08092025-LT-01.qxd 08-09-2025 01:03 Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune PUNJAB GIRLS LOSE TO HARYANA IN QUATERFINALS ARMY, CMCH HOLD RELIEF CAMP IN GURDASPUR DIST FILMMAKER ANUPARNA ROY BAGS BEST DIRECTOR AWARD Punjab waged a spirited battle against Haryana before losing quarterfinal 59-72 in basketball c'ship. P2 The relief camp was organised under Indian Army’s Operation Raahat, in Gurdaspur. P2 The Indian filmmaker wins the Best Director award at Venice Film Fest for her film Songs of Forgotten Trees. P4 » » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 31°C | MIN 23°C YESTERDAY MAX 30°C | MIN 23°C SUNSET MONDAY 6.36 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 6:04 AM MONDAY | 8 SEPTEMBER 2025 | LUDHIANA Admn, Army, residents making all-out efforts to strengthen dhussi bandh At Sasrali Colony village, 8 chainlink retaining walls dropped into Sutlej to reinforce embankment Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 7 In a determined effort to prevent flooding and protect lives and property, the district administration in collaboration with the Indian Army, multiple government departments and hundreds of local residents, is working tirelessly to strengthen the dhussi bandh at various places. The administration received information about river water impacting stone studs at Mattewara. “Our team, with the support of villagers, swiftly controlled the situation,” Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain said while expressing gratitude for the community’s cooperation. On Sunday, the site at Sasrali Colony village witnessed coordinated action as eight chainlink retaining walls were successfully dropped into the Sutlej to reinforce the embankment. A 70-m-long protective stretch has already been constructed, with buckets tied together using ropes to prevent them from being swept away by the swift current. Despite the high speed of the river water causing erosion along banks, officials have assured that the situation remains under control. “Water has not entered the village and its level has not increased,” the Deputy Commissioner said. “There is nothing to panic Cash, valuables stolen from house Ludhiana, September 7 A major theft case was reported from a house in Basant Avenue where thieves decamped with cash, gold and valuables worth several lakhs of rupees. After the incident, the police launched a probe and CCTV cameras were being checked to get any clue about the miscreants. The complainant, Prateek Seth, in a complaint submitted to the police stated that about 10 days ago he had gone to Ambala with his family after locking his house. When he returned on September 4, he was shocked to see that the entire house was lying ransacked. “When we checked the house, we found that all items in the house were scattered. One LED, Rs 2 lakh in cash, 1.50 kg of silver ornaments, 5 tolas of gold, three passports and five watches were stolen by thieves,” the house owner told the police. The city has reported many theft incidents in the recent months and most of them are lying unsolved. Officials said the police did not have sufficient force for solving theft cases but they crack these when any major theft occurs. Even when the police bust any gang of thieves, many unsolved cases also get solved. — TNS 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. Work to fortify the dhussi bandh in progress at Sasrali Colony village in Ludhiana. about. We request everyone to stay calm and avoid visiting the site unless they are actively involved in the relief work,” he added. The administration also issued a strict advisory prohibiting spectators from entering the flood defence zone, emphasising that unnecessary footfall could hinder the ongoing operations. Meanwhile, after the soil eroded from the dhussi bandh near the seed farm in Bholewal Jadid, teams led by SDM Poonam Preet Kaur, addressed the issue and strengthened the bandh. The strengthening work was promptly carried out with the cooperation of tehsildars, sub-registrars, employees of the Revenue (Ludhiana West and Central), Irrigation, Drainage and Forest departments, Block Development and Panchayat officials and local residents. The SDM said various teams of the administration were actively engaged in relief operations. She noted that ongoing efforts to strengthen embankments using JCB machines were underway not only in Bholewal Jadid but also in Khaira Bet and Alowal. She also mentioned that a survey would be conducted to assess the damage to crops, homes and livestock caused by heavy rainfall across the state. The collaborative efforts had drawn praise from senior officials and residents alike. The Deputy Commissioner has been actively monitoring the progress, with personally assisting in placing sandbags and inspecting the embankment. Local villagers, many of whom have been working day and night, expressed their resolve to protect their homes. “This bandh is our lifeline,” said a resident, adding that “We’re doing everything we can to keep it strong.” With the water level stable and reinforcements underway, the administration remains vigilant. Round-theclock monitoring is being done and rapid response teams are stationed at critical points to ensure preparedness for any eventuality. Hemraj Raji, Chairman of the Market Committee, Sahnewal, announced an additional ?5 lakh contribution to support ongoing flood relief operations in Sasrali Colony. To ensure uninterrupted operations, Raji has arranged for diesel tankers to refuel vehicles directly at the site, eliminating the need to travel to distant fuel stations. The logistical support, he said, would save time and accelerate relief efforts. For emergencies, a districtlevel flood control room is operational and accessible via helpline number 01612433100. Illegal multi-storey complex collapses Civic body acts as mute spectator as 7th incident occurs in past week Nikhil Bhardwaj A field along the Sutlej ravaged by the floods in Ludhiana. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN Farmers in trouble as 1K acres of fields along Sutlej submerged Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 7 For farmers in the state, weather is both a lifeline and looming threat. In one season, it’s the scorching heat that shrivels wheat grains, and in the other, it’s relentless rainfall that drowns their hopes. Though Ludhiana was saved from the flood fury, those staying around the Sutlej had to bear the brunt as flooding left 1000 acres submerged in water. Paddy crops have been submerged under floodwaters, wiping out months of labour and investment. In Maachiwara, farmer Harbhajan Singh stood ankle-deep in water, staring at his ruined field. “We sow with hope but nature has its own plans. My entire paddy crop is gone. I don’t know how I’ll repay loan this year,” he said in despair. The situation is equally grim in Sidhwan Bet where Gurpreet Kaur, a smallscale farmer, said: “We depend on this crop for our yearly income. The water came so fast, we couldn’t even save our tools. It’s not the crop but our livelihood.” According to the Agriculture Department, nearly 1,000 acres of fields have been destroyed along the Sutlej, primarily in the blocks of Sidhwan Bet, Maachiwara and Mangat. Chief Agriculture Officer Gurdeep Singh confirmed that the damage was confined to fields located on the riverbed. “The rest of the district is safe. Affected areas are low-lying and within the river’s natural flood zone,” he stated. Experts from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) have issued urgent advisories to minimise further damages. They recommend draining excess water using surface drains or pumping sets to prevent root suffocation. For rice and basmati growers, the PAU suggested a foliar spray of 3 per cent urea solution to counter nitrogen deficiency, and 1.5% potassium nitrate at the boot stage to reduce sterility. With the cur- rent weather favoring fungal infections, particularly false smut, farmers are urged to spray copper hydroxide (Kocide 46 DF) followed by Galileo Way fungicide after 10–15 days. Zinc deficiency should be treated with a 0.5% or 0.3% zinc sulphate spray, depending on the formulation. While the district administration continues to assess the full extent of the damages, the immediate concern remains the survival of affected farmers. “With their fields submerged and future uncertain, many are hoping for swift government intervention and compensation to rebuild their lives. Once the situation normalises, we have decided to visit the affected farmers and offer support in the form of labour, manure and procuring seeds for the next crop. Not only the crop but also seeds for the next crop prepared by farmers and stored in their houses had also been destroyed,” said Harinder Singh Lakhowal, president of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal). Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 7 A multi-storey commercial complex situated at Ghake Shah Mill, on the rear of the Bombay Metal Gill road, near Vishwakarma Chowk, collapsed on Sunday. More than half of the complex collapsed while the remaining portion is hanging in between. The complex was built about 10 to 15 years ago only. Unfortunately, it was built illegally and despite passing of over a decade, the authorities have failed to take any action against its owner. In fact, the owner had also reportedly sold shops to many people but the exact details of buyers was yet to be verified. Shopkeepers in the market had also reportedly apprised Municipal Corporation officials regarding its unsafe status and also repeatedly asked the officials concerned to demolish the structure to prevent a collapse but nobody paid heed. Even on Sunday morning, a chartered accountant, Vijay Sood, whose office is situated opposite to the building, had also sent a complaint to the corporation after he noticed cracks in its pillars. A few hours after his complaint, the building collapsed. Fortunately, when the building collapsed, nobody was present near the structure. Hence, no loss of lives or injuries to any persons reported in the incident. Even the market was also closed due to Sunday. Some people standing at a distance Minister reviews flood relief operations, NHAI projects The multi-storey commercial complex that collapsed in the Ghake Shah Mill area. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN from the scene had also captured the fall of the building in their mobile phones. The complaint The structure shows signs of severe distress — visible major cracks, tilting walls, falling pillars, chunks of plaster falling off — which pose a grave risk to people of the area. I kindly request that the authorities concerned should conduct an immediate structural safety inspection. For your reference, I have attached photographs and a brief video. For public safety, especially being a crowded office area, I request you to please arrange for immediate barricading till the structure is deemed safe.” Assistant Town Planner Aamir Latif said he had recently shifted to Ludhiana and he would check the MC records on Monday. About the owner of the building, Aamir said let him check the record first, then further action would be taken accordingly. For precautionary purpose, one adjoining building was vacated as the remaining portion of the building may also fall. Otherwise, the area was isolated, he added. Upender Yadav, a migrant who stays in the same locality, said the complex was lying idle for the past few years. Even some drug addicts had been using the complex to consume drugs and some anti-social elements too used to barge into the building. hanging in between and can fall anytime. After the rain wrecked havoc in the city on Monday and led to collapse of three old buildings in Old City areas, another centuryold building collapsed in Naughara Mohalla early on Tuesday morning. Fortunately, the incident did not cause any casualty. On Saturday also, an unsafe building had collapsed in Radi Mohalla near the Neem Wala Chowk. The recent incidents As per MC officials, the city has over 100 buildings which have been declared unsafe. Most of these buildings are lying abandoned. Some people were also staying in some of the buildings. Officials said due to pending court cases, the MC was hesitating to demolish such unsafe structures at their own level as it might entangle them in legal trouble. A big portion of the ancestral house of businessman Anand Mahindra, situated in Soodan Mohalla of the old city area, collapsed on Tuesday evening. The multistorey building had been lying in a dilapidated state for the past several decades. The portion of the structure collapsed while the remaining portion of the building is still c m y b Ludhiana, September 7 Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora held a comprehensive meeting on Sunday with Deputy Commissioner (DC) Himanshu Jain, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Amarjit Bains, NHAI Project Director Priyanka Meena and other officials to assess the ongoing efforts to strengthen the dhussi bandh in Sasrali Colony village and highway projects. Discussions were focused on critical priorities, including preventing riverbank erosion along the Sutlej, reinforcing the dhussi bandh and advancing flood-relief operations. He also reviewed the progress of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) projects, emphasis- ing the need for timely completion of initiatives such as cycle track construction and effective traffic management. He said: “It is our duty to provide comprehensive assistance to those impacted by floods. The government is closely monitoring the situation and ready to deploy additional resources, as required.” — TNS Pouring misery Over 100 unsafe structures, tragedies waiting to happen Vehicles move through a waterlogged Lions Club road after rainfall in Ludhiana. ASHWANI DHIMAN