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India’s COVID tally crosses 15 lakh; death toll 34,193

New Delhi (NVI): The coronavirus cases in India saw a jump of 48,513 in the last 24 hours, taking the total number to 15,31,669, Union Health Ministry said.

The death toll due to the virus rose to 34,193 with 768 new fatalities being reported in the last 24 hours.

So far, 9,88,029 patients have recovered all over the country. With this, India’s COVID-19 recovery rate now stands at 64.5 percent.

In Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases increased to 3,91,440, followed by Tamil Nadu with 2,27,688 cases and Delhi with 1,32,275 positive cases.

Maharashtra has also reported the highest number of fatalities at 14,165.

The death toll in the national capital rose to 3,881, while 1,17,507 patients in Delhi have recovered so far, the healthy ministry data shows.

The other worst affected states are Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, West Bengal and Rajasthan.

According to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the total number of COVID-19 samples tested up to July 28 is 1,77,43,740 including 4,08,855 samples tested yesterday.

Meanwhile, lockdown in West Bengal for select days has been extended for till 31 August, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced yesterday, adding there will be no lockdown on special occasions.

-RJV

Another MP minister tests COVID positive

Tulsi Silawat

New Delhi (NVI): Madhya Pradesh Water Resources Minister Tulsi Silawat and his wife have tested positive for the coronavirus.

He is the third member from CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan cabinet to have tested positive for COVID-19 infection within five days.

In a tweet yesterday midnight, the minister said that he got himself tested despite exhibiting no symptoms on the directions of MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan. He went on to add that he and his wife tested positive for COVID-19.

 

“I have faith that we will beat coronavirus with your wishes and return to work with the same determination. I request my colleagues to get themselves tested,” Silwat tweeted.

He also added that both he and his wife have quarantined themselves at home as per doctors’ orders.

“People close to me are also quarantining themselves. Treatment consultation, immunity-boosting drugs, yoga, pranayam vyayam and strength of self are the solutions for Covid. We will definitely beat it,” Silawat said.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was admitted to a hospital here on last Saturday after he tested positive for the coronavirus.

-RJV

J&K: 79 travelers among 489 new cases, tally inches closer to 19,000

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir today recorded 489 fresh cases of COVID-19 including 79 travelers, taking the total number of positive cases in the Union Territory to 18,879.

With 489 new cases, the tally of positive cases in J&K has reached 18,879 including 14,812 from Kashmir and 4067 from Jammu division. Officials said that among 470 new cases, 355 belong to Kashmir while 134 are from Jammu.

The total number of positive cases in Kashmir has reached 14,812 including 8719 recoveries while the total number of positive cases in Jammu has reached 4067 including 2166 recoveries and 24 deaths.

The officials said that the total number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir is 7661 including 5784 from the Kashmir division and 1877 from the Jammu division.

With 483 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in the UT has reached 10,885 which is 57.65 percent of the total cases which was over 63 percent a few days before.

Pertinently, Srinagar district alone has 4277 positive cases which are more than the total number of positive cases in Jammu where total cases are 4067.

Cases tested positive in J&K include 138 from Srinagar, 30 from Baramulla, 7 from Kulgam, 21 from Shopian, 4 from Anantnag, 28 from Kupwara, 39 from Pulwama, 32 from Budgam, 23 from Bandipora and 33 from Ganderbal in Kashmir while 134 from Jammu division include 43 from district Jammu, 19 from Kathua, 23 from Rajouri, 8 from Udhampur, 23 from Ramban, 6 from Samba, 2 from Doda, 5 from Poonch, 0 from Kishtwar and 5 from Reasi.

As per the daily information bulletin, 3,60,761 persons in J&K are under observation while 45,651 persons have been kept under home quarantine. Besides that, 7661 persons are in hospital isolation while 12 persons are under hospital quarantine.

According to the bulletin, 2,66,079 persons have completed the surveillance period and 41,025 persons are under home surveillance.

So far, results of 6,03,728 samples are available out of which 5,84,849 have tested negative while 18,879 have been tested positive. Among positive cases, 7,661 are active and 10,885 persons have recovered.

-ARK

Time to change and have software products of our own: IT Secretary

New Delhi (NVI): It is time for India to change and develop software products on its own, not only to reduce import dependence but offer these products to the global market, a senior government official said today.

Ajay Prakash Sawhney, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and IT emphasized on the need for developing more software products in India. He was addressing a webinar ‘Digital Bharat 2020: Digital-The New Normal’, organized by FICCI, jointly with the Ministry of Electronics and IT and MyGov.

Sawhney said that India has strength in IT and IT-enabled services, and large global and Indian companies operating here, adding that they continue to grow during these times.

He added that these are captive companies who do designing, R&D for products not just for India but for the globe.

“We are trying to move from IT products to software products. We have a policy on National software products as well. The pandemic has given us the realization that we need more software products from India. The area of software products is one where we have been dependent on imports. It is time to change and have software products of our own not just for India, but for a global market,” he said.

The IT Secretary also elaborated on the potential of electronics manufacturing in India, saying that in the last 6 years, the government has made progress in reviving the activity in this sector, especially in the mobile manufacturing.

“Currently we have schemes attracting large scale investments for not just meeting the Indian requirements but also for export markets as well. There are immense possibilities in the medical devices sector, automotive electronics, components, in defence, consumer and industrial electronics, drones and robotics. There is a room for us to grow quickly in these segments,” he said.

Urging the industry to tap the potential using new and emerging technologies, he said that 2020 will bring new opportunities that are on the horizon. New technologies are coming alive, including 5G, IoT in various domains, AI, 3D printing, blockchain etc.

“These technologies are coming and joining several existing technologies. This decade will see an immense amount of change. There will be the growth of new companies, new technologies, new ideas. Today, the opportunities arising of all these factors highlights that India is the best place to be in. The use of technologies and with the capabilities available with us, this is the time to tap the opportunities,” the Secretary said.

Apart from that, the IT Secretary said the government will soon launch the National digital platforms in sectors like agriculture, education, healthcare, logistics using latest technologies.

He said his ministry is moving forward to the actual rollout of National digital platforms in many sectors. “Each one of them could be a factory of innovation and with the use of newer technologies, incubation of new products and services, it will benefit all,” he said.

Sawhney said that the use of IT within the government has increased, especially in e-governance. He added that the government has launched a series of projects at the National, state and local levels.

“It is time to bring all these together. Each of these projects is generating a humungous amount of data. While each project is complete in itself, the real strength of what we have comes alive when we knit them together, we can add scale to it to meet the National demand and requirements. As we knit them together and take industry and other stakeholders along, there will be a lot of opportunities which will be unlocked,” he noted.

Also participating in the webinar, Abhishek Singh, President & CEO (Additional Charge), NeGD and CEO, MyGov, Ministry of Electronics and IT, said that a greater adoption of digital technologies across the sectors during COVID-19 times can be seen.

“There is no dearth of technology and the challenge is to leverage the technology & expertise and work together to bring a Digital Bharat. This will not only meet the current challenges but also help us equip to meet future challenges,” he added.

-ARK

Corona exposed deep inequalities about cities: UN report

New Delhi (NVI): The coronavirus pandemic has exposed deep inequalities in how people live in cities and how cities serve their residents, according to the UN policy brief on COVID-19, which highlighted that an estimated 90 percent of all reported cases are in urban areas.

Urban areas have become the epicenter of the pandemic and the already vulnerable have suffered most, it said today.

The policy brief noted that in an urban world, the size of urban populations and their high level of global and local interconnectivity make them particularly vulnerable to the spread of the virus.

Around 24% of the world’s urban population live in slums. Less than half the global population can access open public spaces within 400 metres’ walking distance of their homes, it further added.

However, urban density does not inevitably correlate with higher virus transmission. Cities can manage this crisis and emerge as the hubs of energy, resilience and innovation that make them such vibrant and appealing places for many to live. But this will take conscious policy choices, the report said.

”COVID-19 shutdown measures in urban areas have had economic impacts far beyond their boundaries as urban economies account for approximately 80 per cent of global GDP,” the brief further stated.

The working hours across all countries and regions are estimated to have fallen by 14 percent in the second quarter of 2020 relative to the last quarter of 2019, which is equivalent to a loss of 400 million full-time jobs.

Globally, the effects have been especially severe in the informal sector, which represents 90 per cent and 67 per cent, it added.

NDRF evacuates 6,800 persons from flood-hit areas in Bihar

NDRF has alerted its teams to meet any eventuality arising due to heavy rains in Bihar. (Pic: NDRF)

New Delhi (NVI): The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has evacuated over 6,800 persons from Bihar, the most flood-affected state in the country that has witnessed increasing trends in the flow of several rivers during this monsoon season.

Several rivers in the state such as Gandak, Burhi Gandak, Baghmati, Kamlabalan, Parman, Adhwara, and Koshi are overflowing due to incessant rains and this has disrupted normal life in several areas.

In view of IMD’s alert for heavy to heavy rainfall in the next few days in northern parts of the Bihar, NDRF has alerted its teams to meet any eventuality arising due to heavy rains. Some additional teams are kept as standby at NDRF Battalions and shall be mobilized as per demand.

“NDRF rescuers are relentlessly engaged to provide immediate succor to the stranded persons,” the force said in a statement.

(Pic courtesy; NDRF)

The incessant rains for the last couple of days created the flood-like situation across the country. NDRF as a part of proactive measures have prepositioned its 91 self-contained teams at vulnerable locations.

The Force is in constant touch with Indian Metrological Department (IMD), Centre Water Commission (CWC), and other agencies to render all assistance in the time of crises.

A 24×7, NDRF Control Room in Delhi is closely monitoring the situation round the clock.

-ARK

Terrorist killed in landmine blast as infiltration bid foiled along LoC in J&K’s Rajouri

Representational Image (File)

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI):  A terrorist was killed today after stepping over a landmine as he was trying to sneak into this side of Line of Control (LoC) along with his four aides at Kalal area of Nowshera sector in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, defence officials said.

They said that alert troops noticed a suspicious movement at Samhani Bagsar area of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), opposite to Kalal area in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district.

“The movement was well intercepted before militants could have managed to reach LoC and were engaged,” official sources said.

They said that amid engagement of militants, an explosion took place in the area after one of the infiltrators stepped over a land mine or an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

“He died on the spot,” they said, adding “The body of the slain militant was taken along by his four associates who returned back to the launch pad.”

They said that the group of militants was possibly a “fidayeen squad” (suicide squad) as they were heavily armed. “Post incident, a massive search was launched as part of the area dominance procedure,” a defence source said.

-ARK

Indian rock python rescued near Saket metro station in Delhi

The python being rescued outside Saket metro station. (Pic courtesy: Wildlife SOS)

New Delhi (NVI): A five-foot-long Indian Rock Python was rescued by Wildlife SOS after it was spotted at the bus stop outside Saket metro station. The python was later safely released into the wild.

The python, which was spotted outside the metro station at exit gate number 1 in south Delhi, startled a handful of onlookers.

It was first spotted by a passer-by who noticed the noticed the large reptile sidle underneath the foot-over bridge from a neighbouring culvert.

The incident was immediately was reported to the Wildlife SOS 24×7 emergency helpline following which a team of two rescuers was dispatched to the location.

“Donning protective gear and rescue equipment, the team proceeded to efficiently extricate the python from the narrow space under the foot-foot-over bridge,” the non-profit wildlife rescue organisation said in a statement.

With the monsoons flushing out snakes from their burrowed holes and shelters, the Wildlife SOS helpline is flooded with “distress calls” about snake sightings across Delhi NCR, it added.

Kartick Satyanarayan, CEO & Co-founder of Wildlife SOS, that although non-venomous, a python’s bite can be injurious, so one has to be careful while carrying out such rescue operations. “We have professionally trained rescuers who are experienced in handling snake rescues. Pythons need large undisturbed spaces to move around – if we encroach on
their habitats, we really mustn’t be surprised if they do the same,” he said.

In the past week, the Rapid Response Team has also rescued a python that was stuck high up on a tree branch in Sangam Vihar, a rat snake from the Post Graduate Men’s Hostel at the Delhi University North campus and a monitor lizard from a house in Gurgaon, Wildlife SOS said in a release.

“We get maximum number of calls about reptile sightings in the monsoon season. From cobras and pythons to rat snakes and sand boas, the Rapid Response Unit has been kept busy on their toes, the past month,” said Wasim Akram, Deputy Director – Special Projects, Wildlife SOS.

Pic courtesy: Wildlife SOS

The Indian Rock Python is a large non-venomous python species that can length out to as long as 20-ft! Pythons are often misidentified due to their resemblance to the venomous Russell’s viper and consequently met with hostility. Wildlife SOS is consistently working towards changing people’s attitude and sensitizing the public to the presence of urban
wildlife and how we can help keep the conflict at a minimum.

-ARK

Heavy rains to lash Northeastern states, thunderstorm likely in parts of North India: IMD

Rainfall
Representational/ file image

New Delhi (NVI): Heavy rainfall is expected to lash Northeastern states of India, especially Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya, till July 30, India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

In its all India weather bulletin, the IMD stated that several other states including Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal will also witness heavy rainfall during the same period.

Moderate to severe thunderstorm accompanied with lighting at isolated places very likely over Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and other states of North India.

Meanwhile, IMD has issued an orange alert (very heavy rain) in some districts for July 29 and 30. On July 29, an orange alert is issued over Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Idukki districts, and on July 30, an orange alert is issued over Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad districts.

In addition to this, Delhi-NCR is very likely to experience moderate rain with one or two spells of heavy rainfall during the evening of July 29 to July 30. The expected impact includes the disruption of traffic, waterlogging in low-lying areas and disruption of municipal services is also expected.

For July 29, a yellow alert is issued over Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, and Thrissur districts. Meanwhile, for July 30, a yellow alert is issued over Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Kannur and Kasargod districts.

IMD has also predicted heavy rainfall/thundershowers at most places over Konkan, at many places over Madhya Maharashtra and at few places over Marathwada for this week.

-CHK

Actress Kumkum passes away at 86

New Delhi (NVI): Veteran Bollywood actress Kumkum, who had worked in close to 100 films including ‘Mother India’ and ‘Naya Daur’ passed away today at her residence in Mumbai. She was 86.

She also featured in popular songs such as “Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar” and “Mere Mehboob Qayamat Hogi”.

Naved Jafri, son of actor Jagdeep who also passed away recently tweeted: “We have lost another gem. I have known her since I was a kid and she was family, a superb artist and a fantastic human being, innalillahe wa innailaihe raajeoon. Rest in peace kunkum aunty.”

Kumkum was best known for her roles in movies like Mother India, Son Of India, Mr. X in Bombay, Kohinoor, Ujala and Naya Daur.

-ARK

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