Raakhi Jagga

The patient was brought to the Patiala hospital at 1:30 am after she needed a ventilator for her acute respiratory distress syndrome. None of the 14 ventilators at the Civil Hospital in Ludhiana were functioning.

Ludhiana district has over 15 lakh migrant labourers working in factories, as daily wagers, domestic helps and also in the organised and unorganised sectors.

Charanjeet Singh Vishwakarma, former president of United Cycles Parts and Manufacturers Association (UCPMA), said,"Who will be checking as to whether all are following safety norms or not? It shows lack of seriousness of Punjab government towards controlling a pandemic."

A group of 16 including two women and two toddlers reached Sadul Shahar around 11 am on Sunday – their sixth day on foot. As the borders were sealed, they entered through the forest area.

"We didn't know that the borders had been sealed so we walked through the forest area. If the Rajasthan government can help us reach our village, it would be a great help. The past few days have been an ordeal for us.”

"Just to favour one per cent of industry who have few pending orders, they have passed these orders. Arranging boarding, lodging and safety standards for all workers is not practical and where are we going to sell our product?," said Association of Focal Point Industries President.

Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has announced financial aid of Rs 3000 to each registered construction worker in the state. Who will benefit?

In Ludhiana, a hotelier Bittu Gumber has offered his hotel to doctors, nurses and other health professionals who are on duty at the civil hospital and are away from their homes. He has also offered to arrange food for them.

Ludhiana, which is among the most polluted cities of the country, was the cleanest city of India on March 23 with air quality index (AQI) of 35, according to the data sourced from the central pollution control board (CPCB)’s app ‘Sameer’.

Nawanshahr, which has been the epicentre of coronavirus cases in the state, reported no new case during the day.

Although the health authorities had stated in the morning that she had a travel history of Spain, it was mentioned in the government's evening bulletin that she had no travel history and source of her infection was being studied.

In Ludhiana, while police made grocery stores, chemists shut shop by 2 pm, there was still traffic on the roads. Many youngsters were out on Pakhowal road and even in Model Town area, without helmets.

India’s unorganised workers make up 82.7 per cent or 39.14 crores of the total 47.41 crore estimated employed persons, according to last NSSO Employment and Unemployment Survey, 2011-12.

The Punjab government has started a unique initiative which aims to reach out to the state’s youngsters and understand from them the problems plaguing their life.

The 60-year-old woman and 45-year-old man (unrelated) returned from Dubai on March 9. Both were admitted in hospital after complaining of chest pain Thursday evening, and their samples have been sent for testing.

“We were witnessing 10 to 20 per cent increase in sale in the past few days but Thursday people came in large numbers,” said Balwant Rai, the owner of the Mani Ram Balwant Rai store in the city.

“We do discuss the coronavirus every morning and evening after watching news channels and reading the papers. But our lives are going on as normal. We greet each as before and sit together, play cards,” says Major Singh.

Asked if they avoid shaking hands or hugging, most of the villagers gathered at the 'Sathh' say no. But some say, “We believe in 'Sat Sri Akal'.”

The 'village police officer' will maintain a record of the village and keep a check on festivals, cultural functions etc., apart from checking on anti-social elements. Ferozepur SSP Bhupinder Singh said, “The idea is to develop harmony between the people and police and get more details about them.”