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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Surgery saves boy who gulped tiny LED bulb

Mumbai : In a bizarre development, a small boy from Kolhapur swallowed a tiny LED light bulb a few months ago that got stuck deep in his...

Surgery saves boy who gulped tiny LED bulb

Mumbai : In a bizarre development, a small boy from Kolhapur swallowed a tiny LED light bulb a few months ago that got stuck deep in his lung causing huge trauma and emotional stress for his family, officials said.   When the unusual case was referred to the Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre (JHRC), a team of medicos successfully extricated the foreign object lodged in the three-and-half-year-old boy’s chest.   Recounting the remarkable feat, a JHRC official said the child, Aarav Patil was reported to be suffering from severe breathing difficulties and incessant coughing for almost three months.   Doctors treating him at his home town initially mistook it for pneumonia and subjected him to multiple courses of antibiotics and other medicines, but there was improvement in the boy’s condition.   Subsequently, he was taken for advanced tests, examinations and a CT Scan which revealed the shocker – a metallic object was sitting inside the boy’s left bronchus, partially blocking the airway.   More tests identified the offending object – it was a LED bulb from a toy car – a development so rare that even seasoned doctors described it as a ‘one in a million case’.   Though doctors in Kolhapur attempted to retrieve the foreign body through flexible bronchoscopy - a minimally invasive procedure - the attempts proved to be unsuccessful.   As Aarav’s condition appeared to deteriorate, his desperate family rushed him to JHRC and he was referred to a team of specialist doctors.   After studying his case and examining Aarav, the medical team comprising thoracic surgeon Dr. Vimesh Rajput, ENT surgeon Dr. Divya Prabhat and Dr. Anurag Jain discovered that the bulb had not only blocked the bronchus but had also embedded itself in the surrounding tissues of the lung tissue, making its removal extremely challenging.   A rigid bronchoscopy conducted further confirmed the severity of the obstruction. Left with no other option, the doctors decided to opt for a mini thoracotomy — a delicate surgery involving a 4-centimeter incision in the chest.   “This was one of the rarest cases we’ve encountered. The bulb was lodged in such a way that conventional methods could not retrieve it. Through careful planning and teamwork, we managed to safely remove the object by a mini thoracotomy and restored Aarav’s lung function,” explained Dr. Rajput.   Emphasising how such cases are ignored, Dr. Prabhat pointed out that chronic cough or breathing issues are often dismissed as common pneumonia or even asthma.   “However, such persistent symptoms must always be investigated thoroughly, especially through early detection and imaging which can make all the difference to the patient,” she averred.   JHRC CMO Dr. Milind Khadke said, “The foreign body aspiration in kids is far more common that parents may realise but quick intervention is critical to prevent long-term medical complications.”

Turkey’s military backing behind Pakistan’s drone escalation alarms India


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Pakistan’s large-scale drone incursions along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir and across the International Border in several Indian states have exposed a troubling Turkish connection. According to official sources, between 300 and 400 drones—supplied by Turkey—were used by Pakistan to violate Indian airspace and carry out attacks targeting both military positions and civilian areas.


Government officials revealed in a special briefing on Operation Sindoor that the drones intruded across 36 locations along India’s western frontier, stretching from Leh in Ladakh to Sir Creek in Gujarat. The Indian armed forces responded with both kinetic and non-kinetic countermeasures, successfully bringing down many of the unmanned aerial vehicles. Forensic teams are currently examining the wreckage, and initial findings suggest the drones were Turkish-made ‘Asis Guard Songar’ models.


This recent escalation has raised serious concerns in New Delhi, particularly because Turkey has refrained from condemning the recent terror attack on civilians in Jammu and Kashmir. Nor has it expressed sympathy to the families of the Indian tourists killed in that attack, believed to have been carried out by Pakistan-linked terrorists. Instead, Ankara has offered unwavering support to Pakistan, deepening suspicions about Turkey’s motives.


Turkey has been a long-time backer of Pakistan, offering consistent moral, economic, and military support. It has publicly endorsed Pakistan’s narrative on Kashmir, and has aligned itself with the ideological stance of the Two-Nation Theory. In a striking diplomatic move, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif just hours after the terror attack in Pahalgam—believed to have been executed by The Resistance Front, a proxy of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba. Erdogan was the only world leader to meet Sharif in the aftermath, and Sharif later expressed gratitude for Turkey’s “unwavering support” on the Kashmir issue.


While the international community stood in solidarity with India following the attack, reports indicate that Turkey sent a large consignment of military equipment to Pakistan. Six Turkish military aircraft reportedly arrived with weaponry and defense gear, though Ankara denied this, claiming the aircraft were only refueling. Nevertheless, global flight-tracking systems confirmed the presence of Turkish C-130 military planes in Pakistan.


Shortly thereafter, Turkey also deployed one of its naval warships—the TCG Büyükada (F-512), a MILGEM-class corvette—to Karachi Port. Turkey described the visit as a “routine port call,” but Pakistan called it a “goodwill visit,” suggesting stronger bilateral military alignment and aggressive signaling toward India.


India’s concerns deepened after it launched Operation Sindoor, which involved targeted precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). While most global actors refrained from taking sides, Turkey openly backed Pakistan. In a statement, the Turkish presidency reported that President Erdogan spoke with Prime Minister Sharif, expressing solidarity and offering Ankara’s full support. Erdogan even referred to India’s counter-terror strikes as an attack that resulted in the “martyrdom of numerous civilians,” and extended condolences to the “brotherly people and state of Pakistan.”


At the press conference held earlier today, Indian officials confirmed that on the intervening night of May 8 and 9, hundreds of Turkish-origin drones were launched from Pakistan in what appeared to be a coordinated attempt to test India’s air defense systems and gather intelligence. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the actions were “provocative and escalatory,” targeting Indian urban areas, civilian infrastructure, and some military facilities.


Turkey’s defense relationship with Pakistan has been growing rapidly. In 2024, Pakistan officially recorded arms purchases from Turkey totaling $5.16 million. Beyond the Asis Guard Songar drones, Turkey has also provided Bayraktar TB2 and Akinci drones for enhanced surveillance capabilities. In the naval sphere, Turkey is supplying four MILGEM-class corvettes to Pakistan. Two of these—PNS Khyber and PNS Babur—have already been delivered, while the remaining two—PNS Tariq and PNS Badr—are currently being constructed at the Karachi Shipyard.


As the military partnership between Turkey and Pakistan strengthens, particularly in contexts involving cross-border terrorism and the Kashmir dispute, India continues to monitor developments closely. Officials suggest that Turkey’s actions go beyond routine diplomacy and signal a deeper strategic alignment with Islamabad that could further destabilize regional security.


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