Pioneer dehradun-english-edition-2021-05-17

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There are things one takes
for granted, like the cloth
used to cover a body. Not any
longer. The “kafan” (shroud),
generally a thick, white,
unstitched piece of cloth, is
suddenly dearer. It is on
account of the unusual spike in
the number of deaths owing to
Covid-19. More people are
buying the cloth to drape their
dear ones on their final journey
than for the living these days.
In Bihar ad Uttar Pradesh,
small handloom and machine
loom units are busy making
bolts of “kafan”. The produc-
tion has been ramped up to
meet the surge in demand.
While these units produced
10,000 individual pieces of the
shourds a month, they are
coping with the demand for a
similar number every day.
That’s not it. They need to be
cut to size, packed and trans-
ported as fast as possible.
Such looms in Bihar’s Gaya
are functional round-the-
clock. The labourers have no
shift breaks. They are meeting
the challenge to dispatch the
stuff not only to various places
in Bihar, but Jharkhand,
Madhya Pradesh,
Chhattisgarh, Odisha, West
Bengal and even the north-
eastern States.
An official of the
Handlooms and Textile
Department of Uttar Pradesh
said that the demand of one
lakh “kafan” per month man-
ufactured in Lohta area of
Varanasi, Mau and Azamgarh
has now nearly trebled. The
powerloom units of these areas
supply to entire northern
India, from the Poorvanchal
region to Jammu Kashmir,
Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan,
Gujarat and other parts of
southern India.
“Nowadays these are done
on powerloom and it’s no
more a handloom material.
Raw materials come from
Gujarat and then made in
looms of UP, Bihar and then
supplied to most parts of
India,” said the official.
Underlining a factor of
class divide, the official said as
the making of the product is
not a profitable one, it is most-
ly confined to areas where
cheap labour is available, like
in Bihar, UP and West Bengal.
Manpur in Gaya is known as
the Manchester of eastern
Bihar and the workers here are
doing overtime to meet the
demand for about 50,000
“kafan” per day for adjoining
areas and other States. Besides
cotton, the units from here also
make shrouds out of poly-
ester and silk.
“We have been working
round the clock. Pained to
make bolts of kafan. The
demand is high, but we have
been supplying with full
integrity and at same price as
earlier. No black marketing for
this product,” said Dwarika,
who owns a small unit at
Patwatoli, Gaya, which has
several small units.
He said all religions require
this piece of cloth and the price
could vary from place to place
and depending on sizesrange
from C100 to C1,000.
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The anti-Covid inoculation drive in most parts
of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala,
Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu was affected on
Sunday due to the cyclonic storm ‘Tauktae’ that
displaced thousands of people and claimed
eight lives so far.
Keeping in view of India Meteorological
Department’s warning, most of the coastal
regions in these states suspended the drive for two
days-Sunday and Monday.
The inoculation was suspended for two days
–Sunday and Monday in Mumbai, Palghar,
north Konkan, Thane, Ratnagiri districts in
Maharashtra. Gujarat has also suspended the
drive for two days. The drive was also affected
in Kerala, Goa, Tamil nadu, Gujarat and
Karnataka.
Heavy to heavy rainfall, gusty winds with 145
to 175 kmph, disruption in power supplies, floods
in low lying areas, water logging and blockage of
roads due to fallen trees impacted the inocula-
tion drive.
As per preliminary reports, the cyclone has
claimed eight people (two in Kerala, two in Goa
and four in Karnataka), uprooted a large num-
ber of trees, electricity poles and damaged a large
number properties so far.
According to the India Meteorological
Department (IMD), Tauktae which has taken the
form of a “very severe cyclonic storm” is likely
to intensify further during the next 24 hours and
reach the Gujarat coast on Monday evening.
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Bracing for Cyclone
Tauktae, the Government
has put the Indian Air Force
(IAF) and the Navy on stand-
by with nearly 40 planes
ready to be deployed at a
short notice.
The IAF planes on
Saturday morning airlifted
teams of the National
Disaster Response Force
(NDRF)to some parts of
Gujarat where the cyclone is
likely to hit.
Giving details here on
Saturday, official said the
Navy’s ships, aircraft, heli-
copters, diving and disaster
relief teams are on standby
for “rendering full support to
the State Government.
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Indigenously developed
Bharat Biotech’s Covid-19
vaccine — Covaxin — has
produced neutralising titres
(concentration) against all key
emerging variants tested,
including the B.1.617 and
B.1.1.7, first identified in India
and the United Kingdom,
according to a study
published in peer-reviewed
medical journal Clinical
Infectious Diseases.
A modest reduction in
neutralisation by a factor of
1.95 was observed against the
B.1.617 variant compared to
the vaccine variant (D614G).
Bharat Biotech joint man-
aging director Suchitra Ella
cited it. However Ella added
that despite this reduction,
neutralising titre levels with
B.1.617 remain above levels
expected to be protective.
“No difference in
n e u t r a l i s a t i o n
between B.1.1.7
(first found in the
UK) and vaccine
strain (D614G)
was observed,”
Ella said.
These find-
ings are from a study conduct-
ed in collaboration with the
National Institute of Virology
— Indian Council of Medical
Research. Covaxin is
one of the three Covid-
19 vaccines that are
currently available in
the country.
Developed by
Bharat Biotech in
partnership with
National Institute of
Virology and ICMR,
Covaxin was approved
for emergency use
against coronavirs in
January.
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Congress Rajya Sabha mem-
ber Rajeev Satav suc-
cumbed to Covid-19-related
complications on Sunday after
battling with it for three weeks.
Satav, who represented his
home State of Maharashtra in
the Upper House, had tested
negative last week.
Vice-President M
Venkaiah Naidu, Prime
Minister Narendra Modi and
several Cabinet colleagues,
Congress president Sonia
Gandhi, and Congress leader
Rahul Gandhi condoled the
death of 46-year-old Satav.
?=BQ =4F34;78
The Centre has directed
States to prevent dumping
of dead bodies in the Ganga
and focus on their safe dis-
posal and providing support
for ensuring dignified funer-
al.
Secretary, Ministry of Jal
Shakti, Pankaj Kumar
reviewed the position and
action taken in Uttar Pradesh
and Bihar in this regard.
He highlighted the
instructions and wanted expe-
ditious action and also under-
scored the need to give equal
attention to such incidents in
urban as well as rural areas
along the Ganga and other
rivers. He said after knowing
the progress from the States,
CWC, CPCB and State
Pollution Control Boards
would also give their feedback.
Rajiv Ranjan Mishra,
Director General National
Mission for Clean Ganga stat-
ed that the situation is being
followed up with several dis-
tricts like Unnao, Kanpur
rural, Ghazipur, Balia and
Buxar, Saran in Bihar.
?=BQ =4F34;78
As rural areas become new
hunting grounds for dead-
ly coronavirus, the Centre on
Sunday issued guidelines call-
ing for door-to-door surveil-
lance, teleconsultation for
asymptomatic cases, and active
surveillance for influenza-like
illness periodically by ASHA
workers among others.
Releasing the guidelines,
the Union Health Ministry
said there is a need to strength-
en primary-level healthcare
infrastructure at all levels to
intensify Covid-19 response
in these areas while continuing
to provide other essential
health services.
In every village, active sur-
veillance should be done for
influenza-like illness/severe
acute respiratory infections
(ILI/SARI) periodically by
ASHA workers with help of the
Village Health Sanitation and
Nutrition Committee
(VHSNC).
The advisory comes a day
after Prime Minister Narendra
Modi, chairing a high-level
meeting on the Covid-19 situ-
ation, directed Government
officials to make a distribution
plan for oxygen supply to rural
areas and scale up health infra-
structure to manage the disease
burden in those regions.
Continued on Page 2
?=B Q =4F34;78
Caught off guard, the Centre
and State authorities are
now banking on oft-ignored
frontline workers, ASHA, to
take on the second wave of
Covid-19, which has already
swept a vast swathe of rural
areas, where the bulk of the
population lives.
Officials said that the chal-
lenge from Covid was bigger
this year and only pro-active
ASHA workers can help stop
villages from being affected.
Lack of awareness, reluc-
tance to submit to testing and
widespread hesitancy against
vaccine are challenges that the
Governments are looking to
combat.
ASHA workers risk their
lives each day in exchange of
a meagre sum of C2,250 per
month.
However, they have to face
pay cuts for taking more than
10 days off leave even in this
time of crisis.
Rural communities face
unique challenges in respond-
ing to the pandemic due to
medical workforce shortage,
fewer hospital beds per capi-
ta, limited access to tele-med-
ication, and populations that
are at elevated risk for Covid-
19 related deaths due to age or
chronic disease prevalence.
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All arrangements have been
completed for the ritual
reopening of the Kedarnath
temple early on Monday morn-
ing. The temple has been dec-
orated with about 11 quintals
of flowers. As scheduled, the
temple will be opened ritually
at 5 AM on Monday.
Tourism and Culture min-
ister Satpal Maharaaz informed
that the Char Dham
Devasthanam Management
Board and temple committees
are conducting the first prayers
in all the Char Dham shrines
on behalf of the Prime Minister
Narendra Modi for public wel-
fare.
The doli carrying the
Panchmukhi idol of lord
Kedarnath arrived here on
Saturday evening. In view of
the Covid guidelines in place,
only a limited number of
priests will be allowed in the
shrine during its reopening
and on other days with the state
government suspending the
Char Dham Yatra due to the
Covid surge.
It is pertinent to mention
here that while Yamunotri and
Gangotri were reopened on
May 14 and May 15 respec-
tively, Badrinath shrine will be
reopened on May 18.
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Haryana Chief Minister
Manohar Lal Khattar on
Sunday inaugurated a 500-bed
Chaudhary Devi Lal Sanjivani
Hospital in Hisar and 500-bed
Guru Tegh Bahadur Sanjivani
COVID Hospital in Panipat
district.
The hospital in Hisar,
adjoining the plant of Jindal
Stainless Ltd and located in the
campus of Jindal Modern
School was constructed in a
record time of 17 days.
“The Hisar COVID hospi-
tal will get eight metric tons of
oxygen supply from the com-
pany's plant, which will be
available at 7.1 litres per minute
per bed. Chaudhary Devi Lal
Sanjivani Hospital in Hisar is
the first hospital of its kind set
up in Haryana, which will
have all kinds of facilities for
COVID-19 patients,” said the
Chief Minister after inaugu-
rating the hospital in Hisar.
He said that it is proposed
that no fee would be charged
from the patients who will
come to get treatment in this
hospital. He informed that the
hospital has four blocks A, B,
C and D. There will be an
availability of 230 beds in A
block, 120 beds in B block, 16
beds in OPD, 72 beds each in
the school building and junior
wing of the school building.
Apart from this, support cen-
tres have been set up for
Police, fire, CCTV, helpdesk,
electricity and AC related prob-
lems, Khattar said.
This Civil Hospital will be
a part of the expansion of
Hisar, in which additional staff,
local administrative support
and resources will be available
to support the Health
Department. Pharmacy,
Laboratory and Canteen facil-
ities have also been made avail-
able here, he added.
Speaking after the inaugu-
ration of Guru Tegh Bahadur
Sanjivani COVID Hospital in
village Bal Jatan near the refin-
ery in Panipat, the Chief
Minister said that about Rs
28.88 crore have been spent on
the construction of this
COVID Hospital having a
capacity of 500 beds. 300 beds
have been made usable since
Sunday while in the next two
days, admission for 200 beds
will also be started, he said.
Number of COVID beds
increased to 19500
The Chief Minister
informed that the Health
Department has increased the
number of new beds for
COVID-19 patients. Earlier,
17500 beds were available with
the Health Department, which
has now increased to 19500.
Besides this, the State
Government is also preparing
about 45000 beds for isolation
in which the Gram Panchayat
and other social organizations
are supporting the State
Government, he said.
Four Centres set up for
prevention of black fungus
The Chief Minister urged
the people of the state to be
aware of black fungus infection.
He said that 60 cases of black
fungus have been reported so
far in Haryana.
The State Government has
set up four centres at Rohtak
PGI, Agroha Medical College,
Hisar, SGT Medical College,
Gurugram and Kalpana
Chawla Medical College,
Karnal to prevent the spread of
this disease, he added.
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Haryana Police on Sunday
lobbed tear gas shells and
used force to disperse a group of
protesting farmers who tried to
march towards the venue where
the Chief Minister Manohar
Lal Khattar had visited to inau-
gurate a COVID hospital in
Hisar district.
Heavy police security
arrangements were made to
prevent the entry of farmers
towards the inauguration venue
with barricades. As farmers
were adamant about heading
towards the venue and tried to
force their way through police
barricades,thepolicecarriedout
a baton-charge and used teargas
shells to disperse them.
Several farmers and police
personnel including a DSP were
injured In a statement issued, a
spokesman of Haryana Police
saidthatmiscreantsattackedand
pelted stones at policemen on
the pretext of protest outside
Chaudhary Devi Lal Sanjivani
Hospital in Hisar. A total of 20
police personnel, including 5
women,whowereinjuredinthis
attack, are undergoing treat-
ment at the civil hospital. The
miscreants also attacked DSP
Abhimanyu Lohan, he said. The
miscreants first broke the bar-
ricade installed on the canal
bridge and threw it into the
canal. The miscreants started
entering the Chaudhary Devi
Lal Sanjivani Hospital complex
set up at Jindal Modern School
and removed the barricades
there. At this place, the miscre-
ants also tried to run a tractor
over the policemen, in which
some policemen also suffered
injuries, the spokesman said.
Thesemiscreantshavedamaged
five police vehicles. Surprisingly,
even after the conclusion of the
hospital's inauguration pro-
gramme, these people tried to
enter the premises of the hospi-
tal, where the treatment of
Corona infected has started.
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Aday after SAD president
Sukhbir Singh Badal chal-
lenged Punjab Congress lead-
ers including party chief Sunil
Kumar Jakhar, former Minister
Navjot Singh Sidhu, besides
Aam Aadmi Party’s Bhagwant
Mann to bring the evidence in
the public domain on the
involvement of Akali leaders in
the 2015 sacrilege and related
firing incidents, the cricketer-
turned-politician on Sunday
posted two old video clips on
his official Twitter handle by
pointing that there was
“enough cognizable evidence
available against the Badals”.
While doing so, he also
took a dig at his own party’s
Government for protecting the
Badals.
“Enough Cognizable
Evidence available against
Badals, says Justice (retd.)
Ranjit Singh Inquiry
Commission Report…In Sept
2018, I shared in Public
Domain, statements by
Doctors, Ex-DGP Civil
Administration that prove
actions at Kotkapura Chowk
were consensual with then
CM, (sic)” said Sidhu in a
tweet.
“This CCTV Footage was
hidden from Justice (Retd.)
Zora Singh Inquiry
Commission during Badal
Regime. Later, dug up by Justice
Ranjit Singh. I brought this
footage to Public Domain,
which shows role of police, act-
ing on behest of the Badals. You
are guilty but being protected
(sic)” he said in another tweet.
Sidhu shared the purport-
ed video clips of police action
on the protestors against the
desecration of a religious text
in Faridkot in 2015, along with
the contents of the report of the
one-man commission that had
probed incidents of the dese-
cration of the Guru Granth
Sahib.
Notably, a day before, SAD
chief Sukhbir Badal, who was
the state’s Deputy Chief
Minister and Home Minister
during the previous Punjab
Government, had asked the
Congress leaders to produce
the proof, if they have any,
about the “planning and exe-
cution” of the incidents.
Sidhu shared two video
clips of an event from
September 2018, in which he is
seen sharing the CCTV footage
and some contents of the
Justice Ranjit Singh
Commission report.
Meanwhile, reacting to
Sidhu’s remarks, SAD chief's
principal adviser Harcharan
Bains also tweeted, “For 4½ yrs,
@sherryontop boasted he had
SENSATIONAL EVIDENCE
on sacrilege. Asked to share it
with Khalsa Panth, court SIT,
all he does scoot hide behind
a retired judge's politicised
report, already exposed, rub-
bished rejected by HC.
Where's the much touted evi-
dence (sic).”
The one-man commission
was set up by the Congress-led
Government in 2017 to inves-
tigate incidents of the desecra-
tion of the Guru Granth Sahib
and subsequent police firing
cases at Behbal Kalan and
Kotkapura of Faridkot.
Two people were killed in
the police firing at Behbal
Kalan.
Sidhu has been repeatedly
attacking the Chief Minister
Capt Amarinder Singh over the
issue after the Punjab and
Haryana High Court last
month quashed a probe report
into the Kotkapura case and
ordered a fresh SIT to reinves-
tigate it.
Meanwhile, Punjab
Cabinet Ministers — Balbir
Singh Sidhu and Sadhu Singh
Dharmsot — on Sunday
advised the SAD president
Sukhbir Singh Badal to peep
into his conscience and see that
not only his hands but soul was
also drenched with blood of
innocent people who were
killed in Bargari incident.
The Ministers categorical-
ly said that every Punjabi knew
that he did an “unpardonable
act for vested political interests”.
“No evidence or witness is
required to prove your involve-
ment in this entire sin,” said
Sidhu and Dharmsot while
categorically stating that
Sukhbir was home Minister of
state when this incident took
place and how can he be
absolved of all these sins.
Reacting strongly to
Sukhbir’s tweet, both Ministers
said that no matter what efforts
the SAD president may put in
to mislead people, one tweet or
one thousand, all are going to
fall flat. “He is talking of evi-
dence but the fact is that it was
orchestrated by Sukhbir and
coterie is well known to people
of Punjab,” they said.
Ministers asked Sukhbir
“to stop pretending, stop evad-
ing, stop belying and put a full
stop to all his nonsensical
rhetoric as the Chief Minister
Capt Amarinder Singh would
ensure that guilty faces the
music”.
THERE’S NO SHORT-
AGE OF EVIDENCE: MANN
AAP’s Punjab unit presi-
dent Bhagwant Mann on
Sunday said that SAD chief
Sukhbir Badal’s questions are
enough evidence in itself.
Taking a dig at Sukhbir
Badal, Mann said that the peo-
ple of Punjab and the entire
sangat knew who was in the
Government in Punjab in 2015
when desecration of Sri Guru
Granth Sahib had taken place.
He asked that when the sangat
was peacefully protesting at
Behbal Kalan-Kotkapura
against the Bargari sacrilege,
demanding arrest of the cul-
prits; on whose orders did the
indiscriminate firing by the
police took place in which two
Sikh youths were killed and
dozens were injured.
“Will Sukhbir Badal tell
that he was not the then
Deputy Chief Minister as well
as Home Minister? Won't the
Home Minister own any
responsibility for the indis-
criminate firing by the uniden-
tified police?” said Mann.
BXSWd_^bcb^]CfXccTa³eXST^R[X_bÛ_^[XRTPRcX^]^]_a^cTbcTab
?=BQ 270=3860A7
Asking Punjab Chief
Minister Capt Amarinder
Singh to recognize the human-
itarian crisis which was unfold-
ing in Punjab due to the
COVID-19 pandemic, the
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)
president Sukhbir Singh Badal
on Sunday urged him to take
immediate relief measures
including providing Rs two
lakh compensation to COVID
victim families, monthly pen-
sion of Rs 6,000 for COVID
orphans and monthly cash
assistance of Rs 6,000 per
month to all BPL families for a
six month period.
Asking the Chief Minister
to spare a thought for those
who had been hit by COVID as
well as the aftereffects of the
lockdown on the poor, skilled
workers, and traders, Sukhbir
made an appeal to the Chief
Minister to mitigate the suf-
ferings of various sections of
society which have been worst
hit by the pandemic on an
urgent basis “or else we will wit-
ness another tragedy unfolding
before our eyes”.
Sukhbir said that the
Congress Government should
immediately announce a finan-
cial assistance of Rs two lakh to
all families who had lost their
bread winner to the pandem-
ic. “Simultaneously, a month-
ly pension of Rs 6,000 per
month should be provided to
COVID orphans till they
attained the age of maturity.
Such children should also be
offered free education up to
post graduation level,” he
added.
Asserting that it was unfor-
tunate that the Chief Minister
had failed to give any relief to
people who were being fleeced
at the hands of private hospi-
tals, Sukhbir said: “It has
already been pointed out how
private hospitals are charging
Rs 2.50 lakh to Rs five lakh for
COVID treatment.”
“Similarly, there is a free for
all as far as life-saving drugs
and injections are concerned,”
he pointed while asking the
State Government to bear the
entire cost of income for
patients with an annual income
of less than Rs 10 lakh in pri-
vate hospitals.
SAD President also
stressed the need to provide
debt and other interim relief to
traders and industrialists.
“The periodical lockdowns
imposed by the State had dealt
a crushing blow to trade and
industry. The government
should provide a short term
interest subsidy to this sector to
allow traders and industrialists
to meet their operational
expenses. This sector should
also be provided free power for
a period of four months to
compensate for the losses suf-
fered by them during this dif-
ficult phase,” he added.
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?=BQ 270=3860A7
Haryana Government on
Sunday announced to
extend the statewide lockdown
till May 24 to contain the
COVID-19pandemic.Speaking
during the inauguration of
Indian Oil Corporation (IOC)
500-bed Covid Care hospital in
Panipat district, the Chief
Minister Manohar Lal
announced that “Mahamari
Alert/Surakshit Haryana” has
been extended for a week and
wouldcontinuetill6amonMay
24. He urged the people of the
state to take necessary COVID-
19 precautions and stay safe in
theirhomes.Khattarfurthersaid
that in the coming days, more
stringent restrictions would be
imposed during the Mahamari
Alert/Surakshit Haryana. The
State Government had imposed
the lockdown on May 3 in view
of the rising cases. It was first
imposed till May 10, and later
extended till May 17. Haryana
has been facing a surge in
COVID-19 infections as well as
fatalities for the last few weeks,
though the state has registered
a slight fall during the past few
days. Home-cum-Health
Minister Anil Vij said that the
number of COVID cases was
15,000 per day earlier but it has
nowcomedownto9600perday.
Mahamari Alert/Surakshit
Haryana has also been success-
ful with the cooperation of the
people of the state, he
said.
?=BQ 270=3860A7
Launching a scathing attack
on BJP national and state
leaders parroting Uttar Pradesh
Chief Minister Yogi
Adityanath’s “provocative”
statement on Malerkotla,
Punjab Chief Minister Capt
Amarinder Singh on Sunday
warned that their blatant
attempts to drive a communal
wedge among the peace-loving
Punjabis will backfire on them.
“The BJP leaders are trying
to light the bomb of communal
hatred in Punjab, which will
blow up in their faces,” said Capt
Amarinder, lashing out at them
for blindly jumping to the
defence of the Uttar Pradesh
Chief Minister, who, in any case,
“is hell bent upon destroying his
own State, which is reeling
under total lawlessness, com-
munal and caste divisions, and
lack of governance, along with
insensitive handling of the
COVID situation by a govern-
ment which files criminal cases
against those pleading for help
to save their loved ones”.
“The Constituent Assembly,
under the chairmanship of Dr
BR Ambedkar, made us as a sec-
ular?democracy and all that
Yogi is achieving is destroying
the secular fabric of the coun-
try,” slammed the Chief
Minister. The BJP had system-
atically tried to destroy the sec-
ular fabric of the nation, with its
blatantly genocidal and com-
munal policies and politics, he
said, citing the CAA as well as
its recent attempts to commu-
nalise the peaceful agitation of
the farmers, who are still fight-
ing for their lives and livelihood.
Pointing to BJP’s gory his-
tory of spreading communal
hatred and violence across the
country, from Gujarat in 2002
to West Bengal in 2021, Capt
Amarinder said that even in
1984 Delhi riots, he had per-
sonally seen complaints filed
against 22 BJP supporters, who
had fuelled the violence, at
Tughlak Road Police Station.
“In Punjab too, the cases of
sacrilege that sought to disturb
the state’s peace and harmony
took place under the watch of
the BJP, which was then in
power in alliance with the
Shiromani Akali Dal,” he
observed. The Chief Minister
said that as far as Yogi’s UP is
concerned, media reports quot-
ing a statement in the Lok
Sabha in December 2018 by the
Union Minister of State for
Home Affairs showed that in
comparison with 2014, the
number of incidents of com-
munal violence in the country
was 32 percent higher in 2017.
“There were a total of 195
incidents of communal vio-
lence in Uttar Pradesh, of the
total 822 incidents in India, in
2017, in which 44 people died
and 542 people were injured, as
per the reports,” said Capt
Amarinder, adding that the sit-
uation has since only worsened.
Contrasting this with his
state, the Chief Minister said
that Punjab’s history is one of
“unity of all communities”.
As for Malerkotla, said the
Chief Minister, it was evident
that the BJP leaders do not
know that it was the Nawab of
Malerkotla, Sher Mohammed
Khan, who stood up and
opposed the then Governor of
Sirhind, who was bricking alive
the younger sons of Guru
Gobind Singh.
?=BQ 270=3860A7
As Punjab continues to
record a high positivity
rate of 13.1 percent for the past
week and a case fatality rate
(CFR) at 2.4 percent, the Chief
Minister Capt Amarinder Singh
on Sunday ordered extension of
all restrictions imposed to con-
tain the COVID-19 spread till
May 31, with the directions to
the Deputy Commissioners for
strict enforcement of the curbs.
“While the restrictions, so
far, had shown results, with
some decline in day-on-day
positivity and cases coming
down from around 9,000 to
6,000 in this period, there is a
need to extend the same in view
of the high positivity of 13.1 per-
cent as of the May 9-15 period,
with CFR standing at 2.4 per-
cent,” said the Chief Minister.
The Chief Minister said
that the Deputy Commissioners
will continue to determine
opening of shops in a staggered
manner and enforce other
restrictions to check spread of
COVID, especially in rural
areas. “They can also make
suitable amendments based on
local conditions as long as these
do not dilute the State’s overall
restrictions,” said the Chief
Minister.
He said that the district
authorities shall continue to
ensure strict implementation of
all the directives of the MHA or
the State Government on
COVID appropriate behaviour,
including social distancing
norms, regulating crowds in
market places and public trans-
port, and imposition of penal-
ties prescribed for violation of
norms or restrictions.
PVTHOSPITALSFLEEC-
INGPATIENTSTOBESHUT
The Chief Minister, review-
ing the state’s COVID situation
at a high-level meeting, also
directed the district adminis-
trations to investigate com-
plaints of fleecing of patients by
some private hospitals, warning
that these would be shut down
if they continue to indulge in
such practices.
Such cases have to be strict-
ly dealt with, he said, directing
the Police Department to crack
down on those found indulging
in hoarding or black marketing
of any COVID related essentials
or medicines.
INCREASE SURVEIL-
LANCE ON BLACK FUN-
GUS
Expressing concern over
the spread of the new fungal
disorder associated with
COVID, the Chief Minister
stressed the need to increase
surveillance for this disease as,
if it is not treated early, it can
cause severe complications.
He also directed the Health
Department to ensure that med-
icines to treat this disease are
available with the State. “These
should be procured before there
is panic for these medicines as
well,” he said, while asking the
Department to also re-examine
the SOP to see if there is any-
thing that can be done to pre-
vent this disease from occur-
ring.
Dr KK Talwar, state gov-
ernment’s health adviser, termed
the fungal infections as a “seri-
ous issue”, which could be attrib-
uted to either high use of
steroids or use of undistilled
water in Oxygen.
COMFORTABLE ON
OXYGEN AVAILABILITY
On the availability of
Oxygen, the Chief Minister
said that while the state, through
judicious measures, had been
able to prevent any mishap, the
situation should be closely mon-
itored by the Health
Department.
The State Government had
successfully arranged for PSA
plants, oxygen concentrators
etc which will further help tack-
le oxygen shortages, he added.
The state was expecting over
2,500 oxygen concentrators on
the ground within this month,
he said, directing the
Department to ensure the best
use of the same.
?=BQ 270=3860A7
PunjabCongressonSunday
said that the Modi Government
at the Centre has completely
failed in COVID management.
“Instead of making timely
arrangements to battle the pan-
demic, the Central Government
continued to send vaccines
abroad. Now, when people are
telling the truth or serving
humanity to give relief to the
affected people, they are being
booked and arrested by regis-
tering FIRs,” said Punjab
Pradesh Congress Committee
president Sunil Jakhar. He said
that the party is launching a
campaign on social media
against this repressive policy of
the NDA led Central
Government to make the peo-
ple aware of the unbearable
ground realities and also to
make the pain of the people
reach the ears of the Modi gov-
ernment. “The national presi-
dent of the Youth Congress, BV
Srinivas,hasbeenquestionedby
the police for public welfare ser-
vice. In Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi
Government is carrying its
repressive policies by registering
cases against those who raise
their voice or reveal the truth.
Similarly, in Delhi, when people
put up posters saying ‘Modi ji,
why did you send our children's
vaccinesabroad’,theDelhiPolice
have registered FIRs against the
people and quickly held them
also,” said Jakhar.
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347A03D=k=30H k0H !!
?=BQ 347A03D=
The death toll from the
pandemic of Covid 19 is con-
tinuing to remain high in
Uttarakhand even as the num-
bers of new cases of the disease
are on decline.
On Sunday the state health
department reported the death
of 188 patients from the disease
which is the second highest
number of deaths in a single
day. On Saturday record 197
deaths had occured from the
disease.
However in what can be
termed as a positive streak
amid the gloom, the health
department reported 5,053
recoveries from the disease
which are more than the num-
ber of new cases - 4,496 report-
ed on the day.
The death toll from the dis-
ease has now mounted to 4,811
while the patient count (cumu-
lative) has increased to
2,87,286.
A total of 1,98,530 patients
have so far recovered from the
disease. The recovery percent-
age is now at 69.11 while the
sample positivity rate is 6.74.
Out of the 188 deaths
reported on Sunday, 28 deaths
occurred in Military Hospital
(MH) Roorkee, 27 in District
hospital Rudrapur, 15 at Rajiv
Gandhi cricket stadium Raipur,
Dehradun,15 Udham Singh
Nagar, 14 each from SDH
Roorkee and Sushila Tiwari
government hospital Haldwani,
Nainital.
Similarly 13 deaths
occurred at Government Doon
Medical College (GDMC) hos-
pital, 10 at HNB base hospital
Srinagar, six at Kailash hospi-
tal Dehradun, four each at
Medicity Rudrapur,
Arogyadham hospital
Dehradun and Max hospital
Dehradun on the day.
The provisional state cap-
ital Dehradun reported 1248
new cases of the disease on
Sunday. Haridwar reported
572, Tehri 498, Udham Singh
Nagar 393, Pauri 391,
Rudraprayag 356, Uttarkashi
351, Chamoli 211, Bageshwar
153, Nainital 117, Pithoragarh
100, Almora 65 and
Champawat 41 new cases of
the disease on Sunday.
On a positive note the
count of active patients which
was on an upswing from the
last many days decreased on
Sunday.
The state now has 78,802
active patients of the disease.
Dehradun continues remains at
the top of the table of active
cases of the disease with 26,865
patients; Haridwar has 13,629,
Nainital 6,537, Pauri 6,468,
Udham Singh Nagar 6,154,
Tehri 5,456, Chamoli 2,430,
Almora 2487, Rudraprayag
2,305, Uttarkashi 2,118,
Pithoragarh 1,657, Champawat
1423 and Bageshwar 1,273
active cases of the disease. To
contain the contagion of
Covid-19, the state adminis-
tration has set up 479 contain-
ment zones in different parts of
the state.
In the ongoing vaccination
drive 18,421 people were vac-
cinated in 282 sessions in dif-
ferent parts of the state on
Sunday.
A total of 6,80,066 people
have so far been fully vacci-
nated in the state while
19,40,279 have been partially
vaccinated.
?=BQ 347A03D=
The scale of the prevailing
secondwaveoftheCovid19
in Uttarakhand could be under-
stood from the fact that 48 per-
cent of all cases of the disease
and 55 percent of total deaths
from Covid-19 so far have
occurred in the last three weeks
in the state. In the week ending
May 15 which is the 61st week
of the pandemic ever since the
first case of the disease was
reported in the state on March
15 last year, a total of 44,856
cases of Covid 19 were report-
ed. Similarly 38,581 and 52,369
cases were reported in 59th and
60thweekrespectively.Thestate
had reported 2,83,239 cases of
the disease till May 15. Similarly
1,075 deaths from the disease
occurred in 61st week, 817 in
60th week and 629 in 59th
week in the state. In these three
weeks, a whopping 2521 deaths
occurred which is 55 percent of
total deaths ( 4,623) which have
so far occurred from Covid 19.
One of the worrying factors
is that while the death and
number of cases are on record
breaking trend the numbers of
tests are decreasing. In the week
ending May 15, only 1,97,908
tests were done which is 17,373
lessteststhanthepreviousweek.
The data shows that 2,15,281
tests were done in 60th week,
2,78,206 in 59th week, 2,36,656
in 58th week, 2,84,288 in 57th
week and 2,39,522 in 56th week
in Uttarakhand.
The founder of Social
Development for Communities
(SDC) Foundation Anoop
Nautiyal said that every fourth
or fifth person tested in
Uttarakhand in the past two
weeks is positive. The state
needs to significantly ramp up
its testing, contact tracing, med-
ication provision, healthcare
services and vaccination efforts
in both the Urban and moun-
tainous areas, he said.
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Q B?B270D70=
The National Education
Policy (NEP) states its
objectives and vision at various
points in the document.
Chapter four of the education
policy states that the school syl-
labus and teaching methods
should be holistic, easy to
understand, unified and inter-
esting. For school education it
is important to create a quest
for knowledge or scientific
temperament, develop a sense
of good citizenship, making the
students aware by class XII of
all the basic knowledge
required for day to day life. One
would like to explain how the
vision and objectives laid in the
policy can be achieved. The
focus here is basically on the
education up to class X as XI
and XII are left out for
focussing on further career
development
We can broadly divide the
whole education system in
three parts - content or cur-
riculum, teaching method and
extra curricular activities.
When it comes to the cur-
riculum, a look at the syllabus
of various courses reveals that
a good amount of contents can
either be removed or reorgan-
ised to bring it down to neces-
sary knowledge level for day to
day life. It is common knowl-
edge that not only a child but
even grown ups remember a
story, novel or movie over a
long period of time. This hap-
pens because the events are
interconnected and at every
stage the reader or viewer is
eager to know the next event.
Anything which has a good
sequence and curiosity
involved shall be remembered
by everyone.
This element is missing in
our present curriculum. Every
page and chapter seems to
throw up unconnected infor-
mation which is crammed up
for exam purposes without
basic understanding of the
subject. This can be termed as
a vertical approach in each sub-
ject. The challenge is whether
the same information can be
passed on to students with the
elements of continuity and
curiosity for actually under-
standing the subject matter?
My answer to this is an
emphatic yes. It has to be
understood that the entire
development of the civilised
world has taken place as a liv-
ing organic entity. It has been
a gradual process. Geography,
history, social sciences and
pure sciences all have been
linked intricately at all times. If
at school level all these subjects
are taught in a linked manner,
it would make learning inter-
esting and lasting. This can be
called a horizontal approach.
The main subjects for educa-
tion up to X standard can be
limited to language, arithmetic/
basic geometry and general
studies.
In language more empha-
sis needs to be given on com-
munication skills. Without a
good command and under-
standing of language an indi-
vidual, society or country can
not realise its full potential. It
need not be said that basic
mathematics, especially arith-
metic is essential for any per-
son in day to day life. Basics of
geometry are also used in
everybody’s life. Mathematics,
besides its importance in day to
day life, is also essential for
developing analytical capabil-
ity of young minds.
Basic Vedic mathematics
can help in this field in an effec-
tive manner. Algebra is the
basic for higher learning but
can be spared up to grade
eight or can be taught for basic
exposure.
All the basic requirements
of social sciences and pure
sciences can be termed as gen-
eral studies up to class X.
General studies should cover
basics of history, geography,
civics, economics and science.
All these subjects can largely be
interconnected and interwoven
in common threads in an inter-
esting and fascinating manner.
It is ironic that most of the new
voters know very little about
the country’s civic system and
governance while they become
eligible to vote. The basics of
Indian culture and its positive
aspects can be ingrained in
young minds easily at this
stage.
Regarding the teaching
method, it is common knowl-
edge that teachers are bur-
dened with finishing the course
matter within a specified num-
ber of periods, resulting in a
continuous barrage of little
understood information in the
form of course material. The
course material can be
reduced/ reorganised to ease
the pressure on teachers and
students without losing on
actual learning. However,
teachers will have to be trained
for a reoriented horizontal
approach of teaching to main-
tain an element of continuity
and curiosity in the minds of
the students.
Teachers do not have to
learn anything new but just
affect a shift in teaching
method. The teaching method
should make students ask the
questions instead of the teacher
simply rushing through the
lessons and chapters. Credit
should be given for asking the
questions as well rather than
only for answering the ques-
tions in the exam. One feels
that 20 per cent marks could be
allotted for asking questions in
the class. Why and how are the
basics of developing scientific
temperament in the students
and VI to X grade is the right
stage for developing it.
Further, extra curricular
activities are necessary for
holistic development of a child.
In general this term is under-
stood as the introduction of
some sports, arts or other
activities in the school. It will
be good if such activities are
involved which inculcate team
spirit and dignity of work. For
example students can clean
their own classrooms and
school on certain days, take
care of school lawns and gar-
dens etc. Scope can further be
widened in higher grades with
the element of community ser-
vice as appropriate to individ-
ual localities.
Instead of curriculum
based home work, making stu-
dents choose their own field of
interest for specific write ups/
projects on the same with more
in depth details may be a good
means of developing the habit
of self study and can help
greatly in identifying students’
areas of interest and natural
capabilities.
Another element of extra
curricular activities may be
self reliance. Students may be
encouraged to carry out daily
discourses on their own and
also to help the family in rou-
tine works. Feedback from
parents should be obtained
during parent teacher meets.
Such measures could help in
transforming the schooling
experience from cramming to
learning.
(A retired civil servant,
the author is a civil engineer
interested in educational
reforms)
*XHVWROXPQ
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?=BQ 347A03D=
Chief minister Tirath Singh
Rawat has commended the
efforts of Uttarakhand Power
Corporation Limited (UPCL)
for completing the under-
grounding of power cables to
Linde India’s liquid oxygen
plant here in record time. He
said that the state government
is committed to ensuring that
oxygen plants are able to carry
on production to the full capac-
ity considering the oxygen
requirement in the nation amid
the Covid-19 pandemic.
It is pertinent to mention
here that currently, Linde India
produces about 160 metric
tonnes of liquid oxygen daily at
its Selaqui plant in Dehradun.
Information was received about
production being hampered
at this plant between April 23
and May 8 due to five trippings
and one instance of under-volt-
age in the 33 KV line powering
the plant.
It was found that garbage
and animal waste on three
kilometre stretch of the power
line attracts various birds due
to which bird fault was the
main reason causing tripping in
this line. On the CM’s direc-
tions to resolve the issue at the
earlier, Power secretary
Radhika Jha inspected the site
and directed immediate
removal of the garbage. The
district administration was
directed to ensure that no new
garbage is dumped in the area.
It was also decided to
undertake undergrounding of
three kilometres of the line for
which five kilometres of cable
was to be laid. Approval was
secured from the Centre for the
work costing about Rs 3.2
crore with a time frame of
seven days being fixed for its
completion.
The work was started on
May 9 and completed on May
15. Work was executed on a
war footing to complete it in
record time with the CM
according special approval for
all aspects of the work. The task
force formed by the centre to
review tripping in power sup-
ply to oxygen plants, found the
decisions and works done by
the state to be right.
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The State’s Tourism and
Culture minister Satpal
Maharaaz has written to the
Union Home minister Amit
Shah and also had a telephon-
ic conversation with him sug-
gesting that Covid vaccination
be carried out in the border
areas of the state with the help
of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)
and Indo-Tibetan Border Police
(ITBP).
The minister informed that
he had requested that to enable
convenient and swift vaccina-
tion of people in the border
areas considering the rising
cases of Covid-19, the help of
ITBP and SSB should be used.
Involving these two forces can
make the vaccination easier.
He informed Shah that the SSB
HQ is in Ranikhet from where
the border areas of Gunji,
Kalapani, Malpa, Lakhanpur,
Budi and Shiyalekh among oth-
ers can be reached. Similarly, the
border areas of Niti, Mana,
Malari, HArshil, Kalapani and
Gunji can be reached from the
ITBP HQ in Dehradun. The
people in these remote border
areas move to graze their sheep
and other cattle between March
and September. They also
inform the armed forces about
activities in the border areas.
Considering this, facilitating
vaccination in these areas
through ITBP and SSB will
provide relief to the people, said
Maharaaz.
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The Panchayati Raj secretary,
HC Semwal has said that a
vigil on the health of the
returnees should be kept and
persons with symptoms of
Covid 19 should be kept in
isolation in the villages. He
was addressing a meeting of
district level officers of
Panchayati Raj, Rural
Development, Women
Empowerment and Child
Development, and Youth
Welfare departments on
Sunday.
Semwal who also is the
nodal officer for returnees in
the wake of pandemic said that
the state administration on
May 9 had ordered that every
migrant returning to village
should be kept in quarantine
for seven days.
He said that a Gram
Panchayat level Covid control
committee headed by Gram
Pradhans is constituted for dis-
tribution of kits to persons
with symptom, isolation of
infected persons and making
arrangement for transfer of
patients to hospitals. Semwal
said that adequate arrange-
ment of budget for these activ-
ities has made. He said that the
patients in home isolation
should be asked to get into
contact with doctor on e-
Sanjeevani portal. The distri-
bution of Ivermectin tablets
should be done to every
household with the help of the
health department and district
administration.
The secretary said that
the vaccination of the pan-
chayat representatives should
be done on priority and the
problems and issues of the
Panchayats should be
informed at the Help desk
(Number 181004190444).
Semwal said that the Kishore
Nyay Samiti constituted by the
Supreme Court (SC) should
inform about the children
rendered orphan in the pan-
demic and arrangements for
rehabilitation of such chil-
dren should be made.
The Youth Welfare direc-
tor GS Rawat, DRDA Rural
Development joint Vivek
Upadhyaya, deputy director of
Women Empowerment and
Child Development, SK Singh
and others attended the online
meeting.
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The Uttarakhand Congress
has demanded that in view
of the lockdown the state gov-
ernment should waive off the
bills of electricity, water and
house taxes to provide relief to
the people. The Pradesh
Congress Committee (PCC)
president Pritam Singh said
that Covid-curfew has
increased unemployment and a
crisis looms over a large num-
ber of families of the state. He
was addressing a symbolic
protest organised by the
Congress party at Rajiv Bhawan
here on Sunday. The PCC pres-
ident said that the pandemic
has hit the poor labour class and
those associated with tourism.
He said that the tourism indus-
try and associated works are
closed due to the pandemic.
Singh said that the affected
businessmen should be exempt-
ed from the interest of loans for
one year and the tax and insur-
ance of commercial vehicles
should be waived off for six
months. Launching an attack
on the BJP government of
Uttarakhand the PCC president
said that the state is among the
worst affected in the number of
Covid cases and deaths from
the disease. He said that people
are facing problems due to the
slow pace of vaccination. “The
slots for vaccination are hard to
book; the stock of vaccines is
empty. The state should adopt
a strong policy for vaccination,’’
he said.
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Fear has spread among the
locals after a man was killed
by a tiger in the Gaulapar area
here on Sunday. Sixty year old
Chanar Singh had gone as
usual to leave his cattle to
graze in the jungles of
Pratappur in Kishanpur range
in the morning.
When he went along with
two other men to get the cat-
tle back at about 3 PM, a tiger
attacked and killed him with-
out his two friends coming to
know of it. The two men,
Suresh Singh and Jeevan Singh
search for him for about half an
hour. Finally they found his
body in the bushes with injuries
sustained in the attack of the
big cat. The duo informed the
villagers, who in turn informed
the police and the forest depart-
ment about the incident. On
reaching the site the police and
forest department personnel
took possession of the body
and sent it for post mortem
examination. The sub divi-
sional forest officer Dhruv
Singh Martoliya informed that
the man had been killed in an
area shared by the Haldwani
forest division and Terai east
forest division. The forest
department team has been put
on alert following the incident.
At the same time, the local vil-
lagers have been asked to desist
from venturing into the forest
area.
The incident of a man
being killed by a big cat has
once again spread an atmos-
phere of fear in the area.
According to the locals, they
have been facing threat to their
safety due to the movement of
the big cat in the area for
some time now. Prakash Singh
Bisht of Devbhumi Seva
Sanstha said that the depart-
ment should take necessary
steps to ensure the safety of the
locals.
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Worried over the reports
that the ration for the
month of May and June had
not been distributed to the peo-
ple facing enormous hardship
due to the pandemic and the
lockdown, the Government on
Sunday asked the State
Governments to keep ration
shops, also called fair price
shops, open for a longer dura-
tion on all days to ensure time-
ly and safe distribution of both
subsidised and free food grains
to the poor.
Many ration card-holders
say the facility has not begun
yet despite announcements by
the Centre and the State
Governments. The delay in
distribution of rations is forc-
ing people to buy food grains
from the open market at non-
subsidised prices. Besides,
ration card holders are also not
getting any information about
when food grains would be
distributed.
Besides, the ministry has
received several representa-
tions that during the current
lockdown in some States/UTs,
ration shops’ timings have
been curtailed due to which
the intended beneficiaries
might not be getting adequate
time to lift their entitled food
grains. Most of the States and
UTs are under lockdown-like
situation and ration shops are
not allowed to open.
“In view of the ongoing
lockdown in some States/UTs,
that may curtail the function-
ing hours of Fair Price Shop
(FPS), an advisory has been
issued on 15th May, 2021...to
keep the FPSs open, preferably
on all days of the month,” the
Union Food Ministry said in
an advisory to States and
Union Territories.
The Centre is distributing
highly monthly subsidised
foodgrains of 5 kg per person
at C1-3 per kg via ration shops
to over 80 crore poor under the
National Food Security Act
(NFSA).
Over and above this, addi-
tional 5kg of free grains are
being distributed to the same
beneficiaries under the
PMGKAY (Pradhan Mantri
Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana)
scheme for two months —
May-June in order to minimise
economic hardships being
faced by the NFSA beneficia-
ries during the second wave of
the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the advisory, the Centre
has asked States to keep the
ration shops open for distrib-
ution of foodgrains under the
NFSA as well as PMGKAY
scheme in a staggered manner
throughout the day, maintain-
ing proper social distancing
and adhering to all Covid-19
protocols, it said.
To facilitate this, States
have been requested to ensure
that FPSs are exempted from
the restricted hours of opening
of regular markets as food-
grains are covered under
essential items, it added.
Further, the Centre has asked
states to take necessary steps
for timely distribution of food-
grains at their FPSs without
causing hardships to the ben-
eficiaries, and to give wide
publicity to the measures
undertaken in this regard.
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Prime Minister Narendra
Modi on Sunday spoke to
the Chief Ministers of Uttar
Pradesh, Rajasthan,
Chhattisgarh and Puducherry
on the Covid-19 situation in
the States and the Union
Territory as they briefed him
on the measures being taken to
contain second wave of Covid-
19.
Modi, who has been regu-
larly speaking to Chief
Ministers to take stock of the
pandemic situation in States
and Union Territories, has told
the States that localised con-
tainment strategies were the
need of the hour.
Besides, he has asked the
States to ensure oxygen supply
in rural areas.
According to sources, the
the Chief Ministers informed
the Prime Minister that central
guidelines were being followed
and vaccination being accord-
ed the highest priority.
The Prime Minister is to
start next week his direct inter-
action with the District
Magistrates of 54 districts to
workout Covid19 strategy fol-
lowing its second wave.
With 3.11 lakh fresh coro-
navirus infections, India saw
the lowest rise in daily Covid-
19 cases after a gap of 25 days,
while the death toll rose to
2,70,284 with 4,077 new fatal-
ities, according to the Union
Health Ministry.
?=BQ =4F34;78
Gale-force winds, heavy
rainfall and high tidal
waves swept the coastal belt of
Kerala, Karnataka and Goa as
Cyclone Tauktae hurtled north-
wards towards Gujarat on
Sunday, leaving four people
dead, damaging hundreds of
houses, uprooting electricity
poles and trees and forcing
evacuation.
According to the India
Meteorological Department
(IMD), Tauktae which has
taken the form of a “very
severe cyclonic storm” is like-
ly to intensify further during
the next 24 hours and reach the
Gujarat coast by Monday
evening. The IMD said Tauktae
would cross Gujarat’s coast
between Porbandar and
Mahuva in Bhavnagar district
by early Tuesday morning and
tidal waves are likely to inun-
date several coastal districts
during the landfall.
“The very severe cyclonic
storm Tauktae over the east-
central Arabian Sea moved
nearly northwards with a speed
of about 11 kmph during the
past six hours,” it said.
“It is very likely to intensi-
fy during the next 24 hours. It
is very likely to move north-
northwestwards and reach the
Gujarat coast in the evening
hours of May 17 and cross the
State coast between Porbandar
and Mahuva in Bhavnagar dis-
trict around May 18 early
morning,” the IMD said.
With the cyclone intensi-
fying, the wind speed along and
off Gujarat coasts in Porbandar,
Junagadh, Gir Somnath and
Amreli districts will reach 150-
160 kmph gusting to 175 kmph
by Tuesday morning. It will
reach a speed of 120-150 kmph
gusting to 165 kmph over
Devbhoomi Dwarka,
Jamnagar, Bhavnagar districts
during the same period, the
IMD said.
“Gale winds with speed
reaching 70-80 kmph gusting
to 90 kmph are likely to prevail
along and off Valsad, Navsari,
Surat, Bharuch, southern parts
of Ahmedabad, and Anand
districts, as well as Dadra,
Nagar Haveli, Daman (Union
Territories) from May 17 mid-
night till Tuesday morning,” it
said.
A nearly 3-metre-high tidal
wave is expected in Junagarh,
1-2.5 metres above astronom-
ical tide is likely to inundate
coastal areas of Diu, Gir
Somnath, Amreli, Bharuch,
Bhavnagar, Ahmedabad,
Anand, Surat and about 0.5-1
metres over Devbhoomi
Dwarka, Jamnagar, Porbandar,
Kutch and the remaining
coastal districts of Gujarat dur-
ing the time of landfall, the
IMD said .
An estimated 1.5 lakh peo-
ple are being shifted from low-
lying coastal areas in Gujarat
while 54 teams of National
Disaster Response Force
(NDRF) and State Disaster
Response Force (SDRF) have
been deployed in the State.
Maharashtra too was brac-
ing for impact as the Met
department predicted heavy
to very heavy rains at isolated
places in north Konkan,
Mumbai, Thane and Palghar
and extremely heavy rainfall in
Raigad on Monday.
Four deaths have been
reported from Karnataka’s
Uttara Kannada, Udupi,
Chikkamagaluru and
Shivamogga districts in
cyclone-related incidents. The
water level in many dams
across Kerala showed a rising
trend after heavy rains in the
catchment areas, prompting
authorities to sound an alert.
Gusty winds and heavy
rainfall have been lashing sev-
eral parts of Goa since Sunday
morning. Power supply in a
majority of areas of Goa has
been disrupted as hundreds of
electric poles were uprooted
due to the high-speed winds
cause by the cyclone.
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Union Home Minister Amit
Shah on Sunday held a
review meeting with Chief
Ministers of Maharashtra,
Gujarat and Administrator of
Daman Diu and Dadra
Nagar Haveli to assess the pre-
paredness to deal with the sit-
uation arising out of Cyclone
‘Tauktae’.
Cabinet Secretary Rajiv
Gauba chaired a meeting of the
National Crisis Management
Committee (NCMC).
The meeting was held
through video conferencing
with Chief Secretaries of the
States of Gujarat, Maharashtra,
Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and
Tamil Nadu as well as Advisors
to the Administrators of the
Union Territories of
Lakshadweep and Dadra
Nagar Haveli and Daman
Diu. Secretaries of various
Union Ministries also attended
the meeting.
Chief Ministers Uddhav
Thackeray and Vijay Rupani
apprised Shah of the cautions
and relief measures undertak-
en at coastal areas. “Shah said
that a 24x7 control room is
functioning in MHA, which can
be contacted at any time for any
assistance by the States. He
said Indian Coast Guard, the
Navy, Army and Air Force
units have also been put on
standby and surveillance air-
craft and helicopters are carry-
ing out aerial sorties.
Union Home Minister
directed the senior officers to
take every possible measure to
ensure that people are safely
evacuated and all essential ser-
vices maintained, including
health and oxygen facilities,
power, telecommunications,
drinking water etc. and that
these are restored immediately
in the event of damages caused
to them,” said the MHA.
Reviewing the prepared-
ness of the Central and State
agencies, Cabinet Secretary
stressed that all measures
should be taken to evacuate
people in areas affected by the
cyclone, so as to ensure zero
loss of life and damage.
Preparatory arrangements to
restore power, telecom and
other important services should
be ensured. Gauba also empha-
sised that all steps should also
be taken to avoid disruption of
functioning of hospitals and
Covid Care Centres and main-
tenance of regular supply of
oxygen to them.
Necessary arrangements
have been made in this regard
to ensure uninterrupted func-
tioning of hospitals and Covid
Care Centres, along with ensur-
ing generation and supply of
oxygen to Covid facilities across
the country.
The National Disaster
Response Force (NDRF)
informed that they have
deployed and made available 79
teams in the affected States.
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The National Investigation
Agency (NIA) on Sunday
conducted searches at four
locations in Tamil Nadu in
connection with Madurai fun-
damentalist Facebook post
case.
The case relates to incrim-
inating Facebook post by
accused Mohammad Iqbal, an
extremist advocating ideolo-
gy of ISIS and Hizb-Ut-Tahrir
terror groups.
The searches were con-
ducted at Kazimar Street, K
Pudur, Pethaniyapuram and
Mehboob Palayam in
Madurai.
During the searches, six-
teen digital devices including
laptop, hard discs, mobile
phones, memory cards, SIMs,
pen drive, and many incrim-
inating books, pamphlets and
documents were recovered,
the NIA said.
The case was originally
registered by Madurai police
under various sections of the
Indian Penal Code and
Unlawful Activities
(Prevention) Act.
The NIA had re-regis-
tered the case on April 15 this
year and took over the inves-
tigation.
Investigation has revealed
that the posts on the Facebook
page “Thoonga Vizhigal
Rendu is in Kazimar Street”
was uploaded by the accused
Md. Iqbal for denigrating a
particular community, it said.
“The posts were designed
to incite communal dishar-
mony among different reli-
gious groups in a manner
prejudicial to the maintenance
of public order,” it said.
Accused Md Iqbal alias
Senthil Kumar of Kazimar,
Street, Madurai, was arrested
on December 2 last year and
is presently in judicial custody.
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The National Jal Jeevan
Mission (NJJM) has asked
all States and Union Territories
(UTs) to roll out sensor-based
IoT solutions to measure and
monitor water supply in rural
areas, so as to ensure water ser-
vice delivery in rural homes by
addressing various issues that
cause disruption on a regular
basis.
In a statement, the Jal
Shakti Ministry said: “India has
one of the most vibrant Internet
of Things (IoT) eco-systems in
the world, with various sup-
porting enablers making it
conducive for companies seek-
ing to serve the global demand
beyond national boundaries.
The Government of India has
introduced a number of initia-
tives to leverage the benefits of
these disruptive IoT technolo-
gies in multiple sectors.”
To utilise this expertise, the
NJJM, and the Ministry had set
up a Technical Expert
Committee to prepare a road
map for measurement and
monitoring of water service
delivery systems in the rural
areas. The committee has emi-
nent members from academia,
administration, technology and
specialists from the water sup-
ply sector.
The committee met 11
times and despite the Covid
pandemic, finalised the report,
which has shared to the
states/UTs and provides a
framework to design, develop
and establish a coherent system
that is able to exchange the data
at local and central level.
The broad framework will
help the States/UTs in firming
up the desired standards to
meet the requirement of
change from mere infrastruc-
ture to ensuring water service
delivery. The NJJM, in part-
nership with state governments
and sector partners, has start-
ed facilitating sensor-based
water supply systems on pilot
basis in several villages.
The data from 11 pilot
locations about the daily water
supply, its quantity and regu-
larity are shown on the Jal
Jeevan Mission dashboard.
“Many States like Bihar,
Punjab, Haryana have come
forward for the implementa-
tion. Sikkim, Manipur, Goa
have completed basic survey
works. Gujarat has begun nav-
igating the sensor-based rural
water supply systems in 1,000
villages. A technology grand
challenge launched by NJJM in
partnership with MEITY,
Government of India, is going
to be showcases in 100 villages
in states of Uttar Pradesh,
Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat,
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka
and Manipur,” the Ministry
said.
The data collected from the
field locations will be trans-
mitted to the state and Central
server and can be used to
monitor the functionality
(quantity, quality and regular-
ity of water supply) at the state
and Central level. This will
ensure to minimise service
delivery outage and water loss
and monitor the quantity and
quality on a long-term basis.
The additional advantage
of this data would be to analyse
the demand pattern of the user
groups over time and use this
information for demand man-
agement at the aggregate level.
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Attacking the
M o d i
Government’s
handling of the
Covid pandem-
ic, the Congress
on Sunday also
faulted its vac-
cine policy, saying the muddle
arose because the “Prime
Minister wanted to become
the vaccine guru”.
Addressing a virtual press
conference, Congress
spokesman Pawan Khera said:
“The Government of India did
not manage the crisis as well.
When it came to negotiation
with vaccine manufacturers,
when it came to putting in place
a vaccine policy, everything
was centralised. Actually, it was
not even centralised, it was indi-
vidualised, because someone
wanted to be a ‘Vaccine Guru’.
Narendra Modi wanted to be
known as a ‘Vaccine Guru’.”
He said that India was not
short of oxygen but the gov-
ernment delayed setting up of
162 onsite oxygen plants across
14 states by 8 months and
“when the crisis hits hard, the
State Governments were
blamed”.
Citing the eight-phase West
Bengal Assembly elections, the
“super-spreader rallies” and the
Kumbh Mela, Khera said that
questions were being asked on
the Government’s decisions.
“You can’t have centralised
decision-making and decen-
tralised responsibility, both
have to be decentralised, both
have to be in tune with each
other.”
“Today, because of you,
different states are negotiating
with the same companies, vac-
cine manufacturers for their
people. They will all get differ-
ent prices... Why? Who will be
answer these questions too?” he
asked.
Khera alleged that when
the nation was getting over-
whelmed by the pandemic, one
man with his government “still
busy trying to save a fake image
that he has built of himself. His
fake image cannot be more
important than my real life,
than the real lives of my fami-
ly members, my friends, my
loved ones....”
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Union Education Minister
Ramesh Pokhriyal
‘Nishank’ has been honoured
with “International Invincible
Gold Medal” of 2021.
In a statement to the
media, Tony Nader, president
of Maharshi Organisation
world-wide and various
Maharshi Universities, said
that Nishank has been recog-
nised for his extraordinary
commitment and outstanding
service to humanity through
his writings, social and illus-
trious public life.
The decision was made
after due deliberations by a
high-powered committee duly
constituted under the leader-
ship of Nader, who is the glob-
al head of the organisation.
The statement further
praised the relentless efforts
and great commitment of
Nishank to propagate ancient
Vedic values, wisdom and tra-
ditional knowledge in the most
scientific manner.
Nader lauded Nishank for
his continuous support and
commitment to world peace
through Veda and world peace
programme.
The honour was
announced at a two-day virtu-
al session which was attended
by representatives from over
110 countries. The award will
be formally presented to the
Minister on Guru Purnima
this year.
Nader also congratulated
the Minister for the most inno-
vative, creative, scientific and
inclusive New Education pol-
icy.
He added that the new
education policy crafted by
the government will go a long
way in establishing human val-
ues globally as the base of
modern education.
Accepting the award,
Nishank said that he was grate-
ful to the selection committee.
He dedicated his award to
all the corona warriors who are
risking their lives to save the
patients in this difficult time.
In his emotional address,
Nishank said that he has just
come out of covid infection.
He has felt the pain and close-
ly observed the dedication,
struggle, duty, service of our
doctors, nurses, health work-
ers.
In order to save the lives of
others, they put their lives in
danger. He said, “We will def-
initely win on the strength of
our Corona warriors.
Nishank said that he is
very happy that his writings,
social and public service have
been appreciated.
He said he was committed
to promote scientific research
on Indian traditional knowl-
edge and india’s eternal life val-
ues of life so that it can bene-
fit humanity.
Thanking Nader for his
positive views on education
policy, Nishank said that this
policy not only help India to
meet the upcoming global
challenges but will establish
the country as Vishvaguru in
times to come.
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Former Union Minister and
senior Congress leader P
Chidambaram on Sunday ques-
tioned the Narendra Modi
Government on the decline in
the number of daily vaccination
while taking a jibe at Health
Minister Harsh Vardhan over
the shortage of vaccines.
“Why is the number of
vaccinations administered
going down every day? It was
only 11,60,000 doses on Friday,
bringing down significantly the
daily average of May. It is a far
cry from the 42 lakh doses
administered on April 2.
“The only reason and
explanation is shortage of vac-
cines. Of course, the loyal and
obedient Union Health
Minister will flatly deny any
shortage of vaccines!”
Chidambaram said.
Harsh Vardhan on Saturday
reviewed public health response
toCovid-19andprogressofvac-
cination in Uttar Pradesh,
Madhya Pradesh, Andhra
Pradesh and Gujarat.
All the state health admin-
istrators were advised to
increase ICU and oxygenated
beds, undertake oxygen audits,
take stock of availability of
medicines in the state and
strengthen their medical work-
force.
Detailing the ramping up of
vaccine production, he said,
“We will have 51.6 crore vaccine
doses by the end of July includ-
ing the 18 crore doses already
administered. Sputnik has been
approved.
This along with the slated
approval of the new vaccine of
Zydus Cadila, Serum Institute of
India- Novavax vaccine, Bharat
Biotech’s nasal vaccine and the
Genova mRNA vaccine will
push the availability of Covid
vaccines to 216 crore doses in
the August-December period.”
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34;78
BJP national
president JP
Nadda on Sunday
flagged off a large
quantity of Covid-
19 relief materials
to Himachal
Pradesh under the
party’s ‘Seva Hi
Sangathan 2.0’
campaign.
The Covid
relief materials
comprise nearly
three lakh three-
ply face masks,
50,000 N-95 face
masks, 25,000 gloves, 10,000
face shields, 7,000 PPE kits,
6,000 oxygen mask, 3200
NRMs, 1500 oxygen regulators,
250 nasal cannula and other
medical items.
The BJP National
President also flagged off con-
signment of medical equip-
ment procured 17 mobile
medical units under the
“Saansad Mobile Swasthya
Seva” with the help of Union
Minister of State for Finance
Corporate Affairs, Anurag
Thakur.
Nadda praised the efforts
of Thakur for this noble ini-
tiative in the fight against the
Covid-19 pandemic.
“As we all know that the
Covid-19 pandemic has
emerged as the biggest medical
and health crisis in the histo-
ry of mankind but all Indians
under the leadership and guid-
ance of Prime Minister
Narendra Modi have unitedly
fought this war against the
pandemic and soon we will
emerge victorious in this war
against Covid,” he said.
He urged all BJP office
bearers, leaders and workers of
Himachal Pradesh to ensure
last mile delivery of all medical
aid and other assistance in the
state so that every single needy
and poor person gets relief and
are not left unattended from
getting the medical supplies
and relief materials.
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Bengal reported a massive
spike in death rate due to
corona infection in the 24
hours intervening Saturday
and Sunday even as the State
administration went about
imposing a strict lockdown
that saw multiple arrests and
seizures of vehicles in Capital
Kolkata and elsewhere.
The State reported 144
deaths crona deaths between
Saturday and Sunday—the
highest so far—as 19,511 peo-
ple tested positive for the dis-
ease. This is the lowest single-
day spike reported in the pre-
ceding 10 days, Health
Department sources said.
While Kolkata reported
3,951 new cases with 30 deaths
the North 24 Parganas adjoin-
ing the State Capital witnessed
a record 35 deaths with 4,279
infections sources said on
Sunday morning adding the
number of active cases in
Bengal stood at about
1.3 lakh.
Meanwhile, even as the
police administration imposed
strict lockdown all over the
State 158 people were arrested
in Kolkata under Pandemic
laws for breaking the lockdown
protocol. The police also seized
58 vehicles for violation of
Government orders.
All government and private
offices, shopping complexes,
malls, spa, beauty salons, sports
complexes, pubs, cinema halls
have been asked to remain
closed. Only emergency and
essential services related to
healthcare, law and order,
courts, power, drinking water
and media would function.
The lockdown started from
6 am on Sunday and was like-
ly to continue at least till 6 pm
on May 30.
The State Government has
already postponed the
Secondary (Class X) and
Higher Secondary (Class XII)
exams that were scheduled to
take place in the month of June.
“No secondary and higher sec-
ondary examinations will be
held in June,” Chief Secretary
Alapan Bandopadhyay said
adding, “The future dates of the
examinations will be notified”
by the respective West Bengal
Board of Secondary Education
(WBSE) and West Bengal
Council of Higher Secondary
Education.
?=BQ =4F34;78
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, senior leaders Rahul Gandhi
and Priyanka Gandhi, State Congress leaders were con-
tinuosly in touch with the hospital treating the rising star of
the grand old party, Rajeev Satav, and his sudden demise has
come as a rude shock to the Congress and significantly Rahul
Gandhi.
After the exit of youngster like Jyotiraditya
Scindia and the loss of trust on Sachin Pilot who
led a revolt in the party almost year ago, Satav
was the Man Friday of the Gandhi family and had
almost filled that space which had also seen stal-
warts like Ahmed Patel who also succumbed to
covid last November. AICC sources said Sonia
and the Gandhi siblings were everyday enquir-
ing the health status of Satav who had been admitted in Pune’s
Jehangir hospital.
In her condolence message, Sonia Gandhi said she is deeply
pained by the tragic loss of the party leader, who was a trust-
ed colleague and a friend to all of us. She said it is also a per-
sonal loss to her. Rajeev Satav was only 46 years old yet he
rose from the grassroots to holding many responsibilities in
a short time due to his unfailing dedication, sincerity and hard
work, she said.
Satav had recently made into the party's highest decision
making body, the Congress Working Committee, He was elect-
ed to Lok Sabha from Hingoli in Maharashtra in 2014 but did
not contest in 2019. However, the Congress got him elected
to Rajya Sabha. He was son of former state minister Rajani
Satav. Satav was Congress General Secretary and incharge of
party affairs in Gujarat. He was earlier president of Indian
Youth Congress. He had his higher education in Pune.
Condolences poured in from various quarters including
Vice President of India M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, Union Ministers and Congress leaders.
We are deeply saddened by the demise of Rajya Sabha
MP and compatriot, Rajeev Satav. His unwavering dedication
towards the nation and the party carried out with pure sim-
plicity will be greatly missed. Our condolences to his family,
friends and followers. May he rest in peace, the Congress
tweeted from its official handle.
All India Congress Committee general secretary K C
Venugopal said the Congress has lost its frontline warrior,
Congress Working Committee member, MP and a most
promising young leader. I am devastated by the irreparable
loss. The party will forever miss his indelible dedication, con-
nect and immense popularity, he said. Congress chief
spokesman Randeep Surjewala said he is speechless as Satav
is a huge loss to him both politically and personally as he was
a close friend.
C=A067D=0C70Q D108
In a shocking development,
Congress’ promising leader and
Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Satav
died of post-Covid complications,
after having batted for life for 24 days
at Jehangir hospital in Pune Sunday
morning.
A close associate of Congress
leader Rahul Gandhi, 46-year-old
Satav had been admitted to the hos-
pital on April 16 after he tested pos-
itive for Covid-19.
After he recovered from Covid-
19, his condition suddenly worsened
and he was put on a ventilator.
Satav, who developed Covid-19
pneumonia lung fibrosis after his
recovery from the pandemic, was in
the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the
Hospital for more than a week now.
His end came in the morning.
Satav, who is the son of former
State Minister Rajani Satav, is survived
by his wife and two children.
State Revenue Minister Balasaheb
Thorat, who had visited Jehangir
Hospital and met the doctors attend-
ing on Satav on Saturday, said that the
latter had experienced some uneasi-
ness on Saturday night but his impres-
sion was that the party MP would
recover soon. Health Minister Rajesh
Tope had said on Friday that besides
Covid-19, Satav was also being treat-
ed for additional complications with
the help of experts.
Given that Satav was very close to
the Gandhi-Nehru family, Rahul and
Priyanka used to be in regular touch
with the doctors to inquire about his
progress, party and family sources
said. “I’m very sad at the loss of my
friend Rajeev Satav. He was a leader
with huge potential who embodied
the ideals of the Congress. It’s a big
loss for us all. My condolences and
love to his family,” Congress leader
Rahul Gandhi tweeted.
“In Rajeev Satav we have lost one
of our brightest colleagues. Clean of
heart, sincere, deeply committed to
the ideals of the Congress devoted
to the people of India. I
have no words, just prayers
for his young wife chil-
dren. May they have the
strength to carry on with-
out him,” Priyanka Gandhi
Vadra tweeted.
After being elected to
the Maharashtra Assembly
from Kalmanuri constituency in 2009,
Satav was elected to Lok Sabha fromn
Hingoli constituency in 2014. He did
not contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elec-
tions. However, the Congress got him
elected to Rajya Sabha subsequently.
Satav, who was the Indian Youth
Congress president from February
2010 to December 2014, was the All
India Congress Committee (AICC) in
charge of Gujarat. He was also a per-
manent Invitee to Congress Working
Committee, the highest decision
making body of Indian National
Congress.
Meanwhile, mourning Satav’s
death, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said:
“Congress leader and CWC special
invitee Rajiv Satav’s death has come
as a big shock for all of us. He was a
young, upcoming and talented leader.
He had effectively discharged his
role of observer assigned to him by his
party during Gujarat elections. In his
death, Maharashtra has lost a most
promnising leader”.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray
said that in the untimely death of
Satav, Maharashtra had lost a promis-
ing and well-poised leader. Satav
forged friendships going beyond
political affiliations. He had complete
faith in parliamentary democracy
and was known as a studious leader,
the Chief Minister said.
:D0A274;;0??0=Q :278
The Covid-19 situation in
Kerala continued to be crit-
ical as the number of new
cases showed that 29,704 per-
sons were afflicted with
the pandemic in the last 12
hours that ended at 6 pm
on Sunday. The depart-
ment of health said in its
release that 89 lives were
claimed by the pandemic
and the Test Positivity
Rate remained at 25.61 per
cent.
In a simultaneous
development, the Centre
expressed its doubts over
the figures released by the
Government of Kerala and
asked Chief Minister
Pinarayi Vijayan to be
transparent in the details
about the pandemic which he
shared in his media briefing.
V Muraleedharan, Union
Minister of State for external
affairs, who is the uncrowned
king of Kerala BJP, in a state-
ment expressed reservations
and doubts over the claims
made by Vijayan viz-a-viz the
pandemic. He reminded the
Kerala Government that this
was the time to be transparent
in all details connected with the
state of Covid-19 in Kerala.
“This alone will help all of us
in fortifying a preventive
mechanism to spread the trans-
mission of the disease. Prime
Minister Narendra Modi has
said that this was the time to be
honest and transparent.
The death tally from Kerala
is a matter of serious concern,”
said the Union Minister.
IDOOSUHWRYLUXVLQ- .
Kochi: The Christian community in
Kerala is upset over the CPI(M)-led
LDF Government over the ‘disrespect’
shown to Soumya, a 32-year-old home
nurse who was killed on last Tuesday
in a missile attack by Hamas, a terror-
ist organisation in Israel and was
described as an angel by that country’s
Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Soumya, hailing from Idukki in the
State has been employed as a home
nurse and was killed while taking care
of her Israeli employer. The Hamas ter-
rorists had unleashed missile attacks
against Israeli families in Gaza in
which Soumya was killed.
Though Chief Minister Pinarayi
Vijayan and former Chief Minister
Oommen Chandi had posted messages
condoling the death of Soumya, the
messages were deleted within minutes
when it was known that she was killed
by the Hamas terrorists.
Her body was brought to New
Delhi on Saturday by a special Israeli
aircraft and was received by union
Minister of state for External Affairs V
Muraleedharan and officials of Israeli
embassy in New Delhi. Later in the day,
her mortal remains were flown to
Kochi in a Air India flight where it was
received by her relations. But no one
from the State Administration was pre-
sent at Kochi airport or at her residence
in Idukki to console the family mem-
bers.
The Israeli Consul General,
Jonathan Zadka and officials from the
embassy had accompanied the body
from New Delhi to Idukki as a mark of
respect to Soumya who leaves behind
her husband Suresh and nine-year old
son.
“Honoured to pay my respects and
convey our sympathies to the family
and friends of Me Soumya Santosh as
she was laid to rest in her home town
Keerithod. May she rest in peace. Our
prayers are with the family that lost an
angel in a cowardly Hamas terror
attack”, said Zadka in a message post-
ed on social media.
Christian Association and Alliance
for Social Action (CASA), an umbrel-
la organisation of various Christian fac-
tions in the State expressed their grief
over the gruesome killing of Soumya
and condemned the Hamas action in
the strongest of words.
“Our sister was working as a home
nurse in Israel and was murdered by the
Hamas terrorists.
What was more shocking was the
youth wing of the CPI(M) celebrating
the murder instead of condemning
such dastardly act,” said Kevin Peter,
convenor of CASA in a statement. PNS
78C:0=370A8 Q 90D
The Covid-19 situation in
the Union Territory of
Jammu Kashmir continues to
be grim even as elaborate mea-
sures are being taken to contain
the spread of virus to rural
pockets in the coming days.
The region reported 59
more deaths on Sunday and the
positivity rate climbed further
up to 11.27 per cent. A total
number 3,934 patients returned
home and 4,141 fresh cases
tested positive taking the active
caseload to 51,623.
The twin capital cities of
Jammu and Srinagar continue
to record the highest number
of cases but the health admin-
istrators are more worried over
the fact that the virus is spread-
ing rapidly across several rural
pockets in both the divisions.
Meanwhile, a three mem-
ber central team of experts
from National centre for
Disease control (NCDC) and
PGI Chandigarh visited
Government Medical College
and Associated hospitals in
Jammu to ascertain the reasons
for surge and assist UT
Government in Covid-19 con-
trol and containment mea-
sures.”
The team members Dr.
Pranay Verma, Joint Director,
Epidemiology Division,
NCDC, Delhi, Dr. Mahesh
Waghmare, Microbiology
NCDC, Delhi and Dr. Navneet
Sharma, Professor, Dept. of
Internal Medicine, PGIMER
Chandigarh also met GMC,
Principal Dr Shashi Sudan
Sharma and NHM,JK
Director Ch Mohammad Yasin
and collectively analysed the
data before recommending
measures to contain the spread
of virus and check the high
mortality rate across Jammu
region.
On the other hand,
Lieutenant Governor, Manoj
Sinha also visited Government
Medical College, Jammu to
take stock of the situation amid
rising number of complaints
related to poor patient care ser-
vices in some of the Covid-19
wards.
During his visit, LG Manoj
Sinha was informed that as
many as 250 nurses would join
GMC Jammu within three
days, substantially adding to
the available healthcare work-
force.
Referring to the availabil-
ity of Oxygen supply, the Lt
Governor sought the status of
two new Oxygen plants which
are being set up by the JK UT
administration at GMC Jammu
to augment its oxygen capaci-
ty.
While reviewing the
progress being made for estab-
lishing an additional 100-bed-
ded Covid ward, the Lt
Governor directed the
Principal and senior doctors of
GMC Jammu to ensure the
operationalization of the said
facility at the earliest.
The Lt Governor also
enquired about Covid care
facilities, availability of oxygen
support beds, functionality of
Oxygen Generation Plants,
besides compliance of earlier
directions including regular
rounds of HoDs and senior
doctors in the wards to exam-
ine the patients.
Earlier, the Lt Governor
visited Defence Research and
Development Organisation’s
(DRDO) 500-bedded under
construction Covid hospital
site at Bhagwati Nagar and took
first-hand appraisal of the on-
going work.
The fully air-conditioned
make-shift Covid facility with
125 ICU beds and ventilators
will be completed by May 25,
2021.
The Lt Governor directed
the Health Department to pro-
vide all support to DRDO,
including arrangements of
health related facilities, hir-
ing/posting of doctors, para-
medics, and other healthcare
workforce well before the for-
mal functioning of the hospi-
tal.
It was informed that Liquid
Medical Oxygen (LMO) tanks
with a capacity of 40 metric
tons (2 tanks of 20 metric tons
each) would be installed in this
Covid care facility, besides the
whole structure is prefabricat-
ed and fire retardant.
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8baPT[X6êTa]T]cR^]S^[TbSTPcWÛ8]SXP]f^P]
9^]PcWP]IPSZP8baPT[X2^]bd[6T]TaP[_PhX]V
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5PaTabRPaahX]VbcaPfQTaaXTbPUcTa_XRZX]VcWTUa^cWTXaUPabSdaX]VcWT^]V^X]V[^RZS^f]c^R^]cPX]cWTb_aTPSÛcWTRâ^]PeXadb^]cWT^dcbZXacbÛBaX]PVPa^]
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The Covid-19 triggered daily
deaths jumped to a stagger-
ing 974— the second highest-
ever number of fatalities record-
ed in Maharashtra, on Sunday,
even as the infections came
down further to 34,389. A day
after Coid-19 claimed 960 lives
and left 34,848 others infected,
the number of daily deaths went
upby64totouchafigureof974,
while the infections went down
marginally to 34,389.
It may be recalled that on
April 28, the number of daily
deathsbreachedthethresholdof
1,000 in Maharashtra to reach
the figure of 1035, which has
beenthehighest-evernumberof
deaths recorded since the break
out of Covid-19 in March-April
last year. The daily tally on that
day was a consolidated figure
that had included 50 earlier
deaths which had earlier not
been accounted.
With 974 new deaths, the
total number of deaths in the
state climbed from 80,512 to
81,486. Similarly, with 34,389
newinfections,thetotalnumber
of cases climbed from 53,44,063
to 53,78,452.
As 59,318 patients were dis-
charged from the hospitals
across the state after full recov-
ery, the total number of people
discharged from the hospitals
since the second week of March
lastyearwentupfrom 47,67,053
to 59,318. The recovery rate in
the state went up from 89.2 per
cent to 89.74 per cent.
The total “active cases” in
the state dropped from 4,94,032
to 4,68,109. The fatality rate in
the state went up from 1.51 per
cent to 1.52 per cent.
With 60 fresh deaths, the
Covid-19 toll in Mumbai
increasedfrom14,164to14,224,
while the infected cases went up
by a relatively low 1535 to trig-
gerajumpintheinfectionsfrom
6,86,295 to 6,87,830.
The situation in Pune
improved a bit as the “active
cases”, which had come below
one lakh mark early this week,
improved once again as the
“active cases” dropped from
93,245 to 82,397. Mumbai with
33,574 active cases stood sec-
ond in the State.
2H2;=4 8?02C
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:^[ZPcP^]Bd]SPh ?C8
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Bengaluru: Karnataka Health
Minister K Sudhakar on
Sunday said it has been decid-
ed to start treatment for black
fungus at Bowring Hospital
here on a pilot basis, and later
extend the treatment to med-
ical colleges and district hos-
pitals.
Noting that the treatment
for black fungus infection is a
bit costly, the Minister said he
would discuss with the Chief
Minister B S Yediyurappa
regarding free treatment as he
has also said a committee of
experts would be set up to pre-
pare a roadmap for treatment
of those infected and how to
curb the infection.
Mucormycosis or black
fungus is commonly seen
among those who have less
immunity or because of use of
steroids. Those who have dia-
betes and are infected by Covid
10-15 days after they take
steroids, the infection begins
through the nose and spreads
to the eyes and its parts like
optic nerves and optic chiasm,
Sudhakar said.
Speaking to reporters here,
he said there is danger of los-
ing vision because of this and
if timely treatment is not taken
there are chances of death.
After the infection was
noticed in Maharashtra, we
held discussions with eye spe-
cialists and experts (ophthal-
mologists) and from Monday at
Bowring hospital, we are start-
ing treatment for it, he said
adding: We are starting on a
pilot basis, and will later con-
tinue in all medical colleges and
some district hospitals.
Noting that Amphotericin
B, the drug for black fungus
infection is a bit costly, the
Minister said a patient would
require seven weeks of contin-
ued treatment to be cured and
treatment may cost C 2-3 lakh
per person.
I will discuss with the
Chief Minister and will suggest
free treatment. Ultimately, he
will decide, the Minister said
adding those with black fungus
issues should immediately con-
sult doctors. The Centre is
rationing the Amphotericin B
drug and would be distributed
to the State also, Sudhakar
said adding that it was decid-
ed at the Covid task force
meeting on Saturday to request
the Centre to provide 20,000
vials of the drug.
He said he was in constant
touch with Union Minister of
Chemicals and Fertilisers D V
Sadanada Gowda and his
Ministry in this regard and
would also talk to the Union
Health Minister Harsh
Vardhan.
There is no need for peo-
ple to worry, but those with
diabetes or other secondary
infections, those who are
immuno-compromised, with
TB, HIV, cancer, with kidney or
any other organ transplant, I
advise all of them to exercise
caution and not to use steroids
withoutthedoctor'sconsent,he
said.
Also, he advised doctors to
exercise caution while adminis-
tering steroids to such patients.
In response to a question, the
Minister said it was difficult for
now to say exactly as to how
many are affected by black fun-
gus or died of it, as people with
such issues may have gone to
private eye doctors. He said he
was constituting by Monday a
committee consisting of eye
specialists (ophthalmologist),
endocrinologists, diabetologists
on how to bring black fungus
infections under control and
how to treat patients with such
infections. PTI
CaTPcT]cUâQ[PRZUd]VdbPc1^faX]V7^b_XcP[6êccÛâTg_Tac_P]T[)X]
?=BQ ;D2:=F
Uttar Pradesh reported a further dip in fresh
Corona cases with 10,682 new cases in the last
24 hours while 24,837 patients recovered in the cor-
responding period. However, the casualties during
the period rose to 311.
The maximum deaths were reported from
Meerut (27), followed by 20 in Lucknow, 13 in
Kanpur, 12 each in Chandauli Basti, and 10 in
Shahjahanpur. Meerut witnessed the maximum
number of fresh cases at 701. Lucknow reported 525
fresh cases but the recovery was around three times
at 1,944. The active corona cases in the state capi-
tal also came down to 11,045. Additional Chief
Secretary, Health, Amit Mohan Prasad said in
Lucknow on Sunday that 2.67 lakh people were test-
ed for Covid on Saturday and 10,682 tested posi-
tive. The recovery rate now stands at 88.92 per cent.
83UHSRUWVGHDWKV
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