21072026-JTR-01.qxd 7/20/2026 11:00 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune LAWYERS ON INDEFINITE FAST AGAINST LADC SYSTEM MATHS PRODIGY BAGS TOP RANK IN OLYMPIAD 11-MINUTE FIFA SPECTACLE FAILED TO GENERATE BUZZ The agitation is being held on the call of the Joint Action Committee against LADC System. P2 While most kids of her age are still in Class III, Gaurisha has mastered Class V concepts .P3 Hollywood stars glitter at the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, where Tom Cruise led an A-list parade of celebrities. P4 » » » FORECAST CLOUDY MAX 30°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 32°C | MIN 28°C SUNSET TUESDAY 7.30 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 5:37 AM TUESDAY | 21 JULY 2026 | JALANDHAR Man, pregnant wife jump into Hoshiarpur canal, die Sanjiv Bakshi Hoshiarpur, July 20 A young couple allegedly died by suicide after jumping into a canal near Basi Maroof village under the Hariana police station limits in Hoshiarpur district late on Sunday night. The incident has left the local community in shock. The deceased have been identified as Arif (25), son of Kasim, a native of Budaun district in Uttar Pradesh who was residing at Dhir Farm in Basi Maroof, and his wife, Shehnaz (25). According to Hariana SHO Kiran Singh, the couple was reportedly seen arguing near the canal earlier in the day before returning home. How- Woman held with 36 gram heroin Our Correspondent File photo of the couple who died by suicide in Hoshiarpur. ever, another dispute allegedly broke out around 11 pm. Shehnaz is said to have asked her husband to take her to her parental home in Rupna- Phagwara, July 20 Allegations of negligence have been levelled against the Civil Hospital, Phagwara, after the family of a deceased man claimed that his body was found in a severely decomposed condition when they arrived to collect it from the hospital mortuary. The family has sought a high-level inquiry into the incident and demanded strict action against those responsible. However, the hospital authorities have denied the allegations. According to the family, Uday Yadav, an employee at the Food Corporation of India godown The Tribune has started a Q and A column to address your health-related queries. Please mail your questions (not exceeding 40 words) at healthandwellness@tribunemail.com. The Tribune’s panel of doctors will answer all your healthrelated concerns. Hoshiarpur, July 20 A school bus carrying children was stuck in mud on the Chakk Sadhu–Bashoi road in Hoshiarpur district this morning after a seasonal stream overflowed following heavy rainfall in the upper reaches of Himachal Pradesh. No one was injured in the incident as villagers rushed to the spot and evacuated the children before pulling the bus out of the mud. The incident occurred near Chakk Sadhu village on the Hoshiarpur-Una road, close to the Punjab-Himachal Pradesh border. Continuous rain in the hill areas led to a sudden rise in the water level SMO sets up 2-member inquiry committee in Phagwara, died on July 17 after his health reportedly deteriorated while at work. Relatives suspect he suffered a cardiac arrest. As his family members were travelling from Varanasi, the body was kept in the Civil Hospital mortuary. When the relatives arrived at the hospital on Sunday to receive the body, they alleged that it had decomposed extensively, making identification difficult. The family claimed that the mortuary’s refrigeration system was not functioning properly and that the body had not been preserved adequately. They further alleged that despite bringing the matter to the notice of hospital staff, no timely corrective measures were taken. According to the family, doctors and hospital employees attributed the body’s condition to extreme weather conditions, an explanation the relatives rejected. The incident sparked outrage among the deceased’s family members and co-workers at the FCI godown, who accused the hospital administration of negligence in handling the body. They alleged that had the mortuary refrig- eration system been functioning properly, the body would not have deteriorated to such an extent. The family has demanded a probe by the government and senior Health Department officials. Responding to the allegations, the Civil Hospital administration denied any lapse on its part and maintained that the accusations were unfounded. Senior Medical Officer (SMO) Dr Simardeep Kaur told The Tribune on Sunday that a two-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), comprising Dr Naresh Kundra and Dr Chamandeep, had been constituted to investigate the matter. Saini pays obeisance at Nakodar shrine Tribune News Service HEALTH & WELLNESS Our Correspondent Body found decomposed at Phagwara Civil Hospital mortuary, kin cry foul Ashok Kaura Nakodar, July 20 The Nakodar police have arrested a woman and recovered 36 gram of heroin along with ~7,100 drug money during an anti-narcotics operation. DSP Onkar Singh Brar said here today that the arrest was made as part of the police’s sustained drive against drug trafficking. He said a case under the NDPS Act has been registered and further investigation is underway to trace the source of the contraband and identify other persons involved in the alleged drug trade. The accused has been identified as Mandeep Kaur, resident of Patti Takhar, Shankar near Nakodar. DSP Brar said a team apprehended the accused from Shankar village. gar. Arif allegedly took her on a motorcycle and the couple later jumped into the canal near Basi Maroof. Their motorcycle was found parked on the canal bank. On receiving information, the police reached the spot and recovered both bodies from the canal. The bodies have been sent for the postmortem examination, and further legal proceedings are underway. SHO Kiran Singh said the preliminary investigation suggests that a domestic dispute may have led to the extreme step. However, the police are investigating all possible angles before reaching any conclusion. The police also confirmed that Shehnaz was pregnant, making the incident even more tragic. The deaths have cast a pall of gloom over the area. School bus stuck in mud near overflowing choe Jalandhar, July 20 A day after Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann visited the Dera Lal Badshah in Nakodar during its annual Urs, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Monday paid obeisance at the shrine of Almast Bapu Lal Badshah. Accompanied by BJP leader Sushil Rinku and in the presence of BJP leader, former MP and Dera head Hans Raj Hans, Saini offered prayers at the shrine and addressed devotees gathered on the occasion. Dressed in saffron attire, including a jacket, stole and turban, Saini spoke about the shared cultural and historical bonds between Punjab and Haryana. “Punjab and Haryana are still brothers and follow the same path. This is the land of the Gurus, who have given us wisdom and guidance,” he said. He added that the people of both states continue to share close ties. “Where Haryana is progressing, we hope Punjab too moves forward and does not lag behind. It is our wish that Punjab also becomes the number one state,” Saini said. Offering prayers for the prosperity of Punjab, he said, “This is my prayer at the feet of Lal Badshah. We have made Haryana a leading state and, with the blessings and inspiration of Bapu Lal Badshah, our government is working to strengthen and uplift the poor.” Villagers rescue children of the seasonal stream (choe), affecting traffic on the route used daily by school buses and local commuters. According to witnesses, the bus got stuck in a muddy stretch a short distance before reaching the overflowing stream. Local residents rushed to the spot, helped the children disembark safely and later joined efforts to pull the vehicle out of the mud. A video of the incident has surfaced, showing water flowing through the seasonal stream and villagers making efforts to pull the stranded school bus to safety. Woman killed, husband hurt in hit-and-run near Phagwara Our Correspondent PHAGWARA, JULY 20 A 55-year-old woman was killed and her husband injured after their two-wheeler was allegedly hit by a speeding car near Phagwara on Sunday. The police have registered a case. Complainant Om Parkash, resident of Dakoha village near Jalandhar, stated that he was travelling with his wife Kuljit Kaur on a scooter. When they reached near the PPR area on the Phagwara-Chandigarh Road, a car approaching from behind at a high speed allegedly struck their scooter, causing severe head injuries to his wife, while Om Parkash also sustained multiple injuries and the scooter was extensively damaged. The complainant further alleged that the car driver dragged the scooter for some distance before fleeing the spot. With the assistance of passers-by, both victims were shifted to the Civil Hospital, Phagwara, where doctors declared Kuljit Kaur dead. Om Parkash was provided medical treatment for his injuries. The police have registered a case against the unidentified car driver and initiated an investigation to trace the accused. 35 CCTV cameras to check illegal garbage dumping Jalandhar, July 20 The Municipal Corporation (MC) has intensified its drive against illegal garbage dumping by installing surveillance cameras at vulnerable locations across the city. According to MC officials, cameras have been installed at 14 identified dumping hotspots. A total of 35 CCTV cameras have already been installed and officials said more cameras will be put up at more locations. The move aims to curb the practice of unauthorised garbage dumping, particularly in public places. Officials said some people dispose of waste at unauthorised dumping sites. “Those found dumping garbage before or after the scheduled collection time or at unauthorised locations will be identified through CCTV footage and penalised,” an MC official said. Among the locations with the highest number of cameras is the central verge in the Tanda Road mandi area, where eight cameras have been installed. Eight cameras have been installed on the stretch from Kapurthala Road towards the Wariana dump site. Other locations where surveillance cameras have been installed include the area near Ranveer Classic, Focal Point and several other vulnerable spots identified by the civic body. Travellers cheer restoration of facilities at redeveloped Cantt rly station Rishika Kriti Tribune News Service Jalandhar, July 20 Passengers at the redeveloped Jalandhar Cantt railway station welcomed the restoration of key facilities on Monday, saying the upgraded facilities had significantly improved their travel experience. Several services had remained unavailable following the station’s inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, drawing complaints from commuters. With the facilities now operational, many passengers expressed relief and satisfaction over the enhanced convenience and comfort at the station. During a visit to the station on Monday, the air-conditioned waiting halls on the ground floor, which had Seating arrangements at the Jalandhar Cantt railway station; and (Right) escalators at platform no 1 start functioning again. TRIBUNE PHOTOS: SARABJIT SINGH remained closed earlier, were found to be open for passengers. Their reopening has brought relief to commuters as several of them, including children and the elderly, had earlier been forced to sit and sleep on the floor due to the lack of waiting space. Similarly, escalators on Platform No 1 had also been restored while benches that c m y b were removed to make space for the Prime Minister’s inaugural function had been reinstalled on the platforms. Additional seating arrangements have also been made on the first floor near the waiting halls for passengers shut- tling between platforms. The digital luggage locker facility, which was non-functional earlier, has become operational and now displays an instructional video to guide passengers on its use. The cleaning staff were also seen maintaining hygiene across the station. Raj Kumar, who was travelling to Bihar, said, “I work in Jalandhar and travel home every few months. Earlier, waiting for trains used to be difficult, especially during the summer. Now, there is an air-conditioned waiting hall and enough benches.” Another passenger Garima Singh, travelling to Delhi, said, “The station looks neat and organised. The new facilities are useful. It is a positive change compared to how the station was earlier.” Teams of railway officials are making regular visits to the station to monitor the amenities and oversee the remaining post event restoration work. A senior railway official from the team said the Railways, the event management agency and the staff of private contractor Deepak Builders are working together to remove the temporary infrastructure erected for the Prime Minister’s inaugural function. “Our focus is to restore all facilities and ensure they remain in good condition. Most of the amenities have already been put in place while the remaining work is being completed,” the official said. The redeveloped railway station was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi on July 17.