Odisha govt gives Rs 1 cr for surgery of Kandhamal conjoined twins

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has left no stones unturned to save the conjoined twins of Kandhamal. The Chief Minister Relief Fund today approved a financial assistance of Rs 1 crore towards the expenditure for the surgery of the rare twins.

The amount will be given to the director of AIIMS, New Delhi as per the norms of the CM Relief Fund. The monetary assistance was sanctioned as per the advice of the doctors treating them, sources from Chief Minister office said.

Sources added that AIIMS would seek help of foreign experts for the treatment of twins if needed.

The twins renamed as Jaga, Balia by AIIMS authorities will be operated after their health condition improves.

When the team of doctors treating them feel that the condition of the babies is suitable then only the surgery will be carried out, AIIMS Neurosurgery department head Prof Ashok Mohapatra who is among other doctors treating the twins had said earlier.

The AIIMS has formed a 30-member team for pre-surgery assessment of the twins.

AIIMS New Delhi director Randeep Guleria had said, “This is a rare condition and such cases occur once in 2.5 million live births. This case has high mortality rate as well."

“Separating the conjoined twins while saving both of them is a big challenge, especially when they share same blood circulation and supply,” he had noted.

The parents of the twins- Bhuan Kanhar and Pushpanjali- had approached the state government for financial assistance.