Thursday, September 10, 2026
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2 dead in Raigad factory explosion

New Delhi (NVI): At least two people were killed and six others were injured in an explosion at a chemical factory in Raigad district of Maharashtra.

The explosion took place at around 2.30 am in the factory at Dheku in Sajgaon industrial area of Khopoli town, located about 70 km from Mumbai, following which a fire broke out in the premises, according to media reports.

Furthermore, the impact of the explosion caused damage to nearby houses.

At least 16 fire brigades and police personnel rushed to the spot and launched firefighting and rescue operations, which were on till morning.

-CHK

Cinema halls reopen in Maharashtra

New Delhi (NVI): The Maharashtra government has allowed the reopening of cinema halls, multiplexes, drama theatres from today in areas outside containment zones.

All cinema halls and multiplexes were closed since lockdown was imposed in late March to curb the spread of COVID-19.

However, as the Unlocking unfolds, the cinema halls, theatres have been granted permission to reopen keeping all COVID-19 protocols in mind.

“Cinema halls and auditoriums outside the containment zones will operate with only 50 per cent capacity in areas outside containment zones from November 5. No eatables will be allowed inside the cinema halls theatres, multiplexes, drama theatres,” the order from the state government read.

Also, thermal screening, masks and time to time sanitisation will be mandatory. All these facilities will have to strictly observe social distancing.

All cinema halls need to have a staggering show timing among different screens in order to have enough time for sanitisation of seats and the rest of the area in the halls, the order said.

The Centre had already allowed reopening the cinema halls from October 15, however, the multiplex owners welcomed the state circular on Wednesday.

Apart from this, Yoga institutes outside the containment zones will also be allowed to function but under strict COVID-19 guidelines.

So far, in worst-hit Maharashtra COVID-19 tally stands at 16.9 lakh, while 44,548 died in the state from the pandemic.

-RJV

Air quality in Delhi-NCR further dips; worsens to ‘severe’ category

Poor visibility in several parts of Delhi-NCR (File photo)

New Delhi (NVI): A day after witnessing a slight improvement, the air quality further deteriorated in Delhi-NCR this morning and remained under ‘severe’ category with the overall AQI at 452.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the air quality index (AQI) in Delhi’s Sonia Vihar was 486 today, 451 in RK Puram, 456 in Dwarka and 394 at Lodhi Road, all four in the ‘severe’ category.

The AQI in the neighbouring cities of the national capital—Gurugram was 463, at 458 in Noida, at 469 in Ghaziabad and 421 in New Industrial Town Faridabad.

An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered “good”, 51 and 100 “satisfactory”, 101 and 200 “moderate”, 201 and 300 “poor”, 301 and 400 “very poor”, and 401 and 500 “severe”.

Officials at the monitoring stations said that the poor visibility was noticed in several parts of Delhi-NCR due to rise of pollutants in the atmosphere.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed that on Wednesday afternoon, the AQI was in the ‘very poor’ category – between 301 and 400, but worsened rapidly to ‘severe’ due to a shift in meteorological conditions.

The wind speed gradually reduced and became calm, which left no room for dispersal of pollutants last night.

Furthermore, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said, the maximum wind speed was 5 kilometres per hour this morning and the minimum temperature of 11.2 degrees Celsius.

Due to calm winds and low temperatures  pollutants trap close to the ground, while favourable wind speed helps in their dispersion.

However, the air quality situation is likely to worsen over the next one day or two, owing to unfavourable weather conditions, as per the forecast.

-RJV

State-wise details of Covid-19 cases in India

COVID-19

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India has crossed the 83 lakh-mark and stands at 83,64,086 after 50,209 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, according to the Union Health Ministry data.

The country’s death toll stands at 1,24,315 after 704 new fatalities were reported during the same period.

In worst-affected Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases climbed to 16,98,198, followed by Karnataka with 8,35,773 cases, and Andhra Pradesh with 8,33,208 positive cases.

Total positive cases in States/UTs:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 4,389

Andhra Pradesh- 8,33,208

Arunachal Pradesh- 15,160

Assam- 2,07,741

Bihar- 2,18,605

Chandigarh- 14,702

Chhattisgarh- 1,94,499

Dadra and Nagar Haveli– 3,262

Delhi- 4,09,938

Gujarat- 1,76,446

Goa- 44,372

Haryana– 1,74,082

Himachal Pradesh- 23,365

Jammu and Kashmir- 96,700

Jharkhand- 1,03,188

Karnataka- 8,35,773

Kerala- 4,59,646

Ladakh- 6,553

Madhya Pradesh- 1,74,091

Maharashtra- 16,98,198

Manipur- 19,503

Meghalaya- 9,801

Mizoram- 2,958

Nagaland- 9,207

Odisha- 2,95,889

Puducherry- 35,429

Punjab- 1,35,313

Rajasthan- 2,03,990

Sikkim- 4,067

Tamil Nadu- 7,34,429

Telangana- 2,45,682

Tripura- 31,237

Uttarakhand- 63,585

Uttar Pradesh- 4,89,502

West Bengal – 3,89,576

State/UT wise total death toll:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 60

Andhra Pradesh- 6,744

Arunachal Pradesh- 43

Assam- 934

Bihar- 1,113

Chandigarh- 229

Chhattisgarh- 2,316

Dadra and Nagar Haveli- 2

Delhi- 6,703

Goa- 626

Gujarat- 3,737

Haryana- 1,836

Himachal Pradesh- 355

Jammu and Kashmir- 1,511

Jharkhand- 894

Karnataka- 11,281

Kerala- 1,587

Ladakh- 79

Madhya Pradesh- 2,987

Maharashtra- 44,548

Manipur- 187

Meghalaya- 90

Mizoram- 2

Nagaland- 44

Odisha- 1,364

Puducherry- 597

Punjab- 4,259

Rajasthan- 1,945

Sikkim- 72

Tamil Nadu- 11,244

Telangana- 1,362

Tripura- 353

Uttar Pradesh- 7,104

Uttarakhand- 1,038

West Bengal- 7,068

However, a total of 77,11,809 people have been cured and discharged. The total active cases stands at 5,27,962 in the country.

-CHK

Coronavirus cases surpass 48 mn globally; death toll tops 12.24 lakh

Coronavirus cases
File photo

New Delhi (NVI): More than 48 million people around the world have been confirmed to have the coronavirus, while the death toll is nearing 12,24,415, according to the Johns Hopkins University tally. Over 31.8 million patients have recovered from the deadly disease globally.

In the US, the number of coronavirus infections have surged past 9.4 million while the number of fatalities due to virus has climbed past 2,33,000 in the country.

Brazil’s coronavirus cases are nearing 5.6 million while the death toll has surpassed 1,61,000.

England has entered its second national lockdown, placing 56 million people under new coronavirus restrictions for at least the next four weeks.

Meanwhile, at least six European nations have seen record case rises in the last 24 hours. Russia, Switzerland, Poland, Austria, Latvia and Estonia each confirmed their highest new infections to date.

Russia, which has the fourth-highest cases in the world, added over 18,000 new infections on Wednesday, bringing its total to 1,680,579, while Switzerland announced a record 10,043 coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours.

Austria’s daily tally of new coronavirus infections climbed above 6,000 for the first time to a new record of 6,211, data from the health ministry showed.

In addition to this, Poland hit a daily high of nearly 24,700 coronavirus cases as the government introduced new restrictions on shops, schools and culture institutions through November.

France registered 40,558 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, compared to 36,330 on Tuesday and a record of 52,518 on Monday, health ministry data showed. The total number of cases have increased to 1,543,321.

-CHK

India completes donation of 75,000 MT of wheat to Afghanistan amid pandemic

wheat

New Delhi (NVI): India completed the shipment of the consignment of 75,000 metric tonnes (MT) of wheat to Afghanistan to ensure food security during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Embassy of India in Kabul announced the completion of a donation of 75,000 MT of wheat to Afghanistan this year.

“This shipment of wheat was supplied to Afghanistan in 10 installments between April and September 2020, through Chabahar, with the aim of assisting Afghanistan in augmenting its food security during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” the Indian embassy in Afghanistan said in a release.

This food grains assistance is part of India’s humanitarian and economic assistance program.

“The large scale deliveries from India to Afghanistan through Chabahar Port also demonstrates the salience and economic viability of the Chabahar Port for Afghanistan’ trade and commerce,” the embassy further said.

Tahir Qadiry, Afghan Charge d’Affaires has also thanked India for completing the donation of wheat in 10 installments, during the period of April to September.

“Would like to express immense gratitude to India on completing donation of 75,000 MT wheat in 10 installments during April-September to beef up food security, especially during COVID-19 testing times. A friend in need is a friend indeed,” Qadiry wrote on Twitter.

Earlier in April, the consignment of 5,022 metric tonnes (MT) of wheat was sent to Afghanistan, as the first installment, to ensure food security.

-RJV

India’s COVID tally above 83.6 lakh, death toll tops 1,24,300

COVID cases

New Delhi (NVI):  India’s coronavirus tally currently stands at 83,64,086 with a single rise of 50,209 fresh cases in the last 24 hours, Union Health Ministry confirmed.

The country’s death toll has reached to 1,24,315 with 704 fatalities reported during the same period.

Notably, 77,11,809 patients have been cured and recovered all over the country while active cases stands at 5,27,962.

This is for the sixth consecutive day when the active coronavirus cases remained below 6 lakh.

In worst-affected Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases climbed to 16,98,198, followed by Karnataka with 8,35,773 cases, and Andhra Pradesh with 8,33,208 positive cases.

Other states with a high virus hit included Tamil Nadu (7,34,429), Uttar Pradesh (4,89,502), Kerala (4,59,646) and Delhi (4,09,938).

Moreover, of the total deaths, Maharashtra tops the tally with 44,548 fatalities, followed by Karnataka with 11,281 deaths.

The death toll in the national capital rose to 6,703, while 3,65,866 patients in Delhi have recovered so far, the healthy ministry data shows

According to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR, a total of 11,42,08,384 samples tested for COVID-19 up to November 4. Of these, 12,09,425 samples were tested yesterday.

Meanwhile, Sikkim government imposes a complete ban on use of firecrackers and fireworks in state till further orders in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.

-RJV

 

Search ops launched in 4 South Kashmir villages

Security forces launch search op in South Kashmir's Pulwama
(File/Representational Image)

LUBNA FAYAZ

Srinagar (NVI): A Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) has been launched in four South Kashmir villages on the basis of intelligence inputs.

Sources told NVI that the CASO is going on in Nadipora, Shopian by Army’s 64 RR and Shopian Police; Yaripora, Kulgam by Army’s 1 RR and Kulgam Police; Darsara, Tral in Pulwama by 42 RR and Awantipora Police, and K-Khalan Sirgufara by 3RR and Anantnag Police.

Door to door search operation is also underway in all these areas, they said, adding that security forces were also searching the nearby orchards.

-ARK

India test-fires enhanced version of PINAKA rocket system

New Delhi (NVI): In another achievement, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) today successfully test-fired an enhanced version of PINAKA Rocket System developed by it from Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.

Development of Enhanced Pinaka system was taken up to achieve longer range performance compared to earlier design with reduced length, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

The design and development has been carried out by Pune based DRDO laboratories, namely Armament Research and Development Establishment, ARDE and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, HEMRL.

A total of six rockets were launched in quick succession and the tests met complete mission objectives. Rockets tested have been manufactured by M/s Economic Explosives Limited, Nagpur, to whom the technology has been transferred. All the flight articles were tracked by Range instruments such as telemetry, radar and Electro Optical Tracking Systems which confirmed the flight performance, MoD said.

Enhanced version of the Pinaka rocket would replace the existing Pinaka Mk-I rockets which are currently under production, the ministry said.

The long-range Pinaka rocket will boost the firepower of Indian defence forces amidst the military stand-off with China in Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

-ARK

Second batch of 3 Rafale jets arrives in India

New Delhi(NVI): The second batch of three Rafale fighter jets arrived in India from France today at Jamnagar airbase in Gujarat. They will join the five Rafale jets that had arrived at Ambala airbase in Haryana on July 29.

The three jets touched down in Jamnagar at 8:14 PM after flying non-stop from France, the Indian Air Force said in a tweet.

As per the delivery schedule, three to four jets will reach India every two to three months till all the 36 are delivered under the Rs 59,000 crore deal inked with France in September 2016.

The first five Rafales, which were formally inducted into the Indian Air Force at the Ambala airbase on September 10, have already conducted sorties in Ladakh amidst the ongoing military standoff between the Indian and Chinese army.

The Indian Air Force has currently deployed an “adequate number” of frontline Sukhoi-30MKI,Mirage-2000, MiG-29 and other fighters as well as Chinook helicopters in Ladakh to counter any Chinese misadventure.

-ARK

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