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Bismillah refuses hospital treatment

Varanasi/Lucknow: Shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan, who is indisposed and has been put on a fluid diet by his family doctor, has refused to be moved to a hospital.

The Ustad's family doctor Nadim Jafri issued a medical statement in the holy city which attributed his ill health to age- related fatigue. ``He is fine after being put on a drip...since he is not taking anything orally for the past three days, medicines are being administered through I V lines,'' it read.

The doctor claimed though the health condition of the Bharat Ratna awardee could improve fast if he was shifted to a hospital, the maestro has expressed unwillingness to leave his Harha Sarai home. ``He wants to die in Kashi (Varanasi),'' the doctor said quoting the 92-year-old. The shehnai exponent's son Kazim Hussain told UNI here that the Ustad has been put on a glucose drip. ``He has not taken any solid diet for the past 15 days...on the whole his condition is stable,'' he said.

The Shehnai exponent could be shifted to a hospital either in this holy city or the State capital if his condition deteriorates, his son said.

A large number of well-wishers had gathered at his residence here following reports that he was hospitalised.

``He is at home and has not been hospitalised,'' Hussain clarified. Meanwhile, in the State capital Chief Secretary N. C. Bajpai told reporters the Varanasi administration has been asked to ensure that the maestro was provided with the best possible medical care.

``The district administration would decide whether to shift him to a hospital...he could also be brought to Lucknow if required,'' he added. UNI

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