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More
swine flu deaths in Bangalore, Pune, Chennai, Goa
New Delhi:
Fear of H1N1 influenza has gripped Bangalore after the city
reported one more death, taking the toll to 11 in Karnataka,
while one death each was reported from Pune, Chennai, Goa.
It was Goa's first death case. Residents in Bangalore have
turned into a perturbed lot, dreading the disease. They
expressed doubts over the effectiveness of masks as a preventive
measure. "As far as I know, I don't know how much these
masks will help to prevent H1N1 because my understanding
is that if someone has H1N1, anybody within three to four
feet, have chances of being infected. So I don't think these
masks will prevent infection," said Kritika Desai, a resident.
A 26-year-old woman died of swine flu in Bangalore, which
accounts for the second highest fatalities in the country
after Maharashtra. A 47-year old man died due to swine flu
on Friday in Chennai. However, Karnataka Chief Minister
B S Yediyurappa said that the State Government was doing
its best to control the spread of swine flu and also endeavouring
to spread mass awareness about the pandemic. Reacting to
the statement of Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad that the
State Governments were not doing enough to control the flu,
he said he would personally speak to him and discuss the
issue with him. "This type of disease is not only present
in Karnataka, but it is present throughout the country and
in so many other states also. So, we should not blame the
Central Government or the Central Minister should not blame
the State Governments. We must sit together and discuss
to control the disease," said Yediyurappa. India recorded
its first H1N1 case in Hyderabad in May and since then the
virus has spread across the country with dozens of cases
from Pune.
Panaji (Goa): The coastal state of
Goa on Saturday is said to have registered its first swine
flu death when a 67-year-old man died at a private hospital
here. State health authorities said Shiva Murthy, arrived
in Goa from Bangalore on Friday. He was admitted with high
fever and his condition deteriorated after hospitalisation.
He passed away this morning, they said. State Nodal Officer
for Swine Flu Dr Jose De Sa said that Murthy's throat swabs
have been sent for H1N1 testing to the National Institute
of Communicable Diseases (NICD) in New Delhi and the reports
are awaited. The casuality can be termed as a swine flu
death only after test reports confirm him positive for the
virus, De Sa said. A television report said the elderly
man was suffering from broncho pneumonia and was earlier
hospitalised in Bangalore. Two more swine flu deaths were
reported from Pune and Chennai. Sixty-year old Baban Hangule
succumbed to the virus on Saturday. Pune has witnessed 20
virus-related deaths so far. According to sources, Hangule
was admitted in a serious condition to the state run Sasson
Hospital on August 19. The Maharashtra Health Department
has expressed fears about controlling the spreading of the
virus. Educational institutions in the state continue to
remain closed because of the swine flu threat. The H1N1
virus broke out in the state on August 3.
Pune / Chennai: Two more swine flu
deaths were reported on Saturday in the country, taking
the death toll to 47. One death each was reported from Pune
and Chennai. With a 60 year old Baban Hangule succumbing
to the virus on Saturday, Pune witnessed 20 deaths for the
virus so far. According to sources, Hangule was admitted
in a serious condition to the state run Sasson Hospital
on August 19. The Maharashtra Health Department has expressed
fears about controlling the spreading of the virus. Educational
institutions continue to remain closed. The H1N1 virus has
claimed the maximum victims in Pune since the first fatality
was reported on August 3.
Release
of water from Uttarakhand barrage maroons UP villages Top
Madhupura
(UP): After delayed monsoon and less rainfall, farmers
of Madhupura village in Swar region of Uttar Pradesh were
facing the wrath of excess rainfall. Scores of villages
of the Swar Sub-division of Rampur district are completely
marooned owing to the release of excess water from Ramnagar
Barrage of Uttrakhand. The excess water damaged standing
crops worth millions of rupees. "Earlier, there was a drought
like situation due to less rainfall. Now, the heavy downpour
has caused trouble for us. The excess water in the river
has damaged our standing crops. We have invested lot of
money in fertilizers and watering our crops. Now our entire
crop is damaged," said Anwar Hussain, a farmer. The floods
have waterlogged many streets. However, the rescue operation
is on. "I have just toured the affected villages. As the
water gushed into houses, so we are moving the people to
safer places," said D. K. Singh, sub-divisional magistrate,
Swar Sub-Division. Heavy downpour after a delayed monsoon
has caused a flood like situation in some districts of Uttar
Pradesh.
Lucknow/Patna: The flood situation
remains grim in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, as all rivers in
both states are flowing above the danger mark. Bihar recorded
eleven deaths, while sixteen people have died in Uttar Pradesh.
Over 600 villages in the Terai district and 250 villagtes
in the Sidharth Nagar District of Uttar Pradesh have been
affected by the floods. The flood situation in Bihar worsened
on Saturday as swollen rivers inundated vast swathes of
countryside in seven districts. The river Burhi Rapti, Kunhara
and Jamuar nullah are flowing above the danger mark in Uttar
Pradesh. Thousands of acres of crops in Barabanki, Bahraich,
Siddharthanagar and Pilibhit have been destroyed by the
flood. According to the State Relief Commissioner, over
one lakh people have been evacuated from the affected areas.
Over five lakh people were affected as flood inundated Kishanganj,
Saharsa, Supaul, Sitamarhi, and Purnia in Bihar. The Central
Water Commission report, has cautioned the state over the
flood in major rivers like Bagmati, Kosi, Kamala Balan and
Mahananda. While Kosi was flowing above the danger mark
at Basua, Bagmati breached the danger level at Benibad and
Hayaghat. Similarly, water level of Kamala Balan flowed
above danger mark at Jhanjharpur, Kursela and Baltara while
Mahananda flowed above danger mark at Dengraghat The State
Water Resources Department has claimed that all embankments
in Bihar are safe.
Two
ex-President Bodyguards get life term in Buddha Jayanti
rape case Top
New Delhi:
A Delhi court on Saturday sentenced two former members of
the President's Bodyguard to life imprisonment in connection
with the 2003 Buddha Jayanti Park rape case. The court also
sentenced two other convicts to ten years each in prison.
On August 17, Additional Sessions Judge S.K. Sarvaria held
Harpreet Singh, Satyender Singh, Kuldeep Singh and Manish
Kumar of the elite President's Bodyguard guilty of gang
rape, kidnapping and robbery under the various provisions
of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Of four convicts, Satender
and Harpeet who were convicted of gang rape, abduction and
robbery will get life imprisonment, while Kuldeep and Manish,
who were convicted for abduction, robbery and common intention,
have been sentenced for ten years of imprisonment. The court
acquitted Kuldeep and Manish, of the charges of gang rape.
The victim, a 17-year-old student of the Delhi University,
had gone with her friend to the park - which is located
near Rashtrapati Bhavan on October 6, 2003. The prosecution
alleged that Harpreet and Satender raped her while the other
two kept guard. The incident shocked the national capital
six years ago.
Students
protest against alleged forced blood donation in Rajasthan
Top
Chomu (Rajasthan):
Angry residents of Chomu, a town 60 km from Jaipur, took
to streets on Saturday following reports that teenaged school
children were allegedly forced to donate blood at a medical
camp. Student organisation Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad
(ABVP) organised the protest march. The protestors alleged
that a ruling Congress party deputy had organised the blood
donation camp to mark the birth anniversary of former Prime
Minister Rajiv Gandhi last Thursday (August 20) and that
students below 18 years of age were forced to donate blood
against their wishes. Over 50 students from a state-run
school had participated in the blood donation camp, and
some of them alleged that they were forced to donate blood.
"They took out my blood. They told me that it just a blood
test and I was forced to donate. They also beat up a lot
of people who tried to protest," said Tarachand, a student.
The incident came to light when a student named Mukesh fell
ill after blood donation and was referred to a hospital
in Jaipur. His condition was reported to be unstable. "My
child was admitted in the emergency ward of SMS hospital.
But, later he was shifted to the general ward and is being
given glucose. He is not talking and hasn't come into consciousness.
He has a severe pain in his head. He had a high fever last
night," said Om Prakash, father of Mukesh. However, Congress
party deputy Sahni denied the allegations saying that no
one was forced to blood and termed the protest as a ploy
to defame him. "It was a blood donation camp and many school
children gave blood. I read in the papers that a boy fell
ill after giving blood. This incident has been hatched to
defame me," said Sahni in defense.
Hakeemullah
Mehsud named new Pak Taliban chief Top
Islamabad:
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has declared Hakeemullah
Mehsud as the successor to Baitullah Mehsud. TTP spokesman
Maulvi Faqir Muhammad announced Hakeemullah's appointment
while claiming that Baitullah was alive, the News reports.
Muhammad said Baitullah wanted to appoint his successor
in his lifespan, so he has asked Hakeemullah to take over.
Muhammad said a 42-member council of the Taliban appointed
Hakeemullah their chief and Azam Tariq as the new spokesman
of the banned outfit. Days ago, Muhammad had claimed that
he had taken charge of the TTP, rejecting reports about
Baitullah Mehsud's death. Muhammad claimed that Taliban
elders had held a meeting recently in which it was decided
to make him the 'acting' leader of the group. "I have taken
over the leadership of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. Two days
ago our shura held a meeting in which my leadership was
endorsed," Muhammad said. He denied that Mehsud had been
killed in a drone attack, but said that the chieftain was
ill. "Baitullah Mehsud is alive, but he is seriously ill.
In his absence, I announce, as vice president of the TTP,
the takeover of his leadership," Muhammad said. He also
claimed that two other senior Taliban leaders, Hakimullah
Mehsud and Waliur Rehman, who have been reportedly fighting
for the post, had also endorsed his leadership. Muhammad
had also announced that the Taliban's Swat chapter spokesperson
Muslim Khan had been made the Taliban's spokesman, replacing
Maulvi Omer, who was arrested recently.
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