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5 killed, six hurt in mishap near Banur
Distracted by earlier accident, driver rams truck into another vehicle
Banur, October 14
One accident led to another on the busy Chandigarh-Rajpura highway late last night, killing five persons and critically injuring six others. All victims, in their late 20s, were travelling in a truck. The collision took place near Karala village, 2 km before Banur.

The mangled remains of a Tata 407 vehicle after it collided head on with a truck on the Chandigarh-Rajpura highway at Karala village, near Banur, on Thursday. — Photo by J.S. Virdi

Punjab Secretariat peon jumps to death
Chandigarh, October 14
A 55-year-old man ended his life by jumping from the fourth floor of the Punjab Civil Secretariat, where he was working as peon, this evening. He jumped in front of his colleagues, who failed to convince him against taking the extreme step.

Children falling prey to Kawasaki
Chandigarh, October 14
Watch out, if your child is running high-grade fever, complains of redness in the eyes and irritability and swelling in hands and feet, then there is a high probability that he may have developed the Kawasaki disease. With 80 children already undergoing treatment for this disease at the PGI, the doctors say the number is increasing with each passing year.

Trial run for train link to Ludhiana

Chandigarh, October 14 The first trial run of the Chandigarh-Ludhiana rail link was conducted today. A diesel engine packed with officials of the construction wing of the Railways ran on a 30-kilometre stretch between Chandigarh Railway Station and Bhagomajra village in Kharar. On the remaining 17.5 km rail section, up to Morinda, the second trial run would be conducted soon, said a senior officer of the Northern Railways.

Officials of the Northern Railways inspect the Chandigarh-Morinda section of the upcoming rail link between Chandigarh and Ludhiana on Friday. — Tribune Photo by Manoj Mahajan

Developing women’s lobbying skills for their good

Chandigarh, October 14 A two-day training programme, organised by the Women Power Connect (WPC), began here today. The training programme was inaugurated by Ms Ena Singh, Assistant Representative of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), New Delhi. The programme is being organised to enhance lobbying skills of women with legislators to bring in pro-women legislations in the country.

Terry Ann Rogers, Programme Manager, IFES India, New Delhi, addresses a seminar on ‘Women Power Connect’ at Shivalikview, Chandigarh, on Friday. — A Tribune photograph

Kyrgyz Republic looking for tie-ups
Chandigarh, October 14
The Kyrgyz Republic has plans to establish an international centre of world epics at Talas, where the Mahabharata will also find a suitable place. “People of various countries will be able to visit the centre and study these epics and interact with experts,” said Mr Saktanbek Kadyraliev, Charge d’ Affaires of the Kyrgyz Republic in India.

Passing Thru
Dr A.R.K. Pillai, president, Indian Development Foundation

COMMUNITY

Protest against hike in water, sewerage charges

Mohali, October 14 Municipal councillors belonging to the opposition group, members of the Joint Action Committee (JAC), representatives of welfare bodies and others sat on a dharna outside the office of the Municipal Council here today in protest against the hike in water and sewerage charges. Members of the Mohali Welfare Residents Society protest against the hike in water charges outside the Municipal Corporation office in Phase VII on Friday.  — A Tribune photograph

Quake-hit buildings safe: report
Chandigarh, October 14
The Structural Section of the Engineering Department of the Chandigarh Administration has submitted its report on the two government buildings which were affected in the earthquake on October 8. The report showed no major concern about the safety of the buildings.

The green brigade of City Beautiful

In sync with nature He's blessed with a green thumb. It took a sweaty walk in the sun at the peak of summer for 63-year-old Dewan Singh to realise where his calling lay. That was almost 10 years back. Today, his name has become synonymous with greenery in the Industrial Area and at most religious places of the city where he has planted almost 5,500 trees over the years.

Beauty of thorns  Nature has wild ways of manifesting beauty, be it through the ethereal multi-hued, sweet scented blooms or through hardy and full of thorns cacti. If you want to learn the lesson of how to thrive in scarcity and smile through a prickly cloak then enter the world of cacti and succulent plants.

Eco Notes
Official apathy sounds death knell for trees in Sector 47

A number of trees in two pockets of greenbelt in Sector 47, Chandigarh, are dying a slow death due to the callousness of the authorities concerned. The threat is posed by the stagnating water. A waterlogged area that is posing a threat to trees and vegetation in the Sector 47-C greenbelt of Chandigarh. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

30 more transformers installed
Chandigarh, October 14
The Electricity Department of the Chandigarh Administration has added at least 30 transformers of 10 MVA each to the existing list, which is seen as a major step towards handling the increased power loads, particularly during the peak seasons.

Lieut-Gen M.C. Bhandari inspects a Guard of Honour to mark the silver jubilee celebrations of the 15th Battalion of Garhwal Rifles at Chandimandir on Friday. — Tribune photo by Parvesh Chauhan

Only 10 pc get revised pension, lament seniors
Mohali, October 14
A meeting of the Pensioners and Senior Citizens Welfare Association, Mohali, was held to discuss the Punjab Government Notification regarding revised pensions. Mr S.S Jaspal presided over the meeting.

Kyrgyz Ambassador meets Governor
Chandigarh, October 14
The Ambassador of Kyrgyz Republic, Mr Saktanbek Kadyraliev, met Dr A.R.Kidwai, Governor of Haryana, at Haryana Raj Bhavan here today.

Ban on smoking hailed
Mohali, October 14
Members of the Disabled Persons Welfare Organisation, Punjab (regd) have welcomed the decision of the Chandigarh Administration to impose a ban on smoking in public places.

Sarpanch’s body found
Panchkula, October 14
The body of Ram Niwas, 25, Sarpanch of Kandiawala village (Raipur Rani), who had died under mysterious circumstances, was found from the fields of Shampur village today. He was the youngest son of late Sadhu Ram, former MLA of Naraingarh, and a true Gandhian.

Panchkula resident wins trip to Singapore
Chandigarh, October 14
Mr Ankur Goel of Panchkula has won two tickets to Singapore in the lucky draw for “Connect to Singapore” contest held at Planet Connect, Sector 35-C, here. Mr Harpal Singh of Chandigarh won the second prize, a 14-inch colour television.

Badal releases book Chandigarh, October 14 Former Punjab Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal today released a book, “Adhunik Punjabi Kavita — Vichardharak Pripekh”, written by Dr Jagir Singh Dhesa. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Badal termed the book as an authentic document of serious thought and critical viewpoint. Former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal releases a book in Chandigarh on Friday. - A Tribune photograph

EDUCATION

Computer club launched
Mohali, October 14
CYBEX, a club of cyberspace explorers, was launched by the Department of Computer Applications, Chandigarh Engineering College, Landran, yesterday. The club was inaugurated by Mr Rashpal Singh Dhaliwal, general secretary of the college management, while Mr Satnam Singh Sandhu, Chairman, was the guest of honor.

Seminar on stress management held
Mohali, October 14
The National Institute of Personnel Management, Punjab Chapter, organised a seminar on “Achieve your best by managing stress” by Dr Simi Waraich, a psychiatrist and presently on a special assignment with Queens Land Health, Australia, as a part of its silver jubilee celebrations here yesterday.

Photography classes for amateurs at Art College
Chandigarh, October 14
The UT Administration has decided to start photography and art appreciation classes for amateurs at the Government College of Art, Sector 10. These classes would be conducted by faculty members of the college and by experts from time to time. The classes would be held on Saturdays and formal applications for enrolment for these classes would be sought shortly.

Pathak releases newsletter ‘Alok’
Chandigarh, October 14
The newsletter of the Academic Staff College, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 'Alok' , has been released by Prof. K.N. Pathak, Vice-Chancellor of the university, and Prof. G.K. Chadha, former Vice-Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, in the advisory committee meeting of Academic Staff College.

Dhillon-Ranu group sweeps poll
Mohali, October 14
The Dhillon-Ranu group has swept the elections of the Punjab School Education Board (Non-teaching) Employees Association for the fifth time in a row the results of which were announced here this evening.

Online placement test on Oct 16, 23, 30
Mohali, October 14
The online Common Placement Test (CPT-2005) being conducted by the National Technology Foundation, Hyderabad, will be held at the Sri Sukhmani Institute of Engineering and Technology, Dera Bassi, on October 16, 23 and 30.

History Dept controversy ends
Chandigarh, October 14
The ongoing controversy in the Department of History, Panjab University, finally came to an end today. The postgraduate Board of Studies of the department at a meeting today, decided to revert its earlier decision and gave back the powers to check the answersheets to the department’s faculty.

PTU youth fest begins
Chandigarh, October 14
The Punjab Technical University Inter-zonal Youth Festival (Zone III) today started with a day full of literary and cultural activities at the Chitkara Institute of Engineering and Technology (CIET), Rajpura.

B.Ed entrance test rescheduled

CULTURE

New Release A complex love story Balaji Telefilms’ “Koi Aap Sa” is again, very different from its sex comedy “Kya Kool Hain Hum”. This one has been produced by Ekta Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor. The “K” factor is back on the silver screen. “Koi Aap Sa” has Aftab Shivdasani, Natasha (Kavyanjali serial fame) and model-turned-actress Dipannita Sharma in lead roles. Partho Mitra has directed this complex love story, which opened on Friday at Fun Republic, Mani Majra. After “Salaam Namste”, the viewers will watch yet another film on “live-in” relationship. It will be interesting to see what Balaji banner and director Partho Mitra combination brings up. The buzz is that “Koi Aap Sa” is a different love story which forays into the lifestyles of urbanised youth.  A scene from “Koi Aap Sa”

A slice from Sikh history Chandigarh, October 14 A special show of the classic historical play “Sirhind di Dewaar” was staged at the Punjab Vidhan Sabha complex on Thursday evening by the Patiala-based Harpal Tiwana Foundation. A scene from the play, “Sirhind di Deewar” presented by the Harpal Tiwana Foundation, Patiala, at the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Chandigarh, on Thursday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

Comedy album released
Chandigarh, October 14
“Chakk Lo Jhola”, a Punjabi comedy album, was released by Mr P. Khurana, an astrologer, here today. Produced by Pal Music Company, the parody and songs have been written by Ashwani Kumar. Ravinder Ravi and Narinder Nindi have lent their voices to the songs.

HEALTH

Public role for AIDS awareness sought
Chandigarh, October 14
The Chandigarh Administration has called upon the people to step forward and play a bigger role in the battle against HIV/AIDS by actively participating in “Goonj”, the AIDS awareness campaign to be launched jointly by Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh Administration under the aegis of NACO on October 18.

A novel way to promote condoms
Chandigarh, October 14
After several condom promotion advertisements and other measures like giving condoms for free and installing condom vending machines all of which failed to promote condoms, a city-based NGO has found a novel way to provide an opportunity in both access to information and access to condoms.

Donating blood his life’s mission 
Mr Sat Pal Bansal, a banker by profession, has become a one man institution in the field of blood donation in Patiala. Though his blood runs in the veins of more than 120 persons, there is still an intense desire to help the needy.

SPORTS

PCA doing yeoman service for domestic cricket, says Alam
Chandigarh, October 14
"Though there is a big disparity between domestic cricket and International cricket on all grounds, but it is nice to see that the PCA has tried to be trendsetter in promoting the game at the grassroots level and also bringing the domestic cricket to the standards set for international one", said Intikhab Alam, coach of the Punjab Cricket team and a former Pakistan cricket team skipper.

Veterans commend Dravid as skipper
Chandigarh, October 14
The verdict is visibly approved and the decision is termed “unanimous.” The National Selection Committee yesterday appointed Rahul Dravid as the captain for the forthcoming ODI series against Sri Lanka and South Africa. The Tribune team spoke to some of the cricket buffs to get their reaction on the decision which was taken purely on cricketing merit.

RAVANA REBORN: A cricket fan dressed as Ravana at the final match of Challenger Trophy at PCA Stadium, Mohali, on Thursday. — Tribune photo by Pradeep Tewari

RBI, United Clubs win in football
Chandigarh, October 14
The Reserve Bank of India Club and the United Club, Sector 21, surged ahead on the opening day of the Chandigarh Senior Football Championship for the Choudhary Jarnail Singh Trophy at Sector 17 football stadium here today.

Intra-club golf meet today
Chandigarh, October 14
The Mcdowell's Signature Golf Championship intra-club meet, involving more than 170 golfers, will be held tomorrow at the Chandigarh Golf Club, Sector 6. Stating this, Dr G.S. Kochhar, Chairman, Media Publicity of the club, said the meet would be the basis of selection for the regional finals to be held in Noida on October 23.

Gurvarinder lifts TT title
Chandigarh, October 14
Gurvarinder Kaur of AG, Punjab, clinched singles title in the table tennis event of the Chandigarh State Sports Festival which entered the penultimate day here today at various venues in the city. The three-day meet is being organised by the Sports Department, Chandigarh, in basketball, gymnastics, handball, table tennis and volleyball.

Vivek High beat Little Flower in cricket
Chandigarh, October 14
Fine performance by Angad Bir (6 for 16) and Shivam Bhambri (51 n.o.) enabled Vivek High School, Sector 38, to beat Little Flower Convent School, Sector 14, Panchkula, by 8 wickets in a league match of the Eighth Blessed Edmund Rice (under-11) cricket tournament held at St John's School, Sector 26, here, today.

• Skating meet begins
• Inter-media badminton meet from today