Hepatitis-B killed three more people in Modasa on Monday, a day on which the Gujarat government vaccinated 50,000 residents of the taluka in 10 hours, in what could be one of India’s largest medical mop-ups. The toll from the outbreak has now touched 56, although officials assert that the figure is 45. Two of Monday’s casualties are women, identified Kapila Patel (30) and Harshida Rathod (21).

The mass-vaccination drive is being carried out in the Modasa taluka and surrounding villages of the Sabarkantha district by 225 teams of health officials and NGO volunteers.

In a room full of patients, Kamlaben Vankar sits beside her husband's bed at Modasa general hospital. She is writing post-cards to invite family members for her god bharai on Sunday.

But she does not know if her husband would be able to attend the function, welcoming their first child. Because Prithivi Malaji Vankar (35), a resident of Palampur near Modasa, has been hospitalised for a month. He was admitted in a private clinic, but was shifted to general hospital here last week.  

“There is a custom in our family where a pregnant woman and the unborn child are given blessings and gifts by relatives,'' said Kamla. 

Doctors say Ramesh Jhala acquired virus from needle used by tattoo artist

Eighteen-year-old Ramesh Jhala, a resident of Choila in Bayad taluka of Sabarkantha, did not know that getting a five-rupee tattoo on his hand would land him in a hospital. Jhala has been detected positive with hepatitis –B virus in Modasa. 

Four months back, Jhala had visited Pavagadh to seek blessing from Goddess Mahakali. During his visit, he was tempted to get a tattoo done by a cheap tattoo carver. Doctors now believe that Jhala might have acquired the virus from the needle the tattoo artist used to engrave a tattoo on his hand.

Fraudsters promised vaccines that never came; toll mounts as experts look for main source of virus 

The hepatitis-B epidemic in Modasa has not only taken lives of many but also given rise to frauds.

Promising hepatitis-B virus vaccination at reasonable prices, some fraudsters have taken Rs17,000 from residents of Varthu village near Modasa. 

Tempted by the pricing at Rs12 a vaccination, (otherwise Rs50), about 1,500 residents in Varthu village, gave away money and never found self proclaimed doctors visiting the village again. 

Residents of Varthu village are scared as four people have died by now. Villagers say, this is for the first time that they have seen people dying due to a disease at such a large scale.

He might be better known as a saint or Kabir of Kutch who with his simple messages in in Kutchi, Gujarati and Hindi imparts spirituality to the downtrodden.

But Mekan Dada's real work had been to save those who lost their way in the Rann of Kutch with the help of his dog, Motia, and his donkey, Lalia.

He is often now remembered as St Christopher of Kutch. His 375-year-old shrine at Dharang village on the edge of the Rann hosts an annual fair every year on Shivratri.

Ahmedabad, Feb 24 : The Gujarat High Court on Tuesday issued notice to state minister Maya Kodnani on an application filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) seeking cancellation of her anticipatory bail.

The Court has also issued notice to Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Jaideep Patel and asked the two to explain the reason for not admitting a petition and fixing the hearing for March 2.

The petition has come up before Justice D. H. Waghela as earlier Justice A. S. Dave had refused to take up the case.

Kodnani is accused in Naroda Patiya and Naorda Gam case, while Patel is accused in the Naroda Gam case.