The importance of hair can be understood from the fact that those with a receding hairline or bald patches are queuing up outside specialised hair transplant clinics and splurging on treatments.

Rohit Batra, dermatologist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, told us “It is a temporary phase and people shouldn’t get tense thinking about it because stress is also a reason for excessive hair fall.

“Flaky skin, frizzy, rebellious hair are common during winter, but it can be avoided and repaired.”

To keep the tresses lustrous and bouncy, Batra suggests that one should “oil hair regularly”.

“Winters usually bring fungal infections and dandruff. The fungal problems aggravate when people do not wash their hair frequently, when they do not oil their hair or let the conditioner stay for a longer duration.

“Another factor is that in winter usually people wash hair with hot water, but they forget that it is not advisable. They should wash hair with lukewarm water because hot water leaves the scalp dry,” Batra added.

If dermatologists are not available, one can consult hair stylists who are trained and can dole out good hair care tips.

“Season change always has certain side effects. Be it monsoon or winter, it is a time when everyone needs to take care of one’s skin and hair,” stylist Raj, who is associated with Prince and Princess beauty clinic, told us.

“The number of customers with such complaints increases during winter. On a normal day, a fall of 50-60 strands is considered healthy. But during this season, a person can experience hair fall of more than 200 strands,” he added.

If you can’t afford professional treatments, you can go for effective home remedies, says stylisht Gaurav Sharma.

To get rid of dandruff, “use lemon juice, camphor mixed in coconut oil. People should apply lemon juice for 15 minutes and then rinse it. This is a very effective remedy. Lemons are easily available and are also cost-effective,” he said.

“To get back the texture, wash hair with beer. It really helps bring the shine back and gives volume too,” he added.

Even celebrity hairstylist Amjad Habib emphasises the quick home remedy to fix fizzy tresses.

“Home remedies are the most effective. People who have normal but frizzy hair can apply mashed mango and mint paste. It brings back the shine and makes hair smooth,” said Habib.

“People who have very dry hair should apply a paste of three bananas and honey and leave it for 50 minutes. It takes away the dryness and makes the hair softer. Lastly, for people who have oily hair they should apply a paste of mint on the scalp and leave it for 10-15 minutes and then rinse it thoroughly,” he added.

Batra also advises a nourishing diet.

“As far as medicinal precautions are concerned people can take Vitamin H, calcium pantothenate and biotin. A lot of hair serum (like Livon) are also available in the market. It helps a lot in bringing back the shine.”

“A rich diet of protein is what we recommend. For non-vegetarians fish and chicken helps. Vegetarians should indulge in soya products,” he added.

Juli had reportedly taken a loan, because of which she was depressed. She left behind a suicide note in which she did not blame anyone for her death.with her Dopatta on Thursday evening at her Girish Park residence.

Police said Juli Chatterjee, the victim was depressed due to her loan. She left a suicide note where she did not blame any one.

The officers of anti-rowdy squad on Thursday rounded up Mohhamad Sabir, a notorious central Kolkata criminal in connection with a shoot out inside Kolkata Medical College premises last year. Police earlier arrested two other in connection with the shoot out.

Toton Biswas, a driver by profession absconded after stabbing his wife after a brawl at Khardah’s Desbandhu Nagar in North 24 Parganas. The woman has been admitted at Panihati state general hospital in critical condition. The police is searching for Toton.

Police said the warehouse belonged to the customs and confiscated goods were stored in it. Though the cause of the fire was not yet known, investigators have not ruled out arson.

It took a 24 hour firefight to douse the flames at the Maheshtala warehouse that caught fire around 6 p.m. on Thursday, leaving the neighbourhood puzzled, tense and many homeless.

Fire raged throughout Thursday night at the warehouse which was packed with inflammable materials. Twenty-six fire tenders were pressed into action to bring the blaze under control. Such was the intensity of the fire, that it spread to a studio next door. Actors and technicians had a narrow escape as they were evacuated on time.

Panic gripped the residents of the area as well and they ran out of their houses in fear. “We really got scared. The flames were nearly five-storey high and it seemed that the fire would devour everything. as the flames appeared to be all-devouring and nearly five stories high. Our apartment is next to the warehouse. So we did not take any risk and got out of our house with whatever we could lay our hands on. We spent the night under the open sky,” said Biswa Kalyan Banerjee, a resident of an apartment next to the warehouse.

Banerjee, however, claimed that as he moved back to his apartment on Friday afternoon, some items were missing from his house. Tarak Banik and Iman Roy had similar complaints.

As many as 26 fire-tenders were deployed. The number of tenders at the spot gradually came down as the intensity of the fire declined with time. Packed with inflammable materials, the warehouse on Santoshpur Road remained ablaze throughout Thursday night.

“We really got scared as the flames appeared to be all-devouring and nearly five stories high. Our apartment is next to the warehouse. So we did not take any risk and got out of our house with whatever, we could lay our hands on. We spent the night under the open sky,” said Biswa Kalyan Banerjee, a resident of an apartment next to the warehouse.

There was unbearable heat and smoke that engulfed the entire area. There was a studio next to the warehouse. The fire sparked a panic there. People started running out of the studio. A number of locals also joined hands with the fire brigade for dousing the flame.

Maheshtala police said the warehouse belonged to the customs and was used for storage of confiscated goods. They mainly keep the confiscated goods in those warehouses.

While two security personnel guarded the warehouse, a supervisor came for periodic checks.

“We were having a tea break, when the godown caught fire. Within moments it became a huge flame,” said Asmad Sheikh, one of the guards who called the fire brigade.

Fire tenders, however, had a tough time accessing the warehouse through narrow lanes. Fire minister Javed Khan, municipal affairs minister Firhad Hakim and mayor Sovan Chatterjee rushed to the spot.

The cause of the fire, however, is still not known. “Possibly, a short-circuit might have caused the fire. But we are not ruling out arson,” said an investigator.

“The lease rent of the warehouse is 75 paise per square feet, while the current market price is Rs 15 per square feet. So the owner of the warehouse wanted a revision of the lease rent. The real estate value of the area has also skyrocketted. So we are not ruling out the arson theory,” said another investigator.

Tarak Banik, Iman Roy and Kamal Banerjee complained that as they moved back to their apartments on Friday afternoon, they found many things were missing from their houses.

Instead somber faces greeted reporters in this non-descript Garbeta home. The only break from routine was a few motorcycles parked outside the house and a clutch of grim faced men huddled inside.

An 80-year-old woman sat in the courtyard, trying to explain everyone how keen she is to meet her elder son. Early Friday morning, the visitors started arriving and told Susanta’s mother, Mrinmoyee Ghosh, to keep an eye on the television. She permitted herself a smile when the news broke that Susanta would be released on bail after nearly six months in custody.

“I am very happy. I will finally get to see him. I had last seen him when he had stopped over during the last elections (May 2011 assembly poll). I want to go and meet him tomorrow itself, but my failing health doesn’t permit it. I am sure he will come to meet me,” Mrinmoyee said.

Was she aware that Susanta would get bail today? “No. But I was told today was a very important day. I was asked to keep a close watch on the television. I fasted the entire day, praying to the Lord Almighty. I took some food only when I heard the news on television. These are very difficult times for us,” she said, pausing for a breath.

Life has been very difficult for the family ever since locals and policemen dug up five skeletons from a canal-side grove, barely 1.5km from Susanta Ghosh’s house, on June 4 last year.

Mrinmoyee’s younger son Prasanta fled immediately after the discovery of the skeletons and Susanta was arrested. Prasanta is also implicated in the case by CID and is listed as a fugitive. His house, adjoining his mothers’, has been sealed by police on a court order.

Prasanta’s wife Arati doesn’t stay there. Susanta’s wife Karuna keeps in touch with Arati and Mrinmoyee over phone. A CPM district committee member, Karuna stays in Chandrakona. Susanta’s distant sister-in-law, Anima, is staying with Mrinmoyee to take care of her.

“Karuna didn’t call me today. I didn’t speak to her either. For all the pain and ignominy she has undergone, she needs a few moments of solitude and peace today,” said the caring mother-in-law.

Karuna didn’t show any emotion even on this day. “This was a case of political victimisation. We all knew that in the end, we will overcome it. There is a long battle ahead. The party is behind us.” Anima said, “These days have been very tough for us. The neighbours refused to speak; very few people came to our home. Today, everything will change.”

Trinamool youth leader Shyamal Acharya, whose complainant landed Susanta in the dock, plans to take the fight further. DNA tests have proven that one of the skeletons recovered was his father’s. “I intend to appeal in Supreme Court. Susanta Ghosh had masterminded the massacre. If he remains outside, it will have a bearing on the trials. I will speak to my party leaders and seek their advice.”

Chinmoy Guha, the university’s new vice-chancellor, feels that there is no scope of returning to the old campus because of the lack of infrastructure.

“There is rather no infrastructure available in the Jorasanko campus. The students who feel so, are being misguided. A stage, which is their demand, will be built soon at the B T Road campus. I have formed a committee comprising Rudraprasad Sengupta, Bibhas Chakraborty, Pabitra Sarkar, Sankha Ghosh, Manoj Mitra, Suman Mukhopadhyay, Saoli Mitra, Kanishka Sen along with the other officials. It has been done only after I consulted these stalwarts and convinced them on the need for the stage. It will be built after consulting them and taking their suggestions,” said Guha.

“Till now, around Rs 40 lakh has been spent to upgrade infrastructure in this campus. More will be done. Is theatre held at the house of William Shakespeare? Then, how can one unjustly demand the return of the theatre department to Jorasanko which is a heritage building and suffers from an acute space crunch. We will now build up Jorasanko as an eminent tourist destination,” added Guha.

A new documentary on Bichitra Bhavan and the archives are also on the cards. “I have requested an eminent director to take up the work,” the VC said.

He also said that four new buildings will be built on the campus to sort out the space crunch, besides setting up build an auditorium of international standards.

“I want to ensure that RBU publications and printing are of a high standard. I am also slated to hold meetings with the mayor of Kolkata and the tourism department to convert Joransanko into a tourist destination and give its due. I will also propose to add Jorasanko Thakurbari to the name of Girish Park Metro station so that tourists are aware of the place,” the VC said.

Industries minister Partha Chatterjee said that the new corporation would keep state highways and rural roads in good shape. “Our aim is to ensure connectivity and increase vehicular speed,” he said. He hoped the rural economy will benefit from the better infrastructure.

The new project is known as Swarnali Rasta Prokalpa on the lines of the Prime Minister’s Sadak Yojna. It will function on the private-public-partnership model and will have PWD officials on board apart from hired professionals, said Chatterjee. Initially, it will start with a paid up capital of Rs 50 crore.

The roads will be maintained for 30 years by the private firms and they can levy a toll tax. The government will get a share of this.

Initially, maintenance of Digha and Basanti state highways will be handed over to private firms. “People will not mind paying tax if roads are in perfect shape,” an official said.

The cabinet also decided to give Urdu the status of a second language in areas where the Urdu speaking population exceeds 10%, like Kolkata, Titagarh, Kamarhati, Asansol, Jamuria and Goalpokhor. People can even write to government offices in Urdu, said Firhad Hakim, urban development minister. The government will give approval for setting up Urdu schools and colleges soon.

The government also decided to include Joka I and Joka II under Kolkata Municipal Corporation and hand over the control of Kolkata East West Metro Corporation to the railways for connecting metro link between Salt Lake and Howrah.

The PWD, which maintains roads, often suffers from a financial crisis. The corporation, when formed, will also be able to borrow from the market. Officials said several agencies had already shown interest in investing in the PPP model.

Moreover, the corporation will also take care of bridges in rural areas and will help industries develop infrastructure so that remote areas like Purulia and Bankura can be offered to industrialists. The corporation can go in for joint venture projects and also raise financial resources from banks and financial institutions.

Moreover, the corporation will also be developing land commercially and can also launch housing projects. Again, it can work as a project consultant for big projects and prepare feasibility reports.

TOI had reported on the list sent by the commissioner of Kolkata Police to mayor Sovan Chatterjee. It was also reported that KMC’s member mayor-in-council Atin Ghosh had termed the use of health clinics and schools run by KMC as “absurd”.

Reacting to the TOI report, joint commissioner of police (crime) Damayanti Sen said: “Police have no locus standi on the matter. We were asked by the KMC to help them prepare a list of possible places which can be used as night shelters. Accordingly, the divisional DCPs were asked to prepare the list with due consultation with the local KMC office bearers and councillors. The implementing authority is the KMC and the social welfare department. Whether any of these places will ultimately be used for night shelters rests on them. Should they seek our help regarding this, it is our duty to assist them. But we can’t decide on it ourselves.”

On Friday, a fresh order was issued to the respective OCs to go back to the KMC office bearers and understand whether they have any objection to the places mentioned in the list and should they have, it would be further intimated to the KMC. Core to the issue is to identify places where vagabonds can be provided a safe night refuge from 9 pm to 6 am. “The objective was to identify government properties which are not put to use during the night and are well capacitated to accommodate people. Inputs were taken from people who are in charge of these or are in the know,” a senior officer said.

The Kolkata Police already runs several social welfare programmes – one even recognised by the Unicef. The Nabadisha programme now runs across 31 police stations, where street children are educated in police stations. Several NGOs partner Kolkata Police in this effort. The training schedules are during the afternoon and even night, to allow children – in cases even their parents – to be taught.

The other programme which is now gaining applause is Kiran, an effort to train women so that they can sustain on their own. Five Kiran centres are already in operation. These are primarily located in minority areas where women’s going out on work is still considered a taboo.

In addition to their programmes for the elderly, Pronam, the Kolkata Police also run a unique programme with schoolchildren who go on a monthly visit to police stations. The children are taught how police work, how they can make a difference and bring police more closely to them. The Kolkata Police’s social welfare programme is looked after by an additional commissioner of police and runs from the Alipore Bodyguard Lines under an OC, community policing.

In fact, chief minister Mamata Banerjee is tentatively slated to inaugurate one such programme on February 18.

According to the order, the operators have to wind up operations in 122 circles in which licences have been cancelled. This means their subscribers have to shift to other operators or risk disconnection.

Ashutosh College student Sharmila Roy, who had opted for Uninor because it offered tariff lower than leading players Vodafone, Airtel, Tata Docomo and CellOne, was shocked when she heard the news. “I have to obviously shift to another cellular operator. But I am unlikely to get the attractive plan that Uninor had offered. That means my phone bill will go up. The biggest hassle is documentation for the shift. If the process is not streamlined, it will cause a lot of problems for subscribers,” she said.

Like Roy, scores of cellular subscribers either dialled helplines or visited nearby customer care centres for some clarity on the issue. There are several worried on how and where to apply for switching to another operator; when to do so and how long it will take; nature of the new plan and how much more the bill will be.

It’s not just them who are worried. Subscribers of other operators are also worried that the likes of Vodafone, Airtel, Tata Docomo and Aircel will raise tariff as competition constricts. “There are rumours doing the rounds that call and SMS charges will go up,” Tata Docomo subscriber Suromona Dasgupta said.

While many subscribers had serious concerns, there were several others who were blissfully ignorant of the judgment. St Xavier’s College third-year student Mohammed Samim was shocked to learn that the services would cease in a few months. “I had no idea about any verdict on cellular service. What is 2G anyway? By when do I have to switch a new operator?” he wondered aloud.

Cellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI) director-general Rajan Mathews allayed fears and said there would be no immediate impact given the transition time given by the court. “Companies will come out with statements and policies. A clearer picture should emerge in a couple of weeks,” he said.

In Bengal, Uninor has the biggest subscriber base among the affected operators. Of its 50 lakh users in Bengal, 15 lakh are in Kolkata. Idea has 30 lakh subscribers in the state, of which 11 lakh are in the city.

The Supreme Court order cancelling 122 licenses has also raised deep trust-related issues about stakeholders involved in the troubled telecom brands. According to a study titled ‘The Brand Trust Report (BTR) India Study, 2012′ which compares brand trust on a 61-component matrix and ranks the top 1,000 brands in terms of trust, the verdict would dent of a lot of trust from the brands.

“The telecom growth is nothing short of a revolution. Telecom has left no life untouched. The Supreme Court judgment will definitely impact the consumers, but the bigger and deeper damage has been done to the trust that these brands evoke. The brand trust of the impacted brands is bound to be severely affected,” TRA chief executive officer N Chandramouli said.

Mathews, however, felt that since almost all players had been hit by the court verdict, Indian subscribers will learn to live with them.

Investigators have reasons to believe that most of the board members were aware of the financial irregularities. Significantly, the minister in charge of food department is the ex-officio chairman of the board and he can’t deny his role in such important decisions, hinted a CID officer. He confirmed that they may question the then minister after going through the records.

Records say the decision of supplying iron ore to some Chinese firms was taken during the tenure of Kalimuddin Shams and it was operation in the end of 2004 during formerForward Bloc MLA and then minister Naren De’s regime.

According to the formation of Corporation’s board of directors, the minister-in-charge acts as the chairman and the managing director is the ex-officio secretary. Apart from the duo, a bureaucrat from the finance department and the principal secretary of the food department are the members of the board.

The investigators claimed that a few members of the board pointed out some financial irregularities in export business, but the influential section of the board ignored their objection and allowed the corporation to pay five installments to the shipping company in advance.

When contacted, former food minister Naren De said , “I took charge after Kalimuddin Shams and it is true that during my tenure the export was done. If CID wants to interrogate me, I would cooperate.”

The investigators said that along with De, they may speak to his successor Paresh Adhikary since the scam was detected during his tenure.

“In May 2006, I took charge and I was informed about the scam after few months. I ordered an inquiry and found some of our employees involved. Police complaint was made in 2007,” said Adhikary.

He hinted that several documents related to the scam are missing and it was spotted during the departmental inquiry. CID officers also admitted that some crucial documents are missing including some financial detail and some letters. “We are trying to recover the lost documents that may provide fresh clues,” said another officer.

Six Loretoites took the stage to slog it out on Friday as part of the centenary celebrations of the college. Those taking the podium were an eclectic mix of filmmaker, journalist and academic who received stiff competition from the students of the college in the battle of words.

The motion: ‘The house believes that truth must be told at all times’. The house was proposed by the team of present college girls comprising Shrishti Nandania, Adrija Chatterjee and Krishna Didwania. The motion was opposed by old girls – journalist Bachi Karkaria, filmmaker Sudeshna Roy and dean of ICFAI business school, Durga Rani Sinha.

The house was opened by the lead speaker of the proposition, Shrishti, who went on to say that one must under any circumstances not refrain from speaking the truth. “Satyameva Jayate should be the order of the day,” said Shrishti.

Shrishti was, however, counter-attacked in her own words by opponent Durga Rani Sinha who laid out certain basic principles as to why truth cannot be spoken all the time. “Man co-exists in a society. For practical, ethical and social reasons one cannot speak the truth all the time,” Sinha said. Second speaker for the proposition, Adrija Chatterjee, got confused with the topic when she insisted that truth is a moral option and more often than not an advantageous option. “Truth is multi-dimensional and whether we speak the truth is a personal choice,” she said.

Filmmaker Sudeshna Roy went on to share some personal stories. “I realized at a very young age that speaking the truth can be anything but advantageous. It can be spoken sometimes, not all the time,” Roy said.

The debate reached a crescendo with Bachi Karkaria’s incisive wit and powerful rhetoric that received the loudest cheers from the audience. “The truth is always ugly. You need to conceal and powder it before presenting it. And it is always the adulterated truth that works,” she said.

The debate was moderated by former faculty member of Max Mueller Bhavan, Raju Raman. The opposition managed to successfully impress upon the audience and were declared the winners.

The debate was organized by the Loreto College Alumnae Association. The curtains will come down on the centenary celebrations with a western music performance and a fashion show organized by designer Anamika Khanna, also an old student of the college.