A health official from the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh (UP) drowned and died in the raging Ganga River after a diver coldly demanded money before attempting a rescue. The official, identified as Aditya Vardhan Singh, had gone to the river on August 31 with his friend Pradeep Tiwari. Aditya then slipped and fell into the river near the Nana Mau Ghat in the Kanpur district.

His friend hurriedly arranged for a local diver to rescue the health official but shockingly, he asked for an upfront payment of INR 10,000 (US$119). Even though Tiwari instantly transferred the amount, the official couldn’t be saved as it was too late by then.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiZpODLqa6IAxXJ-aACHSUzCzwQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/up-school-principal-expels-class-3-student-for-bringing-non-veg-in-lunch-alleges-him-for-conversion-video-756390" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/up-school-principal-expels-class-3-student-for-bringing-non-veg-in-lunch-alleges-him-for-conversion-video-756390&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiZpODLqa6IAxXJ-aACHSUzCzwQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE">UP school principal expels class 3 student for bringing non-veg in lunch, alleges him for conversion |Video</a>

Following the incident, police launched a massive search operation for the deputy director of the Uttar Pradesh Health Department. Police said the dead body of the official is yet to be recovered.

“The local administration carried out rescue operations on a war footing to find him but these have turned out to be unfruitful. Searches are still underway to locate his remains,” an official told local media.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiZpODLqa6IAxXJ-aACHSUzCzwQxfQBKAB6BAgLEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/up-woman-harassed-by-ambulance-driver-sick-husband-thrown-out-without-oxygen-756225" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/up-woman-harassed-by-ambulance-driver-sick-husband-thrown-out-without-oxygen-756225&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiZpODLqa6IAxXJ-aACHSUzCzwQxfQBKAB6BAgLEAE">UP: Woman harassed by ambulance driver, sick husband thrown out without oxygen dies</a>

According to the Indian national daily Dainik Bhaskar, search teams from NDRF, SDRF and PAC have tracked 45km of the area over the last six days and through at least 144 hours, but to no avail.

Police said the official’s wife, a judge in Maharashtra, and his brother, an IAS in Bihar, were promptly informed about the unfortunate incident.

(With inputs from agencies)

A health official from the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh (UP) drowned and died in the raging Ganga River after a diver coldly demanded money before attempting a rescue.

A health official from the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh (UP) drowned and died in the raging Ganga River after a diver coldly demanded money before attempting a rescue. The official, identified as Aditya Vardhan Singh, had gone to the river on August 31 with his friend Pradeep Tiwari. Aditya then slipped and fell into the river near the Nana Mau Ghat in the Kanpur district. His friend hurriedly arranged for a local diver to rescue the health official but shockingly, he asked for an upfront payment of INR 10,000 (US$119). Even though Tiwari instantly transferred the amount, the official couldn’t be saved as it was too late by then. Also read: UP school principal expels class 3 student for bringing non-veg in lunch, alleges him for conversion |Video Following the incident, police launched a massive search operation for the deputy director of the Uttar Pradesh Health Department. Police said the dead body of the official is yet to be recovered. “The local administration carried out rescue operations on a war footing to find him but these have turned out to be unfruitful. Searches are still underway to locate his remains,” an official told local media. Also read: UP: Woman harassed by ambulance driver, sick husband thrown out without oxygen dies According to the Indian national daily Dainik Bhaskar, search teams from NDRF, SDRF and PAC have tracked 45km of the area over the last six days and through at least 144 hours, but to no avail. Police said the official’s wife, a judge in Maharashtra, and his brother, an IAS in Bihar, were promptly informed about the unfortunate incident. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Give me money first,’ Indian official dies as diver asks for payment before attempting rescue

Going beyond the call of duty, a doctor here performed the role of a pall bearer to conduct the last rites of some of those who lost their lives to the deadly Nipah virus.

With close relatives staying away due to fear of contracting Nipah, Dr R S Gopakumar, Health Officer of Kozhikode corporation, took the responsibility of handling 12 bodies, whose final journey was supervised by him.

"I was a pall bearer for 3 bodies and performed their last rites too," the 41-year-old Gopakumar told PTI.

Nipah virus has claimed 17 lives -- 14 in Kozhikode and 3 in neighbouring Malappuram since its outbreak last month.

Yesterday, the state government had updated the toll to 17 after including the death of Mohammed Sabith, the first victim, whose samples had not been tested for Nipah.

Gopakumar said he performed the last rites of a 17-year-old boy who died of Nipah as his mother was in the isolation ward for suspected virus infection.

She could not even see her son for one last time and permitted Dr Gopakumar to perform the exequies.

"I was saddened that during his last journey there was none of his dear ones to perform last rites. I did not have to think twice.. And I decided to perform all Hindu rites for the boy as I wanted him to go on his final journey with all the dignity. It was my duty...," he said.

After relatives of a 53-year-old man, who died of Nipah, informed him that they were not participating in the funeral, he conducted the final rites for him too.

Another last journey which tugged his heart was when he assisted the husband of a 19-year-old woman.

The woman, who had allegedly consumed poison, had been brought to a hospital here from Karnataka when some persons who were later found to be positive for Nipah, were treated near her bed.

However, the woman's samples were found to be negative later.

Extreme care and standing operating procedures laid down by the experts of National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) were followed for handling Nipah affected bodies during the cremation and burial as exposure to Nipah virus (NiV) is highly hazardous.

Secretion and excretion from a deceased person are considered equally infectious like that of a living infected person.

As part of the standard procedures, the bodies should not be sprayed, washed or embalmed and personnel handling remains have to wear protective equipment like gloves, gowns, N95 masks, eye protection shield and shoe cover.

Gopakumar said he had overseen the funeral of of 61 year-old Moosa, whose two sons and brother's wife had fallen prey to Nipah virus.

It is suspected that during the ritual of bathing of Sabith's body, Moosa and his younger son might have contracted the virus, he said.

A 10-feet pit was dug and 5 kg of bleaching powder was spread inside the pit. The body was packed in an air-tight plastic double body bag and then lowered into the pit.

Dr Reshma Sahay, Scientist from the National Virology Institute, Pune was present as she had handled Ebola cases earlier.

"We followed Ebola protocol for the burial," Dr Gopakumar said.

Of the 12 bodies, 8 were Nipah positive cases and four were suspected cases which later turned out to be negative.

Patients' relatives performed rites for nine of the bodies.

There were situations when the staff in Kozhikode crematorium refused to perform the last rites of some Nipah victims due to fear.

The natural host of the virus is believed to be fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family, Pteropus genus.

The body was in the ambulance for few hours after which people from Ivor madom, who conduct funeral rites on the banks of Bharatha puzha, had to be called to do the final rites, he said.

The issue was discussed by the Kerala Assembly yesterday and Health minister, K K Shylaja was all praise for the selfless service of Dr Gopakumar.&nbsp

Dr R S Gopakumar, Health Officer of Kozhikode corporation, took the responsibility of handling 12 bodies, whose final journey was supervised by him

Going beyond the call of duty, a doctor here performed the role of a pall bearer to conduct the last rites of some of those who lost their lives to the deadly Nipah virus. With close relatives staying away due to fear of contracting Nipah, Dr R S Gopakumar, Health Officer of Kozhikode corporation, took the responsibility of handling 12 bodies, whose final journey was supervised by him. "I was a pall bearer for 3 bodies and performed their last rites too," the 41-year-old Gopakumar told PTI. Nipah virus has claimed 17 lives -- 14 in Kozhikode and 3 in neighbouring Malappuram since its outbreak last month. Yesterday, the state government had updated the toll to 17 after including the death of Mohammed Sabith, the first victim, whose samples had not been tested for Nipah. Gopakumar said he performed the last rites of a 17-year-old boy who died of Nipah as his mother was in the isolation ward for suspected virus infection. She could not even see her son for one last time and permitted Dr Gopakumar to perform the exequies. "I was saddened that during his last journey there was none of his dear ones to perform last rites. I did not have to think twice.. And I decided to perform all Hindu rites for the boy as I wanted him to go on his final journey with all the dignity. It was my duty...," he said. After relatives of a 53-year-old man, who died of Nipah, informed him that they were not participating in the funeral, he conducted the final rites for him too. Another last journey which tugged his heart was when he assisted the husband of a 19-year-old woman. The woman, who had allegedly consumed poison, had been brought to a hospital here from Karnataka when some persons who were later found to be positive for Nipah, were treated near her bed. However, the woman's samples were found to be negative later. Extreme care and standing operating procedures laid down by the experts of National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) were followed for handling Nipah affected bodies during the cremation and burial as exposure to Nipah virus (NiV) is highly hazardous. Secretion and excretion from a deceased person are considered equally infectious like that of a living infected person. As part of the standard procedures, the bodies should not be sprayed, washed or embalmed and personnel handling remains have to wear protective equipment like gloves, gowns, N95 masks, eye protection shield and shoe cover. Gopakumar said he had overseen the funeral of of 61 year-old Moosa, whose two sons and brother's wife had fallen prey to Nipah virus. It is suspected that during the ritual of bathing of Sabith's body, Moosa and his younger son might have contracted the virus, he said. A 10-feet pit was dug and 5 kg of bleaching powder was spread inside the pit. The body was packed in an air-tight plastic double body bag and then lowered into the pit. Dr Reshma Sahay, Scientist from the National Virology Institute, Pune was present as she had handled Ebola cases earlier. "We followed Ebola protocol for the burial," Dr Gopakumar said. Of the 12 bodies, 8 were Nipah positive cases and four were suspected cases which later turned out to be negative. Patients' relatives performed rites for nine of the bodies. There were situations when the staff in Kozhikode crematorium refused to perform the last rites of some Nipah victims due to fear. The natural host of the virus is believed to be fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family, Pteropus genus. The body was in the ambulance for few hours after which people from Ivor madom, who conduct funeral rites on the banks of Bharatha puzha, had to be called to do the final rites, he said. The issue was discussed by the Kerala Assembly yesterday and Health minister, K K Shylaja was all praise for the selfless service of Dr Gopakumar.

With relatives staying away, Kerala doctor performs last rites of Nipah virus victims

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‘Give me money first,’ Indian official dies as diver asks for payment before attempting rescue

With relatives staying away, Kerala doctor performs last rites of Nipah virus victims