Sidhwan Canal. at Raikot and was returning home when his car fell into the Sidhwan Canal at midnight. Onlookers saw the tyres of the car in the canal in the morning and informed the police, which took out the vehicle along with the body of the victim. Harpreet Singh, a neighbour and close friend of the deceased, said Paramveer was the elder son of his the family and he had a threeyear-old son. He had returned from Dubai to look after his family after his father breathed his last seven months ago. He said the car of Paramveer fell upside down due to which he could not come out of the vehicle and save his life despite the fact that the water level was low at the accident scene. Moreover, the victim was a bit bulky due to which his rescue became impossible. Onlookers saw the tyres of the car in the canal early in the morning and informed the police, he said. Doraha SHO Akash Dutt said the accident might occurred due to the error of judgment by the driver amid the downpour. “The body will be sent for a postmortem examination on Tuesday. A case under Section 194 of the BNS has been registered,” he said. Ludhiana, August 25 A fire broke out at a cosmetic shop in Saban Market here on Monday evening. The blaze was so intense that it engulfed the entire shop and even flames were visible from a far place. There was a panic among shopkeepers after the fire broke out. People tried to extinguish the fire but when it spread to other parts, they informed the fire brigade. Fire tenders had to face a lot of difficulties in entering the place. According to information, when smoke was seen coming from the first floor, passers-by informed the shopkeeper. By the time the owner raised the alarm, the fire had spread. It has been found that a large amount Firemen try to douse the flames at a cosmetic shop in Saban Market. ASHWANI DHIMAN of nail polish and thinner were kept on the floor above the shop, due to which the flames took an intense shape and explosions were also heard. Neighbouring shopkeeper Davinder said spark from wires might have caused the blaze. The shopkeeper suffered a huge loss as most of the stocks gutted in the flames. A fire official, Dinesh Kumar, said when they got information about the incident, their team reached the scene and controlled the fire. The cause of the blaze was yet to be verified. Continuous rain leaves several areas waterlogged in city Woman bookedon Downpour disrupts life, several schools shifted to online mode; heavy rain predicted in coming days Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 25 Ludhiana has been drenched by continuous rain over the past 24 hours, recording 79.4 mm of rainfall, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warning of more downpour in coming days. It brings the total rainfall for August so far to 170 mm, already surpassing previous years figures — 160.6 mm in 2024, 79.6 mm in 2023 and 53.4 mm in 2022. The downpour, while offering relief from heat, has disrupted daily life across the city. Several schools shifted to online mode, citing waterlogged roads and safety concerns for students. “We didn’t want children to wade through flooded streets,” said principal of a city-based school in Sarabha Nagar. “Online classes are a temporary solution till conditions improve,” she said. Motorists commute on the Chandigarh road that is in a pathetic state after rain. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN Continuous rainfall exposed the city’s fragile drainage infrastructure. Commuters and residents struggled to navigate flooded streets, clogged drains and overflowing sewers, with Chandigarh Road and Rahon Road remained among the worst affected. Near BVM School on Chandigarh Road, sewer water spilled onto the main carriageway, creating hazardous conditions for school- children and motorists. “The stench was unbearable and vehicles were skidding. It’s unsafe,” said Ravinder Kaur, a resident. Despite the installation of a storm drainage system in c m y b 2022, Chandigarh Road continues to flood even after moderate rainfall. “The new system was supposed to fix the same,” said Tirlochan Singh, a resident. “But the old sewer lines are still clogged and overloaded. Rainwater has nowhere to go.” On Rahon Road, MC workers were seen clearing blocked drains. “It happens every time it rains. Our complaints go unheard,” said Ritu from the Rahon Road area. Farmers, meanwhile, are facing a different challenge. Experts from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) have issued an urgent advisory, asking cultivators to prevent water stagnation in fields, especially in paddy-growing areas. “Standing water can damage root systems and increase the risk of fungal infections,” said Dr MS Bhullar, Director of Extension Education at the PAU. “Farmers must ensure proper drainage and avoid letting water accumulate for over 24 hours,” he said. Gurdip Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer, said they were carrying out a survey on Monday to make assessment if there had been any loss to the crop in the district. Despite the weather, some residents welcomed the change. Manoj Kumar, a local shopkeeper, said: “It’s been raining nonstop but the air feels cleaner and cooler. We hope it doesn’t flood low-lying areas.” Others were less fortunate. Sukhdev Singh, a commuter from Doraha, said: “I was stuck for over an hour near Chandigarh Road. The water was knee-deep in places. It’s difficult to move around but we’re used to it now.” The authorities have urged caution and advised residents to stay updated with weather alerts. With more rain expected, the city braces for another wet week. see also p2 charge of sacrilege Ludhiana, August 25 An incident of sacrilege has come to light at a gurdwara in Ludhiana. A woman took off her clothes and threw them in front of Guru Granth Sahib. People who had come there to offer prayers tried to stop her, but she did not listen and continued to create a ruckus. Afterwards, the congregation reached the spot and brought the woman under control. She did this in front of her husband. The incident was captured on CCTV cameras installed on the premises. After the video surfaced, the Sahnewal police registered a case against the suspect woman, based on a complaint by Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) member Jaswant Singh Cheema. Giving information to the police, Cheema said he was a member of the Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De). He came to know from the video that surfaced on social media that on August 21, a woman along with her husband reached Gurdwara Shri Ravidas Ji Maharaj at Jugiana village near Sahnewal. Cheema said it was visible in the video that the woman was speaking loudly and suddenly took off her clothes and threw them in front of Guru Granth Sahib. Cheema said the woman had insulted the religious sentiments by carrying out the aforesaid act. Meanwhile, investigating officer ASI Jaspreet Singh said the keys of the gurdwara were lost. The gurudwara committee suspected that the woman might have stolen the same. She was called there in this connection. When some women present there asked to conduct a search on her, she got angry and did the act. The police are searching for the woman. — TNS