Connect with us
Wednesday,21-October-2026
Breaking News

Crime

As Amaravati blaze kills 3 infants, NCP(SP) demands fire audit of all govt hospitals

Published

on

Nagpur, Aug 24: NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, reacting to the Amravati hospital fire, called it “very unfortunate” and demanded that the administration conducts fire audit of all government hospitals and also prepare a six-month action plan.

Rohit Pawar, speaking to media, said, “This is a very unfortunate incident. Three children, all from poor families, lost their lives. A similar incident had occurred in 2021, after which a special committee was formed and tasked with auditing hospitals across Maharashtra and recommending measures that needed to be taken.”

He demanded that the government prepares a six-month action plan.

“The committee submitted its report to the government, but unfortunately, we understand that no action was taken on it. Therefore, the government should prepare a six-month action plan based on that report and inform people about the measures that will be implemented in every government hospital in every taluka of Maharashtra,” he said.

The NCP (SP) MLA further alleged that the government does not value the lives of the poor.

“Whenever such incidents occur, it is the poor who lose their lives. We feel that this government does not value the lives of the poor. If you look at the figures, around 44,000 children have died in the last three years due to various reasons, including malnutrition, serious illnesses, accidents, and snakebites, in schools and hostels for tribal children. This issue also needs to be addressed,” he said.

BJP leader Navneet Rana raised questions over the fire audit at the hospital and demanded strict action.

“How many times has the fire audit been conducted? Many poor children come to the government hospital, and we have lost three children today. I think strict action will be taken in this matter. I have just spoken to the minister and requested that an immediate letter be issued. If the fire audit was not conducted, then who is responsible for this?” she said.

According to preliminary reports, an explosion in a ventilator sparked the blaze, which quickly engulfed the unit. The ventilator explosion led to the rapid spread of fire and smoke inside the ward. The exact cause of the blaze remains unknown, and authorities are investigating the site to determine what triggered the fire.

Duty doctors, nurses, and hospital staff managed to rescue several infants from the unit as soon as the fire was detected. The third floor houses three NICU wards with a combined capacity of 39 beds (13 in each). The unit where the fire broke out reportedly had 9 to 12 high-risk, premature infants under critical care at the time.

The tragic event has sparked intense outrage and raised severe questions regarding the emergency preparedness of the medical facility. Despite the building being newly constructed — inaugurated just a year ago by the late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar — the automated fire suppression system reportedly failed to activate. Authorities are investigating whether the ventilator that exploded was outdated, poorly maintained, or suffered from a critical technical failure.

Crime

CISF seizes foreign currency worth Rs 1.13 crore at Kolkata airport

Published

on

Alert personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) detected foreign currency worth approximately Rs 1.14 crore concealed in the hand baggage of two passengers bound for Bangkok at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata.

The detection took place around 10:20 a.m. on October 19 during routine security screening at the International Terminal Security Hold Area. A CISF screener noticed suspicious images in the X-ray scans of the hand baggage carried by the two passengers scheduled to travel to Bangkok on Bhutan Airlines flight B3700. The bags were subsequently referred for physical examination.

During the inspection, CISF personnel recovered USD 1,19,900, equivalent to approximately Rs 1,13,64,002, concealed inside false bottoms of the two bags. The foreign currency had been wrapped in newspaper in an apparent attempt to conceal it from security personnel.

Of the total amount recovered, USD 74,900 was found in the hand baggage of one passenger, while USD 45,000 was recovered from the other passenger’s bag.

Following the prescribed formalities, both passengers, along with the seized currency, were handed over to the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Customs for further investigation and necessary legal action.

On October 20, the passenger from whose baggage USD 74,900 was recovered was taken by AIU/Customs officials to the District and Sessions Court for further legal proceedings following the investigation and seizure. The second passenger was released by Customs after the issuance of a detention receipt for the USD 45,000 recovered from the passenger’s baggage.

CISF in a release reiterated its commitment to maintaining aviation security through effective screening procedures, alert surveillance and professional conduct by its personnel. According to officials, the detection stresses the importance of coordinated action between airport security personnel and Customs authorities in addressing suspected financial and currency-related violations.

Continue Reading

Crime

Gujarat: Man held after 0.77 grams of mephedrone found in ‘porter’ delivery parcel

Published

on

A 27-year-old businessman was arrested by Naroda police after 0.77 grams of suspected mephedrone, valued at Rs 1,540, was found in a parcel being delivered through the Porter application near Nana Chiloda Circle in Ahmedabad, police said on Wednesday.

The case came to light after police received a control-room message about a suspicious parcel that had arrived for delivery through the application.

The substance was examined preliminarily by a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) officer in the presence of panch witnesses and was found to be mephedrone, a synthetic drug.

Police seized the substance and initially registered an offence against three unidentified mobile phone holders under Sections 8(c), 22(a) and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

During the investigation, they traced and arrested the man suspected of ordering the consignment through the parcel.

The accused was identified as Priyang Sanghvi (27). He is a businessman who lives in Aram Park Flats in the Sabarmati area of the city. He is originally from Shirodi village in Rajasthan’s Sirohi district.

According to the police, the suspected method involved using a mobile phone number belonging to a witness to log in to the Porter application.

Drug consignments were allegedly packed separately in zipper bags and sent through the delivery service. An intermediary was allegedly used to distribute the drugs to different customers for sale.

The police said the arrest followed instructions from senior officers to curb the illegal sale and transportation of narcotic substances and detect offences related to them.

“The operation was conducted by Naroda police personnel under the supervision of Senior Police Inspector B M Katariya,” officials said.

The police seized 0.77 grams of mephedrone, valued at Rs 1,540. The investigation concerns the alleged use of a parcel delivery application to transport the substance and its subsequent distribution through an intermediary.

Continue Reading

Crime

Bihar: 75-year-old man stabbed to death; woman and her son injured

Published

on

A 75-year-old man was allegedly stabbed to death, while a woman and her 25-year-old son were injured in a violent clash between neighbours at Rohda Kala village under Barharia police station limits in Bihar’s Siwan district on Wednesday.

The deceased was identified as Rama Nandan Prasad, son of the late Garib Bhagat.

The injured were identified as Baby Devi, 44, and her son Kishan Kumar, 25.

The injured were taken to the Barharia Community Health Centre for treatment. While Kishan received primary medical care, Baby Devi was referred to Siwan Sadar Hospital due to her critical condition.

According to Kishan Kumar, his grandfather was sitting outside the house drinking tea while his mother was cooking, and he was asleep.

Hearing a commotion, he went outside and found his grandfather lying in a pool of blood.

He then heard his mother crying from inside the house and rushed in, where he allegedly saw neighbours attacking her with knives. When he tried to intervene, he was also injured in the attack.

Kishan claimed that he had no prior dispute with the neighbours and said the reason for the attack was unclear.

With the help of residents, two alleged assailants were apprehended and handed over to the police.

After receiving information, the Barharia police reached the village and launched an investigation.

A Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team was also called to collect evidence from the scene.

The police have set up a camp in the village amid tension following the incident.

Barharia Station House Officer Chhotan Kumar said a patrolling officer was initially sent to the spot, after which he reached the village to investigate the incident.

He said an FIR has been registered against the named accused based on Kishan Kumar’s statement.

The two detained suspects are being questioned, while the motive behind the incident remains unclear.

Police said further action would be taken based on the investigation.

Continue Reading

Trending