Is India Winning the War Against Rising Non-Communicable Diseases? The latest health statistics paint a concerning picture: diabetes, heart disease, and cancer rates are climbing, impacting millions across the country. From rural healthcare access to the burgeoning urban health crisis, challenges remain significant. This week, we delve into the crucial initiatives underway – government policies, technological advancements in telemedicine, and the rising role of preventative healthcare – that aim to address this national health emergency. Experts weigh in on the effectiveness of current strategies and the critical need for increased public awareness campaigns targeting lifestyle diseases. Are these efforts enough? Explore Abtak.com's in-depth coverage on healthcare in India and discover the vital information you need to protect your well-being and the future of public health. Stay informed; stay healthy.
Nagpur: Two children, aged 4 and 8, suffered severe facial burns while bursting firecrackers and were admitted to the plastic surgery department at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Nagpur late Tuesday evening. At least 28 others sustained burn injuries to fingers, hands, eyes, forearms, and legs between 8pm Tuesday and past midnight.AIIMS officials said both children with facial burns are now stable, and collagen sheets have been applied to their wounds for early healing in the plastic surgery ward. Two adults, including a management student, also suffered hand injuries. "Two children suffered burns near the eye, but their vision was normal, so they were discharged after dressing," AIIMS officials said.At GMCH Nagpur, 11 burn cases from firecrackers were reported, with burn percentages ranging between 0.5% and 10%. The injured ranged in age from 7 months to 49 years. Among them, 7-month-old Priyansha Hadke suffered burns to her face, forearm, and deep burns over her right leg and forearm.At IGGMCH, six burn cases were reported on Diwali night. The first patient, from Wadi, had burns on the right forearm and palm. A man from Timki suffered burns on his leg, while a 7-year-old boy from Dipti Signal sustained burns on the right side of his face and eyes. Two more patients from Bajeria and Lalganj had burns on their right hand fingers and right side of the face.Private hospitals also reported a spike in burn cases throughout Tuesday evening and Wednesday. Dr Jitendra Hazare said around four children with burn injuries were brought to their Dhantoli hospital. "Fortunately, these kids had superficial injuries, so they were sent home after primary treatment," he said.Renowned eye surgeon Dr Gopal Arora noted a considerable drop in eye injuries from firecrackers this year. "Fortunately, none of the patients lost vision or suffered major corneal injury. Awareness campaigns have helped people take precautions and prevent injuries," he said. However, Dr Arora added that at least four cases of burns near the eye were treated at his Ganeshpeth hospital.
Bhubaneswar/Balasore: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar, has constituted a high-level expert committee to oversee and monitor the treatment of the Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College student who attempted self-immolation. The woman student was admitted to the institute following her self-immolation bid before the principal's chamber Saturday over alleged harassment by the Head of Department (HOD). As per the office order issued by the Medical Superintendent of AIIMS Bhubaneswar, the expert committee includes Prof. Jayant Mitra - Department of Anaesthesia, Prof. Ma ...Read More >
Hundreds of thousands of people have gathered in Guwahati, the capital of the northeastern state of Assam, to mourn the death of singer-composer Zubeen Garg. Garg, 52, drowned on 19 September in Singapore, where he had gone to perform at a live concert. He was a cultural icon in Assam, singing in more than 40 languages and dialects in a career spanning 33 years. His hit Hindi language song Ya Ali from the 2006 film Gangster made him nationally famous. Garg's cremation will be held on Tuesday w ...Read More >
Kamrup (Assam) [India], October 8 (ANI): In a major push towards strengthening grassroots healthcare, over 1,800 children were screened during a Mega Health Camp in Assam's Kamrup. The screening was held at Athgaon Binapani High School under the Assam Government's flagship 'Susrusha Setu' programme. Organised for the Rangia town, the initiative is part of the statewide effort to provide free comprehensive healthcare services to children under 18. Also Read | Germany Investigating Temu on Price-fixing Suspicions. According to an official release, the camp was conducted under the supervision ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar, Jul 13 (PTI) The health condition of a 20-year-old college student, who immolated herself over an alleged sexual harassment incident in Odisha's Balasore district, remained critical, with doctors at AIIMS Bhubaneswar starting her dialysis as part of the initiation of renal replacement therapy, a treating medical practitioner said. The second-year student of the integrated B Ed programme at Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore had on Saturday set herself on fire, demanding action against a teacher who had allegedly sexually assaulted and mentally harassed her. Dialysis co ...Read More >
New Delhi: What was being discreetly sold under the table just two days ago is now out in the open. With the Supreme Court permitting the sale of green crackers, hundreds of shoppers poured into the narrow lanes of Old Delhi on Wednesday in anticipation of purchasing firecrackers. However, as per the apex court's order, the sale is officially allowed only from Oct 18 to 20.Traders are now faced with the question of implementation as well as logistics. Harjeet Singh Chhabra, general secretary, Sadar Nishkam Welfare Association, said even though the ban has been lifted, what qualifies as a 'gree ...Read More >
Srinagar- Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said foreign countries were told clearly during the post-Operation Sindoor diplomatic outreach that in case of a fresh provocation, India would repeat its action. Speaking at a discussion at the Ahmedabad Management Association, Tharoor said Indian delegations which visited foreign countries in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor managed to convey that India acted with restraint and responsibility. "In other places, we actually were able to get some very high-placed people to say not only that they respected and supported India's right of self- ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], July 20(ANI): Bhubaneswar Police imposed Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) Section 163 outside AIIMS after protests over a 16-year-old girl being set on fire in Puri disrupted hospital services, said an official. According to a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Jagmohan Meena, half the protesters dispersed, while the rest were detained. Also Read | West Bengal Rape Case: IIM-Calcutta Student, Accused of Sexual Assault, Granted Bail. "Different groups held protests outside the burn unit. The resultant chaos caused numerous issues for the patients admit ...Read More >
India's top court on Wednesday permitted the use of some firecrackers in New Delhi during the Diwali festival, easing a blanket ban even as the capital battles unhealthy winter air pollution. The Supreme Court said the controlled use of the less-polluting "green firecrackers" -- developed by federal research institutes to reduce particulate and gas emission -- would be allowed for limited periods between Saturday and Tuesday. During Diwali, a major Hindu festival of lights, widespread bursting ...Read More >
Gangtok (Sikkim) [India], October 18 (ANI): The Sikkim Pollution Control Board on Saturday issued an order prohibiting the manufacturing, sale, and bursting of all types of sound and light-emitting firecrackers in the state ahead of Diwali, which falls on October 20. The Sikkim Pollution Control Board on Saturday issued an order prohibiting the manufacturing, sale, and bursting of all types of sound and light-emitting firecrackers in the state ahead of Diwali, which falls on October 20. In its order, the Pollution Control Board urged citizens to refrain from using firecrackers and single-use ...Read More >
The Sikkim Pollution Control Board (SPCB) on Saturday issued an order banning the manufacture, sale, and use of all types of sound- and light-emitting firecrackers in the state ahead of Diwali, which falls on October 20. In its directive, the SPCB urged citizens to avoid firecrackers and single-use plastics, promoting eco-friendly alternatives such as light displays and other environmentally conscious ways of celebrating the festival. Meanwhile, in Aligarh, the firecracker market has opened ahead of Diwali, with shoppers gradually visiting stalls at Numai Ground. Various firecrackers are on ...Read More >
Prayagraj: Police on Sunday arrested five persons and seized around 1,400 kg of illegal firecrackers worth lakhs of rupees from three separate raids and checking in Handia, Jhunsi and Kaudhiyara areas of district.In Handia police arrested three men, including two brothers, for storing firecrackers illegally at a storehouse in Baraut block and seized over 977.360 kg of illegal firecrackers worth Rs 8 lakh. The three accused were booked under section 288 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and section ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], October 18 (ANI): The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Saturday announced revised train timings for Diwali, with early morning services on the eve of the festival and curtailed operations on the night of Diwali. As per the announcement, on the eve of Diwali, Sunday (October 19), metro services on the Pink, Magenta, and Grey lines will commence at 6 am instead of the usual 7 am, which is the standard start time for Sundays. The change has been implemented to accommodate the anticipated increase in passenger movement ahead of the festival. Also Read | Diwali 2025 Bank ...Read More >
Stage I of GRAP is implemented when the AQI exceeds 200. Stage II (Very Poor) comes into effect when it crosses 300, Stage III (Severe) at levels above 350, and Stage IV (Severe Plus) when the AQI goes beyond 400. New Delhi: Delhi's air quality deteriorated to the 'poor' category for the first time this season with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 211 on Tuesday ahead of Diwali. It forced Commission for Air Quality Management to impose stage I of Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) in Delhi-NCR. The ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar, Jul 17 (PTI) Odisha's opposition BJD and ruling BJP on Thursday traded barbs over the 20-year-old college student's death by self-immolation over alleged sexual harassment by a teacher. While the saffron party accused the BJP and Congress of disturbing the deceased's family, the BJD alleged that the authorities did not do anything when the student was running from pillar to post with her complaint. Also Read | India Successfully Test-Fires Short-Range Ballistic Missiles Prithvi-II and Agni-I From Odisha Coast, Say Defence Sources. The second-year B.Ed student of Fakir Mohan (Au ...Read More >
New Delhi, Oct 18 (PTI) The sale of green firecrackers began in the national capital on Saturday after the Supreme Court allowed their sale and use under certain conditions, bringing cheer to traders who reported a steady flow of customers through the day. Traders who had applied for licences to sell eco-friendly firecrackers received approvals earlier in the day. Markets across the city, including Sadar Bazaar, saw increased activity as residents rushed to them to make their purchases. Paramjeet Singh Pamma, president of the Sadar Bazaar Traders' Association, said traders were prepared to mee ...Read More >
BENGALURU: BBMP marshals deployed at lake security and supervision wing, ward monitoring and Indira Canteens are working without salaries since March. The situation has arisen after Bangalore Solid Waste Management Limited was carved out of BBMP for garbage management. Their salaries are usually given through the Ex-Servicemen Welfare Society and each marshal is paid Rs 17,500 monthly. "Supervisors say the delay is due to a set of procedures. Earlier, the amount was given to the Ex-Servicemen Welfare Society towards payments from BBMP. Now the files have to be cleared from BWSML to ward mars ...Read More >
On July 12, the woman attempted self-immolation on the college campus.Source : Twitter A 22-year-old college student from Odisha, who set herself on fire following alleged inaction over a sexual harassment complaint, succumbed to her injuries late last night. Her death has sparked outrage, protests, and renewed calls for accountability in educational institutions. The student, pursuing a B.Ed degree at Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore, had accused the Head of the Education Department, ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar, July 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly, Naveen Patnaik, on Tuesday, expressed deep sorrow and anguish over the death of the Balasore FM College girl student, Soumyashree Bisi, who succumbed to her injuries while undergoing treatment at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, on Monday night. In a heartfelt post on X on Tuesday, Patnaik conveyed his condolences and demanded accountability from those in power who failed to act despite repeated appeals from the victim. "I am deeply saddened and heartbroken to learn about the demise of the Balasore gi ...Read More >
Shimla, Jul 17 (PTI) Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed the state government to remove encroachments on forest lands, including the fruit-bearing trees, all across the state and not limit it to some areas. The order was passed by a division bench consisting of Justices Vivek Thakur and Bipin C Negi on Wednesday after the Advocate General placed on record fresh instructions issued by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, informing that 2,456 apple and other fruit trees have been felled from forest lands in Chaithla village, and 713 and 490 trees in Rohru and Kotgarh forest divisions, r ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has started deactivating the Aadhaar card of the dead to prevent their misuse. UIDAI has deactivated more than 1.17 crore 12-digit Aadhaar numbers so far. This information was given in an official statement issued on Wednesday, July 16. Under this initiative, UIDAI has started a new service on My Aadhaar portal for registered deaths in 24 states and union territories, so that people can report the death of their family members. The statement said, "To maintain continuous accuracy of the Aadhaar database, UIDAI has taken steps to ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], July 20 (ANI): As protests continue outside AIIMS Bhubaneswar over the incident in which a 15-year-old girl was set ablaze by miscreants in Puri district, BJP leader Babu Singh on Saturday cautioned against politicising the issue and emphasised that the next 72 hours are medically crucial for the patient. Singh expressed concern that the gathering of political workers outside the hospital ward is not right. The next 72 hours are very important for the patient. There are other patients also admitted in the ward. Holding protests and raising slogans outside the wa ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday said the government plans to approach the Supreme Court to seek permission to allow the use of certified green firecrackers to celebrate Diwali in the national Capital. Reiterating the government's commitment towards taking measures to check air pollution in the city, CM Gupta said, "It will also be ensured that all green firecrackers are manufactured only by authorised institutions and have been certified and tested by competent and relevant departments." "The government believes that a balance between public sentiments and environmental ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Wednesday said the Supreme Court's decision to permit green firecrackers during Diwali would be implemented with strict monitoring to prevent any violation of its conditions. He announced that district magistrates will soon designate specific areas for the sale of eco-friendly firecrackers and issue temporary licenses to retailers, while ensuring that banned varieties stay out of the market. Welcoming the court's order, Sirsa said the move would allow people to celebrate Diwali responsibly without compromising public health. "We ...Read More >
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], October 17 (ANI): With the Diwali festival just around the corner, the firecracker market is all set to light up Madhya Pradesh's capital Bhopal with vibrant colors, sparkling displays, and the growing demand for eco-friendly green fireworks. Firecracker shop owners in Bhopal's biggest market, Bairagarh have fully prepared them for the festive season by observing complete precaution and safety measures. The Fire Control team also inspected the market on Friday and gave necessary instructions to them. Former President of Bairagarh's Wholesale Fireworks Sellers ...Read More >
Hyderabad: With Diwali around the corner, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) across Hyderabad are tightening regulations on firecracker use to ensure a cleaner, quieter festival.Notices issued to residents this week permit only eco-friendly "green crackers" and restrict their use to a one-and-a-half-hour window in the evening. Several RWAs have also banned high-decibel and aerial fireworks, citing health and safety concerns for children, senior citizens, and pets in the city.Speaking to TOI, Sai Ravi Shankar, president of the Federation of Gated Communities, Cyberabad, explained, "We have st ...Read More >
Ahmedabad: Ahead of Diwali festival, the city police on Tuesday issued a notification with regard to the sale and use of only green firecrackers within Ahmedabad limits from Oct 19 to Nov 5. The order, signed by police commissioner G S Malik under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and provisions of the Gujarat Police Act, follows Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal directives aimed at reducing air and noise pollution.The order states that only firecrackers certif ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jul 18 (PTI) A three-storey chawl collapsed in the western suburb of Bandra here in the early hours of Friday, with at least 10 people feared trapped in the debris, civic officials said. As many as seven people have been rescued from the debris so far and admitted to the civic-run Bhabha Hospital, they said. According to preliminary information, chawl number 37 in the Bharat Nagar area of Bandra East collapsed around 5.56 am. Eight fire engines are at the spot along with teams from the Mumbai police and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's local ward machinery, an official from ...Read More >
Chandigarh: The Chandigarh administration has issued strict guidelines for sale and use of firecrackers during upcoming festivals, including Dussehra, Diwali, and Gurpurb. In an official order released by deputy commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav, only green crackers certified by CSIR-NEERI will be permitted, in accordance with directives of the Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal (NGT).The use of firecrackers on Dussehra will be allowed only during effigy burning. For Diwali, firecrackers can be used strictly between 8pm and 10pm, while on Gurpurb, permitted windows are 4am to 5am and 9pm ...Read More >
ROURKELA: In a biggest ever crackdown on unauthorised storage of firecrackers, Birmitrapur police along with a special squad on Monday night unearthed a massive haul of illegal crackers worth around Rs 90 lakh from three locations of Birmitrapur town in Sundargarh district. Such was the seizure that it took 17 mini-trucks, tractor-trollies and pick-up vans to shift the contrabands to the police custody. Acting on a tip-off regarding illegal storage of firecrackers in unsafe conditions, joint raids were conducted in which two godowns taken on rent by Vicky Tekriwal (35) and another residential ...Read More >
Two more children in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, have died from kidney failure after consuming a contaminated cough syrup, bringing the total to 16. The affected children had reportedly taken the Coldrif syrup, with samples found to contain toxic substances. Investigations are ongoing, leading to suspensions and arrests. Chhindwara, Two more children from Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara who were undergoing treatment for kidney failure after drinking a contaminated cough syrup have died, taking the n ...Read More >