Bengaluru medical stores raided for selling face masks at higher rates

Coronavirus

One shop was selling N 95 masks for Rs 595 per piece.

Theja Ram

Representative image

Officials with the Karnataka Drugs Controller, Health and family Welfare and Food and Civil Supplies conducted raids on several medical shops in Bengaluru and found that they were allegedly charging exorbitant rates for face masks.  Health Department officials said that raids were conducted at five different medical stores in the city based  on complaints lodged by residents with the 104 helpline. The officials conducted surprise checks by initially posing as residents wanting to purchase face masks. When the shop managers revealed the price for the masks, a team of officials entered the stores and seized several items as evidence.  The raids were conducted in Maruti Medicals in Vijaynagar, Jayan Healthcare Pharma in Kasturi Nagar, Apollo Pharmacy, Sanjeevani Trinetra Medical Store and Ram Medical General Stores in Rajarajeshwari Nagar.  According to health department officials, Maruti Medicals was selling N95 masks for Rs 230 when the MRP is Rs 140. The department officials said that the medical shop owners had placed false stickers of hiked prices on the masks.  Officials also found that Jayan Healthcare Pharma in Kasturi Nagar was allegedly selling masks for Rs 20 when it is priced at Rs 12 and the N-95 masks were being sold at Rs 595. “We posed as customers initially and asked them what the price is. When they told us the prices, we entered the store and began the raids,” the health department officials said.  In Rajarajeshwari Nagar, the officials who raided the medical stores said that Apollo Pharmacy was selling 3M masks for Rs 275; Sanjeevani Trinetra Medical Store was allegedly selling N95 masks for Rs 300 and 3Ply masks for Rs 30; and Ram Medical and General Stores was allegedly selling masks worth Rs 20 for Rs 75 and N95 masks for Rs 350. “We have collected purchase and sale invoices and bills as evidence that the medical shops were selling the masks for higher rates. Notices have been issued to all five pharmacies demanding an explanation for the hike in prices and for violating the norms of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940,” the health department said in a press release. Officials also said that further action will be taken based on the responses. They also urged people to lodge complaints with the 104 helpline in case they were charged more money for face masks. 

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K’taka passes rules to forcefully admit anyone who refuses COVID-19 treatment

Coronavirus

The rules also say that anyone who acts in good faith under these rules cannot be sued.

Soumya Chatterjee

The Karnataka government has enforced emergency provisions under sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Epidemic Diseases Act to tackle the spread of coronavirus in the state. As per the new rules, which will be in effect for a year, the government can forcefully admit anyone who refuses to undergo isolation for COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019). The rules also say that anyone who acts in good faith under these rules cannot be sued.  Noting that ordinary provisions of law are insufficient to contain the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Karnataka government has enforced these temporary provisions on Wednesday. Health officials can forcefully admit and isolate anyone suspected to have coronavirus, for 14 days, and conduct tests and possibly extend the isolation if necessary.  The rules have also mandated all government and private hospitals to have flu corners for screening of suspected cases of COVID-19. They have also been told to record the travel history of people who are being screened.  The new regulation also penalises the spreading of fake news.  While private hospitals are bound to set up screening infrastructure, no private laboratory has been authorised to take or test samples for COVID-19 in the state. “All such samples shall be collected as per guidelines of Government of India and these shall be sent to designated laboratory by the District Nodal Officer of the Department of Health and family Welfare of the concerned district,” the new rules say.  Further any person with a history of travel in the last 14 days to a country or area from where COVID-19 has been reported, must report to the nearest Government Hospital or call at toll-free helpline number 104 so that necessary measures if required, may be initiated by the Department of Health and Family Welfare. All persons with history of travel to a country or area from where COVID-19 has been reported in the last 14 days, but who do not have any symptoms of cough, fever, difficulty in breathing, should isolate themselves at home and cover their mouth and nose with a mask. Such persons must also take precautions to avoid contact with any person including family members for a period of 14 days from the date of arrival from such area, the rules said.  Further the government has said in case of an wide scale outbreak in a particular area, the government might decide to bar entry and exit from the area or stop vehicular movement.

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Coronavirus: Bengaluru airport sees near 50% drop in international passengers

Coronavirus

The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation on Tuesday said that there has been a drop in bus reservations by around 20%

Soumya Chatterjee

The ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has resulted in a drastic reduction of air traffic at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. The dip has meant that the number of international passengers has almost halved from what it was on an average daily before the outbreak. The decline in February was around 20%, the airport authority said. The Bangalore International Airport Limited, the company that manages the airport, has issued a statement suggesting that the decline in passengers is expected to continue further with more cases emerging in the country and elsewhere. “Traffic at Bengaluru Airport has been affected by the Coronavirus (COVID19), like most other airports globally. International traffic has dropped by 20% from normal levels (before COVID19 was detected) in February and almost by 50% from normal levels in March ‘20. Where the Bengaluru Airport would normally have international passengers in the region of 14,000-15,000 per day, we are seeing approximately 6,000-7,000 daily international passengers,”a BIAL spokesperson said. However, the dip is not limited to international travellers. The spokesperson added, “In addition, although domestic traffic has not shown a dramatic drop, there are already impacts of up to 2-4% on domestic travel. We expect to see a further decrease, if more cases emerge in India.” Similarly, as earlier reported, the Karnataka State Transport Corporation on Tuesday said that there has been a drop in reservations by around 20% for their premier services Incidentally,  the United Nations, trade and development agency has forecasted a global loss of USD 2 trillion as a result of this outbreak and this will also result in recession in some countries Till date, there are four positive cases in Karnataka and the number for the country stands at 60. Read: Flight cancellations due to coronavirus: Indian routes you can obtain ref

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Over a month after two manual scavenging deaths, Bengaluru police yet to nab accused

Manual Scavenging

17-year-old Siddappa had died on January 25 after entering a sewage pit while contractor Marianna who went in to save him died four days later.

Theja Ram

Representation photo

It has been close to two months since two men died in an alleged manual scavenging case in Bengaluru but the city police are yet to nab several of the accused persons, despite the sessions court denying them anticipatory bail. On January 25, 17-year-old Siddappa, who was made to enter a sewage pit at the SSBS Jain Sangh Trust near Infantry Road, died due to asphyxiation. Marianna, the contractor who hired Siddappa to clean the pit, who went in to help Siddappa died at Bowring Hospital on January 29. Doctors at Bowring had told TNM that both Siddappa and Marianna’s lungs were filled with sewage. The manager of the trust, Trilok Chand Kataria, was arrested on January 27 and sent to judicial custody. Six members of the trust were booked under section 304A (b) (culpable homicide not amounting to murder). The accused – Lal Chand Mandoth, S Sampath Raj Mandoth, P Sudarshan Mandoth, Prakash Chand Mandoth, S Ditin Kumar Porwal and Kishore Kumar Gadia – applied for anticipatory bail on January 27 soon after Trilok was arrested. The sessions court denied them bail on February 15. Sampath Raj Mandoth was arrested on February 22 after much pressure from members of the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis, the police said. However, the rest of the accused have still not been arrested by the Commercial Street Police, who are investigating the case. The accused filed an appeal in the Karnataka High Court and the matter came up for hearing on Tuesday. Narasimha Murthy, a lawyer representing the victims and the complainant in the case, filed objections to the bail petition. The High Court directed the kin of the victims to respond to the objections filed by Murthy and posted the matter for Friday. Speaking to TNM, lawyer Narasimha Murthy said, “In manual scavenging cases, the police book the accused under 304A (criminal negligence) which is punishable by two years. This time, the police have registered an FIR under 304A(b) and so far none of the members of the trust have been arrested. We object to them getting bail.” Speaking to TNM, Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Sharanappa told TNM that the accused are absconding and that no arrests have been made as they are uncertain whether the pit that Siddappa went to clean constitutes a manhole. “The investigating officers have sent letters to BWSSB (Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board) and BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike). The Prohibition of Manual Scavenging Act has certain definitions of what a manhole is. The one in the SSBS Jain Sangh Trust was an old well that was being used as a rainwater harvesting pit. We have asked the agencies to inspect the place and give us a report on whether the trust violated any norms and were ejecting sewage into the pit. That’s why we have not arrested them yet. Also, they are absconding,” DCP Sharanappa added.  

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Bengaluru teen with COVID-19 attended school, classmates home quarantined

Coronavirus

The girl, a student of a private school in Whitefield, had attended classes the whole of last week.

Alithea Stephanie Mounika

One of the four persons who have tested positive for coronavirus in Bengaluru is a 13-year-old student from a school in Whitefield area in the city. Her father, an employee with Dell, had come to Bengaluru from Austin, Texas via New York and Dubai. He was tested positive on March 9 and the wife and daughter on March 10. On March 9 itself, the father had immediately informed the school that he has been tested positive for coronavirus. The private school in Whitefield shut down and cancelled classes. The school has also sent the address and contact details of 1700 students studying there to the government. However, what is concerning is that the student had attended classes the whole of last week- from March 2 to March 6. There are 28 other students in her class. Though local health officials did ask for the contacts of the students who sat next to her, the school said that they have a rotation system and students keep changing their positions. “All the 28 students in the class have been asked to be on home quarantine. All other students in the school are only on medical observation. Which means if they show any symptoms, they should tell the health department,” said Dr. BG Prakash Kumar of the Department of Family Welfare. However, a parent, whose child is in the same class as the patient, told TNM that a health officer called them on Wednesday morning- which is two days after the girl's results came in- to ask if their child was showing any symptoms of fever or cold. However, the parent says they were not given any specific instructions to keep the child in home quarantine. Another parent however said that the officer who called her said that the child has to be in home quarantine. Though not everyone has got specific instructions, the parents, co-ordinating through a WhatsApp group, have communicated to each other that the children will be kept on home quarantine. According to guidelines issued by the CDC (Centre for Disease Control and Prevention), the people with suspected or mild cases of CORVID-19, or coronavirus, should stay at home in a specific room, and avoid interacting with others. They also advise those under home-isolation to avoid contact with their pets. Those with suspected cases are not to share their personal items such as dishes, toothbrushes, drinking glasses, or bedding with anyone else. In the unlikely event of interacting with other people or medical staff, they are to wear a facemask. They should wash their hands frequently, and use a disposable napkin. All medical waste like used tissues and masks should be disposed of in a lined bin and sealed before being handed over to waste processing.  ‘High-touch’ surfaces such as doors, phones, railings and keyboards need to be cleaned frequently, to avoid the spread of the virus. Those with symptoms need to monitor themselves closely, and call for an ambulance if they feel the symptoms are worsening. Health workers would be able to tell when the person can stop home isolation.

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Karnataka man suspected to have COVID-19 dies in Kalaburagi, govt awaits results

Coronavirus

The 76-year-old man had returned from Saudi Arabia on February 29.

Prajwal Bhat

Image for representation

A 76-year-old man, who was suspected to be infected with coronavirus died in Karnataka’s Kalaburagi district on Tuesday night. The Karnataka government on Wednesday said that his test reports are yet to come out.    A press briefing by the Karnataka Health Department said the 76-year-old man returned from Saudi Arabia to Hyderabad on February 29. He was, however, admitted to the out-patient department of a private hospital in Kalaburagi on March 5, and then a day later moved as an in-patient in the private hospital. On March 9, his samples were collected in Kalaburagi and on the same day, he was shifted to a Hyderabad hospital, over 200 kilometers away. However, on March 10, the Hyderabad hospital told the family to shift the patient and while he was being taken to Kalaburagi, he passed away in the ambulance at 11:30pm that night.  Prakash, a health department official said, “On the advice of family or hospital he was first shifted to Hyderabad. He had other issues like asthma, blood pressure which may be why he was shifted and coronavirus was not suspected at the time.” In both hospitals, he was not kept in an isolation ward and this may have been because initially they did not suspect coronavirus.  Meanwhile, the Health and Family Welfare Department’s Kalaburagi unit stated that it is taking precautions as he was suspected to have been infected with the virus.  “Until the suspected coronavirus patient’s funeral proceedings are completed, Kalaburagi health official Dr Sharanabasappa Kyatanala is in charge and is tasked with taking precautions and preparing a report,” read the note. The Kalaburagi District Health Officer Dr MA Jabbar said the patient’s family members have been placed under home quarantine and their health is currently being monitored.  Kalaburagi Taluk Health Officer Dr Sharanabasappa Kyatanala had told TNM, “His swab samples have been taken and sent to National Institute of Virology in Bengaluru. His autopsy was performed this morning and the postmortem report is yet to come. The test results have not yet come. He was a suspected case only. We are still waiting for results from Bengaluru.” 

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A year after murder, CBI to probe YS Vivekananda Reddy case

Investigation

Vivekananda Reddy’s daughter had contended that the SIT which was investigating the case was delaying the probe.

TNM Staff

File Image

The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Wednesday entrusted the probe into the murder of former minister and MP, YS Vivekananda Reddy, to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). This development comes almost a year after the murder of Vivekananda Reddy – an uncle of Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and brother of late united Andhra CM YS Rajashekara Reddy. In February, the High Court had reserved the verdict after hearing a petition filed by Sunitha Reddy, daughter of Vivekananda, who claimed that the state police investigation headed by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was inadequate. The high profile murder which took place before the general elections of 2019 on March 15 shook the political landscape of the state. Amidst the accusations and counter accusations, TDP Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Ravi and BJP leader Adi Narayana Reddy who contested on a TDP ticket, also moved the High Court seeking a CBI probe into the case. Sunitha's counsel earlier argued that her demand for a CBI probe is valid since the same was raised by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy himself when the murder happened. Sunitha expressed her dissatisfaction at the pace of the investigation by the state appointed SIT. In response, the HC asked for an explanation from the government to know why the case shouldn't be handed over to the CBI in the wake of the petitioner’s claims. However, the Andhra government had claimed that the SIT was at an advance stage of the probe and there was no need for CBI intervention at the current stage of investigation. After hearing all the petitions, the HC took the decision to hand over the case to CBI despite the state government’s contentions. In September 2019, a person called K Srinivasa Reddy (52), who was being questioned as part of the SIT investigation, killed himself. A letter purportedly written by the deceased said he was being harassed in the name of investigation by the police. Vivekananda was initially believed to have succumbed to a cardiac arrest; however, police investigation on the same day confirmed  that the two-time MP was murdered and found with injury marks on his head, hands and back. Vivekananda Reddy was elected from Kadapa Lok Sabha constituency on a Congress ticket in 1999 and 2004. He was twice elected to the Andhra Pradesh Assembly (1989, 1994) from Pulivendula, a family stronghold, and served as minister in cabinet of Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy.

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