Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann's health improves after hospitalisation; to be discharged soon

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s health is now stable and appears to have shown remarkable improvement since he was admitted to a private hospital in Mohali last night.

Official sources say that his vitals are now stable and he could be discharged from the hospital soon. Mann was admitted to the hospital after suffering from a high fever for the past three days, reportedly caused by a bacterial infection. Mann had also complained of exhaustion and a low heart rate.

AAP leader Manish Sisodia headed to the hospital to call on the CM.

His ill health had forced the Aam Aadmi Party government to cancel the important Cabinet meeting scheduled for Thursday evening.

The notice for this Cabinet meeting had been issued on September 3, before the Chief Minister fell sick. The Cabinet meeting was convened to discuss 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, and standing crops on 4.30 lakh acres have been submerged under floodwaters across all districts of Punjab.

A senior functionary in the Chief Minister's Office said that Mann contracted a bacterial infection, probably from drinking unclean water during his trips to flood-affected areas earlier this week. “He fell sick on Wednesday evening. Initially, he was being treated at his residence by a team of doctors, but was rushed to the hospital after his condition did not improve,” said the functionary.

Meanwhile, all speculations about the timing of the CM's ill health coinciding with the action against party MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, who escaped from police custody on September 2, have been dismissed by the party leadership. The on-the-run MLA has claimed that he is related to the wife of CM Mann.

On Thursday, the CM was to accompany the ruling party’s National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal to flood-affected Sultanpur Lodhi. However, because of his failing health, he could not accompany Kejriwal, and the latter called on him to inquire about his well-being. Kejriwal later visited Sultanpur Lodhi along with AAP Punjab Chief Aman Arora.