Regional Beat — Chandigarh

Train
Shimla: The Northern Railway today introduced a direct train between Mumbai and Kalka. The decision of the Railway Ministry comes in wake of the proposal submitted by Himachal Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal to Union Railway Minister Nitish Kumar. A spokesman for the Railway Ministry said the bi-weekly train (No. 408) will leave Kalka at 6.30 p.m. and reach Delhi at 11.40 p.m. It would touch important towns like Mathura, Kota, Nalda, Ratlam, Baroda, Surat and Balksar. From Mumbai, the train will start on September 30.

Mourned
Chamba: District unit of Himachal Vikas Congress held a condolence meeting to mourn the untimely death of Madhukar, general secretary, HVC. Madhukar died in a bus accident near Mandi. P.C. Obroi, president, Chamba HVC, said that a resolution had been passed, remembering the great soul. It was mentioned that Madhukar spent his whole life for the betterment of the state employees and poor class of the society. He took active part in employees agitation from 1970 to 1983. Expressing sympathy with his family, he urged the party chief and government to help his family with adequate funds in form of relief.

Bank
Chandigarh: The All India Minority and Dalit Front will open an overseas branch in North America to serve the Indian minorities and Dalits there. Punjab Information and Public Relations Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan, who is national president of the Front, said that a 20-member team, including seven office-bearers headed by Gurbax Singh Sanghera had been nominated to run the North American branch.

Camp
Patiala: Lions Club, Patiala Central, will hold an orthopedic camp in the community centre at Tripuri on October 2. Dr Pritam Singh, MD (USA), Fellow of American Academy of orthopedic Surgeons, will provide free consultation to the patients. The Club will give free medicines to poor patients.

Demand
Chandigarh: The members of Joint Action Committee of Ranjit Sagar dam project met Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here today and submitted their charter of demands. Information and Public Relations Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan was also present on this occasion.

Civic Polls
Chandigarh: The next general elections to Faridabad Municipal Corporation, 19 Municipal Councils, 59 Municipal Committees, 19 zila parishads, 111 panchayat samitis and more than 5958 gram panchayats in haryana will be held before December next year, State Election Commissioner, J K Duggal said.