Punjab: Sultanpur Lodhi gets a facelift ahead of event

A pandal, spread over 16,000 sq metre, has been set up in the city for the celebrations. The pandal is fully covered with German hanger and tarpaulin, which is made of fire-proof material, with a 80-feet-tall facade which has a golden theme. A water fountain has also been installed right in front of the facade, which is designed by the chief architect of Punjab.

Pankaj Sharma, project manager of Girdari Lal and Sons company, said that the pandal can accommodate 20,000 people at a time and it will be decorated with flowers from the first day of the event — November 4 — till the culmination of the event.

Guru Granth Sahib will also be placed inside the pandal in the coming week where devotees can listen Kirtan.

On November 4 evening, a multimedia light and sound show will be held, which will continue till November 12, the day Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary is. The first day will also have an exhibition on Guru Nanak Dev. On November 11 a ‘Kavi Darbar’ will be organised.

Three tents are already set up with medical facilities, fire brigade station and ‘jorha Ghar’ (shoe place).

The entire city has been dotted with ‘pandals’ lit with colourful lights where langars are being served. Nearly 70 langars are going on in 24 hours. The sanitation workers have been working in three shifts round the clock in Sultanpur Lodhi. Wash basins, ROs and dustbins have also been installed across the city.

Ten helipads have been set up including five at Bussowal village, three at the backside of the main pandal and two in Dana Mandi (grain Market) in the town close to the venue.

A media lounge with work station, conference room and a sound-proof interview room too has been set up adjacent to the main pandal.

As many as 19 parking lots have been made in 800 acres around the city to avoid any traffic rush inside the city leading to the Gurudwara Ber Sahib.

The city has already got a new bus stand, hospital, several new link roads and guest house before the event.

Worker dies of electrocution at main pandal

Jalandhar: A labourer, working at the main pandal being put up by the Punjab government in Sultanpur Lodhi for 550th birth anniversary celebration of Guru Nanak, was electrocuted to death Friday, officials said. Sudarshan (40) hailed from Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh. Sources said he was going to fetch water from a tank in the premises and came in contact with a naked wire. The other workers rushed him to a hospital where he was declared brought dead. Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner DPS Kharbanda has sought explanation from the PWD and PSPCL officials.