Bengaluru, March 25 (PTI): The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for thunderstorms accompanied by hail in isolated areas of Uttara Kannada, Dharwad, and Shivamogga. The alert is in effect for three hours, predicting maximum surface winds reaching speeds of 41-61 kilometers per hour in gusts.
A startling video has emerged from Padiyani, near Yemmemadu in Kodagu district, showing residents collecting what appear to be ice cubes that fell during the recent hailstorm, which has quickly gained traction across social media channels.
During the time frame from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM on March 25, Gadag recorded the highest rainfall in the state at 17.6 mm. Other areas saw varied rainfall, with Dharwad at 8.4 mm, Davanagere at 3.0 mm, and Karwar at a mere 0.2 mm.
On the same day, maximum temperatures across Karnataka varied from a cool 31.9 degrees Celsius in Kodagu to a sweltering 38.6 degrees Celsius in Kalaburagi. Bengaluru itself experienced slightly milder conditions, with temperatures fluctuating between 33.3 degrees and 34.8 degrees Celsius. The 12-hour forecast for Bengaluru anticipates a partly cloudy sky, with maximum and minimum temperatures projected around 33 degrees Celsius and 22 degrees Celsius, respectively.
In a contrasting scenario in Chandigarh, AAP MLA Devinderjeet Singh Laddi Dhose raised concerns regarding what he termed the “step-motherly treatment” of Moga during a heated exchange in the Punjab state assembly. His comments came after Punjab Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh indicated there were no plans to upgrade the Dharamkot Primary Health Centre to a sub-divisional hospital.
Dhose challenged the minister’s response, questioning why his constituency has yet to receive sufficient health-related projects, asserting, “We are also the residents of Punjab, and our district is Moga. Not even one health-related project has been given to the Dharamkot constituency by our government.”
Ripple effects of this discontent were visible during the Question Hour of the budget session, when Dhose lamented the allocation of only four MBBS doctors to Moga, despite the hiring of hundreds of specialists statewide. Looking at the discrepancy in healthcare resource distribution, he noted, “Earlier, 300 specialist doctors were recruited, and of them, only four doctors were given to Moga. Now, out of 255 MBBS doctors, only four have been given to Moga.”
Minister Singh defended his department by stating, “Moga doesn’t pass the criterion” for a new sub-divisional hospital due to its population size. The minister clarified that a community health center is established when the population is over 125,000 and a sub-divisional hospital when it surpasses 1 million residents. He noted that Moga currently has a district hospital capable of serving its needs. Furthermore, he pointed out, “There are already five trauma centers functioning in the state of Punjab, which are functioning in Jalandhar, Pathankot, Khanna, Ferozepur, and Fazilka.”
The dialogue escalated further when AAP MLA from Mohali, Kulwant Singh, pressed the health minister on the deployment of health staff at a new dispensary in Sector 69. Singh reiterated doubts over the operational status of the facility, challenging the minister’s assertion that temporary staff were present on-site.
In a response aimed at quelling the MLA’s concerns, Singh remarked, “It is possible that his (MLA) people gave information at 9 AM and the staff may have reached at 9:05 and 9:10 AM.” He provided a list of deployed health staff, including a doctor, a pharmacist, a lab technician, and a staff nurse, attempting to validate his claims amid growing frustrations regarding healthcare provision in the state.
Overall, the convergence of weather alerts in Karnataka and health inequalities highlighted by ongoing disputes in Punjab sheds light on the diverse challenges faced by different regions. Both scenarios reflect the urgent need for effective resource allocation and consideration of the unique needs of communities to ensure public safety and welfare in varying circumstances.
