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Six domestic flights with 562 passengers land at Srinagar airport

The flights ferried stranded passengers, who were stuck in various parts of the country. (Twitter)

Srinagar (NVI): After remaining suspended for over two months since March 20 in the wake of nationwide Covid-19 lockdown, six domestic flights landed at Srinagar International Airport today with 562 passengers on board, officials said.

The flights ferried stranded passengers, who were stuck in various parts of the country, as domestic flight operations resumed across the nation today. Officials said that the arrival of flights started with the landing of Air Asia flight at 7:25 am.

“All passengers who arrived at the airport were thoroughly screened for COVID-19 and their samples taken,” they said. “Government had made elaborate arrangements for the arrival, screening, sampling and dispatch of passengers. The airport has been equipped to receive the passengers strictly following the procedures and guidelines prescribed by the Union Ministries of Civil Aviation and Health and Family Welfare.”

Officials said that all passengers, on arrival, by air today and for the coming days, shall be kept in institutional or home quarantine for the prescribed period. Sampling will be done of all passengers and test samples will be sent to SKIMS, Srinagar.

“Those passengers who test negative shall be sent to home and those testing positive, if any, will be sent to hospital for further treatment,” the officials said.

The passengers were received at the airport by Principal Secretary, Housing & Urban Development, Dheeraj Gupta along with Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, PK Pole.

Among others present were Secretary, Cultural &Tourism, Zubair Ahmad, Deputy Commissioner, Budgam, Tariq Hussain Ganie, Vice Chairman LAWDA, Tufail Matoo, Director Industries & Commerce, Mahmood Ahmad Shah, Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr Sameer Matoo, SSP Budgam, Amod Ashok Nagpurie, Director, Airport Authority Srinagar, Santosh Dhoke and other concerned officers/officials.

Speaking on the occasion, Dheeraj Gupta said that all facilities and other arrangements have been put in place at the airport by the government including SOPs for receiving the passengers.

“For the convenience of passengers, special help desks have been established in order to capture firsthand information from the passengers after their disembarking,” he said, adding that for sample collection from the passengers for Covid-19 test, 30 test kiosks have been set up at the airport. Besides, adequate transport facilities by SRTC have been made available at the airport for these passengers.

Deputy Commissioner, Budgam, Tariq Hussain Ganai said that the passengers arriving at the airport are being screened for Covid-19 tests. Their sampling is also being done as per the prescribed protocol, officials said. Regarding other passengers, the DC said there are exemptions for seriously ill patients, pregnant women and the passengers suffering from other chronic diseases having symptoms of any other health issue who will be allowed to go for home quarantine.

Centre reviews relief and restoration work in cyclone-hit West Bengal

Restoration at B-Purvanchal School, Kapurgachhi, KMC KOLKATA, West Bengal (Source: NDRF)

New Delhi (NVI): The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), under the chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba today met for the fourth time, to review the progress of relief and restoration work in the areas of West Bengal affected by cyclone Amphan.

The committee is continuously involved in the coordination efforts and restoration measures in the affected areas of Bengal, the Ministry of Home Affairs said.

A sum of Rs 1,000 crores has already been released to the state government, as announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his aerial survey and review of relief efforts with the West Bengal government, the ministry in a statement said.

Chief Secretary of West Bengal has thanked the Centre for the support provided for relief and restoration. Restoration of Power and Telecommunication infrastructure was stated to be a priority in the Cyclone affected areas of the State.

While Telecom connectivity has been restored in most areas, damages to the local power distribution network has affected the restoration of complete supply in some areas, MHA said. Central agencies are deployed in these efforts along with teams from neighbouring states, it added.

Meanwhile, Army has been deployed in Kolkata, to help in carrying out road clearances along with teams of NDRF and SDRF.

Noting the progress made in restoration work, the Cabinet Secretary advised that complete power connectivity, telecom service and drinking water supplies need to be restored on priority basis.

The Central agencies are ready to provide any further assistance that may be required by the State. Adequate stocks of food grains have also been kept ready for supply based on the demand from the State, MHA said.

Ministry of Home Affairs will also be sending a Central team soon to assess the damages.

The Cabinet Secretary also suggested that West Bengal Government may indicate their additional requirements if any and directed officers of Central Ministries/Agencies to work in close coordination with State Government to provide all required assistance expeditiously.

Chief Secretary of West Bengal participated in the NCMC Meeting through Video Conference. Senior Officers from Ministries of Home Affairs, Power, Telecommunications, Food & Public Distribution, Health, Drinking Water & Sanitation, HQ IDS, NDMA and NDRFalso attended the meeting.

Afghanistan reports 591 new coronavirus cases, total 11,582

New Delhi (NVI): With 591 fresh coronavirus cases reported in Afghanistan, the overall tally climbed to 11,582 in the country, according to Afghan media reports.

The country’s Ministry of Public Health said, over the past week, Kabul has reported the highest number of positive cases in the country.

Among the fresh cases, 390 were reported in Kabul, 62 in Herat, 36 in Balkh, 21 in Badghis, 18 in Nangarhar, 14 in Takhar.

Likewise, 14 cases were reported in Kunar, 5 in Paktia, 5 in Baghlan, 7 in Wardak, 1 in Bamiyan, 2 in Ghor, 11 in Jawzjan, 2 in Panjshir and 3 in Khost.

So far, 31,718 people have been tested in the country.

The health ministry also reported one death in the western province of Herat in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll from coronavirus to 219.

At least, 1,095 patients have been cured from virus or discharged.

Apart from this, the Kabul lockdown-which was eased over the last 10 days, became stricter once again, leaving the city empty even as the public celebrates Eid al-Fitr, as per media reports.

IAF to operationalise, equip No. 18 squadron with LCA Tejas at Coimbatore

LCA Tejas

New Delhi (NVI): The No. 18 squadron of Indian Air Force is all set to become the second IAF fleet to fly indigenously built Light Combat Aircraft Tejas FOC. The squadron will be operationalised and equipped with the fourth generation LCA in an event to be held at Air Force Station, Sulur near Coimbatore on May 27.

IAF chief Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria will operationalise No. 18 Squadron, which will be codenamed as  ‘Flying Bullets’, PIB (Defence Wing) said in a release.

IAF’s 18 squadron was formed on 15 April, 1965 with the motto ‘Teevra aur Nirbhaya’  (Swift and Fearless). The squadron was flying MiG 27 aircraft before it got number plated on 15 April 2016. The squadron was resurrected on April 1 this year at Sulur, according to the release.

The squadron actively participated in the 1971 war with Pakistan and was decorated with the highest gallantry award ‘Param Vir Chakra’ awarded to Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon posthumously. It earned the sobriquet of ‘Defenders of Kashmir Valley’ by being the first to land and operate from Srinagar. The Squadron was presented with President’s Standard in November 2015, the release said.

Tejas is an indigenous fourth generation tailless compound delta-wing aircraft. The aircraft is equipped with fly-by-wire flight control system, integrated digital avionics, multimode radar and its structure is made out of composite material.

It is the lightest and smallest in its group of fourth-generation supersonic combat aircraft.

6 new COVID-19 cases reported in Nepal, tally at 682

New Delhi (NVI): Six new cases of coronavirus cases identified in Nepal, taking the total to 682 across the country, according to local media reports.

The country’s Ministry of Health and Population said the infections have been confirmed through tests carried out at Seti Provincial Hospital in Dhangadhi, Bheri Hospital in Nepalgunj, and Birgunj-based Narayani Hospital.

Among the infected are a 32-year-old male from Achham district, three males of ages 18, 22 and 24 years from Bardiya.

Likewise, a 18-year-old male from Parsa, and a 28-year-old male from Kathmandu, currently working in Kalaiya of Bara district, the ministry stated.

Of the total infected persons, 602 are males while 80 are females.

The ministry also confirmed the fourth death in Nepal due to coronavirus. A 70-year-old patient had died at the National Medical College in Birgunj.

Earlier today, 72 new coronavirus cases had taken the total COVID-19 count in the country to 675.

Meanwhile, Nepal has performed 51,642 sample tests through the PCR method so far.

At present, 112 people have been cured form the virus and discharged

COVID-19 tally surpasses 35,000 in Bangladesh

Bangladesh lockdown

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of deaths from coronavirus in Bangladesh has reached 501 after 21 more people lost their lives in the last 24 hours, according to United News of Bangladesh.

The total number of coronavirus infections rose to 35,585 after 1,975 new infections were reported during this period.

Forty-eight labs across the country tested 9,451 samples in the last 24 hours. Out of which, 1,975 samples tested positive which constitutes 20.9 percent of the total, one of the highest proportions recorded till date.

On a positive note, 433 coronavirus-infected people completed full recovery from their infections, which upped the total number of recoveries to 7,334.

Meanwhile, no Eid congregation was held at the National Eidgah Maidan this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Domestic flights resume across India after two months

Travel ban
Representational/ file image

New Delhi (NVI): After two months of shutdown amid nationwide lockdown, domestic passenger flight operations resumed in the country today with strict Covid measures in place at the airports as well as in the flights.

Indigo’s Delhi-Pune and Mumbai-Patna flights were the first to take off.

Most of the states in the country have given approval for the flights to operate, the two exceptions being Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.

Andhra Pradesh will start flight operations from 26 May, and West Bengal from 28 May.

Various states have also put in place protocols for incoming air travelers.

Of approximately 380 flights that were scheduled for today in Delhi, 82 were already cancelled by afternoon. More than 20 flights were also called off in Bengaluru.

New rules for domestic travel during the lockdown were released by the government yesterday. The passengers were advised to download the Aarogya Setu App on their mobile devices and asking states to ensure thermal screening at departure point of airports.

In addition to this, some states have decided to put passengers in mandatory institutional quarantine while several others have talked about putting them under home quarantine.

All scheduled commercial passenger flights have been suspended since March 25 when the government imposed a nationwide lockdown to curb the coronavirus pandemic.

Coronavirus cases surpass 55,000 in Pakistan; death toll at 1,155

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of positive coronavirus cases in Pakistan has increased by at least 1,500, taking the overall tally to 55,667 with at least 1,155 fatalities recorded so far.

Looking at the breakdown of cases, Sindh province has reported 22,491 coronavirus cases, highest among all the provinces, while Punjab has 19,557 positive cases.

On the other hand, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has recorded 7,905 cases, Balochistan is at 3,407, Gilgit-Baltistan at 619, Islamabad at 1,592 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is at 197 cases so far, according to Geo News.

Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chief Secretary Kazim Niaz has tested positive for Covid-19 and subsequently gone into quarantine, according to media reports.

So far, a total of 17,482 patients have recovered from the deadly contagion in the country.

The trajectory showed that the number was steadily going up with authorities fearing a rise in cases in the wake of the easing of lockdown due to Eid which was observed in the country on Sunday

PM pays tribute to Balbir Singh Sr

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condoled the death of legendary hockey player and three-time Olympic gold medalist Balbir Singh Sr who passed away this morning at a Mohali hospital at the age of 95.

The hockey legend, who was admitted to the hospital on May 8, was in a semi-comatose state since May 18 after developing a blood clot in his brain.

Taking to Twitter, PM wrote: “Padma Shri Balbir Singh Sr. Ji will be remembered for his memorable sporting performances. He brought home lots of pride and laurels. Undoubtedly a brilliant hockey player, he also made a mark as a great mentor. Pained by his demise. Condolences to his family and well wishers.”

Singh was a member of the 1948 London Olympics gold medal-winning Indian hockey team. Apart from that he was the vice-captain of the 1952 victorious side and skipper of the 1956 champions.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed grief over the demise of the hockey legend. Paying tribute to Singh on Twitter, Shah also shared a picture of him meeting the hockey star.

“Pained to learn about the demise of Padma Shri Balbir Singh Sr ji, a legendary hockey player, who left indelible imprint on world hockey with his stick. I was fortunate to have met the lively and joyful Balbir ji, a three time Olympic gold medalist. My condolences to his family,” he tweeted.

Balbir Singh was one of the most decorated athletes in the history of Indian sports. He was also awarded the Padma Shri award in 1957.

President Ram Nath Kovind also expressed grief. “Sad to hear the passing of hockey legend Shri Balbir Singh Sr. A three-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Padma Shri awardee and one of India’s greatest athletes, his legacy will continue to inspire future generations. Condolences to his family, friends and admirers,” he tweeted.

Indian Cricketer, Virat Kohli also paid tribute to the late hockey legend. “Saddened to hear about the passing of the legend, Balbir Singh Sr. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family in this time of sorrow. @BalbirSenior” he tweeted.

Iceland plans to reopen for tourists by June 15

The Blue Lagoon, which is a geothermal spa in southwestern Iceland, is a dream destination for many.

New Delhi (NVI): The Iceland government has announced that it is planning to reopen the country’s borders to tourists by June 15. The visitors will have to take a free COVID-19 test upon arrival at the airport to avoid a 14-day quarantine.

Those who test positive would have to self-isolate for 14 days.

Iceland’s prime minister Katrin Jakobsdottir has made the announcement, according to Lonely Planet. In an official statement, the Iceland PM said that travel restrictions would be loosened “no later than June 15 2020, while from May 15 some professionals arriving in Iceland including scientists, filmmakers, and athletes will be eligible for a modified quarantine.”

People who can prove that they are healthy with official medical documents, won’t have to undergo another COVID-19 test, said the government.

At present, only travelers with Schengen region passports are allowed to enter Iceland, and everyone must self-isolate for 14 days upon the arrival.

The current restrictions have been in place since March 15, and the driving force behind the easing is a desire to restart the tourism industry to boost the economy, as per reports.

Meanwhile, Icelandair is said to be struggling with flights at an all-time low after 3,000 staff members having been laid off.

The decision to reopen the country to visitors has been made in a bid to boost Iceland’s tourism industry and the economy.

Iceland, which has a population of about 364,000, has so far confirmed over 1,800 cases of COVID-19 and 10 deaths from the disease. It has reported only a handful of new cases in May, according to John Hopkins University.

About 38 per cent of the country’s inhabitants have downloaded its COVID-19 tracing app, and any visitors this summer would probably be required to do so too.

“When travelers return to Iceland we want to have all mechanisms in place to safeguard them and the progress made in controlling the pandemic,” Thordis Kolbrun Reykfjord Gylfadottir, the Minister of Tourism told Lonely Planet.

“Iceland’s strategy of large-scale testing, tracing, and isolating have proven effective so far. We want to build on that experience of creating a safe place for those who want a change of scenery after what has been a tough spring for all of us,” she added.

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