VHP leader Chaupal who laid first brick for Ram temple construction dies after prolonged illness
Ayodhya/Lucknow, Feb 7 (PTI): VHP leader Kameshwar Chaupal, who laid the first brick for the Ayodhya Ram temple's construction during a 1989 ceremony, has died after prolonged illness.
He breathed his last at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi, according to information provided by the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra's media centre.
A member of the temple trust, Chaupal had been suffering from kidney ailment for a long time.
Hailing from Patna, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader laid the first brick during the inaugural foundation stone-laying ceremony for the temple in November 1989, the temple trust said.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) had bestowed on him the title of "first Kar Sevak", it added.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief at Chaupal's passing, hailing him as a "great Ram devotee".
He said in a post on X, "The passing of Kameshwar Chaupal ji, central vice-president of the VHP, member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, and a great Ram devotee, who laid the first stone for the construction of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in the presence of revered seers at the historic foundation stone-laying ceremony held on November 9, 1989, is extremely sad."
"His entire life was dedicated to religious and social work. Humble tributes to him! I pray to Lord Shri Ram to give a place to the departed soul in his lotus feet and provide strength to the bereaved family to bear this immense loss," Adityanath further said in the post in Hindi.
The VHP called Chaupal's passing "deeply saddening and shocking".
"We pray to the almighty for peace to his departed soul and strength to his family and loved ones in this difficult time," it said in a post on X.
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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
