MUMBAI: A 20-year-old college student from Navi Mumbai who beat childhood leukemia a decade ago is facing a fresh medical crisis due to an unrelated genetic condition. The disorder, which manifested recently, puts him at lifetime risk of developing multiple gastrointestinal malignancies, primary among them is colorectal cancer, for which he underwent a preventive surgery recently.Dr Imran Shaikh, consultant surgical gastro-intestinal surgeon at PD Hinduja Hospital in Mahim, who operated on the boy, said Rohan (name changed) still remains at risk of developing at least four other types of cancers in his lifetime. He said that while Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) is usually passed from parent to child, Rohan’s case appears to be a “de novo” or spontaneous genetic mutation, making him the first in his family to have it.However, the condition can now pass from him to his children. “He will need to be under continuous medical follow-up for the rest of his life,” Dr Shaikh said.Rohan had developed hundreds of precancerous polyps across his colon and rectum. To eliminate the near-100% colorectal cancer risk, doctors performed a total proctocolectomy, which involves removing the entire large intestine and rectum.Then surgeons built a new internal stool reservoir (a J-pouch) using his small intestine and reconnected it to his natural tract. “We performed both the removal and the reconstruction robotically. The restoration, especially, is performed as an open surgery in most cases, but we executed it minimally invasively using advanced multi-quadrant robotics. Very few such cases have been attempted in India,” Dr Shaikh added.Rohan will require around six months to fully recover and adapt to his reconstructed digestive system, but other types of cancer, such as those of the small bowel, stomach, thyroid, and pancreas, are still not behind himThe long medical struggle has already dealt a heavy financial blow to the family. Rohan’s father, an employee at the Bombay High Court, said that their health insurance claim was denied. “The insurance company rejected the claim on the grounds of non-disclosure of his childhood leukemia. But the agent had never asked us for those past details when taking the policy,” he said.

It recommended preparing a policy-based SOP for inspection, maintenance, pruning and safety audits of trees

Mumbai: A three-member BMC committee set up to probe the June 30 Chembur tree crash, which killed an 11-year-old boy inside a school bus during incessant rain, gave a clean chit to the civic roads and gardens departments while recommending levying a collective penalty of Rs 7 lakh for negligence on the contractor and the consultant for stormwater drain works undertaken near the site.It said while several factors may have contributed to the tree fall, the contractor—Gawar Construction Ltd—did not take sufficient precautions even after being warned against damage during excavation and the supervisor—Mahimtura Consultants—should have exercised greater oversight. It, however, stopped short of holding the contractor solely responsible for the tragedy, saying over 1,000 trees fell during heavy rain and wind over eight days.The report said the gardens department had periodically inspected the tree, carried out pre-monsoon pruning wherever required, and alerted the roads department on multiple occasions about safeguarding the tree during the stormwater drain work. The roads department, noted the panel, altered the drain’s alignment to avoid disturbing the tree’s roots and instructed the contractor to exercise caution.An 11-year-old boy, Vihaan Srivastava, was killed and four other children were injured after a roadside peepul tree crashed onto a school bus in Chembur during continuous rain on June 30.The committee, comprising deputy municipal commissioners Purushottam Malvade and Shashank Bhore, and horticulture and landscape consultant Robert Fernandes, has proposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on the project contractor and Rs 2 lakh on the project supervisor for failing to take adequate precautions.The committee’s report said 1,158 trees and branches fell across Mumbai between June 28 and July 5 during an exceptionally wet and windy spell. The Chembur site received 62.8mm of rain on June 28; 71.6mm on June 29; and 13.6mm till 3pm on June 30, when the tree collapsed, while wind speeds touched at 25.7kmph, it noted.Besides recommending penalties, the panel proposed sweeping reforms to urban tree management. These include preparing a policy-based standard operating procedure for inspection, maintenance, pruning and safety audits of trees, appointing registered arborists/tree experts to supervise pruning and infrastructure works, and carrying out periodic tree risk assessments before and after every monsoon.Other recommendations include creating a GIS-based inventory of all roadside trees, reducing excessive concretisation around tree bases, scientifically protecting tree roots during excavation, banning the use of heavy machinery such as earthmovers near roots, appointing nodal officers to coordinate between civic departments during infrastructure projects, and conducting immediate inspections of mature trees after heavy rain or storms.The committee also recommended encouraging native tree species suitable for urban roads, introducing audits of trees in private housing societies through empanelled experts, and launching a citizen-driven ‘Vrikshmitra’ initiative, supported by a mobile reporting mechanism, to flag potentially hazardous trees.

The plea is listed for hearing on July 23

Thane: Former Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Vinayak Raut, his corporator-son Gitesh Raut, his wife and and two relatives moved a court on Monday seeking anticipatory bail in a case alleging cruelty and occult practices on his daughter-in-law.The plea is listed for hearing on July 23.Thane police launched a manhunt for the remaining three accused, including two alleged occultists. Another alleged occultist, Firoz Sheikh, was arrested on Sunday. Police said he is being interrogated to establish the roles of the other accused and verify the allegations made in the complaint. Police said documentary evidence and other material are being examined.The daughter-in-law, Girija Raut, has alleged being subjected to years of physical and mental cruelty, forced occult rituals and financial exploitation by the family.Meanwhile, Raut again denied all charges, calling them false, fabricated and malicious. He reiterated before reporters that the complaint was filed only after negotiations between Gitesh and Girija over divorce failed. He claimed Girija demanded a 3BHK flat, a car, monthly maintenance of Rs 5 lakh and a total compensation of Rs 12 crore towards settlement and damages for alleged emotional trauma.He claimed she voluntarily left the marital home on Dec 29, 2023, with her parents. “She has had no relationship with us since then. The allegations she has made relate to the period between 2018 and 2022. Yet, no complaint was filed at that time.” He said Girija nor her parents raised any objection while she was leaving the house or approached police, and that she had taken all her belongings with her.Raut also cited the possibility of a political angle in the case, saying he would speak about it “at the appropriate time”. He alleged that his police security was recently withdrawn.The FIR has been against all seven accused under Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013, and as well as relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including those for cruelty, cheating and criminal intimidation.

The biker and the pillion rider were unhurt

Thane: A huge banner allegedly installed illegally on a foot overbridge along the busy Eastern Express Highway (EEH) collapsed onto a passing motorcycle on Monday morning, sparking panic among fellow commuters. The biker and his woman pillion escaped unhurt.The incident comes barely a week after a massive hoarding and its support structure toppled at Pokhran 2, following which the Thane municipal commissioner ordered an audit of all hoardings and similar structures across the city.Officials said the incident occurred around 9am near Dnyansadhana College, teen Haath naka when the biker and his pillion were travelling towards Mumbai. The banner, allegedly put up by an activist of the Shiv Pratap Sena (SPS) congratulating its leader on his birthday on a foot overbridge, reportedly came loose and crashed onto the road possibly due to heavy winds at that time.While the structure narrowly missed several other vehicles, the motorcycle was caught beneath the falling banner. The metal frame landed away from the riders, but the flex sheet wrapped around the pillion before bystanders rushed to their rescue. Both escaped without injuries.A video of the incident, shot by a passing motorist, went viral, prompting civic authorities to initiate action.A senior Thane Municipal Corporation official said no permission had been granted to install the banner as the overbridge was maintained by the MMRDA. A senior bureaucrat said nonetheless considering the gravity of the situation, they were in the process of filing a police complaint against those responsible for putting up the unauthorised banner.Meanwhile, SPS leader Sunil Chaudhari who claimed his outfit was affiliated to the Shiv Sena apologised for the incident, saying the banner had been installed by one of the party’s activists without his knowledge. Unconfirmed reports said the banner carried also images of senior Sena leaders.“One of our activists installed the banner. The incident was unfortunate. We had no intention of harming anyone and sincerely apologise to the biker and his pillion rider. We will ensure such an incident does not recur,” Chaudhari said.