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Over 2167 test positive in kumbh, no cut short plans

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawa had said on Tuesday that there is no comparison between the event held at Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi last year and Kumbh in Haridwar as the former was held in a closed space while the latter is being held in a vast open area.

It is really pathetic that the Covid cases in India is on huge surge and there are no plans for the government ,at least to bring strict protocols on public gatherings. A total of 2167 people were found positive for coronavirus in Haridwar — the place where the month-long Kumbh Mela is going on — in the last five days.

According to the Uttarakhand State Control Room, there were 254 COVID-19 positive cases on April 10, 386 on April 11, 408 on April 12, 594 on April 13 and 525 on April 14.
Officials have meanwhile said that despite a record surge in COVID-19 cases in the country, the Kumbh Mela will continue till April 30.


Indian Naga Sadhus (Hindu holy men) gather before taking holy dip in the waters of the River Ganges on the Shahi snan (grand bath) (Pallav Paliwal)

“Kumbh Mela used to begin in January but looking at the COVID-19 situation, the state government decided to start this in April. The Centre’s SOP said that in the wake of the situation the period (of Mela) be reduced. I have no information if it’s being curtailed,” Haridwar District Magistrate and Kumbh Mela officer Deepak Rawat said on Wednesday.
Serious questions are being raised over the decision to continue with the Kumbh Mela, as India reported over two lakh new cases on Thursday, the highest-ever spike since the beginning of the pandemic.
Around 14 lakh devotees took a holy dip in the River Ganga at the Haridwar Mahakumbh on Wednesday on the occasion of Baisakhi Shahi Snan, the third royal bath in this Kumbh.


Indian Naga Sadhus (Hindu holy men) gather before taking holy dip in the waters of the River Ganges on the Shahi snan (grand bath)(Pallav Paliwal)


Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawa had said on Tuesday that there is no comparison between the event held at Nizamuddin Markaz in Delhi last year and Kumbh in Haridwar as the former was held in a closed space while the latter is being held in a vast open area.
“There is no comparison between Markaz and Kumbh. Markaz was in a closed hall. All the people slept in a single hall with close contacts. They shared blankets. On the contrary, there are 16 ghats in Kumbh. Not just Haridwar, Kumbh is spread from Rishikesh to Nilkanth. Devotees take bath in different ghats at different times,” he had said. (ANI)

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Low-cost air circulated PPE for Covid warriors

Gupta said it would now be possible for doctors and frontline Covid warriors to work longer without the discomforts and hassles associated with conventional PPE kits that often result in profuse perspiration and a feeling of suffocation…reports Asian Lite News.

Addressing a major challenge to Covid warriors, a medical equipment manufacturing factory of Mysuru, has developed a unique and affordable PPE suit that allows free flow of filtered air.

GloAir, produced by Glowtronics of Mysuru, has been designed to make life comfortable and efficient for the doctors and frontline Covid fighters.

Jagan Gupta, executive director, on a visit to Agra, Mathura, said, that his organisation was inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to go ‘swadeshi’ and to support governmental efforts to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, we have produced this unique safety kit. “GLOAIR” keeps the whole body sweat-free and comfortable enabling the wearer to put in long hours of work.

Gupta said it would now be possible for doctors and frontline Covid warriors to work longer without the discomforts and hassles associated with conventional PPE kits that often result in profuse perspiration and a feeling of suffocation. “Gloair” will add to the arsenal required to supplement efforts to contain the spread of the Coronavirus and equip the doctors to address the health hazards.

“Our continuous interactions with doctors at the hospitals where Covid patients were being treated, highlighted the hassles of wearing PPEs for long hours resulting in not only fatigue and loss of energy due to lack of fresh air to various parts of the body. To overcome this inadequacy, we worked on developing a kit that allowed for circulation of fresh, filtered air for the whole body,” Gupta explained.

“Our system filters out most airborne contaminants, as we are using filters that have a viral removal efficacy of 99.99 per cent, and can be used for up to 100 hours. The Gloair PPE kit is equipped with air blower, air filters, motor, power bank, charger, waist belt and a user manual.

It is a comfortable with light weight design that does not require any external help to put on or take off. We have deliberately kept the unit price affordable to make Gloair’s large-scale use possible,” the company director added.

Asked to explain the operation of the system, Gupta said, “the Gloair PPE kit has a tube connected to the air outlet of the air supply module. To turn on the air supply, the USB connector from the air supply module is plugged into the power bank which starts the motor of the blower to pump in filtered air into the full body PPE kit through the connecting air tube. The air flow can be increased or reduced by using a Flow Control Knob. A fully charged Power Bank will supply air up to eight hours in normal conditions.”

Another problem faced by users is that the eyeglasses or visor gets fogged out due to perspiration thereby obstructing view. The Gloair PPE has a larger visor that provides clear vision without fogging because of the continuous supply of filtered air. For details visit our website www.Glowtronics.com, he added.

Gupta said that the company is planning to market Gloair in a big way to support Government efforts to fight the pandemic, as also to provide a user friendly PPE to secure the health of the Corona warriors who have been relentlessly waging this war for more than a year.

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India’s migrants battle to survive again as COVID cases surge

Maharashtra, India’s biggest hotspot state, is considering a full lockdown. It has already announced a night curfew and full lockdown on the weekends. Other states have announced night curfews too…reports Asian Lite News.

As India witnesses a nationwide surge in COVID-19 cases, the fear of another lockdown has regripped migrant labourers who had just started to resettle in the cities they left during last year’s outbreak.

The number of new coronavirus cases in the country hit a record daily high on Thursday, with over two lakh infections being reported in a day, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated today.

In March last year, a sudden lockdown left millions of India’s daily-wage workers without jobs and money.  Overnight, thousands were forced to return to their villages. As many travelled hundreds of kilometres on foot, lorries or cycles, some tragically died on the way.

Migrant workers and others start to return home amid Covid-19 restrictions at Sarai Kale Khan Terminal  in New Delhi on Monday, The, Amid a massive spike in COVID-19 cases, migrant workers have started returning to their native states fearing another complete lockdown that could be imposed by the government. Migrant Workers Returning Home Due To Covid-19 Restrictions in India – 12 Apr 2021 (Pallav Paliwal)

With some states announcing a partial lockdown to contain the spread of the virus, the news is creating a sense of panic again. Dreading another full lockdown, migrant workers are heading back home as jobs, and their sources of income dry up.

Maharashtra, India’s biggest hotspot state, is considering a full lockdown. It has already announced a night curfew and full lockdown on the weekends. Other states have announced night curfews too.

“We are returning to our homes because there was the problem of earning livelihood after curfew announcement. I had migrated back last year also during lockdown but returned after the situation improved,” a taxi driver in Maharashtra said.

In view of helping these migrant workers, the Jharkhand government had set up a control room to cater to their requirements. According to officials at the control room, there has been a drastic increase in the number of phone calls received by them.

Migrant workers and others start to return home amid Covid-19 restrictions at Sarai Kale Khan Terminal  in New Delhi on Monday, The, Amid a massive spike in COVID-19 cases, migrant workers have started returning to their native states fearing another complete lockdown that could be imposed by the government. Migrant Workers Returning Home Due To Covid-19 Restrictions in India – 12 Apr 2021 (Pallav Paliwal)

Speaking to ANI, head of control room, Shikha Pankaj said, “We are getting many calls from migrant labourers. They are fear-stricken and not able to make decisions. Some migrants have reported they have returned. Most calls are being received from Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Delhi.”

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New policy to stop illicit liquor sale

Sisodia added the new policy will also ensure equitable distribution of liquor across the national capital….reports Asian Lite News.

The Delhi Excise Department said on Monday that it lodged 1,864 FIRs against illegal liquor traders across the city besides recovering over seven lakh bottles of illicit liquor in the last two years.

Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia, who also holds the finance portfolio, said the Excise Department has arrested around 2,000 people involved in illegal liquor trade in the national capital during the same period.

Delhi’s deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia announced lowering of legal age to drink liquor in the national capital to 21 from 25 during a press conference at Secretariat in New Delhi, India, on Monday, March 22, 2021 (Pallav Paliwal)

Talking about Delhi government’s upcoming excise policy, Sisodia told the media that the new policy is aimed at doing away with liquor mafia, besides shoring up its revenue share by up to 20 per cent in a year.

“As per the government’s record, there are around 850 registered liquor shops but people say that more than 2,000 liquor shops are run by the liquor mafias in Delhi. To curb all these irregularities and to fight the liquor mafia, we have come up with this new excise policy,” Sisodia added.

“The liquor shop owners will have to ensure law and order outside the shops. If needed, they can take the help of the police or security guards, but ensuring law and order will be the responsibility of the liquor shop owners. The new policy will stop bootlegging and illicit liquor sale,” he said.

Sisodia added the new policy will also ensure equitable distribution of liquor across the national capital.

“We have decided to set up an international standard check-up system through which we will keep a watch on low-quality liquors and stop their distribution. An international quality lab will be set up to test the quality of liquor coming into the city,” the Deputy CM said.

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Fuel prices remain steady for 3 weeks

Crude has now slipped 6 per cent in the last six days and is now sitting a tab lower around $ 64.5 a barrel on the back of rising US inventory…reports Asian Lite News.

Just like the farmers’ protest, protests against the continuous fuel price hike are there in every parts of the nation. But surprisingly, fuel prices in the country have remained steady for over three weeks now as softening crude and Assembly elections in four states and one union territory has kept Oilcans from revising the retail prices.

Accordingly, petrol continues to be priced at Rs 91.17 a litre and diesel Rs 81.47 a litre in the national capital on Monday. Fuel prices have not been revised now for 23 days.

Across the country as well the petrol and diesel price remained unchanged. But the pause has not helped in bringing down fuel prices that have crossed Rs 100 per litre (petrol) mark in several parts of the country.

Earlier, Minister of state for Finance Anurag Thakur said in Parliament that states and Centre should look at taxes on petroleum products to see if relief can be provided to consumers.

Indian Youth Congress (IYC) activists during the protest against the hike in fuel prices in New Delhi on India, 19 March, 2021. (Pallav Paliwal)

Since the beginning of February crude has gained more than $7 per barrel that pushed OMCs to increase fuel prices on 14 occasions raising the prices by Rs 4.22 per litre for petrol and by Rs 4.34 a litre for diesel in Delhi.

Crude has now slipped 6 per cent in the last six days and is now sitting a tab lower around $ 64.5 a barrel on the back of rising US inventory.

The petrol and diesel prices have increased 26 times in 2021 with the two auto fuels increasing by Rs 7.46 and Rs 7.60 per litre respectively so far this year.

The officials in public sector oil companies said that retail price may rise again once daily revision starts post voting in various state elections. The crude is expected to move up further on demand rise and continued production cut by OPEC+ in April.

Oilcos are already making losses of Rs 2 and Rs 4 per litre on current retail prices of petrol and diesel respectively. Sources said that to cover this, the fuel prices may remain unchanged even if there is a need to cut retail rates on softening of global product prices.

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New UAE envoy visits Maha Governor

Newly appointed UAE Consul-General in Mumbai, Abdulla Husein Salman M. Almarzooqi, paid a courtesy call on Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari
Both sides vowed to bolster trade and bilateral ties

Welcoming Almarzooqi, Koshyari said that the UAE is the 10th biggest FDI source for India and this country welcomes investments in realty and infra sectors….reports Asian Lite News

The newly appointed Consul-General of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Mumbai, Abdulla Husein Salman M. Almarzooqi visited Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari here on Tuesday.

Welcoming Almarzooqi, Koshyari said that the UAE is the 10th biggest FDI source for India and this country welcomes investments in realty and infra sectors.

He pointed out how 3.50 million Indians living in the UAE were serving as a link between the two nations.

Newly appointed UAE Consul-General in Mumbai, Abdulla Husein Salman M. Almarzooqi, paid a courtesy call on Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari

On his part, Almarzooqi said that the India-UAE relations have been at their peak since the three visits by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adding that he would endeavour to further boost trade and bilateral ties by engaging with the business and industry leaders here.

The new envoy to the country’s commercial capital informed the Governor that many UAE nationals regularly travel to Mumbai for medical treatment and expressed gratitude to the Indian authorities for facilitating their medical visas.

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Govt ultimatum to people amid Maha Covid spike

Uddhav Thackeray

A day after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray served an ultimatum of 8-10 days to the people, Health Minister Rajesh Tope urged people to understand and cooperate with the government since the state could not afford another lockdown….reports Asian Lite News

As panic started building up among people with several districts, cities and towns of Maharashtra coming under degrees of restrictions, the Maha Vikas Aghadi government on Monday appealed to the citizens to take precautions and help “avoid” a fresh lockdown.

A day after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray served an ultimatum of 8-10 days to the people, Health Minister Rajesh Tope urged people to understand and cooperate with the government since the state could not afford another lockdown.

“Our state is known for its sensitive, understanding and cooperative people.. We have seen how they cooperated patiently during the (2020) lockdown. Avoiding a lockdown is now in your hands. Another lockdown will be unaffordable. Therefore, it is my appeal to strictly follow masking, sanitising and safe physical distancing to avoid lockdown,” said Tope in a social media appeal from quarantine.

The state seems headed on the course for another round of severe restrictions with stringent curbs slapped in Nagpur, Pune, Nashik, Amravati, Akola, Yavatmal, Aurangabad, Satara and others amid apprehensions of a second lockdown.



In many districts, schools/colleges have been shut again for offline classes, and the government is deliberating to evolve a consensus on conducting the SSC and HSC Board exams offline in April-May.

After Thackeray’s stern Sunday message, political rallies, large social gatherings, religious congregations, etc. are being cancelled or postponed or truncated.

The police in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur and other places swooped on the organisers of such events or restaurants, bars, etc where people were seen not adhering to Covid-19 protocols.

Ironically, even ex-BJP MP Dhananjay Mahadik son’s wedding in Pune on Sunday saw a 700-plus crowd, including bigwigs like Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar, Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis and others, after which Food & Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal reported on Monday that he had tested positive.

The BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has found that asymptomatic patients and high-risk contacts who step out of quarantine are contributing to the current massive spread of Covid-19 with cases multiplying in the city and in Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

BMC Commissioner I.S. Chahal pointed out that in past two days, there were around 1,500 cases, all asymptomatic and if these started roaming the streets, in less than a fortnight, the figures could shoot up by 10 times.

Besides, the government attributes the spurt in cases to the resumption of local trains from February 1 for most categories of people and permitting several religious and social functions, with many blatantly ignoring the Covid-19 norms.

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Roadblock as farmers refuse to accept committee

Farmers’ unions have said that SC-appointed committee is not a solution as it has been widely reported that members of the committee favour the farm laws, reports Asian Lite News

The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the implementation of the three controversial farm laws and formed a four-member committee to take over negotiations with the farmers on the impact of these laws.

On Monday, the top court had indicated that it may appoint a retired Chief Justice on the committee and asked the parties involved in the matter to suggest few names. Chief Justice S.A. Bobde disclosed that he had asked former Chief Justice P. Sathasivam but he was reluctant since he doesn’t understand Hindi. Former Chief Justice R.M. Lodha’s name was also suggested during the hearing.

However, on Tuesday, the Chief Justice named four agriculturists to the panel: Ashok Gulati, agricultural economist; Bhupinder Singh Mann, President, Bhartiya Kisan Uniom-Mann; Anil Ghanwat, President, Shetkari Sangathan; and Pramod Kumar Joshi, International Food Policy Research Institute.

None of these members were part of the hearing on farm laws in the apex court, especially in the past two days, when a bench headed by the Chief Justice made several critical observations against the government on these laws. The bench also cited that government had failed to develop a consensus before passing the laws.

The top court noted that the negotiations between the farmers’ bodies and the government have not yielded any result so far, therefore a committee of experts in the field of agriculture to negotiate between the farmers’ bodies and the government may create a congenial atmosphere and improve the trust and confidence of the farmers.

But there seems to be a roadblock. It has been widely reported that members of the committee favour the farm laws. Against this backdrop, the farmers’ unions have said that this committee is not a solution.

For instance, Gulati, for instance, has put his weight behind the farm laws and compared them to the 1991 economic reforms. Mann, who heads his own faction of BKU, who has also come out in the support of farm laws. In December, he had met Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and expressed his support for the new farm laws.

Ghanwat, who heads the Maharashtra based Shetkari Sanghatana, has spoken against the demand for repealing the farm laws. He had also told the media that the APMC and MSP systems will continue, therefore there is no reason for agitation. Joshi had written an article in a leading financial daily, where he had said it is unfortunate that farmers are changing the goalposts before every negotiation.

The Supreme Court has tasked the committee to hear the government as well as the representatives of the farmers’ bodies, and other stakeholders, and submit a report to the court containing its recommendations. “This shall be done within two months from the date of its first sitting. The first sitting shall be held within ten days from today,” said the top court in its order.

‘Not far-sighted’

In legal experts’ opinion, the move to form the expert panel to resolve the impasse is not “far-sighted”.

The committee after hearing the government as well as the representatives of the farmers’ bodies, and other stakeholders, will submit a report to the Supreme Court containing its recommendations.

Speaking to IANS, senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi asked what would happen after hearing the aggrieved farmers, the committee suggested amending the laws.

“Would it have legislative powers? The Supreme Court should not have intervened and stayed the implementation of the farm laws. The procedure to constitute a committee is faulty,” he said.

Noting that none of the main lawyers of the farmer unions had argued that the laws are unconstitutional, Dwivedi said that instead of forming the committee, the top court should have heard the issue on the constitutional aspect. “It is shocking,” said Dwivedi on top court decision to set up the committee.

Congress questions impartiality

The Congress questioned the impartiality of the members of a Supreme Court-appointed panel.

Congress said the panel selected by the Supreme Court have “openly expressed views against the withdrawal of these farm laws. It will be tough for farmers to repose faith in the committee, wherein a majority of members have views different from theirs on the issue,” Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill remarked.

Youth Cong protests outside Minister’s residence against farm laws

Shergill also demanded the resignation of Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar for what he called “total incompetence, irrational and irresponsible behaviour of the BJP-led central government”, due to which the higher judiciary had to step in.

Khalistan infiltration?

Attorney General (AG) K K Venugopal told the Supreme Court that the Khalistan supporters have infiltrated the farmers protest against the three farm laws.

The bench told the AG that if there is infiltration by a banned organisation, then the government has to confirm it and asked him to file an affidavit by Wednesday. AG replied, “Yes, I will file an affidavit and the IB reports.”

The bench made the remarks after senior advocate P S Narasimha, representing the Consortium of Indian Farmers Association supporting the farm laws, submitted groups like “Sikhs for Justice” are involved in the protests against the laws. “This kind of protest can be very dangerous”, said Narasimha. The Chief Justice queried the AG, “Will you confirm this?” The AG replied “We have said that Khalistanis have infiltrated into the protests.” He added the government cannot allow one lakh people protesting against the farm laws to come into the national capital. “One group may go to the Parliament…the other group may come to the Supreme Court”, said the AG.

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Maha govt downgrades Devendra Fadnavis’ security cover

After the annual review of state VVIP security, Maharashtra’s Maha Vikas Aghadi government on Sunday enhanced protection cover to a few, and reduced or withdrew it for many, even as senior leader Sharad Pawar sought reduction of his security.

From the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the security cover of several leaders including Leaders of Opposition (Assembly) Devendra Fadnavis and (Council) Pravin Darekar has been reduced while for others including state BJP President Chandrakant Patil, it has been withdrawn.

As the BJP cried foul, Nationalist Congress Party President Pawar requested Home Minister Anil Deshmukh to reduce his security cover.

Ex-minister and senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar – who lost his security – took a swipe at the MVA, saying: “I was given security because I come from a Maoist-hit district. It has been withdrawn, so it appears that Maoist activities over. But the (government) must ensure security for the common masses.”

Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant questioned why the BJP leaders should shout and scream if their security cover is reduced or removed, considering the reduced threat perceptions to them.

“Although the Gandhi family and ex-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh face threats, the BJP acted vindictively and reduced their security after which the BJP people had rejoiced. But the MVA government doesn’t hold such an attitude,” he said.

Deshmukh and other leaders pointed out how, soon after coming to power in late 2014, Fadnavis had also reduced the secuirty for several leaders including Pawar and former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan.

Following a meeting to security review and threat perceptions held on Friday, the state government issued the revised orders on Sunday on the levels of protection that would be accorded to various personalities.

Celeb criminal lawyer Ujjwal Nikam has got an enhanced cover from Y-Plus with escort to Z, while Bollywood actor Shatrughan Sinha’s cover has been increased from Y-Plus to Y-Plus with escort.

In the list for the newcomers to be given security, the personalities are: Legislative Council Chairman Ramraje Nimbalkar (Y-Plus with escort), and Congress Minister Vijay Wadettiwar (Y-Plus with escort in Mumbai).

Ministers Sandipan A. Bhumre, Abdul Nabi Sattar, Dilip Walse-Patil and Sunil Kedar have been given Y-level security and Shiv Sena MLA Vaibhav V. Naik from Kankavali in Sindhudurg gets X-level security.

Fadnavis’s protection has been slashed from Z-Plus to Y-Plus with escort, his wife Amruta’s reduced from Y-Plus with escort to X and their daughter Divija Fadnavis’ from Y-Plus with escort to to X, while the security of Shobha Fadnavis, the aunt of Devendra Fadnavis, has been removed.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray goes from Z to Y-Plus with escort, retired Justice M.L. Tahiliyani Z to Y, Union Minister of State for Social Justice Ramdas Athawale from Y-Plus with escort to Y-Plus, and Mumbai blasts trial Judge G.A. Sanap from Z to Y.

Former Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik’s cover has come down from Y-Plus to Y, while ex-ministers Deepak Kesarkar and Ashish Shelar hes been reduced from Y-Plus to Y, and Suryakant Shinde from Y-Plus to X level.

Darekar and former deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal both will get Y-level cover and those accorded X-level cover include Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra, ex-MLAs Prakash Shendge and Rajesh Kshirsagar, besides Yuva Sena Secretary Varun Sardesai.

In the list of those who lost their security cover are: Ambrishrao Atram (till now, Z-Naxal), state BJP chief Chandrakant Patil and Sanjay Bansode (both Y-Plus with escort till now), Union Minister Raosaheb Danve, ex-CM Narayan Rane, ex-minister Mungantiwar and R. V. More (all Y-Plus till now), Rajkumar Badole and ex-Speaker Haribhau Bagade (both Y till date).

Others who have lost their X-level security henceforth are BJP spokespersons Madhav Bhandari, Ram Kadam and Prasad Laad, ex-Congress MLA-MP Marotrao S. Kowase, VHP leader Shankar Gaikar, and ex-Congress minister Kripa Shankar Singh.

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10 infants killed in Maha hospital blaze

In a shocking lapse, 10 infants were killed and another seven were saved after a fire ravaged through the children’s ward of a government hospital here in the wee hours of Saturday.

The Maharashtra government ordered a thorough investigation into the incident besides seeking a full-scale fire, electrical and structural audit of all hospitals in the state.

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanded that the government should complete its probe within a month and slap charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder on all those found responsible for the tragedy.

The fire, caused by a suspected electrical short-circuit, broke out at around 1.45 am in the Sick and Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of the Bhandara District General Hospital, when the mothers and other relatives of the infants were fast asleep, District Surgeon Pramod Khandate informed the media.

At that time, a nurse on duty who happened to pass by the ward noticed the smoke inside and raised an alarm as other hospital staffers rushed to the spot.

At least 10 infants, including 8 females, a majority of them less than 3 months old, perished due to suffocation, while at least three died due to severe burn injuries.  Another 7 infants in the ‘inbound ward’ were saved.

Soon after dawn, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray ordered a probe, announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakhs to the families of the deceased infants and other measures to  contain the political fallout of the incident.

“While grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic, the health administration and hospitals should not ignore safety and security issues. To ensure such incidents are not repeated, I have directed the officials to check the fire audit status of all the hospitals in the state,” Thackeray said.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar also made a similar announcement and said the government would not tolerate any laxity of safety and security in hospitals.

Health Minister Rajesh Tope said that Director-Health Services would soon issue directions to ensure that the relevant full safety audits of the hospitals are in  place.

Although the police are probing the cause of the blaze, it is attributed to a possible short-circuit that led to an air-conditioner blast, followed by a fire with thick smoke billowing in the ward and the resultant deaths due to suffocation.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray

Thackeray and Tope spoke with the Collector and Superintendent of Police of Bhandara and directed them to take up immediate relief measures for the anguished families, with many young mothers seen crying inconsolably outside the hospital.

Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis also rushed to Bhandara and visited the hospital besides other leaders like MP Sunil Mendhe and ex-minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, terming the incident as “a monumental and painful tragedy”.

Fadnavis slammed the Maha Vikas Aghadi government and demanded that the probe must be completed within a week and all those responsible should be booked under charges of culpable homicide.

Bawankule said the hospital had been affected by power fluctuations since the last one week, and though some relatives of the patients had asked the hospital staff to check the electricals, nobody heeded them.

He added that a proposal to purchase fire safety equipment worth over Rs 1 crore is pending the approval of the Principal Secretary, Health, and the Director-Health  Service, since last May and wanted to know the reasons for the delay.

Earlier, top Indian leaders from across the political spectrum expressed shock and grief over the tragedy.

“I am deeply shocked by the fire incident in Bhandara. My heartfelt sympathies with the families of those who have lost their infants in the tragedy,” President Ram Nath Kovind said.

“Heart-wrenching tragedy where we have lost precious young lives. My thoughts are with all the bereaved families. I hope the injured recover as early as possible,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a message.

“The unfortunate incident of fire at Bhandara Hospital in Maharashtra is extremely tragic. My condolences to the families of the children who lost their lives. I appeal  to Maharashtra Government to provide every possible assistance to the families of the injured and deceased,” Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said.

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