Vishal Rambani is an assistant editor covering Punjab. A journalist with over a decade of experience, he writes on politics, crime, power sector, environment and socio-economic issues. He has several investigative stories to his credit.
Articles by Vishal Rambani
Power plants hit in Punjab; 70-80% supply restored in state
The Northern Grid failure disrupted power supply as well as generation in Punjab on Monday, adversely affecting train, air and hospital services. However, authorities had managed to restore 70-80% of electricity across the state till the filing of this report.
Updated on Jul 30, 2012 09:30 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Northern grid failure brings normal life to halt in region
Seven states in the northern region, including Punjab, faced a blackout from 2.30am to 9.30am on Monday following a disturbance in the northern grid, which caters to 28% of the country's population.Essential services were largely disrupted and life thrown out of gear as railways, airport, hospital emergency, water supply services were affected by the outage.
Updated on Jul 30, 2012 11:25 PM IST
None | Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Patwari frame-up: Badal orders FIR against VB joint director, 5 others
The Punjab government has ordered the registration of a first information report against a serving and five former officers of the state Vigilance Bureau (VB) on charge of abuse of power in a patwari frame-up case.
Updated on Jul 28, 2012 05:04 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Vishal Rambani, Patiala
VB summons IAS officer for questioning in Patiala land scam
After quizzing the lower rung officials in the infamous Patiala land scam, The Punjab Vigilance Bureau has summoned the Former Deputy Commissioner and IAS Officer Vikas Garg for questioning in sale and purchase of government land worth Rs. 250 crores.
Updated on Jul 27, 2012 09:51 PM IST
None | Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Absence of monsoon worsens power situation in Punjab
The power situation in the region is set to go from bad to worse as the absence of monsoon has taken the demand up to 2,240 lakh units (LU), but the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) is barely managing to supply 1,950 LU as availability in the Northern Grid has also fallen drastically.
Updated on Jul 19, 2012 09:11 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Vishal Rambani, Patiala
PSPCL satisfied with tariff hike: Chaudhri
Though the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) has allowed only 12.08% hike in electricity tariff against the demand for a 53% hike made by the Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL), the PSPCL authorities are satisfied with the hike.
Updated on Jul 16, 2012 10:34 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Police suspect illegal arms sale racket in Punjab
In a case which could land many high-profile people, including politicians, in trouble, police have come across information that illegal weapons were sold in Punjab.
Updated on Jul 15, 2012 12:52 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Punjab enforces truce to end social boycott of Dalits
The Punjab government on Wednesday hammered out a compromise in a village between upper caste landlords and Dalit labourers who endured a month-long social boycott and loss of work for demanding “just” wages.
Updated on Jul 12, 2012 02:01 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Vishal Rambani, Sangrur
NCSC steps in after month-long Dalits' boycott in Sangrur village
Dalits of Maha Singh Wala village in Moonak subdivision of Sangrur district have been rendered jobless due to their social boycott by upper-caste landlords.
Updated on Jul 11, 2012 10:54 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Vishal Rambani and Navrajdeep Singh, Sangrur
Corrupt cop lands in 'death trap'
ASI held taking bribe from kin of deceased to complete postmortem formalities.
Updated on Jul 10, 2012 12:43 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Corrupt cop lands in ‘death trap’
A Patiala cop has paid the price for trying to cash in on a local resident’s death. The Vigilance Bureau today arrested assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Jagga Singh for accepting Rs 2,000 from a relative of the deceased as bribe for completing postmortem-related formalities. The VB caught Jagga red-handed in the mortuary of Rajindra Medical College and Hospital here.
Updated on Jul 10, 2012 12:27 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Another blow to royals: Dhillon set to join SAD
In yet another jolt to the royal family of Patiala, one of its former loyalists, Deepinder Singh Dhillon, is all set to join the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Dhillon admitted to Hindustan Times that he had made up his mind to say quits to the Congress and the royal family.
Updated on Jul 09, 2012 04:12 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Vishal Rambani, Patiala
'Fake encounter': Four cops arrested
Four police personnel were suspended and arrested after they tried to pass off a truck driver's killing as an 'encounter'. The driver, Kuldeep Singh, was shot dead allegedly by cops after he jumped a check post.
Updated on Jul 06, 2012 04:38 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Vishal Rambani and Navrajdeep Singh, Nabha (patiala)
African student in coma for three months, father appeals for govt help
Arriving in India with a dream to become a computer engineer, a bright African student is fighting for life for the last three months after some assailants assaulted him in Jalandhar, where he was pursuing a Bachelor's degree in computer science at Lovely Professional University.
Updated on Jul 05, 2012 11:54 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Unable to meet demand, PSPCL for restrictions on use of ACs
Blaming the delay in monsoon and Power Grid Corporation for the power pangs in the state, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited has now appealed for restrictions on the use of air- conditioners. Punjab power demand has touched an all-time high of 2,244 lakh units, almost 300 lakh units short.
Updated on Jul 03, 2012 08:42 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Delayed rain, power shortage affect paddy
Is it drought? Forget bumper crop, paddy production likely to take a hit as only 54% area in major paddy-producing districts has been covered so far. Vishal Rambani reports.
Updated on Jul 03, 2012 06:27 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Inflated bills: Firm told to correct software
Facing criticism over the wrong and inflated electricity bills, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has asked the IT solution provider company SPANCO to make changes in the software to rectify the errors.
Updated on Jun 30, 2012 05:57 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Vishal Rambani, Patiala
PSPCL gives electric shock to Patiala industrialists
It's a double whammy for industrialists in the royal city. As if the unscheduled and long power cuts this summer were not enough, the electricity bills were also giving them sleepless nights
Updated on Jun 29, 2012 04:47 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Pbi varsity VC appoints Khaira as new dean, academic
Ending all speculations, Punjabi University vice chancellor Jaspal Singh today appointed senior faculty member Sukhdarshan Singh Khaira as new dean, academic affairs. Khaira will replace SS Tiwana, whose tenure is set to end on June 30.
Updated on Jun 28, 2012 11:06 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Vishal Rambani, Patiala
14 years in limbo, revenue officers await PCS entry
After 13 years of the file starting its journey, the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) sat down to decide on choosing district revenue officers and tehsildars for nomination to the cadre of Punjab Civil Services (Executive).
Updated on Jun 27, 2012 01:37 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Vishal Rambani, Patiala
PSPCL blames northern grid
Failing to keep its promise of a power-cut free summer this year, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has blamed the northern grid for the present power crisis in the state.
Updated on Jun 24, 2012 09:27 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Power cuts: PSPCL lays blame at northern grid doorsteps
Facing public criticism for its failure to fulfill the promise of an uninterrupted power supply during summer months, Punjab State Power Coropration Limited (PSPCL) has laid the blame at the doorsteps of the Northern Grid for power outages in the Punjab.
Updated on Jun 24, 2012 09:27 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Vishal Rambani, Patiala
24 villagers, 8 cops injured in clash over 'shamlat' land in Patiala village
In what could spell trouble for the Punjab government during the ongoing assembly session, nearly two dozen villagers and at least eight policemen were injured in an exchange of fire and stone- pelting in Balberah village in Patiala district today.
Updated on Jun 19, 2012 11:07 PM IST
None | Vishal Rambani, Balberah (patiala)
Low water level in dams hits power generation
The absence of pre-monsoon rains and slow pace of melting of ice in the mountains has hit the power generation capacity of hydel projects, affecting the power supply situation in north India.
Updated on Jun 18, 2012 04:59 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Successful exam restores battered image of PPSC
After spending a sleepless night to finalise the results of Punjab State Civil Services Combined Competitive Examination (2009), the entire team of Punjab Public Service Commission is an elated lot.
Updated on Jun 15, 2012 12:28 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Hansi-Butana canal siphon choked with silt
As the monsoon nears, the controversy over the Hansi-Butana canal has been raked up again. Finding the siphon on the Hansi-Butana canal choked with silt, deputy commissioner GK Singh has written a missive to the Punjab government to take up the matter at the earliest with the Haryana government.
Updated on Jun 14, 2012 05:50 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Vishal Rambani, Dharmheri (patiala)
Loss puts Capt on sticky wicket
The dismal performance by the Congress party in the civic body elections has put the Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh's future on a sticky wicket.
Updated on Jun 12, 2012 12:36 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Capt, son escape assault by SAD workers as violence marks MC polls
In a repeat of 2007 polls for the local body, violence and hooliganism of SAD-BJP workers with active support of police personnel marred voting for the Patiala municipal corporation elections today. Akali workers tries to manhandle Punjab congress president Capt Amarinder Singh at Ablowal in ward number 49, where he went to support party candidate who was mercilessly beaten up by rivals and police.
Updated on Jun 10, 2012 08:37 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Bittu flays Badal, Sukhbir over memorial issue
Congress' Anandpur Sahib MP Ravneet Singh Bittu today flayed Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and his deputy Sukhbir Badal over the Operation Bluestar memorial and honouring of Balwant Singh Rajoana with 'living martyr' title by the Akal Takht.
Updated on Jun 08, 2012 09:48 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Vishal Rambani, Anandpur Sahib
Nabha murder case reveals more murky deals
Almost two years after the brutal murders of four family members in Nabha, the dirty deals between the investigation officer and the accused are unfolding layer by layer.
Updated on Jun 07, 2012 10:59 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Vishal Rambani, Patiala