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All 6 teachers of Art college relieved
Chandigarh, March 1
Throwing the Chandigarh College of Art into a crisis, the entire teaching staff of Masters in Fine Arts (MFA) was relieved by the Chandigarh Administration today.

Lightning strikes Shiv Temple in Dadu Majra

Chandigarh, March 1 Lightning struck Shiv Temple in Dadu Majra in the wee hours today, damaging it partially. The impact was so powerful that a lotus flower built atop the dome of the temple was completely damaged and its debris was scattered in an area of around 100m. The damaged Shiv Temple at Dadu Majra in Chandigarh, where lightning struck in the wee hours of Thursday. — Tribune photo: Pradeep Tiwari

Model schools may go smart
Chandigarh, March 1
The UT education department has submitted an IT-aided education programme for government schools in the city. Government model schools will be converted into smart schools, where classrooms will be converted into technology rooms.

Class XII students in a happy mood after appearing in annual examination at Government Model Senior Secondary School in Sector 16, Chandigarh, on Thursday. — Tribune photo by Vinay Malik

Four-laning work hits students hard
Dera Bassi, March 1
For hundreds of students of the Class XII belonging to Dera Bassi and surrounding areas, who wanted to take the CBSE examination in Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali, it was a test of another kind.

Two girls pass by waves of water springing from the fountain at Rose Garden in Chandigarh. — Tribune photo by Vicky Gharu

18-yr-old girl crushed to death
Chandigarh, March 1
An eighteen-year-old unidentified girl was crushed to death under the Kalka-Ambala train this afternoon here. The police said it is yet to be confirmed whether it was an accident death or suicide.

Budget surplus projected at Rs 443.62 cr
Chandigarh, March 1
In the budget announced yesterday, the Chandigarh administration today stated that of the budgetary provision of Rs 1417.63 crore, it was likely to earn to the extent of Rs 1278.62 crore as revenue during the financial year 2007-08, against the budgeted target of Rs 1090.80 crore for 2006-2007.

IT industry rues tax on ESOP
Chandigarh, March 1
The IT industry in the city has been highly critical of the Budget proposals announced by the finance minister for the Information Technology (IT) sector.

COMMUNITY

Real time relay of fleet review by UAVs
Chandigarh, March 1
An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flying overhead would be relaying the proceedings of the President’s Fleet Review (PFR), the largest-ever display of IAF prowess in near “real time” during the duration of the programme.
A file photo of a Heron UAV

Colonel guilty of using improper language with woman officer
Chandigarh, March 1
Revising its earlier findings, a general court martial (GCM) today held a colonel guilty of using improper language with a lady officer and awarded him a reprimand.

Incessant rain inundated several houses in Daon village in Mohali district on Thursday. — Tribune photo by Vicky Gharu

Passengers on Samjhauta Express on high alert
Chandigarh, March 1
Passengers post-Samjhauta Express blast are on a high alert. Edgy they tend to raise the alarm at the slightest suspicion. One such incident was witnessed at the New Delhi-Kalka Shatabdi last evening.

UT seeks fresh panel of PCS officers
Chandigarh, March 1
After refusal by two PCS officers to join on deputation with the Chandigarh Administration, a fresh panel of the state-cadre officers has been sought from the Punjab Government. The Administration has in a communication to Punjab Government also sought extension for the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Inderjit Singh Sandhu.

Cable snaps, delays trains
Chandigarh, March 1
Rail traffic on the Chandigarh-Ambala route came to a standstill after an overhead electricity cable snapped this evening.

Parking Blues Parking woes galore in Industrial Area Chandigarh, March 1 For 47-year-old Sandeep Sharma, reaching office in Industrial Area, Phase I, is tougher than dealing with customers out to purchase furniture from the showroom he works in.
Haphazardly parked vehicles leave little space for movement in the Industrial Area in Chandigarh. — Tribune photo by Vinay Malik

A heavyweight is born Chandigarh, March 1 A Behlana-based couple was blessed with a baby boy, weighing 5.4 kg, at a city nursing home this afternoon. The wife of a Zirakpur-based property dealer Harbans Singh gave birth to the baby through normal delivery, surprising the gynaecologists and the parents. Sarvpreet Kaur with her newborn son at a hospital in Chandigarh on Thursday. — Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan

Play safe — don’t lose vision to colours
Chandigarh, March 1
Play with colours, but not with vision. Spring is here and so is the festival season. The festival of colours - Holi- round the corner takes a heavy toll each year. Children as always are soft targets and are more at risk. But adults are not immune to such injuries, claims ophthalmologists.

Army postal services to launch field postal orders
Chandigarh, March 1
As part of its 35th anniversary celebrations, the Army Postal Service Corps (APS) will launch a new product, Field Postal Order (FPOr) through its Field Post Offices (FPOs).

Social Welfare Association
Chandigarh, March 1
The following have been elected office-bearers of Ward No. 21 Social Welfare Association: chairman — Mr Satish C. Sharma; president — Mr Romesh Sukhija; general secretary — Mr Jagdish Singh; joint secretary — Mr N.T. Singh; finance secretary — Capt (retd) K.L. Sethi; organising secretary — Mr Ram Avtar; legal advisor — Mr Amarnath Gandhi; secretary audit — Mr M.L. Sabharwal; chief patron — Mr S.P. Jand; patrons — Mr Kedarnath Sharma and Mr Jaswant Singh Chadha; and advisor — Mr Rajinder Mittal.

Holi portal
Chandigarh, March 1
Airtel today announced the launch of a customised Holi portal for its pre-paid and post-paid customers in Punjab.

Road fatalities decrease
Chandigarh, March 1
A study conducted by the accident cell of the Chandigarh police shows a decrease in number of persons killed in road mishaps in the city in January and February this year compared to corresponding period in 2006.

CRIME

Karnal resident held with 8.5 kg charas
Chandigarh, March 1
The local police today arrested a Karnal resident from Sector 17 ISBT on the charges of carrying 8.50 kg of charas. The police said the estimated value of the contraband was about Rs 2.50 lakh.

Motorcyclist held for pushing cop
Chandigarh, March 1
A motorcyclist was today arrested for allegedly manhandling a woman traffic police constable, who stopped him for traffic violation.

Probe ordered against 2 CBI DSPs
Chandigarh, March 1
The civil judge (junior division), Balwinder Kumar, today directed the Chandigarh police to investigate the complaint of Bhim Sen against two DSPs of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

BUSINESS

Egg, chicken prices touch a new high
Chandigarh, March 1
The 100 per cent increase in prices of maize (main feed for poultry animals) have led to a sharp increase in prices of eggs and chicken. With the government not willing to ban the future trading of maize, the prices have been escalating over the past one year.

FDI in retail sector opposed
Chandigarh, March 1
Opposing the entry of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the retail sector, city traders today urged the Chandigarh administration to spruce up markets to face challenges of corporates and shopping mall culture.

Income tax help centre at SBI
Chandigarh, March 1
The help centre of the Income Tax Department at the SBI, Sector 17-B, was made operational today in order to provide information and assistance to the tax payers.

EDUCATION

Honorary degrees for Kler, Saboo at PU convocation

Chandigarh, March 1 Panjab University will be conferring honorary degrees of Doctor of Science (DSc) to renowned cardiologist Dr TS Kler and Dr SP Agarwal, secretary-general of the Indian Red Cross Society, during its annual convocation to be held on March 7. Students of the Government College, Sector 46, Chandigarh, in a jubiliant mood at their annual fest held on Thursday. — A Tribune photograph

From Colleges
MCM DAV honours 435 meritorious students
Chandigarh, March 1
435 students of MCM DAV College were felicitated on the annual prize distribution function today. 264 academic prizes, 99 cultural prizes, 31 special prizes and 41 sports prizes were distributed.

Ex-VCs, Dean (Instructions) to be professor emeritus
Chandigarh, March 1
In a decision that has raised eye brows, the PU Senate today approved that all former Vice-Chancellors and Dean, University Instructions, of Panjab university be made professor emeritus in the university.

Hira takes over as Director-principal
Chandigarh March 1
Dr DS Hira has taken over as Director-principal of the SUS College of Engineering and Technology, Tangori, here. He had earlier served as the Principal of BBSB Engineering College, Fatehgarh Sahib, and GZS CET Bathinda.

Students interact with Kalam
Zirakpur, March 1
It was a moment of pride for 64 students and teachers of Mountview Public School here the other day.

Resolving dissent — Child artists show the way
Chandigarh, March 1
Students of Sikhya School, Sector 46, staged a play ‘Ye Tera Khel Ye Mera Khel’ on the second day of CEVA’s seventh children’s community theatre festival at the Neelam theatre complex today.

In-service training for lecturers begins
Chandigarh, March 1
Prof R.C. Sobti, vice-chancellor, Panjab University, inaugurated a four-week in-service training programme for college and university lecturers, being conducted by the UGC Academic Staff College, here today.

CULTURE

Little known but promising actor
Chandigarh, March 1
Hemendra Bhatia is a little known but promising actor. One of his best roles was as Anna Sahib in Madhur Bhandarkar’s film “Satta” which exposed the dark side of Indian politics.

Hemendra Bhatia

Docs mull ways to reduce child mortality
Chandigarh, March 1
It is more important to diagnose diseases among children than providing sophisticated intensive care units. Awareness about the symptoms of diseases among public plays a major role in reducing the pediatric mortality, say experts.

PGI staff win laurels
Chandigarh, March 1
Two PGI employees have brought laurel to their institutions through their presentations at conference of the International Society for Heart Research (Indian Section) held at SP Medical College, Bikaner, recently.