Ballari maternal deaths: Karnataka govt. seeks explanation from CDSCO

Vartha Bharati | 04-12-2024 | 00:36:00 IST

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Bengaluru: The Karnataka Government has sought clarification from the Central drugs standard control organisation following reports linking the serial deaths of pregnant women at Ballari District Hospital to unsafe IV Ringer's Lactate solution. Health Department Principal Secretary Harsha Gupta has written a letter to the Drugs Controller General of India, Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi.

Recent Investigations revealed bacterial and fungal contaminants in the IV solution given to the women. Out of 192 batches supplied by a West Bengal-based pharmaceutical company, 22 were found substandard by the state drug control department, leading to the suspension of the medicine's use.

However, these batches had passed quality tests at the Central Drug Lab, creating a regulatory conflict.

The Health Department emphasized adherence to tender rules, stating that the Central Drug Lab's approval is legally binding. Samples from the problematic batches have been sent for re-testing at the central lab in West Bengal, with results expected on December 9.

As a precautionary measure, the state has blacklisted the implicated batches and issued directives to halt their use in all hospitals.

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Digital-only toll collection implemented at national highway fee plazas

11-04-2026 ¦ 11-04-2026 IST

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New Delhi ( PTI): All user fee payments at National Highway toll plazas across the country are being processed exclusively through digital modes with FASTag or Unified Payments Interface (UPI) from Saturday, according to an official statement.

The move is a significant step towards strengthening efficiency and transparency in toll collection.

However, the statement said, this transition has not been implemented in the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and West Bengal, as well as the Union Territory of Puducherry, in view of the Model Code of Conduct currently in force due to ongoing assembly polls.