In brief

Mild tremors felt in city
CHANDIGARH: Mild tremors were experienced in the city late on Thursday night. The tremors were an effect of an earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale that rocked Hindukush Region in Afghanistan around 1:21 am.

H1N1 update: Six samples sent for tests
CHANDIGARH: Six fresh samples of suspected swine flu cases,including three of PGI resident doctors,were collected in the city on Friday even as the test reports of two samples collected on Thursday tested negative. According to officials,the three doctors belong to the paediatric department and have been admitted in isolation wards. The reports would come on Saturday.

PU pharma dept gets UGC resource centre
CHANDIGARH: The UGC Networking Resource Centre in pharmaceutical sciences was inaugurated on Friday at the Panjab University. Established with a grant of Rs 5 crore from UGC,the centre has been set up as a result of the recommendations of the Task Force established by MHRD to promote research in basic sciences. Exposure to modern facilities,techniques and training to post-graduates,researchers and faculty in the frontier areas will be the central theme of the MHRD initiative. The programmes are open to candidates on all India basis and selections will be made on merit. Professor Karan Vasisht,coordinator of the centre and chairperson of University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences,apprised the committee members about the goals of the centre.

PU youth festival from Nov 5
CHANDIGARH: The Department of Youth Welfare,Panjab University,will hold its 51st inter-zonal youth and heritage festival at Dev Samaj College for Women,Ferozepur,from November 5 to 8. Over 2,000 artistes,including winners of the recently concluded 12 zonal youth and heritage festivals,will participate in the festival which will showcase performances in theatre,music,dance and fine arts.

Silver jubilee celebrations at Vivek High School
CHANDIGARH: The silver jubilee celebrations of Vivek High School will kick off on Saturday with various events lined up,the highlight being a play ‘The Bremen Town Musicians and Other Creatures’ by the junior wing. An adapted version of the original ‘The Musicians of Bremen’ by The Brothers Grimm,the school play involves a huge cast of 350 performers in the age group of six to nine years. An in-house production,the play is directed by Mini Gandhok and Rouble Singh. The music has been composed by Rajinder Singh and Harvinder Singh,while Ragini and Puneet have breathed life into the play by their choreography. A musical with an underlying message,the play talks of compassion for all beings,especially the aged. ‘The Bremen Town Musicians and Other Creatures’ takes stage at Vivek High School,Sector 38,Chandigarh at 5.30 pm on October 30.

Parwanoo hospital to get certification
PARWANOO: The ESI Hospital in Parwanoo will soon become the first hospital in Himachal to get an ISO-9000 certification,said chief medical officer Harmohinder Singh.

Sector-35 residents oppose construction of school,booth market
CHANDIGARH: Residents of Sector 35 are raising objections to a new school and booth market proposed to come up in the area saying it will increase traffic chaos and congestion. The Administration had allocated a plot of land in Sector 35D for the proposed buildings. Maj Gen M S Kandal (Retd) said,“There are already three schools in the area. The proposed school is on a V-6 road where even buses are not allowed to ply. The school within the residential area would create problems for residents as traffic movement will be hampered.” The proposed booth market is also being opposed by residents claiming that children of the sector use the area as a playground. Area councillor Harjinder Kaur also supported the protest of residents. She said the concerns of residents need to be looked into before a final decision is taken.

Shirdari Sai Seva Samaj to take out procession tomorrow
PANCHKULA: The Shirdari Sai Seva Samaj is organising a special rath yatra in Panchkula on Sunday. The chariot will be taken across the city before the yatra culminates at Sector 2 here. “This is the first time that the yatra is being organised in Panchkula. A special bus service for residents of Chandigarh from the Shirdari Sai temple,Sector 29,would be provided. The yatra will start from Sector 10,opposite the bus stand,and culminate after passing through Sectors 8,9,7,16/15 roundabout,15,11 and 4,” said Anil Thapar.