23102025-JTR-01.qxd 10/22/2025 10:28 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune LEADERS WANT ROAD TO BE NAMED AFTER VISHWAKARMA NOW FOR A GUT RESET AFTER DIWALI OVEREATING SHOLAY BELONGS TO EVERY HEART: RAMESH SIPPY The 115th Shri Vishwakarma Annual Puja Mahotsav was celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm . P2 Every year, hospitals see a rise in gastrointestinal complaints soon after the festival season P3 Sholay wasn’t just a blockbuster — its dialogues, characters and music etched into the cinema lovers. P4 » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR MAX 31°C | MIN 16°C YESTERDAY MAX 31°C | MIN 16°C SUNSET THURSDAY 5.47 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 6:37 AM » THURSDAY | 23 OCTOBER 2025 | JALANDHAR 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. NRI shoots himself near Nakodar Jalandhar, October 22 A Canada-based NRI, who had returned to his native Sangowal village near Nakodar a few days back, shot himself on Tuesday. Hours before taking the extreme step, victim Ranjit Singh had even gone to the market an evening before and bought crackers, diyas and decoration material for celebrating Diwali. He reportedly slept early and told his son Parmeet Singh that he had to get to early the next morning. The next morning, NRI’s sister heard a loud sound. When she went to his room, he saw him lying on the bed in a pool of blood with a pistol by his side. Family members informed the cops who initiated investigation. In another Diwali night tragedy, a youth was done to death at Rama Mandi flyover as the assailants fired at him while he had gone out to have burger. Deep Nagar locality resident Sumit (23) was rushed to Johal Hospital but he succumbed to his injuries.— TNS Post-Diwali pollution triggers spike in asthma & pulmonary diseases Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Jalandhar, October 22 With the AQI in the city touching a maximum of 500 on two consecutive days of Diwali celebrations - the highest level recorded across mutiple cities in the state - the smoky haze left in the wake of incessant cracker burning is set to leave its impact on those battling with asthma and chronic respiratory disorders. Doctors said a rise in COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and asthma along with other respiratory disorders is anticipated in the wake of Diwali pollution. The Civil Hospital has had a daily OPD patients of 80 to 100 in the tuberculosis department with 2,300 to 2,400 patients being reported per month. While many TB patients also report respiratory problems, the number of these cases is expected to rise post-Diwali. District TB Officer, Dr Ritu Dadra, said, “Every year, the onset of winter, coupled with a rise in air pollution, brings in an estimated increase in patients. The spike in air pollution is likely to cause some rise in patients. Post-Diwali holidays, the OPD will open on Thursday. We received two or three emergency calls from patients experiencing symptoms by a rise in particulate matter in the air. The rise is expected to be on the lines of AQI goes up to 500 Protesters hold a dharna before Nurmahal police station. Nurmahal tense after police-locals clash Politicians stage protest march against the guilty police officials Our Correspondent Commuters drive amid smog as haze engulfed Jalandhar skyline a day after Diwali celebrations. TRIBUNE PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH increase in cases as a matter of routine every Diwali. Along with exacerbation in respiratory episodes, such a pollution spike is also likely to be accompanied by an increase in allergic rhinitis cases. As well as patients who report irritation or itching in eyes, throat, etc. The extent of the increase in such cases can only be confirmed once the OPD opens.” Dr HJ Singh, chest and TB specialist and bronchoscopist, said, “The rise in air pollution levels and the dramatic increase in severity of the problem in the pre-winter AIR POLLUTION LEVEL COMPARISON ■ On October 20, 2025, Diwali Day, Jalandhar recorded an average AQI of 249 and maximum of 500 ■The next day, the city had an average AQI of 260 and maximum of 500 ■ On October 22, Jalandhar recorded AQI of 264 and maximum of 500 ■ In 2024, Jalandhar’s maximum AQI on the day of Diwali, (October 31), was 500 while the average AQI was 237 ■On November 1, the AQI continued to be severe at a maximum of 482 and at an average of 211. ■ On Nov 2, it recorded the maximum AQI again at 500 months every year is concerning. We have been getting an OPD of 15 to 20 patients preDiwali which is expected to rise in the coming days. The severity of pollution in the air has been exceptionally bad, especially on October 21 - the second night that people continued to burst crackers in the city. Such spikes in pollution usually trigger episodes in people with chronic respiratory illnesses and asthma.” Dr Singh added, “The rise in pollution levels is bad, especially for children. There is also a new scenario among patients which is black lungs. Pollution levels are affecting people and during bronchoscopy, lungs are often now observed to be turning black. Children are the worst affected as they are breathing polluted air right from their childhood.” Phagwara, October 22 Tension flared in Nurmahal after a clash broke out between police personnel and local residents on Diwali night. The situation escalated when residents alleged that police officials used force against poor families during late-night checks. Following the incident, leaders and workers of various political parties, including ruling and opposition groups, gheraoed the Nurmahal police station and staged a dharna, demanding action against the persons involved. The protesters raised slogans against the police administration, accusing it of high-handedness. When no senior official responded to their demands, the agitators took out a protest march through the town and later sat on a dharna at Talwan Chowk, causing disruption in local traffic. 3 aides of gangster arrested after crossfire; pistol seized Car bearing police One accused, sticker rams into one cop hurt electricity pole Tribune News Service Jalandhar, October 22 The Jalandhar Commissionerate Police arrested three notorious criminals following a brief crossfire early on Wednesday morning near the Rama Mandi area. The arrested individuals have been identified as Mankaran Deol, Jaiveer, and Simarjit, who are close aides of dreaded gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria. Police Commissioner Dhanpreet Kaur said an FIR had been registered under Sections 109, 351, 3(5) of the BNS, and 25/27 of the Arms Act at Rama Mandi. The trio had been on the police target as they had attempted to loot a gambling booty by using firearms a few weeks back. A police team intercepted the accused near Salempur Masandan at 1:30 am, when they were attempting to flee the district. Mankaran, a close associate of Bhagwanpuria and Amritpal Bath, was wanted in several heinous crimes. His criminal involvement includes an FIR registered at the GRP Jalandhar, in July , this year and the sensational ‘Dharma’ murder case at Chheharta, Amritsar. During the operation, the police recovered one foreignmade 9 mm pistol along with two cartridges from their possession. Mankaran, who received a gunshot in his leg, is hospitalised. A cop too was injured and is under treatment. Police officers at the site of an encounter with criminals in Jalandhar on Wednesday. Cop’s nephew seriously hurt in attack by youths Our Correspondent Phagwara, October 22 Panic spread in Subhanpur near Kapurthala on Tuesday afternoon after an Assistant Sub-Inspector’s nephew was found lying in a serious condition with multiple injuries. The victim was rushed to the Civil Hospital with the help of an ambulance under the 108 emergency service. According to information, Davinder Singh of Dhariwal Bet is the nephew of ASI Mangal Singh, posted at Kapurthala City police station. Reportedly, a group of youths called Davinder out of his house, took him along and later attacked him with sharp-edged weapons. The attackers then dumped him near the Subhanpur bridge, pre- suming him dead. ASI Mangal Singh alleged that the attack was the result of an old enmity, stating that 7-8 youths were involved in the assault. “These same assailants had attacked my nephew about two years ago as well. That case was registered at Dhilwan police station,” he said. Passersby spotted the injured youth lying by the roadside and immediately informed the police. Responding quickly, the police team arrived at the spot and arranged to have the victim taken to the hospital for treatment. DSP Bhulath Karnail Singh said, “The police team from Subhanpur station has gone to the Civil Hospital to record the victim’s statement. Further action will be taken based on his testimony.” Four arrested for practising witchcraft Hoshiarpur, October 22 Shergarh village near the Chandigarh bypass in Hoshiarpur turned tense late last night when villagers, suspicious of the presence of some unknown individuals, surrounded the crematorium. Uttamjit Singh Sabi and other villagers reported that they had come to close the gate of the crematorium outside their village and noticed some people sitting there, who were not from the village. They surrounded the crematorium and informed the police. The police took the four individuals to the Sadar police station for questioning. He said one of the arrested individuals, identified as a ‘Baba’, had spread a black cloth at the cremation ground and placed eggs, alcohol, and other items near it. He was allegedly practising some form of witchcraft. The police have taken the individuals into custody and begun questioning them. — OC c m y b Phagwara,October 22 A car bearing a Punjab Police sticker crashed into an electricity pole near Gumber Complex on the JalandharKapurthala Road in the early hours of Wednesday, disrupting power supply to several houses in the area. The vehicle was reportedly carrying two occupants, who escaped with minor injuries. According to local residents of Basti Bawa Khel, the incident occurred around 3 am. Moments later, electricity in the surrounding houses went out. “We first thought there had been a blast in an electric meter, but when we came out, we saw a car had hit the pole,” said Sajjan Yadav, a migrant, who was among the first to reach the spot. The impact left the pole bent and caused several power cables to snap, plunging parts of the locality into darkness. Residents said both occupants of the car were conscious and were helped out of the vehicle before being taken away by unidentified persons. Their identities have not yet been established. Witnesses noted that while the car carried a Punjab Police sticker, the men inside were not in uniform. The vehicle’s front portion, including the bumper, was completely damaged in the collision. — OC The protesters demanded that the policemen responsible for the alleged assault be immediately suspended. The situation became tense when BSP leader Jagdish Sherpuri entered into a heated argument with the DSP . Later, leaders from various parties, including Baljit Singh Johal (Congress), Gurmail Chumber, Jagdish Sherpuri, Davinder Kumar Sandhu, Sukhdev Langah, Gurdeep Singh Thammanwal, Sukhdev Singh Gaheer, Davinder Pal Chahal, Sham Mittu, Parmjeet Pamma Chahal, and several others, held discussions with DSP Nakodar, Sukhpal Singh. , Addressing the protesters, Sukhpal Singh said the incident appeared to be a misunderstanding between the police and residents during Diwali night patrols. He assured them that no further action would be taken against the locals and that he had reviewed videos from both sides. Burglars strike at NRI’s house Phagwara, October 22 Burglars struck in one of Phagwara’s most upscale localities, Regency Town, targeting a locked house belonging to an NRI family residing in the United States. The robbers broke into a locked house and decamped with valuables worth several lakhs of rupees. House owner NRI Raman Malhotra said the incident came to light when an employee, who routinely visits the house for cleaning and maintenance, found the locks and doors broken. He said the thieves took away expensive clothing, LED TVs, a battery inverter, an LPG cylinder, bathroom fittings, and other valuable household items. “The total loss runs into lakhs,” he added. He has lodged a complaint with the police. — OC Bhatia Crockery House gutted on Diwali Our Correspondent Phagwara, October 22 A devastating fire reduced Bhatia Crockery House, located in the congested Bazar Bansanwala of Phagwara, to ashes late on Diwali night. The blaze, which reportedly broke out around 10:40 pm, raged for several hours and could be seen from a distance, creating panic in the densely populated market. More than 40 fire tenders from Phagwara and adjoining towns were pressed into service and battled the inferno for over six hours, working tirelessly through the night to bring the flames under control. Despite their efforts, the building suffered exten- sive damage. Preliminary reports suggest that waste cardboard stored on the fourth-floor rooftop might have caught fire, possibly from a stray firecracker or due to a short-circuit. However, the exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. The owner of Bhatia Crockery House has suffered massive losses, estimated in lakhs of rupees. The power supply to the area remained suspended throughout the night as a safety measure, adding to the difficulties of fire-fighting operations. The incident has again raised concerns about fire safety in the congested commercial areas, especially during festive celebrations when the use of fireworks is widespread. Fire in a crockery house at Phagwara.