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Wed, 14 April 2021
Over 500 fall ill in Delhi after eating flour
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23:49 Over 500 fall ill in Delhi after eating adulterated flour
Over 500 people have fallen sick in different parts of east Delhi after eating food prepared with buckwheat (kuttu) flour, officials said on Wednesday.
It prima facie appears to be a case of food adulteration or sale of spoiled flour, they said.
A case has been registered against the owner of a general store in Kalyanpuri area in connection with the incident, Deputy Commissioner of Police (east) Deepak Yadav said.
Around 526 people were reportedly admitted to hospitals.
They complained of uneasiness, stomach ache and vomiting after they ate food prepared using 'kuttu' flour to break their 'Navratri' fast on Tuesday, a senior East Delhi district official said.
"We visited the area and Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital, where many such people were admitted. All of them except four-five people have been discharged," he said.
Reports of people falling ill were received from Kalyanpuri, Trilokpuri and other areas, another official said.
"Around 540 people came to our hospital since last midnight, complaining mainly of stomach ache and vomiting. Most of them had light to moderate ailment, so were sent home after giving medical aid," a senior official of the LBS Hospital said.
A few were put on intravenous drip, but none needed admission, he said.
"Hundreds of people had started coming to the hospital since midnight only, about 400 by morning and then the number swelled to over 500 by afternoon," he added.
A case under sections 273 (sale of noxious food or drink), 284 (negligent conduct with respect to poisonous substance) and 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered at Kalyanpuri police station against the proprietor of Bunty General Store, DCP Yadav said.
Bunty (31), a resident of Trilokpuri and proprietor of the store, has been arrested, the DCP said.
In a similar incident, six members of a family from ward number 2 of Mehrauli were hospitalised in the early hours of Wednesday after consuming buckwheat flour, the police said.
Information was received that the family had been admitted to Fortis Hospital, they said.
During inquiry, it was found that one Raghuvinder Kumar had purchased buckwheat flour from a shop named Raghubir Son and Sons, Mehrauli, on Tuesday. He and his family consumed it around 10 pm, a senior police officer said.
Later, they felt uneasy and started vomiting. They went to Fortis Hospital around 3 am and were discharged in the morning. The family is back home now, the police said.
A case has been registered against the owner of Raghubir Son and Sons, they said.
"The case under sections 273, 284 and 337 of the IPC has been registered at Mehrauli police station on the basis of a complaint received from Raghuvinder Kumar. Further investigation continues," Deputy Commissioner of Police (south) Atul Kumar Thakur said.
No such complaint was received from any other customer who bought the flour from Raghubir Son and Sons. The food and adulteration department is also looking into the matter, he said. -- PTI
22:58 Govt committed to ensure adequate availability of vaccines: PM
Asserting that the government is committed to ensuring adequate availability of COVID-19 vaccines, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday called for harnessing the combined power of community groups, political parties and NGOs in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Interacting with governors and lieutenant governors of all states and union territories through video conference, Modi urged them to actively engage in ensuring that social institutions collaborate seamlessly with state governments.
Modi said the feeling of "Janbhagidari" (people's participation) that was seen in curbing the virus last year needed to encouraged now as well and added the role of governors becomes all the more critical to achieving this.
Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Home Minister Amit Shah and Health Minister Harsh Vardhan also participated in the virtual interaction on the issue of the COVID-19 situation and ongoing vaccination drive in the country and it took place amid an astronomical rise in the COVID infections across the country in the last few weeks that has seen India gallop past its last year peak with a number of states reporting new highs daily.
In his comments, Modi asserted that the government is committed to ensuring adequate availability of vaccines and highlighted that India has become the fastest nation to reach the landmark of 10 crore vaccinations.
Noting the positive impact of "tika utsav" (vaccination festival) in the last four days, he said that in this period, the vaccination drive was expanded and new vaccination centres also came up.
"Modi suggested that governors can actively engage to ensure that social institutions collaborate seamlessly with the state governments towards micro containment. He said their social network can help ensure an increase in the capacity of ambulances, ventilators and oxygen in hospitals. Along with spreading the message about vaccination and treatment, governors can also spread awareness about AYUSH-related remedies," an official statement said.
The prime minister noted that youths being our workforce are an important part of the economy, and said it is important to ensure that they follow all protocols and precautions.
Governors' role is also critical in ensuring the greater engagement of our students in university campuses towards this "Janbhagidari".
There is a need to focus on better utilization of facilities at university and college campuses, he said, adding that like the last year NCC and NSS have a key role to play this year as well.
"Governors are an important pillar of Janbhagidari in this battle and their coordination with state governments and guidance to the institutions of state will further strengthen the nation's resolve," he said.
Discussing the rise in the cases, Modi said the country stands to gain from the last year's experience and improved healthcare capacity.
The country has become "aatmanirbhar" (self-reliant) in kits and other material related to testing, he asserted, adding that this has led to a reduction in the cost of RTPCR tests also.
Most of the products related to testing are also available on the GeM (Government e-Marketplace) portal.
"The prime minister emphasized the significance of increasing tracking, tracing and testing, and said that RTPCR testing needs to be increased from 60 per cent to 70 per cent. He said that it is pertinent to ensure that more and more people get tested," the statement said.
During the interaction, Naidu appreciated the prime minister for leading the fight against COVID-19 and his proactive steps to develop the infrastructure required to tackle the pandemic.
He also highlighted the scientific community's contribution in giving a vaccine to India and the whole world.
The Vice President called upon the governors to bring up a coordinated front by leading all-party meetings in their respective states and engaging with civil society organisations to spread awareness about Covid-appropriate behaviour.
He said that a 'Team India spirit' cutting across policy lines should be adopted, and in this regard, governors as the 'Guardians of the State' could guide the state governments.
Union Home Minister stressed the importance of saving each and every life.
Union Health Secretary gave a presentation on COVID-19 cases and vaccination drive, providing an overview of how India has followed a proactive and preemptive approach in this endeavour.
The governors shared details of how their respective states are tackling the spread of the virus and coordinating activities towards ensuring a smooth implementation of the vaccination drive, while also mentioning the deficiencies of healthcare facilities in the states.
They gave suggestions for further improvement in the efforts and shared plans of how 'Janbhagidari' can be increased through the active social engagement of various groups. -- PTI
22:28 No e-pass needed for movement during Maha curbs
Maharashtra's in-charge DGP Sanjay Pandey on Wednesday said that no e-pass is required to be obtained for the movement of vehicles during the coronavirus-induced restrictions imposed in the state.
He said that only those vehicles that are involved in emergency services and those private vehicles that come out with a valid reason are allowed to operate during the restrictions.
Asking the people to cooperate with the government machinery in the fight against COVID-19 by not stepping out of their houses during the curbs, he said the police personnel should not penalise or lathi charge if any person comes out on the street with a valid reason of essential or emergency work.
He was addressing a press conference for the first time after taking over additional charge of the state Director General of Police (DGP). He was given the additional charge last week.
The Maharashtra government on Tuesday announced severe, curfew-like restrictions on public movement over the next 15 days across the state to curb the COVID-19 surge.
"This is a war against the virus and we have to win it by following the guidelines issued by the government to prevent its spread and by helping the authorities, who are on the streets for common citizens," Pandey said.
If someone comes out on the street despite being aware of the strict implementation of the prohibitory orders, then there must be some urgency for him. In that case, the police should help such a person, he said.
"There are clear instructions that there should not be any hurdles created for those persons, who are out for essential and emergency work. They should not be penalised," Pandey said.
The police personnel should not lathi charge such persons and they should get proper assistance, he said.
"But if anyone is found coming out without any valid or proper reason despite the instructions, then stern action will be taken against the violator," he said.
There is no requirement for e-pass for essential and emergency services and for the private vehicles that come out on the streets during the restrictions with a valid reason, he said.
"We had requested the government not to implement e-pass system. Accordingly, there is no requirement of e-pass for travel," he said.
During the coronavirus-induced lockdown last year, people were required to carry e-pass for travel in vehicles.
Pandey said that all the grocery shops will be open during the period of restrictions and all kind of public transport is also operational, he said.
Police and all the frontline workers are fighting this war for the safety of citizens, he said, adding, "We need their cooperation and they only have only to stay at home." -- PTI
22:07 Remdesivir no life-saving drug in COVID-19: Maha task force
Expressing concern over the panic created by the shortage of Remdesivir, an anti-viral drug, Maharashtra's COVID-19 task force has said that it was not a life-saving medicine in coronavirus treatment, and strongly
advised against its "rampant and irrational abuse".
The task force also suggested that medical oxygen should be used judiciously during the coronavirus pandemic.
The task force, headed by Dr Sanjay Oak, made these observations in the advisory it issued after its meeting held on Monday.
Remdesivir is not a life-saving drug in coronavirus and it is helpful during the second to ninth day of illness and not thereafter, it said.
"It only arrests the replication of the virus and therefore reduces the hospital stay and convalescence of the patient by one-two days. This leads to a reduction inthe hospital stay by two days at the most. It is possible to save
patients even without Remedesivir," the task force said in the advisory.
It added that though it would like to leave the decision to use the drug to the discretion of the treating doctor, it strongly advises against the rampant, irrational abuse of this drug.
It urged the state government to issue guidelines to hospitals to suspend all their routine work that consumes oxygen.
"Cancel all routine surgeries and routine admissions to hospitals. This will save a significant amount of oxygen," the advisory reads.
The task force asked that oxygen audit committees be formed in hospitals to regulate the oxygen usage.
It also asked the hospitals to change the target oxygen saturation level to 93 per cent to 95 per cent. -- PTI
21:49 UP government hiding coronavirus numbers, alleges Priyanka
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday accused the Uttar Pradesh government of hiding coronavirus numbers and said had they been cautious from day one, people would not have witnessed such times.
Priyanka said this speaking to state party leaders during a virtual meeting.
"The situation in Uttar Pradesh is on the verge of being the most explosive while the state government is constantly hiding the data. Had the government been cautious since the first day of the coronavirus pandemic, people would not have seen such days. The government has consistently hidden the number of infections and deaths," she alleged.
"There is no system and plan of the government to deal with coronavirus and control it," she said, accusing the state government of having a "failed, insensitive and irresponsible system" amid the infection spread.
She said from a letter of state minister Brijesh Pathak, it is clear that testing is not being done in hospitals.
Between April 5 and 11, while coronavirus cases increased by 70 per cent in the country, in Uttar Pradesh, infections have risen by 281 per cent, she said.
"Of 24 crore population of the state, not even 1 crore people have been vaccinated," she added.
The Congress leader claimed that the situation is such that queues of bodies can be seen in Lucknow and there is a shortage of wood at crematoriums for the last rites.
"The common man of the state is helpless to perform the last rites of his family in a dignified manner. People are cremating their loved ones in crematoriums and cemeteries from morning till late night," she said.
Priyanka said her party stands with people of the state and committed to support them in every way.
The Congress leader demanded proper oxygen arrangements in state hospitals and said test reports should be provided within 24 hours.
Besides, she also demanded increasing RT-PCR testing, providing beds for treatment, a package of financial assistance from the government for poor victims, complete arrangements for the last rites of dead and to speed up the vaccination campaign. -- PTI
21:48 Delhi records massive jump of 17,282 Covid cases
Delhi recorded 17,282 fresh cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, the highest single-day surge in the national capital since the onset of the pandemic, while over 100 fatalities were reported, according to data shared by the health department.
As per the latest bulletin, 104 new fatalities were recorded, pushing the death toll to 11,540.
These record new positive cases came out of record 1.08 lakh tests conducted the previous day, the bulletin said, adding, the positivity rate mounted to 15.92 per cent.
The highest single-day spike in Delhi till the third wave of the pandemic -- 8,593 cases -- was reported on November 11 in 2020, while on November 18, the city had recorded 131 COVID-19 deaths, the highest single-day fatality count till date.
The positivity rate mid-November last year had stood above 15 per cent.
Reeling under the fourth wave of COVID-19, the national capital on Tuesday had recorded 13,468 cases and 81 deaths due to the infection, giving it the dubious distinction of being the worst-affected city in the county.
On Tuesday, the positivity rate rose to 13.14 percent from 12.44 percent a day ago.
A total of 1,08,534 tests, including 73,915 RT-PCR tests and 34,619 rapid antigen tests, were conducted a day ago, according to the latest health bulletin.
The number of cumulative cases as on Wednesday stood at 7,67,438. Over 7.05 lakh patients have recovered from the virus.
The number of active cases stood at 50,736, as per the bulletin. -- PTI
20:55 Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan discharged from hospital
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who tested positive for COVID-19 on April 8,was discharged from the Government Medical College at Kozhikode on Wednesday.
A medical bulletin said the chief minister was admitted on April 8 with positive Covid report.
"He is asymptomatic and has tested Covid negative," it said.
In a Facebook post after his discharge, Vijayan said the doctors and staff had provided the best possible care to him.
"Have returned home as I have been discharged after being cured from COVID-19. The doctors and staff of Kozhikode Medical College provided the best possible care. The people of the state have given huge support," the Chief Minister said and thanked everyone.
Vijayan, the Communist Party of India-Marxist candidate from Dharmadam in Kannur, had travelled extensively throughout the state during the campaign for the April 6 assembly polls.
He had also participated in a road show at Dharmadam on the last day of the campaign. -- PTI
20:52 Mumbai reports 9,925 new COVID-19 cases
Mumbai on Wednesday recorded 9,925 new COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 5,44,942, while 54 more patients succumbed to the infection, the city civic body said.
The daily case tally shot up in the financial capital after remaining below 8,000 for the last two days.
On Monday, the city had witnessed 6,905 COVID-19 cases followed by 7,898 on Tuesday.
According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's updated data, 9,925 new cases pushed the COVID-19 tally to 5,44,942, while 54 fresh deaths took the toll to 12,140.
On Tuesday, Mumbai had recorded 26 fatalities.
As per the update, 9,273 more patients were discharged from hospitals during the day, taking the number of recovered persons to 4,44,214.
With this, Mumbai now has 87,443 active cases, the BMC said.
The civic body said 56,266 tests for detection of coronavirus were conducted in the last 24 hours, raising the number of samples examined so far to 47,55,733.
The city's COVID-19 recovery rate stood at 81 per cent, while the case growth rate was 1.71 per cent, the data showed.
The current doubling rate of cases in the city was 40 days.
According to the BMC, at present Mumbai has 90 containment zones in slums and 'chawls' (old multi-storeyed row tenements), while 995 buildings have been sealed. -- PTI
20:44 Reuters names Alessandra Galloni as new editor-in-chief
Alessandra Galloni has been named by Reuters as its next editor-in-chief, the first woman to lead the globe-spanning news agency in its 170-year history.
'A native of Rome, Galloni, 47, will replace Stephen J Adler, who is retiring this month after leading the newsroom for the past decade. Under his leadership, Reuters has received hundreds of journalism awards, including seven Pulitzer Prizes, the industry's highest honor,' Reuters announced.
Galloni, a speaker of four languages, has broad experience covering business and political news at Reuters and previously at the Wall Street Journal, the global news agency said.
20:44 Campaigning for fifth phase of Bengal elections ends
Campaigning for the fifth phase of the West Bengal assembly elections to 45 seats ended on Wednesday.
The campaigning ended at 6.30 pm, while polling is scheduled to be held on April 17. The Election Commission increased the silence period from 48 to 72 hours in view of the Cooch Behar killings in the fourth phase.
A total of 1.13 crore voters are eligible to cast their votes to decide the fate of 342 candidates, including Siliguri Mayor and Left Front leader Ashok Bhattacharya, state minister Bratya Basu and BJP's Samik Bhattacharya.
Polling will be held from 7 am to 6.30 pm at 15,789 polling stations in 16 assembly seats in North 24 Parganas, eight each in Purba Bardhaman and Nadia, seven in Jalpaiguri, five Darjeeling and one in Kalimpong district.
In view of the Cooch Behar killings, in which four people were killed in CISF firing and one man was shot dead by unidentified persons outside a booth in Sitalkuchi, the EC has decided to deploy at least 853 companies of central forces to ensure free and fair voting, an election official said.
The BJP's star campaigners including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, party chief J P Nadda and actor Mithun Chakraborty had addressed several rallies in the region, attacking the TMC over corruption charges.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee, on the other hand, attacked the Centre over fuel price rise.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also addressed rallies in the state on Saturday.
The BJP led in more assembly seats than the TMC in the region in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
The TMC had won 32 seats in the 2016 assembly polls, the Left-Congress alliance 10, while the BJP had drawn a blank.
Votes polled in the eight-phase assembly elections being held from March 27 to April 29 will be counted on May 2. -- PTI
India sends Covishield to Bhutan
20:38 Tiny Bhutans mega Covid vaccine rollout
'When plotted on a graph, the curve of Bhutan's COVID-19 vaccination drive shoots upwards from the very first day, crossing Israel, the United States, Bahrain and other countries known for vaccinating people rapidly,' reports Associated Press.
'The tiny Himalayan kingdom wedged between India and China has vaccinated nearly 93% of its adult population since March 27. Overall, the country has vaccinated 62% of its 800,000 people, and the rapid rollout of the vaccine puts the tiny nation just behind Seychelles, which has given jabs to 66% of its population of nearly 100,000 people,' AP says, here.
20:35 CBI quizzes ex-Maha HM Anil Deshmukh for 8 hours
Former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh was on Wednesday questioned for eight hours by the Central Bureau of Investigation conducting the preliminary enquiry on orders of the Bombay high court in connection with the allegations of corruption raised against him by former Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh, an official said.
Deshmukh denied the allegations raised against him by Singh during questioning and told the officers that they were an attempt to malign the image of the state government, sources said.
The senior Nationalist Congress Party leader reached the DRDO guest house in suburban Santacruz, where a team of the Central Bureau of Investigation is camping, around 10 am, the official said, adding the questioning ended for the day around 6 pm.
"The ex-home minister was questioned by SP-rank officers for eight hours," he said.
Though his questioning ended at 6 pm, Deshmukh is still inside the DRDO guest house, they said.
It is not clear whether Deshmukh is called by the CBI for another round of questioning on Thursday.
The CBI on Monday issued a notice calling Deshmukh to join the agency's probe into the allegations levelled against him by Singh and suspended police officer Sachin Waze, who was arrested by the National Investigation Agency.
After his removal as Mumbai police commissioner last month, Singh wrote a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray saying Deshmukh had set the target to some police officers, including Waze, to collect Rs 100 crore per month from bars and restaurants.
Deshmukh had denied the allegations.
Waze, an assistant police inspector, is currently investigated by the NIA in connection with the recovery of an explosive-laden SUV found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence in south Mumbai on February 25 and the subsequent murder of Mansukh Hiran, the purported owner of that vehicle. -- PTI
Cops conduct a march in Sangli
20:21 Stricter curbs come into force in Maharashtra
The tough new measures announced by the Maharashtra government for the next 15 days to break the COVID-19 transmission chain and curb the rising cases came into force on Wednesday night.
The "lockdown-like" restrictions, which exclude essential services, became operational at 8 pm and will remain in force till 7 am on May 1.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, in his address via social media to the people of the state on Tuesday night, had announced the sweeping restrictions, curtailing the movement of people and non-essential activities, to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the country's worst-hit state.
Section 144 of CrPC, prohibiting assembly of five or more people at one spot, will be in force during the period, Thackeray had said, but refrained from terming the new curbs as a lockdown.
All essential services, including medical stores, hospitals, supply of medicines, among others will remain operational, according to a government notification.
The local transport, including Mumbai's suburban trains, will function only for personnel involved in essential services, it said.
Activities such as the ongoing vaccination drive, oxygen production, home delivery of food, operation of e-commerce firms, work at construction sites with residential facility and industrial units, where accommodation or
transportation of personnel is available, will also remain unaffected, the notification said.
All banking and financial services, the RBI and its affiliated offices, insurance offices and pre-monsoon works will operate as usual.
However, there will be a complete ban on religious, social, cultural and political functions in the state till May 1, the notification said.
The number of participants at marriage and funeral has been capped at 25 and 20, respectively.
Barber shops, saloons, spas, schools, colleges, coaching classes, beaches, clubs, swimming pools, gyms, drama theatres and cinema halls will remain shut during the next 15 days, according to the notification.
Though roadside eateries are allowed to operate during the period, buyers can not consume food on the street and only takeaway will be available, it said.
The chief minister had also announced a financial package of Rs 5,476 crore for vulnerable sections of the society to cushion the the adverse impact of the new curbs. -- PTI
19:51 Climate change is making Indian monsoon chaotic: Study
Climate change will make summer monsoon rainfall in India stronger and more erratic, according to a study that predicts extremely wet years in the future, with potentially grave consequences for over a billion people's well-being, economy, food systems and agriculture.
The study, published in the journal Earth System Dynamics, compared more than 30 state-of-the-art climate models from all around the world.
"We have found robust evidence for an exponential dependence: For every degree Celsius of warming, monsoon rainfalls will likely increase by about 5 per cent," said study lead author Anja Katzenberger from the Potsdam-Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany.
"Hereby we were also able to confirm previous studies but find that global warming is increasing monsoon rainfall in India even more than previously thought. It is dominating monsoon dynamics in the 21st century," Katzenberger said.
The researchers noted that more rainfall is not necessarily a good thing for the farming sector in India and its neighbouring countries.
"Crops need water especially in the initial growing period, but too much rainfall during other growing states can harm plants -- including rice on which the majority of India's population is depending for sustenance," said study co-author Julia Pongratz from Ludwig-Maximilian University in Germany.
"This makes the Indian economy and food system highly sensitive to volatile monsoon patterns," said Pongratz.
A look into the past underlines that human behaviour is behind the intensification of rainfall, according to the researchers.
Starting in the 1950s, human-made forcings have begun to overtake slow natural changes occurring over many millennia, they said.
At first, high sun-light blocking aerosol loadings led to subdued warming and thus a decline in rainfall.
However, from 1980 onwards, greenhouse gas-induced warming has become the deciding driver for stronger and more erratic Monsoon seasons. -- PTI
19:44 Talks of 'relief' and 'anxiety' as board exam schedules derailed by COVID surge
While class 10 students heaved a sigh of relief after their board exams were cancelled in view of the surge in COVID-19 cases, those in class 12 say the postponement of their papers will add to the anxiety about their future study plans.
Delayed college admissions, hampered plans to study abroad and uncertainty on when will the exams be finally conducted are among the questions on the mind of class 12 students and parents.
The CBSE on Wednesday cancelled class 10 board exams and deferred class 12 exams in view of the surge in coronavirus cases. While the situation will be reviewed in June for conducting class 12 papers, the result for class 10 will be declared on basis of an objective criteria to be decided by the board.
The exams were scheduled to begin from May 4.
"They should have either cancelled the exams or left the schedule intact. Now again it's going to be a vicious cycle of endless wait for exams and future plans including college admissions," said Nitika Sethi, a class 12 student in the national capital.
Tridip Gohain, a class 10 student said, "I am glad they chose to cancel the exams and not postpone it. Now at least the mental pressure is off. My class 11 studies have already begun, I can now concentrate on that."
A class 12 student, who did not wish to be identified, said, "I had plans to study abroad but the delay in class 12 exams and subsequently the delayed results will hamper it. I have written to the universities I have applied to check if they can accommodate late results."
Tiya Gupta, a class 10 student, said, "I am quite satisfied with this decision of CBSE to cancel 10 board exams. Every year, the board exams of class 10 students are over by this time of the year, but this year due to COVID-19, board examinations were being postponed which had left many students worried."
"Fear and anxiety were making a huge impact on our studies. The second thing was the growing cases of Covid-19. In the minds of our parents, there was a fear that in such a situation, how children would write their papers."
The Delhi Parents Association welcomed the decision, saying class 12 exams are crucial and it is better they are conducted.
"Class 10 exams are not as high-stakes as Class 12 papers. Hence, we were demanding that the class 10 exams be cancelled. Class 12 exams are crucial exams and should be conducted anyhow,� said Aprajita Gautam, the President of Delhi Parents Association.
"It's unfortunate students have to undergo more anxiety but unprecedented times require unprecedented decisions."
Ashoka Agarwal, President, All India Parents Association, said, "The CBSE must have taken decision keeping students' interest in mind. Therefore, we welcome this decision."
19:01 Govt approves stepping up of Remdesivir production
The issue of availability of Remdesivir was reviewed by Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State For Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Chemicals and Fertilizers, in meetings with all existing manufacturers of the Remdesivir drug and other stakeholders on April 12 and 13 where decisions have been taken to increase production/supply and reduce prices of Remdesivir.
"The current total installed capacity of the seven manufacturers of Remdesivir is 38.80 lakh vials per month. Now fast-track approval has been given for the monthly production of around 80 lakh vials," Mandaviya told ANI.
"As an additional measure, Remdesivir, API and formulation were placed under the export ban from April 11 by DGFT to increase the supply of Remdesivir in the domestic market. On government intervention, Remdesivir supplies of approximately four lakh vials meant for export is being diverted by manufacturers to fulfill the domestic requirement," the Union Minister further said.
"EOU/SEZ units are also being enabled to supply to the domestic market. Manufacturers of Remdesivir have volunteered to reduce the price to less than Rs 3,500 by the end of this week to support the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fight against COVID-19," Mandaviya said.
18:21 SARS-CoV-2 alters lung cell metabolism: Study
A model has been developed by Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur researchers predicting alteration in metabolic reaction rates of lung cells post SARS-CoV-2 infection.
The research would lead to a better understanding of metabolic reprogramming and aid the development of better therapeutics to deal with the viral pandemics, an institute spokesperson said on Wednesday.
The spokesperson said researchers at IIT Kharagpur have, for the first time, reported such a method to find an alteration in metabolic reaction rates inside lung cells when they are affected by virus/pathogens.
As the method finds and reports critical aspects of physiology, which are affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection, it will definitely enable the discovery of therapeutic targets.
"We have used the gene expression of normal human bronchial cells infected with SARS-CoV-2 along with the macromolecular make-up of the virus to create this integrated genome-scale metabolic model. The growth rate predicted by the model showed a very high agreement with experimentally and clinically reported effects of SARS-CoV-2," said Dr Amit Ghosh, Assistant Professor, School of Energy Science and Engineering, IIT Kharagpur.
The findings are significant as scientists have been trying to extract information from the human genome sequences for the past two decades to gather a better understanding of genetic disorders.
Talking about this new development another researcher Piyush Nanda (currently a graduate student at Harvard University) said, "In this model, we have explored how metabolism works and how it is altered in diseases. Our work involved measuring how the tens of thousands or more complex chemical reactions change when biological cells are intruded on by an uninvited guest like SARS-CoV-2, which would help improve our understanding of diseases."
Using the power of genomics the researchers posed the operation of reactions as a set of mathematical equations and solved it to obtain which reactions are altered in the cells when SARS-CoV-2 infects a person.
"A better understanding of metabolic reprogramming would aid in the design of better therapeutics to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic," said Nanda.
Further, the researchers have identified pathways like fatty acid synthesis and lipid metabolism that can be targeted by novel drugs. This model is based on context-specific metabolic models. -- PTI
18:17 Delhi's 69 out of 94 Covid ICU beds with ventilators fully occupied
Amid an unprecedented surge in coronavirus cases in the national capital, COVID-19 ICU beds with ventilators are fully occupied in 69 of 94 hospitals with such facilities and only 79 beds are vacant, according to data shared on an official app on Wednesday.
According to the Delhi Corona App till about 2 PM, in 75 of the 110 hospitals, all COVID-19 ICU beds without ventilators had patients.
Out of 1,177 COVID ICU beds with ventilators, only 79 were vacant, while 348 out of 2,130 COVID ICU beds without ventilators were vacant, according to the app.
Also, out of the total 13,680 beds, 9,041 were occupied.
Reeling under the fourth wave of COVID-19, the national capital on Tuesday recorded the highest-ever spike of 13,468 cases and 81 deaths due to the infection, giving it the dubious distinction of being the worst-affected city in the county.
The highest single-day spike till now was in Mumbai at 9,986 cases, followed by Bengaluru (6,387 cases), Chennai (2,105 cases) and Kolkata ( 1,271 cases).
On Tuesday, the positivity rate rose to 13.14 percent from 12.44 percent a day ago.
The 81 deaths in Delhi were the highest since December 3 when 82 deaths were recorded. The national capital had recorded 131 COVID-19 deaths on November 18, the highest single-day fatality count.
From April 4 to April 13, Delhi has recorded 77,775 COVID-19 cases, witnessing a massive rise of 234 percent. During the same period, 376 people have died due to the disease. -- PTI
18:14 Air passengers to WB asked to undergo RT-PCR test
The West Bengal government on Wednesday issued a directive to air passengers coming to the state from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Telegana to carry reports of their RT-PCR negative status conducted 72
hours before boarding the flights, a senior official said.
The directive was given in view of the surge in coronavirus cases in the country, mostly in the four states, he added.
"The test has to be carried out 72 hours prior to the passenger's departure for Bengal. There is no provision of getting the test done on arrival. The rule also applies for flights departing from the four states mentioned and are bound for Bagdogra and Andal (both in West Beengal) ," he added.
Bengal joins 10 other states that have imposed similar restriction, the official said. -- PTI
18:09 Cong always striving towards achieving Ambedkar's path: Sonia
Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday said her party is always striving towards achieving the path shown by Bhim Rao Ambedkar of building a strong nation where every citizen progresses without discrimination.
Paying rich tributes to Ambedkar on his 130th birth anniversary, she said the Congress has always emphasised on the establishment of an egalitarian society.
"Today, when the thinking of conservatism and discrimination is trying to weaken the society, the Congress party is always conscious that every section of the country should progress equally and without discrimination, we all together build a strong nation. This is the unshakable path of Babasaheb," she said in her message.
"Congress party is always conscious that every section of the country should progress equally and without discrimination, we all together build a strong nation. This is the unshakable path of Babasaheb," she said.
"In accordance with Baba Saheb's ideals, the Congress party has always emphasised the establishment of an egalitarian society in the country and waged a decisive struggle against centuries of discrimination, untouchability and inequality.
"Today if even the weakest person in the margins of society can reach the highest position of the country in a democratic manner, then this is our biggest achievement in 73 years and is a true tribute to Baba Saheb's dreams and aspirations," the Congress chief said. -- PTI
17:12 Neighbouring states can't supply oxygen to Maha
Maharashtra has approached neighbouring states for medical oxygen supply amid the COVID-19 surge, but they have expressed their inability due to its high demand there, Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Wednesday. Talking to reporters, Tope said Maharashtra will have to reduce the wastage of medical oxygen as it is in high demand now. Medical-grade oxygen is used for the treatment of critical COVID-19 patients and in other cases of respiratory diseases.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday said there is a shortage of medical oxygen and the Centre should help supply it for coronavirus patients in the state by using Air Force planes.
On Wednesday, Tope said, "We have approached all the neighbouring states like Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat to supply oxygen for medical purpose, but owing to their own rising demand, these states have expressed their inability to supply oxygen.
"Hence, Maharashtra needs to reduce its wastage and work on fixing its leakages (wherever found)," he said.
On Monday, Tope said plants in Maharashtra are producing 1,200 metric tonnes of oxygen per day and the entire stock is being used for medical purposes in view of the rising COVID-19 cases. The demand is expected to go up to 1,500 to 1,600 metric tonnes every day, state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Minister Rajendra Shingne said on Tuesday.
17:07 Celebrating Anil Dharker
Columnist, editor and writer Anil Dharker who passed away on March 26, was also founder and festival director of Literature Live.
His friends, colleagues and associates will hold a condolence meet, a digital one, amid Covid times, on April 17, where they will share stories and anecdotes about the man who meant so much to so many.
Mr Dharker would never have wanted a condolence meet, so its being a called a 'gathering of friends' and paying tribute will be Gerson D'Cunha, Shobhaa De, Nandita Das, Shashi Tharoor, among others.
Click on this link to join a celebration of a life well lived.
16:55 Cold chain for Sputnik V in place: Reddy's
Dr Reddy's Laboratories is in the process of generating additional stability data for Russia's COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V, which has a storage condition of -18C, on 2 to 8 C, a senior official of the drug maker said on Wednesday.
Deepak Sapra, Dr Reddys Chief Executive Officer, API and Services said in a press conference that the vaccine will be imported in a frozen condition from Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) with which it has an agreement to distribute 125 million human doses ( 250 million vials) in India, maintaining -18 to -22. The doses will be kept outside for 15-20 minutes before being administered to the people.
"In addition to the product which is at -18C, today we are in the process of generating additional stability data on the 2 to 8C temperature range. This data will be available in a few months, after which we will make the necessary amendment request to the regulator and request for the storage condition to be modified to 2 to 8C," Sapra told reporters.
He said necessary cold storage infrastructure is in place to distribute Sputnik V vaccine in India, which will be available during the current quarter.
Dr Reddys Laboratories on Tuesday said it has received approval from Indian drug regulator for restricted emergency use of COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik in the country.
The company has received the permission from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to import the Sputnik vaccine into India for restricted use in emergency situations as per the provisions of the New Drug and Clinical Trials rules, 2019 under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, Dr Reddys had said in a regulatory filing.
16:12 320 doses of Covaxin go missing in Jaipur
In Rajasthan, 320 doses of COVAXIN go missing from the cold storage of Hari Bux Kanwatia Govt hospital, Jaipur. An FIR has been registered.
The Nodal Officer of the vaccination centre says, "There's systematic record of doses coming at centre. So it's suspected that vaccines went missing from the store."
The police said they have received a report from the hospital that 320 doses of COVAXIN are missing from there. "We have registered an FIR with charges of theft. Investigation is underway, CCTV footage will be checked. Action will be taken if any hospital staff is found involved," the police said.
There is a shortage of vaccination across the country even as the health minister and home minister deny it and say states not ruled by BJP are indulging in politics.
CJI Sharad Bobde
15:56 Ambedkar wanted Sanskrit official language: CJI
Chief Justice of India Sharad Bobde on Wednesday said B R Ambedkar had proposed Sanskrit as the "official national language" of India as he understood the political and social issues well and knew what the people wanted.
The CJI also said the ancient Indian text "Nyayshastra" is "not a bit" inferior to Aristotle and the Persian system of logic, and "there is no reason why we should forsake, overlook, and not benefit from the geniuses of our ancestors". CJI Bobde was speaking at the inauguration of the academic building of the Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU) here in Maharashtra. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackrey, Union minister and Nagpur MP Nitin Gadkari and others participated in this event virtually.
Remembering B R Ambedkar on his 130th birth anniversary, the CJI said, "Today morning, I was in a fix about which language should I deliver this speech. Today is the birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar which reminds me that the conflict between the language to be used while speaking and the language to be used during work is very old".
He said the Supreme Court gets many representations on what should be the language of subordinate courts, but I feel this subject is not being looked into. "But Dr Ambedkar had anticipated this aspect and he had mooted a proposal saying that the official language of the Union of India should be Sanskrit," the CJI said.
File pic
15:48 Rahul's 1st rally in WB: Mamata aligned with BJP
Rahul Gandhi's 1st rally in West Bengal. The rally is being held in Uttar Dinajpur. He says, "BJP wants to destroy and divide Bengal, they are doing same thing in Assam and Tamil Nadu. BJP has nothing to offer except hatred and violence. West Bengal is the only state where you have to pay cut money to get jobs. BJP talks of building "Sonar Bangla" but has destroyed entire country. We have never aligned with BJP, but Mamataji had done it (in
the past)."
the past)."
15:24 PM prioritising WB polls over lives: Maha Cong
Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole on Wednesday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will announce a national lockdown only after the elections in West Bengal are over, as he is prioritising polls over people's lives.
Speaking to reporters, Patole said national reports have indicated that the coronavirus infection is spreading at a high speed across the country, but the Prime Minister is busy holding rallies. Prime Minister Modi will announce a national lockdown only after the elections in West Bengal are over, he claimed.
"Between April 1 and 10, coronavirus spread rapidly across the nation. However, the Prime Minister is holding large rallies without wearing a mask. He is happily campaigning in West Bengal, but people who are suffering are ignored by his government. What message is Modi sending by not wearing a mask at rallies?" Patole said.
Reacting to Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis' allegations regarding the MVA government's relief package, Patole accused the BJP leader of unnecessarily playing politics over the state government's measures.
"If Fadnavis really has some clout in Delhi, he should ensure that Maharashtra gets its due worth Rs 90,000 crore of GST and other schemes," the Congress leader said. PTI
14:59 Amazon moves SC against Delhi HC stay order restraining Future Retail deal with Reliance
Future Retail on Wednesday said Amazon has approached Supreme Court against a Delhi High Court order which stayed a single judge's order restraining Future Retail Ltd from going ahead with its Rs 24,713 crore deal with Reliance Retail to sell its business.
"The company's advocates are in receipt of communication dated April 13, 2021, from advocates of Amazon.com NV Investment Holdings LLC informing that Amazon has filed a Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court of India against the captioned order dated March 22, 2021 passed by the Division Bench of the High Court of Delhi," Future Retail informed the stock exchanges. Future Retail said it will "defend the matter/proceedings through our legal counsels".
On March 22, the Delhi High Court stayed a single judge's order restraining Future Retail Ltd (FRL) from going ahead with the deal with Reliance Retail to sell its business, which was objected to by US-based e-commerce giant Amazon.
A division bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jasmeet Singh also issued notice to Amazon on Future Group's appeal challenging the single judge's March 18 judgment on the deal by which all the objections raised by them were rejected. "We hereby stay the order of the single judge dated March 18, 2021, till the next date of hearing, the bench said and listed the matter for further hearing on April 30."
14:56 Former EC dies
Dr GVG Krishnamurthy, former Election Commissioner of India, passed away today at the age of 86 years due to age-related ailments.
14:55 Waiting time for ambulances go up in Ahmedabad
Ambulances seen in long queues outside the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad. The waiting time has increased. For the last 10 days, emergency flow has gone up, over 4500 cases every day. Most of them are COVID patients, 60 more ambulances have been added," Head-Ops, 108 emergency services
14:49 Disrespect shown must be addressed diplomatically: Tharoor on US Navy's operation in India's EEZ
The US did not break international law when its Navy ship carried out a freedom of navigation operation in the Indian exclusive economic zone last week, but it did show "disrespect" which must be addressed diplomatically, senior Congress leader and former UN under-secretary general Shashi Tharoor said on Wednesday.
India on Friday had conveyed concerns to the United States over its Navy ship carrying out a freedom of navigation operation in the Indian exclusive economic zone (EEZ). India's reaction came after the US Navy, in an unusual move, announced that one of its ships conducted patrols in the Indian EEZ on April 7, without seeking consent from India.
Responding to the episode, Tharoor put out a series of tweets in which he argued that the best way forward was for India to extract an explicit undertaking from the US to inform it in advance as a courtesy before undertaking such operations and not to publicise the "fact that they have thumbed their noses at us".
"There's understandable anger in India over the US Seventh Fleet sailing near Lakshadweep in waters that are part of our exclusive economic zone (EEZ). However, there is nothing in UNCLOS (the Law of the Sea) that supports India's stand on freedom of navigation through the EEZ," he said.
The Americans are essentially doing near Lakshadweep exactly what they are insisting on doing in and through the South China Sea under the same Freedom of Navigation principle (FoNoPs), Tharoor said. The US can be accused of not respecting our sensibilities but not of breaking international law, the former Union minister said. -- PTI
14:47 Did Scania give luxury bus to Nitin Gadkari, and why?
'On March 9, when an investigation by Swedish network SVT, Germany's Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen, or ZDF, and India's Confluence Media claimed that road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari had received a luxury bus from Swedish truck and bus maker Scania for personal use as a kickback, the denial was immediate and definite.
'The minister called the allegations against him and his family "malicious, fabricated and baseless'. A few days later, in an interview with the Print, he accused the reporters of not doing due diligence while claiming that Scania had denied gifting any bus to him.
'The minister's claims are misleading, if not an outright lie. There is now irrefutable evidence in the form of mobile chats, emails, contracts, receipts, and unsecured loan transfers that establish the active role of Gadkari's family in accessing the luxury bus from Scania,' report Sonal Matharu, Joe Sperling and Hans Koberstein as part of a collaborative effort between Sweden's STV, Germany's ZDF and India's Confluence Media, which NewsLaundry has republished here.
14:41 10 lakh sadhus take a dip amid Covid surge
Throwing caution to the wind amid rising cases of coronavirus, thousands of seers congregated on Wednesday at Har ki Pairi in Haridwar to take a dip in the Ganga during the third shahi snan of the Kumbh mela.
The royal bath' marked Mesh Sankranti and Baisakhi, and fell two days after a similar convergence of sadhus' and other devotees for the second shahi snan -- events where following social distancing norms appears almost impossible.
By noon between eight and 10 lakh people had taken a bath in the river, Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar, who was supervising the arrangements at Haridwar, said. Sadhus from four of the 13 akhadas were through with the snan' by this time. The officer said the event was going on without any hindrance.
He said the crowds at the Ganga ghats were much smaller than expected at the third shahi snan - considered the most important in the series - and attributed this to the Covid restrictions in place. Police personnel were seen distributing masks among people in the Mela area. However, social distancing norms were violated openly by the seers when they and their followers descended the steps at Har ki Pairi to wade into the river. No masks were worn by a large proportion of them.
The seers from the akhadas took the dip along with their revered deities carried in ornate palanquins at Har Ki Pairi, which was reserved exclusively for them. Lakhs of common devotees bathed at the other ghats of the river in Haridwar and Rishikesh. Seers and Naga sanyasis of the Niranjani Akhada led by Acharya Kailashanand Giri were the first to bathe in the river along with Anand Akhada seers. They were followed by the Joona Akhada, which has the highest number of sadhus led by Swami Avadheshanand.
14:27 UK expands COVID-19 mix and match vaccine trial
A study assessing the benefits of mixing and matching coronavirus vaccines has been extended to include the Moderna and Novavax jabs.
The Com-Cov study, led by the University of Oxford, has been investigating the immune responses of volunteers given a dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine followed by the Pfizer jab, and vice versa, since February. Now, an expanded study will seek to recruit adults aged over 50 who have received their first dose in the past eight to 12 weeks to test out the immune response when combined with one of the other vaccines as a second dose.
"The focus of both this and the original Com-Cov study is to explore whether the multiple COVID-19 vaccines that are available can be used more flexibly, with different vaccines being used for the first and second dose, said Matthew Snape, associate professor in paediatrics and vaccinology at the University of Oxford and chief investigator on the trial.
"If we can show that these mixed schedules generate an immune response that is as good as the standard schedules, and without a significant increase in the vaccine reactions, this will potentially allow more people to complete their COVID-19 immunisation course more rapidly. This would also create resilience within the system in the event of a shortfall in availability of any of the vaccines in use," he said.
Six new arms of the trial will each recruit 175 candidates, adding a further 1,050 volunteers into the programme and the research will take place across eight sites in the UK.
14:16 UP govt to procure 25,000 Remdesivir injections from Gujarat
Uttar Pradesh health officials were on Wednesday sent to Ahmedabad to procure 25,000 Remdesivir injections on Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's directions. Remdesivir is considered a key antiviral drug in fight against COVID-19, especially among adults with severe complications.
"CM has directed Health department for urgent procurement of 25,000 Remdesivir from Ahmedabad. For this, directors and officials of the department are going to Ahmedabad on a state plane today itself," a tweet by the Chief Minister's Office said. Amid acute shortage of the medicine, the Centre has prohibited the export of Injection Remdesivir and Remdesivir Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API). PTI
14:09 CBSE Std 12 exams pushed, Std 10 exams cancelled
The CBSE board Exams for Class XII to be held from May 4 to June, 14, 2021 are postponed.
These exams will be held hereafter.
The situation will be reviewed on 1st June 2021 by the Board, and details will be shared subsequently. A notice of at least 15 days will be given before the start of the examinations.
The decision was taken after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and CBSE officials had a meeting.
During the meeting with PM, the education ministry and PMO had discussed several modes including holding exams in online mode.
14:03 'Vaccination for all only solution to Covid'
India should lower the age for vaccination to 18 years to include all adults for inoculation as that is the only solution at this point to break the chain of transmission of the coronavirus, which is fast-spreading, said Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia.
Sisodia urged the Centre and the CBSE to think out of the box for such an extraordinary circumstance as the new variant of the coronavirus is affecting the young people more. Both, the career and life of students are at stake amid this second wave of Covid-19 infection, so we have to choose which one we must prioritise, he said
Regarding the shortage of vaccines being reported from several states, Sisodia said, Delhi doesnt have a separate store for the vaccine. It doesnt work like that. Its a supply-based thing. So far, Delhi has enough vaccines based on the supply. But, this is just for people above 45 years of age. We are repeatedly requesting the Centre to relax the protocols to include 18-year-old adults for vaccination. This has to be done on a nationwide basis otherwise the chain of transmission cannot be broken.
Reeling under the fourth wave of COVID-19, the national capital on Tuesday recorded the highest-ever spike of 13,468 cases and 81 deaths due to the infection, giving it the dubious distinction of being the worst affected city in the county. The highest single-day spike in Mumbai stands at 9,986 cases till date, followed by Bengaluru (6,387 cases), Chennai (2,105) and Kolkata ( 1,271 cases).
13:41 SC makes Covid-19 test mandatory for people entering its premises with symptoms
In light of the growing concerns amid a sudden upsurge of COVID-19 cases and as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of infection, the Supreme Court has made a Covid-19 test mandatory for everyone who enters its premises with symptoms of the disease.
The Supreme Court has come out with additional guidelines for entrants to the premises, which state that "all the entrants to the Supreme Court premises, i.e. the registry staff, staff of the coordinate agencies, advocates and their staff, etc, if showing any symptoms similar to those notified for Covid-19 infection shall subject themselves to Rapid/RT-PCR test."
All controlling officers will ensure that the staff in their control wears masks, maintains physical distancing and frequently sanitises or wash hands and follow the prescribed COVID-19 appropriate behaviour, the circular issued by the apex court stated.
It also stated that persons with notified symptoms like fever, cough, body ache, loss of taste and smell, diarrhea, etc. shall restrict themselves from coming to office/premises, isolate themselves immediately and seek medical advice.
The circular further added that there shall not be any crowding or loitering in the campus and movement in common areas should be only for specific purposes and be completed within the minimum time.
The lift should not be used by more than three persons at a time and shall be used only for going upwards; for coming downstairs, stairs should be used, it added.
-- ANI
13:26 Yogi Adityanath tests positive for Covid
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath says that he has tested positive for COVID-19. He is in self-isolation.
13:24 UP panchayat polls begin tomorrow
Voting for the first of the four-phase Uttar Pradesh panchayat elections, seen as a semi-final to the 2022 Assembly election, will be held on Thursday in 18 districts with ballot papers. More than 3.33 lakh candidates in the fray in over 2.21 lakh seats in the first phase for the posts of zila panchayat (district council) members, kshetra (block) panchayat members, village panchayat heads and wards. Polling will take place from 7 am to 6 pm. The districts that will go to polls are Ayodhya, Agra, Kanpur, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Jaunpur, Jhansi, Allahabad, Bareilly, Bhadohi, Mahoba, Rampur, Raebareli, Shravasti, Sant Kabir Nagar, Saharanpur, Hardoi and Hathras. For the post of zila panchayat members, 11,442 candidates are in the fray from 779 wards, while as many as 81,747 candidates are contesting in 19,313 wards of kshetra panchayats. For the gram panchayat, there are 1,14,142 candidates for 14,789 posts. For gram panchayat wards, there are 1,26,613 candidates for 1,86,583 seats.
Apart from parties like the BJP, BSP, Samajwadi Party and the Congress, among those in the race are the AIMIM, Aam Aadmi Party and Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Aazad's Azad Samaj Party, which are making their debut in the state. The AIMIM will contest polls with the Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party
13:09 Physical inactivity linked to more severe COVID-19 infection, death: Study
A sedentary lifestyle is associated with more severe COVID-19 infection and an increased risk of dying from the viral disease, according to a large-scale study.
Researchers, including those from the University of California San Diego, found that COVID-19 patients in the US who were consistently inactive during the two years preceding the pandemic were more likely to be admitted to hospital.
Inactive patients were also more likely to require intensive care, and die compared to those who had consistently met physical activity guidelines, they said.
The study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, showed that physical inactivity was surpassed only by advanced age and a history of organ transplant as a risk factor for severe disease.
"It is notable that being consistently inactive was a stronger risk factor for severe COVID-19 outcomes than any of the underlying medical conditions and risk factors identified by (The Centers for Disease Control) except for age and a history of organ transplant," the researchers said.
"In fact, physical inactivity was the strongest risk factor across all outcomes, compared with the commonly cited modifiable risk factors, including smoking, obesity, diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), cardiovascular disease and cancer," they said.
The deceased patient's son
13:06 Covid patient dies waiting for bed
As the PM and HM continue to focus on the Bengal elections and the health minister continues to deny shortages of vaccines and oxygen and beds, patients suffer and die.
A COVID patient died in the hospital premises allegedly after Patna's NMCH hospital didn't admit him for long.
"My father was COVID positive. Other hospitals refused to admit him, NMCH hospital agreed. They made us wait outside for 1.5 hours," says deceased's son.
12:36 Mamata meets families of dead in Cooch Behar
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee met the families of those killed in Sitalkuchi, Cooch Behar, violence. She is at a place called Mathabhanga which translated, literally means: matha: head, bhanga: broken.
"Didi came to meet us here and said that she would help us as soon as the election ends. She consoled and gave us hope. We trust her," say family members of those killed in Sitalkuchi violence
An 18-year-old first-time voter was shot dead in Sitalkuchi when he had queued up to vote on Saturday.
In a separate incident, central forces shot dead four voters allegedly in self-defense the same day.
Soon after the incidents of violence on Saturday, the Election Commission banned all political leaders from entering Cooch Behar district for 72 hours. Later, the poll watchdog banned Banerjee from campaigning for another 24 hours for her remarks against central forces and for appealing against a split in the Muslim votes.
The EC said she had violated the poll code.
12:18 Positive news: Alia Bhatt tests -ve for Covid
Actor Alia Bhatt on Wednesday said she has tested negative for COVID-19, more than 10 days after contracting the virus. Bhatt had tested positive for COVID-19 on April 2 and was under home quarantine.
The 28-year-old actor took to Instagram and shared a picture of herself, writing, "the only time being negative is a good thing."
Prior to her diagnosis, the actor was shooting for her upcoming Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed drama "Gangubai Kathiawadi". The production was halted after Bhatt tested positive. Maharashtra government has put on hold films, TV serials and advertisement shoots in the state from Wednesday evening as part of the fresh guidelines to curb the coronavirus cases.
12:13 Ashutosh Rana tests positive for Covid
Veteran actor Ashutosh Rana recently revealed that he has tested positive for COVID-19.The 'Raaz' actor shared a detailed post on Facebook in Hindi and informed his fans and followers about his current health condition on Tuesday.
As Rana revealed the news, he first spoke about the occasion of Navratri, and the beginning of the Hindu New Year and said that he is happy to know about the 'illness' in his body on such an auspicious occasion.
His note translates to, "If you get the information about the disorder that is developing in your body on this very auspicious day, then nothing fortunate than this can happen. It is a special blessing of Goddess Durga that I came to know today on a sitting day (beithaki) that I am suffering from corona, I have immediately moved in the direction of getting rid of this disorder, I have unwavering faith in the grace of his Holiness Gurudev Daddaji that I will soon I will be healthy."
12:04 Decision on CBSE Class X, XII exams today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a meeting with the Union education minister and key officials on Wednesday to discuss the issue of CBSE board exams, government sources said.
Class 10 and 12 exams are set to begin from May 4 amid demand by some leaders, including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, that they be cancelled amid an alarming rise in the COVID-19 cases across the country. A call on the examination may be taken in the meeting to be chaired by the prime minister, the sources said. PTI
11:51 How the net indirect revenue grew in FY21
The net indirect tax collection in 2020-21 grew 12.3 per cent annually to Rs 10.71 lakh crore, thereby exceeding the target set in revised estimates, the finance ministry said on Tuesday.
The mop-up through indirect taxes, which include GST, Customs and excise duties, was Rs 9.54 lakh crore in 2019-20.
In the Revised Estimates (RE) for 2020-21, the target was set at Rs 9.89 lakh crore. Net collections from Goods and Services Tax (GST) stood at Rs 5.48 lakh crore during 2020-21, an eight per cent drop compared to Rs 5.99 lakh crore in the previous fiscal year.
This includes revenues from Central GST, Integrated GST and compensation cess.
Customs revenue during 2020-21 came in at Rs 1.32 lakh crore, a 21 per cent growth over Rs 1.09 lakh crore collected in 2019-20.
Migrants at LTT buying tickets to leave Mumbai
11:48 Mumbai:Passenger rush outside LTT, CR asks people not to panic
Several people gathered outside the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus here on Wednesday to board long- distance trains, a day after the Maharashtra government announced severe restrictions on public movement to check the spread of COVID-19.
The Central Railway (CR) appealed to people not to panic and avoid crowding the stations. The Railway Protection Force and the Government Railway Police have deployed additional force outside the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) to control the crowd.
Reeling under an unprecedented COVID-19 wave, the Maharashtra government on Tuesday announced severe restrictions on public movement over the next 15 days across the state.
The restrictions, which exclude essential services, will come into effect from 8 pm on Wednesday and remain in force till 7 am on May 1. Section 144 of the CrPC, prohibiting assembly of five or more people at one spot, will be in force during the period, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said. On Wednesday, several people gathered outside the LTT to board long-distance trains.
11:25 PM to hold meet on CBSE exams
PM to hold a meeting with Education Minister, Secretary & other important officials at 12 noon to discuss the issue of CBSE Board Exams: Govt of India Sources.
Finally, attention to important issues and not just taking over West Bengal.
Former Maharashtra HM Anil Deshmukh
11:01 Ex Maha HM Anil Deshmukh appears before CBI
Former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh appeared before the CBI on Wednesday for questioning in connection with the allegations of corruption levelled against him by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh, an official said. Deshmukh reached the DRDO guest house, where a team of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is camping to, in suburban Santacruz around 10 am, he said.
CBI on Monday issued a notice calling Deshmukh to join the agency's probe into the allegations levelled against him by Param Bir Singh and suspended police officer Sachin Waze, the official said.
Waze, an assistant police inspector, is under investigation in the case of an explosive-laden SUV found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence in south Mumbai.
The CBI is conducting a preliminary enquiry into the allegations against Deshmukh levelled by Singh after he was removed from the post of Mumbai police commissioner.
The allegations were reportedly corroborated by Waze in the custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is conducting a probe into the SUV case, officials earlier said.
The Bombay High Court last week directed the CBI to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the allegations levelled by Singh against Deshmukh. In a letter, Singh had claimed that Deshmukh asked Waze to allegedly extort over Rs 100 crore a month from bars and restaurants in Mumbai. Deshmukh has denied the allegations.
10:55 Pvt hospitals face shortage of Remdesivir, oxygen
COVID-19 cases are increasing in Pune every passing day, but Private hospitals are facing problems in treating patients due to shortage of oxygen supply and Remdesivir injections.
Currently, there are hardly any ventilator beds available in the city hospitals as the flow of patients has been increasing.
Speaking to ANI, Dr Mukund Penurkar, Director of Sanjeevan Hospital said that he has to either refuse admission to patients in need of oxygen supply or send them to other hospitals where it is available.
"There has been a shortage of oxygen supply for last 2-3 days due to which we had to either deny admission to patients in need of oxygen supply or send them to other hospitals where oxygen is available. With the limited oxygen supply we have to look after patients admitted here already because their supply also has to be maintained," Dr Penurkar said.
He further said that the shortage of ventilator beds is also a problem.
"Ventilator beds are a major problem as there is already a shortage of ventilator beds across the city. Not only that even the Remdesivir injection which is one of the medicine we are using to cure the patient was also not available at many places. These things have to be streamlined as every hospital including ours have increased bed capacity for COVID patient treatment and we are all prepared to treat them well if provided these things on time" he added.
Meanwhile, after the second wave of the virus in the country, the demand for oxygen has increased in the city. The suppliers are facing difficulties in procuring it from the manufacturers.
"This second wave has increased the demand of oxygen here. Normally during the non- covid times, we used to provide 5-6 tons of liquid oxygen to the hospitals but now it has been increased up to 18 tons. We are facing difficulties in supplying it due to the increased cases across Maharashtra," Atul Nalawade, owner of United Gas told ANI.
10:50 Drive-through Covid testing in Ahmedabad
Drive-through RT-PCR testing launched at GMDC Ground in Ahmedabad today. "It will help to contain COVID by limiting the lab rush. Those getting tested have to register via QR code. Report to be sent in 24 hours," says one of the organizers.
10:22 Akhilesh Yadav tests positive for Covid
Former Uttar Pradesh CM and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav tests positive for COVID-19, says he is in home isolation.
10:21 Maha: 5,056 new COVID-19 cases in Thane, 27 more deaths
Thane has reported5,056 new cases of coronavirus, raising the infection count in the Maharashtra district to 3,90,124, an official said on Wednesday. These new cases were recorded on Tuesday, he said.
The virus also claimed the lives of 27 more people, pushing the death toll in Thane to 6,760, he said, adding that the COVID-19 mortality rate in the district is 1.73 per cent. So far, 3,25,669 patients have recuperated from the infection in the district, which reflects a recovery rate of 83.48 per cent.
There are 57,695 active COVID-19 cases in the district at present, the official said. In neighbouring Palghar district, the COVID-19 case count stood at 60,665 and the death toll at 1,269, another official said. -- PTI
10:15 Anil Deshmukh arrives for questioning
Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh arrives at DRDO guest house in Mumbai. CBI had summoned him for questioning in connection with alleged corruption case
Mamata Banerjee wipes her face with a gamcha
10:08 EC biased against Mamata: Shiv Sena
The Shiv Sena on Wednesday alleged that the Election Commission was "biased" against Mamata Banerjee, after the poll panel recently barred the West Bengal chief minister from campaigning for 24 hours over certain remarks made by her.
The stature of a constitutional body like the Election Commission (EC) should not be demeaned for political benefits, an editorial in the Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said. Assembly elections are currently underway in West Bengal and the Shiv Sena, which is not contesting the polls, has extended its support to Trinamool Congress head Banerjee.
"The Election Commission is biased against Mamata Banerjee. It is our request to the EC with folded hands that it should not listen to the BJP alone, but to everyone. It should not be biased," the Marathi daily said. Everyone has lost the sense of decorum (during campaign) in West Bengal, but Banerjee alone is being punished for it, the editorial claimed.
"The EC has busted the myth of everyone being treated equal before law and it chose the land of West Bengal to do so. It seems to have forgotten that West Bengal is the land of revolutionaries and rebels," it said.
Mamata Banerjee's lone battle will be remembered in history, irrespective of the outcome of this election, the editorial said. The EC seems to be really irked with Banerjee for dubbing the model code of conduct as the "Modi code of conduct", it said.
09:50 Stop Kumbh, stop the spread
No social distancing, no masks and unbelievable cussedness have ensured at least 102 pilgrims and 20 seers have tested positive for Covid-19 at the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar.
09:39 1.84 lakh covid cases in new daily high
India recorded 1,84,372 fresh COVID-19 cases in biggest daily spike so far and 1,027 deaths in 24 hours.
India's total tally is now:
Total cases: 1,38,73,825
Total recoveries: 1,23,36,036
Active cases: 13,65,704
Death toll: 1,72,085
Total vaccination: 11,11,79,578
09:17 Double mutant found in 61% samples tested in Maharashtra
220 out of 361 or 61 per cent of the Covid-19 samples taken in Maharashtra from January to March and genome sequenced had the double mutation E484Q and L452R, now classified as B.1.617 lineage, the data shared by the National Institute of Virology Pune, shows.
The central government had announced detections of mutant variant in 15-20 per cent of the samples in Maharashtra, however it didnt link the variant with the second surge in the state, a report in The Indian Express said.
NIV officials in a meeting on April 10 made a presentation to all the all district heads of government laboratories. The genome sequencing results were shared in the presentation, but officials said the state government is yet to receive a written report on this. It has been communicated to us only verbally, said an official.
Health Minister Rajesh Tope reportedly said the state government had asked the Centre for a detailed report on the genome sequencing of all the Maharashtra samples.
The state health officials say that the double variant could be the reason behind the second wave in Maharashtra. The state has seen huge surge of Covid cases with over 50,000 cases being reported daily in the state with around 5.6 lakh active cases.
08:42 CWC to meet on April 17 to discuss Covid
The Congress party has called a meeting of its working committee on April 17 to discuss the Covid-19 situation in the country.
This is the first time the Congress Working Committee, the partys top executive body, has called a meeting exclusively to discuss the pandemic. The second wave of Covid-19 has already affected 13.7 million people in India, roughly accounting for 10 per cent of the global cases.
Both Congress president Sonia Gandhi and former chief Rahul Gandhi have written to the prime minister, suggesting measures to tackle the crisis. While Sonia Gandhi asked for emergency approval of all domestic vaccine candidates, Rahul Gandhi demanded that the government stop the export of vaccines to cater to Indian patients.
A letter from KC Venugopal, party general secretary in charge of organisation, said, A meeting of the CWC will be held on Saturday, April 17, via video conferencing to discuss the matters related to the second wave of Covid-19 in the country.
08:16 TMC MPs to meet EC officials in Delhi this afternoon
A delegation of Trinamool Congress MPs will meet Election Commission officials in Delhi on Wednesday afternoon, the party said.
The delegation will include parliamentarians Derek O'Brien, Kalyan Banerjee, Pratima Mondal and Santanu Sen. They are scheduled to reach the Election Commission of India office at 3.30 pm.
The meeting will happen days after the poll body barred TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from campaigning for 24 hours. She had on Tuesday sat on a 3.5-hour-long dharna against the poll panel's decision.
On Monday, shortly after the Election Commission barred Mamata Banerjee from campaigning for 24 hours, her party alleged the poll panel was behaving like a "wing of the BJP" and its decision smacks of authoritarianism.
-- PTI
07:55 Over 100 pilgrims test Covid positive at Kumbh
At least 102 pilgrims and 20 seers have tested positive for Covid-19 as religious heads have refused to get tested, wear masks and not follow social distancing at Haridwar's Maha Kumbh Mela.
According to the Kumbh body about one lakh seers were at the religious congregation on Monday.
Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat has said the ongoing Kumbh Mela in Haridwar should not be compared with the Nizamuddin Markaz which was held in a closed space and attended even by foreigners.
The CM was replying to a question as to why the two religious events should not be equated (Nizamuddin Markaz and Kumbh) as Kumbh also draws crowds and could strengthen the second wave of the coronavirus infection.
Citing other differences between the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar and Nizamuddin Markaz, Rawat said, "The devotees attending Kumbh are not from outside but our own people."
He also said Kumbh comes once in 12 years and is linked with the faith and sentiments of millions of people.
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