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Airdropped weapons recovered along LoC in J&K’s Akhnoor

The weapons that were recovered. (Source: Twitter)

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Barely two days after security forces arrested two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists, who had received an air-dropped weapon and cash consignment in J&K’s Rajouri district, security forces today recovered a huge quantity of arms and ammunition along LoC at Akhnoor sub-division of Jammu, believed to be dropped by a drone, security officials said.

They said that joint teams of Army and Police launched a Cordon and Search Operation in an area close to the LoC and International Border in the Akhnoor area of Jammu.

“The area is located at the point where LoC and IB join each other,” the officials said, adding that the joint teams recovered a bag containing 2 AK assault rifles, 3 AK magazines, 90 AK bullets, 2 pistols and pistol magazines along with bullets.

“It seems that the bag was air-dropped by the drone,” a police official said, adding that the operation is going on in the area to find out how the bag reached close to the LoC and IB. “Preliminary probe has suggested that the bag was dropped by a drone,” he said.

This is the second such instance in the past three days when forces recovered air-dropped weapon consignment. On Sunday, two persons from South Kashmir were arrested in Rajouri, who had received air-dropped weapon consignment and Rs one lakh cash at LoC in Rajouri.

Speaking to reporters, DGP J&K Dilbagh Singh had said that air-dropping of weapons was a new worry and challenge for the security forces and that a counter-strategy will be adopted to foil such moves.

United Nations faces ‘crisis of confidence’ without comprehensive reforms: PM

New Delhi (NVI): The United Nations (UN) faces a “crisis of confidence” without comprehensive reforms, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said while addressing the high-level meeting of the General Assembly to commemorate UN’s 75th anniversary.

This year’s UN General Assembly is being held in a largely virtual format as world leaders did not travel to New York for the annual gathering due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In his speech to the special session Modi said that the world needs a reformed multilateralism that reflects current day realities, gives voice to all stakeholders, addresses contemporary challenges and focuses on human welfare.

‘The declaration acknowledges the need for reform in the United Nation itself. You cannot fight today’s challenges with outdated structures,” the Prime Minister said.

Speaking about organisations like the UN Security Council, he said the UN needs to adapt in order to address contemporary challenges which a structure set up in 1945 may not be able to do.

PM Modi while supporting the reforms undertaken by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, “We support ongoing reforms by the Secretary-General…We reiterate our call for reforms of three of the principal organs of the UN. We commit to instil new life in the discussions on the reform of the Security Council and continue the work to revitalise the General Assembly and strengthen the Economic and Social Council.”

Modi also highlighted that India’s own philosophies align with the goals of the United Nations. He said work still needs to be done towards reducing inequality, mitigating conflicts and addressing the threat of climate change.

He said as a founding signatory of the UN Charter, India was part of that noble vision, which reflected India’s own philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, which sees all creation as a family.

“Our world today is a better place because of the United Nations,” the prime minister said.

He paid tribute to all those who have advanced the cause of peace and development under the UN flag, including in UN peacekeeping missions, where India had been a leading contributor.

Furthermore, he also mentioned that India has assigned over 2,00,000 troops in 50 of the 71 peacekeeping missions in the last 60 years.

To commemorate the 75 years of the UN, the 193-member UN General Assembly adopted a forward-looking political declaration that called for strengthening mechanism to combat terrorism, reformed multilateralism, inclusive development and better preparedness to deal with challenges like the covid-19 pandemic.

-CHK

India records over 1 lakh single-day COVID-19 recoveries

New Delhi (NVI): With over one lakh patients recovered in last 24 hours, India has continued the consistent growth of single-day COVID-19 recoveries during the past four days, Union Health Ministry said.

In a offical statement, the Ministry of Health said, 1,01,468 patients have been discharged from hospitals or facility supervised care in the last 24 hours across the country.

“In another landmark achievement, the trend of very high number of single day recoveries has sustained with over 90,000 recovered each day for the past four consecutive days,” it added.

The total recovered cases thus stands at 44,97,867. With this, the recovery rate has further escalated to 80.86 per cent.

The ministry also noted that, 79 per cent of the new recovered cases are being reported from ten states and UTs, which are Maharashtra, Karnataka , Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Delhi, Kerala, West Bengal and Punjab.

“Maharashtra continues to lead with more than 32,000 (31.5 per cent) new recovered patients. Andhra Pradesh contributed more than 10,000 to the single day recoveries,” it added.

Meanwhile, the country’s landmark achievement of recording the maximum number of recoveries has positioned it as the top country globally.

The continuous streak of very high level of recoveries in the country is a testimony of the Centre-lad proactive and graded strategy of TEST TRACK TREAT, the ministry said.

Also, the effective clinical management and treatment protocols issued by the government have been updated from time to time with the emergence of new medical and scientific evidence.

Furthermore, the Centre has been deputing multi-disciplinary teams to support and assist efforts of the state and UT governments and regular high level review has also ensured adequate availability of medical oxygen in hospitals and health facilities across the country.

These have together have played a critical intervention role in India’s high recoveries and maintained low case fatality rate (CFR), which currently stands at 1.59 per cent across the country, the ministry added.

-RJV

State-wise details of Covid-19 cases in India

Coronavirus India

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India crossed the 55 lakh-mark today and reached 55,62,664, with another huge surge of 75,083 positive cases in the last 24 hours, according to Union Health Ministry data.

The country’s death toll has gone up to 88,935 after 1,053 new fatalities were reported in the country during this period.

In worst-hit Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases climbed to 12,24,380, followed by Andhra Pradesh with 6,31,749 cases, and Tamil Nadu with 5,47,337 cases.

Total positive cases in States/UTs:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 3,673

Andhra Pradesh- 6,31,749

Arunachal Pradesh- 7,595

Assam- 1,59,320

Bihar- 1,69,651

Chandigarh- 10,298

Chhattisgarh- 88,181

Dadra Nagar Haveli & Diu – 2,933

Delhi- 2,49,259

Gujarat- 1,24,605

Goa- 28,753

Haryana– 1,13,075

Himachal Pradesh- 12,438

Jammu and Kashmir- 65,026

Jharkhand- 72,673

Karnataka- 5,26,876

Kerala- 1,38,631

Ladakh- 3,832

Madhya Pradesh- 1,08,167

Maharashtra- 12,24,380

Manipur- 9,010

Meghalaya- 4,733

Mizoram- 1,692

Nagaland- 5,544

Odisha- 1,84,122

Puducherry- 23,191

Punjab- 99,930

Rajasthan- 1,16,881

Sikkim- 2,528

Tamil Nadu- 5,47,337

Telangana- 1,74,774

Tripura- 22,834

Uttarakhand- 41,777

Uttar Pradesh- 3,58,893

West Bengal– 2,28,302

State/UT wise total death toll:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 52

Andhra Pradesh- 5,410

Arunachal Pradesh- 13

Assam- 578

Bihar- 870

Chandigarh- 126

Chhattisgarh- 690

Dadra and Nagar Haveli- 2

Delhi- 5,014

Goa- 360

Gujarat- 3,336

Haryana- 1,177

Himachal Pradesh- 127

Jammu and Kashmir- 1,024

Jharkhand- 626

Karnataka- 8,145

Kerala- 553

Ladakh- 50

Madhya Pradesh- 2,007

Maharashtra- 33,015

Manipur- 59

Meghalaya- 37

Nagaland- 15

Odisha- 710

Puducherry- 467

Punjab- 2,860

Rajasthan- 1,352

Sikkim- 29

Tamil Nadu- 8,871

Telangana- 1,052

Tripura- 251

Uttarakhand- 501

Uttar Pradesh- 5,135

West Bengal- 4,421

There are 9,75,861 active cases in the country now and nearly 45 lakh people have recovered.

-CHK

Two medium-intensity quakes hit Assam

Mild earthquake hits Delhi
Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): Two medium-intensity earthquakes shook Assam in quick succession today early morning.

The quakes that took place at the same time, hit Guwahati and Barpeta – about 95 kms from Guwahati.

The earthquake that hit Guwahati measured 4.4 on the Richter scale and the one that shook Barpeta was of 4.2 magnitude, the National Centre of Seismology said.

No damage to life or property has been reported so far.

Assam and other northeastern states have been experiencing earthquakes since June this year. The region experienced 14 quakes in 18 days between June and July. Five quakes took place in Mizoram, four in Assam, three in Meghalaya and one each in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland during June and July.

-CHK

Sikkim to reopen for tourists from Oct 10

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): The Sikkim government has announced that it will welcome back tourists from October 10, after keeping its borders closed for visitors for a long time due to the spread of coronavirus.

The state government has also permitted hotels, homestays and all tourism-related services to restart operations.

Ravindra Telang, Principal Secretary of Home in Sikkim, signed an order in which it was mentioned that the state is ready to allow interstate travel from October 1. The order read, “It has been decided to allow the free interstate movement of people without any requirement of registration with effect from 1 October and also permit hotels, homestays, and other tourism-related services to operate from 10 October.”

Notably, the Sikkim border with West Bengal will also be reopened for unrestricted road travel from October 1, as per the reports.

The state will also issue standard operating procedures (SOP) for hotels and the tourism sector in the coming days. Therefore, tourists keen on making a trip to Sikkim can start booking hotels and homestays from September 27.

On the other hand, Inner Line Permits for international tourists with valid visas would be granted from October 10.

The Himalayan state had imposed the odd-even aka road rationing rule, by limiting the cars on road as per the last digits of the registration number, in order to reduce movement amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the reports.

Meanwhile, Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim has been put under a complete lockdown from September 21 and it will go on till September 27 to curb the rising COVID-19 cases.

-RJV

Coronavirus cases surge past 31.2 mn worldwide; US death toll nears 2 lakh

Coronavirus cases

New Delhi (NVI): More than 31.2 million people around the world have been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus and almost 9,63,000 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 21.3 million people have recovered.

In the US, the number of coronavirus infections have surpassed 6.85 million while the death toll has almost reached 2,00,000 in the country.

Brazil’s coronavirus infections have surged past 4.55 million while the number of fatalities have climbed past 1,37,000 in the country.

Mexico surpassed 7,00,000 confirmed coronavirus cases even as health authorities cited what they described as nearly two months of slowing infection rates.

According to a tally, Latin America has recorded around 8.7 million coronavirus cases and over 3,22,000 deaths, both figures being the highest of any region.

New Zealand recorded no new cases of Covid-19 on Tuesday, as restrictions on much of the country were entirely removed, and measures imposed on Auckland, the largest city, were due to ease further. There are 61 active cases of the coronavirus in New Zealand, 32 of them diagnosed as part of a community cluster in Auckland.

Pubs, bars and restaurants in England will have to shut by 10pm from Thursday under new nationwide restrictions to halt an “exponential” rise in coronavirus cases.

The number of coronavirus infections in Iran has risen by 3,341 in the past 24 hours, the highest daily tally since early June, taking total cases to 4,25,481.

China reported six new Covid-19 cases on Monday, down from 12 a day earlier, the national health authority said on Tuesday.

-CHK

Terrorist killed in encounter in J&K’s Budgam, operation underway

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

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): An unidentified terrorist has been killed, while an Army soldier sustained injuries in an ongoing encounter that broke out at village Nowhar in Charar-e-Shareef area of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district yesterday evening, officials said.

Officials said that the body of an unidentified terrorist has been recovered and the soldier who sustained injuries is being treated at the Army’s 92-base hospital, Srinagar, and is out of danger.

A police official said that due to the dark, operation was put on a halt yesterday evening but lights remained installed in village Nowhar and cordoned layers were tightened to ensure terrorist cannot flee.

“With the first light of the day today, heavy exchange of firing took place in which one terrorist was killed,” he said, adding that “intermittent exchange of firing is going on between the two sides and it is believed that two more terrorists are hiding in the area.”

Acting on a specific input, joint teams of forces including police, Army and the CRPF had launched cordon in village Nowhar in Charar-e-Shareef area yesterday evening and when forces zeroed in on a suspected spot, terrorists opened fire at the forces triggering a fierce encounter.

Meanwhile, authorities have snapped the mobile internet services in the area as a precautionary measure to prevent any law and order issue.

-RJV

 

India’s COVID tally crosses 55-lakh mark, death toll nearing 89,000

India’s COVID tally tops 10.34 million with 16,505 new cases
(File/ Representational image)

New Delhi (NVI): India coronavirus tally has crossed the 55-lakh mark and stands at 55,62,664, with a single-day spike of 75,083 new cases in last 24 hours, Union Health Ministry said.

The country’s death toll has reached 88,935 with 1,053 fatalities reported during this period.

Notably, the number of active cases stands at 9,75,861, while 44,97,868 patients have been cured and discharged from the hospitals across the country.

In worst-hit Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases climbed to 12,24,380, followed by Andhra Pradesh with 6,31,749 cases, and Tamil Nadu with 5,47,337 cases.

The other worst affected states in the country are Karnataka (5,26,876), Uttar Pradesh (3,58,893) and Delhi (2,49,259).

Maharashtra has also reported the highest number of death toll at 30,409 followed by 8,502 deaths in Tamil Nadu.

The death toll in the national capital surpassed to 5,014, while 2,13,304 patients have recovered so far, the healthy ministry data shows.

As per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a total 6,53,25,779 samples tested up to September 21 for COVID-19. Of these, 9,33,185 samples were tested yesterday.

Meanwhile, the government today said that the coronavirus recovery rate in India has crossed the 80 per cent mark as the country has been recording more than 90,000 recoveries during the past three days.

-RJV

ITEWC providing Tsunami Services to 25 Indian Ocean Countries: Harsh Vardhan

New Delhi (NVI): Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre is leading the way in responding to a Tsunami and providing Tsunami Services to 25 Indian Ocean countries, Union Minister Harsh Vardhan today said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.

“We have better Tsunami prediction models at ITEWC and INCOIS is continuously working towards improving its accuracy,” Harsh Vardhan, who handles the Ministry of Science and Technology, Earth Sciences and Health Ministry, said in his written reply in the Upper House.

The Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC) was established at Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad, an autonomous body under Ministry of Earth Sciences which continues to provide timely tsunami advisories to stake holders.

O-SMART (Ocean Services, Modelling, Applications, Resources and Technology) scheme of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has several objectives like to generate and regularly update information on Marine Living Resources and their relationship with the physical environment in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The scheme is also responsible to periodically monitor levels of sea water pollutants for health assessment of coastal waters of India, to develop shoreline change maps for assessment of coastal erosion due to natural and anthropogenic activities, the Ministry of Earth Science said in a statement.

Apart from that, it also develops a wide range of state-of-the art ocean observation systems for acquisition of real-time data from the seas around India. It also generates and disseminates a suite of user-oriented ocean information, advisories, warnings, data and data products for the benefit of society.

Some other objectives of O-SMART scheme are:

  • To develop high-resolution models for ocean forecast and reanalysis system
  • To develop algorithms for validation of satellite data for coastal research and to monitor changes in the coastal research,
  •  Acquisition of 2 Coastal Research Vessels (CRVs) as replacement of 2 old CRVs for coastal pollution monitoring, testing of various underwater components and technology demonstration
  •  To develop technologies to tap the marine bio resources
  •  To develop technologies generating freshwater and energy from ocean
  •  To develop underwater vehicles and technologies
  •  Establishment of Ballast water treatment facility
  • To support operation and maintenance of 5 Research vessels for ocean survey/monitoring/technology demonstration programmes
  •  Establishment of state of the art sea front facility to cater to the testing and sea trial activities of ocean technology
  • To carry out exploration of Polymetallic Nodules (MPN) from water depth of 5500 m in site of 75000 sq.km allotted to India by United Nations in Central Indian Ocean Basin, to carryout investigations of gas hydrates
  •  Exploration of polymetallic sulphides near Rodrigues Triple junction in 10000 sq. km of area allotted to India in International waters by International Seabed Authority/UN and
  • Submission of India’s claim over continental shelf extending beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone supported by scientific data, and Topographic survey of EEZ of India.

The ITEWC is also providing tsunami services to 25 Indian Ocean Countries as part of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO framework.

INCOIS has introduced several innovative concepts in tsunami modeling, mapping of coastal inundation, Decision Support System, SOPs to meet the emerging challenges and provide accurate and timely tsunami early warnings, the Ministry of Earth Science said.

INCOIS has established a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) & Strong Motion Accelerometers in Andaman and Nicobar Islands for quick and reliable estimation of source parameters for near source earthquakes.

In addition to this, INCOIS has carried out Multi-hazard Vulnerability Mapping (MHVM) along the mainland of Indian coastland MHVM atlas has been prepared.

The ITEWC, INCOIS regularly conducts workshops, training sessions and tsunami mock exercises to create awareness and preparedness about the tsunamis.

Apart from this, to workshops and trainings for disaster managers, ITEWC is also coordinating with coastal States/UTs to implement Tsunami Ready Programme, a concept introduced by UNESCO, at community level.

Odisha has implemented the programme in two villages (Venkatraipur and Noliasahi) and based on the national board recommendation, IOC (UNESCO) recognized these villages as Tsunami ready communities.

Pertinent to mention here that thirteen years ago, on the fateful morning of December 26, 2004, Tsunami swept away over 2,30,000 lives across fourteen countries bordering the Indian Ocean.

India was one of them where 10,749 lives were lost in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Puducherry and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The devastating ‘tsunami’ also caused huge damages to property in the affected countries.

The reason of this ‘tsunami’ was attributed to a major earthquake that measured 9.3 in the Richter scale, with its epicenter off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia.

-ARK

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