Udaipur: 

Former Union Minister Girija Vyas sustained burn injuries while worshipping at her Udaipur residence on Monday. She was rushed to a private hospital, which referred her to Ahmedabad after first aid.

"She was worshipping at the home temple today (Monday) on the occasion of Gangaur festival. Her condition is stated to be stable," he said.

"I went out of the house to offer water to the sun god. When I came back, I saw her clothes had caught fire. I tried to extinguish the fire with water and a towel," Banshi said.

Hitanshi Sharma, a family member, said the entire family was doing puja for Gangaur. After its completion, everyone returned to their rooms, but Vyas was doing her daily puja when her clothes caught fire from the lamp. "She was rushed to a private hospital in Udaipur, from where she was referred to Ahmedabad. Her health is said to be stable now," Sharma said.

Her brother, Gopal Krishna Verma, said she was worshipping at her residence as usual on Monday while her dupatta caught fire from a lamp. Hearing her voice, a house staff member, Banshi, rushed to the spot and tried to extinguish the fire.

Rajasthan Congress leaders wished Vyas a speedy recovery. Former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot wrote on X, "Worrying news has been received about the accident of former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Dr. Girija Vyas ji during Gangaur puja. I pray to God for your speedy recovery."

Opposition leader Tika Ram Jully also prayed for her speedy recovery. "The news of former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Smt. Girija Vyas getting burnt in a fire while performing Gangaur Puja is worrying. I pray to Almighty God for the speedy recovery of Girija Vyas ji," he shared on X

Vyas has also been the president of the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) and the national president of the Women's Commission. She is the chief editor of Sandesh Patrka, the mouthpiece of the All India Congress Committee (AICC).

She was a member of the Rajasthan legislative assembly and held the portfolio of the Minister of State for Tourism from 1986 to 1990. Vyas was also a member of the AICC since 1990 and was elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time in 1991 from Udaipur. She was the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting from 1991 to 1993.

She was elected the president of the All India Mahila Congress in 1993 and was elected to the 11th Lok Sabha in 1996 and the 13th Lok Sabha in 1999. She was also the Congress Chief Whip in the Lok Sabha and the AICC media in charge.

Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra wrote, "Worrying news has been received about former Union Minister Dr. Girija Vyas ji being burnt in a fire. I pray to God for his speedy recovery."

Read More : 

India Marks Significant Reduction Of Childhood Mortality And Stillbirth