Kerala Guv, opposition leader praise doctors who performed life-saving procedure on road
Kochi (PTI): The recent brave act of three doctors, who performed an emergency procedure on the roadside at Udayamperoor to save the life of a critically injured man in an accident, won the praise of Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan on Tuesday.
In a statement issued by Lok Bhavan, the Governor praised the efforts of doctor couple- Thomas Peter and Didhiya K Thomas and B Manoop for their unique medical intervention which saved the life of Linu Dennis of Kollam.
The Governor personally spoke to the doctors and congratulated them, it said.
"Such humanitarian gesture embodies the highest marks of ethics in medical profession, which is to be emulated by all," the Governor said.
Arlekar also invited the doctors to Lok Bhavan, the statement added.
In a Facebook post, Satheesan also lavished praises on the doctor couple, belonging to Ernakulam Indira Gandhi Co-operative Hospital and Manoop, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Kottayam Medical College, for their gesture.
Satheesan said the doctors tried to save the life of the injured man in a cinematic manner.
"Saving a life... holding someone by the hand and bringing them back to life. That is an act bearing the imprint of God's own hand," he said in a FB post.
Detailing the incident, the LoP said the doctor couple were on their way to church when they noticed two people lying on the road, bleeding after a road accident at Udayamperoor. Dr Manoop also happened to be present at the spot at that time, he said. One of the injured persons was in a critical condition.
With no time to lose, the doctors carried out an emergency life-saving procedure on the spot, using the light from mobile phones, he further said in the FB post.
"Using the light from mobile phones, an emergency surgical procedure was performed right in the middle of the road. Local residents and the police extended assistance," he said.
Within four minutes, the doctors ensured that the person would survive, Satheesan said.
The Congress leader said he was amazed when he came to know about the incident, and so he called the doctors personally and conveyed his happiness and appreciation.
"They deserve every bit of praise. Dear ones, no amount of gratitude would ever be enough for you," Satheesan added in the social media post.
However, the injured man Linu Dennis, who had been under treatment at a private hospital here since Sunday night, succumbed to his wounds on Tuesday afternoon.
His body was shifted to the government general hospital here where the postmortem would be carried out on Wednesday, authorities said.
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Karnataka gram panchayats achieve record 89 pc tax collection in 2025-26: Minister
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka has achieved a significant milestone in grassroots governance, with 5,943 gram panchayats across the state recording higher tax collection and revenue realisation in 2025-26 compared to the previous financial year, Minister Priyank Kharge said on Thursday.
The Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj reported total tax collections of Rs 1,382.57 crore in 2025-26, marking an increase of Rs 110.04 crore over Rs 1,272.54 crore collected in 2024-25, the minister’s office said in a statement.
This represents a record 89 per cent realisation of the current demand, the highest in recent years, it added.
The Minister for Rural Development & Panchayat Raj said, “Our focus over the past few years has been on improving systems, ensuring accountability, and empowering local bodies to enhance their own revenue capabilities.”
“It is encouraging to see that every rupee collected is being reinvested into village infrastructure, public services, and local development. This is laying a strong foundation for inclusive and sustainable rural growth,” he added.
Karnataka had previously secured the top position at the national level in tax collection and revenue mobilisation, and the continued upward trend highlights the impact of efficient administration, strict enforcement of regulations, and strengthened tax collection mechanisms.
In 2024-25, gram panchayats had, for the first time in the department’s history, collected Rs 1,272.54 crore, achieving 80 per cent of the current demand.
Building on this momentum, the state further improved performance in 2025–26, reaching a record 89 per cent collection efficiency, the statement said.
This achievement has been driven by extensive awareness campaigns, targeted tax collection drives, and the sustained efforts of officials at all levels—from gram panchayat bill collectors to senior administrators, the minister said, congratulating all staff and officers for their contribution.
Highlighting district-level performance, Priyank noted that Raichur district recorded an exceptional 129 per cent tax collection, while 11 districts across the state achieved over 100 per cent collection, demonstrating strong local-level execution and compliance.
Over the past three years, Karnataka has witnessed a steady upward trend in tax collection. The increased revenue is being channelled into public works, improved civic services, and local development initiatives, contributing to the overall progress of rural communities, he added.
