Udupi: Foundation stone laid for Salihath First Grade College at Tonse

Bengaluru, Jul 2: Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu on Thursday launched the ICU Telecard, developed by CISCO to address the concerns of doctors treating coronavirus patients.

Wi-Fi networks and Cisco Health platform help to protect the entire medical team dealing with the infected person by ensuring that doctors do not have to be inside isolation wards and COVID ICUs.

The ICU Telecard has been installed at Victoria and KC General hospital.

"This technology is a necessity to safeguard health of our doctors and it should be implemented in all hospitals. We will discuss about this in the task force meeting and decide regarding the use of this technology in all COVID hospitals in the state. For now, we have installed one at Victoria and KC General hospital" said the minister.

Addressing the complaints of non-release of dead bodies without coronavirus testing, Sriramulu said: "Experts have discussed the same in a meeting with the Chief Minister yesterday, who has ordered for an increase in the number of testing labs. This should resolve the issue. We are also contemplating the conduct of plasma therapy in all districts."

The minister said that the government has also decided to reserve two ambulances for every ward to address the issue of non-availability and will procure more ambulances on rent if the existing ones are insufficient.

He further informed that those who were seen dumping the bodies in a pit in Ballari have been suspended and notice has also been served to officials in Yadagiri.

"We will ensure such instances do not repeat in the state," he said.

Bengaluru, Feb 15: The new Karnataka Minister for Forest Anand Singh on Friday said that he is ready for 'change in the portfolio' as opposition parties are leveling charges against Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa for appointing him, despite having 15 cases registered under Forest Act against him.

"If Chief Minister wants to change my portfolio, I am ready," he added.

Speaking to newsmen here, he said that there are 15 cases pending against him. The Legislator from Vijayanagara in Mine rich Ballari district said anyone can go through the Chargesheets and find out whether there are any direct charges against him. Claiming that the cases against him were 'minor violations', he had earlier linked them to traffic violations by a vehicle owner.

Kottayam, Mar 16: A trial court in Kerala  on Monday dismissed a discharge petition filed by Bishop Franco Mulakkal, in connection with the case of alleged rape of a nun in which he is the prime accused.

In his plea filed before the Additional District and Sessions Court I, Mulakkal had claimed that prima facie there was no case to frame charges against him.

Dismissing the plea, the trial court said the bishop should stand for trial in the rape case.

The bishop's lawyer said an appeal would be filed in the High Court against the trial court order.

The prosecution had filed its objection to the plea filed by the bishop, accused of raping and sexually assaulting a nun of the same diocese.

The bishop had filed the plea just ahead of commencement of the preliminary hearing on charges against him in January this year.

The case is based on a complaint filed against the bishop by the nun.

In her complaint to the police in June, 2018, the nun had alleged that she was subjected to sexual abuse by the bishop during the period between 2014 and 2016.

The bishop, who was arrested by the Special Investigation Team which probed the case, has been charged with wrongful confinement, rape, unnatural sex and criminal intimidation.