Bismillah Khan rushed to hospital

Varanasi: Shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan's health took a turn for the worse on Thursday morning prompting his personal physician and family members to rush him to an advanced hospital for initial treatment.

Weakened by age-related health problems and his refusal to eat solid food for the last couple of days, the 91-year-old maestro was physically carried out of his residence at Haraha Sarai area in Varanasi and rushed to a private Heritage Hospital for treatment.

The District Magistrate Of Varanasi had given instructions to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Varanasi , Dr A P Singh about not taking chances in any case about Khan’s treatment.

A core team of five doctors was maintained headed by Singh along with Khan’s personal physician Dr Jaffery and they along with his family members decided to shift him to hospital for advanced treatment.

"He was a bit weak and hadn't eaten up anything from past two days so we decided to take him to the hospital. He is normal now and we hope he would be fine,” Nazim Khan, son of Bismillah Khan and tabla accompanist said.

The aged musician was shifted to a hospital after his health started deteriorating since morning so that doctors could watch over him round-the-clock.

However, the maestro had repeatedly expressed his reluctance and preferred being attended to by doctors at home.

He had refused solid food for the last two days was put on intra-venous drip by Jaffri to maintain his strength, Khan’s personal secretary Javed Ahmed said.

"He is getting back to normal and the team of doctors is examining him he is talking also and we hope he will soon play his shehnai,” Ahmed added.

Central as well as State Government are regularly instructing the administrative officers of Varanasi about taking intense care of Khan.

"He has deficiency of protein and calcium and his blood reports are also being diagnosed. He is weak due to old age but we hope that he will be fine sooner and we are taking care of him,” CMO, Singh said after examining Khan at the hospital.

The Shehnai maestro is like a gem for the people of Varanasi and his supporters rushed to his house and hospital to know about him.

Utpal Pathak in Varanasi.