1. Congo Fever: 3 Die, 3 New Cases Reported in Gujarat
Two more women have fallen victim to Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), known as Congo fever, within a week, taking the total toll from the virus to three, the state government said on Wednesday. New cases also have come to light, it added.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday 28 August, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel who also holds the health portfolio, said, “Till Tuesday, 27 August, two deaths were reported from Surendranagar district (Sukhiben, Lilaben). The latest deceased hailed from Bhavnagar district (Amuben).”
Three new cases have been reported — one at Jamda village near Limdi and two others near Halvad village (Surendranagar District). Among them, Kunwarben (55) is undergoing treatment at Civil Hospital, Ahmed-abad, while two others — Sanoj Goad and Mohammad Jamal — are being treated at SVP Hospital.
(Source: Indian Express)
2. Eco-Friendly Ride: Electric Buses to Debut in City
The ride in city transport buses will be quieter, smoother and environment-friendly from Thursday onwards as Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is going to start operating electric buses on certain routes on a regular basis. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will flag off eight of these buses at an event near Sola on Thursday, 29 August.
Briefing mediapersons on Wednesday, Mayor Bijal Patel said that this will be beginning of a journey for making the city cleaner and greener. A total of 50 buses will be rolled out, of which 32 will be regular electric buses, while the rest of the 18 will have ‘swap technology’, in which batteries will be swapped for regular charging.
Municipal Commissioner Vijay Nehra said that this will reduce the weight of the buses and thereby enable them to carry more passengers.
(Source: DNA)
3. 2 Die After Being Bitten by Rabid Dog, Five Under Treatment
Two persons, including a seven-year-old boy, died while undergoing treatment for rabies in Panchmahal where five others are being treated after a rabid stray dog bit them in a village almost a month ago.
According to the administration officials, the dog bit at least seven people in Dangaria village under Morva Hadaf Taluka in Panchmahal on 2 August. They were initially treated at the primary health care centre and were later admitted to the city civil hospital. On Tuesday night (27 August) , 55-year-old Shardasinh and by Wednesday morning (28 August), seven-year-old Yuvrajsinh succumbed to hydrophobia.
Among the seven other victims are a two-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl. Villagers had killed the dog on the same day after it attacked people. Health officials said that of the two deceased victims, Shardasinh sought the help of a “tantrik” while she was being treated for hydrophobia at the civil hospital.
(Source: Indian Express)
4. Can’t Be Disqualified as I Am Not an MLA: Alpesh Thakor
Congress turncoat Alpesh Thakor has questioned the maintainability of the petition filed by Congress chief whip in the legislative Assembly Ashwin Kotwal seeking his disqualification under the anti-defection rules.
Thakor has pointed out that the Congress is wrongly trying to invoke the anti-defection rules against him as enshrined under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution for disqualification of a “member of the house”.
He has submitted that he resigned from the Assembly before initiation of the disqualification proceedings and therefore, the provisions of the Tenth Schedule are not applicable to him.
The former Radhanpur MLA has also contended that he had resigned on 5 July as per provisions of law and the same has been accepted by the speaker. Therefore, there are no powers under the law that can bring back the situation prevalent before the resignation was accepted.
(Source: DNA)
5. VHP Complains Against ‘Fake’ Pamphlet
The Gujarat unit of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has approached the Ahmedabad city police claiming that a “fake” online pamphlet with inflammatory text was being circulated on social media under the banner of VHP by a few “anti-social elements’’.
A delegation of VHP leaders submitted a complaint to the Ahmedabad police commissioner demanding action against those circulating the fake journal on social media.
“To create communal discord and divide the society on caste lines, a fake pamphlet bearing the office address of the VHP is being circulated in Gujarat. The misleading and inflammatory texts are being circulated by a few anti-social elements,” said Ashok Rawal, secretary, VHP Gujarat.
(Source: Indian Express)
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