''Bridge Baba'' Labh Singh dies at 96
Arun Sharma
Tribune News Service
Ropar, July 28
Sant Baba Labh Singh, who earned sobriquet of “Pullan Wala Baba” for his contribution to building several bridges without government help, died after a cardiac arrest at 96 on Sunday.
Sant Baba Labh Singh was born on June 15, 1923, and has been credited with having been involved in building bridges at Chandpur Bela (near Kiratpur Sahib), Bela Ramgarh (near Nangal), Jindwari (between Nangal and Anandpur Sahib), Bella Patti Tej Singh near Bhalan village, and Shahpur Bela near Kiratpur Sahib—all on the Sutlej.
He also helped build 29 schools, some of them run by the government, and also helped organise weddings of 600 women from poor families.
He had a cardiac arrest after he finished his morning rituals with his followers at Kila Anandgarh, his headquarters. He was immediately taken to a private hospital, but died there.
Distraught people gathered outside the hospital once they heard the news.
Labh Singh was a follower of Sant Sewa Singh, who had been performing “kar seva”, or community service, at various gurdwaras, temples and schools since 1934. Labh Singh and another follower, Bhag Singh, continued the community service after Sewa Singh died in 1982.
Bhag Singh died in 1987, leaving Labh Singh to carry on with his work.
He used to run a “langar” in PGIMER Chandigarh’s gurdwara, where he served thousands of people visiting the hospital.
