23032026-LT-01.qxd 3/22/2026 10:47 PM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune TRAINING ON VALUE-ADDITION IN HORTICULTURAL PRODUCE BANARAS GHARANA VOCALIST LEAVES CITY AUDIENCE AWESTRUCK BLEND OF CINEMA, COUTURE AND STORYTELLING 50 women of Kanech village got training at a three-day programme on processing and value addition in horticultureproduce. P2 Classical vocalist Sunanda Sharma left a lasting impression on the city audience with her performance. P2 Tamannaah Bhatia, Disha Patani, Malavika Mohanan light up runway at Lakme Fashion Week. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 26°C | MIN 11°C YESTERDAY MAX 25°C | MIN 12°C SUNSET MONDAY 6.39 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 6:25 AM » MONDAY | 23 MARCH 2026 | LUDHIANA Worker dies in explosion due to gas leak at knitwear factory 17-year-old girl found murdered in Guru Gobind Singh Nagar, husband missing Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 22 A 17-year-old girl, who had entered into a love marriage just three months ago, was found murdered under suspicious circumstances in Guru Gobind Singh Nagar area here. The police suspect the husband’s involvement as he has been absconding since the incident. The deceased has been identified as Suman. As per available information, she had married a youth named Aman against the wishes of her family approxi- Ludhiana, March 22 A factory worker has died in an explosion followed by a fire that erupted at Surya Knitwear on RK Road. The incident reportedly occurred due to gas leak. The victim was sleeping in the room when the explosion took place. It was so powerful that the room’s walls collapsed, leaving no chance for the victim to escape. He has been identified as 50-year-old helper Ram Naresh. According to available information, the accident occurred around 2:30 am on Saturday. A gas leak reportedly occurred in a room at the factory. As the gas pressure increased, there was a massive explosion, which immediately ignited a massive fire in the room. Nearby residents reported that the sound was so loud that it woke them up. At the time of the accident, Ram was sleeping inside the room. The explosion caused one of the walls of the room to collapse completely. The victim had no time to escape or save himself, and got engulfed in flames. He died 26-yr-old man falls into furnace, burnt alive Tribune News Service Ram Naresh who died in a fire at Moti Nagar in Ludhiana on the spot with burns. The deceased originally hailed from Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. He had been working as a helper at this factory for a long time. It is reported that Ram was a bachelor. He did not own a home here, so he lived in a room within the factory premises. The police took custody of the body and placed it in the mortuary at the Civil Hospital. The investigating officer at Moti Nagar police station stated that the deceased’s family had been informed about the accident. Only after their arrival from Allahabad will a post-mortem be conducted and the body handed over to them. Further legal action will be taken based on the family’s statements. Ludhiana, March 22 A shocking incident occurred at Vital Steel Bars Limited (Buddewal Road) in the Jamalpur area of Ludhiana when 26-year-old Sachin Gautam fell into an iron furnace. His body was got completely burnt in it. An FIR was filed against factory owner Aseem Agarwal and he was yet to be arrested. The CCTV footage of the accident shows normal work going on at night in the factory. Sachin is seen approaching the furnace and suddenly falls into it. As he falls, flames erupt from the furnace, making other workers to flee in panic. The deceased’s brother, Manu Gautam, and father made serious allegations against the company management and the police. They alleged that there were no proper security arrangements in the night shift due to which the deceased could not be saved. They alleged that they were not even handed over Sachin’s last remains due to which they could not even perform his last rites properly. Originally from Gorakhpur, Sachin had been working at the same company for the past two-and-a-half years. Having earned a diploma after graduating from Class X, Sachin was the financial support of his family. His family was looking for a match for him, but the accident has turned their happiness into mourning. Sachin’s sister is a high court lawyer while his brother runs a store. Meanwhile, the police said that after registering a case, the matter was being investigated thoroughly and CCTV footage had also been seized for investigation. Residents question cow cess utilisation Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 22 Ludhiana’s busy roads are increasingly turning into grazing grounds for stray cattle, creating daily chaos for commuters and raising serious safety concerns. From tractors and SUVs to motorcycles, vehicles are often forced to swerve or halt abruptly as cows wander across intersections or settle on pavements. The menace has become so routine that residents now describe it as a “second traffic problem” after congestion. Accidents linked to stray cattle have been reported across the city, with drivers losing control while trying to avoid animals. “Every evening, I risk my life driving home. The cows block intersections, and the police just watch helplessly,” said Rajinder Singh, at Jalandhar bye pass. Shopkeepers are also feeling the impact, reporting a decline in business. Harpreet Kaur, who runs a store near Gill road said, “Customers hesitate to stop because of traffic jams caused by cattle. It’s hurting business badly.” The frustration is further fuelled by the fact that Ludhiana Municipal Corporation has collected crores under the cow cess since 2016, yet little has been spent on shelters or cattle management. Civic records show that nearly Rs 20 crore was collected between 2016 and 2022. “We pay taxes, we pay cess, but the cows are still on the roads. The government must tell us where the money has gone,” said Sunita Sharma, a schoolteacher from Civil Lines. The existing Gaushalas are full to the brim and officials admit that plans for dedicated cow sheds have been delayed due to departmental hurdles and lack of coordination. Meanwhile, the problem worsens in winter as cattle seek warmth on roadways, increasing the risk of accidents. The police vehicles are often seen managing cattle instead of focusing on law and order, further highlighting the strain on civic resources. Residents argue that the issue is not just about inconvenience but about public safety and accountability. “With crores lying unused, we demand transparency in fund utilisation and immediate establishment of shelters,” adds another city resident. Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Man, son injured in attack by miscreants Ludhiana, March 22 Miscreants created ruckus in Sukhdev Nagar last night when they attacked a man and his son, seriously injuring the former. The only fault of the man was that he had stopped the unruly youths from creating ruckus and shouting abuses outside his house. The accused attacked the two with weapons. Sources said the injured man had been referred to PGI, Chandigarh, in critical condition. The entire incident has been captured on CCTV cameras installed in the street and the police have seized the footage for investigation purpose. The victim, Bikram Singh, said that they were having dinner at home that night when four to five youths stood outside his house gate and shouted abuses. When he told them to go somewhere else, they became enraged. They immediately drew out their sharp-edged weapons and attacked him. When his son came to rescue him, they also attacked him, causing injuries on his back. The complainant alleged that the attackers were under the influence of alcohol or some other intoxicants. ACP Satwinder Singh said that an attempt- to-murder case had been registered. — TNS mately three months ago. The couple, originally hailing from Bihar, had recently moved to Ludhiana and were residing in a rented accommodation. The incident came to light on Sunday when neighbours became suspicious after not seeing the couple for two days. Finding the house locked from outside, the locals informed the landlord. Upon breaking open the door, Suman’s body was found lying in the room. According to the police, visible marks on the victim’s neck suggest she was strangled to death. Preliminary investigations point towards her husband, Aman, as the prime suspect. Investigating officer ASI Ravinder Kumar of Shimlapuri police station stated that the couple had been living in the city after their marriage. “Initial findings suggest that Aman strangled Suman before fleeing the spot. The victim’s family alleged that Aman used to harass her,” the ASI added. The police said a case of murder was being registered against the husband. Raids are being conducted at various locations to nab the suspect. Police sources said the girl had initially eloped with the boy to Bihar, although their families lived in Ludhiana, and later after solemnising the marriage, shifted here. The girl’s family had not been in touch with her since the day she eloped. Now, when the body has been found, the victim’s family came to know that their daughter had shifted to Ludhiana and was living secretly with her husband. Family attacked in Ghumar Mandi over old enmity Accused came along with 15-20 accomplices Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 22 An incident of broad daylight violence has been reported from Ghumar Mandi area, where a local youth, along with his associates, allegedly attacked a family over an old grudge. According to the complainant, Gagandeep, a resident of Krishna Nagar, the trouble began five to six months ago. His relative Kuldeep Singh, who is a local shopkeeper, had advised a neighborhood youth to drive his car slowly through the narrow streets for safety. However, the youth reportedly harboured a grudge over this advice and began pressuring the family. He added that on Sunday afternoon as Kuldeep Singh was leaving his home for his shop, the accused arrived at the spot in multiple cars. They surrounded Kuldeep and began beating him mercilessly, resulting in a fractured arm. When family members, including women, rushed out to intervene and save Kuldeep, the attackers reportedly assaulted them as well. A video grab shows a man and a woman being attacked brutally in Ghumar Mandi on Sunday. The group fled the spot after issuing life threats. A formal complaint has been lodged with the police division No.8. Video footage of the attack has also surfaced on social media, clearly showing the assailants manhandling a woman during the brawl. The police are currently reviewing the footage to identify the attackers. Illegal gates on city roads become source of inconvenience for residents Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 22 Residents across Ludhiana are facing inconvenience due to illegal and permanent installation of gates on public roads, a practice that has disrupted daily life routine of many residents in violation of civic norms. Despite clear instructions from the municipal corporation that gates may only be closed between 11 pm and 5 am with security personnel present, several colonies have sealed certain streets permanently. Many such gates are thoroughfares and act as shortcuts to adjoining areas and the closed gates are causing hindrance in commuting. This has caused immense inconvenience to schoolchildren, patients and commuters who are forced to take longer routes. The problem is particularly acute in Model Town, where closed gates near Gulati Chowk have blocked access to schools, colleges and hospitals. In SBS Nagar E block, gates numbered 5 and 2 on Pakhow- Many such gates are thoroughfares and people use them as shortcuts to reach adjoining areas authorities concerned must act before this turns into a city-wide menace.” He also urged the Municipal Commissioner and district administration to intervene immediately, warning that “the law is being mocked in broad daylight. If the gates are not removed, Ludhiana’s civic fabric will be affected under arbitrary restrictions.” What the authorities say Closed gates of two housing colonies, which have become a source of nuisance for local residents. al Road remain permanently shut, with the streets being misused as parking lots. Similar instances have been reported in Rajguru Nagar, Udham Singh Nagar, Haibowal, Urban Estate and Civil Lines, where residents have taken it upon themselves to restrict public access, disregarding civic norms and human rights. Many residents are using the area near the locked gates as car/scooter/cycle stand. In Urban Estate on Chandigarh Road, the gates were closed during Covid as a precautionary measure and since then these have not been opened. A nearby school cites security reason for the same, but the area near the gate is being used as scooter/cycle stand now. DS Reehal, a resident of Urban Estate, said that despite repeated letters to the authorities concerned, nothing has been done till now. “It is a blatant violation of the law and a source of harassment for the public,” adds Reehal. c m y b Ritu Sharma, a mother of two, said, “My children have to walk an extra kilometre to reach school because the nearest lane is blocked. It’s unfair that public roads are treated like private property.” Harbhajan Singh, a senior citizen from BRS Nagar, shared his ordeal, “All gates are closed at night and only one is open and I have to take a longer route to reach the hospital during an emergency. These gates are not just inconvenient, they are dangerous. Watchman should be deployed at every gate”. College student Amandeep Kaur added, “We talk about smart cities, but how can Ludhiana be smart if basic access roads are sealed illegally?” RTI activist Arvind Sharma criticised the municipal corporation’s inaction, stating that, “The municipal corporation has clear orders that gates can only be closed at night with security staff present. Permanent closures are a blatant violation of human rights and civic law. The MC Commissioner Neeru Katyal when contacted in this regard said that the resident welfare societies manage these gates on their own, but these cannot be closed during day time. “If any colony residents are facing any issue, it can be sorted out, but I haven’t received any complaint so far.” Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) chairman Tarsem Bhinder while speaking about the issue said that in the past they had received complaints and gates were removed as well. “Now, most of the colonies have been transferred to the MC and at present no such complaint has been received by us,” he said.