Over 19 men reportedly test HIV positive after contact with same girl in Uttarakhand's Ramnagar
Nainital: In a disturbing incident, over 19 men in Uttarakhand’s Ramnagar, located in Nainital district, have reportedly contracted HIV/AIDS due to their physical involvement with a 17-year-old girl addicted to heroin.
According to a report by the New Indian Express on Wednesday, the girl engaged in physical relationships with the youths to fund her addiction. Dr Harish Chandra Pant, Nainital's Chief Medical Officer, expressed concern over a sudden spike in HIV cases in the region. "Typically, around 20 HIV positive cases are detected annually. However, within just five months this year, 19 new cases have been reported," he told the publication.
He emphasised that the authorities are taking this incident seriously and have initiated counselling services in various areas to address the issue. Additionally, he stated that the district health department is working to provide support and education to the affected communities.
"45 individuals in Ramnagar have tested HIV positive in the past 17 months which has sparked concern among health officials,” a senior health department source was quoted as saying by the news outlet.
"As youths began falling ill, hospital tests confirmed they were HIV positive. What is even more disturbing is that several of these individuals were married, and their spouses have also contracted the disease," the source added.
A counsellor explained that the young men were unaware they had been exposed to HIV through the same 17-year-old girl, the report added. During counselling sessions, it was revealed that they all had physical relationships with her, oblivious to her smack addiction.
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Ramdas Athawale backs Fadnavis as Maharashtra CM; says Shinde can shift to Centre
New Delhi, Nov 26: RPI(A) leader Ramdas Athawale, a key BJP ally, on Tuesday called for a quick decision on the next chief minister of Maharashtra and suggested that incumbent Eknath Shinde should shift to the Centre as a Union minister.
Addressing a press conference here, Athawale also backed senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis as the next chief minister of Maharashtra, contending that the saffron party won the maximum number of seats in the 288-member Assembly and should have the right to the top executive post in the state.
He said a peculiar situation has arisen in Maharashtra where BJP leaders want Fadnavis as the chief minister, while Shiv Sena leaders want Shinde to continue in the post, citing the good work he has done over the last two and a half years.
Athawale, the Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, said NCP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has declared that he was not in the race for the chief minister.
"We need to resolve this matter, without any further delay. The election results were announced on November 23 and we should have had the oath of the new chief minister on November 26, the Constitution Day," Athawale said.
Backing Fadnavis for the post of chief minister, Athawale said Shinde can become the deputy chief minister or shift to the Centre and join the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Athawale said his RPI(A) has a presence in every part of the state, but unfortunately lost the two seats -- Dharavi and Kalina -- offered to it in the recent Maharashtra Assembly elections.
He demanded that an RPI member be made an MLC and a minister in the state government.
The BJP-led Mahayuti won a landslide victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections winning 235 seats in the 288-member House. The BJP won 132 seats, followed by Shinde-led Shiv Sena (57) and Ajit Pawar-led NCP (41). Smaller parties, who are part of the alliance, won five seats.
