Jaga-Kalia return delayed due to diff of opinion between two

Odisha government Tuesday said the return of Jaga and Kalia -- the conjoined twins who were separated after surgery two years ago -- from New Delhi to Odisha is getting delayed due to differences of opinion between two hospitals. The twins hailing from Kandhamal district are under the treatment of a team of specialists at AIIMS, New Delhi since their separation in a marathon surgery in October 2017.

The authorities there said the two children, who were joined in the head, should be shifted to the AIIMS in Bhubaneswar, but it is yet to give its nod in this regard, state Health and Family Welfare Minister Naba Kisore Das said. "We are ready to make arrangements for the return of Jaga and Kalia, but the delay is due to differences of opinion between the directors of the AIIMS in New Delhi and Bhubaneswar," Das told reporters here.

The children's father Bhuyan Kanhar recently alleged that the state government, which had sanctioned Rs 1 crore from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for the twins' treatment, is not taking steps for their return. He said, "The AIIMS, New Delhi, says the children will stay in AIIMS, Bhubaneswar. But the Bhubaneswar facility is yet to give permission. The delay is mostly due to this." After a state government delegation visited the two in June, a senior government official had said Jaga and Kalia were likely to return to Odisha in mid-July as the doctors of New Delhi have declared the twins are "clinically well" and do not need ICU care.

The twins' parents said they have been staying at the AIIMS, New Delhi since July 2017 leaving their old parents and two other children at their Milipada village in Kandhamal district and are waiting to return. Kanhar, however, expressed his gratitude towards Odisha government saying the state government has done a lot for us and is still helping..