Milkha Singh's condition turns critical: hospital sources
Chandigarh: Legendary Indian sprinter Milkha Singh's condition turned critical on Friday evening as he developed complications, including fever and dropping of oxygen saturation level, after a bout with COVID-19, in the Intensive Care Unit of the PGIMER hospital here.
The 91-year-old, who contracted COVID-19 last month, tested negative for the virus on Wednesday and shifted to general ICU in another block of the hospital.
"His condition has turned critical," PGIMER sources said.
He was being closely monitored by a team of doctors.
Earlier, Milkha, popularly known as 'Flying Sikh', had suddenly developed fever Thursday night and his oxygen saturation levels dipped.
Milkha had been "stable" before this.
"It's been a slightly rough day for Milkha Ji. But he is battling away," read a statement from his family earlier in the day.
Milkha's 85-year-old wife Nirmal Kaur, who had also been infected by the virus, passed away at a private hospital in Mohali on Sunday.
Kaur was a former national women's volleyball team captain.
Milkha was admitted to PGIMER on June 3 after his oxygen levels dipped at home following treatment at the Fortis hospital in Mohali for a week.
The legendary athlete is a four-time Asian Games gold medallist and 1958 Commonwealth Games champion but his greatest performance remains the fourth-place finish in the 400m final of the 1960 Rome Olympics.
He also represented India in the 1956 and 1964 Olympics and was bestowed the Padma Shri in 1959.
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Swearing-in ceremony of new Assam govt to be held on May 12
Guwahati (PTI): The swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected BJP-led NDA government in Assam will be held on May 12, Chief Secretary Ravi Kota said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several union ministers, chief ministers and deputy CMs of BJP-ruled states, and representatives from industries are expected to attend the function.
The oath-taking ceremony is scheduled to be held at the Veterinary Field, Khanapara, he said.
“Chaired a comprehensive review meeting with the DGP, Assam today to assess preparedness for the forthcoming visit of the Hon’ble Prime Minister to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected Council of Ministers”, Kota posted on X on Wednesday night.
Arrangements related to security, traffic management, venue readiness, protocol, and inter-departmental coordination were discussed in detail, he said.
''Emphasised the need for seamless execution, strict adherence to established protocols, and close coordination among all stakeholders," Kota said.
All departments concerned have been directed to maintain the highest level of preparedness to ensure the ceremony is conducted smoothly, securely, and in a manner befitting the significance of the occasion, he said.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tendered his resignation to Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, who asked him to continue as the head of the caretaker government.
Union minister J P Nadda and Naib Singh Saini have been appointed as the observer and co-observer, respectively, for the election of the BJP Legislature party leader, which is likely to be held on May 10.
The ruling NDA returned to power for the third successive term, securing 102 of the 126 assembly seats in the state with the BJP winning 82 constituencies and its allies - the Bodoland People's Front (BPF) and the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) - bagging 10 each.
