01012026-LT-01.qxd 1/1/2026 12:38 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune INDUSTRY HOPES FOR A BETTER YEAR MEL GIBSON, ROSALIND ROSS PART WAYS MSMEs believe that Centre and state government need to promote them as they are backbone of sector. P2 Oscar winner Mel Gibson and Rosalind Ross have separated after nine years together. P4 » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 15°C | MIN 6°C YESTERDAY MAX 16°C | MIN 7°C NAYANTHARA’S FIRST LOOK FROM TOXIC SHARED SUNSET THURSDAY 5.34 PM The actress is seen playing the character Ganga in the upcoming movie led by actor Yash. P4 » SUNRISE FRIDAY 7:19 AM » THURSDAY | 1 JANUARY 2026 | LUDHIANA Cold wave fails to dampen spirit of New Year revellers City welcomes coming year with public events, pvt parties, first day likely to receive showers Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, December 31 The cold wave has gripped the region with minimum temperature recorded at 7.2°C in the wee hours and the maximum temperature at 13°C around 12 noon on Wednesday. The biting cold conditions, along with chilly winds, failed to dampen the spirits of residents who were all geared up to welcome 2026 with fun, enthusiasm. Talking to The Tribune, Dr Pavneet Kaur Kingra, head, Meteorological Department of the PAU, said the cold wave conditions will persist. “Tomorrow there could be light rainfall in many parts while on January 2, it will be clear but foggy conditions will prevail,” she said. At the same time, revellers seen eagerly awaiting for New Year events. While many have already booked tables and tickets at restaurants, other residents have made plans to hold dance and dine parties at their farmhouses to welcome the New Year. There are others also who wish to enjoy the New Year in the cozy environment of their houses. Meanwhile, markets and malls saw a large footfall of customers, who were busy making last-minute purchas- The speeding truck that overturned near Jagraon on Wednesday. Girl, brother die as speeding truck overturns on shanty Mahesh Sharma Residents celebrate New Year's Eve at Sutlej Club, Ludhiana, on Wednesday night. PHOTO: ASHWANI DHIMAN es for the New Year. The malls were tastefully decorated for the occasion with colourful lights, balloons and decorative hangings to attract visitors. Some students who are appearing for exams these days looked stressful as they had to prepare for the same. A law student, Simran, said her exam was on January 2. Though it was the last one, she could not enjoy the New Seeking warmth Year’s Eve due to the pressure to cover her syllabus. Make efforts to avoid mishaps amid fog, agencies told Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain issued strict and time-bound directions to multiple departments and executive agencies, giving warning of zero tolerance for any lapses that could endanger public lives. He directed INDERJEET VERMA all agencies concerned to act with utmost urgency to prevent any mishap amid dense fog. He ordered the immediate installation of cat’s eyes, reflectors and blinkers on an emergency basis across highrisk stretches, dividers, roads along canals and sharp turns. Focusing on Ladhowal Bypass and the stretch from Samrala Chowk to Toll Plaza (Jalandhar side), the DC direct- ed the NHAI to install speed control barriers, rumbler stripes and blinkers to avoid mishaps. Say no to tipsy driving: CP CP Swapan Sharma has appealed to residents to enjoy the New Year’s Eve but at the same time asked them not to opt for drunken driving as nakas will be installed to keep a check and violators would be punished as per law. Jagraon, December 31 Seven-year-old Pinki and her five-year-old brother Gopal died after a speeding truck overturned on their temporary dwelling erected along the Sidhwan-Jagraon road near here in the wee hours on Wednesday. The father of the children was also injured in the incident. The bodies of the deceased have been taken to a mortuary at the Civil Hospital here. The police have seized the truck while its driver fled the scene before the arrival of the police team. Kin ransack hospital after death of 6-month-old child during treatment Claim employee gave medicine which led to her death Driver flees scene, overspeeding amid fog reason behind mishap, says probe Gopi Ram of Malik village said his son had been staying with his family in a shanty erected along the Sidhwan-Jagraon road for a long time. It was around 3 am that a truck carrying gravel overturned on the shanty burying Pinki and Gopal underneath it. They succumbed to their injuries for want of timely help and rescue Four nabbed with 68 cases of liquor Our Correspondent Mahesh Sharma As the temperature dips, people sit around a bonfire to warm themselves on Wednesday. Ludhiana, December 31 The police had initiated a probe in an incident in which members of a family had ransacked a private hospital near Shingar Cinema here following the mysterious death of their six-month-old daughter Naira on Wednesday. An unidentified employee of the hospital is accused of giving some medicine to the child on the pretext of giving her some sedative on Tuesday night that resulted in her death in the morning. Naira was admitted to the hospital for treatment of some chest ailment two days ago. Sonia, her mother, said while the child’s condition was improving, an employee of the hospital administered some medicine to induce sleep. The baby was found dead in the morning, following which the family expressed anguish alleging that the employee of the hospital had allegedly killed her. The aggrieved kin of the child later ransacked the hospital and demanded registration of an FIR against the owner and employees of the hospital. Investigating officer Jagdeep Singh said the police had initiated a probe into the sequence of events leading to the child’s death and consequently ransacking of the hospital. operation as the driver fled the scene after the mishap. Though the police are yet to ascertain sequence of events leading to the tragic incident, preliminary investigation revealed that overspeeding amid dense fog was the reason behind the mishap. Probably, due to poor visibility the truck might have reached the extreme end of the roadside and overturned on the shanty. One of the tyres of the truck burst in the accident. Police officials, led by SHO City Surjit Singh, have initiated a probe after seizing the vehicle. Ludhiana, December 31 In a joint operation conducted in association with the Excise Department, the Jamalpur police have nabbed four persons for allegedly smuggling liquor in violation of the Punjab Excise Act. AS many as 68 cases of different brands of liquor were seized from the possession of the suspects, identified as Krishna Kumar of Ganesh Colony, Bhamian, Paramvir Singh of Haridwar, Uttarak- hand, Ravi Singh of Indira Colony, Ludhiana, and Tirath of Cheema Chowk. Perusal of records revealed that a police team, led by Pardeep Bawa of the Crime Branch, had seized a tempo carrying huge quantities of liquor. The vehicle was parked outside the house of Krishna in Bhamian on Tuesday. Though Krishna and his accomplice could not produce valid documents regarding transportation of liquor in vehicle, it carried 68 cases of liquor. Man arrested with Inspection rules out two villages for carcass plant relocation Admn faces pressure to 30 gm of heroin find a solution, NGT Manav Mander Tribune News Service Our Correspondent Ludhiana, December 31 The Koom Kalan police claimed to have arrested a drug peddler who had been distributing drugs and narcotics among addicts at deserted places, identified as drug hotspots. The police seized 30 gm of heroin from the possession of the suspect, identified as Rakesh Goyal Rinku of Koom Kalan here. ACP Inderjit Singh Boparai said a police team, led by Koom Kalan SHO Paramdeep Singh, had intercepted the suspect at a naka when he was going to deliver a consignment on Tuesday. Though the police are yet to ascertain antecedents of the suspect, preliminary probe revealed that he was already facing a case registered by the Khanna police. The suspect in police custody in Koom Kalan. Ludhiana, December 31 With the next hearing in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) case on Ludhiana’s carcass plant scheduled for January 12, pressure is mounting on the district administration to find a solution. Amid this situation, the authorities are in a difficult spot as the proposed relocation has also hit a roadblock. The NGT had already imposed a penalty of Rs 50,000 on the Municipal Corporation in September for failing to comply with its orders, further intensifying the urgency. The proposed relocation of the controversial carcass plant has hit a roadblock, with a joint inspection committee ruling out two shortlisted sites at Balloke and Bhattian villages due to lack of adequate land. Located at Noorpur Bet village, the carcass plant was hearing on Jan 12 constructed at a cost of Rs 7.98 crore. The facility was designed to process cattle carcasses into poultry feed supplements and fertilisers. It was expected to modernise carcass management in Ludhiana and reduce environmental hazards caused by open dumping. The plant was scheduled for inauguration in July 2021 but faced immediate opposition from local residents concerned about odour, pollution and proximity to their homes. In its order dated October 27, 2025, the NGT has directed the district administration to identify a suitable site preferably 25 acres for relocating or upgrading the facility. Following this, a committee comprising officials from c m y b The carcass plant was constructed at a cost of Rs 7.98 crore at Noorpur Bet village. INDERJEET VERMA the Municipal Corporation, GLADA, District Town Planning Office, Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Punjab Pollution Control Board and the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Ludhiana (West) was constituted. The committee conducted a joint site inspection at Balloke and Bhattian villages, both of which already house sewage treatment plants (STPs). However, the feasibility report submitted concluded that neither site had the minimum required 25 acres of contiguous land necessary for the carcass plant’s operations. “The inspection revealed that while basic infrastructure exists at both locations, the land availability falls short of the minimum threshold. Hence, these sites are not viable for relocation,” the report stated. The findings have been submitted to the Deputy Commissioner for further action. The administration will now explore alternative sites to comply with the NGT directives and address long-standing environmental concerns. Meanwhile, residents staying near the existing plant continue to demand urgent relocation. Balbir Singh from Rasulpur village said they won’t allow the carcass plant to open here as it poses serious health hazard. “The plant is located close to our homes and life of the people staying here will become hell if it becomes operational. Besides foul smell, the threat of groundwater contamination and disease outbreak looms large,” he said. With Balloke and Bhattian ruled out, the district administration faces renewed pressure to identify a viable location that balances operational feasibility with environmental safeguards. Next steps will be crucial in determining whether Ludhiana can finally resolve the carcass plant issue or it will continue to plague residents for over the coming year as well.