Pune: The Maharashtra Health Department reported that 205 suspected cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) have been detected in the state so far, with 177 patients diagnosed with GBS.

Further, as per officials, 8 deaths have occurred, and out of these, 4 deaths were confirmed as GBS.

Maharashtra Health Department said, “A total of 205 suspected patients have been detected till date. Of these, 177 patients were diagnosed with GBS. A total of 8 deaths have occurred. Of these, 4 deaths were confirmed as GBS and 4 suspected deaths were reported. 41 patients from Pune MC, 94 from newly added villages in PMC area, 29 from Pimpri Chinchwad MC, 32 from Pune Rural and 08 are from other districts. Out of these patients 113 have been discharged till now, 50 are in ICU and 20 are on ventilator.”

Maharashtra Health Department further said that 2 suspected new GBS cases were reported on Thursday, and the remaining 5 cases are from previous days.

The health department said that common symptoms of GBS include sudden weakness in hands or legs/ paralysis, trouble while walking, or weakness with sudden onset and diarrhoea (for sustained periods).

The state health authorities are closely monitoring the situation and have intensified surveillance efforts in affected areas.

Earlier, on February 6, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) sealed 30 private water supply plants in the Nanded village, Dhayari, and adjoining areas on Sinhgad Road in Pune City. These areas have been identified as the epicenter of the outbreak. The action was taken against these plants in the last two days, said a PMC official.

The PMC took action against these plants after collecting water samples that were found unfit for drinking. Some plants lacked proper permission to operate, while others were contaminated with Escherichia coli bacteria. Additionally, certain plants were not using disinfectants and chlorine to control contamination.

On February 3, the Union Health Minister held a high-level meeting with Maharashtra’s key health and medical ministers and reviewed the public health measures being undertaken by the state health authorities, including testing and treatment of patients affected by GBS.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome is an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the peripheral nervous system, leading to symptoms such as muscle weakness and, in severe cases, paralysis.

New Delhi, Feb 14: The Congress high command has appointed former MLA Harshvardhan Sapkal as the new Maharashtra Congress Committee (MPCC) President, replacing Nana Patole.

Reacting to the decision, senior Congress leader and former MP Husain Dalwai welcomed the move, calling it a “much-needed step” at the right time and remarked that those who are afraid of the ED and other agencies have been set aside.

This leadership change comes two months after the party’s poor performance in the state Assembly elections.

Speaking to media Dalwai said, “It is a very good thing that a decision has finally been made on this long-pending matter. I believe that those who are afraid of the ED and other agencies have been set aside, and a true leader has been given the position. I welcome this decision.”

He further stated that leaders who fear central agencies cannot lead the party, emphasising that a strong and fearless leader like Harshvardhan Sapkal who follows Gandhian principles was needed to revive the Congress in Maharashtra.

“The central leadership has made the right decision. Maharashtra Congress is in bad shape, and we need to fight against this government,” he added.

Sapkal served as an MLA from 2014 to 2019, representing the Buldhana Assembly Constituency in Maharashtra.

Along with the state’s new party chief, the Congress President has also approved the appointment of Vijay Namdevrao Wadettiwar as the leader of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) in Maharashtra.

The Congress leadership aims to strengthen the party’s presence in Maharashtra, especially after its poor electoral performance. With Sapkal’s appointment, the party hopes to rebuild its base and counter the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP coalition more effectively.

New Delhi: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday announced that the state will ‘completely’ roll out the new criminal laws within the next six months. This came following a review meeting in the North Block with Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the implementation process of the new provisions.

Speaking to reporters, Fadnavis shared that Maharashtra has already made significant strides in implementing the new laws and mentioned that 27 vans have been deployed to enhance forensic infrastructure for cases older than seven years.

Additionally, he stated that the state has established online systems for courts, but under the new provisions, dedicated and designated cubicles needed to be set up in courts and forensic labs.

Furthermore, Fadnavis said that 90 per cent of Maharashtra’s police force, which consists of 2 lakh personnel, has already been trained to implement the new laws.

“Today, Union HM Amit Shah called a review meeting regarding the three criminal laws… The HM reviewed how we are working on the new provisions in the laws. On behalf of the state of Maharashtra, we informed him we have deployed 27 vans for the forensic infrastructure for cases older than seven years… We have established online systems for courts, but according to the new law, we have to set up a designated, dedicated and notified cubicle in courts and forensic labs. We have started working on this, and it will be completed in the next 6 months,” the Maharashtra CM stated.

“Cases will be heard in court via videoconferencing, and the accused will not have to be presented in court time and again… It was a good meeting… We will completely roll out the new laws in the next 6 months,” he added.

The three new criminal laws come under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023; Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023; and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), 2023.

These laws were conceptualised with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to replace colonial-era laws that persisted post-independence and to reform the judicial system by shifting the focus from punishment to justice.

The new criminal laws, which were implemented nationwide on July 1, 2024, aim to make India’s legal system more transparent, efficient, and adaptable to the needs of contemporary society. These landmark reforms represent a historic overhaul of India’s criminal justice system, bringing in new frameworks to tackle modern-day challenges such as cybercrime and organised crime and ensuring justice for victims of various offences.

According to the Union Home Minister, Chandigarh became the first city in the country to fully implement the new criminal laws.