English
English
English
Gujarat Health Minister Praful Pansheriya reviews the treatment of security personnel at Gandhinagar Civil Hospital after 87 personnel were hospitalised in 10 days amid reported dengue cases ahead of the October 31 National Unity Day parade. (Images: X)
Gandhinagar: As preparations gather pace for the National Unity Day celebrations at the Statue of Unity, 87 security personnel have been admitted to Gandhinagar Civil Hospital over the past 10 days, Gujarat Health Minister Praful Pansheriya said on Friday. Of those admitted, 50 personnel have recovered and been discharged, while 37 remain under medical care. Dengue has been reported among the affected personnel, who belong to the Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
The minister also confirmed the death of a CRPF personnel who was undergoing treatment. A cardiac event was suspected, but the precise cause of death will be determined after the final post-mortem report.
According to Pansheriya, the personnel had arrived in Gujarat from several states, including Odisha, Jharkhand, Delhi, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh, to participate in preparations for the National Unity Day parade scheduled for October 31 at Ekta Nagar. The minister visited Gandhinagar Civil Hospital on Friday, met patients admitted with dengue and other health complaints and reviewed their treatment with Medical Superintendent Dr Meeta Parikh and the medical team.
He said the 37 personnel who remained hospitalised were stable and showing signs of improvement. None was reported to be in critical condition at the time of his visit.
The health minister said the deceased CRPF personnel had initially been stable, but subsequently complained of severe chest pain. Doctors conducted cardiac examinations, including an electrocardiogram (ECG), before moving him to the intensive care unit. Despite medical intervention, the personnel could not be saved. According to the minister, doctors suspected a cardiac arrest or heart attack. However, the final cause of death remains subject to confirmation through the post-mortem report.
Pansheriya also shared a preliminary medical assessment that continuing strenuous physical exercise while experiencing fever or other symptoms could potentially have contributed to a cardiac event. This possibility has not been established as the confirmed cause of death. The minister expressed condolences to the deceased personnel's family and described the loss as deeply distressing.
The affected personnel are staying in temporary accommodation at newly constructed government housing in Sectors 28 and 29 of Gandhinagar. Earlier reports from the Health Department highlighted water accumulation at the accommodation premises, raising concerns about potential mosquito breeding. On October 7, Gandhinagar Civil Hospital Resident Medical Officer Dr Vipula Pandya said that 43 dengue-positive personnel were receiving treatment in the hospital's indoor wards.
She also identified the deceased CRPF personnel as 26-year-old Amal Barman, who had tested positive for dengue. According to her statement, his platelet count fell and he developed chest pain before his death. The precise medical cause of death, however, remains subject to the final post-mortem findings.
Following the reported cases, health authorities intensified preventive measures at the sites where the personnel are staying. According to the minister, fogging operations are being carried out twice daily, alongside insecticide spraying to control mosquitoes. A dedicated team is also monitoring health and hygiene conditions at the accommodation facilities around the clock.
Officials have additionally initiated fever surveillance, patient tracking and anti-larval operations to reduce the risk of further infections. The reported accumulation of water at the premises has also prompted closer attention to mosquito breeding conditions.
During his hospital visit, Pansheriya instructed hospital authorities to ensure that the admitted personnel received adequate hydration and nutritious meals, including fresh fruit, fruit juice and salads as appropriate to their medical needs. He also reviewed the availability of blood and platelets for patients who might require transfusions and directed doctors to ensure timely medical intervention whenever necessary. The Health Department has deployed specialist resident doctors to support the treatment of affected personnel.
The hospitalisations come as security personnel prepare for the National Unity Day parade on October 31 at Ekta Nagar, near the Statue of Unity. With 37 personnel still undergoing treatment, authorities are monitoring their recovery while strengthening disease-prevention measures at the temporary accommodation sites.
The investigation into the CRPF personnel's death remains separate from the broader assessment of the dengue cases, and the final post-mortem report is awaited to establish the exact cause of death.
