CM unwell, rushed to hospital; Cabinet meet on floods put off

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was on Friday rushed to a private hospital in Mohali as his health deteriorated, though doctors later said his condition was stable. Mann has been unwell for the past two days and was being treated by a team of doctors at his residence for a suspected water-borne bacterial infection. However, as his condition showed little improvement.

“CM Mann was brought to Fortis Hospital, Mohali, after he complained of exhaustion and low heart rate. On arrival, his vitals were assessed and have since stabilised. He is currently under observation and his pulse rate has improved. Our medical team continues to closely monitor his condition,” the hospital authorities said in a statement. The CM was admitted to the Cardiac Care Unit (CCU).

Earlier, the AAP government cancelled an important Cabinet meeting scheduled for the evening, citing CM’s ill health. A notice for the meeting had been issued on September 3, before the Chief Minister fell sick. The Cabinet was to review the emerging situation in the flood-ravaged state, where relief and rescue operations are in full swing. So far, 43 flood-related deaths have been reported, while crops on 4.3 lakh acres have been submerged across the state.

A senior functionary in the CMO said Mann had contracted a bacterial infection, likely from drinking unclean water during his visits to flood-hit areas earlier this week. “He fell sick on Wednesday evening. He should be fine in a day or so,” the official said.

Speculation had swirled over the timing of Mann's illness, coinciding with action against party MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, who escaped police custody on September 2. Pathanmajra has claimed he was related to Mann's wife. The party leadership, however, has dismissed such speculation, maintaining that the Cabinet will be reconvened once Mann recovers.

In September last year, Mann was hospitalised after being diagnosed with leptospirosis, a rare bacterial infection. On Thursday, Mann was to accompany AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal to flood-hit Sultanpur Lodhi. Owing to his ill health, he stayed back, and Kejriwal called on him to enquire about his health.