Swine flu Jamnagar Bhuj Kutch City District News Gujarat India

Swine flu toll mounts in Delhi, Gujarat.

At least two more death from swine H1N1 flu was recorded in Delhi, health officials reported. The total number of fatalities in the capital is now up at 69.

According to a health official from the city one of the deceases was a 23-year-old man who had been admitted to the Safdarjung hospital where he succumbed. The details of the other person are, as yet, unavailable.

Delhi has seen 62 new cases of swine flu, with 18 of these being children. There have been a total 9,260 cases in the city so far. Concerned officials claimed that the number of newer cases has dropped over some days.

Meanwhile in Gujarat, swine flu has reportedly causes at least ten deaths over the last two days taking the state’s casualty figure to 100. Of these, 92 deaths were of people from Gujarat while the remaining 8 were of people from Rajasthan who were being treated in hospitals in Gujarat.

Gujarat health authorities also announced that at least 16 new cases were reported, taking the total number of cases to 647. Out of a total of 2,613 suspected cases, 1,966 had tested negative, they confirmed. The new cases were registered from Ahmedabad City, Rajkot City, Vadodara City, Bhuj City, Jamnagar City and Bhavnagar City.

Air Force Station Jamnagar City News Samachar Gujarat India

Air Commodore Rawat takes over.

Air Commodore Devendra Singh Rawat on Tuesday took over the reins of Air Force Station, Jamnagar, one of the premier frontline fighter air base of Indian Air Force (IAF).

Rawat was commissioned in IAF on December 15, 1980, as a fighter pilot. He is an alumnus of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and National Defence College (NDC).

He was conferred with Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) on January 26, 2002.

Reliance Industries Refinery Jamnagar News Saurashtra Gujarat India

Star cricketers to play friendly match at Reliance Industries Refinery, Jamnagar City.

Star cricketers of the Indian cricket team, including Sachin Tendulkar, Virendra Sehwag and others will play a day-and-night friendly match at the Reliance Refinery in Moti Khavdi in Jamnagar tomorrow.

The limited overs friendly day-and-night match is to be played between the Indian cricket team and Reliance team, sources from the refinery said here today.

Sources said that the match is nothing more than a family function.

Cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar, Virendar Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, Gautam Gambhir, Ashish Nehra, Ravindra Jadeja, Sudip Tyagi and players of Mumbai Indians, owned by Reliance for Indian Premier League are likely to play the match, they said.

The players will arrive in batches in a chartered aircraft, sources said, adding Mukesh Ambani and his family will be arriving later in the day.

Swine H1N1 Flu Jamnagar Rajkot District News Sorath Gujarat India

The swine flu death graph is rising at an alarming rate in Rajkot District.

Five more people died on Friday and Saturday. Since June 22, when the first suspected case was reported in the city, the death toll has been steadily climbing. The toll as per sources is 20. A total 547 patients were treated in outpatient door department, created for swine flu patients at Rajkot's Pandit Dindayal Hospital, control room in charge of the hospital Dr U Mehta said.

On December 25, after a one-and-half-year-old baby died in the morning, a 50-year-old woman succumbed to H1N1 in the night.

On December 26, four-month-old baby Chintan Anilkumar, admitted on Wednesday from Kankot area, Rajesh D, 19, brought from Halwad in Surendranagar district on Friday died in the civil hospital. Rekha Turi, 40, of Jamsalaya in Jamnagar district died in a private hospital in Rajkot. Since Rekha's case was the first one reported in Jamsalaya, her house has been sealed and all preventive measures are being taken.

From December 17 to 24, 10 patients have died. At present, 36 of them are under treatment, of which 26 are positive cases and reports for 10 are awaited from Ahmedabad.

The death figures have jolted the Rajkot administration into action. Many are blaming the lax attitude of the administration for high number of deaths. The first death was reported on August 25, but special outpatient door treatment for swine flu patients was started a month later on September 10, a source said.

Meanwhile, more doctors have been appointed to tackle the situation since last week. "A chief doctor, two residents, two assistant professor-level doctors, one anesthetist and extra nurses have been put on duty per shift," said Dr Mehta.

In Rajkot, till date, 784 patients were given preventive treatment. According to sources, out of samples sent for confirmation, 88 per cent samples were positive. Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) health officer Dr Mitesh Bhanderi said, 1,050 doctors were given special training on swine flu guidelines.

Ranmal Lake Lakhota Fort Jamnagar City Tourism News Gujarat India

Jamnagar State Fort Museum attracting many tourists for Jamnagar Tourism.

A museum built in the middle of the Ranmal Lake in Lakhota Fort is attracting scores of visitors to Jamnagar.

The Lakhota Museum displays a collection of old English and Portuguese, sculptures, and artifacts that date back to the early 9th century AD.

"A lot of big cannons belonging to the British era are displayed here. Some of these date back 600 years. All these cannons reached this place from Portugal by sea," said RR Goswami, curator of the Lakhota Museum.

The museum's walls have a number of frescoes that depict the exploits of the area's rulers.

"There are some beautiful sculptures here that belong to the 18th century. Weapons are also displayed here," said Daksha Solanki, a visitor.

Some visitors feel that the youth should visit this museum as it displays distinctive facets of India's rich heritage.

"I believe that the coming generation that is studying in schools and college should visit this museum and see our rich heritage," said Devang Solanki, a visitor.

A stone bridge links the palace to the town of Jamnagar City.

Swine Flu Ahmedabad Jamnagar City News Gujarat India

Swine flu claimed nine lives in two days in Gujarat as two more people succumbed to H1N1 virus in hospitals across the state on Tuesday with the total death toll climbing to 73.

On Monday, seven people had succumbed to swine flu. On Tuesday, the H1N1 virus claimed two more lives as Kaushal Gupta, 69, died in Sterling Hospital in Ahmedabad City while Ramlal Mavadia, 76, succumbed in GG Civil Hospital in Jamnagar City. At least three more people died on Tuesday due to suspected swine flu but their test results are yet to be ascertained.

The high number of deaths has sent alarm bells ringing as health officials urged private medical practitioners to follow renewed World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and administer Tamiflu to suspected swine flu patients in the initial days of symptoms to avoid complications.

In Gujarat, it has been noticed that most patients who died in public hospitals were being treated for viral infections and pneumonia and brought for swine flu treatment when severe complications had set in. “It is important that private doctors take up the challenge of simple management of flu patients. Many patients are first treated for simple fever even pneumonia delaying H1N1 treatment which can prove fatal for patients. If doctors suspect that patient may have swine flu, they should start Tamiflu, said health secretary Rajesh Kishore who said swine flu was expected to worsen in winter. While a surge in swine flu was expected in winter season, public congregations like Unjha fair, the IIM festival and the forthcoming Kankaria Carnival are feared to expose more people to the virus.

While the government had installed thermal scanners at Navratri and Ambaji festivity venues, it curiously will not be scanning lakhs of people who will throng Kankaria. “Six medical team with eight doctors will be put to monitor swine flu. The check-ups will be voluntary and not mandatory for visitors,” said AMC medical health officer Suhas Kulkarni.

Meanwhile, infectious diseases specialist Dr Atul Patel said most doctors in other districts are not even aware that Tamiflu is now available in their region on prescription. “More awareness needs to be created. Also government might think of importing vaccines which will help stem the onslaught of swine flu,” said Dr Patel.

Dhirubhai Ambani Foundation Rajkot Jamnagar News Saurashtra India

Dhirubhai Ambani Foundation to fete meritorious students.

A function to felicitate meritorious students of Saurashtra and Kutch District, under the auspices of Dhirubhai Ambani Foundation, will be held at 4 pm on December 26 in mini theater at Rajkot City's Hemu Gadhvi auditorium.

Rajkot municipal commissioner DH Brahmbhatt will be the chief guest and will present about 70 meritorious rewards and undergraduate scholarships to SSC and HSC district toppers from Jamnagar, Rajkot, Diu, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Kutch, Porbandar and Junagadh. Brahmbhatt will also address the students and gathering on zero garbage living'.

Dhirubhai Ambani Foundation annually presents SSC merit rewards and undergraduate scholarships to the first three meritorious students and one physically challenged student securing highest marks from each of the districts of Gujarat and Union Territory of Daman, Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli at the annual SSC and HSC examinations of the state boards and 10 meritorious students from the state in the merit order list prepared by the CBSE, New Delhi, for secondary and senior secondary board examinations each.

Since 1996 in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Daman, Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, 3,194 rewards and 3,322 scholarships have been conferred under the schemes. Of these, 729 are physically challenged, 378 rewarded and 351 scholars.

The SSC merit reward consists of Rs 6,000 and a certificate from the trustees of the Foundation.

The scholarships available under the scheme for HSC students range between Rs 9,750 and Rs 31,500 per annum for the entire duration of study leading to degree/diploma depending upon the professionally oriented courses pursued by the meritorious student, provided the student consistently secures at least 60 per cent marks in each annual examination conducted by the university concerned.

Jamnagar Government Hospital City District News Saurashtra Gujarat India

Music therapy provides healing aid for patients in Jamnagar City.

A Jamnagar government hospital has adopted an unconventional method of playing therapeutic music at bedsides of the patients for their speedy recovery and rehabilitation.

This music therapy is being used in the government hospital extensively, by playing Hindi devotional songs from time to time.

According to Ishaqbhai, a patient, the devotional songs that are played in the hospital do wonders to them and they feel that good and positive thoughts enter their mind. The music that is played in the hospital is very beneficial for us. We listen to the music and feel relaxed and forget our pains and sorrows,” said Ishaqbhai.

The therapeutic value of the action is overwhelming and the doctors say that after listening to the music, the patients immediately feel better and respond well to the treatment.

According to A H Vyas, superintendent of the hospital, the patients experience a boost in their energy level through the devotional songs that makes them forget their pain for sometime and helps the recovery process.

“Music is good for the patients as well as their relatives who wait for them outside the hospital wards. They don’t feel bored and can pass their time by listening to these songs. It also helps in faster recovery of the patients.” said A H Vyas.

Hospitalization can cause physical and emotional stress from continuous treatments and tests in unfamiliar environment; hence this music therapy has been introduced to provide the patients a positive way to cope up with their hospitalization.

Jamnagar Rajkot Kutch District Industries News Samachar Gujarat India

50% of Gujarat power will come from green technologies.

In an exclusive interview with DNA, Gujarat power and industries minister Saurabh Patel discussed the state's future plans for energy.

What do the ongoing Climate Change summit in Copenhagen, world energy conservation day celebrations, and Gujarat have in common?

They are all concerned about the future requirements of energy and the impact of power generation on global warming. Even as there is a debate underway on India's commitment to reduction in carbon emissions, the Modi government already has several ambitious plans for energy generation.

The future is gas-based power generation. In the next few years, Gujarat aims to switch to clean mechanisms -- such as solar, hydro, wind and tidal power -- for as much as 50 per cent of its total power generation. A tidal power project will be launched either in the Gulf of Kutch or Khambhat.

This will be achieved at a huge initial cost. But the extra cash will be well spent as it will lead to savings on recurring expenses. It will ensure that state's carbon emission does not shoot up in the next decade because of its power generation projects.

What are your thoughts on Climate Change and how high is it on Gujarat government's agenda?

Climate Change is an issue that is being debated world over and needs to be tackled seriously. Gujarat has already started doing its bit by promoting clean energy. In fact, Gujarat is the first state in the country to set up a separate Climate Change department. The state government has been encouraging the use of clean fuels to generate energy. Unfortunately, the amounts of such clean fuel (such as gas) needed in Gujarat is very high but we do not have adequate supplies.

How is the state government promoting green energy?

We are promoting power generation through renewable sources such as wind and solar power. We are also focusing on nuclear power generation. The state government is working on a biomass policy for electricity generation, the draft of which is being readied and will be soon placed in the assembly.

How are things shaping up as far as wind power generation is concerned?

As far as wind energy is concerned, Gujarat, with an installed power generation capacity of over 1,500 MW, is second only to Tamil Nadu. We are promoting this sector in a big way and aim to expand capacity by a further 500 MW this year. We are utilizing state PSUs such as GACL, GNFC, GSFC, GMDC and GSPC to generate wind power.

The cost of tapping solar power for energy is very high. How does the government plan to overcome this problem?

The Gujarat government is taking the lead in promoting solar energy generation. We realize that as solar energy is costlier than power from other sources, it will never pick up if it is not taken seriously. We have, therefore, decided to offer Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited Rs 1, 000 crore as subsidy for solar power generation for the next 10 years.

It is a huge sum, but it will ensure that solar energy is properly tapped. Moreover, once new technologies are produced, the cost of power will come down and the subsidy burden will ease. The government is even planning to promote hybrid power generation through plants that run on sunlight during daytime and gas at night.

What is the status of the work on expanding the gas grid in the state?

Gujarat was the first state to encourage use of gas as fuel and continues to do so. We already have gas grid in 15 districts and plan to cover the remaining areas soon. We also want to include the smaller towns in North Gujarat and Saurashtra. The grid will be expanded to Pipavav, Jamnagar, and Rajkot, Mundra, Mehsana, Vapi and other places.
Around 150 CNG stations will be set up across the state in the next 15 months.

These include mother stations which will be directly connected to the main pipeline, and daughter stations which will be supplied gas by tankers. We are even asking all government vehicles to switch to CNG.

What is the status of the work on expanding the gas grid in the state?

Gujarat was the first state to encourage use of gas as fuel and continues to do so. We already have gas grid in 15 districts and plan to cover the remaining areas soon. We also want to include the smaller towns in North Gujarat and Saurashtra. The grid will be expanded to Pipavav, Jamnagar, and Rajkot, Mundra, Mehsana, Vapi and other places.

Anadabava Sanstha Jamnagar City News Saurashtra Gujarat India

Anadabava Sanstha plans Kidney,Eye hospitals for poor in Jamnagar City.

A group of saints performed ground breaking ceremony of Anadabava Seva Sanstha’s proposed eye hospital, kidney hospital and school buildings in Jamnagar City.

Anadabava Seva Sastha’s state-of-the-art new modern kidney and eye hospital will come up on a large land next to existing ladies old age home. The sanstha also will modernize existing Sharda mandir School on its land.

On this occasion, Navanagar Cooperative bank’s Ramnikbhai Shah announced Rs 60000 donation for poor patients who will be served at Kidney dialysis centre.

Gujarat Fertilizer Dealers Association President Gordhanbhai Patel announced Rs 51000 donation to this cause.

Ravindra Jadeja Jamnagar Cricketer City News Samachar Gujarat India

There are many good memories connected with this ground.

Last year when the Madhavrao Scindia stadium in Rajkot City hosted an international Cricket game, Ravindra Jadeja was in the stands, cheering along with the chorus that greeted Yuvraj Singh’s 78-ball 138 against England. A Team India hopeful at that time, the left-handed Jadeja tried to emulate the southpaw at nets the following morning, but decided to switch back to his own style once he saw he couldn’t make much headway. And sticking to his strengths has seen Jadeja move from the stands to the field within a year’s time as international cricket returns to his hometown.

Though he hails from Jamnagar, Rajkot was the witness to the high points in the 21-year-old’s early cricket career. “There are several memories connected to this ground and now I have the opportunity to add one more. This will be really special as so many of my friends and family will be watching,” Jadeja told The Indian Express.

“We watched the India-England game sitting in the stands and I never thought the next time when India travel here, I would be on the other side. From watching Yuvraj and trying to be like him, here I am sharing a dressing room with him and the other big names of Indian cricket.”

Long wait

The locals are also excited and it is understandable. The last player from the region to represent the country was Karsan Ghavri, the left-arm pacer who shared the new ball with Kapil Dev in the 70s. But Ghavri did not get the chance to play an international game at home.

Fresh from a few decent Ranji outings and a surprise call for the second T20 game as a late replacement for Sreesanth makes Jadeja confident of doing well in the opening one-dayer against Sri Lanka. But as he looks back, a few unfortunate episodes from the one-day series against Australia come to his mind.

Jadeja said he needed to make amends for the run out during the Hyderabad match, where India’s late-order batsmen faltered after Sachin Tendulkar’s 175 had put the team on the brink of a historic win. “I need to be more consistent so I can cement my place in the Indian team. I need to contribute more, and I’m trying my best. I know that if I had not been run out, we would have won in Hyderabad,” Jadeja said.

Jamnagar District Talukas News Samachar Gujarat India

Female child births on decline in Jamnagar district.

The male-female ratio in Jamnagar city and district is dipping, a joint survey of two years of birth rates undertaken by Jamnagar district panchayat and a local NGO has revealed. This startling finding despite the state government's "Beti Bachao" campaign is a wake-up call for the district.

In five talukas of Jamnagar district, male-female birth ratio is declining. In Jamnagar in the year 2007-08, it was 932 girls to 1,000 boys whereas in the year 2008-09 it has gone down to 884. In Dhrol taluka, the year 2007-08 saw the ratio as 891: 1,000 which has further dipped to 855 in the year 2008-09 the survey says.

The picture is grim in Jodiya as well where, in 2007-08 the survey showed 914 female children were born against a thousand boys, but the 2008-09 survey shows a sharp fall to 822.

Kalawad, there were 845 girl child births in 2007-08 which is only 839 in the year 2008-09. Similarly, in Bhanvad where in the year 2007-08 there were 921 female child births which went down to 913 in 2008-09.

Amrut Somaiya of Okha Sarvodaya Mahila Mandal expressed concern about the situation. "We must wake up," she says, adding: "As per the situation today, the balance is tipped by 150 to 200 female births less. However, proper action needs to be taken before the situation goes out of the hand."

Ila Vakhariya of Chetna in Ahmedabad City, who recently visited Jamnagar, also expressed her concern. "We must not blame only the husband for the female feticide as the mother who is allowing abortion is equally at fault. We must also realize that it is because of these declining female population, that crimes like rape is taking place in society." Due to lesser female births, the social structure of a society, including culture and social tradition, is also in danger.

M P Shah Medical College Jamnagar City Saurashtra University News Gujarat India

A first for Saurashtra University: MBBS student bags record 13 gold medals.

An MBBS student from the Jamnagar City Medical College has picked up a record 13 gold medals, the highest till date bagged by any student of Saurashtra University.

Apoorva Vijaysinh Dodia, a student of Shri M P Shah Medical College, Jamnagar, stood first in the MBBS.

IIIrd year, Part II examination conducted this February, scoring a whopping 82.1 per cent mark. This has been the highest mark achieved by anyone in the history of the college and Saurashtra University, since its inception.

He also scored the highest marks in all the four subjects in the examination, which is a record in itself.

On December 13, he will be awarded nine gold medals (another first for the university) for the 3rd year MBBS Part -II examination during the 44th Convocation Ceremony.

He was also declared “the student of the year 2008-09” for which he was awarded gold medals at the Gujarat Medical Association conference in Bhavnagar City on November 21.

Apoorva has several other records to his credit: MBBS Ist year — 82.3 per cent; MBBS IInd year — 82.5 per cent; MBBS IIIrd year, Part I — 83.5 per cent and MBBS IIIrd year, Part II — 82.1 per cent (all highest ever scored by a student).

There are a total of 14 subjects from the Ist to the final year in MBBS and Apoorva has secured the highest marks in each and every subject till now. There are a total of 13 gold medals which can be awarded to an MBBS student from the Ist to the final year and Apoorva has bagged all of them, four previously and nine now.

His father Vijaysinh is a general surgeon and mother, Mili, a gynaecologist — both having practice in Jamnagar.

Apoorva plans to pursue post-graduation and credits his success to his teachers.

Jamnagar Amreli Surat District Tourism News Saurashtra Gujarat India

Two consultants bid for tourist beach development in Saurashtra Gujarat India.

Two firms have bid for offering consultancy services to Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) for the development of tourist beaches at Sarkeshwar in Amreli District and Shivrajpur in Jamnagar District. The architecture consultancy firms, who bid for tourist beaches development, are Hiren Gandhi & Associates and Wapcos India, a flagship company of union ministry of water resources.

On behalf of Gujarat Ports Infrastructure and Development Co Ltd, GMB had invited consultants for advising the board for development of tourist beaches in Gujarat. The last date for submission of bids was 30 November and the maritime board has received total three bids for development of two tourist beaches.

"Wapcos India and Hiren Gandhi & Associates have evinced interest in offering their consultancy to GMB. Two bids have been received for Sarkeshwar beach and one bid is for Shivrajpur, which is located between Dwarka and Okha," said a senior GMB official.

The successful bidders will be involved in overall planning of tourist beach development. "The firms will help GMB chalk out long term planning for overall development. They will advise us as to what infrastructure is required for the project and how the entire project would be implemented," the GMB official added.

The tourist beach development project will probably be carried out on public private partnership (PPP) basis. In fact, GMB intends to develop tourist beach at Savli and Doomas near Surat District. Shivrajpur has clean blue water with potential to become one of the best beaches.

According to sources, around Rs. 200 crore will be spent on developing these beaches.