Eminent cartoonist RK Laxman dies at 94

January 26, 2015

Pune, Jan 26: Eminent cartoonist RK Laxman, 94, passed away on Monday evening in a Pune hospital.

He was admitted to a private hospital in Pune.

His condition had worsened on Sunday following which he has been put on ventilator support. Laxman, who was taken off the ventilator on Thursday, was showing signs of improvement since the last three days.

"He suddenly developed severe breathlessness around 8pm on Sunday following which we had to put him on ventilator support again. Besides, we had to discontinue his dialysis as he is unable to tolerate the therapy now. Currently, his condition is very critical," said intensivist Sameer Jog, who has been treating Laxman since his admission to Deenanath Mangeshkar hospital on January 17 following urinary tract infection and kidney failure.

The 94-year-old Laxman is famous for his 'You Said It' pocket cartoon in TOI featuring the much-loved 'common man'.

Laxman had other underlying medical conditions like diabetes and hypertension. He had suffered a stroke some years ago," said surgeon Dhananjay Kelkar, medical director of Deenanath Mangeshkar hospital.

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Mangaluru’s ₹1,200 crore fix: Massive sewage overhaul to end city’s drainage woes

News Network

December 19,2025

Mangaluru: In a decisive move to tackle the city’s deteriorating sanitation infrastructure, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has announced a massive ₹1,200 crore action plan to overhaul its underground drainage (UGD) network.

The initiative, spearheaded by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV, aims to bridge "missing links" in the current system that have left residents grappling with overflowing sewage and environmental hazards.

The Breaking Point

The announcement follows a high-intensity phone-in session on Thursday, where the DC was flooded with grievances from frustrated citizens. Residents, including Savithri from Yekkur, described a harrowing reality: raw sewage from apartments leaking into stormwater drains, creating a "permanent stink" and turning residential zones into mosquito breeding grounds.

"We are facing immense difficulties due to the stench and the health risks. Local officials have remained silent until now," one resident reported during the session.

The Strategy: A Six-Year Vision

DC Darshan HV confirmed that the proposed plan is not a temporary patch but a comprehensive six-year roadmap designed to accommodate Mangaluru’s projected population growth. Key highlights of the plan include:

• Infrastructure Expansion: Laying additional pipelines to connect older neighborhoods to the main grid.

• STP Crackdown: Stricter enforcement of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) regulations. While new apartments are required to have functional STPs, many older buildings lack them entirely, and several newer units are reportedly non-functional.

• Budgetary Push: The plan has already been discussed with the district in-charge minister and the Secretary of the Urban Development Department. It is slated for formal presentation in the upcoming state budget.

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