LIVE! Kejriwal urges industrialists to provide oxygen

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Sun, 25 April 2021

Kejriwal urges industrialists to provide oxygen

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20:58 Kejriwal urges industrialists to provide oxygen

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday appealed to leading industrialists of the country to help provide oxygen and cryogenic tankers to Delhi amid an acute shortage of the life saving gas required to save serious COVID-19 patients.

In a letter to the industrialists, he said owing to an unprecedented rise in the number of COVID cases, the national capital was falling woefully short of required oxygen and asked them to treat his request as an SOS.

"Delhi does not produce any oxygen, and as you are aware, Delhi currently faces an acute shortage of oxygen. I would be grateful if you could provide Delhi government with oxygen along with cryogenic tankers," Kejriwal wrote in his letter.

The Railways is transporting four liquid oxygen tankers from Raigarh to the national capital and has asked Delhi government to arrange tankers for it.

"While we have received help from the central government in meeting our oxygen requirements, the ferocity of the second wave is rendering the supply inadequate," he stated.

The chief minister requested the industrialists to provide stocks of oxygen being used or manufactured by them and also sought their help in the import of cryogenic tankers.

In similar letters to chief ministers of other states, Kejriwal had on Saturday urged them to help Delhi with their spare oxygen and tankers.

On Sunday, Kejriwal had said that Centre and Delhi government teams were working in a coordinated manner to ensure steady supply of oxygen to hospitals in the city.

The Centre has increased Delhi's daily quota of oxygen from 480 MT to 490 MT, although the city is still receiving around 330-335 MT of it everyday, he had said.

-- PTI

20:41 Umar Khalid, in jail, tests Covid positive

Former JNU student Umar Khalid, arrested in connection with the 2020 Delhi riot cases, has tested positive for COVID-19, and has been isolated within the Tihar Jail premises, officials said Sunday.

A senior official said the 33-year-old Khalid had developed symptoms of the diseases following which he was tested for the coronavirus infection.

Khalid's RT-PCR test report came on Saturday as positive, the official said, adding he has been isolated within the jail premises.

Khaild was arrested for his alleged role in the Delhi riots of February 2020.

-- PTI

20:36 Padma Bhushan Pandit Rajan Mishra passes away

Padma Bhushan Pandit Rajan Mishra passes away due to a heart attack in St Stephen's Hospital in Delhi, confirms his family member.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expresses grief over the demise of Padma Bhushan Pandit Rajan Mishra.

Amid the worsening situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the government on Sunday restricted the use of liquid oxygen for non-medical purposes with immediate effect with the ministry of home affairs announcing that the use of liquid oxygen will be allowed for medical purposes only.

In a tweet, the Office of the Home Minister said, "The central government has reviewed the oxygen supply situation and has decided that with immediate effect, use of liquid oxygen, including the existing stock, will be allowed for medical purposes only."

"All manufacturing units may be allowed to maximise their production of liquid oxygen, and make it available to the government, for use for medical purposes only," it added.

In the official statement, the ministry asked the state governments and union territories to ensure that the use of liquid oxygen is not allowed for any non-medical purpose and that all manufacturing units may maximise their production of liquid oxygen and make it available to the government for use of medical purposes only with immediate effect until further orders.

Several states have been reporting a shortage of oxygen supply amid the COVID-19 surge.

-- ANI

20:13 Mumbai reports 5,542 Covid cases in 24 hours

Mumbai reported 5,542 new Covid cases on Sunday and a significant drop from the 7,221 it reported on Friday, the 7,410 on Thursday and the 7,684 on Wednesday.

This is the lowest daily addition to its caseload since March 31.

The number of deaths linked to the virus also saw a slight drop at 64 cases.

The European Union on Sunday said it is pooling in resources to respond rapidly to help India's fight against the fast-spreading coronavirus pandemic.

A senior official of the 27-nation powerful bloc said the European Union has already activated its Civil Protection Mechanism to mobilise support for India including supplying urgently needed oxygen and medicines.

Under the mechanism, the EU plays a central role in coordinating its responses to emergencies in Europe and beyond.

As India reels under a massive spike in coronavirus cases, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said the EU stands in "full solidarity" with the people of India.

"Alarmed by the epidemiological situation in India. We are ready to support. The EU is pooling resources to respond rapidly to India's request for assistance via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism," der Leyen said in a tweet.

EU Ambassador to India Ugo Astuto said the European Union, together with its member states, will do its utmost to support India in this difficult moment.

-- PTI

Journalist Siddique Kappan's wife Raihanth Kappan wrote a letter to newly appointed Chief Justice of India N V Ramana on Sunday requesting him to immediately pass a release order for her husband as his life is in "extreme danger" in Mathura jail.

"At a time when the country is gasping for breath, many migrating to the other world of equality, this is an attempt to give interim breath to a journalist, on behalf of the wife Raihanth Kappan, to release her husband, Kappan, who was arrested at Mathura on October 5, 2020, while on the way to Hathras to discharge his duty as a journalist," Raihanth wrote in her letter.

She informed the CJI that Siddique fell in the jail bathroom with serious injuries on April 20, 2021. He later tested positive for COVID-19 on the same day and was then shifted to KM Medical college.

"Presently Kappan is chained like an animal in a cot of the medical college hospital, Mathura, without mobility, and he neither could take food, nor could go to the toilet for the last three-four days, and is very critical. If immediate corrective steps are not taken, it will result in his untimely death," she stated.

"Importantly, media is the breath of democracy, and it is an attempt for giving breath to a media person, who is in jail for more than six months and the Habeas Corpus petition is also pending since October 6, 2020," she added.

Kerala Union of Working Journalists, had on April 22, also filed a habeas corpus writ petition before the Supreme Court seeking its immediate direction to transfer Kappan from Mathura hospital to AIIMS, New Delhi, due to his ill-health.

Kappan was arrested at a toll plaza near Hathras, (while on his way to Hathras) in Uttar Pradesh in October last year, in connection with his reporting assignment to cover the brutal gangrape and murder of the 19-year-old girl.

-- ANI

"We have received 1.5 lakh doses of Covishield vaccine today. All vaccination centres in Mumbai shall be functional tomorrow. However, Covaxin will be available only at select centres for second dose due to extremely limited existing stock," BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal.

Mumbai is again facing an acute vaccine shortage.

Maharashtra is among the ten states that have shown a rise in the COVID daily new cases, said the Union health ministry.

Covid-19 is a mild disease and there is no need to panic, said AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria on Sunday while addressing issues related to coronavirus with Chairman of Medanta Dr Naresh Trehan, Professor and Head of Department of Medicine AIIMS Dr Naveet Wig and Director General Health Services Dr Sunil Kumar.

"If we talk about the current situation of COVID-19, there is panic in public, Due to this panic, people are putting injections in their houses, hoarding of the Remdesivir drug and oxygen cylinder has started with this. And because of this, we are facing a shortage of supply and unnecessary panic is being created," Guleria said.

He further said, "The COVID-19 infection is a normal infection. 85 to 90 per cent of people are witnessing normal symptoms like fever, cold, body ache, and cough and in these cases, one doesn't need Remdesivir or other large numbers of medicines. You can take medicines for these normal infections or treat yourself with home remedies and yoga. You will back to normal and get well within seven or 10 days. You don't need to put Remdesivir or oxygen in your house."

According to the AIIMS director, there are 10-15 per cent of people who may witness severe infection and may need extra medicines like Remdesivir, oxygen or plasma. Less than five per cent of patients need to be operated on a ventilator, he informed.

"If we see this data, it shows that there is no need to panic. If one gets a positive report, he/she shouldn't rush to the hospital or get medical oxygen. It's a wrong belief and it will create an unnecessary shortage of oxygen. We need to understand that it is a mild disease and only 10 to 15 per cent cases get severe," he added.

-- ANI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday alleged that the truth about the pandemic is shrouded and deaths are being under-reported.

"Shroud the truth. Deny oxygen shortage. Underreport deaths. Government of India is doing everything......to save his fake image," he said on Twitter.

He shared the front page of 'The New York Times' showing a picture of cremations being conducted and headlined, "As Covid ravages India, true toll is undercounted".

Rahul Gandhi earlier alleged that the "system has failed" and it is the duty of the party to provide help to fellow citizens suffering due to the sudden spurt in COVID-19 cases in the country.

His comments came on a day Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his 'Mann ki Baat' radio programme said the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the country and assured the people that the Centre was working with all its power to help the states.

"System' failed, so it's important to do Jan ki baat," Gandhi said on Twitter.

"In this crisis, the country needs responsible citizens. I request my Congress colleagues to leave all political work -- just provide all help and ease the pain of our countrymen," he added.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said "hiding data" and not sharing the total number of infections and deaths is doing a disservice to the nation.

He said the data, howsoever serious it may be, makes us aware and alert, and urged for a "course correction".

"The Modi government has bungled up. If Modi government has abandoned its people and abdicated its duty, please do course correction and let us work together," he told reporters.

-- PTI

17:36 Saudi Arabia to ship oxygen to India

Saudi Arabia is shipping 80 metric tonnes of liquid oxygen to India as the country is running low on supplies due to an unprecedented spike in coronavirus cases.

The supply shipment is being undertaken in cooperation with the Adani group and Linde company.

"Embassy of India is proud to partner with Adani group and M/s Linde in shipping much-needed 80MT liquid oxygen to India. Our heartfelt thanks to the Ministry of Health Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for all their help, support, and cooperation," the Indian mission in Riyadh tweeted.

"Thank you @IndianEmbRiyadh Indeed, actions speak louder than words. We are on an urgent mission to secure oxygen supplies from across the world. This first shipment of 4 ISO cryogenic tanks with 80 tons of liquid oxygen is now on its way from Dammam to Mundra," Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani said in a tweet.

India is struggling with a second wave of the pandemic with more than 3,00,000 daily new coronavirus cases being reported in the past few days, and hospitals in several states are reeling under a shortage of medical oxygen and beds.

To combat the growing demand for oxygen in the country, India has reached out to various countries to procure containers and oxygen cylinders under operation 'Oxygen Maitri'.

The Indian Air Force on Saturday brought four cryogenic tanks, to be used for transporting oxygen, from Singapore. The containers were airlifted from Singapore by C17 heavy-lift aircraft of the IAF.

-- PTI

Bharat Biotech has written to the India's drug regulator seeking extension of the shelf-life of its indigenously developed COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin from six to 24 months, sources said on Sunday.

Covaxin, along with Covishield manufactured by Serum Institute of India, are the two vaccines so far being used in India's current COVID-19 vaccination drive. Russian vaccine Sputnik-V has also been approved for emergency use in India.

The Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech was given permission for sale and distribution of Covaxin with shelf life of six months when stored at two to eight degrees Celsius.

"Now, we are herewith applying for the extension of shelf life from six months to 24 months when stored at 2-8 degrees Celsius," the firm said in its application to the Drugs Controller General of India.

In support of their proposal, Bharat Biotech has submitted updated accelerated and real-time stability data of Coaxin along with the justification for the extension of shelf-life.

The DCGI had extended the shelf-life of Covishield from six to nine months from its manufacturing date in February.

-- PTI

Getting registered on the CoWIN web portal and taking an appointment to get a Covid-19 vaccine jab would be mandatory for those aged between 18 and 45 years as walk-ins will not be allowed initially, official sources said on Sunday.

Those above 45 years can still avail the facility of on-site registration to get vaccinated, they said.

As India witnesses a sudden surge in coronavirus cases, it has decided to allow everyone above 18 years of age to get vaccinated from May 1.

"An increased demand is expected once the vaccination is opened for all. For the purpose of crowd control, registering on CoWIN portal and making an appointment to get a vaccine will be mandatory for those aged between 18 and 45 years. Walks-in will not be allowed in the beginning so that there is no chaos," an official said.

Registration for vaccination for all those aged above 18 will begin on the CoWIN platform and Aarogya Setu App from April 28. The inoculation process and documents to be provided to get the jab remains the same.

Amid an unprecedented surge in coronavirus cases, former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah, who is popular on Twitter with 3.2 million followers, on Sunday started amplifying distress and SOS messages from COVID patients and their relatives from across the country.

Omar, who tested positive for COVID days after taking the first vaccine dose, said he could understand the feelings of those who have their loved ones hospitalised due to the infection.

"I want to be able to help people through this crisis as best I can because I know what's it like to have a loved one in hospital fighting against COVID. To that end I've opened up my DMs for now & will amplify every message requesting/offering help," Omar said before re-tweeting and re-posting SOS messages from across the country.

Omar's father and Lok Sabha member from Srinagar, Farooq Abdullah, had to be hospitalised after testing positive for the infection after getting his vaccine dose.

"I know, in the grand scheme of things, it may not amount to much but every little bit helps & if even one individual benefits from a tweet of mine I'll consider myself extremely fortunate," Omar tweeted.

The National Conference vice president, however, made it clear to his followers that he would not be endorsing or re-tweeting any requests for donation.

"I apologise in advance but I won't be tweeting requests for donations/funds because I have no way of independently verifying the antecedents of the people/organisations seeking to raise funds," he added.

-- PTI

16:08 Oxygen Express to reach Delhi by Monday night

The first Oxygen Express train for Delhi carrying around 70 tonnes of the life-saving gas will depart from Jindal Steel Works plant in Raigarh on Sunday night, Chairman Railway Board Suneet Sharma said.

The train, with four tankers, will reach Delhi by Monday night, he said.

The railways has chalked out plans to transport medical oxygen from Angul, Kalingnagar, Rourkela and Raigarh to Delhi and NCR region, Sharma said, adding the Delhi government has been advised to get road tankers ready to obtain the oxygen.

"First Oxygen Express for the national capital carrying four tankers with 70 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen will depart tonight for Delhi Cantonment from Jindal Steel Works, Raigarh. It will reach Delhi by Monday night," the railway board chairman said.

Every few hours, as it has been for the last days, hospitals across the national capital and its suburbs has been sending out desperate messages seeking help on social media and other platforms, flagging their dwindling stocks of oxygen.

In view of the high demand for oxygen in the country following a record spike in coronavirus cases, the Railways has decided to run Oxygen Express trains to transport liquid medical oxygen and oxygen cylinders across the country.

Tankers are being transported on flat wagons by trains for quick supply of medical oxygen.

-- PTI

Fours states ruled by the Congress and its allies Sunday accused the Centre of "hijacking" vaccine stocks from manufacturers, and expressed doubts they would be able to launch the inoculation drive to cover those between 18-45 years of age from May 1.

They also accused the Centre of meting out "step-motherly" treatment to them, and urged the Union government to provide them free vaccine doses to vaccinate all adults.

Addressing a virtual joint press conference, the health ministers of Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Punjab and Jharkhand (ruled by Congress-JMM alliance) asked as to how they will vaccinate all adults when the Centre has already "taken away the stocks" and shots are not available to them.

They said they are prepared for the next phase of vaccination drive from May 1, but the manufacturers have expressed inability to provide them vaccine shots.

"How do we vaccinate adults of 18-45 years as Serum Institute has said they will not be able to provide vaccine till May 15," Rajasthan Health Minister Raghu Sharma said.

"We have the capacity, but not the vaccine,"he said. "States should get the supplies. The Government of India should provide vaccine as per their requirements." The success of the drive depends on availability of shots, he said.

Sharma said, "Our demand is that the Centre fully fund the vaccine. How can we fund it from our budget? No provision has been made by us in the budget."

-- PTI

Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad professor Chinmay Tumbe on Sunday said India failed to prepare for the second COVID-19 wave due to the complacency of the government and society, and failure to keep track of the different strains of the virus.

Tumbe, who recently authored the book titled 'The Age of Pandemics: How They Shaped India and the World', further said India will have to be alert for at least two more years to the possibility of a repeated wave of this crisis.

"I think there are two major factors (India's failure to prepare for the second wave). One is, of course, complacency from the government level, from the society level where everybody assumed that the pandemic is over, but serious pandemic rarely gets over in a few months, so that was a big mistake.

"Second is failure to keep track of the different strains of the virus, it's clear that this particular strain that is right now is quite different from the first one," he said.

India is grappling with a spiralling number of COVID cases as well as related deaths, forcing many state governments to put in place restrictions on the movement of people.

Asked what India could have done differently to fight COVID-19, Tumbe said if you see what countries like New Zealand and Australia have done, they have been very very slow to go back to full economic activity.

"The fact that a lot of focus on the science behind the pandemic was forgotten in India. For example, Kumbh Mela should not have been allowed because we were not completely out of the woods of pandemic," he said.

-- PTI

Former Sashastra Seema Bal chief Arun Chaudhary has succumbed to coronavirus, officials said on Sunday. He was 66.

A 1977-batch Indian Police Service officer of the Bihar cadre, Chaudhary served for nearly two decades in the Intelligence Bureau where he headed the Jammu and Kashmir desk.

In his early service days, he served in various positions in his cadre state and also had a stint with the Central Industrial Security Force, where he headed its airport security unit.

In December 2012, he was appointed director general of the SSB and retired from service on April 30, 2014.

The around 90,000-personnel-strong force paramilitary force guards the Indian borders with Nepal and Bhutan.

The SSB condoled his death on social media, saying it was "saddened by the untimely demise of Chaudhary".

"His contribution to the nation and SSB cannot be forgotten," it tweeted. "SSB stands by his family in this period of grief and sorrow and prays to the almighty that the departed soul may rest in peace."

-- PTI

14:16 Maha to give Covid vaccine to all for free

As India reported over three lakh cases for the fourth straight day, Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik announced that the state will vaccinate its residents for free.

Saying that the move has been discussed in the state Cabinet, Nawab Malik said global tenders will be floated.

Maharashtra, the worst hit state in the country by Covid, has been reporting over 60,000 daily cases of coronavirus over the last few days.

The government earlier this week said vaccine net will be widened to all people above 18 years of age from May 1 as the country sees an exponential rise in Covid infections.

According to a fresh order, the Centre has directed all major ports to waive-off all charges for ships carrying oxygen and oxygen-related equipment cargo and to give highest priority for berthing of such ships.

Union Minister Babul Supriyo on Sunday informed that he and his wife have tested positive for COVID and hence he wont be able to vote in Asansol on April 26.

Supriyo has tested positive for the virus for the second time.

He, however, said mentally he will be with the BJP candidates of the Asansol area and will monitor the situation from home.

"Both me & my wife have tested positive. Me for the 2nd time!! V Sad that I won't be able to vote in Asansol. I needed to be there on the road too for the 26th polls where 'desperate' @AITCofficial goons hv already unleashed their terror machinery to disrupt free & fair polls," Supriyo tweeted.

"However, the #TMchhi terror machinery who I hv handled (well) since 2014 may not rejoiceWil b doing my duties frm my room & b right by my candidates mentally in everyway possible to ensure 9/9 seats there," he said in a series of tweets.

Supriyo, a two-time MP from Asansol, is contesting assembly election from Tollygunge assembly seat where voting is over.

-- PTI

Amid acute shortage of oxygen, the PM-CARES fund has given in-principle approval for allocation of funds for installation of 551 dedicated Pressure Swing Adsorption Medical Oxygen Generation Plants inside public health facilities across the country.

These plants are expected to serve as a major boost to oxygen availability at the district level.

These dedicated plants will be established in identified government hospitals in district headquarters in various states/UTs.

India has become the fastest country in the world to administer over 14 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses, done in just 99 days, the Union health ministry said on Sunday.

Eight states -- Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, West Bengal, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala -- account for 58.83 per cent of the total doses given so far in the country, it said.

So far, 14,09,16,417 vaccine doses have been administered across the country through 20,19,263 sessions, the ministry said citing a provisional report till 7 am.

These include 92,90,528 healthcare and 1,19,50,251 frontline workers who got the first dose, and 59,95,634 healthcare and 62,90,491 frontline workers who have taken the second dose.

Among the senior citizens, 4,96,55,753 have got the first dose and 77,19,730 the second done. Among beneficiaries aged between 45 and 60 years, 4,76,83,792 got the first dose and 23,30,238 the second dose.

"In another significant development, India has now become the fastest country in the world to cross the landmark of 14 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses. India achieved this feat in just 99 days," the ministry highlighted.

Over 25 lakh vaccine doses were administered in a span of 24 hours.

-- PTI

12:17 Delhi lockdown extended by a week

The ongoing lockdown in Delhi has been extended by another week, with the national capital still showing a high positivity rate despite a marginal drop in the daily figures.

Making the announcement, Delhi Chief Minster Arvind Kejriwal said, "Corona still continues to wreak havoc. Public opinion is also that lockdown should increase. So the lockdown is being extended for one week".

12:02 System failed: Rahul on Covid crisis

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday alleged that the "system has failed" and it is the duty of the party to provide help to fellow citizens suffering due to sudden spurt in COVID-19 cases in the country.

His comments came on a day Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his 'Mann ki Baat' radio programme said the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the country and assured people that the Centre was working with all power to help the states.

"System' failed, so it's important to do Jan ki baat," Gandhi said on Twitter.

"In this crisis, the country needs responsible citizens. I request my Congress colleagues to leave all political work -- just provide all help and ease the pain of our countrymen," he added.

-- PTI

It has been six months since Sidhique Kappan, a journalist from Kerala was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police along with three other young men in Mathura under Section 17 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, a draconian Act that that deals with raising funds for terrorist acts.

In a Facebook post by Tribute to Political Prisoners, his wife Raihana talks about the ordeal he has been undergoing in custody, here.

You can also read Raihana's interview on Rediff.com, here.

PM Narendra Modi is addressing the nation on his monthly radio programme 'Mann ki Baat' as India continues to battle the frightening surge in the Covid-19 cases and deaths.

Highlights of his address:

>> Country was full of confidence after successfully battling first wave of Covid-19. However, this second wave, which is a storm, has left us devastated

>> PM Modi urges citizens to seek information on Covid-19 only through genuine sources, not to fall pray to misinformation.

>> The government of India is dedicated to taking forward the efforts of the state governments to tackle the current COVID19 situation

11:09 34-hour Covid curfew imposed in Jammu-Kashmir

In view of the rising cases of coronavirus, a 34-hour complete curfew was imposed in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, said the lieutenant governor's office.

The curfew will be in place from 8 pm on April 24 till 6 am on April 26.

While essential and emergency services have been allowed during the curfew, markets and all commercial institutions will remain closed.

The announcement was made on the official Twitter handle of the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor's office.

The tweet stated, "Complete corona curfew to be observed in the Union Territory from 8 pm, April 24 (Saturday) till 6 am, April 26 (Monday). Essential and emergency services to be allowed. All market, commercial institutions will remain closed."

Earlier, the Union territory administration had on April 8, ordered the imposition of a night curfew from 10 pm to 6 am in the urban areas of eight districts which was later extended to municipal and urban local body limits of all the 20 districts on April 20.

Meanwhile, the total number of Covid-19 cases in Jammu and Kashmir surged to 1,58,374 on Saturday as 2,030 people tested positive while the death count mounted to 2,126 with 15 fatalities.

11:06 Pray to Mahavir to keep everyone healthy: Modi

On the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that his life gives us the message of peace and restraint.

"At a time we all countrymen are fighting the corona crisis unitedly, I pray to Lord Mahavir on his birth anniversary that he keeps everyone healthy and bless our efforts with success," Modi tweeted.

Mahavir was believed to have been born in the sixth century BC and was the last of the 24 'tirthankaras' of Jainism.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the central government approved the supply of 4,35,000 vials of Remdesivir to the state.

Office of the Chief Minister of Maharashtra in a tweet said, "The Central Government today has approved a supply of 4,35,000 vials of Remdesivir to Maharashtra till April 30th. CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray has thanked the Hon'ble PM Narendra Modi for accepting his request."

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had drawn the attention of the Centre to the problem created by the shortage of Remdesivir in the state and had also requested the prime minister in a letter, as per a statement from the chief minister's secretariat.

"Today, the Centre has ordered to supply 4 lakh 35 thousand vials to the state till April 30. The chief minister has thanked the prime minister for this. This supply was earlier 2 lakh 69 thousand vials, now it has been increased to 4 lakh 35 thousand," the statement read.

"As per the demand of the states across the country, the Centre will supply 16 lakh Remdesivir vials and seven licensed manufacturing companies have been asked to supply them as a priority," the statement added.

To contain the unprecedented spike in Covid cases, the Andhra Pradesh government on Saturday imposed night curfew all over the state.

Andhra Pradesh has reported 11,766 new Covid-19 cases, the highest ever single-day case total since the onset of the pandemic in the state in March last year.

The new infections took the cumulative caseload past the one million mark to 10,09,228.

India has reported 3,49,691 new Covid-19 cases, 2,767 deaths and 2,17,113 discharges in the last 24 hours, as per Union health ministry data.

The total number of Covid cases stands at 1,69,60,172, with total recoveries amounting to 1,40,85,110.

The cumulative death toll stands at 1,92,311.

India has 26,82,751 active Covid cases, and has carried out a total of 14,09,16,417 vaccinations.

Photograph of mass cremation of Covid victims in Delhi, by Kamal Kishore/PTI Photo.

The Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia tweets: 'Embassy of India is proud to partner with Adani group and M/s Linde in shipping much needed 80MT liquid oxygen to India. Our hearfelt thanks to Ministry of Health Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for all their help, support and cooperation.'

After an all-night scramble for an oxygen refill, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi received five metric tonnes of the life-saving gas in the early hours of Sunday, according to officials.

The hospital had raised an alarm at 10:30 pm on Saturday, saying its oxygen stock would last only an hour. There were 130 patients in the ICU, including 30 on invasive ventilation, when the SOS was sent.

Around 12:20 am it received a tanker, with the help of local AAP MLA Raghav Chadha, which supplied one metric tonne of oxygen.

"It should last two hours," a hospital spokesperson said around 12:45 pm.

According to him, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital's primary supplier in Faridabad was supposed to send a tanker before 3 am. The tanker finally arrived at 4:15 am and delivered 5 metric tonnes of medical oxygen, the highest volume that the hospital has received in the last three days in one refill, he said.

"It should last for 11-12 hours. Oxygen running at full pressure after a long time," the spokesperson said.

09:05 SC judge Justice Shantanagoudar passes away

Supreme Court judge Justice Mohan M Shantanagoudar died at a private hospital in Gurgaon, sources said on Sunday. He was 62.

Justice Shantanagoudar was admitted to the Medanta hospital due to a lung infection and was in the ICU, the sources said. His condition was stated to be stable till late Saturday night but around 12.30 am, the doctors attending him broke the sad news to the family, a court official told PTI.

The sources did not confirm or deny whether the judge was suffering from Covid-19.

Justice Shantanagoudar was elevated as a judge of the Supreme Court on February, 17, 2017.

He was born on May, 5, 1958 in Karnataka and got himself enrolled as an advocate on September 5, 1980. He was appointed as an additional judge of the Karnataka High Court on May 12, 2003 and became a permanent judge in the court in September, 2004.

Later, he was transferred to the Kerala high court, where he assumed charge as the acting chief justice on August 1, 2016. He became the chief justice of the Kerala high court on September 22, 2016, before being elevated as an apex court judge.

President Ram Nath Kovind greeted the nation on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti and urged people to follow his teachings and pledge to defeat Covid-19 through collective discipline.

"Heartfelt greetings to all countrymen, especially the Jain community, on Mahavir Jayanti. Lord Mahavira showed humanity a new path through the ideals of 'Ahimsa Paramo Dharma' and 'Jiyo aur Jeene Do.' Let us all follow his teachings and pledge to defeat Covid-19 on the basis of collective discipline," the President said in a tweet.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah too extended his greetings on the occasion. "Best wishes on Mahavir Jayanti. Lord Mahavir Ji, the eternal symbol of renunciation, austerity, truth and non-violence, paved the way for the welfare of the entire human race with his education full of karma primacy. His life and his thoughts will always guide us," Shah tweeted.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal also wished the countrymen on Mahavir Jayanti. Goyal in a tweet said, "Best wishes to all countrymen on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti. His life devoted to non-violence, mercy, sacrifice, and austerity, and his thoughts will always inspire the society."

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari extended his wishes on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Lord Mahavir and tweeted, "Ahimsa Paramo Dharma. Best wishes on Mahavir Jayanti."

Mahavir Jayanti is an important religious festival in Jainism that celebrates the birth of Lord Mahavir. The festival is marked with prayers and fasting.

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08:47 8 cops injured in London protest over Covid curbs

Eight police officers were injured during a mass demonstration in central London against the Covid-19 lockdown measures and vaccine passports, the Metropolitan Police said.

Tens of thousands of people without face masks on marched in central London to protest against the recent coronavirus-related measures taken by the authorities.

Chanting "freedom" and holding placards reading "Medical apartheid is wrong," "Not to vaccine passports" and "This is Tyranny," the protesters took to the streets in open defiance of the coronavirus rules still in place and the Metropolitan Police advising people not to attend any large gathering.

"Eight officers were injured as they worked to disperse crowds in Hyde Park on Saturday evening. Missiles including bottles were thrown in small pockets of disorder. Two officers were taken to hospital. Thankfully, they are not believed to be seriously injured," the police wrote on Twitter late on Saturday.

The authority added that five people were arrested for offences, including assault on police.

Lockdown restrictions in England began easing on March 8 with the reopening of schools, and since April 12 pubs and restaurants were allowed to serve clients in outdoor seating areas. Up to six people from two different households are allowed to meet outdoors, as part of the government's roadmap out of the lockdown which, according to the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, will see all legal limits on social contact removed by June 21 at the earliest.

08:36 Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' today amid Corona surge

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the 76th episode of his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' at 11 am on Sunday.

It will be broadcast on the entire network of All India Radio and Doordarshan and also on the AIR News website www.newsonair.com and Newsonair Mobile App.

The radio programme comes amid the surge in the Covid-19 cases in the country.

In his previous Mann Ki Baat address, the prime minister lauded corona-warriors and the discipline of the people during last year's Janata curfew.

In 'Mann Ki Baat' held in March, PM Modi also talked about the 'Amrit Mahotsav' and said that it will elevate the country to newer heights and instill a passion to do something for the country.

"Mann ki Baat" is the prime minister's monthly radio address to the nation, which is broadcast on the last Sunday of every month.

The Indian and French navies will hold a three-day mega wargame in the Arabian Sea beginning Sunday that will feature complex naval operations like advanced air defence and anti-submarine drills.

The 19th edition of the Varuna exercise will showcase the increasing levels of synergy, coordination and interoperability between the two navies, officials said.

The Indian Navy will deploy guided missile stealth destroyer Kolkata, guided missile frigates Tarkash and Talwar, fleet support ship Deepak, a Kalvari-class submarine and a sleet of P-8I long range maritime patrol aircraft, they said.

The French Navy will be represented by aircraft carrier Charles-de-Gaulle with Rafale-M fighter jets, E2C Hawkeye aircraft and helicopters Caiman M and Dauphin, the officials said.

The French Navy will also deploy Horizon-class air defence destroyer Chevalier Paul, Aquitaine-class multi-missions frigate Provence and command-and-supply ship Var, the officials said.

Indian Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said both the navies will endeavour to enhance and hone their war-fighting skills to demonstrate their ability as an integrated force to promote peace, security and stability in the maritime domain.

The Indian side will be led by Rear Admiral Ajay Kochhar, Flag Officer Commanding, Western Fleet, while the French side will be headed by Rear Admiral Marc Aussedat, Commander, Task Force 473.

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