An Indian-American political advocacy group on Monday urged the Biden administration to send 30 million of its stockpiled COVID-19 vaccines to India as the country is battling a health crisis due to the deadly coronavirus. 

In a statement, IMPACT asked the White House to send at least half of the US' stockpile of approximately 60 million surplus vaccines to India -- where half of the world's new COVID-19 infections are currently happening.

"This is not just a crisis for India, it's a global crisis and India has become the epicenter. A global crisis requires a global response," said Neil Makhija, executive director of IMPACT.

"If the US does not act quickly, new COVID-19 variants will continue to spill over into countries across the globe and into our backyard. As the US has done in the past, it must lead in this time of crisis and send immediate relief to India," he said.

Makhija commended the Biden-Harris administration for providing critical medical supplies and lifting the embargo on vaccine raw materials necessary for India to produce the Covishield vaccine.

Delhi recorded the highest single-day rise in its COVID-19 death count with 380 more people dying due to the viral disease as well as 20,201 new cases, according to the latest bulletin issued by the city health department.

The positivity rate stood at 35.02 per cent, it added.

A total of 38,766 RT-PCR tests were conducted and another 18,904 rapid-antigen tests were conducted.

US Vice President Kamala Harris told United Nations members on Monday that now is the time for global leaders to begin putting the serious work into how they will respond to the next global pandemic.

The virtual address, Harris' second to a UN body since her inauguration, comes as the United States makes progress on vaccinating the public and much of the world struggles to acquire vaccines. 

"At the same time that the world works to get through this pandemic, we also know that we must prepare for the next," Harris said. 

The speech was co-hosted by UN permanent representatives of Argentina, Japan, Norway and South Africa.

The Biden administration will mark its first 100 days in office this week. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephone conversation with US President Joe Biden on Monday evening, official sources said.

  

Though the sources did not disclose what the conversation was about, it is expected the two leaders discussed the COVID-19 situation in India.

     

The US president and his Vice President Kamala Harris have assured India and its people of providing all assistance, including urgently sending necessary medical life-saving supplies and equipment, to help the country combat the deadly coronavirus crisis.

"Just as India sent assistance to the United States as our hospitals were strained early in the pandemic, we are determined to help India in its time of need," Biden said in a tweet.

As India grapples with the second wave -- India recorded on Monday 3,52,991 new Covid-19 cases and 2,812 deaths in the last 24 hours, the World Health Organisation has reacted, saying the situation is beyond heartbreaking. 

"Its pleasing to see small declines in cases and deaths in several regions, but many countries are still experiencing intense COVID19 transmission, and the situation in India is beyond heartbreaking," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom.

A COVID care centre with 500 oxygen-supported beds run by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police began functioning in Delhi from Monday with the admission of at least 110 patients, officials said.

The facility named Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel COVID Care Centre has been opened in view of Delhi registering a sharp rise in coronavirus cases, shortage of oxygen beds and its healthcare system creaking under the pressure.

The facility is located at the Radha Soami Beas campus in Chhattarpur area of south Delhi.

The border guarding force has been designated by the Union Home Ministry as the nodal agency to run it.

"The SPCCC has started functioning. About 110 patients have been admitted till now," ITBP spokesperson Vivek Kumar Pandey said.

According to the laid out procedure, there will be no walk-in admissions to the centre. Admission at this centre will be made after approval by district surveillance officers in Delhi.

The ITBP has said that treatment at this centre will be free of cost.

More than five lakh people were  vaccinated against COVID-19 in Maharashtra on Monday, the highest in a day so far, the state health department said.

A statement issued by the department said the number is expected to rise further when the final figures come.

"Till 6 pm on April 26, more than five lakh people had been administered vaccine doses," the statement said.

With this, the number of people vaccinated so far in the state (first and second doses combined) stood at more than 1.48 crore, it said.

Vaccine doses were given to beneficiaries at 6,155 centres - 5,347 government-run and 808 private ones - across the state, it said.

On April 3, as many as 4,62,735 people were vaccinated which was the highest single day inoculation figure till now in Maharashtra, the state worst-hit by the pandemic, it said.

The nationwide vaccination drive began on January 16.

The India Meteorological Department on Monday predicted a wet spell over several parts of the country, including central, south and northeast India, from April 26 to 30. 

As per IMD's predictions, thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds are very likely at isolated places over Telangana, Kerala and Mahe from April 26 onwards.

Lightning at isolated places over Gangetic West Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, central Maharashtra, Marathawada, Rayalaseema, south interior Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal on Monday. 

Punjab has announced a night curfew - from 6 pm to 5 am during week days - to combat the rising number of coronavirus cases in the state. There will also be a weekend lockdown - from 6 pm Friday to 5 am Monday - and Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has urged all residents to "stay at home and step out only if absolutely necessary".

Like several others the state has reported a frightening increase in new Covid cases over the past two months. On February 26 there were fewer than 600 new cases in 24 hours and, on Monday morning, the state reported nearly 7,000 new cases - the biggest ever single-day spike.

Earlier today the Chief Minister warned the people of the state that although he is reluctant to order a full lockdown, the pandemic situation in Punjab is expected to get worse.

Mumbai's 24 hour Covid tally:

3,876 new COVID-19 cases

9,150 recoveries 

70 deaths

Dr Shashank Joshi, a member of the Maharashtra government's COVID-19 task force and a renowned endocrinologist, said the turnaround was due to the metropolis

tacking the surge with the "ATM strategy", which is 'Assess, Triage and Transfer, and Management'.

"During the first wave, Mumbai used to hardly conduct 15,000 to 18,000 tests. However, during the second wave, the test numbers range between 40,000 and 50,000. Mumbai has passed the peak as cases are plateauing, but the plateau could

be longer," Joshi said.

He added that the second wave the country is facing is "more furious" than expected, which has been the trend worldwide, and appealed to people to adhere to COVID-19 norms strictly even after current restrictions in the state are relaxed.

Since the first train of empty tankers left for Vizag from Mumbai on April 19, the railways has transported more than 302 tonnes of oxygen safely to various states across India, while 154 tonne more is enroute to regions starved of the gas, the national transporter said Monday.

 

An oxygen express train carrying four tankers of LMO is expected to reach Delhi Cantt station from Raigarh (Chhattisgarh) at 5 am on Tuesday. For the residents of Maharashtra, a train carrying 44 MT (in three tankers) has reached Kalamboli (near Mumbai) from Hapa (Rajkot, Gujarat) on Monday. 

Another oxygen express is currently on the run from Bokaro (Jharkhand) to Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) carrying 90 MT of LMO (in five tankers) and is expected to reach Lucknow by early Tuesday morning. An empty rake will depart from Lucknow to Bokaro to bring one more set of oxygen tankers. 

The railways is responding to all requests received from state governments and is in constant touch with the respective authorities for additional oxygen train requirements. 

Each tanker of 'Oxygen Express' trains can carry around 16 tonnes of medical oxygen, the railways said, adding these trains travel at a speed of around 65 kmph.

Deaths due to the lack of oxygen have been reported from across the country, and it was on the suggestion of the Maharashtra and the Madhya Pradesh governments that the railways planned a policy to transport liquid medical oxygen in cryogenic tankers.

The first such train was pushed into service on April 19, when seven trucks left Mumbai for Vizag to load oxygen. These trucks were loaded on flat wagons and carried to the loading location. 

Since then requests for these trains have come from Delhi, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. 

The Aurangabad Bench of Bombay high court ordered on Monday that in view of the restrictions in place due to COVID-19, people who step out of their houses either on foot or on vehicles, except during the relaxation hours from 7 am to 11 am from Monday to Friday, should carry Aadhaar card.

Those who fail to comply with the same can be booked by road traffic police for relevant criminal offences, a Bench of Justices Ravindra V Ghuge and BU Debadwar added.

Even doctors, medical or paramedical staff are expected to carry their Aadhaar cards, the Bench clarified.

Further, the Court also held that any person who violates the COVID guidelines/ directions expected to be followed by them should be subjected to an RT-PCR test (used for detection of COVID) and the violators will also be expected to disclose their mobile number or landline number.

In 15 out of 36 districts in Maharashtra, the number of people getting discharged is much higher than patients getting admitted in hospital for COVID-19, which is a "satisfactory and comforting indication", state medical education minister Amit Deshmukh said on Monday.

He said the state government had set up jumbo treatment facilities, ramped up testing and ensured effective home isolation to tackle the second wave of the infection, which was "unprecedented and four times stronger than the

first one".

On the drop in numbers and the recovery rate climbing up steadily, the minister told reporters, "This is a satisfactory and comforting indication. I feel restrictions are working and the second wave numbers will soon come down if

all of us adhere to COVID-19 norms."

The state government was planning to get vaccines from the international market to carry out a massive drive covering as many people as possible in a short period of time, the minister added.

"The situation in Maharashtra is coming under control day by day, and that is why we are working on increasing the number of people getting vaccinated. Therefore, the MVA government under Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is planning to purchase vaccines from the international market in huge numbers," Deshmukh claimed.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Monday held a telephonic conversation with PM Modi and wished for Indias early recovery from the current spread of Covid-19, a press release issued by the Japanese foreign ministry stated. 

The two leaders concurred that they would work in closer cooperation towards containing the pandemic, the press note added.

"The two leaders confirmed the importance of Japan-India bilateral cooperation and multilateral cooperation, including Japan-Australia-India-US quadrilateral cooperation, towards realising a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. They also shared the view to continue their effort on building a rules-based free and open international order. Prime Minister Suga stated that he hopes to further develop cooperation in areas such as cyber, digital, decarbonization, health care and connectivity, and also mentioned possible collaboration in such fields as 5G, submarine cables, strengthening of industrial competitiveness, diversification of supply chain, development of Indias North Eastern Region and the Specified Skilled Worker system.The two leaders welcomed the steady progress on the high-speed rail project including the 12th Joint Committee Meeting on the Project for the Construction of Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail, and affirmed their intention to keep advancing Japan-India cooperation in various fields. Prime Minister Suga expressed serious concerns about Chinas continued and strengthened unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East and South China Seas, including the Coast Guard Law. In closing, the two leaders shared the view to realize Prime Minister Sugas visit to India at a mutually convenient timing while taking into account the Covid-19 situation," the statement read.

The mayor of the Spanish city of Pamplona on Monday cancelled the San Fermin festival, which draws thrill-seekers from all over the world to run with fighting bulls through its streets, for a second year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

"To my very despair, I'm forced to officially suspend the festival of San Fermin in 2021," mayor Enrique Maya told reporters on Monday.

He cited the high COVID-19 contagion in the Navarra region and the low vaccination ratio.

The San Fermin festival gained international fame from Ernest Hemingway's 1926 novel "The Sun Also Rises".

Last year's cancellation was the first in over four decades and was a big financial blow to Pamplona's bars, restaurants and hotels.

The last time it did not celebrate the festival two years in a row was during the 1936-39 Spanish Civil War.

The country has enough medical oxygen at present but its transportation is a challenge and the Centre and state governments are working together to minimise the time taken in movement of tankers, a senior government official said on Monday.

"There is no need to panic. I assure you that at present union government and state governments have enough oxygen. The transportation is a challenge, as the demand of tankers suddenly grew. The Centre and state governments are working together to minimise the time of transportation," Piyush Goyal, Additional Secretary, ministry of home affairs, said at a joint press conference on COVID-19 situation. 

"India is ordering oxygen tankers from abroad on a purchase or hiring basis. Using real-time tracking, we are monitoring the movement of oxygen tankers," he added.

India is seeing a surge in COVID-19 cases and reported 3.52 lakh new cases in the last 24 hours. This is the highest single-day spike since the onset of the pandemic. 

Directed by Sanjay Gupta, the film is a fictional story of the duel between Amartya Rao (Abraham) and Senior Inspector Vijay Sawarkar (Hashmi) set against the backdrop of Mumbai in the early 90s. 

The film released theatrically on March 19 amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

Vijay Subramaniam, Director and Head, Content, Amazon Prime Video, India said, given the sustained interest of audiences for action movies on their platform, he is hopeful people will enjoy Mumbai Saga. 

"Mumbai Saga' is an exciting addition to an already thrilling line-up on Amazon Prime Video, featuring some of the best stars in Bollywood," Subramaniam said in a statement. 

The film also features Mahesh Manjrekar, Kajal Aggarwal, Suniel Shetty, Prateik Babbar, Rohit Roy, Amole Gupte, Samir Soni, Gulshan Grover, and Anjana Sukhani. It is produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Anuradha Gupta, and Sangeeta Ahir under the banners T-Series and White Feather Films.

Do read Mumbai Saga's review on Rediff.com, here.

As India grappled with a raging second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, the government has advised that it is time people start wearing masks inside their homes as well.

India's daily COVID-19 infection tally and death toll have touch new peaks in the past few days.

The country recorded 3,52,991 cases, the highest so far, taking the tally of cases to 1,73,13,163 while active cases have crossed the 28-lakh mark, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Monday.

The death toll increased to 1,95,123 with a record 2,812 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.

Chief Justice of India NV Ramana lodged a police complaint on Monday afternoon after a Twitter account bearing his name was found posting fake messages on the social media platform.

Sworn in Saturday, the Chief Justice does not have a Twitter, or any other social media, account.

The tweet - from the handle @NVRamanna - has been deleted but the account itself, at the time of writing, remains active and has tweeted 98 times so far.

The deleted tweet read: "Due to Ajit Doval's diplomacy, the US decided to supply raw materials to India #vaccination @PMOIndia".

Justice Ramana took oath as the 48th Chief Justice Of India last week.

He was sworn in by President Ram Nath Kovind in a small ceremony - attendance was limited due to Covid restrictions - at Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi.

Asking the people to not panic, health ministry official Luv Aggarwal said hospital admissions should only be done when needed. 

"Physical distancing, use of mask and hand hygiene have to be a part of life," he said.  

On oxygen availability, he said the storage capacity is being increased and Air Force and Railways are helping ferry air tankers. "The govt has directed states to not give medical oxygen to industries," he said, adding that the government is also getting tankers from outside India on hiring basis.  

The health ministry has said that total 14.19 crores of coornavirus vaccine doses have been administered so far.

As cases continue to spike, the health ministry on Monday spelt out 3-principles strategy to contain the virus spread -- Containment, Clinical Management and Community Engagement -- across alll states and districts. 

Voting in currently underway for the seventh and penultimate phase of the ongoing West Bengal assembly elections across 34 constituencies. 

A voter turnout of 67.27 per cent has been recorded till now.

The seventh phase polling comes at a time when there has been a massive rise in the country's daily new cases of the coronavirus disease. 

On Sunday, Kajal Sinha, a candidate from chief minister Mamata Banerjee's ruling Trinamool Congress succumbed to Covid-19. 

Last Thursday, the Election Commission of India announced no roadshow or rallies will be allowed for the assembly elections, also revoking permission already granted for such rallies.

The Supreme Court on Monday decided to advance its summer vacation, which will now commence from May 8 in view of sudden surge in COVID-19 cases. 

  

Chief Justice N V Ramana on his first working day held an "emergent meeting" with bar bodies including Supreme Court Bar Association, Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association and Bar Council of India to take stalk of rising COVID situation.  

Senior advocate and SCBA president Vikas Singh said that "it has been decided in the emergent meeting that instead of May 14, the Summer Vacation will now commence from May 8 and would end on June 27". 

He said that the CJI also approved in principle the opening of the COVID care centre in the new chamber building of the Supreme Court.  

"SCBA executive council has approached the Delhi government to inspect the place and submit a feasibility report. Tehsildar Chanakyapuri is already briefed to make arrangements for inspection of the building," Singh said. 

Meanwhile, SCAORA secretary Joseph Aristotle said that CJI has principally agreed to provide suitable area for establishing medical facilities for at least 60 beds and other facilities like RT-PCR test and vaccination. 

All medical personnel of the armed forces who have retired or have taken pre-mature retirement in the last two years are being recalled to work in COVID-19 facilities within proximity of their present place of residence, the government said on Monday.

   

Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat told Prime Minister Narendra Modi about this decision as they reviewed preparations and operations being undertaken by the armed forces to deal with the second wave of the pandemic raging across the country. 

 

Other medical officers who retired from the armed forces earlier than two years have also been requested to make their services available for consultation through medical emergency helplines, a statement said. 

 

Rawat also informed the prime minister that oxygen cylinders available with armed forces in various establishments will be released for hospitals.

 

Modi was also informed that all medical officers on staff appointments at Command HQ, Corps HQ, Division HQ & similar HQ of Navy and Air Force will be employed at hospitals.

 

"The CDS informed the prime minister that nursing personnel are being employed in large numbers to complement the doctors at the hospitals," the statement said. 

 

Rawat also said they are creating medical facilities in large numbers and military medical infrastructure will be made available to civilians, where ever possible.

 

Modi reviewed the operations being undertaken by Indian Air Force as well to transport oxygen and other essentials in India and abroad. 

 

The prime minister also discussed with Rawat that Kendriya and Rajya Sainik Welfare Boards and officers posted in various headquarters in veterans cells may be instructed to coordinate the services of veterans to extend the reach to the maximum extent possible, including in remote areas. -- PTI

Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda has called for curtailing election victory celebrations, and postponement of all byelections and local elections by six months as part of measures to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

All large public gatherings should be banned for the next six months, the Janat Dal-Secular supremo said in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi offering a few suggestions to contain the spread.

"Steps should be taken immediately to curtail election victory celebrations in States that have gone to polls this month. Since no state legislature's term is expiring after May this year, all byelections and local elections should be postponed by six months," the Rajya Sabha member said.

During this period, Gowda said, the Election Commission can evolve new rules for conduct of safe elections, and simultaneously, the vaccination programme has to be accelerated.

He assured the Prime Minister that he will support all constructive decisions and initiatives that the Union government may take under his leadership, to contain the pandemic, spread the vaccination programme, and save lives.

Stating that he believes that this is a time to act and act swiftly, Gowda said health administration and Covid management has to be quickly decentralised.

Medical professionals at all levels have to be urgently hired on short contracts to help district administrations, he said, adding, the authority to hire medical and para-medical personnel should be given to district collectors, district health officers and district hospitals.

According to him, it is not sufficient to have a war room at the state-level, in state capitals, but there should be war rooms at all district headquarters.

The focus currently has been on big cities. But there is a greater danger lurking in non-urban districts and taluk centres. Village clusters also need urgent attention. The Ministry of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj has to be deployed to coordinate these efforts, he said.

All government departments have a role in this health crisis and not just the Ministry of Health, he suggested.

Gowda said there is no clear messaging on the vaccination front, and there is a lot of confusion among people, especially after the surge of the second wave.

Since many people who had taken the first and second dose of vaccination have also been infected there is lurking cynicism about the vaccines, he said.

During this period essential services will be allowed between 6 and 10 am after which all shops will have to shut down. 

Only the construction, manufacturing and agriculture sectors will be allowed to function even while public transport will remain shut, the CM said. 

Yediyurappa also announced free Covid vaccination at government hospitals for those between 18 and 45 years of age.

318 oxygen concentrators on Monday arrived at Delhi airport from the United States as India receives global support to fight the unprecedented health crisis of COVID-19.

"All efforts to strengthen India's fight against the pandemic are on. 318 Philips Oxygen Concentrators on @airindiain flight from JFK Airport land at @DelhiAirport. Let there be no doubt. We will turn the tide," Union Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted.

India also received the aid of 500 BiPAPs, 250 oxygen concentrators and other medical supplies from Singapore, which landed in Mumbai last night on an Air India flight.

Earlier on Sunday, the United States agreed to send essential raw materials to India required for manufacturing vaccines.

Australia will send oxygen, ventilators and personal protective equipment to India as part of an immediate support package to the country which is battling with the latest surge of the COVID-19 cases, Health Minister Greg Hunt said on Monday.

 

The federal government was in the process of considering what it could send to help, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation news channel quoted Hunt as saying.

 

"India is literally gasping for oxygen," the federal health minister said.

 

"And while we can assist with the national medical stockpile, their particular request is for assistance with regards to the physical supply of oxygen. That will be one of the things we are looking at, in particular with the states," the minister said.

 

The federal government also confirmed to send oxygen, ventilators and personal protective equipment to India as part of an immediate support package to be announced on Tuesday, according to the report.

 

However, Australia would not send vaccines.

 

Hunt further said: ''We are in a strong position on that front because we don't need them at this point in time. We will still keep a reserve, but if they can be of assistance (they will be donated)."

 

The National Security Committee of Cabinet is set to meet on Tuesday to discuss any assistance for India, as well as any extra steps that may need to be taken to minimise the risk of infections spreading to Australia.

 

The government was also considering banning all flights from India following the massive spike of coronavirus cases in the country.

 

The Cabinet meeting will discuss temporarily halting all repatriation flights out of India.

 

The move could affect thousands of people, including Australian cricketers currently playing in the Indian Premier League in India.

 

Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne, Australia's ambassador to India Barry O'Farrell and officials from the Health Department, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Department of Home Affairs were holding discussions over recent days on how to deal with the emerging situation. -- PTI

An all-party meeting convened by the Tamil Nadu government on Monday resolved to allow Vedanta's Sterlite Industries in Tuticorin to produce oxygen for a four-month period amid surging covid cases, paving the way for the partial reopening of the copper smelter closed in 2018 over pollution concerns.

The unit was sealed by the state government in May 2018, days after 13 agitators were killed in police firing during a violent anti-Sterlite protest in the southern district.

On Monday, the Chief Minister K Palaniswami-chaired meeting, attended by main opposition party DMK among others, resolved to allow Sterlite produce oxygen from its plant in Tuticorin, days after Vedanta moved the Supreme Court in this connection.

"As per the Supreme Court directive, power supply may be allowed for Vedanta's Sterlite Industries in Tuticorin for four months to repair and operate oxygen producing and related equipment only," the meeting resolved.

The period may be extended later but "at no cost" shall other activities like copper manufacturing and running the co-generation plant shall be allowed and the "power supply shall be cut after this period (four months) by TANGEDCO," it added.

Tamil Nadu should get priority in the oxygen being produced here and it shall be taken to other states only after meeting its requirements.

On Friday, the apex court had said people were dying due to lack of oxygen and questioned the Tamil Nadu government as to why it cannot take over the Sterlite copper unit for producing oxygen to treat COVID-19 patients.

"We are not interested that Vedanta or A, B or C runs it. We are interested that oxygen should be produced," a bench headed by then Chief Justice S A Bobde had said.  -- PTI

The Madras high court on Monday came down hard on the Election Commission and called it the "the most irresponsible institution" for the alleged spread of the second wave of Covid-19 in the country.

In stinging remarks, the court said EC officials may be booked under murder charges too.

The first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy made the observation on a public interest writ, seeking for a direction to authorities to ensure fair counting of votes on May 2 in Karur by taking effective steps and proper arrangements with Covid-19 protocols.

Since as many as 77 candidates are contesting in the Karur constituency, it would be very difficult to accommodate their agents in the counting hall. It may affect observance of the protocols, the petitioner alleged.

When the counsel for the EC told the judges that all necessary steps were underway, the bench retorted that by allowing the political parties to take out rallies and meetings, it had paved the way for the resurgence of the

second wave of Covid-19.

The judges also orally warned that they would not hesitate to stop the counting of votes on May 2.

Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi has been waiting for three days to refill its oxygen cylinders, which are used while transporting critically ill COVID patients, and is currently on beg and borrow mode, sources said on Monday.

 

They said the hospital has, however, received 10 tonnes of liquid oxygen around 11.40 am. In the morning, the hospital said it has 4,000 cubic metres of oxygen left which would last for eight hours.

The hospital has 104 oxygen cylinders which are used while moving extremely sick COVID patients in case of emergency which is happening quite frequently now, an official said.

"All the cylinders were sent three days ago to different locations for emergency refill. For the last three days our staff is camping there but to no avail," he said.

The official added the elite hospital is on "beg and borrow" mode.

"The hospital has arranged two cylinders which are also going to empty quickly," a source said, adding it is getting extremely difficult and risky to shift patients.

Sir Ganga Ram Hospital requires a minimum of 11,000 cubic meter liquid oxygen daily and has a consumption of 10,000 cubic meter per day. 

By 11.40 am, a tanker with 10 tonnes of oxygen was sent from Jindal Steel plant in Rourkela by industrialist Naveen Jindal for the hospital, it said.

The vehicle took more than 48 hours to reach Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

It had on Friday reported the death of 25 of its "sickest" patients as the administration grappled with depleting oxygen supplies. -- PTI

The Delhi government will provide free COVID-19 vaccines to all those above 18 years of age in the city and purchase of 1.34 crore doses has been approved, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Monday.

 

The government will make efforts to speed up vaccine purchase and administering it to the people, he said in an online briefing.

Kejriwal said COVID 19 vaccines should have one price and appealed to the Centre to bring down the price.

He also appealed to the vaccine manufacturers to bring down prices, saying it was time to help humanity and not to earn profit. -- PTI 

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal visited the Indo-Tibetan Border Police's Radha Soami COVID care facility in Delhi's Chhatarpur on Monday and thanked the Union government for providing doctors and medical staff at the centre which has 500 oxygen-supported beds.

 

He said 200 ICU beds will be arranged at the facility.

"Visited the Radha Soami facility this morning, 500 oxygen beds start today. More beds will be added in the next few days. We will also start 200 ICU beds here. Grateful to Babaji for helping us. Thank you Central government for providing doctors and medical staff of ITBP," Kejriwal tweeted after the visit.

The Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel COVID Care Centre (SPCCC) at Radha Soami Satsang Beas in south Delhi is operated by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police.

"SPCCC will provide treatment free of cost. No walk-in admissions will be made," ITBP spokesperson Vivek Kumar Pandey had said, adding admission to the centre will be made on reference by the district surveillance officers.

A brief standard operating procedure issued on Sunday said patients after getting a reference from a DSO will report at the reception of the SPCCC and after initial documentation, their physical 

examination will be done and subsequently, they will be admitted.

Delhi is facing an acute shortage of oxygen beds for serious COVID-19 patients and has almost run out of ICU facilities amid soaring infections. -- PTI

Metropolitan magistrate Sahil Gupta granted relief to Sidhu on a personal bond of Rs 25,000 with one surety of like amount, while directing him to join the investigation as and when asked for. 

Sidhu was arrested by the Delhi police on April 17 in connection with the violence during the farmers' tractor march against the central government's new farm laws, moments after being released from jail in another case related to the incident, in which he got bail on April 16. 

I am of the considered opinion that applicant's further incarceration in the present case would bear no fruit and therefore would be unjustified, nor would the restoration of applicant's liberty be detrimental to the investigation being conducted by the police authorities, the judge said on Monday. 

Sidhu was arrested in the first case on February 9 in connection with the Red Fort farmers' protest violence on the Republic Day this year.

Anxiety pierced through Indian Premier League's bio-secure bubble on Monday with leading Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and some Australian players withdrawing from the league amid the escalating COVID-19 crisis in India even as the Board of Control for Cricket in India insisted that the glitzy league will go on.

 

The 34-year-old Ashwin, competing for Delhi Capitals, decided to take a break saying that his family is currently "putting up a fight against COVID-19" and he wants to support them. He hopes to return to the side "if things go in the right direction".

 

However, Andrew Tye (Rajastan Royals) and the duo of Kane Richardson and Adam Zampa (both Royal Challengers Bangalore) withdrew as apprehension set in after a couple of weeks went by smoothly for the league being held in front of empty stands across nine venues.

 

While Zampa and Richardson have not yet spoken about their "personal reasons" for leaving, Tye said he feared getting locked out of his own country owing to mounting quarantine cases from India in his hometown Perth. 

 

"I just thought to try and get on the front foot and get home before I got locked out of the country...think I've had 11 days at home out of the bubble since August, so for me I just wanted to get home," Tye told 'SEN Radio' from Doha, the transit point before his flight to Perth.

 

The BCCI, on its part, insisted that the event will continue and it wouldn't come in the way of those wanting to leave.

 

"As of now, IPL is going ahead. Obviously, if anyone wants to leave, that's perfectly fine," a senior Board official said on conditions of anonymity.

 

While leg-spinner Zampa was bought for Rs 1.5 crore, RCB spent Rs 4 crore to buy pacer Richardson at the players' auction. 

 

Richardson featured in one match for RCB, returning figures of 1 for 29 in three overs against Rajasthan Royals in Mumbai, but Zampa couldn't make it to the playing XI this season.

 

The 34-year-old Tye had also not got a game with the Royals so far and his contract with the franchise was worth Rs one crore.

 

India is recording over 3 lakh daily cases for the past few days and the health infrastructure is struggling to handle the rise with shortage of oxygen and some crucial medicines adding to the crisis.

 

Kolkata Knight Riders mentor David Hussey acknowledged that Australians in the IPL are a "bit nervous" about getting back home in the wake of the situation here.

 

"Everyone is sort of a bit nervous about whether they can get back into Australia. I dare say there will be a few other Australians a bit nervous about getting back into Australia," Hussey, a former Australia international, told the 'Sydney Morning Herald'.

 

Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers' Association also issued a joint statement on Monday, saying that they are monitoring the situation.

 

"Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers' Association remain in regular contact with Australian players, coaches and commentators taking part in the Indian Premier League, which is being conducted under strict bio-security protocols," the two bodies said. -- PTI

The Supreme Court on Monday suspended its judicial work for the day after paying homage to its serving judge Justice M M Shantanagoudar who passed away on April 24. 

    

The 62-year-old Justice Shantanagoudar died at a private hospital in Gurugram on Saturday night.  

On his first working day, newly-appointed Chief Justice N V Ramana led the condolence meet in the apex court premises and was joined by seven other judges, who were to hold court today. 

 

Chief Justice Ramana announced that they will be observing two-minute silence as a mark of respect to the departed soul, and said they are deeply pained and saddened by Shantanagoudar's  sudden demise. 

 

Justices RF Nariman, UU Lalit, AM Khanwilkar, DY Chandrachud, L Nageswara Rao, S Ravindra Bhat and Hrishkesh Roy also joined the condolence meet.  

 

Attorney General K K Venugopal, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, Senior advocate and Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Vikas Singh and advocate Shivaji Jadhav  attended the meeting virtually.  

 

At the end of the condolence meet, Chief Justice Ramana announced that there will be no judicial business for the day and the matters listed today will be taken up on Tuesday.  

Justice Shantanagoudar was elevated as a judge of the Supreme Court on February 17, 2017. He would have remained in office till May 5, 2023. -- PTI 

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Sunday said that Pakistan would be happy to talk out differences and resolve outstanding issues through dialogue if India was willing to revisit the unilateral decisions it took on Aug 5, 2019, regarding the status of Jammu and Kashmir.

Citing Anadolu Agency of Turkey, Dawn reported, "If India is willing to re-visit some of the decisions that it took on August 5, 2019, Pakistan will be more than happy to engage, sit and talk and resolve all outstanding issues," said Qureshi during his two-day visit to Turkey. On August 5, 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a bold move to scrap the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir by modifying Article 370 of the Constitution.

Same day, the Rajya Sabha also passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, that bifurcated the state into two Union Territories-Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir.

He said that Pakistan had outstanding issues with India including Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek, water and other minor issues and the only sensible way forward was the dialogue, reported Dawn.

"We cannot afford to go to war, you know, it will be mutually suicidal. And no sensible person will advocate a policy of that nature. So, we need to sit and we need to talk," he remarked.

He said that one recent development of recommitment to ceasefire was during the conversation between Directors General of Military Operations of both sides was a positive development, reported Dawn.

The Foreign Minister also referred to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's messages on Pakistan's national day and a goodwill message to Prime Minister Imran Khan who also responded positively to it. -- ANI

Why was the Election Commission sleeping all this while, asked Trinamool Congress MP Nusrat Jahan Ruhi on Monday after the poll body banned public meetings in the ongoing West Bengal assembly elections amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking to reporters after casting her vote with her parents in the seventh phase of the polls, Nusrat also said that wherever she has campaigned, she has only seen support for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. 

"Wherever I have been campaigning, I've seen peoples' support for only one face - Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's... Why was the Election Commission sleeping all this while?" the TMC MP questioned.

She further said, "When Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided not to hold public meetings, the EC called off all public meetings. It listens to the PM and Home Minister more than anyone else," she added.

Voting is currently underway in 34 constituencies across five districts of the state. A total of 268 candidates, including 37 women, are in the fray in this phase of the elections. -- ANI

Google CEO Sundar Pichai and his Microsoft counterpart Satya Nadella assured help to India as the country battles a ravaging coronavirus crisis.

Sundar Pichai tweeted that Google  will provide a Rs 135 crore funding to UNICEF and the non-profit Give India for medical supplies, supporting high-risk communities, and grants to help spread critical information about the deadly virus.

"Devastated to see the worsening Covid crisis in India," the Alphabet chief tweeted.

Satya Nadella said he was "heartbroken" by the current coronavirus situation in India and added that his company will continue to use its resources and technology for relief efforts and support buying oxygen devices.

In a tweet, the Indian-American CEO also thanked the United States government that has assured help to India amid the crisis.

"I am heartbroken by the current situation in India. I'm grateful the U.S. government is mobilizing to help. Microsoft will continue to use its voice, resources, and technology to aid relief efforts, and support the purchase of critical oxygen concentration devices," his tweet read.

Read Dippy Chaudhary's column in The guardian.

Read the full article HERE

Equity benchmark Sensex rallied over 600 points in early trade on Monday, tracking gains in index majors ICICI Bank, Reliance Industries and Kotak Bank amid positive trend in global markets.

   

The 30-share BSE index was trading 641.35 points or 1.34 per cent higher at 48,519.80.

 

Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty jumped 178.90 points or 1.25 per cent to 14,520.25.

 

ICICI Bank was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, rallying around 5 per cent, after the lender on Saturday reported a nearly four-fold jump in its March quarter consolidated profit at Rs 4,886 crore, as against Rs 1,251 crore in the year-ago period.

 

UltraTech Cement, SBI, ONGC, Axis Bank, Kotak Bank and Bajaj Finance were also among the gainers.

 

On the other hand, HCL Tech, PowerGrid, Sun Pharma and Tech Mahindra were among the laggards.

 

In the previous session, Sensex ended 202.22 points or 0.42 per cent lower at 47,878.45, and Nifty dropped 64.80 points or 0.45 per cent to close at 14,341.35.

 

Foreign institutional investors were net sellers in the capital market as they offloaded shares worth Rs 1,360.76 crore on Friday, according to provisional exchange data.

 

Domestic equities look to be positive at the moment, said Binod Modi Head-Strategy at Reliance Securities.

 

He noted that while a persistent rise in COVID-19 cases across the nation and enhanced economic restrictions have dented investor sentiments over the last couple of weeks, manufacturing and infrastructure activities have not halted yet and companies appeared to be proactive this time to convince most workers to stay back by offering basic amenities and facilities. -- PTI

With 3,52,991 people testing positive for coronavirus infection in a day, the highest so far, India's total tally of COVID-19 cases has climbed to 1,73,13,163 while active cases have crossed the 28-lakh mark, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Monday.  

 

The death toll increased to 1,95,123 with a record 2,812 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed. 

 

Registering a steady increase, the active cases have increased to 28,13,658 comprising 16.25 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has further dropped to 82.62 per cent.    

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,43,04,382. The case fatality rate has further dropped to 1.13 per cent, the data stated.    

Four patients died in a private hospital in Rewari on Sunday allegedly due to a shortage of medical oxygen following which the district administration launched an investigation to ascertain the reason behind the deaths.

 

Meanwhile, Gurgaon district administration ordered a probe into the death of four patients in a private hospital after reports that they died due to alleged oxygen shortage in the facility. The hospital authorities denied these reports and said those who expired were critically ill.

 

After the deaths in Rewari, relatives of some of the patients, who were admitted to the designated COVID facility, held a protest outside the building complex alleging there was a grave shortage of medical oxygen.

"Three patients died in the ICU,while one patient died in the ward. We have limited oxygen supplies. We are repeatedly telling the administration about this and have been sending them reminders," an official of the hospital in Rewari told reporters outside the building.

 

"We have been sending empty oxygen cylinders to vendors to fill them again. Since 9 am, we have been telling the authorities that we have limited stock," he said.

 

The hospital official said the hospital has a consumption of 300 medical oxygen cylinders per day. "There are 114 COVID patients admitted in the hospital," he said.

 

Narnaul Deputy Commissioner Ajay Kumar, who is currently officiating as the DC of Rewari district, said the allegations of oxygen shortage and four deaths were made by the hospital.

 

"The sub divisional magistrate, chief medical officer and other officials are at the hospital to find out what led to these deaths. They (the hospital) are claiming that there was an oxygen shortage. However, from the administration's end, regular supply has been given. So, we are finding out where the gap arose, all this is being investigated, Kumar had told PTI over phone earlier in the day.

 

A person whose aunt was admitted to the hospital could be seen pleading with some police officials outside the facility, asking them to do something immediately to ensure that the hospital gets adequate stock of medical oxygen.

 

Meanwhile, the Gurgaon hospital, where four patients died allegedly due to oxygen shortage, said, "These patients had severe COVID. Although, we are facing a crunch of oxygen supply, in the case of these patients, it was not that we ran out of oxygen. Being critically ill, their oxygen saturation levels dropped sharply. The doctors tried their best to revive them, but unfortunately they passed away."

 

In the case of COVID patients who are critically ill, one cannot predict when the saturation levels will fall, one of the owners of the private hospital told PTI over phone.

 

She said that given the present surge in demand of oxygen some of the patient's attendants have arranged some cylinders as a back up on their own.

 

However, the Gurgaon district magistrate took cognisance of the incident and ordered a probe which would ascertain the circumstances leading to the deaths despite claims that oxygen was available. -- PTI

Top United States lawmakers rallied behind India in its hour of crisis urging the Biden administration to provide material and healthcare assistance to India to help save lives from the deadly coronavirus.

 

In a rare move, at a time when the Congress is bitterly divided on political lines, Senators Mark Warner from the ruling Democratic party and John Cornyn from the opposition Republican party jointly called on the White House to accelerate its assistance to India.

 

"As co-chairs of the Senate India Caucus, we urged them to do everything possible to help our friends in India in the midst of this COVID-19 crisis," Warner said.

 

"Glad to also be joined in this effort by Senator Susan Collins too. Support for our ally India is bipartisan. We should do everything we can to help them fight back against COVID-19."

 

Warner and Cornyn, the two powerful Senators in their respective parties, are co-chairs of the Senate India Caucus, the only country-specific caucus in the United States' Senate.

 

Congresswoman Val Demings said under President Joe Biden's leadership the US has done 200 million vaccine doses in 100 days. A shot must be available for every American, she said.

 

"We must also be a global leader. We cannot stand back and allow mass deaths. I commend the administration's announcement today and strongly support more, ASAP," Demings said.

 

Congresswoman Sara Jacobs said providing support to India, including boosting their vaccine programme, is absolutely the right thing to do. "Moving forward, supporting vaccine programmes around the world will be essential.  If the last year has shown us anything, it's that global health impacts all of us."

 

This is India's moment of need and America must answer the call to help, said Congressman Andy Kim.

 

"Biden administration announced strong initial steps. I urge Biden to now authorise release of AstraZeneca vaccine to India and other allies. Alliances are tested in the darkest of days, and we must step up," he said.

 

"India accounts for nearly half of all new cases globally if you only count the numbers reported (millions in last week) mass cremations across India tell story of vast underreporting as numbers are undoubtedly 

higher. It's a true crisis," Jacobs said.

 

"Today, the Biden admin announced the US is going to send resources and supplies to India to help with vaccine production, and to deliver oxygen and therapeutics for those suffering. This is the right move. But 

we can do better and more. We can help India and not miss a beat in our domestic response. America has secured enough vaccine for every single American. Pfizer/Moderna have signed up to deliver 600 million doses in 

total through July. Add 100 million J&J doses," Kim said.

 

He said it is one of first major tests of American global leadership in "this new era". 

"Every national security expert across political spectrum says that America's strategic strengths (especially in relation to China) are our allies and partners. Then we need to make that a reality. When the US needed help early in this pandemic, India came to our aid. It's time that we show them, and the rest of the world, that America's word is America's deed. We can show the power of America as an ally," Kim said. -- PTI

United States President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have assured India and its people of providing all assistance, including urgently sending necessary medical life-saving supplies and equipment, to help the country combat the deadly coronavirus crisis.

 

"Just as India sent assistance to the United States as our hospitals were strained early in the pandemic, we are determined to help India in its time of need," Biden said in a tweet.

 

The President was spending his weekend at his home in Delaware but is believed to be following up the developments in India.

 

"The US is working closely with the Indian government to rapidly deploy additional support and supplies during an alarming COVID-19 outbreak. As we provide assistance, we pray for the people of India including its 

courageous healthcare workers," Harris said in a tweet.

 

The tweets by Biden and Harris are the first reactions by the top American leadership after the recent outbreak of deadly COVID19 pandemic in India. 

The two have been criticizsed by friends of India in the US, including some of their own party leaders, for slow response to the American help to their natural ally.

 

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said she has been in close touch with Foreign Secretary Harshvardhan Shringla and India's Ambassador to US Taranjit Singh Sandhu in recent days on the issue.

 

"The American people stand in solidarity with our friends in India during these difficult times. We are rapidly providing therapeutics, ventilators, PPE, raw material for vaccines, and more," Sherman said.

 

Earlier on Sunday, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke to his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval during which the White House announced that it is urgently sending medical supplies and equipment to save lives in India.

 

The Indian-American community, which had been critical of the Biden administration so far, welcomed the move.

 

"Great to see our US India partnership at work at this critical time," Indiaspora said after Biden's tweet.

 

"Good first steps," Indian-American Democratic bundler Shekar Narasimhan said after Sullivan announced details of the assistance to India.

 

In a tweet, he described it as "moving the needle".

 

"I am also counting on private and corporate actions to make a difference. Many have a big stake in India and it's not just Indian Americans," he said.

 

India's Ambassador to US Sandhu thanked both US Secretary of State Tony Blinken and Sullivan for their prompt response. "Thank you Sullivan for your reach out and support. We will fight the global pandemic through our collective action!" he said in a tweet.

 

"Thank you Secretary Blinken for your solidarity and support.  Together, we will fight the global pandemic!" Sandhu said in another tweet.

 

Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna, Congressional India Caucus Vice Chair and Member of the House Armed Services Committee, applauded the Biden administration. -- PTI

Noting that existing infrastructure "might not be able to cope" with the surge in COVID cases, the Centre on Sunday suggested that states should identify geographies with higher positivity or bed occupancy rate, and take local containment measures for 14 days.

   

Local containment will primarily focus on restricting intermingling of people and on three strategic areas of intervention, which include containment, clinical management and community engagement, the health ministry said in a statement. 

 

Noting that a very high number of daily new COVID cases being reported for the past few days, the Centre said there is an urgent need for states to consider strict COVID management and control measures to bring the situation under control.

"The existing infrastructure may not be able to cope with this kind of surge, it has been stressed," the statement reads. 

 

In this regard a letter has been written to health secretaries of all states by Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan.

 

Underlining the need for "prompt and targeted action" focused on specific areas to flatten the current curve, the Centre suggested that states, identify those areas which are having test positivity of 10 per cent or more in last week or more than 60 per cent of oxygen supported or ICU beds are occupied.

"Districts fulfilling any one of the above two criteria are to be considered for taking intensive action and local containment measures. Local containment primarily focused on restricting intermingling of people for a 

period of 14 days to break the chain of transmission by duly following epidemiological principles," the health ministry said.

 

Elaborating the local containment measures, the Centre said it will essentially focus on containment, clinical management and community engagement. 

 

Identification of areas for local containment should be a dynamic exercise aiming to break and suppress the chain of transmission of COVID and save precious lives in areas reporting higher surge in cases and deaths and exhibiting overstretched healthcare systems, it said. 

 

The Centre has also suggested a monitoring mechanism for states in this regard. As the situation is dynamic, a daily review should be taken up at the highest levels in the state, it said.  

The Centre also said local administration shall decide the duration of the night curfew hours and issue orders, in the entire area of their jurisdiction, under appropriate provisions of law, such as under Section 144 of CrPC, and ensure strict compliance.

The Centre also said local administration shall decide the duration of the night curfew hours and issue orders, in the entire area of their jurisdiction, under appropriate provisions of law, such as under Section 144 of CrPC, and ensure strict compliance. -- PTI

Eight pressure swing adsorption oxygen generation plants are being installed in Delhi from the PM Cares Fund and they will enhance the capacity of medical oxygen by 14.4 metric tonnes, central government sources said on Sunday. 

One plant in Burari Hospital, Kaushik Enclave, was installed on March 17 while four others, one each at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, Lok Nayak Hospital, Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital, Rohini and Deepa Chand Bandhu Hospital, Ashok Vihar, are expected to be completed by April 30, they said.  

The site readiness of these hospitals was delayed by the Delhi government despite weekly reviews with them since November 2020, the sources claimed. 

The Delhi government, in a statement, accused the Centre of giving "outrightly false" statements to hide its "abject failure" in setting up of PSA oxygen plants in Delhi.

For Ambedkar Nagar Hospital in Dakshinpuri, the site was prepared by as late as April 19 by the Delhi government, alleged the sources.

Site readiness certificate of Satyawadi Raja Harishchandra Hospital at Narela has not yet been submitted by the Delhi government, they claimed.

Amid an unprecedented surge in COVID-19 cases in the city, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has often highlighted that its hospitals have been short on oxygen availability and has sought the Centre's intervention. 

Many hospitals have often sent out SOS for oxygen requirement. 

Some BJP leaders have accused Kejriwal of playing politics and not doing enough on the issue.

The Delhi government termed the allegations as "unfortunate" since it was working closely with the Centre to bridge the gap in allocated quota of oxygen for the city.

The plants in different states were to be setup by the Union health ministry through the PM Cares Fund, and not a single rupee was given to state governments, it claimed. 

All these plants were supposed to have been installed by December 2020 and handed over to state governments. However, the central government gave the contract for 140 of these plants to a single vendor, who ran away, the Delhi government alleged.

In Delhi, seven of the eight plants were to be setup at Delhi government hospitals, and one at the central government's Safdarjung hospital.

"The plants for five hospitals were delivered in early March 2021. Typically, these plants take 3-4 days for installation. However, the vendor was non-responsive and after multiple follow-ups with the Centre, only one of the five plants has been made operational till date," the Delhi government claimed.

The allegation of site certificate not being available from the Delhi government as a reason for delay in plants is an "outright lie", it said. 

The fact that the PSA plant has not been made operational at even the Centre's own Safdarjung hospital shows that it is caught in the web of its own lies, the Delhi government stated. -- PTI  

Polling began at 7 am on Monday for 34 seats in the seventh phase of the assembly elections in West Bengal, amid tight security and a rampaging second wave of COVID-19.

Long queues were seen outside most polling booths where voting is underway adhering to Covid protocols.

Over 86 lakh voters will decide the political fate of 284 candidates in this phase.

Security measures have been heightened in view of the violence in the previous phases, particularly the death of  five people in Cooch Behar in the fourth round of polling on April 10, an Election Commission official said.

The poll panel has deployed at least 796 companies of central forces in the seventh phase to ensure free and fair voting, he said.

It has also put in place measures to ensure strict adherence to health protocols during the election process, including wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing.

The state registered its highest single-day spike of 15,889 COVID-19 cases on Sunday, while 57 more people succumbed to the virus.

Voting is being held at 12,068 polling stations spread over nine assembly constituencies each in Murshidabad and Paschim Bardhaman districts, six each in Dakshin Dinajpur and Malda and four in Kolkata, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's home turf Bhabanipur.

Polling will continue till 6.30 pm.

Elections to two assembly constituecies -- Samserganj and Jangipur in Murshidabad district -- have been adjourned following the death of two coronavirus-positive candidates.

The EC has fixed May 16 as the date for polling in these two seats.

Six rounds of the eight-phased assembly elections in the state have already taken place, with the last phase scheduled for Thursday.

Votes will be counted on Sunday. -- PTI