Category: STATE

Bihar: 80 children fall ill after eating mid-day meals in Supaul

Patna, June 28 (IANS) A case of food poisoning has appeared at Madhya Vidyalaya Shankarpatti in Chhatapur block, Supaul, where around 80 children fell ill after consuming the Mid-Day Meal (MDM) on Saturday, creating panic among parents and residents.

The children, who complained of stomach ache, vomiting, headache, and nausea, were rushed to the Community Health Centre (CHC), Chhatapur, where they were treated with saline and medication.

“The health of the children has deteriorated due to food poisoning. An FIR is being registered in the matter at the BEO level. Whoever is found guilty in the investigation, appropriate action will be taken,” said BDO Dr. Rakesh Gupta, who reached the CHC with CO Rakesh Kumar and Station In charge Krishna Kumar Singh to oversee the situation.

According to CHC in-charge Dr. Naveen Kumar, the condition of most children is now stable, with around 18 children kept under medical observation.

Medical officers, ANMs, and health workers continued treatment throughout the day, while anxious parents and local representatives gathered at the CHC to check on the children.

Several children alleged that the khichdi prepared under the MDM was made using rotten rice containing worms and larvae.

They claimed that Headmaster Harishchandra Kumar forced them to eat the khichdi, threatening them with a ladle when they tried to leave without eating.

“The cook had refused to prepare khichdi using the rice, but it was prepared under pressure from the HM. After consuming it, children started falling ill within half an hour,” alleged a parent outside the CHC.

BDO Dr. Rakesh Gupta has confirmed food poisoning and assured that a detailed investigation has been initiated.

Food poisoning incidents related to mid-day meal schemes continue to surface in Bihar, highlighting the urgent need for stricter quality checks on food grains and implementation at the school level to ensure the safety of children.

–IANS

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Tripura govt gives special priority to improving quality of education: CM Saha

Agartala, June 28 (IANS) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said on Saturday that the state government is working with special priority to improve the quality of education in the state.

The Chief Minister, attending the Bhupendra Chandra Dutta Bhowmik Merit-cum-Means Award-2025 event, said that education is necessary and important for making a good human.

“Many educational institutions have now been established in the state in the field of higher education. Students are now coming from outside to study in Tripura,” said Saha, who also holds the education portfolio.

He urged the students to increase their responsibility towards society, and they must get involved in various social work.

The Chief Minister said that it is not possible to develop a state or country if the benefits of various people-oriented projects do not reach the last person in society.

He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also given special importance to education and added that the National Education Policy has been introduced in the country due to the Prime Minister’s tireless efforts.

“Under the direction of PM Modi, the National Education Policy has been implemented in schools and colleges in our state. Now people are coming from outside to study in Tripura.”

Various private higher educational institutions, including the Open University, Techno India University, ICFAI University, and International Buddha University, have been established in Tripura, he added.

The Chief Minister said that at present, the state has educational institutions like the National Law University campus, National Forensic Science University campus, National Sanskrit University campus, Central University, IIIT, Fishery College, Agricultural College, Veterinary College, Tripura Institute of Technology, among others.

On June 23, Tripura became the third state in the country to achieve full literacy after Goa and Mizoram, he said, adding that the literacy rate is 95.6 per cent in the state now.

Tripura has achieved the recognition of a fully literate state, which is a matter of great pride for the people of the state, Saha said.

–IANS

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Famed Kerala urologist says Thiruvananthapuram Medical College hospital in dire straits

Thiruvananthapuram, June 28 (IANS) A social media post by a popular urologist, who heads the Urology Department at the prestigious Thiruvananthapuram Medical College hospital here, has raised eyebrows about the sorry state of affairs prevailing where a vast majority of its patients are from the poor and weaker sections of the society.

Incidentally his post has come at a time when the journalist-turned-Kerala Health Minister Veena George often speaks about the quality of healthcare being given to patients in the state-run hospitals.

The post which surfaced on Saturday following a huge discussion about it, Haris Chirackal withdrew it and posted a fresh one wherein he says that all what he said in his withdrawn post is true.

In the withdrawn post Chirackal said that there is a huge shortage of equipment and medical supplies in his department and it has been affecting proper and timely treatment to his patients.

“I know that I have done my best to ensure the patients who come to my department get the best treatment, but the other day I felt really dejected when I had to postpone a surgery on a patient whose age is that of my son due to shortage of equipment. I am really tired of running from pillar to post seeking funds and fresh supply of equipment. I am not interested in a clash with the bureaucracy. Let my services be terminated,” wrote the doctor in the now withdrawn post.

In his fresh post, Chirackal said his only aim and objective is to provide the best patient care to his patients and work as a team for which he says he gets the full cooperation from his staff.

“Being the Head of the Department, I am fully immersed in my work and do not go on tours or even take part in family events as I know I have to be with my patients as this is the institution that I studied from and if I am not able to give justice to my patients then there is no purpose in my working here,” he said in a new social media post.

But after his post created huge traction, the health authorities were quick in denial.

“What Chirackal said is not true. As much as Rs 50 lakhs worth equipment purchase was made in the Urology department which includes 45 equipment. A probe that got delayed on Friday and one case posted for surgery had to be postponed and three were done in the Urology department,” the authorities said.

Meanwhile, senior medical professional and a former student S.S. Lal, a popular health consultant, said what Chirackal said is nothing new as in the past six to seven years there is a problem in the functioning of the hospitals here.

“My classmate previously headed the Urology department here, who used his own funds to buy equipment so that patients don’t get affected. The case is more or less the same in many state-run hospitals. The budgeting for the Health department is flawed. When the world is discussing on the health care to be adopted in 2050, here we just can’t do anything on how our hospitals will be able to function tomorrow,” said Lal, who was a Congress candidate from the Kazhakootam Assembly constituency here during the 2021 state Assembly polls.

–IANS

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DA crisis: Bengal govt employees to hold protest rally against Trinamool on July 21

Kolkata, June 28 (IANS) The United Forum of State Government Employees, the umbrella body of the West Bengal government employees, spearheading the movement against non-payment of dearness allowance at par with that of the Central government employees and the arrears accrued on it, will organise a protest rally coinciding with Trinamool Congress’s annual Martyrs’ Day rally on July 21.

The decision had been taken amid the deadline for crediting the 25 per cent dearness allowance arrears to the accounts of the current and retired employees as directed by the Supreme Court last month expired on Friday midnight and the arrears were not credited.

Instead, the state government, during the last moment, filed a petition before the apex court seeking six months of additional time for paying the 25 per cent dearness allowance dues.

The state government, in its plea to the apex court, has said that six months of additional time was required considering the present financial status of the state exchequer.

At the same time, the West Bengal government also appealed to the Supreme Court for a review of the earlier order for payment of 25 per cent dearness allowance dues.

While Trinamool Congress’s Martyrs’ Day rally on July 21 will be held in central Kolkata, the United Forum of State Government Employees’ rally will be organised less than a kilometre away at the base of Shahid Minar within the same time on same day.

Announcing this at a press conference on Saturday, the forum representatives also said that apart from their rally on July 21, they will also be organising a “march to State Secretariat” programme on July 28.

“Besides the members of the different associations of the state government employees, the “untainted” teachers losing jobs following a Supreme Court order in April this year will also be participating at the protest march on July 28,” the forum convener Bhaskar Ghosh said.

At the same time, he said, the forum is getting prepared for another round of legal battle on this issue, including filing a contempt-of-court petition in the matter against the state government.

At present, the West Bengal government employees receive dearness allowances at the rate of just 18 per cent, as against 55 per cent received by their counterparts in the Union government and many other state governments.

Payment of 25 per cent of pending dues is expected to cost the state exchequer in West Bengal around Rs 12,000 crore.

The state Finance department employees apprehend that this drain-out might impact some monthly payments under different welfare schemes run by the state government.

–IANS

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Our govt’s achievements outshine Congress’s record: Rajasthan CM

Jaipur, June 28 (IANS) Without taking Congress’s name, Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma on Saturday said that the achievements of his government outshine the record of the previous government.

He said 10.5 lakh bicycles have been distributed against 3.5 lakh in 18 months of the previous government. Also, 3 lakh youth were trained in skill development. Further, 30,000 scooties have been distributed to girl students against 6,400 in 18 months of the last government.

Speaking at the 29th State-Level Bhamashah Samman Samaroh at the Takshila Auditorium of Maheshwari Public School, he said over 88,000 students benefited from tablet-laptop distribution.

He assured that, unlike the previous government, there have been no paper leaks under the current government. A recruitment calendar has already been issued by RPSC and the Staff Selection Board, with a target of 1 lakh government jobs annually and 4 lakh jobs over five years

The Chief Minister outlined several steps taken by the government to ensure modern and inclusive education across Rajasthan:

He said, “Smart classrooms have been launched in 13,000 government schools, ICT labs have been established in around 14,000 schools, Pre-primary classes have been started in 402 PM Shri Vidyalayas, and Primary education has been introduced in Swami Vivekanand Vidyalayas, highlighting schemes focused on girl empowerment,” he claimed.

Sharma said more than Rs 90 crore has been transferred directly to 2.27 lakh girls under the Gargi Puraskar and Balika Protsahan Yojana.

“Our goal is to support girls’ education and help them achieve their dreams,” he said.

Chief Minister Sharma on Saturday said that the goal of the state government is not just to provide education, but to shape students into ideal citizens by instilling values, ethics and culture in them.

He also highlighted the vital role being played by the “Triveni” of Bhamashahs, educationists and motivators in transforming Rajasthan into a leading state in education. Calling donation a sacred tradition, the Chief Minister said that even ancient scriptures describe donation without expectations as the highest virtue.

“In the same spirit, Bhamashahs are supporting schools financially—constructing buildings, providing infrastructure and helping improve educational quality,” he added.

CM Sharma stated that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, multiple schemes are uplifting women, youth, labourers and farmers.

–IANS

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Six arrested in Tripura for killing man over love triangle

Agartala, June 11 (IANS) Tripura Police have arrested six persons, including a doctor and his parents, in connection with a triangular love affair case, officials said on Wednesday.

West Tripura Superintendent of Police (SP), Kiran Kumar K said that six persons were arrested on Tuesday night after the body of a youth was found packed in a suitcase, which was also stored at an ice-cream freezer at Gandacherra in Tripura’s Dhalai district.

He added that the body of the deceased, identified as Shariful Islam, 28, was found three days after he went missing from Agartala on June 8.

Shariful was engaged in the Smart City Project in the capital Agartala as an electrician.

The West Tripura police chief said that Dibakar Saha, the arrested doctor, bought a suitcase two days before the murder where he packed Shariful’s body after tying his hands and then took the suitcase to Gandacherra, nearly 120 km from Agartala, and stored the suitcase inside an ice-cream freezer at his father’s shop on June 9.

Shariful’s family lodged a complaint at the New Capital Complex police station on June 9.

The SP said that in the preliminary investigation, police found that a love triangle was the reason behind the murder.

The victim Shariful had an affair with Dibakar’s cousin sister and Dibakar too, fell in love with her.

Besides Dibakar Saha, 28, other arrested persons include his father Dipak Saha, 52, mother Debika Saha, 40, Nabanita Das, 25, Joydeep Das, 20, Animesh Yadav, 21.

“Love triangle was the cause behind the murder. Shariful was having an affair with a girl. Main accused Dibakar is the cousin brother of the girl and he also fell in love with her. Love messages were found from their mobile phones,” the IPS officer told the media.

Police said that Dibakar called Shariful to meet him at Joydeep’s house in South Indiranagar on the outskirts of the capital city on June 8 to give some gifts.

“When Shariful went to Joydeep’s house, Dibakar allegedly strangled him to death in presence of Joydeep, Animesh and Nabamita,” the police official said.

Police confirmed that they have recovered significant digital evidence, including mobile messages, which corroborate the love triangle motive and the involvement of several individuals.

All six arrested will be produced before the court on Thursday.

This macabre discovery comes shortly after the infamous honeymoon murder case in neighbouring state Meghalaya, adding another layer of national unease regarding premeditated crimes of passion.

–IANS

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Chennai airport authorities step up action against laser flashes amid safety concerns

Chennai, June 12 (IANS) In the wake of multiple incidents involving laser lights disrupting aircraft operations, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has initiated coordinated efforts with Air Traffic Control (ATC) and Chennai police to curb the dangerous practice of beaming lasers at flights near Chennai airport.

In the past two weeks alone, at least three such incidents were reported, prompting heightened concern among aviation and law enforcement officials.

These laser beams, directed at aircraft during critical phases like landing and take-off, pose a serious threat to pilot visibility and flight safety.

To address the issue, the AAI convened a high-level meeting with representatives from the ATC, airlines, and the Greater Chennai Police.

The meeting focussed on identifying effective strategies to pinpoint the origin of laser flashes and enable quicker police response.

According to sources, police officials expressed difficulty in tracing the exact location of the laser emissions based on the current reports they receive.

In response, the airport authorities have assured that accurate coordinates and real-time data from the ATC will be provided to assist in ground-level enforcement.

“Once we have the precise location of the laser source, our teams can act swiftly and apprehend those responsible,” said a senior airport police official.

In a related move, the city police recently issued a prohibition order banning the use of lasers, hot air balloons, tethered balloons, and other light-emitting flying objects in the vicinity of Chennai Airport.

The order aims to eliminate visual distractions and hazards that could jeopardise aircraft operations.

Laser beam incidents are not new to Chennai airport. Over the past year, several flights have reported sudden flashes of green or red laser lights during descent, forcing pilots to take precautionary measures and sometimes delaying landings.

In a few cases, pilots have filed safety incident reports with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), citing temporary vision impairment and cockpit distractions due to laser exposure.

Aviation safety experts warn that such pranks can have catastrophic consequences, particularly in low-visibility conditions or during night operations.

“It’s not just a nuisance, it’s a potential disaster in the making,” one senior pilot noted.

Authorities have urged the public to refrain from using laser devices near flight paths and warned of strict action against violators.

With enhanced coordination now in place between AAI, ATC, and the police, officials hope to clamp down effectively on this recurring menace.

—IANS

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Orange alert issued for TN‘s Ghat region, Nilgiris braces for extremely heavy rain

Chennai, June 12 (IANS) The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has issued an orange alert for several ghat districts in Tamil Nadu, forecasting intense rainfall between June 13 and 16.

The Nilgiris, Coimbatore, and adjoining hilly regions are expected to receive heavy to very heavy rain, with isolated areas in the Nilgiris likely to witness extremely heavy downpours exceeding 204.4 mm on June 14 and 15.

Authorities have urged residents in these districts to remain alert and take necessary precautions against potential disruptions such as landslides, waterlogging, and reduced visibility.

According to the MeT department, an orange alert in weather forecasts signifies a potentially disruptive weather situation, often due to heavy rainfall, and requires people to be prepared for sudden changes in conditions.

Gusty winds ranging from 30-40 kmph are also expected to accompany the rains, heightening the risk in vulnerable zones.

The seven-day weather outlook suggests a gradual intensification of rainfall across the state.

From Tuesday, parts of North Tamil Nadu — including Cuddalore and Ariyalur — will begin to see an uptick in precipitation.

The ghat areas of Coimbatore and the Nilgiris will experience increased rainfall from June 12, leading up to the peak on June 14.

Southern districts such as Theni, Tenkasi, and Kanniyakumari are also likely to experience heavy rainfall throughout the week.

The meteorological department has advised district administrations to remain prepared with disaster response teams and emergency protocols in place.

In Chennai and its surrounding areas, the onset of rainfall over the past 24 hours has brought significant relief from the oppressive summer heat. Other parts of the city also experienced moderate showers during the day. By 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday, the Nungambakkam weather station recorded 15.6 mm of rain, offering some respite as daytime temperatures had consistently hovered around 38 degrees Celsius in recent days.

The local forecast for Chennai over the next two days predicts partly cloudy skies with intermittent light to moderate showers, continuing the much-needed relief from the recent heatwave conditions.

–IANS

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