Krunal Pandya's Effort In Vain as Baroda Lose to Chandigarh
Despite an unbeaten 40 runs and two wickets from Krunal Pandya, Baroda suffered a three-wicket defeat against Chandigarh in a Group A match of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 tournament.
3 killed, 3 injured as car rams into canal bridge in Haryana
Beyond Chandigarh, The Other Seat Of Power That Shapes Punjab's Politics
The SGPC does not possess the constitutional authority of a government. Yet it influences public debate, supports education and welfare, intervenes in community concerns and occupies a central place in Sikh institutional life.
SMAT 2026: Jharkhand open title defence with win; Saurashtra, Andhra, Gujarat register victories
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Nov 14 (IANS) Defending champions Jharkhand began their Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title defence on Saturday with a six-wicket win over Mizoram, while Saurashtra, Andhra and Gujarat also registered victories on day one of the league stage. At Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Jharkhand needed just 8.3 overs to complete a chase of 77. Jharkhands bowlers, led by Harsh Rajs 3-16, were disciplined in bundling out Mizoram for 76. Chinmay Sutar, who had a prolific first half of the Ranji Trophy season, including hitting an unbeaten 400 against Nagaland, made only 19 off 15 balls. For Mizoram, there was nowhere to hide once their innings folded at a modest total. Utkarsh Singh made 45 not out off 26 balls, laced with five fours and three sixes, as Jharkhand wrapped up the chase despite losing four batters. At the Holkar Stadium in Indore, Vaibhav Sooryavanshis first match as Bihars captain ended in defeat. Saurashtra, playing in their Elite Group B game, chased down 138 with 21 balls to spare, winning by five wickets. Bihar, who chose to bat after winning the toss, finished on 137/9. Prithvi Raj top-scored with 38 off 27 deliveries, hitting four sixes, while Altamish contributed 24. Sooryavanshi, who was the centrepiece of attention of the sparse crowd in the stadium, made a 12-ball 18 before being dismissed caught and bowled by left-arm seamer Chetan Sakariya. For Saurashtra, Sakariya returned with 3-33 in his four overs, while Prerak Mankad was even tighter, finishing with 3-20. Skipper Jaydev Unadkat and Krains Fuletra each picked up a wicket. Harvansh Singh set the tone for Saurashtras chase with 33 off just 11 balls, studded with three fours and three sixes, while Harvik Desai made 21. Ruchit Ahir and Sidhant Rana remained unbeaten on 21 each as the target was reached in 16.3 overs. Suraj Kashyap was the best bowler for Bihar with 3-39, while Sakariya was adjudged Player of the Match. It was a forgettable start to the captaincy stint for Sooryavanshi, who is also slated to join the India A team for the Rising Stars Mens Asia Cup, to be played in Doha from November 19 to 29. In an Elite Group C fixture in New Chandigarh, Andhra defeated Tripura by 43 runs. Batting first, Andhra could manage only 141/9 in their 20 overs, with SNDV Prasad hitting an unbeaten 33-ball fifty. But that proved to be enough as Tripura were dismissed for 98 in 17.2 overs. Pacers Cheepurapalli Stephen and KV Sasikanth took three wickets each for Andhra, as Tripuras batters fell without showing any fighting spirit and failed to bat out their full quota of overs. At the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, riding a late surge from Ashutosh Sharma (20 not out off nine balls) and Vishal Jayswal (22 not out off eight balls), Gujarat posted 250/9, enough to secure a 21-run victory. Skipper Urvil Patel hit a blistering 30-ball 62, including six fours and four sixes, while debutant spin-bowling all-rounder Khilan Patel, who was a member of the India team that won this years Mens U-19 World Cup, smashed a fluent 84 off just 29 balls, including six fours and eight sixes. For Odisha, Lalit Yadav and Debabrata Pradhan starred with the ball, each scalping three wickets. Despite a 49-ball 87 from Subhranshu Senapati and Kartik Biswals 32-ball 55, Odisha fell short of the target, finishing at 229/8. Left-arm pacer Arzan Nagwaswalla picked 4-50, while leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi took 2-37 in his four overs.
Punjab Triumphs Over Haryana in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Opener
Punjab beats Haryana by four wickets in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, while Mumbai, Chandigarh, and Puducherry also secure victories. Punjab Triumphs Over Haryana in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Opener
Haryana rights panel seeks time-bound safety audit of all schools after Panchkula girl assault case
Digital Desk | Chandigarh, Nov 14 (IANS) Taking serious cognisance of the alleged assault on a six-year-old girl by a schoolmate at Government Model Sanskriti Senior Secondary School in Sector 20, Panchkula, the Haryana Human Rights Commission has called for a comprehensive review of child-safety arrangements in schools across the state. The Commission has urged the State Government to consider conducting a time-bound safety audit of all schools in Haryana and prepare a concrete action plan to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. Following the incident, Commission Chairperson Justice Lalit Batra, accompanied by Assistant Registrar Puneet Arora, visited the school on October 31 to inspect the existing safety arrangements and mechanisms for supervising children. During the visit, various aspects of school safety and student supervision were examined. After the inspection, Justice Lalit Batra told the media that the Commission would conduct a detailed examination of the circumstances surrounding the incident, including possible shortcomings in the school's safety and monitoring arrangements, and recommend necessary improvements. In an order dated November 13, 2026, passed in Suo Motu Case No. 3555/7/14/2026, the Commission observed that ensuring the safety of every child within school premises is a fundamental responsibility of the concerned educational institution and the administration. It noted that the alleged assault on the six-year-old girl was not merely a case of negligence at an individual school but also raised several serious concerns regarding the supervision of children, availability of teachers, classroom arrangements, monitoring of CCTV cameras and emergency response mechanisms. The incident occurred on October 28, following which the girl sustained multiple serious injuries. After being referred from Civil Hospital, Sector-6, Panchkula, she was shifted to PGIMER, Chandigarh, for further treatment. On November 1, her condition had stabilised, and she was out of danger. The Full Commission, comprising Chairperson Justice Lalit Batra, Member Kuldip Jain and Member Deep Bhatia, has stressed the need to examine the number of teachers and staff members deployed to supervise students when the incident occurred. It has also sought clarity on whether children belonging to different age groups and classes were being taught together, how CCTV cameras were being monitored and why timely assistance could not be extended to the injured child. The Commission observed that taking action against individual employees alone would not be sufficient to address the matter. It emphasised that identifying the systemic shortcomings and administrative deficiencies that may have contributed to the incident was equally important to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Referring to the Haryana School Safety Regulations, 2017, and the Ministry of Education's Guidelines on School Safety and Security, 2021, the Commission underlined the importance of establishing effective School Safety Committees, maintaining child protection documents, supervising students' movement, ensuring emergency communication arrangements and preparing comprehensive crisis management plans. It also highlighted the need for adequate supervision of children's activities inside classrooms and throughout school premises, along with proper CCTV coverage at sensitive locations and regular monitoring of camera feeds to ensure that any untoward incident is detected and addressed promptly. The Commission further clarified that compliance with the prescribed pupil-teacher ratio (PTR) of 30:1 under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, should not be interpreted to mean that a teacher can leave 30 children without supervision. Similarly, the prescribed ratio does not automatically permit schools to combine another group of 30 students belonging to different classes in a single classroom. It stressed that schools must ensure adequate staff availability and appropriate classroom arrangements according to the age and educational requirements of students. The Commission has made it clear that the purpose of these recommendations is not restricted to strengthening surveillance and monitoring within school premises, but to establish a secure and supportive educational environment that facilitates the emotional, social and psychological development of children. Among the key recommendations, the Commission has stressed the need to organise regular awareness programmes for parents focusing on positive parenting, children's emotional development, non-violent disciplinary practices and the importance of understanding behavioural changes in children. On CCTV surveillance, the Commission has called for strict enforcement of the provisions contained in the Haryana School Safety Regulations, 2017. It has recommended installing adequate cameras at crucial locations, including corridors, staircases and classroom entrances, to ensure effective monitoring of school premises. The Commission observed that simply installing CCTV cameras would not serve the intended purpose unless their functioning was regularly checked and monitored. It has also recommended the implementation of a uniform and comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) across all schools. The SOP should clearly define arrangements for classroom supervision, movement of students, deployment and duty allocation of teachers, prevention and reporting of bullying, emergency medical assistance, communication with parents, preservation of CCTV footage and reporting of serious incidents. Considering the seriousness of the matter, the Haryana Human Rights Commission has also sought detailed reports from five senior authorities, namely the Principal Secretary of the School Education Department, Haryana; Commissioner of Police, Panchkula; Deputy Commissioner, Panchkula; Director, PGIMER, Chandigarh; and Director General of Health Services, Haryana, along with the Civil Surgeon, Panchkula. The Commission has also made it clear that the identity and personal particulars of both children involved in the matter must remain strictly confidential in all reports, official records and subsequent proceedings, in accordance with applicable child protection and juvenile justice laws. The Commission has scheduled the next hearing in the matter for January 28, 2027.
5,785 stubble burning incidents in Punjab; 388 cases in Patiala; fines to tune of Rs 2.09 Cr imposed
Digital Desk | Chandigarh, Nov 14 (IANS) Punjab has reported 5,785 incidents of stubble burning so far this year, including 388 cases in Patiala district, even as nearly 98 per cent of paddy harvesting has been completed across the state. The Punjab authorities have intensified enforcement measures to curb stubble burning, imposing environmental compensation worth over Rs 2.09 crore. According to the latest report released by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) on November 13, a total of 5,785 stubble burning incidents have been recorded across the state during the ongoing harvesting season. As per the report, 5,312 fields were inspected to identify incidents of stubble burning, while 2,347 fire incidents were physically verified. Following inspections, 2,095 Environmental Compensation (EC) cases were registered, and penalties amounting to Rs 2,09,15,000 were imposed. Of this amount, Rs 39,35,000 has been recovered so far. The authorities have also registered 1,669 FIRs in connection with stubble burning incidents, while red entries have been made in 1,971 land revenue records. Additionally, 1,603 warning notices have been issued to those concerned. In Patiala district, around 98 per cent of paddy harvesting has been completed, while 388 stubble burning incidents have been reported so far. According to the district-level data, 340 fields were inspected, and fire incidents were physically verified at 217 locations. The authorities registered 162 Environmental Compensation cases in Patiala and imposed fines totalling Rs 8.15 lakh, of which Rs 3 lakh has been recovered. The district also recorded 209 FIRs, while red entries were made in 136 revenue records. As many as 390 warning notices were issued in connection with the violations. A district-wise analysis shows that Ferozepur recorded the highest number of stubble burning incidents at 794, followed by Tarn Taran with 695 cases and Sangrur with 674 cases. Patiala reported 388 incidents, while Ludhiana recorded 300 and Fazilka reported 211 cases. The report further stated that no charge sheets had been issued and no suspension orders had been passed against any nodal or supervisory officer in the state as of November 13. With almost the entire paddy harvesting process nearing completion, the authorities continue to monitor the situation and take action against farmers found burning crop residue in their fields.
500 kVA transformer dismantled in 2 hours, 300kg copper stolen
AAP releases first list of 9 candidates for MC polls
Chandigarhs AQI rises to 117, air quality slips to moderate
CBDC ration subsidy scheme faces redemption hurdles
Beneficiaries Struggle To Use Digital Tokens At Ration Shops
CCTV footage, postmortem point to husband in murder case
FIR against Kangana Ranaut over X post on Gandhi family deaths
Realtor shot dead in Sonipat; 8th murder in a week
Gunshots & drowning, 3 Punjab cops dead in a day
Mann defends changes in AAPs second list, says party has roles beyond election tickets
Woman found bludgeoned to death in Sec 10 park; husband arrested
AAP MLA Madan Lal Bagga rejects rumours of quitting party
Waiters tips are regular income, cant be excluded from accident payout: HC
Mann defends AAPs second list, says party has roles beyond poll tickets
Punjab tops farm-fire count; smoky week ahead as clock ticks on ideal sowing time
Mann accuses BJP of defaming Punjab over Delhi smog
Pargat backs PCS aspirants, demands probe into irregularities in Mains results
Not in our backyard: Residents cry foul over sewage plant near Sector 118
After days respite, Punjab reports 214 new farm fire cases
Punjab waives Rs 518 crore in power bill penalties, interest; 25L consumers to benefit
Officials told to ramp up preparations for Shaheedi Sabha
Peace in J&K hinges on trust & political participation, say ex-Army commanders
Bullet from own pistol kills ASI; accident, say police
Ballabgarh tops NCR pollution chart with AQI of 419; Haryana steps up stubble-burning vigil
Himachal cabinet clears Rs 1,500 monthly aid for 3.5L women, 300 units free power
High court pulls up Gmada, civic body over delayed Samgoli waste plant
Type 2 diabetes hits young hearts harder than type 1, finds PGI study
Punjab ready for change after Congress, AAP failed to deliver: Nayab Saini
HC imposes Rs 50K cost on PSCSC for discriminatory implementation of judgement
Congress flags vote theft at village chaupals, questions ECs impartiality
Education must build character, responsible citizens: Governor
162cr bank fraud: ED files prosecution complaint against Lakhani India promoter
Sonias candidature from Rajasansi triggers dissent in AAP
ASI dies in accidental firing while cleaning service pistol in Amritsar park
FIR against BJP MP Kangana over posts on Gandhi family
Amritpal gets one-day interim bail for grandmothers last rites
AAP Unveils First Candidate List for Chandigarh Municipal Corporation Elections 2026
AAP announces its first list of candidates for the 2026 Chandigarh Municipal Corporation elections, emphasizing transparent governance. AAP Unveils First Candidate List for Chandigarh Municipal Corporation Elections 2026
NITTTR Chandigarh Accounts Officer Recruitment 2026
National Institute of Technical Teachers Training & Research, Chandigarh (NITTTR Chandigarh) has published the Recruitment 2026 notification for the post of Accounts Officer. Offline applications will be accepted till 27 November 2026. For complete details, candidates can visit nitttrchd.ac.in.
Gulab Chand Kataria, Manish Tewari, TS Shergill
The 10th edition of the Military Literature Festival was held in Chandigarh, with Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari and festival Chairman T.S. Shergill attending the event, which aims to familiarise young people with the armed forces, military history, national security and India's relations with neighbouring countries. Speaking about the objective of the festival, T.S. Shergill said the initiative was intended to reach out to the youth of Punjab and the country, instilling in them the values of nationalism, enthusiasm and a deeper understanding of the armed forces. We are doing this for the youth of Punjab and India. We want to instil in our children the qualities of the armed forces, such as nationalism and enthusiasm. And not just enthusiasm, we also want to give them knowledge, Shergill said. He said that even if 10 per cent of the young participants understood and developed an interest in the subjects discussed at the festival, it would be a signif...
Another setback for AAP in Punjab: Sukhdeep Singh Chhina resigns from posts, primary membership
Verka milk prices hiked by up to Rs 8; new rates kick in across Punjab, Delhi-NCR
DC flags traffic congestion, drug menace and unauthorised constructions as priorities
Car rams bike in Panchkula, youth killed
Experts discuss ways to bridge military needs & industrial capabilities
Chandigarh Police transfers six DSPs, inspector in administrative reshuffle
Eight observers to supervise Chandigarh MC elections
Threat to Kejriwal: AAP claims BJP link; ridiculous, it retorts
Congress treads cautiously on ticket selection amid factional pulls
Rs 5 lakh grant for Jyotis family; order cites electrocution
Meet Hayer back in state electoral arena, picked for Barnala
Sukhbir Badal's meeting with Bibi Jagir Kaur postponed
Punjab publishes draft voter rolls; claims open till Dec 11
Panel mulls relief for youth held despite bail
Sector 39 mandi plan: 3 auctions but no takers
After a dogged pursuit, Panchkula MC finally sets up stray feeding point in Sector 2
Dr HS Judge, who funded PU dental college, passes away
Israeli strategist calls for shift in India defence ties from buyer-seller to genuine co-development
Jakhar dares Kejriwal to contest; Sukbhir says AAP wont win even 5 seats
Giant slayer Gurmeet Khudian fails to get nomination
SAD seeks CBI probe into irregularities in PCS exam results
Haryana sets Dec 31 deadline for Gurugram flood action plan, orders probe into drainage woes
Forgery case: HC rejects repeat anticipatory bail plea, terms it forum shopping
Haryana to convert 70% of investment MoUs into projects
12 arrested in sarpanch murder case, 17 pistols seized in separate ops in Tarn Taran
Six-time MLA from Rampur Singhi Ram quits BJP
ED files money laundering complaint against ADEL, 41 accused; 4,771 homebuyers duped of 1,075 crore
Inordinate & inexplicable: HC rejects RPF plea to condone 295-day delay in challenging acquittal
Congress to take Save Vote, Save Nation campaign to villages
AAPs second list for Punjab polls decoded: Big reshuffle with focus on lost seats
Digital Desk | Chandigarh, Nov 13 (IANS) The Aam Aadmi Party on Thursday released its second list of 31 candidates for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, taking its total declared nominees to 71. The list signals a major internal reset as the ruling party sharpens its strategy ahead of the polls. Of the 31 seats, 21 are constituencies that AAP had lost in the 2022 Assembly elections. Party leaders appear determined to reclaim ground in these areas by fielding a mix of new faces, local influencers and proven organisational workers. The emphasis on previously lost seats underlines AAPs intent to expand its footprint beyond the strongholds it retained in the last election. In a significant reshuffle, eight sitting MLAs have been denied tickets. The most prominent among them is Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian, who has been replaced in Lambi by his nephew Randhir Singh Dhira. Other sitting legislators dropped include former ministers Laljit Singh Bhullar and Anmol Gagan Mann, along with several other MLAs. Only two sitting MLAs from the constituencies covered in this list Saravjit Kaur Manuke (Jagraon) and Amandeep Singh Goldy Musafir (Balluana) have been renominated. The party has also fielded two sitting Members of Parliament. Sangrur MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer will contest from Barnala, a seat he had earlier represented as an MLA. Hoshiarpur MP Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal has been nominated from Phagwara. Their entry into the Assembly contest reflects AAPs strategy of bringing experienced parliamentary faces into the state political battle. The standout announcement is the nomination of renowned wrestler Jaskanwar Singh Gill, popularly known as Jassa Patti, from the Patti constituency. Widely referred to as the Virat Kohli of wrestling for his dominance in traditional dangals and titles such as Rustam-e-Hind, Jassa Patti replaces sitting MLA and former minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, who is currently in jail and had announced he would not contest. The move is seen as an attempt to leverage the wrestlers strong local popularity and rural connect in Tarn Taran district. The list also features several women candidates, including Sonia Mann from Raja Sansi, Vaninder Kaur Loomba from Shutrana and others. Candidates have been distributed across Majha, Doaba and Malwa regions. With 46 seats still to be announced, the second list indicates that AAP is prioritising performance, local appeal and organisational feedback over automatic renomination of incumbents. The coming weeks will reveal how the party balances continuity with change as it prepares for a high-stakes electoral battle in Punjab.
Unbeaten in 3 elections, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer returns to Barnala as AAP eyes another Punjab win
AAP drops Anmol, backs Goldy for Kharar
How Punjab is finding a use for its stubble
Haryana transfers 14 IAS, HCS officers in midnight reshuffle; major changes in Gurgaon civic bodies
FCIK slams RBI Regional office over ritual reviews amid deepening MSME distress
Srinagar, Nov 11:The Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) has sharply criticised the Reserve Bank of Indias Regional Office, Jammu, for failing to deliver tangible relief to distressed MSMEs despite successive meetings, repeated assurances and longstanding credit and rehabilitation mechanisms. Reacting to the 72nd Meeting of the Empowered Committee on MSMEs for J&K and Ladakh, FCIK said routine exhortations on liberal financing, credit guarantees and revival had displaced scrutiny of actual implementation. After 72 meetings, disclose how many enterprises were rehabilitated, financing deficiencies corrected and decisions implemented. Meetings held cannot be equated with results achieved, FCIK stated. The Federation said RBIs Regional Office must ensure that local economic conditions inform national banking policy, pursue corrective action on credit bottlenecks and recommend region-specific interventions. Having witnessed industrial distress for decades, the office must explain what it recommended, what action followed and why the same unresolved issues keep returning to its agenda. FCIK asked. FCIK said enterprises, particularly in Kashmir, had lost thousands of working days to turmoil, shutdowns, restrictions and natural calamities while interest, idle wages and statutory liabilities accumulated. Working capital was consumed by unavoidable expenses, while underfinancing, delayed assistance and costly emergency borrowings in the shape of overdraft with interest up to @18% pushed viable businesses into distress. Has the Regional Office placed a comprehensive assessment of disruption-related debt before the RBI Governor? What special measures has it recommended? Enterprises cannot remain indefinitely trapped between unserviceable debt and the loss of productive assets and family properties. FCIK observed. The Federation demanded meaningful resolution of legacy stress through rehabilitation, realistic restructuring and affordable settlements reflecting borrowers repayment capacity, the causes of distress and the need to preserve viable businesses. Expressing concern over complaints that banks allowed MSME accounts to become NPAs without timely intervention under RBIs Framework for Revival and Rehabilitation, FCIK questioned the Regional Offices monitoring. The framework requires early identification of stress and corrective action. Why do entrepreneurs report that meaningful engagement begins only with a recovery notice? Where are the assessments of rectification, restructuring and viability? asked FCIK. FCIK demanded a bank-wise account of eligible enterprises identified before NPA classification, considered for corrective action, restructured, revived or referred for recovery, with reasons for rejecting rehabilitation. What action has the Regional Office secured where banks bypassed these safeguards? Protection confined to paper offers no protection at all. FCIK observed. The Federation said NPA classification was often followed by SARFAESI notices and e-auction announcements while rehabilitation or settlement requests remained unresolved. Name and shame practices continued without giving distressed MSMEs a fair opportunity for rehabilitation or settlement, making revival even harder. In a closely knit society, public recovery campaigns damage an entrepreneurs reputation, business ties and chances of revival. FCIK also questioned repeated appeals for TReDS adoption without securing effective participation by government departments and PSUs purchasing from MSMEs. What has the Regional Office done to secure UT Government directions for their registration and time-bound acceptance of eligible invoices? Seller registration alone cannot unlock finance: public buyers must participate and accept invoices before those receivables can be discounted, observed FCIK. FCIK demanded disclosure of departments and PSUs on-boarded, invoices accepted, amounts financed and acceptance timelines, with deadlines to address gaps. Repeated references to TReDS at meetings do not release money trapped in unpaid bills. The Regional Office must help remove the administrative barriers preventing its use. The Federation further questioned its efforts to secure local access to debt adjudication for J&K borrowers compelled to pursue proceedings in Chandigarh at considerable expense and inconvenience. Acknowledging that establishing a Debts Recovery Tribunal falls within the Central Governments authority, FCIK demanded disclosure of the Regional Offices recommendations and follow-up for a tribunal in J&K or regular circuit sittings in Srinagar and Jammu. A remedy must be practically accessible, particularly when an entrepreneurs productive assets and home are at stake. Recalling its 2005 engagement with then RBI Governor Dr. Y. V. Reddy along 15 Deputy and executive Governors in Srinagar, FCIK said substantive dialogue had helped secure concessions and strengthen monitoring through Empowered Committees. Yet these committees, along the State Level Inter-Institutional Committee and its subcommittee, intended to rehabilitate sick units, failed to deliver and were subsequently abandoned. What happened to earlier concessions and rehabilitation mechanisms? Why did they disappear or become ineffective and what functioning alternatives replaced them? it asked. Urging the RBI Governor to review the Regional Offices performance, FCIK sought a time-bound programme for legacy-debt resolution, enforcement of rehabilitation safeguards, effective TReDS participation and accessible debt adjudication. The Regional Office must answer for the gap between RBIs stated objectives and entrepreneurs experience. Enterprises that survived decades of disruption deserve effective intervention. Another meeting ending with another assurance is no longer an acceptable response, FCIK concluded.
Punjab records 5,517 stubble-burning incidents; Ferozepur tops the list with 728 cases
Digital Desk | Chandigarh, Nov 12 (IANS) Stubble-burning incidents continue to be reported across Punjab amid the ongoing paddy harvesting season, with the state recording a total of 5,517 such cases so far, according to the latest report of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB). Of the total incidents reported across the state, Ferozepur is at the top with 728 cases, while 374 cases have been recorded in Patiala district, placing it fifth among districts with the highest number of stubble-burning incidents. The PPCB report, up to Wednesday (November 11), states that 96.65 per cent of the total paddy area of 32.87 lakh hectares in Punjab has been harvested so far. Meanwhile, the district administrations and the Pollution Control Board are closely monitoring the situation and taking action against farmers found burning crop residue. This comes as North India continues to grapple with the alarming pollution levels. As part of the enforcement measures, authorities have inspected 4,620 fields across the state, while physical verification of reported stubble-burning incidents has been carried out at 2,003 locations. The authorities have imposed fines amounting to Rs 85.90 lakh as 'Environmental Compensation' (EC) in connection with stubble-burning cases. Of this amount, Rs 37.55 lakh has been recovered so far. In addition, First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered in 1,259 cases, while 'red entries' have been recorded in the revenue records in 1,637 cases. The report further states that authorities have issued 1,435 warnings and show-cause notices to those allegedly involved in stubble burning as part of the action being taken to curb the practice. In Patiala district, around 98 per cent of the total paddy area measuring 2.314 lakh hectares has been harvested. Despite the high level of harvesting, the district has reported 374 stubble-burning incidents so far, officials said. Of these cases, officials have inspected 282 fields, while physical verification of the incidents has been completed at 184 locations. The district administration has also initiated enforcement action against those found responsible for burning crop residue. According to the officials, fines worth Rs 6.70 lakh have been imposed as Environmental Compensation in Patiala, out of which Rs 2.60 lakh has been recovered. Furthermore, FIRs have been registered in 153 stubble-burning cases, while 'red entries' have been made in the revenue records in 120 cases. Patiala has also issued 390 warnings and show-cause notices in connection with stubble-burning incidents, the highest number among all districts in Punjab, according to the report. The report also highlights that three fields in Patiala district have been identified where stubble burning was confirmed by non-AFL (non-Agriculture Field Level) officials. Across Punjab, a total of 147 such fields have been identified by the authorities. Among the districts reporting the highest number of stubble-burning incidents, Ferozepur is at the top with 728 cases. Tarn Taran follows with 687 incidents, while Sangrur has reported 628 cases. Bathinda stands fourth with 499 incidents, followed by Patiala with 374 cases. The authorities continue to monitor the situation and enforce measures to discourage farmers from burning crop residue, officials said.
LG Manoj Sinha congratulates SKIMS on historic expansion of over 94 Seats
Srinagar, Nov 11: In a historic academic milestone, the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, has secured over 94 additional seats at three levels: over 25 MBBS seats, 63 MD/MS/PG Diploma seats and six new DM superspeciality seats. The 63 postgraduate seats take the Institute's total from 143 to 206, an increase of about 44 percent. It is the largest expansion of teaching capacity in the Institute's history, and the full training pathway, from MBBS to super-specialty, can now be completed at SKIMS. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, in a congratulatory message, said the milestone advances SKIMS's reforms and realises the advanced training vision of the 2026 Quaternary Healthcare Summit, co-organised under the aegis of NITI Aayog. He congratulated the Director, faculty, doctors, nursing, paramedical and administrative staff for their hard work in making quaternary care a reality at SKIMS, and noted that the new programmes will enable youth from J&K and Ladakh to train locally and serve their respective Union Territories. The UT Administration will continue providing full support for faculty, infrastructure, and equipment so these new programs become centres of excellence and patients can receive advanced care, the Lieutenant Governor said. SKIMS Director Prof. (Dr.) Mohammad Ashraf Ganie briefed LG Sinha on the Institute's healthcare initiatives. He said nine MD/MS specialties have been introduced for the first time at SKIMS and SKIMS Medical College, Bemina: Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (4 seats), Pharmacology (4), Anatomy (5), Physiology (5), Geriatrics (2), Nuclear Medicine (2), Palliative Medicine (2), ENT (2) and Respiratory Medicine (2). A new PG Diploma in Anaesthesiology (D.A.) adds 12 seats. Seats have also been increased in six existing departments, led by Obstetrics & Gynaecology (6 to 15), Microbiology (5 to 10) and Hospital Administration (5 to 9). In super-specialty training, he said the National Medical Commission has approved two seats each in DM Neuro-Anaesthesia, DM Paediatric & Neonatal Anaesthesia and DM Clinical Immunology & Rheumatology. SKIMS has also launched new DrNB programmes, including the first DrNB in Cardiac Anaesthesia in J&K. The additional MBBS seats will give more young people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh the chance to become doctors in their own Union Territory. Nuclear Medicine brings PET imaging and targeted radionuclide therapy closer to patients, and for the first time in over four decades J&K will train its own MD-qualified nuclear medicine physicians, Director SKIMS said. He said Palliative Medicine, a first for SKIMS and available at only a few institutions in the country, and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation will extend dignified, holistic care beyond inpatient stays, supporting patients with advanced illness and those recovering from stroke, spinal injury and trauma. Geriatrics responds to an ageing population, while Respiratory Medicine and ENT add depth to chest and head-and-neck care. Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology will produce teachers and researchers for medical colleges across the region, and the DM programmes add expertise for complex neurosurgical, paediatric and autoimmune care, he said. Director SKIMS said the expansion carries forward the vision of the National Summit on Quaternary Healthcare: A National Strategy for Advanced Care, organised recently under the aegis of NITI Aayog in collaboration with AIIMS New Delhi, PGIMER Chandigarh, AIIMS Jammu and AIIMS Awantipora. The Summit underlined that advanced care must become a right of citizenship and not a privilege confined to large cities, and proposed a corridor linking district hospitals and tertiary centres with quaternary-care institutions. Trained manpower is the foundation of such a corridor. The new DM and DrNB programmes, together with Nuclear Medicine, Palliative Medicine, Geriatrics and Respiratory Medicine, build the specialist expertise on which quaternary care depends. The Institute's aim is to make SKIMS a national reference centre for advanced care and an institution of international standing, he said. This is a proud moment for SKIMS and for the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. These seats mean more skilled doctors trained in our own Union Territory and more specialist care close to home. They are the first dividend of the vision of the Quaternary Healthcare Summit 2026, and our administration is committed to elevating academics, patient care and research at SKIMS to national and international benchmarks and to building a Centre of Excellence for quaternary healthcare. We are grateful to the Honble Lieutenant Governor, the Honble Chief Minister and the Health & Medical Education Department for their guidance and support, Director SKIMS said. Looking ahead, in keeping with the vision of the Quaternary Healthcare Summit 2026, he said SKIMS will build on this momentum by expanding super-specialty training, strengthening research of international standard, and establishing dedicated Centres of Excellence in advanced and quaternary care, so that patients across Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh receive world-class specialised treatment close to home from highly skilled doctors, he said. SKIMS will continue to work with the Government, national institutions and its own faculty to carry the Institute's name forward at the national and international level, he added.
Phone grabbed from woman on scooter at traffic signal in Chandigarh.
