04112026-LT-01.qxd 04-11-2026 00:50 Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune CITY COP GETS UNION HOME MINISTER’S MEDAL KEY DRUGS STAY OFF CHEMISTS’ SHELVES AIG Pragya Jain becomes the only woman Punjab Police official ever to get the award. P2 A TOUCH OF INDIA AND A WORLD OF COUTURE Patients have a hard time getting prescriptions filled as psychotropic drugs remain unavailable. P3 » MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 30°C | MIN 15°C YESTERDAY MAX 31°C | MIN 15°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 5:32 PM Designer Anamika Khanna takes Indian couture to London for a dazzling Diwali celebration. P4 » FORECAST SUNRISE THURSDAY 6:40 AM » WEDNESDAY | 4 NOVEMBER 2026 | LUDHIANA Rahul’s Sangrur rally litmus Cracker wholesale dealers hope for good business, keep fingers crossed test for Cong ticket aspirants Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Making all efforts to prove their worth to party leadership Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 3 It is a do-or-die situation for Congress ticket aspirants in the city ahead of party leader Rahul Gandhi’s mega rally in Sangrur on Wednesday. Aspiring candidates are holding meetings, arranging buses and private vehicles and mobilising supporters in a bid to demonstrate their influence and organisational strength. With the rally widely seen as a test of political clout, aspirants from both rural and urban constituencies are leaving no stone unturned to prove their worth. According to party sources, the Punjab Congress has directed constituency incharges and senior leaders to bring at least 1,000 supporters each from their respec- Rahul Gandhi tive areas. Participation is expected to be closely monitored by party-appointed observers stationed along the route to Sangrur. “Leaders have been asked to submit details of buses, private vehicles and the number of people being ferried to the rally. Observers will keep track of participation from every constituency. After all, the ticket distribution will be based, to a large extent, on performance and show of strength,” said a Congress leader. Speaking to The Tribune, former MLA Kuldip Vaid from the Gill constituency said he would be taking over 1,100 people from the area to Sangrur through buses and private vehicles. “All rural constituencies, including Dakha, Raikot, Jagraon, Sahnewal and Gill, are sending at least 1,000 people each. Around 20 private buses and 30 other vehicles are being deployed from every constituency. Constituency in-charges are making every effort to ensure maximum participation and make the rally a grand success,” he said. Interestingly, Atam Nagar appears to have emerged as the centre of intense competition among aspirants, with expectations of one of the largest turnouts from the constituency. Congress leaders Kamaljit Karwal, Simarjit Bains and industrialist JS Thukral are all mobilising supporters in a bid to strengthen their claims for the party ticket. While Karwal is considered close to Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Bains shares a good rapport with former Punjab Congress chief Raja Warring. Thukral is also being viewed as a strong aspirant and represents the industrial community. Another party leader, Ishwarjot Cheema, said the party had already shifted into election mode. “The election battle has begun and the Congress is confident. Tomorrow’s Sangrur rally could prove to be a game changer,” he said. Ludhiana, November 3 As Diwali falls on November 8, wholesale firecracker dealers in the city on Tuesday set up shops at the main Dana Mandi near Jalandhar Bypass for the next week, hoping for brisk business in the runup to the festival. President of the Firecracker Association Pradeep Kumar said the dealers were allotted space at Dana Mandi today and had begun setting up stalls for retailers and other customers. “At present, we cannot say much about business prospects as there was hardly any footfall today. We are hopeful that by Wednesday people will get to know about the wholesale market and start making purchases,” he said. With most firecrackers sourced from Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu, which is known for its fireworks and cracker manufacturing industry, dealers have stocked a wide variety of products for customers. “Firecrackers for several districts around Ludhiana are supplied from here,” said another dealer. The dealers claim to have products catering to all budgets, from simple items to premium offerings. Among the costliest products is a firecracker priced around Rs 20,000 that bursts 100 crackers in a sequence. An anaar priced at Rs 2,500 produces sound effects along with colourful displays. The wholesale firecracker market witnesses brisk business every year, with sales often exceeding Rs 25 crore. Firecracker shops being set up at Dana Mandi in Ludhiana on Tuesday. >>> Day after arrest, shooter in gurdwara firing case dies in police custody Girl dies following ‘harassment’ by youngster, family stages protest, alleges police inaction Ludhiana, November 3 A day after a shooter was arrested by the Ludhiana rural police in the recent firing incident at Gurdwara Manji Sahib allegedly died in police custody on Monday night after he complained of chest pain while in police custody. The deceased was identified as Raj Singh, alias Raju, a resident of Nurpur Machhiwara village in Ferozepur district. He was arrested in connection with the October 28 attack on the gurdwara in Rajoana Kalan village. According to the police sources, Raju was being questioned in the firing case when he developed chest pain and his condition deteriorated. He was rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. The cause of death appeared to be a heart attack, though the exact reason would be known only after the postmortem examination. His family members, however, alleged that Raju was hale and hearty when the police took him into custody. His nephew Navdeep Singh, who reached the hospital, Nikhil Bhardwaj Death likely due to heart attack: Police claimed that the police had arrested his uncle in a perfectly healthy condition. A detailed investigation needs to be initiated in the case. Sudhar police station SHO Rajvarinderpal Singh said Raju was arrested on Sunday. After being produced in court on Monday, he was remanded in police custody for interrogation. Late on Monday night, during questioning, he developed anxiety and complained of low blood pressure. He was first taken to the Civil Hospital in Sudhar and later to a private hospital. When his condition worsened, he was referred to Global Heart Hospital in Ludhiana, where he died during treatment. Police officials claimed that the suspect was diabetic and had other health issues. The family had also informed the police that he had been unwell for a long time and was on medication. Autopsy will clear the cause of death and if any negligence by police officials was found, action will be taken. — TNS Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 3 Fed up with the alleged harassment by a youth and the apathy of the police administration, a PhD scholar, Raina Dhir (22), a resident of Harcharan Nagar, died under suspicious circumstances. To demand justice for their daughter, mother Seema Dhir, and other family members and relatives staged a dharna at CMC Chowk from 11 am to 5 pm on Tuesday. Throughout the protest, the grieving mother and family members kept appealing for justice. Leaders of various political parties reached the spot but the family alleged that they only came for a ‘’photo opportunity’’ and were not interested in extending justice. Deceased’s brother Rohan Dhir said Divansh Bagga had been harassing his sister for the past four months. On Monday night, the suspect created a ruckus outside their house and even opened fire, leaving the entire family terrified. On Tuesday morning, the Kin of deceased Raina Dhir (inset) hold a protest at CMC Chowk in Ludhiana. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN family was on its way to the local MLA’s office to lodge a complaint about the previous night’s incident. Raina had wanted to accompany them but they asked her to stay at home. When the family members returned from the MLA’s office, they found Raina lying unconscious in a room on the upper floor. She was rushed to a private hospital. After initial treatment, doctors referred her to the CMCH, where she was declared brought dead. The enraged relatives then held a protest on the road. According to the kin of the deceased, the family had finalised Raina’s match elsewhere last month. The suspect, however, approached the boy’s family and told them that he was in a relationship with her. The engagement was consequently called off. Her mother said when they got the suspect’s background checked, it was found that he was running an illegal gambling and cricket betting racket and had a bad reputation in the area. Hence, her family firmly refused to consider any alliance with him. After the refusal, the suspect began stopping the girl on the way and threatening to abduct her. An uncle of the deceased said Seema had donated her kidney to save her husband’s life yet could not save him. Since then she had been single-handedly raising her two children and was worried about her daughter’s future. The family had repeatedly approached the local police station and the MLA, seeking protection but no concrete action was taken in time. On the statement of victim’s brother Rohan Dhir, the Police Division 3 registered an FIR against Divansh Bagga, his mother Kajol Bagga and brother Chinu Bagga. ACP Anil Bhanot, when asked about allegations of suspect Divansh Bagga that the girl’s brother had opened fire at him and also damaged his car, told the media that allegations were being verified and action would be taken as per law. Poor condition of Gill Road claims life of gym trainer Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 3 The poor condition of Gill Road, which has been under construction for nearly two years, claimed the life of a youth on Tuesday. The victim, a gym trainer, died at the scene after his motorcycle slipped on the damaged stretch and a bus ran over him. The bus driver managed to escape. Bus ran over youth after his bike slipped on damaged stretch According to information, the MC, Ludhiana, had awarded the work under which the contractor laid a look road over the existing cement road. The new surface developed cracks within a few days. On Tuesday, a Bullet motorcycle slipped on the broken portion. A bus coming from behind failed to apply brakes in time and ran over the youth’s head, killing him instantly. The deceased has been identified as Deepak. People informed the police and called an ambulance. However, the government ambulance came only after over three hours. Hospitals see spike in respiratory illnesses as pollution levels rise in city Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 3 Government and private hospitals across the city are witnessing a sharp rise in patients suffering from respiratory illnesses, with doctors attributing the increase to worsening air pollution caused by stubble burning and changing weather conditions. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Ludhiana was recorded at 212 at 4 pm on Tuesday, placing it in the ‘poor’ category. In comparison, air quality remained significantly better during the latter part of October, with the AQI recorded at 92 on October 25 and 99 on October 30. Doctors at both government and private healthcare facilities reported a surge in patients suffering from asth- AQI was recorded at 212, placing it in ‘poor’ category Poor air quality and changing weather are affecting people’s health, say experts. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN ma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), allergies and other breathing- related disorders. According to data shared by health officials, nearly 20-25 per cent of patients visiting medicine and chest disease outpatient departments c m y b (OPDs) are suffering from respiratory ailments. At the Civil Hospital, around 80 of the nearly 300 patients visiting the Medicine Department OPD daily are being treated for asthma and other respiratory diseases, indicating that almost every fourth patient is facing breathing-related health issues. Health experts said the combined impact of deteriorating air quality and changing weather conditions was adversely affecting public health, particularly of those already suffering from respiratory ailments. Besides asthma and COPD cases, hospitals are also reporting an increase in patients suffering from cold, cough, viral infections and upper and lower respiratory tract infections. Symptoms commonly reported include persistent cough, breathing difficulty, congestion, fever and seasonal flu-like illnesses. Dr Akashdeep Singh, professor and head, Department of Respiratory Medicine (Chest), Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), said the hospital had witnessed a rise in OPD attendance over the past few days. “The increase in pollution levels has led to a rise in patients suffering from asthma, COPD and other respiratory illnesses. People with pre-existing lung diseases are particularly vulnerable during this peri- od and should avoid unnecessary exposure to polluted air,” he said. Dr Akhil Sareen, Senior Medical Officer (SMO), Civil Hospital, urged residents to take preventive measures to protect themselves from the harmful effects of pollution and smog. “People should wear masks while stepping outdoors, especially during peak pollution hours. Senior citizens, children and individuals suffering from respiratory diseases should minimise outdoor activities, stay hydrated and ensure they continue prescribed medications. Anyone experiencing persistent cough, breathing difficulty or worsening respiratory symptoms should seek medical attention without delay,” he said. Another medicine specialist advised people to avoid excessively cold food and maintain a balanced diet. She recommended consuming freshly prepared homecooked meals and limiting the intake of fried food items and sweets during the festive season as these can adversely affect immunity and overall health. Medical experts stressed that vulnerable groups, including senior citizens, children and patients with pre-existing respiratory conditions, should avoid prolonged outdoor exposure during periods of heavy smog and seek immediate medical attention, if symptoms worsen.