10112025-JTR-01.qxd 09-11-2025 22:52 Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune BKU (DOABA) TO INTENSIFY PROTEST OVER SUGARCANE ARREARS RELIGIOUS ZEAL TURNS GREEN, SMOKE AND NOISE OUT NAMIT DAS EMBRACES NEW FORMATS Union will participate in the KMM-backed demonstration on the Panjab University campus, Chandigarh, too. P2 Open House favours mass awareness against pollution andstrong steps towards sustainable future. P3 The versatile actor takes on a unique role as a playful god in Hamara Vinayak. P4 » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR MAX 25°C | MIN 11°C YESTERDAY MAX 26°C | MIN 11°C SUNSET MONDAY 5.32 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 6:51 AM » MONDAY | 10 NOVEMBER 2025 | JALANDHAR Farm fire sparks health concerns for global devotees at Jalandhar event Visit Guru Granth Sahib Darbar, Bulandpuri |Complain to DC, CMO | AQI 300 Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Punjab Congress president, consoles family members of the deceased after his last rites at his ancestral Soondh village in Nawanshahr on Sunday. Banga ex-MLA cremated at ancestral Soondh village Died of heart attack while campaigning in Tarn Taran Tribune News Service Jalandhar, November 9 Congress former MLA Tarlochan Singh Soondh (71) was cremated at his native village Soondh at Banga in Nawanshahr district today. The entire senior leadership of the Congress as well as senior leaders across party lines bade him an emotional adieu. The two-time former Congress MLA from Banga died of a heart attack on Saturday morning, while on campaign for the Tarn Taran byelection. With the senior Congress leadership in presence, Soondh’s body was draped in a flag and the state president lent shoulder to his body before bidding him the final Being hit by vehicle, biker falls off flyover Phagwara, November 9 A horrifying accident took place on the Khaira flyover near Phillaur on the national highway, where a motorcyclist fell off the elevated road after his two-wheeler was struck from behind by an unidentified vehicle. According to Sadak Surakhia Force in-charge ASI Sarabjeet Singh, the injured rider has been identified as Jatin, a resident of Phillaur. Police officials stated that Jatin was travelling towards Kapurthala on his motorcycle when the incident occurred. As he approached the Khaira flyover, an unknown vehicle rammed into the motorcycle from behind, causing Jatin to lose balance. The impact flung him off the flyover, and he fell onto the service road below. Jatin sustained serious injuries in the fall. A team from the Road Safety Force reached the spot immediately, provided first-aid to the victim and arranged to shift him to the Civil Hospital in Phillaur for medical treatment. The police are now trying to identify the vehicle and driver responsible for the collision. — OC 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. farewell. Soondh is survived by his wife and married daughters. Both Congress president Raja Warring and state Leader of Opposition Pratap Singh Bajwa draped Soondh’s body in the flag. The leaders consoled Soondh’s relatives. Earlier today, Soondh’s body was taken across Banga in a vehicle bedecked with flowers as part of his final journey. After a tour through his constituency, his mortal remains were brought to the cremation grounds of his ancestral village Soondh where the final ceremony was conducted. Warring, Bajwa, MP Sukhjinder Randhawa, Kapurthala MLA Rana Gurjit Singh, Adampur MLA Sukhwinder Kotli, Phillaur MLA Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary, Shahkot MLA Hardev Singh Ladi Sherowalia, former Nawanshahr MLA Angad Singh, SAD leader and former Congressman Mohinder Singh Kaypee, Congress district president Ajay Mangupur, Congress leader Satvir Palli Jhikki, BJP leader Mohan Lal, leaders Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Santosh Chaudhary, among others remained present. A prominent Dalit leader of the Congress, Soondh served as an MLA in 2002 and 2012. He had also served in the Indian Foreign Services. He was the son of the slain Congress minister Jagat Ram Soondh. Jalandhar, November 9 Jalandhar's worsening air quality has sparked concern among foreign nationals attending a major religious event in the district. Visitors from nearly 40 countries, including Italy, Australia, and the United States, have lodged complaints with the district administration after experiencing breathing difficulties and eye irritation due to high pollution levels. The visitors are here to attend an event at Guru Granth Sahib Darbar, Bulandpuri, where an event is being held from November 9 to 19 to mark the Parkash Ustav of Guru Nanak Dev. Apart from the visiting foreign nationals sending email to the DC and the CMO, the Udhowal village gurdwara committee also complained to the SDM, Nakodar, on the issue. Villagers said the visitors had come to the village for the event. While the district administration said there had been no specific stubble fires in the village and its vicinity in the past two days, sprinkling of water on roads and vicinity of the village will be carried out to help dust to settle. Baljinder Singh, a member of the gurdwara committee (which is hosting the event) at Udhowal village, said, "In our area, there is too much pollution. We can clearly see NRIs and visitors from various countries participate in a religious event being held at Bulandpuri village near Nakodar in Jalandhar on the 556th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. A TRIBUNE PHOTOGRAPH smoke. Some farmers are burning stubble. The smoke is affecting our eyes and throats. I'm not even an outsider and have got sick. We have visitors from 40 countries and about 2,000 devotees have arrived. People have a habit of saying ‘chhaddo pare’ (let it go). But foreign nationals were shocked at the pollution levels. The visiting sangat members searched numbers and websites online and raised complaints." He added, "When the Supreme Court and NGT have prohibited stubble burning, it must be stopped. We also approached the administration directly, making complaints to the SHO and officers. But they didn't do much. On my 70 to 80 fields (acres), too, I don't set stubble on fire. It kills insects and damages land. But some people don't listen. The administration must find a remedy for the unprecedented pollution levels." The maximum AQI levels in Jalandhar have remained over 300 after Diwali and also for the past four days. For four days, the Jalandhar AQI remained between an average of 182 to 200 and the maximum of between 301 and 309. SDM-Nakodar Lal Vishwas said, "I have visited the village after the complaint was made. The pollution here is as much as in other areas. We did not witness a single farm fire at the village. In Nakodar, two stubble fires have been reported in the past two days - both are from far-off villages. As a measure, water sprinkling will be carried out on the village roads and thoroughfares to prevent inconvenience." Guru Granth Sahib Darbar, Bulandpuri, encompasses three villages in Mehatpur Udhowal, Bulanda and Pasari - which are hosting the event. DC inspects road work, orders strict quality norms Two lives snuffed out Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, November 9 DC Aashika Jain on Sunday carried out an extensive inspection of the ongoing road construction and repair works in different parts of Hoshiarpur district. The inspection was conducted as per the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to ensure that development projects are executed with transparency and quality. She was accompanied by Additional DC (Development) Nikas Kumar and officials from various departments. During the visit, DC Jain reviewed the progress of road works being undertaken by the Municipal Corporation in Bahadurpur. She checked the quality of construction materials, drainage systems and road alignment. Later, she visited several project sites in Dasuya and issued on-the-spot directions to ensure timely completion and strict adherence to quality standards. The DC reiterated the government’s commitment to providing safe and long-lasting road infrastructure for public convenience. She said coordinated efforts were being made by the Public Works Department, Punjab Mandi Board, and the MC to speed up ongo- Hoshiarpur DC Aashika Jain reviews the quality of road. ing projects across the district. “No laxity will be tolerated in the execution of road projects. Roads are the backbone of development and any compromise in their quality affects people’s lives and progress of the district,” she stated. Jain directed all departments to strictly follow government norms and technical guidelines during the construction process. To ensure transparency and accountability, the DC said special monitoring committees have been set up at the subdivisional level. In rural areas, these committees will be headed by the respective SDMs, while in urban areas, the Municipal Commissioner and Executive Officers of municipal councils will take charge. 3 months after flood, aid continues to pour in for villages Aakanksha N Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Jalandhar, November 9 Three months after the devastating floods swept through several villages in Sultanpur Lodhi, hope continues to flow in the form of relentless support and compassion from across the country. What once seemed like an impossible restart for the affected families has turned into a story of solidarity and resilience. From clothes, ration and stationery for children to monetary help, cycles, and even fuel, aid has poured in from people across Punjab and neighbouring states that conveyed about the generosity and humanity that emerged in the face of disaster. Today, a group of good Samaritans from Haryana donated Rs 5 lakh to the panchayat of Aahli Kalan village. Rashpal Singh, a farmer leader Help poured in for people in flood-affected villages in Sultanpur Lodhi. A TRIBUNE PHOTOGRAPH from the village, said the contribution will be used to purchase diesel and DAP fertiliser needed for wheat sowing. “For a few days, donations had slowed down, but they’ve started coming in again,” he said, expressing gratitude for the continuous flow of help. Assistance has also arrived from UP Rajasthan, and , Himachal, offering both material relief and moral support to the flood-hit families. Earlier, following a breach in the temporary embankment c m y b (bundh) near the village, residents had come together to run a 24×7 langar (community kitchen) right at the repair site. Volunteers ensured that workers and villagers engaged in plugging the breach were fed round the clock. To streamline the repair efforts, a tent equipped with essential supplies and a trolley loaded with ingredients was also stationed at the site. Village sarpanch Shaminder Singh said he had never witnessed such an overwhelming compassion in his life. “There was a flood that destroyed lives, and then came a flood of do-gooders who didn’t stop helping us. It makes me emotional,” he said. “People from every community came forward — it was truly heartwarming.” He added that the funds being received now will go toward assisting families still struggling to rebuild their homes and livelihoods. The panchayats of Aahli Kalan and Aahli Khurd have been at the forefront of relief coordination, managing food distribution, supplies, and manpower. in freak accident Our Correspondent Phagwara, November 9 In a tragic incident near village Mao Sahib in Phillaur, two youths lost their lives after iron pipes loaded on a mini truck fell on their scooter on Saturday evening. The accident occurred when the rope securing the heavy iron rods snapped, causing the pipes to fall from the vehicle and crash onto a scooter approaching from behind The victims, identified as Saurav and Yuvam, both residents of village Nangal, were going to Bilga to get a kurtapyjama stitched when the accident took place. Local residents rushed to the spot and alerted the authorities. Both youths were immediately taken to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMC), Ludhiana, where medical teams attempted to save their lives; however, they succumbed to their injuries during treatment. According to the police, the driver of the mini truck, PB08-EF-6529, abandoned the vehicle and fled from the scene soon after the accident. The Phillaur police have registered a case against the unknown driver and initiated efforts to trace and arrest him. Preliminary investigations suggest negligence on the part of the vehicle operator, who had not secured the iron pipes adequately. After the post-mortem examination conducted at the Civil Hospital, the bodies of both deceased were handed over to their family members. Two killed as car hits bike near Nawanshahr Nawanshahr, November 9 A tragic road accident took place on Saturday near Nawanshahr when a motorcycle collided with a car, resulting in the death of two persons and serious injuries to two others. According to a report lodged by Ram Kumar, resident of Ramraipur, he, along with his father Balbir Raj and others, including a kid, was travelling from Langowal to their village Ramraipur on a motorcycle. While they were on their way, a car driven at high speed by a resident of Nai Majara hit their motorcycle from behind. Due to the severe impact, the riders suffered serious injuries. All injured were rushed to the Civil Hospital, Nawanshahr, where doctors declared one dead on arrival. Balbir Raj and the kid were referred for further treatment, while one of them was reported as unfit for a statement. it is reported that Balbir Raj succumbed to his injuries during treatment at the hospital in Nawanshahr. The police have registered a case against the car driver, andinvestigation is on. — TNS