Kerala, Sept 03: Hanan Hamid, the Kerala college girl whose story of selling fish to raise money for her studies and to take care of her family went viral recently, suffered serious injuries in a road accident at Kodungallur on Monday morning. The 21-year-old, who was rushed to a private hospital in Kochi, suffered grievous injuries to her spine.

Hospital sources informed ieMalayalam.com that since the injuries were a bit serious, they had recommended an MRI scan. The accident took place when Hanan, whose story has warmed hearts and at the same time riled an equal section of the people, was returning after inaugurating a shop at Vadakara in Kozhikode district.

The accident took place after the car she was travelling in veered away to avoid another person who was crossing the road and eventually rammed into an electric post. While Hanan was rushed to the ICU, the driver escaped without injuries.

Hanan’s arduous story was first reported in Mathrubhumi in July. The story of Hanan, a third-year chemistry student belonging to a private college in Idukki, soon went viral on social media, with thousands of people applauding her courage and determination, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

However, she also faced abusive trolls after people from several quarters alleged that her story was completely untrue and that it had been manufactured to fool the people of the state. Abusive comments, laced with threats, had flooded her Facebook account. A section alleged that her falsified story was marketed with the intention of getting a role for her in the movies.

Courtesy: indianexpress.com

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Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has issued directions to municipal corporations across the state to regulate and prohibit feeding pigeons in public places, citing serious public health concerns.

Deputy Secretary to Government V Lakshmikanth has written to the Urban Development Department requesting it to issue directions to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and all municipal corporations to take immediate steps to implement the measures.

In an official note dated December 16 issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department and released to the media on Wednesday, the department said uncontrolled feeding of pigeons in public places has resulted in large congregations of birds, excessive droppings and serious health concerns, particularly respiratory illnesses linked to prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other lung diseases.

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"The commissioner, the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Commissioners and chief officers of other municipal corporations shall take necessary action to mitigate the causes of dangerous disease spread by pigeon and enforce specified guidelines in their respective jurisdiction," the note said.

According to the department, these include a prohibition on feeding pigeons or causing pigeons to be fed in areas where it may cause nuisance or pose a health hazard to the public. Pigeon feeding shall be permitted only in designated areas in a controlled manner, subject to certain conditions.

"The designated areas may be selected in consultation with stakeholders. The responsibility for upkeep of the designated areas and compliance to the directions shall be taken up by some charitable organisation or an NGO. The feeding in designated areas shall be permitted only for some limited hours in the day," it said.

The note further stated that authorised officers of local authorities shall issue on-the-spot warnings and may impose fines for violation of the order, or lodge complaints to prosecute offenders under Sections 271 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 272 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

It also directed local authorities to conduct public awareness campaigns, including the display of signboards, banners and digital messages, explaining the health hazards associated with pigeon droppings and feathers, the content of the regulatory directions and penalties for violations, and alternative humane methods of bird conservation that do not endanger public health.