Dr Ritesh gets Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar Prize
Chandigarh: Dr Ritesh Agarwal, Professor in Deptt of Pulmonary Medicine, PGIMER, has been awarded the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology for the year 2020 in the medical sciences category, for his significant contributions in the field of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA). He is the first faculty from the PGI, Chandigarh to be honored with this award. Commending Prof. Agarwal’s distinct accomplishment, Prof Jagat Ram, Director PGIMER stated, “ It is a matter of great pride not only for the institute but also for the region. This rare honor won by Prof. Agarwal is hugely motivational and exemplary for others to follow his footsteps.” Prof. Agarwal has been systematically exploring this disease over the last ten years and has more than 90 publications describing the epidemiology, diagnosis, management, and several first-time descriptions. In the last five years, he has validated several existing diagnostic and classification criteria and has proposed new criteria for the diagnosis and classification of ABPA, which are used to diagnose ABPA worldover. The most significant work of Dr. Agarwal is in the treatment of ABPA. Before his research, there was no dosing protocol for oral glucocorticoids. His research has shown that lower doses of oral steroids are sufficient in the treatment of ABPA. Moreover, two of his studies demonstrating the efficacy of antifungal drugs are practice-changing, as patients can now be spared of the serious adverse effects of glucocorticoids.
Rohru MLA in HP tests positive for covid
Shimla: Himachal Pradesh’s Rohru MLA Mohan Lal Brakta has become the eighth legislator in the state to have contracted coronavirus. The Congress MLA took to Facebook to share his health status on Saturday. Brakta said he got himself tested on Friday morning and his report came positive in the night. So far, six BJP and two Congress MLAs have tested positive for coronavirus in the state. Brakta in his Facebook post said he had not participated in any public programme in Rohru for the past 12 days so there was no need for people of his constituency to panic. However, he requested all those who came in his contact in Shimla in the past some days to get themselves tested. Besides Brakta, the MLAs who tested positive for coronavirus till now are Power Minister Sukhram Chaudhary; Jal Shakti Minister Mahender Singh Thakur; Vinod Kumar Chauhan (Nachan); Rakesh Jamwal (Sundernagar); Reeta Devi (Indora); Lakhwinder Rana (Nalagarh) and Paramjeet Singh (Doon). Power Minister Sukhram Chaudhary and Doon MLA Paramjeet Singh had recovered from the infection and attended the recently concluded monsoon session of the state assembly. Jal Shakti Minister Mahender Singh Thakur rejoined his office in the State Secretariat on Monday after recovering from the disease. He could not attend the assembly session, which was held from September 7 to 18.
punjab cm CONDOLES DEATH OF ISHER JUDGE AHLUWALIA
Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Saturday mourned the death of leading economist Isher Judge Ahluwalia, who remained Chairperson Board of Governors, the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, and was the Director and Chief Executive from 1998 to 2002 besides serving as Vice Chairman of the State Planning Board during his previous tenure as Chief Minister. Ahluwalia (74), wife of noted economist and Former Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia, breathed her last, today after battling brain cancer for 10 months. She is survived by her husband and two sons. Capt Amarinder extended his sympathies to Montek Singh Ahluwalia and prayed for the bereaved family. May almighty give them courage to bear this loss, he said, in his condolence message.
Devendra Kumar Sharma appointed chairman HPERC
Shimla: Himachal Chief Secretary Anil Khachi on Saturday administered the Oath of Office, Secrecy and Affirmation of Allegiance to the Constitution of India to Devendra Kumar Sharma as Chairman of Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (HPERC) in the presence of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur here. Sharma has almost 39 years of experience in energy and water resources sectors in India and abroad. He worked as Chairman, Bhakra Beas Management Board, (BBMB) Ministry of Power, Government of India, from April, 2017 to July, 2020 where he was responsible for managing assets of National Importance. He was responsible for managing supply of electricity and also water for irrigation and drinking water purposes to the Northern States of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Union Territory of Chandigarh from BBMB. Prior to this, he was Managing Director of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd. and has also worked in SJVNL and in HPSEBL in various capacities.