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Starved residents snatch biscuits from schoolchildren
* Panchkula admn-run langar closed
* Students come to offer relief, face desperate crowd
Panchkula, August 6
Fisticuffs broke out, shirts were torn and adults shoved children aside as they jostled with each other to secure just a packet of biscuits from schoolchildren who had come to distribute food among people rendered homeless by the recent rains.

• Villagers unhappy over admn’s response
• Body of another migrant found
• Plan to augment stock of flood-fighting material
• Downpour leaves admn wiser

Starving residents reach out for food items being distributed by schoolchildren near Rajiv Colony, Panchkula, on Friday. — Tribune photo by Pankaj Sharma

Heaviest rain in a day in 47 years
Chandigarh, August 6
Scientists of the Chandigarh-based Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute are concerned over the erratic rainfall on August 3 in the city and surrounding areas.

Rain Fury
Police, Admn fail people
Chandigarh, August 6
Unsung employees of the Railways managed to do what the entire civil administration could not do. Thanks to its field staff, that kept a track of the monsoon and flood situation, the Railways halted trains within minutes of sensing the danger of gushing rain water thus preventing casualties.

6 diarrhoea cases reported from two colonies
Situation under control, claims Health Department
Chandigarh, August 6
Stagnant water and slush after a heavy downpour on Tuesday has left the city under the threat of diarrhoea, typhoid, malaria and a plethora of other diseases. However, the UT Health Department does not think that an emergency situation has arisen. It claims that the situation is “under control’’ though six more cases of diarrhoea were reported from Bapu Dham Colony and Madrasi Colony today.

Man forges friend’s sign, withdraws Rs 90,000
Chandigarh, August 6
A man allegedly withdrew more than Rs 90,000 from the account of his friend by presenting stolen cheques bearing forged signatures. Harpal Singh of Phase 10, Mohali, stole a cheque book of his friend Pal Chand and allegedly withdrew Rs 90,930 by forging signatures on cheques from the high court branch of the State Bank of India during the past 45 days.

Man of the moment enters eternity
Chandigarh, August 6
Henri Cartier Bresson has gone, but the wealth of art he has left behind will inspire generations after him. The quintessential painter who had an eye for all that is eternal in the otherwise fugitive elements of creation, passed away in France at the age of 95.

FBI team to train police officers
Chandigarh, August 6
A Federal Bureau of Investigation team from the USA is coming to the city for the first time to train police officers of north India in dealing with sex-related crimes. A three-member team of the FBI will start a week-long training programme in the Central Detective Training School here from Monday. 

COMMUNITY

Father celebrates child’s birthday in courtroom
Mohali, August 6
The birthday of a five-year-old child was celebrated at a Kharar courtroom today. A hapless father celebrated the fifth birthday of his only son inside the courtroom after Additional Civil Judge (Senior Division) Poonam Ratti allowed him to do so.

People-to-people contact best bet for India, Pakistan
Chandigarh, August 6
Even as India and Pakistan have made some headway in the peace process, the people-to-people contact is still the best bet for improving Indo-Pakistan relations and having lasting peace in Asia, a prominent social activist and recently-nominated Member of Rajya Sabha, Ms Nirmala Deshpande, said here today.

Lions Club cabinet meeting on Aug 8
Chandigarh, August 6
Mr Jaswant Rai Garg, District Governor of the Lions Club district 321F, will preside over the first cabinet meeting of the clubs in Barog on August 8. He said as per the Lions Club International’s agenda for 2004-2005 the clubs in the district will take up various projects related to childcare, literacy, adoption and sight first programmes during the year to benefit the poor and the downtrodden. 

Award for CSIO scientists
Chandigarh, August 6
The Indian Society for Advancement of Materials and Process Engineering has awarded the K. Suryanarain Rau Memorial Award for Smart Technology Development for 2004 to a team of scientists of the Central Scientific Instruments Organisation here.

Amarnath pilgrim dies in Srinagar
Lalru, August 6 A local pilgrim to the Amarnath shrine died at the Civil Hospital, in Srinagar on Friday evening. A trader by profession, Mr Hari Kishan was admitted to the hospital after his health deteriorated when he was returning after paying obeisance at the Holy Cave on July 31. Mr Hari Kishan along with his friend Ashwani Kumar Sharma had left for the shrine on July 17.

SBI staff call off strike
Chandigarh, August 6
The All-India State Bank of India Staff Federation has called off its proposed strike on August 9. 

HUDA, Army resolve land dispute
Panchkula, August 6
The repair work on the culvert over the nullah passing near Sector 2 here will resume tomorrow as the dispute between the Army authorities from Chandimandir and HUDA officials for channeling the nullah was resolved today.

CRIME

Two two-wheelers, three cars stolen
Chandigarh, August 6
Cash and ornaments worth more than Rs 1.5 lakh and five cars and two-wheelers were reported stolen today from the city. Two mobile phones, one bicycle, a car stereo and rear view mirrors of two luxury cars were also reported stolen.

Scooterist killed in road mishap
Panchkula, August 6
A 29-year- old STD Booth operator in Sector 8, died in a road accident near Chandimandir late last night. The victim, Ram Kumar, was driving a scooter (CH-01S-9755), when the vehicle skided off the road. The scooter reportedly hit a tree on the dirt road. He was on way to his home in Surajpur, after work.

3 held for stealing vehicle parts
Mohali, August 6
The police here today arrested three persons for stealing vehicle parts. The three, according to the police, used to hang around at various truck unions and other places where heavy vehicles were parked. 

Man killed in mishap, family cries foul
Chandigarh, August 6
A cyclist was reportedly killed in Sector 23 last night. According to the police, Rajinder Bhalla was returning to his home on his bicycle when he fell unconscious and had a fall. A scooterist, coming from behind, hit him while he was lying on the road.

Police announces Rs 5000 reward
Mohali, August 6
The Mohali police today announced a reward of Rs 5,000 rupees to any one giving correct information to the police about a gang involved in a series of thefts and burglaries in Mohali.

Software firm booked
Chandigarh, August 6
A Mani Majra-based software company, MX.Solutions Pvt Ltd, was tonight booked for duping a Hyderabad-based software professional of Rs 15 lakh.

EDUCATION

Schools directed to ensure students’ safety
Chandigarh, August 6
Not wanting to be caught unawares again in case of a disaster like the recent incident of fire at a school in Kumbakonam (Tamil Nadu), the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development has asked its subordinate boards to ensure all aspects of safety of students in case of natural and man-made disasters.

Students of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 46, take part in a Hiroshima Day rally in Chandigarh on Friday. 
— Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan

Senior-junior rift at NIIFT
7 suspended students sent home
Mohali, August 6
A cold war of sorts seems to have broken out between the senior students and freshers at the North India Institute of Fashion Technology, here. Seven senior girl students of the institute were suspended yesterday for ragging a newcomer in the hostel.

From Schools
Hiroshima Day observed
Chandigarh, August 6
The Punjab Governor and Administrator, Union Territory, Chandigarh, Justice OP Verma (retd), today gave a call to the citizens to work collectively for lasting world peace.

• Consumer awareness

• Yajana held

• Quiz competition

NRI summoned in forgery case
Chandigarh, August 6
Acting on the complaint of his sister, a local court has summoned an NRI, Mr Hartar Singh Sangha, in a cheating and forgery case on September 9. According to information, Mr Jaswinder Sogh, Judicial Magistrate (First Class), found the case fit for trial after recording the preliminary evidence.