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Tragedy waiting to happen
Chandigarh, June 10
It was a tragedy waiting to happen. Structural safety of the massive concrete structure - resting on brick columns - was apparently never reviewed by the Chandigarh administration in spite of representations of the Subzi Mandi Arhtiya Association to repair the structure, which leaked during rains.
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Army speeds up rescue
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Chandigarh, June 10
It was the joint efforts of the local administration, Army officials and civilians that helped accomplish the rescue operation at the grain market, Sector 26, this evening.
The administration wound up the operation at 9.45 pm when a dog squad of the Army confirmed that there were no more persons trapped under the rubble.
A man serves water at the scene of disaster.
— A Tribune photograph
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Patients make room for injured
Chandigarh, June 10
Anticipating the arrival of more injured from the vegetable market in Sector 26, which witnessed a roof collapse today, city hospitals shifted most of their patients undergoing treatment in emergency ward to general wards and even nearby verandahs.
Soni, Bansal express sympathy
Chandgarh, June 10
Ambika Soni, union minister for tourism and culture and Pawan Kumar Bansal, local MP and minister of state for finance, have expressed sorrow over the loss of human life and property in the collapse of the vegetable auction sheds in Grain Market, here
He ran for life
Chandigarh, June 10
Ram Chander Madal, a palledar (porter), literally ran for his life today. He saved himself by running from under the collapsing roof. “I managed to escape unharmed but my fellow labourers were not so lucky,” said
Mandal.
It was business as usual
Chandigarh, June 10
Unfazed by the incident, people went about the business of selling and buying fruit and vegetables as usual.
Pvt players fudge ban on milk powder exports
Chandigarh, June 10
The ban on export of skimmed milk powder (SMP) to contain the rising prices of milk has failed to serve its purpose. The private players have found a way to flout the ban by converting the SMP into casein (a milk protein manufactured by coagulating SMP which can be reconstituted into SMP) and then exporting it.
UNAIDS alarmed by massive injecting drug use in region
Chandigarh, June 10
Neglected in the early phases of HIV awareness campaigns, the so-called low prevalence regions of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh are now demanding urgent attention. Immediate concern for organisations combating HIV is the rising population of injecting drug users (IDUs) in these regions north of Delhi.
Earthquake
Better bylaws for safer buildings,
say experts
Chandigarh, June 10
Several cities of Haryana and large parts of Punjab, the Kandi area and several cities like
Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar and Chandigarh fall in zone IV of seismic activity. A committee of experts has suggested changes in building bylaws in the two states to strengthen buildings to minimise damage during earthquakes.
Mercury drops slightly
Chandigarh, June 10
After touching a record high of 45°C yesterday, the mercury began its much-awaited ascent today. For the first time in six days, the day temperature recorded a fall. As against a high of 45°C, the midday temperature dropped to 43.8°C, recording a fall of 1.2 degree. The small, but significant drop reduced the intensity of heat during the day, offering respite from the searing sun.
Mohali Market Fire
Shopkeepers get relief
Mohali, June 10
Jasjit Singh Bunny, son of Punjab minister Captain Kanwaljit Singh, today announced an interim relief of Rs 25,000 to the victims of the fire that had razed the Phase 3B-1 Janta market 10 days ago.
Jasjit Singh had visited the site almost a week ago and had assured the victims that interim relief would be announced in a day.
Victims of Janta market fire, who have been camping at the fire site for the past 10 days, in Mohali on Sunday.—Photo
by Vicky Gharu |
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SEZ
Sizzle
Farmers’ interests should not be sacrificed: Dogra
Chandigarh, June 10
Presenting an analysis of a study carried out by a fact-finding committee into the Nandigram episode, former Punjab Director General of Police P.C Dogra raised several issues of national concern such as provision of alternate land and statutory guarantee of a job on acquisition of fertile land.
Senior BJP leaders join Cong
Chandigarh, June 10
In a major political development that may have implications in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, several senior leaders of the
BJP, including chairman of the market committee Harbhajan Singh, today joined the Congress, delivering a severe jolt to the party in the UT’s rural areas.
All’s not well within BJP
Panchkula, June 10
The expulsion of the media in charge of the district unit of the BJP, Varinder
Garg, has opened a Pandora box and infighting within the top brass of the unit has come to the fore.
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