A total of 308 people from 78 families have been relocated from disaster-prone areas to relief camps in Kerala's capital Thiruvananthapuram where the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert due to Cyclone Tauktae, on Friday.

Thiruvananthapuram district collector Navjot Khosa said that in the heavy rains, 32 houses were partially destroyed and one house was completely destroyed in the district.

"About 318 buildings have been set up in different parts of the district to open relief camps in case more people need to be relocated," she said.

Khosa said arrangements have been made to relocate COVID-19 patients staying at home to the nearest domicile care centre in case they need to be relocated.

Meanwhile, in low lying areas of Kaladi and in coastal areas of Poonthura, water entered the house due to continuous rain during the night.

The shutters of the Aruvikkara Dam are currently raised to 90 centimetres.

The District Collector said they would be further raised by 110 centimetres in a phased manner of 20 centimetres each at a time.

People staying near the banks of the Karamana river were advised to stay alert and follow the instruction from the authorities.   -- ANI

IMAGE: People pull a boat ashore, which sailed away amid strong winds, after a red alert in view of a cylonic formation in the Arabian Sea, in Thiruvananthapuram, on Friday. Photograph: PTI Photo

Freedom fighter Bhagat Singh's nephew, Abhay Singh Sandhu, passed away on Friday at a private hospital in Mohali due to post-COVID complications.

Expressing condolences over the demise of Sandhu (63), Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said the social activist, passed away at Fortis hospital, 'where he failed to recover from post COVID-19 health related complications'.

The hospital sources said that Sandhu passed away due to post-COVID complications.

Chief Minister Amarinder Singh also condoled Sandhu's demise.

'Saddened to know about the demise of Abhay Singh Sandhu Ji, nephew of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh Ji who passed away after a long illness,' Amarinder Singh tweeted.

'My heartfelt condolences to his family. We will bear the expenditure incurred on his treatment. May Waheguru grant him eternal peace,' the chief minister said.

In a condolence message, Balbir Sidhu recalled the remarkable role of Abhay Sandhu as a social activist.

'Sandhu relentlessly worked to spread the ideology of Shaheed Bhagat Singh at world level,' Sidhu said.

Sandhu was the son Kulbir Singh, who was younger brother of Bhagat Singh.

Sandhu had also lent his support to the farmers' agitation against the Centre's new farm laws.   --  PTI

The Mumbai civic body on Friday decided to suspend its COVID-19 vaccination drive for the next two days in view of the warning about cyclone Tauktae.

There would be no inoculation on May 15 and 16, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation tweeted.

Additional Municipal Commissioner Suresh Kakani told PTI that it was a precautionary measure as cyclone Tauktae is forecast to pass close to the city.

The decision was taken to avoid troubles for senior citizens and also possible crowding as the city is expected to get rains due to the cyclone, he added.

Presently, Mumbai has 260 active inoculation centres and 28,41,349 persons have received vaccine jabs including 23,924 on Friday.

The India Meteorological Department has warned that cyclone Tauktae is likely to pass close to Mumbai via sea route, though it won't hit the city directly, but is likely to bring strong winds and heavy rain to the financial capital of the country.   -- PTI

Maharashtra on Friday reported 39,923 new COVID-19 cases and 695 deaths, the state health department said.

The number of new infections dipped below 40,000 for the first time since March 31 when 39,544 cases had been recorded.

On Thursday, the daily case count was 42,582.

The state's caseload now is 53,09,215, while the death toll has reached 79,552.

Of 695 fatalities reported on Friday, 311 had occurred in the past 48 hours, 142 last week and the rest before the last week but were added to the tally now.

Once again, recoveries outnumbered new cases as53,249 patients were discharged from hospitals, taking the total recoveries to 47,07,980, the health department said.

Maharashtra now has 5,19,254 active cases.

The state's COVID-19 recovery rate stood at 88.68 per cent, while the fatality rate was 1.50 per cent.

The casepositivity rate (percentage of tested people turning out to bepositive for COVID-19) was 17.35 per cent, the department said.

There are 34,82,425 people in home quarantine and 28,312 in institutional quarantine in the state.

Mumbai city registered 1,660 new cases as per the state government's data, taking its tally to 6,84,845, while its fatality count rose to 14,102 with 62 deaths.

The larger Mumbai administrative division which includes the city and its satellite towns reported 5,138 fresh coronavirus cases and 156 deaths.

25 deaths were reported in Thane district followed by 19 in Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation areaand 16 in Raigad district.

The Nashik division reported 6,932 new cases and 82 deaths.

Majority of new infections were reported from Nashik district (1,395) and Ahmednagar district (2,958).

Out of 82 fatalities in the Nashik division, Nandurbar reported 19 deaths followed by 18 in Nashik city and 17 inrural parts of Nashik.

Ahmednagar district reported 12 deaths.

With 10,401 new cases, Pune division reported highest spike in cases in all the divisions. It also reported 115 deaths.

Pune rural area accounted for 3,172 cases.

Other districts and main cities in the division also reported cases in four digits -- 1,939 in Pune city, 1,044 in neighbouring Pimpri-Chinchwad, 2,070 in Solapur rural and 2,048 in Satara district.

Out of 115 deaths in the division, 59 alone were reported from Solapur rural, 21 from Pune rural, and 13 each from Solapur city and Satara district.

The Kolhapur division reported 4,260 new cases and 53 deaths.

Kolhapur and Sangli districts contributed 1,211 and 1,227 new cases.

Out of 53 fatalities in the Kolhapur division, 20 occurred in Ratnagiri while 10 in Sangli.

The Aurangabad division added 2,571 cases, while 40 patients succumbed to the infection. Aurangabad rural reported death of 18 people while Hingoli district recorded 12 deaths.

The Latur division added 2,446 COVID-19 cases of which 1,102 came from the Beed district alone.

Out of 75 deaths in the Latur division, 37 were reported from Beed, 14 from Latur and 10 from Nanded district.

The Akola division reported 4,225 new COVID-19 cases, including 1,152 in Buldhana district. Also, 56 deaths were reported in the division of which 19 were recorded in Amarawati district while Buldhana and Washim recorded 13 and 10 deaths.

The Nagpur division's caseload went up by 3,950, including 1,352 cases in Nagpur city and 767 in rural Nagpur.

Nagpur city accounted for 54 of the 118 deaths in the division, while other major contributors included Nagpur district (20), Chandrapur district (18) and Gondia district (14).

With 2,50,784 fresh coronavirus tests, the tally of tests conducted so far rose to 3,06,02,140.

Maharashtra's COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases: 53,09,215; new cases 39,923; death toll79,552; discharged 47,07,980; active cases: 5,19,254; people tested so far 3,06,02,140.   -- PTI

The body of Soumya Santhosh  from Kerala, who was killed in a Palestinian rocket attack in Israel on May 11, will be brought here on Saturday.

Minister of State for External AffairsV Muraleedharan said on Friday that the mortal remains werebeing repatriated from Israel to Kerala via New Delhi.

'The mortal remains of Ms Soumya Santhosh, who was killed in rocket attacks from Gaza, are being repatriated today from Israel to Kerala through Delhi. They will reach her native place tomorrow,' Muraleedharan, who is also from the southern state, said in a tweet.

'I will personally be receiving the remains inDelhi. May her soul rest in peace,' he tweeted.

Soumya, 30, hailing from Keerithodu in Idukki district, had been working as a housemaid in Israel for the last seven years.

She was killed on Tuesday when the rocket fell on her residence in the city of Ashkelon while she was talking to her husband Santhosh, who is in Kerala, over video call, her family has said.  -- PTI

Messaging app WhatsApp told the Delhi high court on Friday that it is not forcing any user to accept the 2021 update in its privacy policy as it is not mandatory.

It said that users will have a choice whether to accept the 2021 update, or they can choose not to do so, and are free to delete their WhatsApp accounts at any time.

The reply of WhatsApp came on a petition challenging the privacy policy of social messaging app.

Countering the allegation leveled in the petition, WhatsApp submitted that users were not previously given the option to opt-out of WhatsApp's privacy policies if they wanted to use the WhatsApp service.

The social messaging app also said that it is not under any legal obligation to provide such opt-outs to its users and added that the law permits companies to not provide their services to users who do not consent to their terms.

The company also said that such practices are commonly practiced by online platforms across the industry whenever they update their terms.

The company also said that online platforms are often less transparent by simply implying consent through continued use of their service after a certain date -- rather than prominently and clearly giving users control and choice, as WhatsApp did.

The company also submitted that such interference in privacy update policy would 'cripple' the internet-based applications and websites industry.

Urging the high court to dismiss the petition challenging its updated privacy policy, the social messaging app also cited several internet companies including Microsoft, Google, Zoom, Truecaller, and others who have retained the privacy policies.

The messaging app also said that the petitioners' allegations regarding the alleged disparity with European users are meritless.

The company maintained that the 2021 update, which applies to users in India, also applies to most of WhatsApp's users around the world, including in the United States.

On the different policy to WhatsApp's users in the 'European Region', the social messaging app submitted that it is due to different rules and obligations in the European Region.

The court was hearing a plea seeking directions to provide 'an option to opt-out' of sharing personal data with Facebook, as is mandated by the new policy of WhatsApp.

The petition has also sought directions to Union of India to frame guidelines/regulations for safeguarding the privacy of the citizens.

The petitioners Seema Singh, Meghan and Vikram Singh through the plea sought directions to the Centre to direct Whatsapp LLC to either roll back their policy or provide an option to the users of their platform to opt-out of the January 4, 2021 privacy policy and also to provide the users who have accepted the privacy policy another option to make a choice.

The plea sought directions to the central government to formulate Social Media Intermediary Guidelines asthe new WhatsApp privacy policy of Jan 2021 is violative of Article 21 which enshrines the Right to privacy, the plea said. -- ANI

The Karnataka government on Friday asked those who took the Covishield vaccine not to come to vaccination centres if they have not completed 12 weeks of the first dose, citing advisory of expert groups.

In a press release, the vaccination mission director said the second dose of Covishield vaccine should be administered to eligible beneficiaries at 12 to 16 weeks interval after receiving first dose as recommended by the National Technical Advisory Group of Immunisation (NTAGI) and National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration (NEGVAC).

'Hence, the earlier interval of six to eight weeks of time for Covishield vaccination between 2 doses is revised to 12 to 16 weeks. Citizens are requested not to come to vaccination centres if they have not completed 12 weeks after the first dose of Covishield vaccine,' the release said.

The release clarified that the revised time interval between two doses is applicable only to Covishield and not Covaxin.

The state government recently suspended the vaccination of people between the age group of 18 and 44 due to inadequate stock of vaccine in the state.

The government has already placed an order for three crore vaccines and paid money to the vaccine producers.

However, only seven lakh vaccines have arrived, according to officials.

The government intends to float global tenders to procure two crore vaccines.  -- PTI

However, the broader NSE Nifty slipped 18.70 points or 0.13 per cent to 14,677.80.

Asian Paints was the top performer among the Sensex components, rallying 8.51 per cent, after the company on Wednesday reported an 81.13 per cent jump in consolidated net profit to Rs 869.89 crore for the March quarter.

ITC, Nestle India, L&T, HUL, PowerGrid and Reliance Industries were among the other winners.

On the other hand, IndusInd Bank, M&M, Dr Reddy's, SBI, NTPC and ONGC led the losers' chart, dropping up to 2.82 per cent.

Out of the 30 Sensex companies, 20 finished in the red.

The decision to extend the lockdown was taken in view of high test positivity rates in districts, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said. 

The state is currently under a nine-day complete shutdown as part of its efforts to bring down the daily caseload of infected persons.

The southwest monsoon is likely to arrive over Kerala on May 31, a day earlier than its normal onset date, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday.

The normal onset date of the monsoon over Kerala is June 1.

"This year, the onset of the southwest monsoon over Kerala is likely to be on 31st May with a model error of plus/minus 4 days," the IMD said.

In the Indian monsoon region, initial monsoon rains are experienced over south Andaman Sea and the monsoon winds then advance north-westwards across the Bay of Bengal.

According to the new normal dates of monsoon onset or progress, the southwest monsoon advances over the Andaman Sea around May 22.

As a cyclone is expected to form over the Arabian Sea, the cross-equatorial south westerlies have temporarily strengthened over the Arabian Sea.

The cross-equatorial flow is very likely to strengthen and deepen over the Bay of Bengal from May 20 and a sustained rainfall activity is likely over the south Bay of Bengal and Andaman Nicobar Islands from May 21.

Hence, the monsoon advance over Andaman and Nicobar Islands is very likely around May 21.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said monsoon is expected to be normal this year.   -- PTI

Superstar Salman Khan on Friday received the second dose of the novel coronavirus vaccine.

The 55-year-old actor, who got the first jab of the vaccine in March, was spotted at a centre in Dadar in Mumbai.

Recently in an interview, Salman Khan had shared that his parents, veteran screenwriter Salim Khan and producer Salma Khan, got their second dose on May 9, while brother-producer Arbaaz Khan received his first shot on Sunday.

The actor went for the vaccination a day after his much-awaited film Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai started streaming on multiple platforms, including OTT and DTH services.

The audience can also view the film on the pay-per-view broadcast platform Zee Plex.

Various film personalities, including superstar Rajinikanth, Saif Ali Khan, Madhuri Dixit-Nene, Kamal Haasan and others, have got vaccinated.

On March 1, the government launched the nationwide drive to vaccinate everyone above 60 years of age and those aged between 45 and 59 with co-morbidities.

Last month, the Maharashtra government announced its decision to provide anti-COVID-19 vaccines to the people in the age group of 18 to 44 years.

Maharashtra on Thursday reported 42,582 new COVID-19 cases, a drop of nearly 4,200 infections from a day ago, while 850 more patients succumbed to the disease, the state health department said.  -- PTI

Five districts of Kerala were put under a red alert on Friday by India Meteorological Department (IMD) in view of the developing low-pressure areas over Lakshadweep and the Arabian sea that are expected to intensify into Cyclone Tauktae.

In the revised weather forecast, IMD sounded a red alert for heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha and Ernakulam districts today.

"The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been posted in nine districts of Kerala particularly in coastal areas and hilly terrains including those in Idukki district that in the past has witnessed landslides due to heavy rain," said an NDRF official.

Meanwhile, district administrations have directed people in disaster-prone areas to relocate and temporary relief camps and the evacuation process have been started.

For tomorrow (Saturday), a red alert has been issued for five districts of Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasargod while the rest of the districts barring Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad were put under orange alert.

Fishing has been completely banned on the Kerala coast and due to the rough sea, and authorities have asked fishermen for the safe upkeep of fishing equipment.

An NDRF official informed that nine teams have been deployed in Kerala.

The teams have been deployed in disaster-prone areas including coastal regions and hilly terrains.

One of the team has been posted at Cheruthoni in the Idukki district in view of the approaching cyclone, said the official.

Control rooms have been set up in each district and people have been urged to follow COVID protocol while shifting to camps in wake of any eventuality.

Those living in disaster-prone areas are also asked to prepare an emergency kit and avoid travelling.

The IMD had earlier forecast a likeliness of intensification of a cyclonic storm, Tauktae, over the low-pressure area over the southeastern Arabian Sea and adjoining Lakshadweep area by May 16.

The cyclone is likely to impact areas including the coast of Kerala, Karnataka, Lakshadweep, Goa, and Maharashtra.

IMD, yesterday, issued a warning for the fishermen to not venture into the sea till May 17.

IMD also said the wind speed of 40-50 km per hour might intensify to 70 km per hour on May 15, and may even reach 80 km per hour by May 16. -- ANI

It serves the immediate purpose of the government to pretend that the official number is low because it makes it appear less incompetent and helpless than it is, points out Aakar Patel. Read the column on Rediff.com. 

 Stating that 50 beds have been installed on the verandah of the house, sources at his office said the minister intends to have oxygen concentrators at the facility and thereby come to the rescue of patients with breathing issues. 

 Claiming that this is the first time a minister's residence in the State has been converted into a CCC, they said this would reduce the burden on the taluk hospital in the constituency. 

 It is said Bommai and family largely stays at their residences in Bengaluru or Hubballi and uses the Shiggavi house during visits to the constituency. Bommai, who is the son of former Chief Minister and veteran Janata Parivar leader late S R Bommai, is also the Minister in-charge for Law and Parliamentary Affairs.

IMD: Depression over Lakshadweep area moved north-northeastwards with a speed of 19 kmph during past 6 hours, intensified into a deep depression and lay centred at 2:30 pm today over Lakshadweep area and adjoining southeast and east-central Arabian Sea.

It is very likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm during next 12 hours and is very likely to intensify further during the subsequent 24 hours. It is very likely to move north-northwestwards and reach near Gujarat coast by May 18 morning, the IMD said. 

'In his complaint, the colonel claimed that physically unfit candidates were given favours in lieu of money, besides mentioning several other irregularities in the selection process. He wrote similar letters to the Central Bureau of Investigation and Central Vigilance Commission. He alleged that, despite the rule, no written examination was conducted for the recruitment of jawans,' Sagar writes. 

'Subsequently, Army authorities ordered a Court of Inquiry into the alleged irregularities on the basis of Colonel's complaint. But, the inquiry was abruptly and prematurely closed without citing any proper reason. Instead, an inquiry was ordered against Col Singh, to investigate issues pertaining to misuse of authority, facilities manpower from 2014-18.'

'Eventually, Col Singh moved the Bombay High Court's Nagpur bench against his illegal detention and only after the intervention of the court, he was released from custody after 24 days,' and on May 8, a division bench comprising Justices Sunil B. Shukre and Avinash G. Gharote had set aside the order invoking Section 123 of Army Act, and subsequent show-cause notice issued to the Colonel, Sagar reports, here.

The Ghazipur administration has capped the price of firewood at Rs 650/quintal and the 'dom raja' (the people who cremate the bodies) will not take more than Rs 500 for cremating a body. "We're setting up a control room at each crematorium where police personnel will be stationed," the  Ghazipur DM MP Singh said. 

The National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to the Union Jal Shakti Ministry, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, after receiving complaints about several bodies found floating in the Ganga river in the two states.

According to residents in Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh, at least 52 bodies were seen floating at the Ujiyar, Kulhadia and Bharauli ghats in the Narahi area. Similar reports of bodies floating in the Ganga have come from Bihar.

 He was speaking after attending the virtual inauguration of an oxygen production plant of Dharashiv Sugar Cooperative in Osmanabad district. The sugar cooperative is the first in the state to start oxygen production, an official release said. 

 Thackeray said the state needs to become self- sufficient in oxygen production to beat the second wave of COVID-19. "Our production capacity is 1,200 metric tons (per day)while the demand is 1,700 metric tons. If we produce 3,000 metric tons of oxygen, we will be self-sufficient," he was quoted as saying. 

 Municipal corporations are trying to ramp up their oxygen production and sugar cooperatives should also follow the suit, he said. Union minister Nitin Gadkari, who also participated in thr virtual function, said having their own oxygen plants should be made mandatory for hospitals with more than 50 beds. Every district must be able to meet its oxygen requirement from within the same district, he suggested.

-- A police constable, who was undergoing treatment for COVID-19 at a hospital for 2 weeks, today died due to multi-organ failure. He had taken both doses of vaccine: Mangaluru Commissioner of Police, Shashi Kumar

Pari's father says, "She was burning with fever. We had approached a children's hospital in Dilshad Garden, then Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalaya where she was detected to be infected. Then she was referred to GTB Hospital where she was on ventilator since 6th May, she died on 12th."

Also read: Babies, kids dying in Covid 2nd wave. 

JK Rowling helps India battling the 2nd Covid wave. "Once again, a huge thank you to everyone who bought a copy of The Ickabog. As a result, my charitable trust continues to be able to support those worst affected by the pandemic #COVIDIndia."

Khalsa Aid, replied, tweeting, "Wow! We are delighted & humbled to have received a generous, six-figure donation from @jk_rowling  charitable trust, The Volant Charitable Trust (https://volanttrust.org) for our Covid Relief work in India.  We are humbled by the support for our humanitarian work. #COVIDIndia."

The government, he said, is working on "war footing" to control the second wave of infections and is setting up new hospitals and oxygen generating plants while augmenting supplies of medicines and vaccines. He asked states to crack down on black marketing of medicines and other essential items. 

 "I want to warn you about corona. This pandemic is spreading fast in rural villages. Every government is taking efforts to stop this. Awareness about this among rural people and cooperation of the panchayat institutes are equally important "You have never disappointed the nation. We hope this time too, to protect yourself and family from COVID, all necessary precautions are taken. Wearing mask properly and regularly is important," Modi said.

 The PM was speaking at the release of the 8th installment of financial benefit under the PM-KISAN scheme via video conference here. Modi urged farmers to be aware of this invisible enemy and take precautions and timely medication. 

He asked people to wear masks, maintain social distancing and undergo testing if there are any symptoms. The PM asked farmers not to take COVID symptoms like cold and fever lightly. "Get the test done, isolate yourself and start the medication on time."

 "Police called me this morning and came to my office around 11.45 am. They questioned that how you are doing it," he said. 

 However, the Delhi Police said the questioning has been done following a Delhi High Court order. The high court has directed the city police to conduct inquiry into politicians involved in distribution of COVID-19 medicines and other items, and take steps for lodging of FIR in case of offence, a senior police officer said. 

 In compliance with the directions of the high court, inquiry is being conducted into several people, the officer said. 

 On May 4, the Delhi High Court had asked the police to examine the instances of politicians allegedly procuring and distributing Remdesivir, used in treatment of COVID-19 patients, in the national capital and take steps for lodging of FIR in case of offence. PTI

States/UTs have been requested to direct the officials concerned to ensure rational and judicious utilisation of allocated doses and minimise vaccine wastage.

The 191.99 lakh doses include 162.5 lakh Covishield doses and 29.49 lakh Covaxin doses. "The basic objective behind informing the states and UTs in advance of the quantum of free vaccine doses to be made available from Government of India for 15 days is to ensure that they prepare effective plans for judicious and optimum utilisation of these free vaccine doses which are meant for the age group of 45 and above, and for healthcare and frontline workers," the ministry said. 

 In the previous fortnight, that is 1 May-May 15, 2021, a total quantum of more than 1.7 crore vaccine doses has been made available by the Centre to states/UTs, free of charge. In addition, more than 4.39 crore doses were made available for direct procurement by the states as well as private hospitals in the month of May, the ministry said. 

 The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country is nearly 18 crore (17.93 crore as per the 7 am provisional report on Friday).  

Pharma company Dr Reddy's has administered the first dose of the  Russian Sputnik V vaccine today. 

Thirteen more COVID-19 patients died at the Goa Medical College and Hospital in the early hours of Friday, a senior health department official said, taking to 75 the number of people who have succumbed at the government-run facility in Panaji in the last four days.

The horror at the GMCH is continuing even as the Goa bench of the Bombay high court is hearing petitions related to deaths during the "dark hours" at the premier hospital.

While the state government has not revealed the exact cause of recent deaths at the GMCH, it has told the HC that there were "logistic issues" related to supply of medical oxygen to patients.

On Thursday, Advocate General Devidas Pangam had told a bench of Justices Nitin Sambre and Mahesh Sonak that there were logistical issues involved in maneuvering the tractor which carries the trolleys of oxygen and in connecting the cylinders to the manifold (group of large gas cylinders)."

The senior official confirmed that 13 more patients, admitted in various COVID-19wards in the GMCH, died during the wee hours of Friday.

The number of patients who have died during the "dark hours (between 2 am and 6 am) at the hospital has touched 75 in the last four days.

As per state government statistics, 26 patients had died at the GMCH during the wee hours of Tuesday, followed by 21 on Wednesday, 15 on Thursday and 13 on Friday (total 75).

The HC is hearing a bunch of petitions on recent death of COVID-19 patients at the GMCH allegedly due to lack of medical oxygen.

The Goa government had told the HC on Thursday that during the process of attaching the oxygen manifold there was some interruption, which results in fall of pressure in the supply lines of oxygen to patients."

"We were explained that during this process there was some interruption, which resulted in fall of pressure in the supply lines of oxygen to the patients.

"It was pointed out that it is basically on account of these factors some casualties may have taken place," the bench had said.

"We expect the state administration to find out ways and means to overcome these logistical issues so that precious life is not lost on account of any deficiencies in the matter of supply of oxygen to patients," the HC had said.

Reacting to the deaths, Goa Forward Party president Vijai Sardesai said the high court should "take over the affairs of the state as there is collapse of governance". -- PTI

India was fortunate to escape the fatality and severity experienced by countries like the USA, the UK and Italy in the first wave."

"This fortunate collective escape led to the misconstrued notion of complacency among every stake holder -- government, policy makers and to some extent, few in the scientific community who started talking about herd immunity."

"As a result, the second wave which was inevitable and could be foreseen seemed to have surprised everyone," says Dr Vikash R Keshri, an expert in public health and health policy.

Read the interview with Rediff.com's Archana Masih

 Fefna SHO Sanjay Tripathi said he got the information about the corpses on Thursday afternoon, following which a team of Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Rajesh Yadav reached Sagarpali village and cremated the bodies. It appears that the bodies were left in the river by family members after completing rituals, he said. 

 According to Ballia residents, at least 52 bodies were seen floating at the Ujiyar, Kulhadia and Bharauli ghats in the Narahi area. However, the district authorities did not tell the exact number of bodies found there. PTI

While speaking on the occasion of the transfer of the eighth installment under the PM-KISAN, PM Modi called the coronavirus an 'invisible enemy' and urged people to continue taking precautions such as social distancing and using face masks to protect themselves and their families. 

"After 100 years, such a terrible epidemic is testing the world, step by step. There is an invisible enemy in front of us. We have lost many of our close ones to this enemy," he said.

"The pain that the countrymen have endured, the pain that many people have gone through, I feel the same pain. Being your 'Pradhan Sevak', I share your sentiment," PM Modi added.

He further urged people to get vaccinated as it the best defence again COVID-19 and said that the Central and State governments are doing their best to increase vaccination.

"The corona vaccine is a great means of defence. The Central and State Governments together are making continuous efforts to enable more and more countrymen to get vaccinated at a rapid pace. So far, around 18 crore vaccine doses have been given across the country," he said.

"Free vaccination is being done in government hospitals across the country. So whenever your turn comes, make sure to get inoculated. This will give us protection and reduce the risk of serious illness," he said.

 A sessions court had on Thursday dismissed Kalra's anticipatory bail plea, saying the allegations against him were serious and his custodial interrogation was required to "unearth the entire conspiracy". 

 "I am persuaded by the reasons given by the trial court which is a valid ground for me not to grant any interim protection now," Justice Subramanium Prasad said while listing the matter for hearing on May 18. The observation came after Kalra's lawyers -- senior advocates Abhishek M Singhvi and Vikas Pahwa -- urged the court to grant some interim protection if the matter was going to be adjourned till May 18 on the request of Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S V Raju. PTI

 "I can't wait to collaborate again with my Enola Holmes family! Enola holds a special place in my heart - she's strong, fearless, intelligent and brave. I look forward to fans seeing how her journey continues," Brown said in a statement. 

 "Enola Holmes" was based on author Nancy Springer's six-part book series "The Enola Holmes Mysteries" and featured Brown as the titular protagonist, who is the younger sister of renowned detective Sherlock Holmes (Cavill).

This is a national shame. And it happened just 400 km away from hip Mumbai.

 The caste panchayat also ordered the woman to pay Rs 1 lakh to it for her act, he said. Showing courage, the woman defied both the diktats and lodged a police complaint.

 The shocking incident took place last month, but came to light when a case was registered against the unofficial village council, he said. 

 On a complaint of the victim, who stays in Jalgaon district, an FIR under sections 5 and 6 of the Maharashtra Protection of People from Social Boycott (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2016, has been registered against ten members of the caste panchayat, the official said. 

 The FIR was registered on Thursday evening at Jalgaon's Chopda city police station, under whose jurisdiction the woman resides, and later the case was transferred for investigation to the Pinjar police station in Akola where the incident took place, he said. 

 According to the complaint, the incident took place on April 9 at Wadgaon village in Akola, where the caste panchayat was called to take a decision on the second marriage of the victim, he said. The victim belongs to the 'Nath Jogi' community, whose caste panchayat did not accept her second marriage, the official said. The victim got married for the second time in 2019 after taking divorce from her first husband in 2015, the official said. Her first marriage took place in 2011, he said. 

 At the caste panchayat meeting, members discussed the woman's second marriage and called her sister and other relatives, and delivered their "verdict" on the issue (the victim was not present at the meet), the official said. 

 According to the verdict, members of the caste panchayat were to spit on banana leaves and the victim was to lick it as a punishment, the official said. 

 Besides, the caste panchayat sought a payment of Rs 1 lakh from the victim, he said. After fulfilling these demands by the panchayat, the victim was told she can "return" to her community, the official said, quoting from the complaint.

 The decision of the caste panchayat was conveyed to the victim by her relatives. Shocked by the decision, the victim approached the Chopda city police station and lodged the complaint against members of the panchayat, said Pravin Munde, Superintendent of Police, Jalgaon. As the incident took place in Akola, the case has been transferred there for further investigation, he said. PTI

 The first consignment of imported doses of the Sputnik V vaccine landed in India on May 1, and received regulatory clearance from the Central Drugs Laboratory, Kasauli, on May 13, 2021, it added. 

 "Further consignments of imported doses are expected over the upcoming months. Subsequently, supply of the Sputnik V vaccine will commence from Indian manufacturing partners," it added. 

 The imported doses of the vaccine are presently priced at a maximum retail price of Rs 948, with 5 per cent GST per dose, with the possibility of a lower price point when local supply begins, it added. PTI

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain gives an update on the Covid and vax situation in the national capital.

-- Covaxin stock has almost ended. We only have 2-3 days of stock for Covidshield vaccines for 18- 44 years of age group. We can't mix already assigned centers for Covaxin and Covishield vaccines.

-- Yesterday we reported 10,489 positive cases and the positivity rate was 14.24%. The highest positivity rate was 36% in Delhi so now it is less than half of it. We're seeing a decline in trends from April 24.

-- Through global tender, we can only procure Covishield, Covaxin & Sputnik V in the country. If there is a need for a global tender then it should be done by the Central govt.

-- Central govt is a partner in Covaxin's manufacturing so they can share the formula with others. Centre should cap prices of all vaccines and it should not be more than Rs 150/dose... We'll start vaccination for 45 years & above age group in govt schools soon."

 Giving an update about the Care Centre at Delhi Rakabganj Gurudwara for which he had donated Rs 2 crore, Bachchan said the facility currently has 300 beds, which will be upgraded to 400. 

 "This facility is giving succour free of cost - bed care, food medicine and medical care all," the 78-year-old actor wrote on his blog. The veteran actor also announced that he had contributed for another COVID care facility in Mumbai's Juhu, which is now ready and will be operational in a day. He expressed his gratitude to the government of Poland, the Mayor of the City of Wroclaw, the Ambassador of India at Warsaw and the LOT Polish Airlines for their support in the procurement of oxygen concentrators.

 "The general call from the places that were in need of help had been for the urgent need of oxygen concentrators. These are and were difficult to procure. When I was not getting any immediate source to acquire them, my friend and the Indian Consul in Wroclaw stepped forward. 

 "He at first realising the situation that we were facing was sending a portable O2 concentrator for my personal emergency use, but I dissuaded him. When he insisted I said if you do send it to me I shall donate it to any institute that was in immediate need," he said. 

 Bachchan said the Indian Consul in Wroclaw recommended him with the name and details of a Polish Company that manufactures oxygen concentrators and he decided to place an order for 50 units, which will be shipped out on May 15. "This is most humbling and filled with the true spirit of coming together and demonstrating by extending a helping hand for humanity and for those that suffer," he said, adding that he will be buying another 50 oxygen concentrators and donating them to a hospital. Bachchan also said the demand for ventilators has been equally acute and he has placed an order for 20 units. So far, ten have been delivered to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and a few municipal hospitals in the city, while the remaining will be received by May 25 and distributed to hospitals in need, he added. 

 "The BMC, when I said I wished to donate something for the cause, told me to not give money, but to get them ventilators. This has been an arduous task as well, but luckily another agency has stepped forward and is helping me with my order, he said. "Oxygen concentrators have also been ordered from another source and about 60 of them should be coming in a few days," he added.

 "Covaxin goes to Gandhinagar, Guwahati, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru & Bhuvneshwar. thank all our employees @ BHarat bio who worked thru the holy month of Ramzan..." Bharat Biotech Co-Founder and Joint Managing Director Suchitra Ella said in a tweet. 

 Earlier in a late night tweet on Thursday, she tweeted informing supply of the much in demand vaccine to Kerala and Uttarakhand. "Covaxin sent to Kerala & Uttarakhand. Thanq for the concern, many offered to help. Our work is highly stringent, realtime & technical,no work from home! All Our employees will be taken care of, won't deter us from our mission! Let's be thankful,helpful & hopeful always," she tweeted. Ella however did not provide details on the quantum of supplies. 

 On May 12, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that Bharat Biotech has informed the state government that it cannot provide 'additional' Covaxin doses to the national capital. Responding to the criticism, Ella in a tweet said that It was quite disheartening to listen to some states complaining about the company's intentions regarding supply of Covaxin. She said that the company had already dispatched Covaxin lots to 18 states on May 10. PTI

 Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, who was present on the occasion, said West Bengal has joined the scheme with more than 7 lakh farmers of the state getting the benefit today. 

 Under the PM-KISAN scheme, the government is providing Rs 6,000 in three equal installments to 14 crore farmers annually. The amount is directly transferred into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries through direct benefit transfer (DBT) mode. 

 An amount of over Rs 1.15 lakh crore has been transferred to farmer beneficiaries so far under the PM-KISAN scheme, launched on February 24, 2019. PM Modi will also interact with five farmers from states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya, Jammu and Kashmir and Andaman and Nicobar on the occasion. PTI 

Sources of the Union Chemical and Fertilisers Ministry told ANI that 30,000 vials were imported from April 30 to May 11.Tocilizumab injection is manufactured by the Roche Company of Switzerland and imported and marketed by Cipla Ltd in India.

They also informed that Tocilizumab injection is primarily used for Rheumatoid Arthritis patients and the monthly import of this injection used to be around 1,700 vials and India is entirely dependent on imports for this drug.

The imported vials have been allocated to states and union territories on the basis of active cases on April 28.

 Mucormycosis, also known as black fungus, became a much talked about subject after some recovering and recovered coronavirus patients were found infected with the disease, whose symptoms include headache, fever, pain under the eyes, nasal or sinus congestion and partial loss of vision. 

 As many as 52 people in Maharashtra have died due to the Mucormycosis disease since the COVID-19 outbreak last year. All of them were COVID-19 survivors, but succumbed to the black fungus infection, the official told PTI. 

 For the first time, the state health department has compiled a list of deaths caused by black fungus," said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity. 

 On Wednesday, Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope had said there were 1,500 cases of black fungus in the state, which is in the throes of a severe second wave of COVID-19. 

 Rising Mucormycosis cases, whose treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach, is expected to put a further burden on the state's healthcare infrastructure which is already under a strain. The state will float a tender to procure one lakh Amphotericin-B anti-fungal injections to treat Mucormycosis patients, Tope had said a couple of days back. Mucormycosis has a very high fatality rate and this has increased the woes of the health department which has deployed all its resources to combat COVID-19. 

 Mucormycosis was not a notified disease like malaria and hence its cases were not mapped and a database was not prepared, the official said. With the rise in COVID-19 cases and preliminary reports of growing infection of black fungus, the state started creating a database. 

This exercise revealed that so far 52 people have died due to the black fungus infection, the official said. All the 52 patients died after the coronavirus infection spread in the country. However, very few deaths took place in 2020 in Maharashtra. 

A sizeable number of deaths have taken place in the current calendar year, he said. As per health experts, Mucormycosis is mostly found among COVID-19 patients who have diabetes, fluctuation in sugar level or increased iron level in the blood. 

 Tope has said patients with suppressed immune system and co-morbidities are vulnerable to contract the disease. As part of a contingency plan to treat Mucormycosis patients, the state government has decided to set up separate wards for them at hospitals attached to 18 medical colleges.

 The treatment requires multidisciplinary expertise because the fungal infection spreads through the nose, eyes and can reach the brain, Tope has said. The Maharashtra government has already admitted that at least eight patients in the state have lost vision in one eye due to Mucormycosis. PTI

The 30-share BSE index was trading 158.99 points or 0.33 per cent lower at 48,531.81. Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty fell 59.50 points or 0.40 per cent to 14,637. M&M was the top loser in the Sensex pack, shedding over 2 per cent, followed by ONGC, Bajaj Auto, Maruti, TCS, HDFC duo and Bajaj Finance. On the other hand, Asian Paints, Dr Reddy's, TCS, Sun Pharma and HUL were among the gainers. 

 In the previous session on Wednesday, Sensex slumped 471.01 points or 0.96 per cent to finish at 48,690.80, and Nifty tumbled 154.25 points or 1.04 per cent to 14,696.50. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were net sellers in the capital market as they offloaded shares worth Rs 1,260.59 crore, according to provisional exchange data.

Her son and managing director of the group, Vineet tweeted this about her passing away: 'My mother #InduJain believed that death is not something to be mourned but a soul changing clothes to start a new journey of exploration. She taught me to live on my own terms & in a state of constant bliss. As she attains Nirvana, I celebrate a truly remarkable spirit.'

In a Facebook post, Morrison said, "At midnight tonight, the temporary pause on flights from India to Australia ends and facilitated commercial flights by the Australian Government will resume as promised, with a strict pre-flight testing regime to keep Australians safe." 

"The pause gave our quarantine system much-needed breathing space to minimise the risk of COVID-19 getting out of quarantine into the community and having a third wave here."

The travel ban which came into effect on May 3 was put in place due to a record rise in COVID-19 cases in India. Earlier, the move sparked outrage as officials warned that people who tried to enter Australia after being in India within the prior 14 days could face jail or fines.

The Australian PM further informed that a flight packed with medical supplies and equipment to support India took off from Sydney earlier on Friday.

"This flight was carrying another 1056 ventilators, 60 oxygen concentrators and other essential supplies. It adds to the more than 1000 ventilators and 43 oxygen concentrators we sent last week."

"The plane used to carry these supplies to India today will then act as a Government-facilitated flight for Australians to return home from India, focusing on the most vulnerable Australians," he added.

Total cases: 2,40,46,809 

Total discharges: 2,00,79,599 

Death toll: 2,62,317 

 Active cases: 37,04,893 

Total vaccination: 17,92,98,584

Former Uttarakhand chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Thursday said that coronavirus is a living organism which has a right to live.

   

"Seen from a philosophical angle, coronavirus is also a living organism. It has the right to live like the rest of us. But we (humans) think ourselves to be the most intelligent and are out to eliminate it. So it is constantly mutating itself," he told a private news channel in Dehradun.

 

However, he said man needs to outpace the virus to stay safe.

 

Rawat was trolled on social media for his unusual observation on coronavirus as it went viral at a time when the entire country is battling a strong second wave of COVID-19. 

        

One Twitter user sarcastically said, "This virus organism should be given shelter in the Central Vista." -- PTI

Former Jawaharlal Nehru University student Umar Khalid, who was arrested in connection with the 2020 Delhi riots, has recovered from COVID-19 in Tihar jail and returned to his cell, officials said on Thursday.

 

A senior official said Khalid, 33, was isolated within the Tihar jail premises after he showed symptoms of COVID-19.

His RT-PCR test report came back positive on April 24.

Communal clashes had broken out in northeast Delhi on February 24 after violence between supporters of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and those opposing it spiralled out of control, leaving at least 53 people dead and around 200 injured.

Khalid was arrested in October last year for his alleged role in a case related to violence in Khajuri Khas area of northeast Delhi. He was also arrested in September last year under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in another case related to the riots. -- PTI 

Times Group chairperson Indu Jain died on Thursday due to Covid-related complications, company sources said. She was 84.

Hailing her as a visionary, Times Now TV channel, part of the Times Group, described Jain as a lifelong spiritual seeker, pioneering philanthropist, distinguished patron of the arts, and passionate proponent of women's rights.

She breathed her last in Delhi, the sources said.

As tributes poured in for her from statesmen, captains of industry and spiritual masters, friends and admirers spoke fondly of her unquenched youthful spirit, zest for life, and determination to make the world a better place.

After becoming chairman of the Times Group in 1999 she evolved a distinctive leadership style, characterised by compassion and inclusiveness, that helped propel the group to new heights.

She set up The Times Foundation in 2000, with sustainable development and transformational change as its key goals. One of India's most respected non-profits, it provides community services and runs the Times Relief Fund to offer assistance during cyclones, earthquakes, floods, epidemics and other crises.

She was the founder president of FICCI Ladies Organisation, established in 1983 to promote entrepreneurship and professional excellence among women in India. From 1999, she also served as chairperson of Bharatiya

Jnanpith Trust, founded in 1944 by Sahu Shanti Prasad Jain, her father-in-law, to promote literature in Indian languages.

The Jnanpith Award, conferred by the Trust annually, is acknowledged to be the most prestigious honour for authors writing in Indian languages.

She was also the guiding force behind the Oneness Forum, launched in 2003 to promote unity in the world. The MahaviraMahatma award was instituted under the aegis of the Forum to promote Mahatma Gandhi's principle of ahimsa (non-violence).

"Saddened by the demise of Times Group Chairperson Smt. Indu Jain Ji. She will be remembered for her community service initiatives, passion towards Indias progress and deep-rooted interest in our culture. I recall my  interactions with her. Condolences to her family. Om Shanti," tweeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A lifelong philanthropist, one of her last wishes was to donate her organs. Sadly, the complications caused by coronavirus meant that the wish could not be fulfilled, the sources said.

She received many honours, including the Padma Bhushan in 2016. She was conferred a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India in 2019, an award for Lifetime Contribution to Media by the All India Management Association in 2018, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Indian Congress of Women. -- PTI

The United States defense forces are preparing to send 159 oxygen concentrators to India via a commercial flight next week, the Pentagon said.

"Defense Logistics Agency is preparing 159 oxygen concentrators at Travis Air Force Base. They are scheduled to ship via commercial air for a Monday, that's the 17th of May, delivery to India," Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said at a news conference on Thursday.

"We obviously remain in close communication and touch with our partners in the Indian government and stand by to continue to assist in any way that would be helpful," he said in response to a question.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has also made it very clear that he wants the Pentagon to lean in and do as much as it can, obviously in full coordination and consultation with leaders in India, Kirby said. -- PTI

In the biggest indication that the United States is fast returning to pre-pandemic life, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said fully vaccinated people are no longer required to wear masks.

The recommendation holds true for both indoors and outdoors, the CDC said.

Following the announcement on Thursday, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris appeared before reporters at the Rose Garden of the White House without wearing masks.

"I think it's a great milestone. A great day. It's been made possible by the extraordinary success we've had in vaccinating so many Americans so quickly," Biden said.

Referring to the latest CDC guidelines, Biden said fully vaccinated people are at a very, very low risk of contracting COVID-19.

"Therefore, if you've been fully vaccinated, you no longer need to wear a mask. But if you've not been vaccinated, or if you've been getting a two-shot vaccine and you've only had your first shot but not your second, or you haven't waited the full two weeks after your second shot, you still need to wear a mask," the President said.

He said 250 million vaccine shots have been given in 114 days.

"We are seeing the results. Cases are down in 49 of 50 states. New York Times has reported that hospitalisations are the lowest they've been since April of 2020, over a year ago, right after the start of the pandemic. Deaths are down 80 per cent and also at their lowest level since April of 2020," Biden said.

He said that the virus tragically rages in other countries.

"In less than four months, we've gone from 5.5 per cent to nearly 60 per cent of the adults in America with at least one shot in their arm. We've gone from stagnation to an economy that is growing faster than it has in nearly 40 years. We've gone from an anemic job creation, to a record for job creation for a new administration," Biden added.

In its latest guidelines, the CDC said fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance. -- PTI