| NRI
dies of swine flu in Ahmedabad: Death toll four Ahmedabad:
A 43-year-old non-resident Indian (NRI) died of swine flu early Sunday morning
at the City Civil Hospital here, registering the first death by H1N1 virus in
Gujarat. With this, the country has seen four deaths from swine flu and the number
of infected cases rising to 782. On Saturday, 53-year-old Fahmida Panwala from
Mumbai and 42-year-old teacher Sanjay Tukaram Kokre from Pune had died of swine
flu. Earlier on August 3, a 14-year-old schoolgirl Reeda Shaikh had died in Pune.
Confirming the first death due toH1N1 virus in Gujarat, State Health Secretary
Ravi Saxena said Praveen Patel, an NRI, died of swine flu at the City Civil Hospital
at around 1:30 a.m.. Sexena explained that Patel was brought to the Civil Hospital
in critical condition on Saturday morning. Patel, who had returned from Atlanta
, USA on July 31, was treated by a private hospital in the city for pneumonia
and common flu on Friday, sources said. Private Hospital referred Patel to the
Civil Hospital after realizing that it was not common flu, sources added. According
to a medical report given by the City Hospital , Patel's left lung was damaged
badly. Sexena informed that so far ten people have been tested positive for H1N1
virus in the state, including Patel's wife and they are being treated at the City
Hospital. 228
cases of swine flu in Delhi: Help line (Ph.23921401) set up Top New
Delhi: With the number of swine flu cases being on the rise in Maharashtra
and some other States of the country, the Delhi Government held a meet on Sunday
to discuss measures to curb spread of HINI virus. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila
Dikshit, who presided over the meet, said 228 cases of swine flu were noticed
of which 117 have been discharged and 58 are still undergoing treatment so far
in the national capital. "We would advise through you that all the people of Delhi
not to panic but to take precautionary measures," said Shiela Dikshit, Chief Minister
of Delhi told media. Ahead of the meet, a decision on closure of schools for a
temporary period and restricting movement in public places was expected. Dikshit,
however, clarified that no advisory to schools was being issued by the Government
to close down their schools. "No we are not planning to close schools at all.
However, if some schools have found three to four cases, they can close their
schools for some time. But there is nothing like that the schools are being closed.
Only an advisory is going to be sent by tomorrow morning by Principal Secretary,
Education, to the schools to say: Please Be Careful," Dikshit added. The advisory
will contain the direction to explain cause and symptoms of swine flu. At present
there are 14 hospitals in Delhi that have facility for Swine Flu treatment. Besides
CM Dikshit, Delhi Health Minister Kiran Walia attended the meet and other senior
officials related to health department. Delhi Government has also issued a help
line (Ph.23921401). Several schools in Mumbai and neighbouring Navi Mumbai and
also all education institutions in Pune and Pimpri have been closed for a week
as a precautionary measure. Reeda
Sheikh's family demands Azad's resignation Top Pune:
Taking a strong exception to Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad's statement,
that Reeda Sheikh was responsible for the entry of swine flu in India, members
of her family on Sunday demanded his resignation. Addressing a news conference
here, Reeda's mother Sheireen, said it was her daughter's death that alerted the
country about the dangers of swine flu. Reeda Sheikh was the first victim of H1N1
virus in India Earlier, Azad had said in Delhi that Reeda might have spread the
disease to nearly 85 people of her school, as a person could spread the disease
to thousands of people. Schools in Pune were closed after the death of 14- year-old
Reeda a student of class 9 in St. Anne's School. Reeda's aunt Ayesha questioned
how Azad could say that the spread of the virus was minimal, when nearly a lakh
people have died of the disease. They also said that no one in the country is
expediting measures to control swine flu. Reeda's family members demanded an apology
in writing by both Azad and Union Health Secretary Naresh Dayal. They also demanded
a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation of the entire swine flu
crisis management system and also formation of a medical committee to deal with
the situation. Family members also said that they would sue the negligent hospitals
and doctors who attended to Reeda. Pithoragarh
landslide toll rises to 43 Top Pithoragarh
(Uttarakhand): The death toll from the landslide in Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh
district has risen to 43. According to sources, at least 20 bodies have been pulled
out from the debris so far. On Saturday, the landslide buried three remote villages
in Uttarakhand. At least 46 families have been affected by the tragedy. Chief
Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal has announced a compensation of one lakh rupees as ex
gratia to the kin of each of the deceased. A downpour has lashed the region since
Friday evening. England
pulls out of World Badminton Championships Top Hyderabad:
The England badminton team on Sunday withdrew from the World Badminton Championships
to be held in Hyderabad from August 10 to 16, following "a specific terrorist
threat" against the championships. "This was an incredibly tough decision and
one we didn't take lightly," The Times quoted Adrian Christy, Badminton England
CEO, as saying. "After the Olympic Games, this is the most prestigious championships
in the world but we were not prepared to risk the safety of our players, coaches
and staff in what we felt could have been a very volatile environment," he added.
The tournament has been enveloped in a security blanket, following the Intelligence
Bureau's (IB) alert of possible terror strike. According to reports, Hyderabad
police has received inputs from the IB that the championship is under threat from
the Lashkar-e-Taiba. The IB had informed the state police that terror elements
may attempt to attack international players as they did against Sri Lankan cricketers
in Pakistan in March this year. Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram has assured
that the championships would take place in complete security, and there was no
need to have any apprehensions. "The alert in Hyderabad was based on information
shared with the state police in a routine manner. There is no specific information
that points to any imminent threat to the championship in Hyderabad. Nevertheless,
the state police has taken all measures necessary to fully secure the tournament
and ensure the safety of every player," Chidambaram had said on Saturday. However,
Christy said they had carefully considered the comments made by the Hyderabad
police authorities, but safety of players was much more crucial at the moment,
and this had prompted them to take the decision. "We have also listened to the
advice from the Foreign Office and British High Commission. We have been in constant
dialogue with them over the past couple of days. The conclusion is that safety
is of paramount importance, and therefore, with great regret, the team will be
returning home immediately," said Christy. . |
