Assam flood: Death toll is 23, situation better
Guwahati, June 25: Two more people died due to floods in Cachar district of Barak Valley in Assam on Monday, taking the death toll to 23, even as the overall flood situation improved in the state.
According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), a total of 96,993 people in 192 villages in five flood-hit districts -- Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi -- are still reeling under the flood.
"Two people died in Cachar district, taking the death toll to 23," an ASDMA official said. But the situation was improving, with water level in most areas receding. None of the major rivers flowed above danger levels on Monday.
"We have closed down most relief camps. As on Monday, only 74 camps are operational -- mostly in Karimganj district. Only 22,000 people are staying in the camps as of now," the ASDMA official said.
Meanwhile, the flood situation in Hailakandi has improved further, with all the three major rivers flowing much below the danger level.
"The number of villages still reeling under flood waters is 40... Flood water has receded in other parts of the district," an official said.
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Four doctors in Kerala booked for birth of newborn with genetic disorders
Alappuzha, (Kerala) (PTI): Four doctors in Kerala have been booked for allegedly failing to detect genetic disorders in a newborn while it was still in the mother's womb, the police said on Thursday.
The accused include two female doctors attached to the Kadappuram Government Women and Child Hospital in Alappuzha, along with two doctors from private diagnostic labs, according to the Alappuzha South police.
The police registered an FIR on Tuesday based on a complaint lodged by Anish and Surumi, a couple from Alappuzha.
They alleged that the doctors failed to detect or disclose the genetic abnormalities during prenatal scans, instead assuring them that the reports were normal.
The couple also claimed that they were shown the baby only four days after delivery, according to the complaint.
The FIR stated that Surumi, 35, was undergoing treatment for her third pregnancy at Kadappuram Women and Child Hospital.
On October 30, Surumi was admitted for delivery. However, she was referred to Government Medical College Hospital (MCH) in Vandanam, Alappuzha, citing the absence of fetal movement and heartbeat, the FIR said.
On November 8, the baby was delivered following surgery at MCH and was found to have severe internal and external deformities, the FIR stated.
Meanwhile, one of the accused doctors, responding to the allegations, said she had treated Surumi only during the initial months of her pregnancy.
"I provided care for three months at the beginning of her pregnancy. The reports shown to me indicated issues with the fetus's growth," she said.
The doctors associated with the diagnostic labs, however, maintained that there were no errors in the scan reports.
The police registered a case invoking Sections 125 (act endangering life or personal safety of others), 125 (b) (where grievous hurt is caused, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees, or with both) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the accused.
