Probe ordered into 1,499 abortions registered in Eluru district in 2025

Eluru district registered 1,499 abortions in 2025, according to the Medical and Health Department, and the Collector has ordered a probe into the incidents.

The district has 115 scanning centres, including 102 private diagnostic centres, said officials from the department at a recently held meeting to review the enforcement of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994.

District Collector K. Vetri Selvi directed the Police and the Medical and Health Department officials to take all steps for a stricter enforcement of the Act. “The sex ratio is 934:1,000 in Eluru district, which is alarming. Those violating the PCPNDT Act should be booked,” the Collector said.

Ms. Vetri Selvi directed the officers to deploy decoy parties and book those who perform scanning on pregnant women in violation of the Act.

She also told the Drug Control Administration (DCA) officers to keep a tab on medical shops and ensure that drugs are not sold without prescription.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a medical officer told The Hindu thatthe Medical and Health officers will investigate the abortions case-wise and submit a report. The officers will seek details such as the reason for abortion, where the scanning was performed, the month in which the pregnancy was aborted, the health condition of the mother and foetus by that time, whether the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021 was followed and other particulars.