Relief from severe cold as minimum temperatures rise slightly in Haryana, Punjab
Chandigarh: Minimum temperatures recorded a slight increase at many places in Haryana and Punjab on Thursday, providing relief from the severe cold conditions. Chandigarh witnessed bright sunshine after days of cold and foggy weather and the city recorded a minimum temperature of 9.2 degrees Celsius. In Haryana, Ambala recorded a low of 8 degrees Celsius, Hisar 8.5 degrees, Karnal 8.7 degrees, Narnaul 9 degrees, Rohtak 9.2 degrees and Sirsa 9.2 degrees, the Met office said in its weather report. In Punjab, Amritsar recorded a low of 10 degrees Celsius, Patiala 8.4 degrees, Pathankot 8.5 degrees, Faridkot 9 degrees and Muktsar 9.6 degrees. The minimum temperature in Mohali settled at 9.1 degrees Celsius. However, Ludhiana experienced a cold night at 6.6 degrees Celsius while Bhiwani in Haryana also recorded below-normal temperatures at 6.7 degrees. The weather office here said there was light rain at isolated places in the two states on Wednesday.
Punjab Stands to Benefit from the ongoing Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement between India and Australia
Chandigarh: India Australia Strategic Alliance, a key player promoting the bilateral relationship and economic cooperation between India and Australia, has announced further growth and development opportunities for Punjab under the recently signed Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) between the two countries. The growing economic and trade activities between India and Australia are expected to bring more investments, trade cooperation and economic development to Punjab. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Jagvinder Singh Virk, Chairman, India Australia Strategic Alliance, said “India and Australia have a solid and positive relationship, characterized by cooperation in various areas, including trade and investment, education, defence and security, and culture. Both countries are committed to strengthening their ties and have held regular high-level bilateral meetings between their leaders and ministers to discuss ways to expand cooperation.”
Two gang members arrested with illegal weapons in Haryana: Police
Ambala: Haryana police on Thursday arrested two members of a gang and seized illegal country-made pistols along with five cartridges from their possession. The arrested accused were identified as Bandhan Sharma and Aman Sonkar, both residents of Ambala Cantonment, said a statement from the Haryana Police. “Two illegal country-made pistols and one cartridge were seized from Bandhan Sharma while 5 country-made pistols along with 4 cartridges from Aman,” the statement said. The arrests were made after police got secret inputs that two men involved in heinous crime were roaming with illegal weapons. After receiving the information, police teams were formed and the accused were arrested with the illegal weapons. “It was found that both the accused are wanted in an attempt to murder case lodged in Ambala Cantonment police station. It was also revealed that 8 cases were registered against Aman in different police stations,” the statement said.
Food and Supply official held taking Rs 6000 bribe in Hry
Chandigarh: Haryana State Vigilance Bureau on Thursday caught a Head Analyst of the Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 6000 from a ration depot holder in Sonipat district. A Bureau’s spokesperson informed that arrested accused identified as Bhupender posted in Gohana had sought Rs 6500 in bribe from Ankit who runs a ration depot in Adarsh Nagar, Gohana for sending a good inspection report of the ration depot. It was also alleged that the accused was demanding Rs 1 per kg as commission on 65.26 quintals of millet meant for distribution to ration card holders. The deal was finally struck at Rs 6,000. After verification of facts, a trap was laid and the accused was nabbed while he was accepting the amount from the complainant.
Hooda demands resignation of Haryana minister booked for sexual harassment
Chandigarh: Senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Thursday demanded the immediate resignation of Sandeep Singh, who has been booked in a sexual harassment case, and said a fair investigation would not be possible if he remained a minister. Talking to reporters, Hooda, a former Haryana chief minister, said Singh should resign as a minister on moral grounds without delay. Without his resignation, a fair investigation would not be possible. Former Indian hockey team captain Singh has been accused in a sexual harassment case filed by a junior athletics coach.
Six of family killed in LPG cylinder blast in Panipat
Panipat: Six members of a family were killed in Tehsil Camp area near Bichpadi village in Panipat on Thursday morning following an LPG cylinder blast. The deceased are a man, his wife and their four children. The deceased have been identified as Abdul Karim (45), wife Afroza (40), daughters Ishrat (20), Reshma (17), and sons Abdush (12) and Afan (10). The family hailed from Uttar Dinajpur district of West Bengal. They worked at a private factory. The incident took place at around 6.30am on Thursday when Afroza was cooking food.
Himachal Guv and CM felicitate people on Lohri
Shimla: Himachal Governor, Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and Chief Minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu have felicitated the people of the State on the occasion of Lohri and Makar Sakranti. In his felicitation message, Governor said that these festivals bring happiness and prosperity in the lives of the people of the State. The Chief Minister in his message extended his greetings to all the people of the state and especially the destitute children, women and elderly across the State on the occasion. "I hope that the step initiated by our government to provide festival allowance to them will bring smile on their faces and make their Lohri special, he said. 'These festivals symbolises the celebration of the joy and prosperity, which are ushered in by a fresh harvest”, said the Chief Minister.
MCC organizes Lohri function at Sector 17 office
Chandigarh: The Municipal Corporation Chandigarh organized a colourful function to mark Lohri in office premises, Sector 17 on Thursday. City MP Kirron Kher was the chief guest while Sarbjit Kaur, Mayor and Anindita Mitra, Commissioner, were also present during the programme. Councilors of MCC and all officers and officials enjoyed the celebrations. The MP and Mayor distributed sweets, Mungfali and Gachak to the employees of MCC and extended their greetings to people on the occasion of Lohri and wished for endless happiness in everyone’s lives.