Karnataka: Pigs roam freely in corridors of COVID-19 hospital
Even as the nation continues to fight the COVID-19 crisis, cases of sheer negligence aren't stopping either. In an alarming incident, a herd of pigs was seen roaming freely along with staff and visitors on the premises of a government hospital designated for coronavirus patients in Karnataka. A video of the incident has surfaced online with many expressing anger over it. Here's more.
The incident took place at Kalaburagi COVID Hospital
The video was reportedly taken at Kalaburagi COVID Hospital on Wednesday. It shows the staff walking through the corridors, unbothered by the grunting and squealing of the pigs, thereby highlighting the utter negligence toward hygiene on part of the hospital management. The incident also took political undertones as local Congress legislator Priyank Karge alleged that hospitals in the said area were being poorly managed.
You can watch the video here
Minister weighs in; Kalaburagi reports 2,674 COVID-19 cases
In light of the incident, Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu has instructed hospital authorities to be careful and ensure that such incidents do not happen again. As per reports, the district of Kalaburagi, also known as Gulbarga, has reported 2,674 COVID-19 cases thus far. In fact, India's first-ever coronavirus-related death was reported from Kalaburagi earlier in March.
Karnataka: Cases continue to rise; nearly 60,000 so far
It is imperative to note that the incident comes at a time when COVID-19 cases are rising sharply in the southern state. In the preceding 24-hour period, Karnataka recorded 4,537 fresh coronavirus cases, its biggest single-day spike in the outbreak. The state's total case count now stands at 59,652, out of which a major 36,637 are active cases, while 1,240 patients died.
Not long ago, Karnataka minister sparked controversy
To recall, Sriramulu, a leader of the ruling BJP, recently stirred controversy after saying that only "God can save us" from the pandemic. Naturally, his remarks invited sharp reactions, with the opposition Congress claiming that the statement reflected the BS Yediyurappa-led government's incompetence in dealing with the ongoing health crisis. Sriramulu later tried to clarify his stance, saying his words were misinterpreted.
