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India’s first womb transplant may encourage organ donation

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India’s first womb transplant may encourage organ donation

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It was conducted at the Galaxy Care Laparoscopy Institute in Pune on May 18

By Ramesh Menon

India’s first uterus transplant was conducted on May 18 at the Galaxy Care Laparoscopy Institute in Pune. The landmark surgery might encourage many others to donate organs.

The 26-year-old patient from Vadodara was all smiles before the operation at 9am as it gave it a new hope of conceiving after getting her mother’s womb. The eight-hour surgery ahead did not rattle her. She had gone through a lot of trauma for the last eight years after marriage trying to have a baby. Now, there is a new hope—after losing two babies in previous pregnancies, four abortions and a scarred uterus.

She hopes the womb transplant will now help her bear a child. At last.

The complicated transplant operation was headed by Dr Shailesh Puntambekar, consultant oncosurgeon and Laparoscopic Oncosurgeon. He was assisted by Dr Sanjeev Jadhav, vascular surgeon, Dr Milind Telang, gynaecologist and Dr Pankaj Kulkarni, infertility specialist. Dr Bhushan Kinholkar will look after intensive care after the operation that is very crucial for success.

Dr Sailesh Puntambekar told APN that this landmark operation will give a new hope to many women who do not have a functional uterus and want to have a baby. “We are very confident as we have taken great care to select the donor and the recipient after conducting numerous tests. We are hoping for the best,” he said.

Another womb transplant is scheduled for tomorrow at the hospital for a 22-year-old patient born without a uterus. The third transplant is to be conducted in June. All the three women have different uterine complications and donors are their mothers.

Dr Shailesh Puntambekar who headed the operation

Dr Shailesh Puntambekar who headed the operation

They will all be closely monitored by the doctors for 24 weeks. Then, fertilized embryos will be transferred into the uterus using the IVF procedure if they are in good health.

Doctors say that these transplants will hopefully help them get pregnant. The operations of all the three are being done free of cost by the hospital.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1495092539925{background-color: #d3d3d3 !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1495092413106{background-color: e0e0e0 !important;}”]Law to regulate transplants

The Transplantation of Human Organs Act passed in 1994 is India’s primary legislation related to organ donation and transplantation. The idea behind it was to regulate the removal, storage and transplantation of human organs for therapeutic purposes and prevent commercial dealings in human organs that had taken scandalous proportions in India. Poor people were selling off their organs to meet debts or to eke out a living. It allowed transplantation of human organs and tissues from living donors and cadavers after cardiac or brain death. It also wanted to ensure that the donors were not exploited as there were too many cases of commercial dealings in transplantation.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Nearly a dozen gynecologists, endocrinologists and IVF specialists at the hospital were planning the live donor uterine transplant for a year. They first practiced on cadavers in Germany and the United States and got briefed by doctors who had done before helping them to perfect the technique.

The hospital then got its infrastructure in place before a government team inspected it before granting permission from the Directorate of Health Services in Maharashtra to conduct the transplant. They now have a licence to conduct womb transplants till 2022.

About 25 such transplants have taken place in the world. As there is a large possibility of rejection, both patients and doctors are on their tenterhooks. But there is always hope that it will work as it has in some cases. Out of 11 womb transplants in Sweden, seven ended in successful pregnancies.

Organ donation has not picked up in India. A lot of superstitious beliefs and fears stop people from donating their organs. Many believe that if they donate their eyes after death, they would be reborn blind. Counselors who try to persuade families to donate the eyes of their loved ones after they have passed away have a tough time convincing them to do so. Most of them just get shooed away, says one of them.

Even cadaver donation has not picked up. Media attention on such donations and operations can in some way create an environment for organ donation to pick up.

Photo courtesy: Pinterest, http://www.galaxycare.org/[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

Abhishek Banerjee says will not bow to BJP after nearly 11 hours of ED questioning

After spending nearly 11 hours before the Enforcement Directorate, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee said he would not bow to the BJP and accused the ruling party of using investigative agencies for political purposes.

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Abhishek Banerjee

Trinamool Congress leader and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday said he would not bow to the BJP after spending nearly 11 hours being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an ongoing investigation.

Speaking after the questioning, Banerjee alleged that central agencies were being used to target opposition leaders and asserted that he would continue his political fight despite what he described as sustained pressure.

The TMC leader has repeatedly maintained that investigations involving him are politically motivated, a charge he has made on several previous occasions while appearing before central agencies.

His appearance before the ED comes amid a period of heightened political activity and multiple investigations involving leaders in West Bengal. Recent days have also seen Banerjee face summons and questioning in separate matters by state investigative agencies.

After leaving the ED office, Banerjee reiterated that he would not be intimidated and said he remained committed to his political responsibilities. He also accused the BJP of attempting to weaken opposition parties through investigative action, an allegation that the BJP has rejected in the past.

The Enforcement Directorate has not publicly commented on Banerjee’s remarks. The investigation related to the questioning remains ongoing.

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India News

DMK attacks Rahul Gandhi, accuses him of weakening opposition unity

DMK has intensified its criticism of Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the Congress leader’s actions have weakened opposition unity and strained relations within the INDIA bloc.

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Rahul-Gandhi

The war of words between the DMK and Congress has intensified, with the DMK launching a strong attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and accusing him of contributing to divisions within the opposition alliance. The criticism comes amid strained ties between the two parties following their political split in Tamil Nadu.

According to the DMK, Rahul Gandhi’s political approach has weakened unity among opposition parties. The party’s IT wing mocked the Congress leader on social media, while an editorial published in the DMK’s official mouthpiece Murasoli questioned his recent remarks on opposition solidarity.

DMK questions Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on opposition unity

In its editorial, Murasoli argued that Rahul Gandhi was speaking about opposition unity despite, according to the DMK, contributing to disagreements among alliance partners in several states. The publication cited criticism directed at Congress by various opposition parties and suggested that the party’s actions had often created tensions within the INDIA bloc.

The editorial also referred to past political disputes involving Congress and Left parties, particularly in Kerala, claiming such episodes had raised concerns among opposition allies about Congress’s approach toward its partners.

Tamil Nadu political fallout adds to tensions

The attack comes after a major political realignment in Tamil Nadu. Following the 2026 Assembly elections, Congress ended its alliance with the DMK and joined the government led by Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The move left the DMK in the opposition and significantly altered the political equation between the two former allies.

The DMK has alleged that Congress benefited from the alliance during the election and later abandoned its partner. The party’s editorial questioned whether assurances from Congress leadership would be trusted by alliance partners after the developments in Tamil Nadu.

Congress rejects allegations

Congress has not issued a detailed official response to the editorial, but party sources have rejected the allegations. According to the party, its decisions in Tamil Nadu were made in line with the mandate delivered by voters and were not intended to undermine either the DMK or the broader opposition alliance.

The latest exchange highlights growing strains between two key opposition parties even as leaders continue to stress cooperation on national issues. Just days earlier, Rahul Gandhi had said that the DMK remained aligned with the opposition on defending the “idea of India” despite political differences.

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Entertainment

Kumkum Bhagya actor Sanchita Ugale dies by suicide near Mumbai at 22

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, died by suicide at her residence near Mumbai. Police have launched an investigation.

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Sanchita Ugale

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for her appearances in Kumkum Bhagya, Wagle Ki Duniya and Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi, died by suicide at her residence in Nalasopara East near Mumbai on June 14. She was 22.

According to police officials, the incident took place at her home in Achole village, Nalasopara East. Authorities said Ugale had locked herself inside her bedroom and was later found hanging from a ceiling fan. Family members and local residents rushed her to a hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. Officials said inquiries are underway and the exact reason behind the incident has not yet been established.

Career across television, OTT and films

Ugale had built a growing presence in the entertainment industry through television, streaming projects and films. Apart from Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, she played a lead role in Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi. She also appeared in OTT projects such as Crime Aaj Kal and Silence 2.

The actor was also associated with the film Chhaava, which contributed to her growing recognition among audiences.

Last social media post draws attention

Following news of her death, social media users shared and commented on Ugale’s final Instagram post, which had been uploaded hours before the incident. The post showed the actor in traditional attire lip-syncing to a classic Bollywood song. Fans expressed shock and grief after learning of her death.

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