Injured Uttar Pradesh minister recovering well

LUCKNOW - Uttar Pradesh Minister Nand Gopal Gupta alias Nandi, who was critically injured in a bomb blast in Allahabad, has been removed from life support system as his condition is better, an official said here Saturday.

Minister for Finance (Stamps and Registrations) Gupta is being treated at the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) here and was on life support since July 12.

“After examining the minister, who is now much better, doctors Friday night removed his life support system,” Director SGPGIMS R.K. Sharma told reporters here.

Meanwhile, after Gupta offered his resignation citing his ill health, Chief Minister Mayawati Friday handed over additional charge of his ministry to Minister for Mines and Cooperatives Babu Singh Kushwaha.

The bomb blast took place July 12 near the minister’s house in Mutthiganj area of Allahabad, around 200 km from here.

A man, Rakesh Malviya, 45, died on the spot, while five others, including the minister and a journalist were injured in the blast. The journalist, Vijay Pratap Singh, succumbed to his injuries Tuesday while being treated in a hospital in Delhi.