On-duty pourakarmika dies of chest pain in Hubballi, family members allege negligence of authorities
HUBBALLI: A 50-year old contract pourakarmika employee of Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation died after reportedly complaining of chest pain prompting his family to blame the authorities for his death alleging negligence.
The deceased employee has been identified as Ashok Mallappa Ron who passed away after complaining of chest pain during cleaning activity in Ward number 28 in the city on Sunday morning. After complaining of the pain Ashok was taken to Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences where the family alleged that he was not checked upon by any doctor.
Later, Ashok was returning home in a waste collection vehicle with his son Kishor Ron. When they reached near Channamma Circle, suddenly his heartbeats increased. They again went back to KIMS. This time a doctor checked Ashok, but he could only say, "You brought him dead" the family added.
The deceased is survived by wife, three daughters, and a son, who is also a contract pourakarmika.
Speaking to Vartha Bharati, Vijay Guntral, president of the association of pourakarmikas, took no time to hold HDMC authorities responsible for Ashok's death. "HDMC Commissioner Suresh Itnal has ordered to carryout health checkup of every pourakarmikas and cleaning staff on weekly basis. But it did not get implement and remained merely on papers," Guntral alleged.
"If corporation authorities had conducted routine health checkups, this incident would have not occurred. The authorities should have been serious about pourakarmikas' health at least at the time when a pandemic has broke out in the country," Shankar Ron, son of the deceased, said.
Shankar also blamed negligence of KIMS doctors for his father's death. "Doctors at KIMS hospital did not check my father at all. They just handed over a few medicines and sent us back. They could have admitted him and carryout tests to treat him in detail," Shankar alleged.
"The government should provide compensation of Rs. 10 lakh and a government job to one of our family members," Shankar demanded.
KIMS Superintendent Dr. Arun Kumar, however, denied this allegation and said, "the patient had come with chest pain. We advised him to take ECG and get admitted in Cath lab. Meanwhile he went outside and took decision to return home and came back as dead body."
How can we neglect patient's health,? he has neglected his own health," Dr. Arun Kumar clarified.
"We are carrying out general health checkup of the pourakarmikas and other staff regularly. But when it comes to specific diseases like heart problems, patient should be more careful of his own health. We cannot be blamed for this," HDMC Commissioner Suresh Itnal clarified.
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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.
