30082025-JTR-01.qxd 8/29/2025 10:34 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune JOINT CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER INSPECTS EVM WAREHOUSE POETRY IS A WAY OF HOLDING MIRROR TO LIFE: SHARMA CLOONEY WALKS RED CARPET WITH WIFE AMAL AT FILM FEST Monthly inspection of the EVM warehouse was conducted by Punjab Joint Chief Electoral Officer Sakkar Singh Bal. P2 “Poetry, for me, is a way of holding a mirror to life — its struggles,” says Desh Bir Sharma, an educationist. P3 George Clooney & Adam Sandler-starrer Jay Kelly received a standing ovation after its screening at Venice Film Fest. P4 » » » FORECAST RAIN/THUNDERSHOWERS MAX 31°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 32°C | MIN 26°C SUNSET SATURDAY 6.54 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 6:02 AM SATURDAY | 30 AUGUST 2025 | JALANDHAR NINE BOOKED FOR ASSAULT, RIOTING Phagwara: The Lohian Khas police have booked nine persons on the charge of assaulting a villager. Investigating officer Balwindar Singh said the accused were identified as Jogindar Singh, Gurpreeet Singh, Lovpreet Singh, Lakhvinder Singh, Karaj Singh, and Jianunna Singh, all residents of Mianni village, and their three accomplices. Surindar Singh of the same village complained to the police that he was returning home on August 21 when the accused waylaid and attacked him with sharp weapons and seriously injured him. The IO said case under relevant sections of the BNS was registered against the accused in this connection. OC ONE ARRESTED UNDER NDPS ACT Phagwara: The Nakodar Sadar police have arrested a drug peddler on the charge of selling intoxicating tablets. Investigating Officer (IO) Kulwindar Singh said 31 intoxicating tablets (loose) were recovered from the possession of the accused, identified as Gurwindar Singh alias Ginda, a resident of Gilla village. The IO said a case under Sections 22/61/85 of the NDPS Act was registered against the accused. OC DRIVER HELD FOR NEGLIGENCE Phagwara: The Nurmahal police have arrested a driver on the charges of causing death by negligence, rash driving and mischief. Investigating Officer (IO) Gurnam Singh said the accused was identified as Lakhvinder Singh, alias Lakkhi, a resident of Pati Dhuni Ki Jandiala village. Gurmukh Singh, a resident of Sunnerr Kalan village, complained to the police that the accused was driving his vehicle fast and negligently, and hit his son Jasdeep Singh's motorcycle who died on the spot. The IO said a case under relevant sections of the BNS was registered against the accused. OC Woman held with Army deployed in Sultanpur Lodhi intoxicating tablets as water level rises in Beas river More than 2,000 farmers, families waiting for evacuation from flood-affected areas TRIBUNE PHOTOS: MALKIAT SINGH INBRIEF Army personnel evacuate residents of Baoopur village; and (right) villagers shift their livestock to safer place from the mand area of Sultanpur Lodhi in Kapurthala. Our Correspondent Phagwara, August 29 Deputy Commissioner Amit Kumar Panchal today requisitioned the e Army to deal with alarming flood situation in Sultanpur Lodhi and evacuate affected farmers and their families crying for help. Panchal said the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team today evacuated 100 persons from flood-affected villages. Panchal said 60 persons were shifted by followers of Rajya Sabha member Balbir Singh Seechewal to safer places. He said situation was under control and there was nothing to worry about safety of affected persons still living in marooned villages. Seeing the gravity of situation Panchal requisitioned the Army to help the district administration in the evacuation process. Water level in swollen Beas river further rose to 2.30 lakh cusec this morning endangering lives of 2,000 persons living in marooned villages in the mand area of Sultanpur Lodhi. Seechewal followers and the administration pressed eight motor boats into service for evacuating people from Phagwara MC installs cash counting machine to enhance tax collection Phagwara, August 29 To streamline tax collection, IDBI Bank extended its support to the Phagwara Municipal Corporation (MC) by providing a cash counting machine at its office. The machine was formally handed over today to the MC in the presence of Mayor Ram Pal Uppal, Commissioner Dr Akshita Gupta, senior officers of the civic body and the IDBI Bank. Speaking on the occasion, the Mayor appreciated the initiative and said the machine would not only save time, but also bring transparency and accuracy in handling public money. Dr Locked house burgled in Phagwara’s Kashi Nagar Phagwara, August 29 A case of burglary has been reported from Kashi Nagar in Phagwara after thieves allegedly broke into a locked house and escaped with valuables. According to a complaint lodged by Pawan Kumar (46), a resident of Kashi Nagar, Bhgawan, he had locked his house on August 24 after cleaning it. When Kumar returned, he found the lock broken. On inspection, several items, including clothes, an LED television, gold ornaments, and a bicycle, were found missing from the house. Kumar stated that his brother occasionally stayed at the house. No one was present at the time of the theft in the house, he said. Following his statement, the police registered a case. — OC 1,200 people evacuated from flood-hit areas to safer locations, says Mundian Ashok Kaura Mayor Ram Pal Uppal and Commissioner Dr Akshita Gupta at the inauguration of the cash counting machine in Phagwara. Akshita Gupta thanked the IDBI Bank for the support and highlighted that this step would boost tax collection and strengthen citizen- centric services. IDBI Bank officials assured cooperation with the MC for initiatives that improved public service delivery. — OC Administration holds mock drill along the Sutlej river to check preparedness Beas is also coming back ❝Some water of swollenafter hitting Harike. We are towards Sutlej in the area hoping that the situation remains under control. ❞ Hardev Singh Laddi Sherowalia, SHAHKOT MLA cusecs, he said, while adding that so far people in the area were safe. “Some water of swollen Beas is also coming back towards Sutlej in the area after hitting Harike. We are hoping that the situation remains under control,” he said. Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dr Himanshu Aggarwal said there was no shortage of motor boats. Eight boats were insufficient to evacuate such a large number of people, he said. A breach in temporary bundh raised by farmers inside dhussi bundh further widened to 700 feet, said officials. Meanwhile, city residents today heaved a sigh of relief as rain stopped today and sun brought some respite for them. thene packet on the roadside and tried to turn away. The police apprehended her immediately. Upon checking the packet, 22 orange-coloured intoxicating tablets without any marking were recovered from it. The arrested woman was identified as Asha, a resident of Chajj Colony, Phagwara. A case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act was registered against her. — OC Urges residents to vacate their houses and shift to relief camps Channi, Laddi visit Shahkot to assess flood situation Jalandhar, August 29 Jalandhar Lok Sabha Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi and Shahkot MLA Hardev Singh Laddi Sherowalia visited Shahkot villages last evening to assess any flood-like situation along the Sutlej. The Congress duo met farmers who have their fields between dhussi bundh and the Sutlej river and are worried about the loss of paddy. After visit, Laddi said the river embankments were strengthened. The level of water was ranging between 37,000 cusecs and 80,000 flood-affected villages. SDRF teams were also deployed to save the lives of affected families who were earlier reluctant to leave their houses as they feared that burglars would strike at their residences in their absence. Seechewal said now affected farmers were asking to rescue them on seeing water level rise from 8-10 feet in the Beas river. He said there was Phagwara, August 29 The police have arrested a woman after recovering 22 intoxicating tablets from her possession during routine patrolling. Phagwara SP Gurmit Kaur Chahal said a police team on patrol duty was moving towards Basra Chowk when they spotted a woman standing near the old Patwari Khana in Phagwara. On noticing the police, the woman allegedly threw a black poly- threat of floods in the district so far, but the administration was fully alert. The DC said officials had been instructed to remain vigilant. He said respective SDMs were personally visiting fields to review the situation while maintaining constant contact with the public. A mock drill was carried out under the supervision of Shahkot SDM Shubhi Angra, the DC said. He said a state-level flood control room had been established at the Circuit House to ensure immediate relief for the affected areas. This control room was operational 24 hours a day, he said. The government had also issued an emergency helpline number 0181-2240064, he said. Apart from the state control room, the district administration had already set up a district-level flood control room with helpline number 0181-2224417, he said. Fifty-four sites for relief camps had been identified, he said. — TNS Phagwara, August 29 Punjab Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian today informed that around 1,200 members of 250 families were shifted to safer places by the district administration. Reviewing the situation today at Kammewal and Baguval village, the Cabinet Minister said Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government was extending every possible support to the people in this hour of crisis. “Around 800 houses in Kapurthala district have been impacted by floods. Constant appeals are being made to residents to move to safer places,” Mundian said, adding that several people were unwilling to leave due to emotional attachment with their homes. “Considering their concerns, the Punjab Government has ensured supply of food, clean drinking water, medicines and fodder for cattle through 15 boats operating round the clock. Families, who agree with the appeal, are being shifted to designated relief camps,” he said. The Cabinet Minister said water levels had receded slightly with a reduction of 26,000 cusecs today and normalcy was expected to return Cabinet Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian interacts with residents at Kammewal village. soon in the district. He further said on people’s demand, tarpaulins, mosquito nets, repellent creams and other essential items were being provided to them on priority. The Health Department was extending medical facilities, while the Animal Husbandry Department was attending to the livestock, he said. During his visit, the Cabinet Minister sat with elderly women on cots, shared tea and interacted with them, assuring that the Punjab Government would make every possible effort for their welfare. Villagers asked minister to ensure supply of seeds and fertilisers on priority for vegetable cultivation after floodwater receded. Deputy Commissioner Amit Kumar Panchal, Improvement Trust Chairman Sajjan Singh Cheema, SSP Gaurav Toora, Science and Technology Board member Kanwar Iqbal Singh, SDM Major Ervin Kaur and others accompanied the minister during his visit to villages. Briefs CM on flood-relief operation in Kapurthala Punjab’s Revenue Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian on Friday briefed Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann through video conference about the ongoing relief operations in the flood-affected areas of Kapurthala district. The Punjab Government has appointed Mundian as incharge of effective supervision of the relief operations in the flood-hit areas of Kapurthala district. During his third consecutive visit to Kapurthala district, he participated in a video conference with Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann at the District Administrative Complex along with Deputy Commissioner Amit Kumar Panchal and other officials. He informed the Chief Minister that relief operations were being carried out on a war footing in Sultanpur Lodhi and Dhilwan, the flood-affected areas of Kapurthala district. Considering rising water level in the Beas river, people were sifted with the help of the SDRF and the Army to safer places, said Mundian. He said no loss of human life was reported. Around 240 families and their essential belongings were shifted safely, he said. At present, two SDRF teams and Army units with 40 soldiers had been deployed in the rescue operations. Fifteen boats were being used to rescue stranded people. Relief centres were operational at Lakh Waryan, Ahalikalan, Talwandi Kuka, and Fazalabad, where 110 people were staying. Arrangements for shelter, ration and medicines was made at these centres. “As per preliminary estimates, around 28,000 acres of crops in Kapurthala, Sultanpur Lodhi, and Bholath tehsils have been affected by floods. Compensation will be provided after special girdawari (crop damage survey),” the minister said. Admin making all efforts to shift flood-affected families to safe locations: DC Municipal Corporation issues 440 notices Tanda(Hoshiarpur), August29 Deputy Commissioner (DC) Aashika Jain today reviewed the safety measures of the guide bundh and dhussi bundh near the Beas river bridge heading towards Sri Hargobindpur. She was accompanied by officials from different departments during inspection. The DC said ensuring security of this structure was one of the top priorities of the district administration and technical inspections were being carried out regu- Hoshiarpur DC Aashika Jain inspects dhussi bundh in Tanda. larly in this connection. She said during recent rains, a few parts of the guide bundh were damaged by strong water flow. Timely repairs were immediately carried out to prevent further damage, she said. “The safety of the guide bund and dhussi bundh is our foremost priority,” she asserted. The DC said teams from the National Highways Authority of India, Drainage Department, Forest Department and other c m y b related wings were on 24-hour duty to monitor the situation. Supervision of the bundh was assigned to Tanda SDM Parampreet Singh, she said. Talking about the floodaffected families, Jain said the administration was making all efforts to shift them to safer locations and relief camps. Village sarpanches and gurdwara committees were also making announcements to motivate people to reach camps, she said. — OC to owners for dumping garbage in plots Tribune News Service Jalandhar, August 29 Tightening the noose around 12 negligent owners, the Jalandhar District Administration has imposed penalties worth Rs 3 lakh against those failing to clear garbage from their vacant plots. Chairing a review meeting with officials, Deputy Com- missioner Dr Himanshu Aggarwal revealed that the administration had so far received complaints on the DC office action helpline, following which notices were issued to 440 plot owners. He said red entries were made in 12 cases where owners failed to comply with the directions. Dr Aggarwal appealed to residents to actively support this campaign by sharing pictures, precise location and a short note about garbage dumping in vacant plots through the WhatsApp helpline number 9646-222-555. He clarified that this number was strictly meant for WhatsApp messages and not for phone calls. Furthermore, garbage was removed from 111 vacant plots in the district, he said.