A special correspondent, Vishal Rambani is the bureau chief at Patiala. He covers politics, crime, power sector, environment and socio-economic issues, with several investigative stories to his credit.
Articles by Vishal Rambani
Punjab has 80% of stubble burning cases in North India: Central body
With the spike in farm fires, the air quality index of the state has also started deteriorating.
Updated on Oct 30, 2022 06:47 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
At 2,067, stubble fires double in a day in Punjab
In a major spike in the stubble burning, Punjab recorded 2,067 farm fires on Friday, which is not only the highest of this season so far but is almost double the previous day’s figures
Updated on Oct 29, 2022 05:07 AM IST
Farm fires: Punjab surpasses last year’s figures
On Thursday, Punjab recorded 1,111 farm fires, taking the number of stubble-burning incidents to 8,147. So far, the majority of the farm fires have been reported from Majha districts
Published on Oct 28, 2022 02:13 AM IST
Vishal Rambani & Anil Sharma, Patiala/tarn Taran
Farm fires in Punjab pick up as harvest winds up
Farm fires are expected to get more intense now with the farmers wrapping up harvest late this year due to heavy rains in September. The late surge, however, provided the much needed relief to Delhi-NCR where air quality on Diwali remained relatively cleaner both because of amenable weather conditions as well as lower contribution of farm fires to air pollution
Published on Oct 27, 2022 12:16 AM IST
Punjab saw 55% of this season’s farm fires in last 5 days
Satellites of Punjab Remote Sensing Centre on Wednesday detected 1,238 active fires in the state; on October 26 last year, there were just 329 active fire events while in 2020, 2,047 incidents were captured
Updated on Oct 26, 2022 09:03 PM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Guidelines go up in smoke, air quality dips in Punjab post-Diwali
Though the govt claimed a reduction in pollution vis-à-vis the previous Diwali, Punjab’s air quality index dropped from 153 (moderate) to 224 (poor) in a day
Published on Oct 26, 2022 12:51 AM IST
Diwali cracker guidelines go up in smoke, air quality dips in Punjab
Diwali night witnessed the highest number of farm fires of this season as 1,019 incidents were reported from Punjab. Tarn Taran, Patiala and Gurdaspur districts recorded over 100 farm fires each
Updated on Oct 25, 2022 03:36 PM IST
Unlicensed firecracker sales rule the roost in Punjab, ‘green cracker’ shoppers disappointed
The shops, stalls selling crackers without following the guidelines could be seen in most of the localities including those markets which are not accessible to the fire tenders.
Updated on Oct 23, 2022 10:57 PM IST
Vishal Rambani/Anil Sharma, Patiala/amritsar/jalandhar
At 582, farm fires in Punjab jump to daily high, but no drastic drop in air quality
Apart from Mandi Gobindgarh, where the air quality index jumped to 226, considered “poor”, the air quality in most of Punjab was within “moderate” or “satisfactory” levels
Published on Oct 23, 2022 01:16 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Freebies’ fiscal cost: Punjab doles out ₹50-cr daily power subsidy
State’s subsidy bill has reached to whopping ₹24,865 crore, including arrears of ₹9,020 crore, for providing free electricity but state has managed to pay only ₹8,611 crore.
Updated on Oct 20, 2022 11:22 PM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
70% stubble burning cases in Punjab from Majha alone
Of the total 2,625 stubble burning cases reported in Punjab so far this year, 1,823 cropped up in Majha region alone
Published on Oct 20, 2022 01:01 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Punjab sees two-fold jump in farm fires in a day
Another highest-single day spike as 403 incidents reported on Monday, Tarn Taran tops state with 170 cases
Published on Oct 18, 2022 12:13 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Punjab allows use of green crackers for 2 hours on Diwali, Gurpurb
The order says that on Diwali (October 24) and Gurpurb (November 8), green crackers can be burst from 8 pm to 10 pm and in two shifts from 4 am to 5 pm and 9 pm to 10 pm respectively
Published on Oct 13, 2022 03:25 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Punjab | Farm fires likely to rebound as rain delays paddy harvesting
With the region witnessing overcast skies and a temperature dip in the midst of the paddy harvest season, worries of the Punjab agriculture department pertaining to farm fires have increased manifold. Experts say farmers are more likely to burn stubble to make up for the lost time and quickly prepare their fields for the next crop
Published on Oct 11, 2022 01:58 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber & Vishal Rambani, Chandigarh/patiala
‘UDAN’ fails to take-off in Punjab; Incurs ₹3.45-cr losses to state
The scheme failed to take-off in Ludhiana, Pathankot, Adampur (Jalandhar) and Bathinda airports, while most of these stations as per officials have a vast scope for air traffic.
Published on Oct 06, 2022 10:52 PM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Stubble burning cases see a spike in Punjab, 350 cases recorded so far
As per the data provided by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), with 284 cases, Amritsar has reported the maximum number of farm fires so far while Tarn Taran, with 39 cases, stands at the second place. On Monday alone, the state witnessed 75 cases out of which 54 were reported from Amritsar and 12 from Tarn Taran. Ferozepur, Patiala and Gurdaspur districts reported two cases each on the day.
Published on Oct 04, 2022 02:08 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Sidhu begins 9-day ‘maun vrat’ during navratras
The former cricketer’s wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu, who is using his twitter handle, tweeted that Sidhu will not meet anyone for the next nine days and observe silence
Published on Sep 27, 2022 02:25 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Within 6 days of paddy harvest season kicking off, Punjab sees over 100 stubble burning cases
With 119 cases, Amritsar has reported the maximum number of stubble burning cases in Punjab so far. On Thursday alone, the district had 29 cases, while the day before, the count stood at 49; paddy harvesting starts early in Majha area of Punjab, which comprises Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Pathankot and Gurdaspur districts.
Published on Sep 22, 2022 11:12 PM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Freebies working against future of Punjab: Union power minister RK Singh
While addressing members of Patiala Industrial Association here, Union power minister RK Singh said that the financial situation of Punjab was deteriorating due to the state government’s free electricity promise
Updated on Sep 19, 2022 07:40 PM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
VB issues look-out circular against 2 ex-ministers, 3 former IAS officers
The Punjab VB will probe the role of former ministers, former chief secretary, and former irrigation secretaries for their alleged role in omission and commission of the scam
Updated on Sep 19, 2022 12:28 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Chandigarh/patiala
Five-star resort, plush apartments, prime properties: Punjab motor vehicle inspector lived life king-size
Kaler, who has a diploma in mechanical engineering, also owned luxury vehicles, costly watches, perfumes, and several imported gadgets
Published on Sep 15, 2022 01:24 AM IST
After top excise officials, ED raids properties of Punjab MLA Jaswant Singh
While the residences of top Punjab excise officials in connection to the alleged Delhi liquor scam, the ED searched Punjab MLA Jaswant Singh’s properties over allegations of ₹40.92 crore bank fraud
Updated on Sep 08, 2022 04:36 PM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
PSPCL witnesses peak power demand even in September
Due to increase in temperature, demand of power in Punjab has increased unprecedentedly not only during March to April but persistent dry weather in August and September is not letting the demand come down and peak demand in last four months
Published on Sep 08, 2022 06:08 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Chandigarh
Free travel for women in Punjab costs PRTC dear
According to official records, the PRTC on an average records a daily receipt of ₹ 2.2 crore, but almost ₹ 1.2 crore goes as free travel, cutting short the revenue of the state transport and making it fully dependent on the government. The previous Captain Amarinder Singh-led government had last year launched the scheme of free travel for women in government-run buses.
Published on Aug 31, 2022 03:36 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Sangrur RTA scam: Officials issued vehicle fitness certificate in 60 seconds
Officials in connivance with agents and middlemen were blatantly issuing fitness certificates without any physical verification of vehicles in lieu of bribes ranging from ₹2,800 to ₹1,000 per vehicle depending on the model
Published on Aug 22, 2022 12:58 AM IST
Ailing Punjab govt hospitals: Understaffed, overburdened Patiala medical college turns men into machines
Doctors at breaking point as staff crunch bites at Patiala medical college; super specialty wing with 14 new departments a non-starter due to lack of specialists, technicians; hygiene another big concern
Published on Aug 20, 2022 01:26 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Seven former Punjabi varsity officials under VB scanner for various scams
As per information, the office of the assistant inspector general of vigilance bureau (AIG) flying squad, Mohali has asked the Punjabi University registrar to ensure presence of the officials for the inquiry
Published on Aug 19, 2022 01:49 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Financial bunglings: ED seeks FIR details, to initiate probe
The ED will initiate a probe into the alleged financial dealings of chairmen of the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) and Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) in which the Punjab vigilance bureau (VB) has registered first information reports
Published on Aug 17, 2022 01:18 AM IST
Inmate escapes Patiala Central jail by scaling wall
Patiala Central jail officials found out about the escape almost five hours later; the inmate has been identified as undertrial Maninder Singh alias Mani of Lubana Karmu village, falling under Bakshiwala police station, and was brought to the jail about a week ago in connection with a theft and dacoity case
Published on Aug 13, 2022 03:52 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Punjab | Vigilance unearths ₹4.8 crore ‘scam’ in land purchase
An FIR has been registered on the basis of the vigilance inquiry. The inquiry hinted at the role of former minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot and his aides is also under scanner, vigilance officials revealed. The land purchased was used for compensatory plantation in lieu of deforestation in for various projects in the state.
Published on Aug 11, 2022 03:06 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Rupnagar
