Covid lab at MMCH to reopen after 3 years
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Set up during the pandemic Covid 19 at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore, the lab tested close to 1,500 samples daily when cases peaked in Jharkhand. However, it was shut down after a memorandum of understanding with an NGO expired while the pandemic was on the wane.
MMCH principal Dr P N Mahto and Palamu civil surgeon Dr Anil Kumar jointly inspected the lab on Monday after the state health department asked all districts to step up its preparedness.
"The equipment is safe and requires only servicing. Other facilities like electricity, water supply too are not an issue," Mahto said. "We are planning to restart the lab within 15 days," he added.
Mahto and Kumar also discussed the prospect of setting up a separate outpatient department (OPD) for attending to patients with influenza like illnesses and severely acute respiratory infections, considered the early symptoms for suspected Covid 19 patients. Kumar said all the hospital staff have been directed to document the names and contact numbers with such symptoms. "There is no shortage of PPE kits and medicines," he said.
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Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Bengal govt rolls out Rs 8,000-cr outreach programme to resolve local issues
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
10 fire engines take 3 hours to douse blaze that hits 67-year-old unit of Bengal's legacy med co
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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
K'taka ex-MP Prajwal gets life term for raping domestic help
. BENGALURU: Former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna was sentenced to life imprisonment Saturday after being found guilty of repeatedly raping a 47-year-old domestic worker, the first of three rape cases filed against him. The 34-year-old grandson of former PM HD Deve Gowda, once seen as a rising political star, became the first former MP in Karnataka to get life term as a convicted rapist. Special court judge Santosh Gajanan Bhat delivered the sentence in a packed courtroom, a day after Prajwal was convicted under eight sections of IPC. Two of those - IPC 376(2)(k) and 376(2)(n) - triggered a life sentence for rape by a person in a position of control and for repeated rape of a woman. Prajwal stood still, wearing a striped light blue shirt with a vermilion-sandal mark on his forehead. As the sentence was read out, he broke down. "Sir, I'm a mechanical engineer, I have passed all my exams on merit," the former Hassan parliamentarian said. "I bow to the court, but I request a lesser sentence." You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru The court fined Prajwal Rs 11.6 lakh, Rs 11.25 lakh of which is to be paid as compensation to the survivor. Earlier in the day, additional special public prosecutor BN Jagadish urged the court to impose the harshest punishment. "The accused was an MP when he committed the offence. He raped an illiterate woman earning just Rs 10,000 a month. He blackmailed her, made obscene videos, and is facing similar charges in other cases," he said. "She even contemplated suicide." Special prosecutor Ashok Nayak added: "He's a crorepati, elected to serve the public. Instead, he ruined a woman's life. The fine must be heavy so that she gets justice." The case followed an FIR in April last year against Prajwal. The woman alleged sexual abuse when she worked in Prajwal's household between 2019 and 2022. The survivor alleged Prajwal exploited her over months, filmed her without consent, and used them to blackmail her. The woman alleged sleaze videos of Prajwal surfaced during 2024 LS election campaign, and her husband began suspecting her. Prajwal was arrested in June. His conviction put his family under intense scrutiny as his father HD Revanna, a former MLA, mother Bhavani, and brother Suraj, a surgeon-turned-politician, also face serious allegations. SIT chief BK Singh praised the survivor's courage. 'She stood like a rock. The defence tried every possible way to derail the proceedings,' he said. SIT faced challenges in gathering evidence since the crime occurred nearly four years before the survivor filed her complaint. 'Despite the time gap, her testimony proved crucial,' Singh said. Prajwal's counsel Nalini Mayegowda, alleged political conspiracy. 'Why did the woman come forward only just before the elections, despite SIT inviting complaints earlier? Is this not politically timed to ensure his defeat?' she said, pleading for leniency based on his age, character, and political record. . Prajwal addressed the court saying, 'If I raped her, why didn't she tell her sister who worked on our farm? She never came forward until the videos went viral. Now they say I've raped multiple women — but no one filed complaints voluntarily.' Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
