Mumbai: Senior NCP leader Eknath Khadse on Sunday suffered a mild heart attack. He was admitted to Gajanan hospital in Jalgaon city. Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde has asked the administration to arrange an air ambulance to shift him to Mumbai for better treatment at Bombay Hospital in south Mumbai.
According to the sources, Mr. Khadse was feeling pain in his chest for the last two days. Initially, he thought it was because of the acidity. However, when his blood test was done, it was found that cardiac indicators were on the higher side.
"Mr. Khadse was hospitalised following a burning chest pain issue for the past two days, accompanied by fever and cough. He has a history of Diabetes Mellitus (DM), Hypertension (Ht), and had undergone a kidney transplant in 2013. The ECG showed T-wave inversion in the inferior leads, as well as changes in leads III and aVF. Cardiac markers were mildly elevated,” said a doctor from Gajanan hospital.
The senior NCP leader is conscious and stable. “The patient's hemodynamics remain stable, with a stable SPO2 level of 98 percent,” the doctor said.
Speaking with this newspaper, Mangesh Chivate, OSD (Officer on Special Duty) and in-charge of chief minister’s medical assistance cell, said that NCP state women president and daughter of Eknath Khadse, Rohini Khadse had requested the chief minister to arrange an air ambulance. Accordingly, the air ambulance has been arranged.
"The Air ambulance is expected to land at Jalgaon Airport at 8.30 PM. The Air Traffic Controller (ATC) from Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar has been arranged for Jalgaon Airport. The ATC reached Jalgaon around 7.30 PM. Mr. Khadse will be airlifted by the Air Ambulance from Jalgaon between 8.30 PM and 9.00 PM. Mr.Khadse is expected to land in Mumbai by 9.30 pm. He will be brought to Bombay hospital by 10.00 PM," said Mr. Chivate.
Mr. Khadse, who has been a veteran Maharashtra Politician, had joined Sharad Pawar led NCP in October 2020 due to differences with BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis. He had served the BJP for more than 40 years in the state. He was a heavyweight minister in the Devendra Fadnavis led government. The 71 year old leader, who hails from Jalgaon district in north Maharashtra, is a senior leader of OBC in state.
