04052026-JTR-01.qxd 5/3/2026 10:24 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune THREE GENERATIONS, ONE VISION: K’THALA FARMER LEADS THE WAY UPGRADE POWER INFRA, SAVE WATER & ADOPT SOLAR ENERGY STARS BEAT THE HEAT, RAISE CLIMATE ALARM He also received a state award in 2016 and was recognised by the district administration in 2013. P2 Encourage responsible electricity use among citizens, promote rainwater harvesting for sustainability .P3 As the summer intensifies, celebrities highlight urgent need for mindful living in the face of climate change. P4 » » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 36°C | MIN 22°C YESTERDAY MAX 36°C | MIN 21°C SUNSET MONDAY 7.08 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 5:39 AM MONDAY | 4 MAY 2026 | JALANDHAR Toxic waste fires inside PAP complex spark outrage 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. ■ Nearby area residents cite daily plastic burning ■ BJP leader moves NGT as DC assures action INBRIEF Rishika Kriti Tribune News Service GOLD, CASH STOLEN FROM PHAGWARA Phagwara: Unidentified persons allegedly broke into a house at Mehli Gate, Nighaha Mohalla, Phagwara, and decamped with gold ornaments, silver items and cash. The complaint was lodged by Ravinder Pal, who stated that his family had gone out on May 1. When he returned, he found the locks of almirahs broken inside the house. The stolen items include about two tolas of gold, nearly 300 gram of silver bangles and around ~80,000 cash. A case has been registered. OC MINOR KIDNAPPED, YOUTH BOOKED Phagwara: The police have registered a case of alleged kidnapping after a minor girl from Jagpalpur village was reportedly taken away by a youth on the pretext of marriage. Nachhattar Singh said his daughter had gone to work at a computer centre in Phagwara on April 23 but did not return home. Subsequent inquiries by the family indicated that Gurpreet Singh lured the girl and took her away with the promise of marriage. OC MAN HELD WITH INTOXICANTS Phagwara: The police have arrested a man for allegedly possessing intoxicating tablets near Mehtan village during a patrol. The accused Rahul Parth residing near Mehtan was apprehended and 50 tablets were recovered. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered against accused. OC ONE HELD IN FATAL ACCIDENT CASE Hoshiarpur: The police have arrested a man in connection with a fatal road accident that led to the death of Kuldeep Singh in Phillaur. Amarjeet Singh said accused Bittu Kumar of Machhiwara (Ludhiana) allegedly caused the accident through rash and negligent driving. oc 2 BOOKED FOR ASSAULT Hoshiarpur: The police have registered a case following allegations of assault and disrespect to religious sentiments in Rurka Khurd village near Goraya. Sanjeev Kumar said two local residents Sandeep Singh and Mani allegedly assaulted his father, Balvir Ram, on the night of April 29. The accused removed his father’s turban, an act considered deeply disrespectful. oc STOLEN BIKE RECOVERED Phagwara: The police have arrested a man and recovered a stolen motorcycle neare Rurka Kalan village. The accused Paramjit Singh of village Dhanda was apprehended by a police team. According to the police, a motorcycle was recovered from the possession of the accused. oc AAP leaders and workers hold a protest in Jalandhar. TRIBUNE PHOTO: MALKIAT SINGH AAP leaders protest LPG price hike in front of city MC office Tribune News Service Jalandhar, May 3 Acting on a statewide call given by AAP to oppose the rising prices of cooking gas cylinders, workers and leaders of the trade wing of the Aam Admi Party in Jalandhar staged a protest against the rising prices of LPG cylinders and raised slogans against the Central Government. Bringing cylinders with them along with posters condemning the recent LPG price hike, leaders staged a dharna outside the office of the Municipal Corporation in Jalandhar today. Led by the president, trade wing, AAP Indervansh Singh , Chadha, workers sat with a cylinder in the middle of the road and raised slogans. They bore posters reading “Bahut hoi mahangai di maar, kitthe luk gai bhajpa sarkar” and “BJP di kendar sarkar, janta lachar”. The AAP protest was announced in the wake of increase in the price of 19-kg commercial LPG cylinders, which saw a hike of over ?990 across many cities. Effective from May 1, the increase in cylinder prices amid war and unrest in West Asia has impacted the hotel and restaurant industry with LPG prices crossing the Rs 3,000 mark. The price of domestic cylinders currently remains unchanged. AAP workers outside the MC sat on the road, waved posters, tapped cylinders and demanded a roll back of prices. They also said the recent increase in prices will not only impact the hotel industry, but will have long term effects on other consumers of cooking gas as well. The protest also saw many women workers of the AAP Mahila Wing join in. Chadha said, “We are hold- Girl with fractured leg found abandoned Our Correspondent Kapurthala, May 3 A minor girl with a fractured leg has been found abandoned near a canal at Dhilwan in Kapurthala district, with police intensifying efforts to establish her identity and trace those responsible. The girl was first brought to a local Civil Hospital. Doctors found that her left leg was fractured. Despite receiving medical care for over a week, no family member has come forward to claim her, raising concerns about her background and circumstances. Preliminary inputs gath- ered by the police suggest that two youths on a motorcycle allegedly left the girl near the canal before fleeing the scene. The injured reportedly tried to seek help, following which she was noticed and shifted to the hospital. Her condition is being closely monitored by the hospital staff. Police officials said attempts were being made to identify the girl through local inquiries and coordination with nearby villages. The authorities are also considering seeking assistance from child welfare agencies to facilitate her rehabilitation and protection. ing a protest against the rise in prices of commercial and small cylinders. These prices will adversely impact small dhaba and tea stall owners. This will affect the poor and the middle class. We demand an immediate rollback of the prices so that the poor don’t have to bear its adverse effects.” Other members of the AAP wing present during the protest included state secretary Ricky Malhotra, district rural president Ashwini Kohli, among others. Malhotra said, “Prices had earlier also risen, which is severely affecting the industry. First, the LPG shortage and now the price hike is rendering the hospitality industry vulnerable. Amid global unrest and the crisis in West Asia, consumers had hoped the Centre would roll out strong measures to shield them from further losses.” Jalandhar, May 3 In a clear violation of environmental norms, open burning of waste continues unabated inside the PAP complex, raising serious public health concerns and exposing glaring lapses in enforcement by the authorities. Explicitly prohibited under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, and guidelines issued by the Central Pollution Control Board, the practice is a punishable offence due to its hazardous impact on air quality and human health. Yet, on the ground, the violations continue unchecked, residents in the adjoining areas said. Reportedly, the issue has been flagged by BJP working president from Jalandhar Central Chandan Rakheja, who said despite a complaint to the Deputy Commissioner, Jalandhar, Varjeet Walia on April 23, the issue has not been addressed. “I have now written to the National Green Tribunal, the Chief Minister’s Office and the DC again on Sunday,” he added. Rakheja further noted that the PAP complex is a restricted and sensitive zone where residents continue to resort to open burning instead of adopting sustainable waste disposal methods. They have again burnt the waste on Saturday afternoon, which escalated Waste being burnt at the PAP complex in Jalandhar on Saturday evening. TRIBUNE PHOTO into a massive blaze, with flames raging for over five hours and requiring five or six fire tenders to douse them. Calling it deeply alarming, Rakheja said the plumes of smoke were thick, toxic and far reaching, severely affecting nearby residential areas, particularly Ekta Nagar in Rama Mandi. “The fumes are so dense that they enter homes even when doors and windows are shut, effectively turning residential pockets into gas chambers,” he said, adding that smoke continued to rise even on Sunday evening despite rain showers in early morning. The fallout has been immediate and distressing for both residents and shopkeepers in the vicinity. Sandeep Pathania, a resident of Ekta Nagar, said, “This has become a daily routine where PAP complex residents openly burn their waste. The problem is not smoke but it is emanating from plastic waste which is hazardous. Our children are falling sick facing severe health concerns, including cough and redness in eyes.” Saurav Goyal, a grocer in the adjoining market, said the past month has been particularly difficult. “They burn waste at any time of the day. On Saturday, the fire was so intense that shops located next to the site had to be vacated. We had to keep our walls damp to prevent the heat from spreading. Apart from the fire risk, we are constantly dealing with eye irritation, throat problems and breathing issues,” he said. Sonu, a resident of Rama Mandi said, “I had to vacate my room due to the extreme heat and looming risk of fire. The problem had reduced two to three years ago after it was highlighted, but it has resurfaced since past month. Even after light rain on Sunday morning, the smoke and its effects lingered,” he said. Varjeet Walia, DC Jalandhar said, “We will issue directions to the authorities in this regard.” Sarpanch suspended in Writer Kamla Nadala over encroachment Saini gets award Our Correspondent Phagwara, May 3 The Punjab Rural Development and Panchayat Department has suspended the Sarpanch of village Ramgarh in Nadala block following allegations of encroachment on panchayat land, officials said. Acting on directives issued by the department’s Director, the Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO), Nadala, conducted an inquiry after receiving complaints from villagers. The investigation reportedly found that Sarpanch Dhar- minder Singh had repeatedly been asked to remove an unauthorised structure built on panchayat land but failed to comply with official notices. According to department records, notices were issued on February 11 and 18, instructing the Sarpanch to clear the encroachment. However, no action was taken despite multiple warnings. Following this, officials carried out a demolition drive on February 23 with the assistance of the police, removing the illegal structure and reclaiming the land. The authorities stated that the Sarpanch not only failed to remove the encroachment voluntarily, but also supported the unauthorised occupation, causing financial loss to the government. The department termed the act a serious violation of rules governing panchayat land and public accountability. The Director of the Rural Development and Panchayat Department ordered the immediate suspension of the Sarpanch. Officials clarified that the action was administrative and not influenced by any political pressure. Tribune News Service Jalandhar, May 3 Jalandhar-based eminent educationist, thinker and writer Dr Kamla Saini has been conferred with the prestigious National Bhutiko Thakur Ved Ram Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the field of education spanning over four decades. The award was presented at a grand ceremony held in Kullu in the presence of Thakur Satya Prakash, chairperson of the Bhutiko Organisation and former minister in the HP Government, along with other dignitaries. Dr Saini was honoured with a traditional Himachali cap, shawl, citation and a cash prize. Instituted over 30 years ago, the award recognises individuals of national and international repute for their lifelong contribution across diverse fields. A countrywide known figure in the Gandhian model of education, Dr Saini has devoted her life to the idea of “education for all,” with a special focus on children from underprivileged and marginalised communities. Rain brings relief to residents, but spells trouble for farmers Tribune News Service Jalandhar, May 3 After days of sweltering heat, the recent spell of rain has provided much-needed relief to residents across the region. The cool weather has brought cheers to the public, but it also posed challenges. Wheat harvesting, which is nearing completion, has seen an influx of produce in the local grain markets. The sacks of wheat are lined up in mandis. While the majority of sacks are stored under the shed, some sacks are lying outside. As the rain clouds gathered, labourers rushed to protect the grains. Workers swiftly threw water out of the market areas and covered the sacks with tarpaulin. Mandi officials explained that such precautions are standard practice to prevent spoilage. In case of heavy rain, the arhtiyas (commission agents) ensure the crops remain intact and safe from damage. However, the weather also posed a challenge for Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) infrastructure. The department reported a significant damage in Jalandhar, with 13 electricity poles and 13 transformers damaged by strong winds and rain. The cost of the damage is still being assessed and repair work is underway. Ravneet Kaur, a bank employee, said the change of weather was much needed as scorching heat was causing her health issues. Shivani Aneja, a mother of three, shared, “The rain and cool breeze feel like a welcome relief. With the heatwave, my children had to go to school in such intense heat, so I’m relieved they won’t feel uncomfortable in the class now.” c m y b Water accumulated in the grain market after heavy rain, leaving the wheat crop drenched. PHOTO: SARABJIT SINGH