13082026-CT-01.qxd 8/13/2026 12:54 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune AHEAD OF STUDENT POLL, PU STEPS UP SECURITY RESIDENTS OF OVER 12,000 SMALL FLATS FACE EVICTION ANAND KUMAR LAUNCHES FREE LEARNING PLATFORM A day after PU received a bomb threat and ahead of student council poll, security on campus ramped up. P3 CHB releases a comprehensive list of rent defaulters of small flats located across the city. P3 Anand Kumar, whose life inspired Hrithik Roshan-starrer Super 30, reinvents maths once again. P4 » » MAX 35°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 36.4°C | MIN 24.4°C SUNRISE FRIDAY 5.49 AM /THETRIBUNECHD Chandimandir emerges as P’kula’s hit-&-run black spot PARTLY CLOUDY SUNSET THURSDAY 7.06 PM » THURSDAY | 13 AUGUST 2026 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE All set for I-Day Records 22 hit-and-run accidents last year, 13 of which were fatal Nitin Jain ISTOCK Tribune News Service Panchkula, August 12 Nearly half of all fatal hit-andrun accidents recorded across Panchkula district in 2025 occurred within the limits of a single police station — Chandimandir — which accounted for 13 of the district’s 27 hit-and-run deaths, according to police data accessed by The Tribune. The station-wise breakup, compiled for the year 2025 across Panchkula district’s nine police station jurisdictions, shows Chandimandir alone recorded 22 hit-and-run accidents — 13 of them fatal. Two victims suffered grievous injuries. Pinjore, the second-worst, recorded three fatal cases out of 12 accidents. Across the district, the nine stations logged 78 hitand-run accidents in 2025 — 27 fatal and 51 non-fatal. Chandimandir’s share of the district’s hit-and-run fatalities works out to 46 per cent, even though the station accounts for a fraction of the district’s geographical spread. STATIONWISE HIT-&-RUN CASES Station Fatal Total Persons Total persons accidents accidents killed affected Kalka 1 5 1 10 Mansa Devi Complex 0 3 0 6 Pinjore 3 12 4 26 Chandimandir 13 22 13 50 Sector 20 3 6 3 14 Raipur Rani 4 9 4 21 Sector 5 1 11 1 26 Sector 14 0 6 0 13 Sector 7 2 4 2 9 District total 27 78 28 175 The concentration around Chandimandir, which is located on the Panchkula-Chandigarh periphery and carries heavy through-traffic, mirrors a wider pattern in the district’s overall accident data. FEWER CRASHES OVERALL, BUT HIGHER FATALITIES Panchkula’s overall accident numbers have improved on paper. District data shows 133 accidents were recorded between January and July 2026, down 29 per cent from 187 in the same period last year. Deaths fell to 62 from 80, a decline of 22.5 per cent, and injuries dropped marginally to 140 from 152. But the fatality rate has risen. In the first seven months of 2025, 42.8 per cent of crashes were fatal. In the same period this year, that figure climbed to 46.6 per cent. June 2026 witnessed 12 deaths from just 17 accidents. In 2025, the district recorded 313 accidents, which left 128 people dead and 297 injured, meaning Panchkula lost a life to road accidents roughly once every three days. COMPENSATION CLAIMS LAG FAR BEHIND A separate compensation tally attached to the same police record shows the gap between hit-and-run victims and redressal is wide. Of 15 compensation cases received by the Claims Settlement Commissioner in 2025, only four have been settled. Eleven cases remain pending, with the record attributing the delay to enquiry continued on page 3 People buy national flags at Sector 22, Chandigarh. The market association has set up a special counter. PARDEEP TEWARI Notice to PSPCL official, Mohali SSP NAYAGAON MISHAP Tribune News Service Mohali, August 12 The Punjab State and Chandigarh (UT) Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu notice of the news report “Nayagaon’s exposed and tangled wires raise alarm a day after 8-year-old’s death” published in these columns. The commission has called for a report from the Mohali SSP and the Superintendent Engineer, PSPCL, by November 2. An eight-year-old girl, Mansi, daughter of migrant labourer Ravinder, was electrocuted at Nayagaon on Saturday morning. The police registered a case of unnatural death and initiated proceedings under Section 194 of the BNSS. Residents have demanded a case of continued on page 3 16 civic body projects worth ~240 crore in limbo Theft racket busted, 26 Opposition claims ‘table agenda’ was hurriedly passed by MC General House on July 31 Ramkrishan Upadhyay Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 12 The future of all 16 development proposals, involving projects worth over Rs 240 crore, approved in the MC House under the “table agenda” hangs in the balance following a controversy over the manner in which they were hurriedly passed by the House on July 31. Municipal Commissioner Amit Kumar has sought a report to ascertain the facts surrounding the agenda for the proposed replacement of the water pipeline from the Kajauli waterworks to the Sector 39 waterworks at an estimated cost of Rs 227.70 crore. The uncertainty has also affected the other proposals, with officials reportedly refraining from taking further action pending a final decision on the issue. Congress and AAP councillors stage a protest during the MC House meeting. FILE PHOTO The manner in which the agenda was passed has drawn criticism not only from Opposition councillors but also from several BJP councillors. They alleged that several important proposals were passed without adequate discussion. Former Mayor Anup Gupta, councillor Kanwarjeet Singh Rana and other BJP councillors met the Commissioner on August 4 and demanded that the agenda be brought before the Municipal Corporation House again and that decisions be taken only after a detailed discussion. Rana said several important agenda items were tabled at a time when a majority of councillors had left the House. The controversy escalated further after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress targeted the ruling BJP and demanded an inquiry into the matter. Chandigarh AAP president Vijaypal Singh and Congress president HS Lucky demanded an independent and time-bound inquiry. AAP leaders also staged a protest outside the MC office and submitted a representation to the Governor seeking that the decision on the agenda items be withdrawn. The other proposals placed under “table agenda” included issuing a request for proposal continued on page 3 two-wheelers seized Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 12 The police have busted an inter-state motorcycle theft racket with the arrest of the fifth gang member. A total of 26 stolen two-wheelers have been recovered from the gang, officials said today. The accused, Jashandeep Singh, alias Jashan (18), a resident of Mahlewala village in Ferozepur district of Punjab, was arrested on August 5 on the disclosures made by four members of the gang arrested earlier. Nine more two-wheelers — five Splendor motorcycles, one Bullet, two R15s and one KTM bike — were recovered from his possession. The gang had first come under the police scanner on March 26, when a police team arrested the accused — Ajay Kumar, Sukhwinder Singh, Rashpal Singh and Gurjeet Singh, all residents of Ferozepur and Moga districts — near Dronacharya Stadium in Dadumajra. They were caught with two Activa scooters fitted with fake number plates, which were later found to be stolen. A case was registered at the Maloya police station and 17 two-wheelers were recovered from them. The operation was carried out under the directions of SSP Kanwardeep Kaur. The police said the gang used to steal two-wheelers across the Tricity and adjoining districts of Punjab and put up fake registration plates on them. Further investigation is on to trace the network’s other links and buyers of stolen vehicles. Hard work, dedication key to success, says Taipei Open champion Tanvi Deepankar Sharda Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 12 Beating Vietnam’s sixthseeded Thuy Linh Nguyen, nearly 10 years older than her, 17-year-old badminton sensation Tanvi Sharma stood motionless on the other side of the court, taking in the significance of the moment. She had just become the youngest player to win the Taipei Open Super 300 badminton tournament and, in the process, clinched her maiden Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour title. The 17-year-old, who had finished runner-up at last year’s US Open Super 300, needed just 36 minutes to beat world No. 21 Thuy Linh 21-16, 21-16 in the summit clash. “To be honest, I didn’t expect to win the title. Since I had nothing much to lose, I was under no pressure to win. I just thought of giving my 100 per cent and playing my natural game. I played with the same passion, and the result is in front of everyone,” said Tanvi, who was at the Chandigarh Badminton Academy in Zirakpur to interact with young shuttlers along with her elder sister, Radhika Sharma, a national champion and international shuttler. While interacting with the young players, Tanvi maintained that nothing is impossible if hard work is directed in the right direction. Explaining her initial struggles, Tanvi revealed that she grew up watching her sister and witnessing the efforts put in by their mother. “Initially, it felt like I had to do so much more hard work. But I just kept going PV SINDHU DIDI IS MY IDOL didi my idol. ❝Sindhuspokeisabout me, When she Taipei Open champion Tanvi Sharma (left, front row) and her sister Radhika Sharma with young players and officials at the Chandigarh Badminton Academy, Zirakpur, on Wednesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: RAVI KUMAR with my sister. My mother has shown so much sacrifice and dedication right from the start. We both just believed in hard work. In life, hard work and dedication matter the most to achieve success,” she told c m y b the budding trainees at the academy. The Chandigarh Badminton Academy felicitated I got so much motivation. Against top-30 players, maintaining patience until the last point was the biggest factor, which helped me lift the Taipei Open. ❞ — Tanvi Sharma Tanvi and her sister with trophies and sports kits. “The Sharma sisters have brought rich laurels to the nation as well as to the state of Punjab. Tanvi’s recent feat is nothing less than a youngster winning a World Cup. She showcased the value of calmness and how to overcome the fear of facing a superior opponent. We wish her more success and hope she wins more tournaments to attain a top ranking in the world,” said former international coach Surinder Mahajan, one of the directors of the Chandigarh Badminton Academy. Meanwhile, Tanvi also spoke about her idol, PV Sindhu, and how she learned to handle pressure while competing against top players. “Sindhu didi is my idol. When she spoke about me, I got so much motivation. A fire ignited inside me to work harder and reach her continued on page 3 AIR QUALITY INDEX CHANDIGARH 46 PANCHKULA 40 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD WHAT’S ON APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 34, 56 and Ram Darbar Mohali: Sec 88 and Phase 8 Please send information about events in Tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com POWER SHUTDOWN CHANDIGARH 10 am to 12 noon: Parts of Sectors 27, 28 10 am to 2 pm: Sector 52, Kirsaan Colony, Subhash Nagar, Modern Housing Complex, duplex houses, Raipur Khurd, Makkhanmajra 1 pm to 3 pm:Sectors 27, 28 Gangster facing murder case held with pistol Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 12 The police have arrested a history-sheeter facing eight criminal cases, including murder, robbery and Arms Act offences, with a countrymade pistol. He was associated with the Bawa gang, the police said today. Police link him to Bawa gang The arrest comes a day after the UT police busted a Pakistan-linked arms smuggling module in the city, underlining the intensified crackdown on illegal weapons and organised crime ahead of Independence Day. The accused, Shahid Khan, alias Mulla, a resident of Vikas Nagar, Maloya, was arrested on a tip-off. A case under Section 25(1B) (a) of the Arms Act has been registered against him at the Sector 26 police station. Investigators said Khan was a habitual offender with eight FIRs registered against him in Panchkula, Zirakpur, Chandimandir and continued on page 3