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India’s COVID tally nears 30 lakh; death toll 55,794

New Delhi (NVI): The coronavirus cases in India saw a biggest one-day rise of 69,878 in the last 24 hours, taking the total number to 29,75,701, Union Health Ministry confirmed today.

The country’s death toll now stands at 55,794 with 945 new fatalities being reported during this period.

So far, 22,22,577 people have been cured and discharged, while number of active cases stands at 6,97,330 in the country.

In the worst-hit Maharashtra, the coronavirus cases climbed to 6,57,450, followed by Tamil Nadu with 3,67,430 cases, and Andhra Pradesh with 3,34,940 cases.

Other states with high virus cases are Karnataka (2,64,546), Uttar Pradesh (1,77,239) and West Bengal (1,32,364).

The coronavirus cases in national capital have increased to 1,58,604 with 4,270 deaths reported so far, according to the Health Ministry data.

In terms of deaths, Maharashtra again tops the tally with 21,698 fatalities, ministry said.

According to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), as on August 21, the cumulative number of 3,44,91,073 samples have been tested so far and 10,23,836 samples were tested yesterday.

Meanwhile, the Chandigarh administration has decided to impose stricter restrictions and ordered closure of all shops and offices, except those providing essential services, on Saturdays and Sundays, amid rising coronavirus cases.

-RJV

PM greets people on Ganesh Chaturthi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today greeted people on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi and wished joy and prosperity everywhere.

Taking to twitter, PM Modi wrote, “Greetings on the auspicious festival of Ganesh Chaturthi. May the blessings of Bhagwan Shri Ganesh always be upon us. May there be joy and prosperity all over.”

Home Minister Amit Shah also tweeted Ganesh Chaturthi greetings. “Heartfelt greetings of Shri Ganesh Chaturthi to all countrymen,” he wrote in Hindi.

Ganesh Chaturthi is the Hindu festival dedicated to the Lord of new beginnings, Ganesha.

On this day, devotees across the country bring idols of Lord Ganesh to their homes and decorate the idols with flowers and garlands. Modaks (dumplings made of rice flour and jaggery), considered as Lord Ganesh’s favourite sweet, is offered to please the Hindu God.

However, this year, the preparations around the country have been downsized due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

-RJV

National Sports Awards 2020 announced: Full list of awardees

New Delhi (NVI): The Ministry of Sports today announced the list of athletes who will be conferred with the National Sports Awards for this year. Sports Awards are given every year to recognize and reward excellence in sports.

Surprisingly, eight para-sports personalities will receive the National Sports Awards this year, including the Khel Ratna to Paralympics gold medallist Mariyappan Thangavelu.

The awardees will receive their awards from President Ram Nath Kovind at a specially organized function through virtual mode from Rashtrapati Bhawan on August 29, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports said in a statement.

Here is the full list of awardees under each category this year:

Gadkari launches app to monitor plantation along national highways

New Delhi (NVI): Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari today reviewed road projects and launched a mobile App called ‘Harit Path’ to monitor plantation along the National Highways.

NHAI has developed the mobile app for location, growth, species details, maintenance activities, targets and achievements of each of its field units for each and every plant under all plantation projects, the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways said in a statement.

While launching the mobile app, Gadkari called for reducing the cost of road construction by 25%, while identifying modern and green technologies that contribute towards the aim.

Through the app, the can plantations along National Highways across the country can be monitored through geo-tagging and web-based GIS-enabled monitoring tools, the Ministry said in a statement.

To commemorate 25 years of its service to the nation, NHAI has also recently undertaken ‘Harit Bharat Sankalp’, a nation-wide plantation drive which is in line with its commitment to promote environment protection and sustainability.

Under this initiative, NHAI planted over 25 lakh plants in 25 days along the stretches of the National Highways between 21st July to 15th August 2020. The drive takes the total cumulative number of plantations done during the current year to 35.22 lakh, the Transport Ministry release stated.

The nation-wide plantation drive has been actively taken up by NHAI’s regional offices to achieve the collective target of making greener national highways, it said.

Maximum number of over 5.0 lakh plants have been planted in Uttar Pradesh, followed by over 3.0 lakh in Rajasthan and 2.67 Lakh in Madhya Pradesh along the national highways. In order to ensure 100% survival of the plants, avenue plantation of minimum height of 1.5-meter have been emphasized along the national highway.

In order to track the growth and health of the plants, photographs along with data of the plants captured using Harit Path shall be uploaded every 3 months on NHAI’s AI-powered Big Data Analytics platform – Data Lake.

Highway contractors shall be accountable for proper upkeep and maintenance of the plantation and liable to replace the missing/dead plants. Performance and growth of the plants shall be linked to the payment to the contractors for this work, the Ministry said.

After launch of the app, NHAI has immediately started work to create user ids of over 150 ROs/ PDs/ Horticulture experts.

NHAI has been undertaking plantation drives from time to time to develop eco-friendly National Highways and has constantly addressed ecological concerns by adopting environment-friendly methods. In the year 2020, NHAI plans to undertake a sustained plantation drive.

The vision is to plant 72 Lakh plants along NH stretches collectively with concessionaire, State Government agencies and private plantation agencies. In addition, NHAI is engaging experts from the plantation, forestry, agriculture, horticulture with vast field experience. Two professionals with suitable background and experience are being engaged for each of its regional offices.

For proper supervision of plantation in each project, horticulture experts are also being engaged. Apart from plantation, NHAI is also emphasizing on transplantation of trees which are required to be axed for development of highway projects.

NHAI has identified the NH stretches and is creating a database of all the plantations already done and to be done on these stretches. The launch of ‘Harit Path’, mobile app will further facilitate creation of Green Highways across the country.

-ARK

J&K’s Covid tally crosses 31,000 with 654 fresh cases 

Over 3,200 cops COVID positive in J&K and 15 succumbed to virus
File photo

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir today witnessed 653 fresh cases of Covid-19 including 49 travelers, taking the tally of confirmed coronavirus cases in the Union Territory to 31,371.

Of the total positive cases, 24,495 are from Kashmir and 6,876 from Jammu division.

UT health officials said that among 654 new cases, 540 belong to Kashmir while 114 are from Jammu division. The total number of positive cases in Kashmir has reached 24,495 including 18,453 recoveries while the total number of positive cases in Jammu division has reached 6,876 including 5,352 recoveries.

The UT has witnessed 600 Covid related deaths of which 569 are from Kashmir and 41 from Jammu division, they said.

The officials said that the total number of active cases in the UT is 6,973 including 5,490 from Kashmir and 1,483 from Jammu division.

With 580 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in J&K has reached 23,805 which is 75.88 percent of the total cases.

Srinagar district alone has 7,614 positive cases which is more than the total number of positive cases in Jammu division where total cases are 6,876.

“Cases tested positive in J&K include 206 from Srinagar, 51 from Baramulla, 33 from Pulwama, 68 from Budgam, 45 from Anantnag, 40 from Kulgam, 29 from Kupwara, 52 from Bandipora and 16 from Ganderbal in Kashmir division while as 114 from Jammu division include 63 from Jammu, 03 from Rajouri, 11 from Kathua, 13 from Udhampur, 02 from Ramban, 02 from Samba, 11 from Doda, 02 from Poonch, 02 from Reasi and 05 from Kishtwar”, officials disclosed.

As per the daily information bulletin, 4,26,670 persons in J&K are under observation while 42,078 persons have been kept under home quarantine. Besides that, 6,973 persons are in isolation.

According to the bulletin, 3,33,794 persons have completed surveillance period and 43,232 persons are under home surveillance.

So far, results of 8,44,641 samples are available out of which 813,270 tested negative while 31,371 have been tested positive. Among positive cases, 6,973 are active while 23,805 have recovered.

-ARK

Pak violates ceasefire along LoC in J&K’s Poonch

Ceasefire
Representational image

Jammu (NVI): In yet another ceasefire violation along Line of Control (LoC), the Pakistani troops today resorted to unprovoked firing and shelling in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, defence officials said.

Pakistan initiated firing in Mankote sector of Poonch district at around 6.30 pm, they said.

“On 21 Aug 2020 at about 1830 hours, Pak initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with Small Arms & intense shelling with Mortars along LoC in Mankote sector, District Poonch (J&K),” the defence officials said, adding the Indian Army was retaliating befittingly.

Before this, Pakistan had violated ceasefire in Keri Battal area of Sunderbani Sector in J&K’s Rajouri along LoC, exactly a week after they had targetted forward areas in the same district.

-ARK

Haryana orders offices, shops except essential to remain shut on weekends

New Delhi (NVI): The Haryana government today announced that all offices and shops in the state will remain closed on weekends, to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Taking to twitter, Haryana’s Health Minister Anil Vij said, “All offices and shops except essential will remain closed in Haryana on every Saturday and Sunday due to COVID-19.”

This announcement came as the number of coronavirus cases in Haryana continue to show a daily rise.

Earlier in July, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said that weekend lockdown serves no purpose in the fight against the novel coronavirus and there were no plans to impose any more lockdowns.

“A lockdown will not serve any purpose unless it is imposed for a 14-day period. Imposing a lockdown over the weekend or for two days merely gives the impression that something is being done,” Khattar said.

Although commercial establishments and shops will remain shut on Saturdays and Sundays, restrictions on the movement of people and traffic are not likely.

Haryana reported its highest single-day spike of 996 COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total number in the northern state to 50,926, with 578 fatalities.

-RJV

Door-to-door campaign with 5 people, gloves for voters among new election guidelines

New Delhi (NVI): The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday issued a fresh set of guidelines for carrying out general elections amid the Covid-19 pandemic in the country, just months before the Bihar Assembly elections scheduled for October and Bengal Assembly elections slated for next year.

Door-to-door campaigns with only five people and gloves for voters before they press the button at electronic voting machines are some of the guidelines for holding elections amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The guidelines further state that a maximum of 1,000 voters can be present at any polling booth at a time, and every voter’s body temperature will be checked before the person is allowed to enter the booth.

EC also said that public meetings and road shows can be organised but must follow COVID-19 containment conditions set by the centre.

Candidates can file their nominations online and people have to wear face masks during election-related activities, the new guidelines said.

The option of postal ballot facility has been extended to the voters who are marked as ‘persons with disabilities’. People, who are above the age of 80 years, people employed in notified essential services and those who have tested Covid-19 positive or are possibly infected can all vote through the postal ballot facility, the Election Commission said. However, guidelines for each of the categories of people who are eligible for postal ballot will be issued separately.

Thermal scanning of all voters will be carried out at the entry hall or premises where the polls will be held. Sanitisers, soap and water shall also be made available to all voters, according to the new rules.

Social distancing will mandatorily have to be followed in keeping with the guidelines issued earlier by the Ministry of Home Affairs. State administrations have been told to identify large halls to ensure that social distancing can be done during the polls.

-CHK

J&K’s Covid death toll mounts to 600 as 8 more succumb

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Eight more have people died of the novel coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir, taking the total number of Covid-19 deaths in the Union Territory to 600.

A CRPF man was among the fresh eight deaths in the UT, health officials said today.

Eight patients who died include a 52-year-old CRPF man of 61 battalion, a 70-year-old man from Budina Budgam, an 85-year-old man from Drangbal Pampore, a 62-year-old man from Gantmulla Baramulla, a 65-year-old man from Wagoora area of Baramulla, a 74-year-old man from Kralpora Budgam, a 70-year-old woman from Chattabal, Srinagar and a 67-year-old male from Dalgate, Srinagar.

An official from SKIMS Soura said that the 52-year-old CRPF man from 61 battalion Shivpora, Srinagar who was admitted on 18 August, died today.

He said that the patient from Budina Budgam, who was admitted on August 20 and an 85-year-old man from Drangbal, Pampore who was admitted on August 14 also died today.

An official from SMHS said that the patient from Gantmulla in Baramulla, who was admitted on August 17 and a patient from Kachu Maqam in Wagoora, Baramulla who was admitted with Chronic Kidney disease, diabetes and bilateral Pneumonia on 8 August, also died at SMHS today.

Another official from JVC Bemina said that the patient from Kralpora, Budgam who was admitted on August 18 and a patient from Chan Mohalla in Chattabal, Srinagar who was admitted on 14 August died today as well.

The patient from Dalgate, Srinagar who was admitted on 11 August at CD Hospital, Srinagar also died today.

With eight more deaths, the death toll in J&K has reached 600 including 559 from Kashmir and 41 from Jammu division. It may be recalled that Covid-19 positive cases in J&K UT has crossed 30,000.

-ARK

Ganesh Chaturthi involves large congregations, can’t be allowed in Maha: SC

New Delhi (NVI): The Supreme Court today said that it is not inclined to permit festivities during Ganpati festival in Maharashtra this year as the crowd becomes uncontrollable.

Citing the pandemic, a bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde maintained that Ganesh Chaturthi festivities, by their very nature, involve large crowds.

“We are not inclined to allow Ganapati festivals since that is completely uncontrollable,” remarked the CJI.

The court was hearing a matter related to opening of certain Jain temples in Mumbai for Paryushan — the annual purification rituals for the community.

In this regard, the apex court allowed limited entry of devotees to three Jain temples in Mumbai’s Dadar, Chembur and Byculla on August 22 and 23 to offer prayers on the occasion of Paryushan festival.

The bench said that entry into temples will be subject to the undertaking given by the petitioner – a trust dedicated to Jain community – as per which they agreed to allow only five people at a time inside the temple with an upper limit of 250 people per day.

“We are of the view that if the undertaking of faithfully complied with, it would not be hazardous to permit prayers at the three temples,” the bench added.

It cited the example of allowing Odisha Rath Yatra and said, “This is exactly the choice we had with Odisha Rath Yatra. We believe that if we can ensure that distancing is maintained and people do not gather then merely putting the Rath is not damaging.”

The court also made it clear that its order will not apply to any other temples or festivals involving large congregation.

“We are referring in particular to the congregation that happens during Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai and other places,” the court noted.

-CHK

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