The surge in Covid cases has failed to deter farmers from joining in large numbers at protest sites across Sangrur and Barnala. At many places, protesters are terming the Covid surge as an excuse by the government to weaken their agitation. The shortage of medical oxygen has become the latest ammunition against the protest, they claim.
No dip in numbers
Our protest has been going on for the past over 200 days and we have never seen a dip in the number of protesters. — Baljit Kaur, BKU (Ugrahan) Activist
Apart from protesting at the Delhi borders against central agricultural laws, farmers are up in arms against the tardy lifting of wheat in various grain markets of Punjab.
“Farmers continue to throng all protest sites, even though the agitation has been long and indefinite. We have not missed the protest even for a day and the number of participants continues to rise,” said Narayan Dutt, a farmer activist from Barnala.
Initially only elders and youngsters were visible at protest sites, but as they have to agitate against authorities to ensure timely purchase of their wheat, many families are sending their all members.
“Protests against the slow purchase of wheat are also happening simultaneously. The participation of farmers and their family members continues to get better,” said Baljit Kaur, a woman activist of BKU (Ugrahan) protesting at a petrol pump near Lehal Khurd village of Sangrur. Jagdev Singh Mangwal, a farmer protesting in front of a BJP leader’s house at Sangrur, says: “We have blocked almost all roads in Punjab and in coming days, we would block the remaining roads of other states too.”
Six soldiers from Punjab Regiment killed in Siachen
Two of the jawans, Sepoys Parabjit Singh and Amardeep Singh, belonged to Punjab
wo of the jawans, Sepoys Parabjit Singh and Amardeep Singh, belonged to Punjab. Tribune photo
Tribune News Service Chandigarh, April 26
In an unfortunate incident, six soldiers from the Punjab Regiment lost their lives in Siachen Glacier as the ice face on which they were present, carved in.
Two of the jawans, Sepoys Parabjit Singh and Amardeep Singh, belonged to Punjab.
“Saddened to lose 6 brave Jawans of Punjab Regiment in Siachen due to ice calving,” Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh tweeted late this evening.
“Government of Punjab will provide Rs 50 lakhs ex-gratia and a job to their next of kin. My condolences to their families,” he added.
The Punjab Regiment draws the bulk of its manpower from Punjab and some adjoining areas of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu region.
Siachen is known as the world’s highest battlefield and is characterised by extreme climate, deep snow, blizzards and temperature ranging up to minus 40 degrees Celsius.
In the past, there have been several incidents when troops, deployed at altitudes up to 21,000 feet, have fallen victim to climate and other natural calamities.
MP farmer donates Rs 2 lakh kept for daughter’s marriage to buy oxygen
Girl says noble deed of her father left her overwhelmed with joy; district collector hails gesture
Photo for representation. — PTI
Neemuch, April 26
Moved by the plight of COVID-19 patients and the growing scramble for medical oxygen, a farmer from Neemuch district in Madhya Pradesh has donated Rs 2 lakh he had set aside for his daughter’s lavish marriage to the local administration for buying the life-saving gas.
Champalal Gurjar, who hails from Gwal Deviyan village, has handed over a cheque for Rs 2 lakh to district collector Mayank Agrawal for buying two cylinders of medical oxygen one for the district hospital and another for Jeeran Tehsil where he lives.
Gurjar, who survives on farming, said he raised his daughter Anita with great care and wished that her marriage, which took place on Sunday, was a grand ceremony.
However, the pandemic situation made Gurjar change his mind at the last moment.
“….So to make my daughter’s marriage memorable I donated two lakh to the district administration so that they can buy two oxygen cylinders,” he added.
Anita said the noble deed of her father left her overwhelmed with joy.
“Right now, there is a dire need for medical oxygen given the surge in COVID-19 cases,” she said.
Collector Agrawal praised Gurjar’s gesture.
“If others take a cue from the farmer and donate, the fight against the pandemic will become a lot easier,” he said.
As of Sunday, Madhya Pradesh’s caseload stood at 4,99,304 and toll to 5,133, as per the state health department. PTI
DRDO develops single crystal blades for helicopter engines
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed single crystal blades that are used in helicopter engines and it has supplied 60 of them to the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the company’s indigenous helicopter development program, an official statement said on Monday.
Single crystal blades—having complex shape and geometry—are manufactured out of nickel-based superalloys that are capable of withstanding high temperatures, it noted.
Helicopters used in strategic and defence applications need compact and powerful aero-engines for their reliable operation at extreme conditions, the statement mentioned.
“The DRDO has developed single crystal blades technology and supplied 60 of these blades to HAL as part of their indigenous helicopter development program for helicopter engine application,” it stated.
The DRDO will develop total five sets (300 blades) of single crystal blades.
While one set (60 blades) has been delivered to HAL, the remaining four will be “completed in due course”, the statement said.
This single crystal blades technology has been developed by the Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL), one of the DRDO’s laboratories, it noted.
A few countries such as the US, the UK, France and Russia have the capability to design and manufacture single crystal components, the statement said. — PTI
Samyukta Kisan Morcha to hand out food packets, essential items to hospitals in Delhi
Already, farmers on the Ghazipur border are distributing food at the bus terminals, railways stations and hospitals in Delhi
Meals being distributed at the Bangla Sahib Gurdwara, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) is providing cooked meals to COVID-19 patients quarantined at home, in New Delhi. PTI
New Delhi, April 26
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farm unions spearheading the agitation against the Centre’s three agricultural laws, on Monday said they will distribute food and essential goods to hospitals in the national capital.
According to a statement released by the SKM, farmers sitting on several borders of Delhi will distribute food packets and other important goods to hospitals in the city.
Already, farmers on the Ghazipur border are distributing food at the bus terminals, railways stations and hospitals in Delhi. The packing process will be started on Tuesday at the Singhu border as well, it stated.
A group at Tikri border announced essential services will be provided and asked people to contact the SKM if any needy person in Delhi is not able to get food, the statement said.
Volunteers are helping vehicles carrying medical oxygen or other services that are coming in the way of the farmers protest to reach the destination with full support, it added. PTI
Nearly 64,000 COVID care beds in 4,000 coaches provisioned across India: Railways
In Delhi, the Railways has catered to the full demand of the UT Government for 75 COVID care coaches with a capacity of 1,200 beds
Mukesh Ranjan
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 26
The Ministry of Railways on Monday announced that it has provisioned nearly 64,000 COVID care beds in around 4,000 coaches across the country, as it said so far 2,670 units have already been deployed at nine Railway stations.
In an official release the public sector surface transport monolith said it was “swiftly meeting the demands made by the states and the Union Territories (UTs)” for the facility of COVID care coaches.
“As per currently available data, these facilities are seeing a steady intake registering a cumulative admission of 81 COVID patients and subsequent discharges of 22 patients. None of the facilities have registered any casualties,” it said.
The updated position of the utility of these coaches positioned at the nine major stations in the States and UTs of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
In Delhi, the Railways has catered to the full demand of the UT Government for 75 COVID care coaches with a capacity of 1,200 beds. “Fifty coaches are positioned at Shakurbasti and 25 coaches at Anand Vihar stations. Presently, five patients were admitted at Shakurbasti and one patient discharged,” the Ministry said, adding that during the first wave last year (2020), 857 patients were admitted and discharged at Shakurbasti facility.
In Bhopal (MP), the Railway has deployed “20 Isolation Coaches” with a capacity of 292 beds, as 3 patients were admitted and are presently using the facility, it said, adding that in Nandrubar (Maharashtra), “24 Isolation Coaches with a capacity of 292 beds have been deployed. This facility has registered 73 admissions till date. Of the 55 patients’ admissions in the current COVID spell, 7 patients have been discharged. 4 new admissions were recorded during the day. The Unit has 326 beds still available for Covid patients”.
In UP, though coaches have not yet been requisitioned by the State government, 10 coaches each are placed at Faizabad, Bhadohi, Varanasi, Bareli and Nazibabad with a total capacity of 800 beds in 50 coaches, it said.
In this hour of crisis owing to sudden surge of COVID-19, Western Command assures its Veterans and their families of requisite medical care and other assistance. We are deeply concerned about your wellbeing, health and in particular safety from COVID-19. Towards this, we are not only up scaling our existing medical infrastructure but also setting up additional facilities to meet the challenge thrown by fresh wave of the pandemic. In Western Command all Service hospitals, ECHS Polyclinics and Ex Servicemen Cells have been instructed to pro-actively deal with COVID-19 cases of our esteemed Veterans and their families. Following measures have been instituted against COVID-19 in the area of Western Command :-
(a) All Service hospitals including Base Hospital, Delhi Cantt which has been recently converted into an exclusive COVID-19 facility, Command Hospital, Chandimandir and other Military Hospitals will be accepting ECHS beneficiaries and no one will be turned away by them.
(b) Regional Centres, ECHS will extend all possible help at empanelled civil hospitals end to include hospital admission & availability of beds etc to needy ECHS members. In case of any difficulty, officers mentioned at Para 2 below should be contacted.
(c) All ECHS Polyclinics will have duty Medical officer/ Nursing assistant available on mobile numbers after duty hours. OsIC Polyclinics will disseminate contact numbers to dependent ECHS beneficiaries of respective Polyclinics.
(d) In order to avoid exposure to COVID-19, tele health facility at www.sehatopd.in should be explored by ECHS beneficiaries for seeking requisite medical consultation from medical officers & Specialists.
(e) With immediate effect, as a preventive measure, OPDs at ECHS Polyclinics will be conducted on Prior Appointment basis as was being done earlier.
(f) Facility for local purchase of prescribed medicines on reimbursement basis has been extended till 31 Jul 2021. ECHS beneficiaries should explore this and avoid visiting Polyclinics for collection of medicines.
(g) ECHS Polyclinics will continue to facilitate registration for COVID-19 Vaccination for the Veterans and their dependents
EMERGENCY HELPLINE. Following mobile numbers will be available for medical assistance :-
(a) ECHS Polyclinics — Existing tele/ mobile numbers of Polyclinics and OsIC as promulgated by each Polyclinic.
(b)Regional Centres, ECHS. For assistance at ECHS empanelled civil hospitals :– (i) Dir RC-I Delhi Cantt : Col Sumit Malik – Mobile 8871402107. (ii) Dir RC-II Delhi Cantt : Col Sanjay Kumar -Mobile 8810641964 (iii) Dir RC Ambala : Col Sandeep Azad -Mobile 9800822020. (iv) Dir RC Chandimandir : Col NMS Thakur -Mobile 9501212045. (v) Dir RC Jalandhar : Col Sanjiv Malik -Mobile 7085520400. (vi) Dir RC Jammu : Col Gaurav Kanwal -Mobile 8794521617. (vii) Dir RC Yol (Under Raising) : Gp Capt HS Cheema – Mobile 7382056140.
(c) Stn HQ, ECHS Cells. For assistance in admission at Service Hospitals / guidance:- (i) Delhi Cantt : Lt Col NS Rathore – Mobile 7839414690. (ii) Ambala : Col JP Kaushik – Mobile 9469138041. (iii) Chandimandir : Col Shamsher Singh – Mobile 9633012117. (iv) Shimla : Col Upkar Singh – Mobile 9582891316. (v) Palampur : Lt Col Purshotam Singh – Mobile 7889790271. (vi) Yol Cantt : Lt Col Shaman Kumar- Mobile 8130337780. (vii) Patiala : Lt Col Raminder Singh – Mobile 9418610787. (viii) Jallandhar : Col Gurjeet Singh – Mobile 7976352486. (ix) Amritsar : Col M Ahluwalia – Mobile 8120287703. (x) Pathankot : Col BS Sandhu – Mobile 9876625800. (i) Jammu : Col Rajeev Datta – Mobile 9373277918.
(d) Service Hospitals – Helplines. For assistance in admission at Service hospitals/ guidance:-
(e) HQ Western Command. For guidance on any issue related to management of COVID 19, Stn Helpline (Chandimandir) can be contacted on Mobile – 9633012117.
We also seek assistance of our resolute Veterans’ community in fight against COVID-19 and call for volunteers with medical as well as non medical background to join us in beating the Pandemic. Volunteers may contact us on Mobile – 8847225937 and e- mail at : wcechs@gmail.com.
Finally, We assure all Veterans and their dependents of our continued support and wish them good health & happiness.
Serving the humanity is the core mantra that has been driving vice-president of the Ghaziabad Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee Gurpreet Singh as he has started a unique initiative of “oxygen langar” to help Covid-19 patients amid severe shortage of medical oxygen in the country.
Amid SOS calls and messages for oxygen cylinders and concentrations flooding social media platform, Singh Saheb (as he is lovingly called) said, “We have started ‘oxygen langar’ on the premises of Indirapuram Gurdwara in Ghaziabad. On a daily average for the past one week we have been providing life-saving facility to 70 to 90 persons on demand.”
For the purpose, the gurdwara has also brought out a helpline number 9097041313.
The remarkable feat of Col Chhewang Rinchen, Col Uday Singh, Subedar Mohinder Singh and Brig ML Whig
A view of the Colonel Chhewang Rinchen Bridge on Shyok river in Ladakh, which is named after the two-time MVC recipient. PTI
Lt Col Dilbag Singh Dabas (Retd)
The strategically important 400-metre all-weather bridge in Eastern Ladakh not only connects Darbuk with Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO), just 45 km from the LAC with China, but also provides a vital link for the people of Ladakh living in the interior areas with mainland India. It is most aptly christened Colonel Chhewang Rinchen Setu after the ‘Lion of Ladakh’, who fought all the four wars during his Army career — 1947-48, 1965 and 1971 against Pakistan and 1962 against China — and was decorated in all.
Chhewang Rinchen was born on November 11, 1930, at Sumur village in Nubra valley, north of Leh. In Nubra, his great grandfather was bestowed with the title ‘Lion of Ladakh’ for his bravery and his mother was revered as ‘Mother of Nubra’ for her compassion. Very early in his life, Chhewang inherited both the attributes; bravery from his great grandfather and compassion from his mother.
The invasion of Kashmir by Pakistan started in October 1947, placing Ladakh in grave jeopardy from the Gilgit-Baltistan raiders from the north. Since Leh and areas east of it were far from mainland Kashmir, news reached rather late. Chhewang was then in 10th standard studying at Leh.https://467491588e17c27dc1cf96f5ff0237b6.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
While he was waiting for his results, he learnt that Pakistani raiders had reached Zojila and were heading towards Leh. He also learnt that another axis for the raiders to reach Leh was via Gilgit-Skardu-Turtuk through Nubra valley, his homeland. It was June 1948.
Chhewang, then about 17-and-a-half, without informing anybody, trekked back to his village with a mission: not to allow the enemy to encroach upon Nubra. During his frantic move from village to village for 10 days, he gathered 28 volunteers, named them ‘Nubra Guards’ and reported to the nearest Army post at Turtuk to join the fight to stop the intruders from entering the valley. After about 10 days of basic training in field craft and handling weapons, Chhewang, along with his band of Nubra Guards, formally joined 7th J&K Militia as a soldier on July 25, 1948.
Brigadier Mohindar Lal Whig
The cardinal attributes of Sepoy Rinchen — resourcefulness, leadership qualities and loyalty to his paltan — did not go unnoticed; just about a month later, he was promoted to the rank of Jemadar.
In September 1948, Jemadar Chhewang Rinchen of 7th J&K Militia, while negotiating a height of 17,000 feet under heavy snow and extremely inclement weather, led the charge by the 28 Nunus (Ladakhi term for the young ones) onto the intruders and recaptured the tactically important Lama House from the enemy in Nubra sector.
In another daring action, having marched for three days through heavy snow blizzards, he launched a fierce attack on the most dominating feature near Biangdangdo and captured it. This action was immediately followed by the capture of Tukkar Hill, the last enemy bastion in Leh tehsil, which involved crossing of a snow-clad mountain over 21,000 feet. During the last action, half of his platoon was suffering from frostbite but under his inspiring leadership and following his example of personal bravery, his men accomplished the seemingly impossible feat.
Colonel UdaySingh
For his daring act of taking on the enemy far superior in number, and recapturing the lost ground, Jemadar Chhewang Rinchen was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, becoming the youngest to get the second highest gallantry decoration.
On June 1, 1959, Rinchen, MVC, now a Subedar, was granted Temporary Commission and was posted to 14 J&K Militia as Second Lieutenant. In the 1962 India-China conflict, he was awarded the Sena Medal for leading a rescue patrol near Chandni Post in DBO.
During the war with Pakistan in 1965, Chhewang Rinchen, now a Captain, was Mentioned in Dispatches for his commendable role in defending the territory in Nubra valley which he had recaptured in 1948.
In 1971, now a Major, he led a company-sized composite group called ‘Dhal Force’ against a strongly held Pakistani post on Point 18402. After a bitter fight, the force successfully recaptured the post (one of the highest captured in Ladakh) and also the tactically vital and strongly held Chalunka complex of the enemy. Seeing the enemy in hasty retreat, he daringly exploited the success and captured almost 800 sq km of Turtuk area which was in illegal occupation of the Pakistan army.
For this daring operation against all possible odds, he was awarded the Bar to the Maha Vir Chakra (the award won second time). The battle account reads:
“Major Chhewang Rinchen of Ladakh Scouts was the commander of the force assigned the task of capturing the tactically vital and strongly held Chalunka complex of the enemy in Partapur sector north of Leh. The complex consisted of nine strongly held positions, each fortified with mine and wire obstacles. Major Rinchen planned and executed the operation with professional competence and great zeal. Under most adverse weather conditions, Major Rinchen led his men displaying aggressive spirit and cool courage, moving from bunker to bunker, exhorting and encouraging his men to destroy the enemy, making the operation a complete success.”
Chhewang Rinchen retired from active service in 1980. However, on popular recommendations, he rejoined the Army in 1983 in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Before his final retirement in 1985, he was conferred the honorary rank of Colonel.
Not just the 400-metre Darbuk-DBO Bridge in Eastern Ladakh, another strategically important post in Siachen Glacier is named Rinchen Post.
Chhewang Rinchen is not just the youngest Maha Vir Chakra awardee, the award he won twice; he is the only awardee in the Indian Army to have been decorated during all the wars he fought while in service.
The 1971 India-Pakistan war in the northern theatre, covering the border from J&K in the west to Eastern Ladakh, saw the emergence of three more Maha Virs — Colonel Uday Singh, Subedar Mohinder Singh and Brigadier ML Whig. Col Uday Singh, son of Khet Singh, a Rathore Rajput from Gharaha village in Jodhpur, after matriculation from Sir Pratap Singh High School, Jodhpur, joined the Joint Services Wing (JSW) and was commissioned into 8th Gorkha Rifles on June 4, 1950.
In 1971, Uday, now a Colonel, was given the command of three Ladakh Scouts infantry companies and a section each of mortars and machine guns to recapture Indian territory from Chalunka to Turtuk north of Leh, held strongly by a PoK infantry battalion in Nubra.
The task involved movement on manpack and animal transport, mostly by night, at sub-zero temperature at an altitude up to 18,000 feet and above. It is due to the sheer grit and determination of Colonel Uday and his Gorkhas fighting against all possible odds that today, not just Tyakshi, Turtuk and Chalunka, but also around 800 sq km territory is back where it belonged — India.
For his conspicuous gallantry, outstanding leadership and cool courage in the face of the enemy superior in number throughout this 10-day successful operation, Col Uday Singh was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra.
Subedar Mohinder Singh, son of Sardar Bodh Singh, hailed from Sham Nagar village in Amritsar district. During the 1971 war, while commanding No. 9 platoon of ‘C’ Company, a Sikh company of 18 Punjab, in the Kargil sector, he went way beyond the call of duty and undeterred led his platoon uphill from the front for the capture of a height that had defied capture by the Indian Army’s earlier attempts twice over.
After reaching the assaulting distance, he gave the cry ‘Bole So Nihal’ and before the mighty Sikhs of No. 9 platoon of 18 Punjab followed with the iconic words ‘Sat Sri Akal’, they were already bayoneting one enemy after the other just short of the targeted height, with Subedar Mohinder in the lead. After half an hour of hand-to-hand fight, the highest point, that overlooked the Srinagar-Leh highway, was back with the Indian Army.
After the ceasefire on September 23, 1965, overlooking the agreements, the Pakistan army captured certain key Indian localities in the Poonch and Kargil sectors. Both needed to be recaptured, the ones in the Kargil sector on priority since some of these overlooked the Srinagar-Leh highway from where, with observed artillery fire, the enemy could interdict the transport carrying supplies for the Indian Army operating right up to the LAC in Eastern Ladakh.
For his bold planning, and quite often, being in the forefront to ensure its execution, Brig Mohinder Lal Whig, ex Gorkha Rifles, son of Sardari Lal Whig of the reputed Whig family of Amritsar, while commanding 121 Independent Infantry Brigade Group, was also awarded the Maha Vir Chakra during the 1971 India-Pakistan war.
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