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Lift Kasargod-M’luru block: Kerala HC to Centre

Lift Kasargod-M’luru block: Kerala HC to Centre


Mangalore Today News Network

Thiruvanantapuram, April 02, 2020:  The Kerala High Court on Wednesday ordered the Centre to remove blockades erected by Karnataka on the National Highway linking to Kerala, and ensure movement of vehicles carrying patients in need of urgent medical treatment.

 

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Citing a high number of Covid-19 cases in Kasargod, the Karnataka government’s refusal to allow movement of patients from the Kerala district to Mangaluru had sparked a huge legal row. As the Kerala High Court on Wednesday sought the Centre’s opinion on the matter, the border closure continued to take a heavy toll on Kasargod. At least four persons have already died in Kasargod as they could not proceed to hospitals in Mangaluru. Kerala had approached the high court, dubbing Karnataka’s stand “inhumane”. `

On Tuesday, the court asked Karnataka to show humanitarian consideration to allow vehicles carrying patients across the border. As the legal tussle continued, a Kerala patient — Balan — forcibly discharged from a Mangaluru government hospital, walked nearly 50 km and fainted as he neared the border in Kasargod. On Tuesday, Sekhar, a 49-year-old critically ill patient, had died of cardiac arrest after his ambulance was not allowed to cross the border.

In another case, a pregnant woman delivered a baby in an ambulance that was not allowed to proceed to Mangaluru. For decades, critically ill patients in Kasargod have been getting treated at several hi-tech multi-specialty hospitals in Mangaluru, just across the border.

Hospitalised in Mangaluru on March 21 after his fall from a coconut tree, Balan had told the police that he was forcibly discharged.

Deve Gowda mounts pressure

Meanwhile, in Bengaluru, former prime minister H D Deve Gowda mounted pressure on Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa to relax restrictions on the Karnataka-Kerala border to allow movement of ambulances and other essentials.

In a letter to the CM, Gowda pointed out that Kannadigas living in Kasargod, Manjeshwar and surrounding areas go to Mangaluru for healthcare. “Everyday, more than a hundred ambulances operated between Kasargod and Mangaluru,” he said, drawing attention to Sekhar’s death after permission was denied to his ambulance.

Gowda also cited the pregnant woman’s case. The JD(S) supremo said, “Several people in this region are dependent on hospitals in Mangaluru for emergency treatment. It is inhuman to stop ambulances. The government must immediately allow passage of ambulance.”

Kerala Water Resources Minister Krishnan Kutty had written to Gowda, seeking his intervention in resolving the border crisis. “The border closure has led to loss of life and has affected transport of emergency goods. I suggest mutual talk between the governments of Kerala and Karnataka,” he had said.

Gowda also urged Yediyurappa to ensure supply of fish to people in coastal areas. “Just like vegetables, poultry and groceries, fish is an essential part of the diet of those in coastal areas. The government should take measures to ensure regulated fishing,” he said.

 

Courtesy:Deccan Herald


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