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Category: National

  • Coronavirus | This may be a lockdown but none of us is alone, says PM Modi in video message

    Last month, the Prime Minister had addressed the nation twice — on March 19 and March 24.

    PTI

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, addressing the nation, said that the nation is united in the fight against coronavirus. To illustrate this, on April 5 at 9 p.m., he asked that the citizens switch off all lights for nine minutes and light up lamps or torch or cellphone flashlights.

    However, ensure that you maintain social distancing while lighting up lamps, he added.

    The country is united against corona: PM Modi

    The Prime Minister kicked off his speech by saying that this the ninth day of the lockdown.

    “During this time the discipline and philanthropy you have demonstrated is unprecedented,” he says, adding that the administration, government and civil society have also stepped up to the occassion.

    “India has demonstrated a good example to be emulated by the world. The country is united against coronavirus,” says PM Modi.

    This collective wisdom of the country under lockdown is manifest, he says.

    PM Modi says that under lockdown many people must be thinking as to what can an individual do against such a pandemic or how long this would last. “But please remember, this may be a lockdown but we, none of us, is alone,” he says.

    1.3 billion Indians are together in this and at this time it is important to experience this collectivity, he says.

    “It is believed in our country that the people are God, therefore at this hour of crisis, it is important to remember this collectivity,” he says.

    PM Modi continues:

    Friends, in the darkness spread during this crisis, we have to relentlessly towards the light. We have to take our poor brethren towards the light and certainty. To defeat this darkness, we have to show the light in all directions.

    On 5th April, we must challenge this darkness.

    Therefore us 130 crore Indians should at 9 p.m. on April 5 switch off all lights and stand at the door or balcony light up a candle, diya, torch or mobile flashlight for nine minutes.

    If u switch off all lights at that time, and light these objects, the experience of light and going towards it will be concentrated.

    It will also demonstrate that we are not alone. That none of us are alone.

    However, adds PM Modi, During this time, please make sure that you practise social distancing while taking part in this.

    “Do not gather in any number outside of your house. Social distancing’s Laxman Rekha should be maintained,” he says, adding that this exercise will life our morale and fill us with confidence to win this war against the pandemic.

    “There is no bigger force than our enthusiasm and conviction. There is nothing we can’t achieve. Let us come together and defeat corona and make India win,” says PM Modi, concluding his speech.

  • Coronavirus | Number of cases in India doubles in five days

    Health Ministry confirms that it was looking at tweaking the testing protocol, with a rapid anti-body test in hotspots, where those indicating a positive would be sent for confirmation, and others would be quarantined.

    Special Correspondent

    The number of COVID-19 cases in India has doubled in the past week, with 328 more cases and 12 deaths reported on April 2. According to the Union Health Ministry, the tally now stands at 2,069 cases, with 53 deaths and 155 cured of the novel coronavirus infection.

    The Health Ministry said there were reports of several doctors, nurses and paramedics testing positive.

    The number of cases increased sharply from 909 this weekend, and the Health Ministry confirmed that it was looking at tweaking the testing protocol, with a rapid anti-body test in hotspots, where those indicating a positive would be sent for confirmation and the others would be quarantined.

    “We will be releasing the details soon,” R. Gangakhedkar, head of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases-I, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), said at a press conference.

    The Health Ministry said extensive action was being taken in Asia’s largest slum, Dharavi in Mumbai, after a death due to COVID-19 was reported there.

    “In this area, we have sealed the building from where the case has been reported, and the collection of samples from all residents of the building is under way. As per the protocol, contact-tracing is also under way,” said Lav Agrawal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry.

    Mr. Agrawal condemned the attack on medical workers and said the Union government, along with the States and Union Territories, had been working to prevent, contain and manage COVID-19. “These efforts are being regularly monitored at the highest level.”

    “Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting with the Chief Ministers through videoconference on Thursday and urged them to manage the crisis at the district level and focus on testing, isolation and quarantine. He said the war against COVID-19 had just begun. The States were also requested to upgrade the healthcare human resource, conduct online training for front-line workers and increase the capacity through the involvement of retired health workers from government and private hospitals,” Mr. Agrawal said.

    Asked about medical workers threatening to resign because of the shortage of personal protection equipment at hospitals, Mr. Agarwal said, “Yes, there was a shortage of equipment, but now supply of more than 1.5 crore pieces of personal protection equipment has started. Personal protection equipment has also been sent to the States, based on their needs. We have placed orders for more than 1 crore N95 masks.”

    The Central government has launched Aarogya Setu, a mobile application, to connect health services and the people in the combined fight against COVID-19. The application will inform the users of the potential risk of infection, the best practices and medical advisories.

    The Health Ministry said the States had also been asked to take effective measures to fight fake news in order to prevent panic. Additional guidelines had been issued for dialysis of COVID-19 patients.

    “The Health Ministry, with the help of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), has recommended general public measures on the mental health of the elderly and children to deal with anxiety and stress due to the outbreak. These are available at www.mohfw.gov.in/. A psycho-social toll-free helpline number, 08046110007, is also functional for any behavioural health-related query,” the Ministry said in a release.

    Denial

    The Ministry of Defence has denied reports in a section of the media that ₹50 lakh meant for personal protection equipment was redirected to the PM-CARES fund by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), a defence public sector undertaking. The Ministry has termed these reports incorrect.

    BDL has contributed ₹9.02 crore to the PM-CARES fund. The amount includes one-day salary of the BDL employees and the funds under the Corporate Social Responsibility. This contribution signifies BDL’s solidarity with the entire nation’s collective effort to fight COVID-19, the Ministry said.

    BDL is always prepared to explore other possible assistance, and would be happy to examine any specific requests in this regard.

  • Indian cricketers face backlash for supporting Pakistan virus fund

    Ex-Indian cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh have drawn criticism from a section of Indian society for supporting former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi’s foundation in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

    Agencies

    Former Indian cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh have come under severe criticism after they expressed support for former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi’s charity foundation in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

    Afridi’s appeal for donations to help people affected by the deadly virus in Pakistan has had overwhelming support from leading cricketers.

    Harbhajan urged people to contribute in a video message and called on other cricketers in the two countries to make similar appeals. “These are testing times, it’s time to look out for each other,” Yuvraj wrote on Twitter in a call for funds.

    https://twitter.com/YUVSTRONG12/status/1244873490303340544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd-40740126783608814012.ampproject.net%2F2004012158290%2Fframe.html

    But the two South Asian nations are bitter rivals and some Indian Twitter users posted angry tweets slamming the two Indian players for supporting the initiative of a rival player who has been a fierce critic of India’s handling of the Kashmir dispute.

    “Do you have any sense?” wrote one Twitter user. “Lost respect” for Harbhajan Singh, added another. “Sorry guys you lost it,” posted another user.

    India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral cricket series since 2012-2013 due to political tensions between the two countries.

    Afridi thanked the two Indian players and condemned the online backlash.

    Yuvraj Singh defended his actions, saying that his message for helping those in need during the COVID-19 outbreak should not be misinterpreted.

    “I really don’t understand how a message to help the most vulnerable gets blown out of proportion!,” he wrote. “All I tried to achieve via that message was to help people in our respective countries by providing healthcare, my intention was not to hurt anyone’s feelings. I’m an Indian and will always bleed blue and will always stand for humanity.”

    https://twitter.com/YUVSTRONG12/status/1245295251385958400

    India, which has been under a 21-day lockdown since March 24, has so far recorded 1,998 coronavirus cases and 58 deaths, according to data released by Johns Hopkins University. Pakistan has been the country worst hit by the pandemic in South Asia, with 2,118 confirmed cases and 27 deaths.

  • Migrants in India sprayed with disinfectant to fight coronavirus

    Outrage as health workers spray migrant workers with disinfectant, amid fears their exodus is spreading the virus.Outrage as health workers spray migrant workers with disinfectant, amid fears their exodus is spreading the virus.

    At a time when thousands of migrants across the country are trying to return to their hometowns amid nationwide lockdown over coronavirus or COVID-19, a shocking video has emerged from Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly district – about 270 km from Lucknow – that shows a batch of migrants being sprayed by disinfectants.

  • Reliance Jio announces free 100 minutes calling and messaging services for users till April 17

    In a bid to provide a seamless experience to the customers during the lockdown, Reliance Jio will provide free 100 minutes calling and SMSes till April 17, 2020.

    Reliance Jio announced on Tuesday that it will provide free calling and messaging benefits to its customers amid lockdown in India. In a bid to provide a seamless experience to the customers during the lockdown, Reliance Jio will provide free 100 minutes calling and SMSes till April 17, 2020. The company also announced that the subscribers will continue to receive incoming calls even if they exhaust the validity of their prepaid pack.

    The 100 minutes free calling and free SMSes facility can be availed by all Jio customers from anywhere in India but only till April 17, 2020. Earlier, Jio partnered with many banks to provide a recharge facility to customers using ATMs. The customers previously had options to recharge their phones using phone wallets, UPI and net banking but now Jio has provided just another option to its subscribers. Some JioPhone users are still unable to recharge and need it the most, especially during such important times. Hence, Jio is going the extra mile for its JioPhone users, the company statement read.

    Well, Jio isn’t the only telecom giant providing free benefits to the subscribers during a lockdown. Airtel, BSNL too have provided free plans till April 17 for their users.

    Airtel on Monday announced that it has extended the validity of prepaid plans of over 80 million customers across India till April 17. They also revealed that they will credit Rs 10 in the prepaid accounts primarily the low-income mobile customers. This would make things easier for many low wage workers, who are struggling hard to make ends meet ever since the lockdown was announced

    Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited too had extended support to its customers in their own way. Minister for Electronics & IT, Communications and Law & Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad announced that no BSNL SIMs will be discontinued till April 20. As an additional benefit, Rs 10 had been credited in the accounts of poor and needy people so that they can continue to work without having to worry about these things.

    Vodafone too had announced that they would extend the validity of prepaid packs used by low-income customers. The company has also credited the accounts of the feature phone users with Rs 10.

  • Morning digest: India sees a sharp spike in infections, Wimbledon cancelled for the first time since WWII, and more

    Coronavirus | India sees a sharp spike in infections

    PTI

    India reported three deaths and over 370 new cases on April 1 — the highest-ever single-day increase in its COVID-19 tally.This brought the total confirmed cases to 1,637 and took the death toll to 38. One hundred and thirty two persons have been cured/discharged from hospitals after recovery, the Union Health Ministry said at its daily press briefing, which was the shortest in a month as questions were restricted to a couple of media outlets.

    Lockdown’s impact can be gauged only after two weeks, say experts

    The impact of the lockdown could be gauged only after two weeks, government as well as independent experts suggest. On the evening of March 24, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nationwide 21-day lockdown to arrest “community transmission” of the coronavirus. Between March 24 and April 1, the number of COVID-19 positive cases has more than doubled — from 606 on March 25 to 1,637 on April 1. This, however, was slower — about half the rate of growth from the week before when only 151 cases were confirmed on March 18.

  • The hand of another Indian suspected in Kabul attack

    For the first time, NIA files case for terror attack outside India

    Vijaita Singh

    The National Investigation Agency (NIA) registered a case on Wednesday to probe the terror attack at a gurdwara in Kabul last week, in which 27 Sikh worshippers, including an Indian, was killed.

    Muhammed Muhsin, a 29-year-old man from Kerala’s Kasaragod, is suspected to be one of the three attackers.

    A senior official said there were indications that more than one Indian could have been involved in the attack. Also a suspect is Sajid Kuthirummal, a shopkeeper from Kasaragod, part of the group of 21 men and women that left India in 2016 to join the Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP) in Afghanistan.

    While Muhsin was not part of the group, he last spoke to his mother nine months ago. He moved to Dubai in 2018, and the family did not inform the police that he was missing.

    This is the first instance of the NIA registering a case for a terror attack committed outside India. The NIA Act was amended last year to empower the agency to investigate terror attacks committed outside India, “affecting Indian citizens or affecting the interest of India”.

    The NIA registered the case under various Sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Indian Penal Code and Section 6(8) of the NIA Act.

    About 150 persons were present in the gurdwara when the attack took place. An Indian citizen, identified as Tian Singh, was also killed. “Proscribed terrorist organisation, the Islamic State in Khorasan Province claimed the responsibility for this terror attack,” the NIA said. “As per the preliminary investigation, one Muhsin from Trikaripur in Kasaragod, and others who had joined the ISKP, are suspected to have been involved in the terrorist attack,” it said.

    The officials had earlier claimed that though Muhsin had never been on the radar, the security agencies noticed his father’s mobile phone number in a WhatsApp group created by Rashid Abdullah alias Abu Isa, who led the group of 21 men and women from Kerala that had left India in 2016 to join the ISKP. Also from Kasaragod, Rashid Abdullah is said to have been killed in a drone strike in Afghanistan by the U.S. led security forces.

    A senior official said they suspected that some members of the group were part of the conspiracy to attack the Kabul gurdwara. In the past, the family members in Kerala of most of the men from the group received messages about their death in drone strikes or other operations. “There are four-five persons from the group whose whereabouts are not known. There are indications that one of them, Sajid Kuthirummal, is involved in the attack,” said the official.

    Ten women from the Kerala group had surrendered to the Afghan authorities in November-December last year. A team of Indian security agencies interrogated the women at a Kabul prison in December last year.

    (This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

  • India looks at China, South Korea, Germany for best practices, technology to contain coronavirus

    PTI

    The move comes as India saw rapid increase in number of positive coronavirus cases in the last few days
    India is looking at South Korea,

    Germany and China for procurement of cutting-edge technology and adopting best practices being followed by them in successfully containing the spread of coronavirus amid looming risk of the country entering the community infection stage of the pandemic.

    Indian missions in these three countries have been tasked to immediately identifying possible areas of cooperation and engage with relevant authorities for procurement of medical equipment and technology.

    The move comes as India saw rapid increase in number of positive coronavirus cases in the last few days.

    The need for looking at best practices, innovations, scientific breakthroughs and medical equipment to fight the pandemic was highlighted extensively by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a video conference he held with heads of 130 Indian missions on Monday.

    Government officials said India is specifically looking at South Korea’s approach of widespread testing and significant use of digital tracking of suspected cases to contain the pandemic.

    The South Korean model of ‘trace, test and treat strategy’ has received global recognition. Unlike majority of the countries dealing with the pandemic, South Korea has not resorted to any lockdown and allowed business and economic activities to go on as usual.

    As China managed to flatten the curve of new infections after reporting over 80,000 cases and 3,300 deaths, India is also looking at China along with a very few other countries to procure medical equipment and technology to cater to expanding demand of medical infrastructure across the country.

    “We have to prepare for the future requirement. That is why we are scouting global markets for best available technology and medical equipment,” said an official.

    The Indian embassy in Beijing has been tasked to coordinate with relevant authorities in China for procurement of medical equipment.

    On multiple occasions, China said that it was ready to extend possible assistance to India in dealing with the pandemic.

    Officials said India is in touch with a number of suppliers in China for immediate procurement of 10,000 ventilators.

    India has recorded over 1,600 positive cases of coronavirus and at least 38 deaths so far. Globally, the virus has infected more than 850,000 people and claimed around 42,000 lives.

    Officials said India is also examining Germany’s efforts to check the pandemic. The leading European nation has asked several of its car manufacturers to produce ventilators and other medical equipment to deal with rising cases of the infection.

    The Indian envoy in Washington is coordinating with the Trump administration for cooperation in laboratory tests for the virus infection, sources said.

    External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke over phone to discuss a coordinated effort by India and the U.S. to respond to the pandemic.

    Earlier on March 14, the two top diplomats discussed ways in which India and the U.S. could cooperate to address this global challenge.

    The number of those infected by the deadly disease surged to 164,000 and fatalities crossed 3,100 in the U.S.

  • Coronavirus India lockdown day 8 updates | U.P. reports two deaths, all-India death toll breaches 50

    COVID-19 has claimed 49 lives in India as of March 31, according to data from the Health Ministry and State governments. As many as 1547 people have tested positive for the coronavirus.

    PTI

    Here are the latest updates:

    Jaipur

    89 cases in Rajasthan so far
    Jaipur has reported 13 more COVID-19 positive cases today. All of them are contacts of the first person who was found infected in Ramganj locality.

    The number of positive cases in Rajasthan has soared to 89. This is without taking into account Iran evacuees lodged in Army facilities – Mohammed Iqbal

    Guwahati

    Fresh cases in Assam
    Assam has reported four new cases. All of them have attended the Nizamuddin congregation, according to State Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

    Lucknow

    Second death in UP due to COVID-19. A 72-year-old patient in Meerut has passed away, confirms R. C. Gupta, Principal, Meerut medical college.

    The deceased,tested positive in March 29, was the father-in-law of an earlier positive case. The victim was also suffering from chronic pulmonary disease and was a diabetic, says Dr. Gupta. – Omar Rashid

    Chennai

    TN CM requests Delhi meeting participants to come forward
    Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Wednesday requested those who participated in the religious conference at Nizamuddin West in Delhi to voluntarily come forward, so that they can be tested and treated for COVID-19 if necessary. Mr. Palaniswami, responding to a question, also said if there were symptoms among any participants at the Isha Foundation event held recently, they would also be subjected to testing.

    Kolkata

    Two more deaths in West Bengal
    Two more deaths were reported from Coronavrius in West Bengal on Wednesday taking the number of deaths due to contagious viral infection in the State to six.

    While one patient who was admitted to NRS Medical College and Hospital passed late on Tuesday evening another person died in at a private health facility in Belghoria in the northern parts of the city on Wednesday.

    The State has reported 27 cases, out of which three have been discharged. – Shiv Sahay Singh

    Patna

    The COVID-19 positive cases in Bihar has gone up to 23, confirmed state principal health secretary Sanjay Kumar. The latest two positive cases have come Nalanda and Begusarai districts and have travel history. – Amarnath Tewary

    Agartala

    Tripura to provide free ration to 6.19 lakh poor families for one month
    Tripura government on Wednesday announced that 6.19 lakh poor families in the state would get free ration for one month in view of the COVID-19 situation and the 21-day lockdown.

    As per the Public Distribution System (PDS) records, Tripura has 5.79 lakh ‘poor’ families including 1.09 lakh Antodaya Annapurna Yojana (AAY) families, 4.70 lakh priority
    group or BPL families.

    Vijaywada

    COVID-19 tally doubles in Andhra Pradesh with 43 new cases
    Due to a major overnight spike, the number of positive COVID-19 cases in the State doubled making the total count to 87 on Wednesday. As many as 43 new cases from eight districts were reported.

    As many as 373 samples were tested overnight and 330 turned negative while 43 came as positive. Kadapa and West Godavari districts which did not have a single positive case until yesterday now reported 15 and 13 positive cases respectively. Chittoor reported five new cases and it is followed by Prakasam with four new cases, Nellore and East Godavari two each cases and Visakhapatnam and Krishna one each case. – Tharun Boda

    Lucknow

    First death in UP
    A 25-year-old man from Basti district in Uttar Pradesh died at the BRD hospital in Gorakhpur on Monday. His sample has tested positive, as per a doctor in district hospital Basti but still waiting for official confirmation from the King George’s Medical University in Lucknow where the sample was sent. This would be the first death due to COVID in the State.

    The patient didn’t reveal travel history to Mumbai and was admitted to the COPD after complaining of breathing issues, says the doctor in-charge of Basti hospital. – Omar Rashid

    Bhopal

    Another death in Madhya Pradesh
    A 65-year-old man from Khargone, who had died on March 29 at a hospital in Indore, tests positive for COVID-19, says Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, Indore. The toll owing to the illness climbs to six in Madhya Pradesh. – Sidharth Yadav

    New Delhi

    Scene at Nizamuddin cordoned off by the agencies as sanitizing is underway on Wednesday.

    The Nizamuddin Tablighi centre building was evacuated after a 36 hour-long operation. A total of 2,361 people were evacuated and 617 of them were sent to hospitals and 1,744 were sent to quarantine facilities, says Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

    Delhi state cancer institute which was closed after a doctor was found to be affected by COVID-19 in Dilshad Garden on Wednesday.

    Delhi State Cancer Institute has been shut and is being sanitized after a doctor at the hospital tested positive for COVID-19, says Delhi government spokesperson. – Nikhil M. Rao

    Ahmedabad

    Eight new Coronavirus positive cases found in Ahmedabad. Gujarat’s total no of cases jump to 82. – Mahesh Langa

    Bhopal

    20 new COVID-19 cases in MP
    Twenty more people tested positive for coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday, taking the total number of such cases in the state to 86.

    Among the new cases, 19 were reported from Indore and one from the neighbouring Khargone district.

    Among the new cases, nine patients live at the same postal address in Tanzim Nagar in Indore. They include six women aged 45,21,30,36,23,30, two female toddlers aged three and five and a boy aged eight. A man aged 39 and woman 66 also live at the same address at another location in Indore, so do two men aged 24 and 74.

    Puducherry

    Two who attended Nizamuddin event test positive in Puducherry
    Two persons, who had attended a religious congregation in Delhi’s Nizamuddin area, tested positive for coronavirus in Puducherry on Wednesday.

    Director of Health and Family Welfare Mohan Kumar said the two had returned from Delhi after attending the congregation and were admitted to the State Government hospital.

    Pune

    Over 100 from Pune attended Tablighi event.

    At 182 persons in Pune division including more than 130 in Pune district had attended the fortnight-long conclave hosted by the Tablighi Jamaat, a global Islamic organisation in Delhi’s Nizamuddin West area earlier this month, said authorities on Wednesday.

    Divisional Commissioner Dr. Deepak Mhaisekar said that the divisional authorities had requisite information regarding their whereabouts and that they were tracking down the concerned persons who had participated in the conclave, some of whom were foreign nationals. – Shoumojit Banerjee

    Bengaluru

    Yediyurappa to donate one year’s salary to fight COVID-19
    Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Wednesday announced he will donate his one year’s salary to the Chief Minister Relief Fund COVID-19.

    He has appealed to Ministers, legislators, Members of Parliament, officials and citizens to also do their bit and contribute in whatever capacity possible to help the state in fighting the coronavirus outbreak.

    Srinagar

    Srinagar Mayor’s escort ‘isolated’
    The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Tuesday quarantined the entire escort of Srinagar Mayor Junaid Azim Mattu after the brother of a police personnel tested positive for COVID-19. In a separate action, seven people associated with Tablighi Jamaat were booked for hiding travel history.

  • Two Indias — one at home doing yoga, other fighting for survival: Sibal

    Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Wednesday took a dig at the government, saying there were two Indias with one at home doing yoga, watching Ramayan and playing antakshari, and the other trying to reach home and fighting for survival.

    PTI

    A large number of migrant labourers have been leaving their work places in parts of the country and walking down to their native places, hundreds of kilometres away, due to the lockdown imposed to curb the COVID-19 outbreak.

    Photo Credits: Sandeep Saxena

    “Two India’s. One (at home) doing yoga, watching Ramayana, playing Antakshari. The other (trying to reach home). Fighting for survival without food, without shelter, without support,” Mr. Sibal said in a tweet.

    Mr. Sibal’s attack was in reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi sharing a video of a yoga asan which he practices, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar announcing the rerun of Ramayan and Mahabharat recently and Union minister Smriti Irani playing ‘Twitter Antakshari’ during the ‘Janata Curfew