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INSIDE » » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 32°C | MIN 23°C YESTERDAY MAX 30°C | MIN 23°C SUNSET FRIDAY 6.41 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 6:01 AM FRIDAY | 5 SEPTEMBER 2025 | LUDHIANA Sasrali Colony village under flood threat Army, NDRF called in, residents told to move animals to safer places Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 4 Sasrali Colony village, where the bhog of a threeday akhand path was performed on Thursday to pray for protection from floods, came under serious threat this morning as the Sutlej stream began moving towards the bandh over a two-km stretch. Panic gripped residents as the flow inched closer towards the protective embankment, raising fears of a breach. The district administration called in Army and NDRF teams to assist villagers in strengthening the bandh. Around 100 personnel, along with nearly 900 villagers and labourers, worked on reinforcing the stretch with iron nets, sandbags, heavy wooden logs and stones. Deputy Commissioner (DC) Himanshu Jain, ADC and the SDM East camped at the site, coordinating arrangements. “We are making every possible effort to prevent the Sutlej from breaching the bandh. Army and NDRF personnel have been called in and they are guiding to prevent the breach in the bandh. However, the situation is still critical,” BJP panelist resigns over Centre’s neglect of flood-hit state Huge stock of garments gutted in hosiery shop fire Ludhiana, September 4 Parminder Mehta, former councillor and media panelist for the Punjab BJP resigned , from the party on the pretext that the Centre has not extended help to Punjab during the ongoing floods. While addressing a press meet, Mehta said the state was currently facing a serious crisis due to widespread flooding, with no area left unaffected by the deluge. While many people are helping flood victims in their own way, it’s unfortunate that the Central Government has adopted a stepmotherly attitude towards Punjab in the crisis. For over a month, the people of the state, especially in border districts adjacent to HP and Uttarakhand, have been devastated first by the Ravi and Beas and now by the Sutlej, which has engulfed other districts as well. The Centre should have extended a helping hand to Punjab from the beginning and stood in solidarity with the country’s ‘annadata’ (food provider). The BJP leader expressed that the Centre posted condolences for earthquake victims in Afghanistan and visited Jammu to assess the damage and provide relief to flood-hit residents. However, despite crops worth crores of rupees being destroyed in Punjab, many houses collapsed, land washed away, household goods ruined, livestock lost and many lives taken away by the floods, not a single word of sorrow has been expressed. Mehta made a heartfelt appeal to Punjabis and residents of other states, in the country and abroad, to rise above politics and come forward to support this holy land. — TNS Tribune News Service HEALTH & WELLNESS The Tribune is starting a Q and A column to address your health-related queries. Please mail your questions (not exceeding 40 words) at healthandwellness@tribunemail.com. The Tribune’s panel of doctors will answer all your healthrelated concerns. Officials with Army personnel at Sasrali Colony village in Ludhiana. MAKING ALL EFFORTS, SITUATION CRITICAL making every effort to ❝We arebreaching thepossibleHowever,prevent the is Sutlej from bandh. the situation still critical. ❞ — Himanshu Jain, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER Ludhiana, September 4 A major fire broke out in a hosiery garment shop in Old Madhopuri on Wednesday night. Seeing smoke coming out of the shop, people informed the shop owner. They also tried to extinguish the fire themselves but the flames spread quickly that occupants of nearby buildings also had to be evacuated as a precautionary measure. The blaze was visible from a distance and the entire area was filled with smoke. According to people, the fire caused panic in the entire area as there are many other hosiery units in the area. About Jain said. He also directed announcements from the village gurdwara, advising residents to shift their cattle to safer places and move Flames engulf the hosiery shop in Old Madhopuri. three fire brigade vehicles reached the scene and controlled the flames. themselves to higher floors or secure shelters. Sarpanch Surinder Singh Namdhari said villagers were working round-the-clock to plug weak spots where sand had slipped, diverting the Sutlej’s flow dangerously close to the bandh. “The water is just a few feet As per information, fire brigade personnel worked hard for over two hours to control the situation. However, a huge stock of garments was burnt to ashes. According to fire brigade officials, the actual cause of the blaze has not been ascertained so far. It is being suspected that a short-circuit could be the cause of the fire. Many electric wires also got burnt in the area. At present, there is no estimate of the losses. Fire tenders reached on time, otherwise the flames could have spread to surrounding buildings as well. However, firemen remained at the spot till 2.30 am to prevent any untoward incident. away but with joint efforts, we are determined to save the village,” he said. Punjab’s Rehabilitation and Disaster Management Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian also visited Sasrali this morning, assuring residents of full government support. He stayed on the spot for several hours to oversee the operations. BJP spokesperson Pritpal Singh Balliawal, who was also present at the site, said nearly 1,000 persons were engaged in the operation. “The Sutlej’s reduced water level caused erosion of sand banks, pushing the flow towards the village side. Every possible measure is being taken to protect the bandh” he said. Our prayers will be answered: Sarpanch Even as the bhog of the akhand path concluded on Thursday, villagers began another three-day path at the same spot. “So far, only God has saved us. We believe, our prayers will be answered and the village will remain safe. Hence, again the three-day path has been organised,” the sarpanch said. CP Swapan Sharma, along with other cops, takes stock of the situation at Sasrali Colony village. Top cop, 200 police personnel rush to village to extend help Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 4 As the flood threat became imminent at Sasrali Colony village and panic had gripped residents who have already been making all-out efforts to prevent the breach of the embankment, Commissioner of Police (CP) Swapan Sharma along with over 200 police personnel also rushed to the village on Thursday to extend all possible help to the administration and residents. He was also accompanied by other senior police officials. Talking to The Tribune, the CP said after getting information about the imminent breach threat to the embankment at Sasrali village, he rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation. “To extend all possible help to the district administration and villagers there, over 200 policemen have been deployed at Sasrali village. The police personnel have been called from the Police Lines and other departments and they would remain present at the spot to extend helping hand,” Sharma said. He along with DC Himanshu Jain took stock of the weakening bandh and also took updates from the officials concerned about possi- MLAs, DC visit kin of brothers who died of electrocution Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 4 MLAs Jiwan Singh Sangowal and Manwinder Singh Giaspura along with Deputy Commissioner (DC) Himanshu Jain on Thursday visited Sangowal village to express condolences to the family of Manjot Singh (19) and Tejwant Singh (21), two brothers who lost their lives due to electrocution during heavy rainfall on August 31. Punjab Child Rights Commission Vice-Chairman Gunjit Ruchi Bawa also accompanied the delegation. They conveyed deep sympathy and assured the bereaved family of the district administration’s full support during these tough times. As part of the relief measures, the state government will provide an ex-gratia payment of Rs DC Himanshu Jain meets the wailing kin of the deceased at Sangowal village. 8 lakh to the family. Additionally, Kirandeep Kaur, the sister of the deceased brothers, who is currently pursuing BA, will be offered a job to help secure the family’s future. “The district administration stands firmly with the family in their time of grief and is committed to extending all possible Heavy rains expose crumbling road infra across city Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 4 Residents across Ludhiana are navigating a maze of broken roads and deep potholes amid rising frustration following heavy rainfall that lashed the city in the past few days. From Haibowal Kalan to the iconic Clock Tower, the damage is widespread and the silence from the authorities is deafening. At Haibowal Kalan and Joshi Nagar, the condition of roads is worrisome. “It’s not only inconvenient but also dangerous,” said Renu Sharma, a local schoolteacher, adding that “Children have slipped in these spots. Two-wheelers skid daily. We’ve complained but nothing happened.” The stretch outside the women’s cell, leading to Domoria Bridge, tells a similar story. Cracks run deep, and the road surface has peeled away. “This road connects to a major bridge,” said a nearby A road in Joshi Nagar and another stretch near Clock Tower in a deplorable condition following rainfall in Ludhiana, on Thursday. ASHWANI DHIMAN & INDERJEET VERMA shopkeeper, Harpreet Singh. “It’s used by hundreds daily. After the rain, it’s like driving in the battlefield,” he said. Rose Garden Road, once a scenic route, is now a potholeridden mess. “It’s ironic,” said college student Mehak Arora. “We come here to relax but now dodging craters. It’s like the garden is surrounded by a minefield,” she said. Even the road near the Clock Tower, one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, is in a shambles. The route, which also leads to the railway station, is riddled with potholes. “This is the face of the city,” said auto driver Rajinder Pal, adding that “Tourists come to c m y b ble risk of floods. “Our policemen have already started helping the administration as they are filling sacks of sands, strengthening the embankment and helping the villagers in all respects and making all possible efforts in coordination with administration officials,” the CP said. Meanwhile, he also urged residents to avoid roaming near the Sutlej embankment without any reason. Instead, he asked them to come forward for affected villagers and also become volunteers in the ongoing rescue work going on at various villages in Ludhiana. the place. What impression are we giving to them?” Outside Minerva Complex, the situation is no better. Cracked asphalt and stagnant water have made the road nearly impassable. “I run a shop here,” said Amanpreet Kaur. “Customers avoid coming now. Business is down and no one from the Municipal Corporation has even visited the place,” she said. But the worst situation is outside the MC’s Zone D office. The road here is broken, uneven and waterlogged. “If the civic body can’t fix the road outside its own office, what hope do we have for the rest of the city?” asked SK Verma, a retired teacher. Residents say the damage isn’t new, it’s the result of years of neglect, poor drainage and repairs that don’t last. The recent rainfall simply exposed what was already crumbling. “We don’t want promises but accountability. Fix roads, fix the system,” said Renu Sharma. assistance,” said the Deputy Commissioner, reaffirming the authorities’ dedication to supporting those affected by the recent tragedy. Missing man’s body recovered from Sirhind Canal Doraha, September 4 The body of a 42-year-old Ludhiana man was recovered from the Sirhind Canal by divers near Rampur village on Wednesday evening. It was taken out with the assistance of the police and handed over to the Division Number 2 police station, Ludhiana, where his father had filed a missing complaint regarding the victim two days ago. He was the only son of his parents, who were devastated when the news reached them. The deceased was stated to be in a state of depression. The father of the deceased said his son had left home two days ago, saying that he was going to the gym but he failed to reach there. The parents searched for him but to no avail. It was on Wednesday evening that the divers at the Sirhind Canal near Rampur noticed a body floating on the surface of water and pulled it out with the assistance of the Doraha police. Doraha SHO Akash Dutt said the body was of Ravi Sharma of Ludhiana. — OC