&w=3840&q=100)
Hospitals in India mark rooftops with red crosses amid tensions with Pak
The red cross is a globally recognised symbol used to denote medical facilities and is protected under the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit attacks on hospitals during war or armed conflict. By marking their buildings, hospitals aim to safeguard themselves in the event of any aerial strikes.
According to reports, in Jammu and Kashmir, institutions such as the Associated Hospital and Government Medical College in Kathua have already painted the red cross symbols.
In Telangana, similar measures are underway. Both government and private hospitals in Hyderabad and across the state have been instructed to paint large red crosses—12 feet by 12 feet—on white backgrounds to ensure visibility from the air, Moneycontrol reported.
A. Narendra Kumar, Director of Medical Education in Telangana, said the work is being carried out by the Telangana Medical Services and Infrastructure Development Corporation. According to Deccan Chronicle, 'So far, red crosses have been painted on 164 out of 287 hospitals in the state, with the rest expected to be completed soon,' Kumar said.
In Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, hospitals including Gajra Raja Medical College have also marked their rooftops. The college's dean, Dr R.K.S. Dhakad, told news agency ANI that this was part of national safety guidelines issued by the central government.
#WATCH | Madhya Pradesh | Red cross symbol painted on rooftops of hospitals in Gwalior Gajra Raja Medical College Dean Dr RKS Dhakad says, "Whenever guidelines are issued with regards to national security, as can be seen in the ongoing situation against Pakistan, all the… pic.twitter.com/RIvyv6brTM
— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2025
'Whenever guidelines are issued with regard to national security—as is the case in the ongoing situation with Pakistan—all hospitals are marked with a red cross within a white circle, as per the Geneva Convention treaty. This ensures that hospitals are spared during attacks... In line with this, we have also painted red crosses on our hospital roofs,' Dhakad said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
35 minutes ago
- Time of India
Are Indians consuming excess salt leading to increased risk of chronic diseases? ICMR launches study to address glaring issue
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Excessive intake of salt has become the cause of increased risk of hypertension , stroke, heart disease and kidney disporders, scientists from National Institute of Epidemiology scientists have launched a community-led salt reduction study to address the issue, focusing on low sodium salt substitutes Urban Indians consume close to double the World Health Organisation 's recommended level of 5 gram grams of salt per person per day. On an average a person in the urban areas consumes 9.2 grams of salt in a day, while a rural Indian has 5.6 grams/day, both higher than recommended.A tool used in the effort to decrease salt intake is low sodium salt substitutes. It constitutes of blends where part of the sodium chloride is replaced with potassium or magnesium salts, Dr Sharan Murali, a senior scientist at National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE) and principal investigator of the study, said."Lesser sodium consumption helps reduce blood pressure and improves overall heart health, making low-sodium alternatives a meaningful switch, especially for those with hypertension," Dr Murali stated."Just switching to low-sodium salt can lower blood pressure by 7/4 mmHg on average is a small change with a big impact," Dr Murali NIE has launched a three-year intervention project in Punjab and Telangana to tackle the serious issue. It is being done with the support of the Indian Council of Medical Research ICMR ).The aim of the project is to evaluate the effectiveness of structured salt reduction counselling, delivered by health workers at Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs), in reducing blood pressure and sodium intake among individuals with hypertension, senior scientist at NIE, Dr Ganesh Kumar, who is also a part of the study, said."We are currently in the first year of the project, focused on baseline assessments and field preparations," Dr Kumar said."Counselling materials are not yet finalised; rather, we aim to co-create the intervention package with the community health workers, drawing on their experiences and incorporating their suggestions. It's not just about delivering health education, it's about listening, understanding, and building together," Dr Murali NIE conducted a market survey across 300 retail outlets in Chennai to assess the availability and pricing of low-sodium salt (LSS) to ensure interventions are grounded in study found that LSS was available in only 28 per cent of retail outlets. It was seen in 52 per cent of supermarkets, but only in 4 per cent in small grocery price of LSS averaged Rs 5.6 per 100g, which is more than twice the price of normal iodised salt (Rs 2.7 per 100g).These findings highlight a critical supply-demand disconnect, Dr Murali said."The lower demand for low sodium salt might be leading to its lower availability - it's a proxy indicator of awareness and access," noted Dr. raise more awareness, the NIE has also recently launched the #PinchForAChange campaign on Twitter and LinkedIn through infographics, facts, and simple messages, the campaign aims to raise awareness about hidden salt sources, promote low-sodium alternatives, and empower individuals to make heart-healthy choices."If successful, this project could lead to the integration of sustainable dietary counselling models into the existing public health system . It can bridge the gap between knowledge and action, improve health literacy, and ultimately reduce the burden of hypertension-related diseases."This is not just about reducing salt. It's about restoring balance in our diets, our systems, and our hearts. Together, one pinch at a time, we can create lasting change," Dr Murali added.
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
WITERATI: Jamuns, jhoolas & joys of monsoon
It is rather with reluctance that mango lovers must watch the retreat of the King of Fruits with the advent of rains. Surveying aam pheriwalas turn into a tiny trickle is so like seeing gilt-edged palanquins laden with gold and grandeur slip into the sands of time. Jamuns owe their popularity not only to being a monsoon staple but also to their medicinal benefits. (HT File) Ah, but that's the story of the seasons. Sights and smells come and go like the seasons, like the scoreboards at Wimbledon or Lord's. Just as many a heart begins to jump with joy at jamuns, there come tidings that indirectly revalidate the goodness of our very own Indian blackberry. Jamuns owe their popularity not only to being a monsoon staple but also to their medicinal benefits. For all those diabetics who overindulge taste buds to Dussehris and Chausas in summer, jamuns come as the perfect detox. For, they are rich not only in antioxidants but also regulate blood sugar levels and improve insulin function. Speaking of stuff sugary, some sweet tidings from Mattel couldn't have come at a better time. The maker of the world-famous Barbie has launched a version of its signature doll depicting Type 1 diabetes. Attired in a blue polka dot dress and boasting toffee-tone tresses, the new Barbie makes it fashionable to flaunt an insulin kit on her size-zero waist and a glucose monitor on her arm. This first-of-its-kind Barbie comes dressed in the colours of inclusivity. The idea driving doll #242 is to make Barbie relatable to multitudes of children suffering from Type 1 diabetes. Driven by a desi DNA inclined to that indigenousness called jugaad, one is struck with an idea -- how about getting 'berry' serious to add to the accessories of Barbie? What if the #242 dolls were depicted also dangling a jar of jamuns! Mother Nature's very own cure for the condition. Jamun derivatives as jugaad for diabetes. Adding the blackberry as Barbie's accessory could add to the awakening. By driving home this natural detox for diabetics. A jar of jamuns could jolly well give not only an Indian twist to the tale, but also take the doll's social messaging a step further. As Rumi rightly reminds us, 'The cure for pain is in the pain.' Commendable the way the digital era is showing us how new-age pop icons of childhood can be marketed as mascots of social messaging. Just jamuns Back to the joys of jamuns. Back to the bylanes of bachpan. Being schooled in scrambling up stuffed trees for the blackberry. The baarish of plucking and pelting. Saawan's signature sights and smells not only nudge nostalgia. The season spurs as much the poetic pen. Monsoon nostalgia comes alive in contemporary voices thus. 'To plant some fruit trees, to harvest some, ideas smelling headily of earth and rain together,' this ode to Saawan's fruits is penned in well-known poet Sumita Misra's 'Petrichor'. 'Petrichor' alludes to the 'pleasant, distinctive smell frequently accompanying the first rain...' Joys of jhoolas Saawan is synonymous as much with jhoolas, as jamuns. Jhoolas herald a flood of festivities, a flow of poetry. Poets bring to barsaat their ink, imagination and imagery. 'In the jhoola swing could be, Today's Sita, Draupadi, she has no wings, And the jhoola swing, is placed in the pleasure garden by his command,' thus is captured contemporary womanhood's peculiar paradox by acclaimed poet Malashri Lal in 'Swinging in Sawan Rain' from the collection, 'Mandalas of Time'. Thus the lament looms, thus the clouds of change cast shadows over jhoolas to jamuns. For better or for verse. Just as the digital era's doorstep brown bags of BB, Blinkit & Co have stolen the schooling that comes from scrambling and scraping, so may builder-bulldozed urbanisation, environmental degradation to deforestation, and climate change also be robbing us of Saawan's joyrides on jhoolas. Bitter-sweet new ground realities. Like the bitter-sweet berry. The curious case of 'There's Something About Blackberry'.
Hans India
3 hours ago
- Hans India
SVIMS conducts free medical camp, cancer screening at Perumallapalle
Tirupati: Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS) in collaboration with the Retired Employees' Welfare Association organised a free super speciality medical camp and cancer screening programme at Perumallapalle village in Tirupati Rural on Saturday. SVIMS Director-cum-Vice Chancellor Dr R V Kumar, along with leaders of the Retired Employees' Welfare Association., G Subramanyam Reddy, Ramamurthy Reddy, Kumara Swamy Reddy, and Tirumala Reddy participated in the event. Former SVIMS Deputy Director Y Venkatarami Reddy and other retired officials were also present. Addressing the gathering, Dr Kumar explained the importance of early cancer detection, especially among women, stating that timely diagnosis can lead to successful treatment. 'Every woman deserves to be healthy, and identifying cancer in its initial stages can help in effective prevention,' he said. He noted that SVIMS has earned recognition across the State for its comprehensive oncology services — medical, surgical, and radiation oncology — under one roof. 'We also offer free treatment for eligible patients through the Aarogyasri health scheme. Women should come forward without fear and utilise the Pink Bus services for early cancer screening,' he added. Highlighting the impact of the initiative, Dr Kumar mentioned that, with the support of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) and the State government, nearly 15,000 women have already undergone free cancer screening through the mobile Pink Bus service. The camp at Perumallapalle provided free consultations and medicines to 215 individuals, while 74 women underwent cancer screening through the Pink Bus facility.
