Swine flu toll in Belgaum city now 2

On Tuesday a 26 year old female who was being treated in a private hospital was shifted to the district hospital as her condition worsened died of swine flu. Mangal Kambli is originally from Gandhinlaj taluka and was taking treatment here.

One dies of swine flu affected persons now to 28

One person who had died on 30-08-09 in a private hospital was suffering from kidney and lung problems whose swab test was taken on 29-08-09, today his result showed up that he had H1N1 virus.

The name of the deceased was declared late night as Dattatray Ramchandra Kulkarni (45) of Athani Police station. He sis survived by his wife, son and daughter.

This means the first death by swine flu in Belgaum.

Today 9 results were received from NIMHANS out of which 3 were found positive for H1N1 influenza virus. All the 3 are males. Two are from Belgaum city and one from Ramdurg.

With this the total persons affected by H1N1 virus has now risen to 28.

Low level of oxygen causes Thousands of Fish to die in Kotekere

Low level of oxygen causes Thousands of Fish to die in Kotekere

Fish were found dead in large numbers at the Kote Kere (or Fort Lake) here on Thursday. According to an estimate, nearly 10 tonnes of fish died in a period of just 24 hours since Wednesday. However, there were no fresh cases of death reported on Thursday.

The common carp (Cyprinus carpio) is the main variety of fish found in this lake. Yet, the Belgaum City Corporation, which had handed over the management and maintenance of the lake to a private contractor, has not informed the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) of the reasons for the disaster. The KSPCB has been monitoring water quality and other environmental aspects in and around the lake on a monthly basis.

One of the reasons could be due to the drop in dissolved oxygen level. A KSPCB official said that he had come on his own after one of his friends informed him about the incident in the morning. However, there was no information from the corporation. Fish start dying due to suffocation when the dissolved oxygen level in the water drops. In addition, there was no adequate harvesting of fish since more than a month because of Sravanamasa when all Hindus avoid consuming meat. The 10-day Ganeshotsava follows Sravanamasa.

Therefore, there was an apparent growth in the numbers of fish in the lake demanding more oxygen. Apart, the weather had been cloudy since about a week that also adversely affected the oxygen level.

Thanks to vavpatil@gmail.com for posting it first here on this blog on the chat box.
See original story on The Hindu