24082026-LT-01.qxd 8/24/2026 12:54 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune MANISH SAINI AND POWER OF SIMPLE STORIES Three-time National Award-winning filmmaker talks about family films, nostalgia & Jackie Shroff. P4 » BOBBY DEOL BREAKS THE VILLAIN MOULD The actor says he is seeking diverse roles to move beyond his antagonist image. P4 » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 36°C | MIN 25°C YESTERDAY MAX 35°C | MIN 24°C TAAPSEE PANNU RETURNS TO ACTION WITH GANDHARI SUNSET MONDAY 6:54 PM The actor hopes her latest action outing satisfies fans who have long awaited her return to the genre. P4 SUNRISE TUESDAY 5:55 AM » MONDAY | 24 AUGUST 2026 | LUDHIANA Ayurvedic dispensaries without medicine supplyfor 3 years, patients bear the brunt Docs shelling out money from their own pockets or taking help from NGOs Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 23 The Ayurvedic hospital and dispensaries in the district have not been receiving stock of medicines for the past around three years. Doctors are either running the services by shelling out money from their own pockets or taking help from NGOs. There are 60 types of medicines that are provided to the dispensaries. The district has one hospital and 64 dispensaries. It was in November 2023 when the stock arrived last time and now, patients who adopt this alternative line of treatment are left in the lurch. The OPD footfall has decreased considerably due to non-availability of medicines. Of the 64 dispensaries in the district, 41 are being run by the state government while the remaining are working under the National Health Mission. A few years ago, nearly 60 types of ayurvedic medicines were The Ayurvedic hospital at Model Gram in Ludhiana district. PHOTO: INDERJEET VERMA available at the dispensaries. Now, they are left with only around 12 types of medicines while some of the centres have only around six types. “We do not want patients to return empty-handed. Hence, we are arranging medicines for ailments such as fever, cough and cold on our own. Many times, NGOs also extend a helping hand, and we are somehow running the work,” said a doctor from an ayurvedic dispensary. In the absence of the medicines, many patients have stopped coming to the dispensaries and the footfall has decreased to a large extend. “We do not have medicines. For some time, I procured medicines on my own and now, it has become difficult to continue the same. How we treat patients if we don’t have the required medication. Earlier 40-50 patients used to visit the Rain pain dispensary but now the number has dropped to 68,” said a doctor and incharge of one of the ayurvedic dispensaries. Puja, a resident of Barewal, said: “Ayurvedic medicine is the best as it has no side effects. I always give my kids the same but of late, there have been a shortage of the medicines due to which I have stopped coming to the nearby dispensary. Buying medicines from private shops is a costly affair. In the absence of medicine supply, sometimes doctors arrange the same on their own. I am hoping that the stock will arrive soon,” she said. Dr Raman Khanna, Director, Ayurveda, Punjab, acknowledged the shortage of medicines. He said the medicines were expected to reach the dispensaries by mid-September. Initially, 26 types of medicines would be provided, other drugs will be procured after some time. Three booked for robbing man of motorcycle, valuables Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 23 Three motorcycle-borne miscreants looted a man of his Honda motorcycle and some other valuables on the Ludhiana-Delhi highway on the Moti Nagar bridge. According to the complainant, the suspects put a pistol-like object against his waist and threatened him. After which, he stopped his motorcycle and got down. Following which, they fled with the vehicle and the bag he was carrying on his shoulder. However, the FIR makes no mention of a pistol or any weapon. The police registered the case against the three unidentified persons for taking away the motorcycle. As per the case registered at the Moti Nagar police station, the complainant, 36-year-old Subhash Singh, a resident of Giaspura who works at a paper factory, told the police that on the night of August 1, he was returning home after dropping a Ludhiana, August 23 Robbers targeted a loco pilot of the Indian Railways and looted valuables from him. After investigating the case for over a month, the police registered a case against unidentified assailants. Three or four motorcycle-borne assailants had surrounded the railway employee near Gulmohar Hotel, Bharat Nagar Chowk, and snatched his bag and fled the scene. The bag contained a mobile A commuter navigates a waterlogged road after rain in Ludhiana on Sunday. PHOTO: ASHWANI DHIMAN Ludhiana, August 23 Three persons were killed and one injured critically when two motorcycles collided head-on on Hambran Road here on Saturday night. SHO, PAU, inspector Amritpal Singh, said the accident occurred when a Hero HF Deluxe and a Hero Splendor collided with each other. The deceased were identified as Suresh Kumar, alias Raju (42), a native of Lucknow district in UP and at present staying as a tenant in Partap Singh Wala; Sonu Bansal (36), and Karan (21) of Dashmesh Nagar, Ayali Khurd. Sunny (19), also a resident of Dashmesh Nagar, Ayali Khurd, who was riding Splendor, sustained critical injuries. He was rushed to a hospital. The police said the collision occurred late on Saturday night. Passers-by and the police took the bodies to the Civil Hospital for conducting the post-mortem examination. The PAU police registered a case and further investigation was on in the matter. The reason of accident was being ascertained by the police. — TNS Complainant Subhash Singhinformed the police that over three weeks had passed since the incident. The Moti Nagar police have registered the case on August 22 and launched an investigation. NOBODY CAME FORWARD TO HELP: VICTIM The victim said after committing the crime, the suspects fled towards the Delhi road with his motorcycle. He tried to stop passers-by to chase the miscreants, but nobody helped him. He said his motorcycle had little petrol and if anyone had helped him, the miscreants could have been caught at a short distance. labourer at his residence. When he reached the Moti Nagar bridge, three youths on motorcycles surrounded him. The suspects stopped the suspect and put a pistol-like object against his waist. Afterwards, he stopped the motorcycle and got down. The miscreants then fled with his motorcycle. They also took away his bag. Subhash informed the police that over three weeks had passed since the incident. The Moti Nagar police have registered the case on August 22 and launched an investigation. The victim said after committing the crime, the suspects fled towards the Delhi road with his motorcycle. He tried to stop passers-by to chase the miscreants, but nobody helped him. He said his motorcycle had less petrol and if anyone had helped him, the bike-borne miscreants could have been caught at a short distance. No CCTVs at crime scene, say police The police said there were no CCTV cameras at the scene where the incident occurred. Various angles were being investigated to get any clue about the unidentified suspects. Month after loco pilot robbed of mobile phone & money, case filed Tribune News Service Three killed as bikes collide on Hambran Road FIR REGISTERED AFTER THREE WEEKS phone, cash, important documents and other items, including keys of a government vehicle. The victim, Vijay Singh Yadav, a resident of Ram Gali, B Extension, said he works as a loco pilot for the Railways. He mostly drives mail trains. Late on the night of July 24, he was returning home on foot from the railway station after his duty. When he reached near Bharat Nagar Chowk, around four persons on motorcycles came. The suspects grabbed him by the head and pointed sharp weapons at him. They snatched his bag. After committing the crime, the suspects fled the scene. According to Vijay Singh Yadav, the bag contained his mobile phone and a wallet. The purse contained around ?1,500 in cash, his Aadhaar card, PAN card and ID card. The bag also contained a walkie-talkie set, a flashlight, red/green flags and other items. As per sources, members of the All India Loco Running Staff Association said the victim had been visiting the police station for nearly a month. When they threatened to stage a protest, the police registered an FIR. The police are now examining the CCTV footage from the area to identify the suspects. Officials said after the identification of the suspects, action would be taken against them. MC plans extensive arrangements to ensure fair Panic at club as man F&CC elections; councillors seek clarity on process opens fire into air with Sukhpreet Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 23 With the elections of two councillors to the Finance and Contracts Committee (F&CC) of the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation scheduled for August 25, the civic body has planned extensive arrangements to ensure that the voting and counting process remains transparent. An MC official said 12 cameras would be installed at the venue to record proceedings and senior officials would remain present throughout the elections. A mock voting exercise would also be conducted on August 24 to check the arrangements before the elections. The preparations come after several councillors sought detailed information about the procedure for electing the two F&CC members. They have raised questions regarding nominations, voting, counting and the handling of election-related documents. The councillors referred to Section 42(4) of the Punjab Municipal Corporation MC officials during an F&CC meeting in Ludhiana. FILE Act, 1976, under which two members of the F&CC are to be elected from among the councillors. They sought clarity on the role of presiding officers and the procedure to be adopted if there is a tie. Congress councillor Gaurav Bhatti also questioned contents of the election notice issued by the MC agenda branch. He said some important details relating to the voting procedure were not mentioned and sought clarification on whether the notice had been examined by the legal branch or approved by the Municipal Commissioner. The councillors have also raised the issue of a joint resolution submitted by 45 councillors to the Mayor on August 5, seeking voting through ballot papers. They wanted to know why the resolution was not included in the agenda for the August 25 House meeting. c m y b Councillor Rohit Sikka said all necessary information should be made available to councillors before the elections so that there was no confusion during the process. He stressed that the poll should be conducted strictly according to the rules. According to the MC, every councillor will get an equal opportunity to vote and the civic body has made arrangements to prevent any irregularity irrespective of political affiliation. The voting is expected to be conducted through a show of hands while the final counting will determine the two elected members. The political numbers make the contest significant. The AAP has 48 councillors, Congress 26, BJP 19 and SAD two. Though the ruling party has the largest strength, it may not be able to secure both seats on its own, making coordination among opposition parties important. Ahead of the election of two councillor members of the F&CC, Congress councillor Gaurav Bhatti has approached the Commis- sioner of Police, seeking strict compliance with the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and ensuring that all councillors are able to attend and vote freely. In his representation, Bhatti said the election was linked to CWP No. 20549 of 2026 pending before the High Court and was being held in accordance with its orders dated August 7 and August 14. He said the process was required to follow Section 42(4) of the Municipal Corporation Act and the meeting was also to be videographed. Referring to the recent registration of an FIR against an opposition councillor, Bhatti said it had created apprehension among opposition councillors that similar police action could take place against others before the election, potentially affecting their presence and voting rights. He clarified that he was not seeking any exemption from lawful police action but urged the police to ensure that no councillor was unnecessarily prevented from attending the elections. licensed weapon Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 23 Panic spread at Nirvana Club on Hambran Road here when a man opened fire into the air with his licensed weapon during an event. The police recovered seven cartridge shells from the scene. A case was registered against the suspect at the PAU police station on Saturday. According to reports, on the intervening night of August 21 and 22, SI Bhupinder Jogi was patrolling the area with his police team. Meanwhile, a tip-off was received that Pranav Khosla, a resident of Ashok Nagar, had fired shots in the air with his licensed pistol during a programme at Nirvana Club. The indiscriminate firing directly endangered the lives of the people present there. The police reached the scene and recovered seven empty shells. At the time of the shooting, two separate functions were reportedly underway at the club. The police are now investigating which function was attended by the suspect. Organisers and attendees from both parties are being questioned. The case was filed against Pranav under the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and the Arms Act. The police are examining the CCTV camera footage to gather information about the incident. After Bath Castle incident, strict orders were issued After firing incident at Bath Castle that occurred in the past in which a man had died, the Ludhiana police had issued strict warning to marriage palace and hotel owners that the police will not spare anybody if they allowed guests to carry weapons at functions. The owners will face legal action for non-compliance with the orders.