23102025-LT-01.qxd 10/23/2025 12:42 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune FOLLOW PATH SHOWN BY LORD VISHWAKARMA: MINISTER NOW FOR A GUT RESET AFTER DIWALI OVEREATING SHOLAY BELONGS TO EVERY HEART, SAYS RAMESH SIPPY Factory owners perform puja and workers clean tools to mark Vishwakarma Day in city. 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 SKY MAX 31°C | MIN 19°C YESTERDAY MAX 32°C | MIN 19°C SUNSET THURSDAY 5.44 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 6:30 AM » THURSDAY | 23 OCTOBER 2025 | LUDHIANA Extended Diwali celebrations: Challenge for city firefighters, two suffer injuries Tuesday night sees surge in distress calls, witnesses 58 fire incidents Nikhil Bhardwaj 83 INCIDENTS REPORTED, HIGHER THAN PREVIOUS YEAR Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 22 The extended Diwali celebrations proved to be a two-day ordeal for city’s firefighters, who were relentlessly called into action. As Monday night witnessed only 25 fire incidents, Tuesday night, in particular, saw a surge in distress calls, with officials reporting 58 fire incidents, including five deemed major, which unfortunately left two firefighters injured. Fire Department officials said the increased volume of fireworks on Tuesday night led to more incidents. Over the two-day festivities, the city recorded a total of 83 fire incidents, significantly higher than the previous year’s Diwali night, which saw over 70 calls. As per information, a number of serious blazes erupted in industrial areas. As one incident occurred at a washing unit on Tibba Road, firefighters struggled to contain the blaze due to presence of ■ Fire Department officials said the increased volume of fireworks on Tuesday night led to more incidents. Over the two-day festivities, the city recorded a total of 83 fire incidents, significantly higher than the previous year’s Diwali night, which saw over 70 calls ■ As per information, a number of serious fire incidents erupted in industrial areas A video grab of a fire that broke out at a godown in Khawajke village in Ludhiana on Tuesday night. chemicals inside the facility. During the operation, firefighter Gurtej Singh sustained minor burn injuries on his foot due to the extreme heat and flames. Another incident occurred at a fabric factory in Bajra vil- lage, with flames destroying the ground floor unit. Another major incident involved a godown in Khawajke village filled with large quantities of waste material. Another factory on Tibba Road saw its shed collapsed due to the intense heat of fire. Sub-fire officer Aatish Rai said controlling the fire was a challenging task that required the deployment of at least four fire tenders and took over four hours to subdue the same. Leading fireman Vijay Kumar faced an injury while on a call to a flat fire on the 10th floor near GNE College on Gill Road. While his team was dousing the flames, residents on the 11th floor desperately broke their win- dowpanes in an attempt to escape the smoke. A piece of flying glass struck Vijay on the head, causing a significant injury and bleeding. Despite injuries, he continued the rescue work. After dousing the flames, the fireman was rushed to a hospital where he received four stitches on his head. Assistant divisional fire official Jaswinder Singh Bhangu offered high praise for the staff’s dedication, commending the firefighters for their timely actions that prevented major tragedies. Meanwhile, minor fire incidents were also reported in areas such as Samrala Chowk, Janakpuri, Salem Tabri, Kot Mangal Singh and Sham Nagar. PPCB shows average AQI at 279, pvtagency records 587 at midnight Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 22 The two-day Diwali celebrations with “green crackers” failed to bring desired results as the average Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) in the past 24 hours stood at 279. In contrast, a private real-time AQI monitoring agency reported that around midnight on Tuesday night, the city’s AQI had shot up to an alarming 587. Despite the authorities allowing firecracker bursting for only two hours — from 8 pm to 10 pm — residents continued till midnight on both October 20 and 21, as the festival was celebrated over two days. Extended cracker-bursting sessions led to a sharp spike in pollution levels, further deteriorating the city’s air quality. Road safety expert Kamaljit Soi expressed concern over the situation. “Around midnight, when cracker bursting was at its Extended crackerbursting sessions led to a sharp spike in pollution levels, deteriorating air quality peak, the AQI touched 587 — a highly alarming level. Such conditions reduce visibility and increase the risk of road accidents. Though we talk about celebrating a green Diwali, everything eventually goes up in smoke,” he said. The government had issued strict guidelines to use only “green crackers”, those free from harmful compounds such as barium salts, antimony, lithium, mercury, arsenic, lead or strontium chromate. However, the rising pollution levels indicate that even the so-called green crackers failed to control the situation. “We witnessed excellent business this Diwali, with cracker sales worth over ?35 crore in the past five–six days,” said Pradeep Gupta, president of the Ludhiana Cracker Dealers Association. While crackers were burst till late in the night, the police did not register any FIRs against violators, citing that most of them were children and adolescents enjoying the festivities. Commenting on the fluctuating air quality levels, Gurpreet Singh, an expert with the PPCB, said: “Air quality readings vary every hour. We calculated the average based on data from 6 am on Tuesday to 6 am on Wednesday. The levels may have peaked during the night due to crackers but the final report reflects the 24-hour average.” Meanwhile, Srishti, a college student, said her grandmother faced breathing difficulties due to the pollution. “We had to make her sit in a room with an air purifier,” she said. Even stray dogs and cattle were seen restless due to the increased noise and smoke levels following the bursting of firecrackers. Man arrested in youth’s murder case Factory owner, aides booked for killing worker 2 pistols, seized; he was shot dead at a religious event by miscreants recently Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 22 A factory worker, identified as Jaswinder Singh, alias Prince (38), a resident of Abdullapur Basti, was found injured on Monday night. Later, he died during treatment at a hospital. His family alleged that the factory owner beat him for not reporting to work, resulting in his death due to serious injuries. Former beat victim for not reporting to work, resulting in his death, say kin On receiving information, the police reached the hospital and recorded statements of victim’s family members. The family suspected that the factory owner, along with his associates, assaulted their son, resulting in his death. Based on a complaint from the deceased’s brother, the Model Town police on Wednesday registered a case against eight persons, including Goldy, the factory owner. Kulwinder Singh, the deceased’s brother, told the police that his elder brother was found seriously injured near the nearby railway quarters on Diwali night. The victim, who was unconscious, was taken to the CMCH, where he died during treatment. His brother’s body had severe injuries which led to his death. He alleged that his brother worked at a textile firm, owned by Goldy. His brother did not go to the factory since October 10 due to some illness. Consequently, the factory owner, along with around seven of his associates, held arguments with his brother and then brutally beaten him. The police said a case was registered and an investigation was underway. The suspects would be arrested soon. Ludhiana, October 22 In a case regarding the attack on a youth who was shot dead during a ‘jagrata’ (a religious gathering) recently, the Ludhiana police have arrested one suspect and seized 15 cartridges, two magazines and two pistols (a .32 bore and a .315 bore pistols) from his possession. ADCP Amandeep Singh Brar said the suspect had been identified as Vishal Thakur, a resident of New Mayapuri Basti, Yodhewal Chowk. He was charged with murdering Monu, a resident of Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar, Sua Colony, Giaspura, along with over 12 of his associates. Based on the complaint of the Monu’s father, Ramji Prasad, the police nominated and arrested Vishal, a resident of New Mayapuri. The police Post-Diwali celebrations, firecracker waste lies unattended on a road in Ludhiana. ASHWANI DHIMAN Trucker nabbed with 4-kg opium The suspect in Ludhiana police custody on Wednesday. official said they expect several disclosures from the suspect during his interrogation. CIA in-charge Avatar Singh and Moti Nagar police station SHO inspector Bhupinder Singh said a fight had occurred on October 2 during a ‘jagrata’ in Fauji Colony. Waiting for tragedy? The suspects had shot the 22year-old youth, Monu, leading to his death. Some of the suspects were identified as Bhavan Bhikhari, Pappu Sherpuria, Mukesh Dayanand, Vadda Golu, Chhota Golu, Ravi Gas Wala, Mishu Pal and Lambu. INDERJEET VERMA He said 11 unidentified persons were also involved in the case. On October 3, based on the complaint of the deceased’s father, the police registered an FIR against the suspects under various sections of the BNS and the Arms Act. Ludhiana, October 22 The special cell of the Ludhiana police arrested a truck driver with 4 kg of opium. The police seized opium, the truck, and an empty bag from the possession of the suspect and registered a case against him under various sections of the NDPS Act. According to information, inspector Navdeep Singh, incharge of the special cell, received a tip-off that Rupin- More revelations expected from suspect during probe, say cops derjit Singh, alias Bittu, a resident of Shankar Dehlon village, here, is involved in the illegal trade of selling opium. The police were informed that Bittu was possessing a large quantity of opium. Following the tip-off, Jailbreak: Cops to recreate crime scene Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 22 As the Ludhiana police have brought inmate Rahul from Bihar who had mysteriously escaped from the Central Jail on the night of October 14, the Ludhiana police are set to recreate a crime scene by taking the inmate to the prison. Inmate confessed that he had fled from jail by scaling wall, then eluding security system A road gulley lying open on Durga Mata Mandir road poses a threat to pedestrians and motorists. c m y b inspector Navdeep Singh, along with his police team, raided the area near Sandhu Chicken shop in the Janak Nagar locality and took the suspect, who was sitting in the truck, into custody. The police seized 4 kg of opium from his possession and have started further interrogation. Officials said more revelations were expected from the suspect during the probe. — TNS Commissioner of Police (CP) Swapan Sharma told The Tribune here on Wednesday that during the preliminary questioning of the inmate, he confessed that he had fled from the jail by scaling the wall and then eluding the jail security system. To verify the claims of the inmate, the police will create The Central Jail in Ludhiana. FILE a scene and he will be asked to show how he managed to escape from the jail premises, and from which wall. ADCP (Crime) Amandeep Singh Brar said the suspect was brought from Bihar on Wednesday evening only, now he would be produced in court on Thursday to seek his police remand for further investigation. “The inmate confessed that he fled by scaling the wall near the dispensary inside the jail but recreation of act of fleeing the prison can only corroborate his claims. The police investigation will soon clear the air about the mysterious escape,” Brar said. Pertinently, with the disclosures of the inmate, the officials have reportedly refused to buy his claims as they said the Central Jail had tall walls and even if any inmate manages to scale the same, there are high-voltage wires to prevent anyone from fleeing the place. The arrest of the suspect has raised questions over the security system inside the jail as from the day one officials were adamant on their claims that no inmate could escape from the prison and he must be hiding on its premises only. Over 100 police personnel along with jail staff had carried out a search in the prisons but the inmate could not be traced. Even the sewerage system was also searched to check if the inmate was hiding there. Superintendent of Jail Kulwant Singh said the suspect could not cross walls, let the police question him, and truth would come out.