Kerala: Teen girl suffering from spinal muscular atrophy passes away
Kannur (Kerala), Aug 1: A sixteen-year-old girl, who was bound to a wheelchair due to a rare genetic disorder, passed away on Monday, family sources said.
Afra was suffering from spinal muscular atrophy and had last year appealed to the people to raise Rs 18 crore for saving her toddler brother, Mohammed, who is also suffering from the same disease.
The 16-year-old was admitted to a private hospital in the last few days as she was not keeping well.
The teenage girl had appealed to the world in July last year seeking help to raise money for her brother to procure a dose of Zolgensma, worth over Rs 18 crore, which is considered as one of the most expensive drugs in the world.
A medical treatment committee formed at the time received over Rs 46 crore contribution and the prescribed drug was procured.
Mohammed was given the dose last August. The rest of the money was used for the treatment of two other children affected by the same disease.
Afra was also undergoing treatment for spinal muscular atrophy.
The Kerala government, through a local body, had recently handed over a high-tech wheelchair to Afra.
Her last rites will be held at Matool central Juma Masjid Kabristan here.
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Vijay unable to prove majority, not invited for CM oath ceremony: Sources
Chennai: Actor-politician Vijay has reportedly not been invited to take oath as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after failing to demonstrate support from the required number of MLAs, sources in Raj Bhavan said.
According to media reports that quoted sources in the office of R.N. Ravi Arlekar, Vijay could not prove the backing of 118 legislators, the majority mark in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly.
Despite last-minute efforts to secure support from the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazagam (AMMK), and an IUML legislator, Vijay reportedly managed support from only 116 MLAs, falling short by two members.
Sources said Vijay failed to submit letters of support from the VCK and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).
Later, the IUML issued a statement clarifying that it was not part of the TVK-led alliance.
Meanwhile, AMMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran is also said to have informed the Governor that his party would support the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) instead.
Earlier in the evening, Vijay had met Governor Arlekar and staked claim to form the government, stating that he enjoyed the support of 118 MLAs.
