JD(S) will show its strength in bypoll: Deve Gowda

March 9, 2012

Chikmagalur, March 9: Former Prime Minister and JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda has said that his party would show its strength in Udupi-Chikmagalur bypolls

Speaking at the JD(S) convention in the city he called upon the party workers to take up the impending poll as a challenge to save the party.

“The Congress party workers have questioned where is JD(S) in the state? JD(S) is in the minds of the people. It shall show its power in the elections,” he said.

In 2008 elections, JD(S) won three MP seats and Congress won six. It is irrelevant to discuss how Congress won the elections. Every one knows under whose shade it won the elections, he said.

Due to the BJP operation eight by polls have already been conducted. JD(S) has won three elections. Congress has not even won one.

Now the questioners should themselves answer where is their party in the state, he mocked.

Party State Wing Working President P G R Sindhya said that that Congress is shaken by the competition JD(S) is giving them in the by polls. Hence they are trying to defame the party.

The State government has failed to provide drinking water, good roads, he said explaining how the BJP government has failed.

MLA N Chelluvarayaswamy said that this election will decide the fate of any party. The Uttar Pradesh election results have proved that the National parties are not eligible to rule the nation, he said.

In case the JD(S) government comes to power in the state then it can solve the Bababudangiri issue peacefully, said former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy.

Campaigning for JD(S) candidate S L Bhojegowda at Joladhala village, he said that Congress uses Muslims only for the election purpose, hence they should not be elected by the people.Some Muslims in BJP are playing with the emotions of the people only with political instigations. The state government has not done much for the minorities, complianed Kumaraswamy.

He also requested the people to vote for JD(S) keeping the developmental works in mind that took place when he was the Chief Minister.

Comments

Add new comment

Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.

Respiratory illnesses rise in Karnataka’s capital as air quality deteriorates

News Network

February 5,2026

Bengaluru: As air quality continues to worsen across several parts of the city, hospitals in Bengaluru are reporting a steady rise in patients suffering from respiratory illnesses such as asthma, bronchitis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), health officials and doctors said.

Data from the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST) shows that 3,891 patients received treatment for respiratory ailments between April and November 2024. The figure rose to 4,187 during the same period in 2025.

Private hospitals, too, are witnessing a 10–15 per cent year-on-year increase in such cases.

While doctors caution that the rise cannot be attributed solely to air pollution, a significant number of patients are non-smokers with no prior history of respiratory disease.

“Nearly 70 per cent of the patients we see are non-smokers with no previous respiratory issues. When other causes are ruled out, air pollution emerges as the most likely factor,” said Dr Manjunath PH, consultant interventional pulmonologist at a hospital in Kengeri.

Doctors noted that patient footfall spikes during the winter months and around Deepavali, when air quality typically worsens.

“There is a clear correlation between poor air quality and the rise in cases. People commonly present with persistent cough, breathlessness and irritation of the respiratory tract, indicating the impact of polluted air on their health,” said Dr Sheetal Chaurasia, consultant in pulmonary medicine at a private hospital in Whitefield.

Dr Chaurasia added that respiratory tract infections are also on the rise.

“Poor air quality leads to chronic airway inflammation, making the airways more vulnerable to infections. We are seeing an increase in both upper and lower respiratory tract infections,” she said.

Patients with pre-existing respiratory conditions remain the worst affected.

“For those already diagnosed with respiratory illnesses, deteriorating air quality significantly worsens the condition. Both the frequency and severity of attacks increase sharply,” said Dr Vandana P, a pulmonologist at a hospital on Bannerghatta Road.

Doctors also flagged a worrying trend of rising respiratory problems among younger adults and children.

To reduce exposure, they advised people to wear masks while travelling on two-wheelers or autos and ensure adequate ventilation at home to minimise indoor air pollution.

Comments