Latest news with #GauhatiMedicalCollegeandHospital
Scroll.in
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Assam: One killed, several injured in police firing after Goalpara eviction drive
One person was killed and several were injured on Thursday in the aftermath of an eviction drive in the Betbari area in Assam's Goalpara district after the police opened fire at protesters amid clashes. At least two policemen were among those injured in the clashes. On Saturday, authorities in Goalpara cleared 140 hectares of land in the Paikan Reserve Forest, displacing 1,080 families, most of whom are Muslims of Bengali origin. Since then, the displaced families have been living in tents and makeshift tarpaulin huts. Officials have, however, been asking them to dismantle the structures. On Thursday morning, the authorities dug up a road that provided connectivity to the settlement, which led to protests and sparked the clashes, according to the residents. Shafiqul Islam, one of the persons displaced in Betbari, told Scroll that the police had not been allowing residents to access the main road. The displaced persons had been using an alternative road made of concrete blocks and cobblestones, he added. 'But this morning, police and forest officials came and dug up the road with JCBs [earth moving equipment],' Islam said. 'The displaced people repeatedly requested the authorities not to dig the road. But they did not listen, leading to clashes. The police then opened fire.' One person was brought dead to the Goalpara Civil Hospital after the firing. One of the injured persons was referred to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, a senior doctor and district health service official told Scroll. The police firing led to chaos among the displaced residents, many of whom fled the tents. More commandos have been deployed in the area, and security personnel are going to the makeshift tents and asking people to leave, Islam, who is now taking shelter in a neighbouring village, told Scroll. 'Our homes have already been demolished,' he said. 'Now they are dismantling the tents. Where will we go?' Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Akhilesh Kumar Singh confirmed that one person was shot dead and two policemen were injured in the clashes. 'The forest and police officials were doing their duty in the area that had been freed from encroachment, when miscreants attacked them,' the officer told Scroll. 'This led to retaliatory action, including firing, by the police.' Singh said that additional forces have been sent to the area. Since the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in Assam in 2016, seven persons – all of them Muslims – have been shot dead by the police during eviction drives. In 2016, two persons were killed in police firing near the Kaziranga National Park. Two persons were shot dead in 2021 while resisting an eviction drive in Dhalpur in Darrang district, while one woman was shot dead in the Burha Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary in 2023. Two persons were killed in September at Kachutali in the Kamrup (Metropolitan) district. Between 2016 and August 2024, more than 10,620 families – the majority of them Muslim – have been evicted from government land, according to data provided by the state revenue and disaster management department. Between September and July, over 4,300 families have been evicted from government and forest land.
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Spike in JE cases across state; 13 dead, 47 infected so far this year
Guwahati: State is witnessing a concerning surge in Japanese encephalitis (JE) cases, with Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) reporting 47 confirmed infections so far. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The mosquito-borne viral disease has already claimed 13 lives across the state. Data provided by GMCH authorities shows that JE cases began emerging in April, with the first fatalities reported in June. While six patients have recovered and been discharged, three left the hospital against medical advice and several others are still undergoing treatment. The infection has been detected across several districts — Kamrup (Rural), Kamrup (Metro), Nalbari, Darrang, Bajali, Morigaon, Dhubri—and even from neighbouring Meghalaya. GMCH's chief superintendent and principal, Dr Achyut Chandra Baishya, said Kamrup (Rural) is the worst-affected district, with 16 cases, followed by Nalbari with 11 and Darrang with 7. Comparatively fewer cases have been reported from Kamrup (Metro) (3) and Meghalaya (1). He said young children and the elderly have emerged as the most vulnerable groups, and emphasised the importance of preventive measures. Last year on the same date, GMCH logged 112 confirmed JE cases statewide. Meanwhile, data from the National Centre for Vector Borne Disease Control (NCVBDC) under the National Health Mission (NHM) shows that Assam has consistently recorded 200-600 JE cases annually since 2018. Fatalities typically run into double digits and once crossed 100 in 2019. Speaking to TOI, an NHM official said, "This is a vector-borne disease primarily transmitted through mosquitoes. Humans are dead-end hosts — they do not spread the virus further. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In contrast, pigs and cattle act as amplifying hosts, increasing the viral load and transmission risk." The official added that swamps, paddy fields, and stagnant water are common breeding grounds for Culex mosquitoes, and proximity to pig sties significantly raises the infection risk. Proper separation and personal precautions are strongly advised. On early symptoms, the official said JE often begins with fever, headache, diarrhea, and seizures — typically developing within 2-3 days. Prompt medical care is critical, as early diagnosis and timely intervention can significantly improve patient outcomes. JE remains manageable when addressed early.
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
GMCH docs save 7-yr-old with rare pacemaker op
Guwahati: A team of doctors at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) successfully implanted a life-saving pacemaker on a seven-year-old girl suffering from complete heart block. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Cardiologists say this condition occurs in one among 22,000 live births. According to the doctors, this disease is very rare, especially in children as young as seven years old. Dr Pranab Jyoti Bhattacharya, professor of cardiology at GMCH who led the team of doctors, said, "Congenital complete heart block has an incidence rate of only 0.006%. That is almost one in 22,000 live births. So it is that rare." He added that when the complete heart block in the girl, identified as Arjina Begum, was detected and she was admitted to GMCH about a week ago, the doctors had no other option but to conduct the procedure as soon as possible, considering the high possibility of mortality in such cases. "The treatment for her ailment was the implantation of a permanent pacemaker. Today, we performed the pacemaker implantation under general anaesthesia successfully," he said, adding, the girl is recovering well. Doctors said it is very difficult to pinpoint the cause of the disease. However, certain autoimmune diseases in the mother, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), have some association with complete heart block in up to 3% of patients. In this case, the mother of the child did not have any history of SLE during her pregnancy, doctors said. "The most important thing is that if a permanent pacemaker is implanted, she will have a near-normal life with it," he added. Dr Bhattacharya was assisted by his DM cardiology students and junior faculty members, while the cardiac anaesthesia team was headed by Dr Madhurjya Bujarbaruah. The child is from Sontoli in Kamrup district. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The procedure was done free of cost under Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram. In a govt facility, such a procedure normally costs about Rs 1 lakh. In private hospitals, it costs about Rs 3 lakh. Arjina's father Abul Kalam Azad, a farmer, said the problem was detected at a govt hospital in Boko town of Kamrup district over a year ago after she fainted at home one day. He added that the medicines prescribed by the doctors in Boko did not work and she again fainted in school one day. "Of late, she was telling us that she felt as if a fish is hitting her in the chest. It was severe pain. Then we decided to bring her to GMCH where doctors told us to get ready for the procedure. All credit to GMCH doctors for giving a new life to our child," said Abul. According to doctors, normally, in children with congenital complete heart block, some may have associated structural heart disease, while others may have a normal heart. "This complete heart block is basically an electrical problem of the heart. If it is associated with other structural heart diseases, then the outcome is very poor. In our patient, echocardiography was done, and the rest of her heart was normal. There was no structural heart disease. However, her heart rate was very low, almost 35/40 per minute, which is abnormal. She was in the high-risk category, and mortality is very high if such a condition is not treated by implanting a permanent pacemaker," Bhattacharya said.
Hindustan Times
29-04-2025
- Hindustan Times
‘Family Man 3' actor Rohit Basfore found dead in waterfall near Guwahati: Police
Silchar: Assam-based actor and gym trainer Rohit Basfore, who was shooting for the web-series Family Man 3, was found dead in the Jalukpaham waterfall near Garbhanga Wildlife Sanctuary near Guwahati on Sunday evening. He was 25. Police said it appeared to be a case of drowning, and they are investigating the matter further. The body was recovered at around 8.30 pm on Sunday. Kamrup superintendent of police (SP) Ranjan Bhuyan on Tuesday said that police received a call at 4.06 pm, and they reached the spot immediately. The body was recovered with the help of divers at around 8.30pm. 'This looks like a case of drowning, and we are waiting for the postmortem report,' he said. After recovery, the body was taken to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) where the doctors confirmed the death and sent it for postmortem, officials said. The SP told HT that he is yet to talk to the family members and the police are not aware of any allegations of murder.
