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Railways cancels all regular trains till Jun 30

(Source: Twitter @RailMinIndia)

New Delhi (NVI): Indian Railways has cancelled all tickets booked for travel in regular mail, express, passenger and suburban trains on or before June 30. There will be a full refund for cancelled tickets that were booked before lockdown was imposed.

However, the Shramik special trains for migrants and IRCTC special trains which started operations on May 12 will continue operations, the Railways said in a statement today.

All non-essential trains, including regular passenger services, have been suspended since March 22, three days before the start of the coronavirus lockdown. The Railways had stopped bookings for all regular trains, with the extension of the lockdown to May 17.

After the lockdown started on March 25, only goods trains and freight services were allowed to transport essential services across the country.

In another announcement yesterday, Railways said that it will allow limited waiting lists in IRCTC special trains from May 22, to tackle passenger rush for these trains. It said that more such trains will be operated soon.

On Sunday, the Railways had announced plans to restart passenger trains in a phased manner. Initially, 15 trains (to and from Delhi) will undertake 30 journeys to ferry passengers across the country.

Before that, Railways started running the ‘Sharamik-Special’ trains ferry the migrant workers stranded at various places in the country from May 1, after the Centre had taken a decision in this regard.

State-wise details of Covid-19 cases in India

New Delhi (NVI): After the first confirmed coronavirus case in India, which was reported in the state of Kerala on January 30, the virus has tightened its grip across the country, with Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh being the most affected states.

The country has now entered the last week of the third phase of the nationwide lockdown that is slated to end on May 17. The total number of confirmed cases have been reported at 78,003 with 2,549 deaths so far, according to the Union Health Ministry.

Total positive cases in States/UTs:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 33

Andhra Pradesh- 2,137

Arunachal Pradesh- 1

Assam- 80

Bihar- 940

Chandigarh- 187

Chhattisgarh- 59

Dadar Nagar Haveli- 1

Delhi- 7,998

Gujarat- 9,267

Haryana– 793

Himachal Pradesh- 66

Jammu and Kashmir- 971

Jharkhand- 173

Karnataka- 959

Kerala- 534

Ladakh- 43

Madhya Pradesh- 4,173

Maharashtra- 25,922

Meghalaya- 13

Mizoram- 1

Odisha- 538

Puducherry- 13

Punjab- 1,924

Rajasthan- 4,328

Tamil Nadu- 9,227

Telangana- 1,367

Tripura- 155

Uttarakhand- 72

Uttar Pradesh- 3,729

West Bengal – 2,290

State/UT wise total death toll:

Andhra Pradesh- 47

Assam- 1

Bihar- 7

Chandigarh- 3

Delhi- 106

Gujarat- 566

Haryana- 11

Himachal Pradesh- 2

Jammu and Kashmir- 11

Jharkhand- 3

Karnataka- 33

Kerala- 4

Madhya Pradesh- 232

Maharashtra- 975

Meghalaya- 1

Odisha- 3

Puducherry- 1

Punjab- 32

Rajasthan- 121

Tamil Nadu- 64

Telangana- 34

Uttar Pradesh- 83

Uttarakhand- 1

West Bengal- 207

A total of 26,235 people have been cured or discharged from hospitals in India. There are around 49,219 active cases currently, according to the Health Ministry.

Coronavirus cases top 4.3 mn globally; death toll nearing 3 lakh

US sees highest single-day spike in Covid cases

New Delhi (NVI): More than 4.34 million people around the world have been infected with the coronavirus, according to Johns Hopkins University tally. More than 2,97,000 people have died due to the contagion.

Every African country is now affected by the outbreak, after Lesotho announced its first case. The virus was detected in one of 81 people tested after arriving last week from Saudi Arabia and neighbouring South Africa, according to media reports.

Meanwhile, Brazil has confirmed a record number of 11,385 new cases of the novel coronavirus, with at least 749 new deaths, according to data from the country’s health ministry, taking the total number of infections to at least 1,88,974 and more than 13,000 deaths to become the sixth hardest-hit country in the world.

In the US, more than 83,000 people have now from coronavirus. Nearly 1.4 million people have been infected with the virus so far in the country.

Japan is expected to lift the state of emergency across a large part of the country from today, but the capital Tokyo will remain under restrictions until there is a convincing containment of the coronavirus.

In addition to this, the United Nations is forecasting that the coronavirus pandemic will shrink the world economy by 3.2 percent this year, the sharpest contraction since the Great Depression in the 1930s, pushing an estimated 34.3 million people into extreme poverty mostly in Africa.

However, about 1.6 million people have also recovered or have been completely cured of the deadly virus globally.

India’s Covid-19 tally rises to 78,003; death toll at 2,549

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India increased to 78,003 with 2,549 deaths from the pandemic, Union Health Ministry confirmed.

The ministry also said that 3,722 new cases and 134 deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours.

In Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases gone up to 25,922, followed by Gujarat with 9,267 cases and Tamil Nadu reporting 9,227 cases so far.

The state of Maharashtra has also reported the highest number of deaths, as many as 975, which is followed by Gujarat (566) and Madhya Pradesh (232), according to the Health Ministry data.

Mumbai’s Dharavi area, considered Asia’s largest slum, has reported over 1,000 positive cases.

Other states with high virus hits include Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

Meanwhile, the government has said that the testing capacity has increased to 1 lakh tests per day.

In another development, the doubling time of infection has improved to 12.2 days from 10.9 days, ministry said.

The health ministry also says 70 per cent of coronavirus deaths have occurred due to co-morbidities.

So far, number of active cases stands at 49,219 and 26,235 people have been cured/discharged.

Railways to allow limited waiting lists in IRCTC special trains from May 22

New Delhi (NVI): To tackle passenger rush for IRCTC special trains, the Railways has said that it will allow limited waiting lists in these trains from May 22, apart from running more trains soon.

30 odd trains are plying to and from Delhi after the Railways decided to resume passenger train operations on May 12.

The Railways in a statement today said the list of trains to get the waiting lists facility will be notified later.

However, there shall be no Reservation Against Cancellation (RAC) in special trains.

The waiting list for special trains will be capped at 100 for AC 3 tier, 50 for SC 2 tier, 200 for sleeper class, 100 for chair cars. For first AC and Executive Class, the list will be capped at 20 each.

Only only bookings for reservations can be done from the IRCTC website or app, Railways said in a statement.

Army Chief visits Sapta Shakti Command in Jaipur, reviews operational readiness

Jaipur (NVI): Army Chief General MM Naravane visited forward areas of the Sapta Shakti Command in the states of Rajasthan and Punjab on May 12 and 13th and met troops on the western front.

The Army Chief, accompanied by Sapta Shakti Army Commander, Lt Gen Alok Kler, visited formations in the field and reviewed their operational preparedness, including logistic aspects.

The COAS interacted with troops, and lauded them for their high morale and motivation. He appreciated, the high state of operational preparedness of the Sapta Shakti Command to thwart any threat that inimical forces may pose across the Western Front.

He commended efforts of the formations in the ongoing fight against Covid-19 pandemic.

While addressing the officers, the Army Chief declared that IBGs (Integrated Battle Groups) will be operationalised soon. He also advised optimisation of funds allotted under defence budget in view of the economic constraints due to COVID-19, and said that the funds should be utilised judiciously giving highest priority to operational needs.

During the visit, he exhorted all ranks to continue the excellent work and to maintain highest standards of battle readiness while ensuring force preservation to meet the emerging challenges efficiently and effectively.

Army Chief’s visit to the western front comes two days after Western Army Commander Lt Gen RP Singh visited forward areas in Kathua and Samba districts of Jammu and Kashmir to review the current security situation and operational readiness there.

J&K records 11th Covid death, 37 more test positive; tally at 971

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): A 72-year-old man from Jammu region, who was tested positive a day after his death, has become 11th Covid causality in J&K today even as 37 more persons tested positive in the UT, taking the total tally to 971.

Officials said that the elderly man from Preet Nagar area of Jammu’s Digiana was tested positive a day after his death, making him the 11th Covid victim in J&K.

They said the elderly man with multiple health complications including breathing issues was brought to Government Medical College, Jammu where doctors declared him as brought dead.

“The family members of deceased placed a request before health department to conduct examination of deceased for COVID19 testing after which his samples were taken on Tuesday late evening,” said officials adding that sample report was received today evening which came positive.

Dr. Dara Singh, Medical Superintendent of Government Medical College and Hospital Jammu, said that patient was brought in hospital by family but was declared as brought dead and his samples were collected on the request of family.

“Body is lying in mortuary of hospital and we have informed district administration regarding his positive report. Body shall now be handed over to the family through district administration as per Standard Operating Procedures,” Dr. Singh said.

He ruled out rumours that patient had died in hospital and reiterated that patient was brought dead on Tuesday. The fresh Covid death is second in Jammu while Kashmir has witnessed so far nine deaths due to the pandemic.

Meanwhile, J&K reported 37 fresh Covid positive cases today, taking the tally of total positive cases J&K to 971. Officials said that out of 37 new cases, 34 were tested positive in Kashmir division while three were tested positive in Jammu division.

They said that out of 34 new cases in Kashmir division, 13 were tested positive at SKIMS and 21 at CD hospital laboratory and in Jammu, three were tested positive at GMC.

30,000 more Indians to be brought home

Representational Image

New Delhi (NVI): About 30,000 Indians will return from 31 countries on 149 flights in phase-II of the exercise to bring home those stranded abroad, according to Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.

The Phase-II from May 16 to 22 will cover countries like the US, Australia, France, Armenia, Belarus, Canada, Georgia, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Nigeria, Russia, Tajikistan, Thailand & Ukraine.

People will be allowed to board the flights, including feeder flights in the destination countries and within India, only after thorough screening and only if they are asymptomatic for Covid-19.

During the first phase of the exercise which will end on May 15, a total of 64 flights operated to and fro 12 countries to bring home some 15,000 people.

China preparing to capture Taiwan’s island?

Dongsha Islands (Source: Focus Taiwan)

New Delhi (NVI): Taiwan is bracing for large-scale exercises by the Chinese military near China’s Hainan Province, possibly to capture the Dongsha Islands, which are currently controlled by Taiwan, according to media reports.

Taiwan’s top military official Maj. Gen. Lin Wen-huang, who heads an operations and planning office at the Ministry of National Defence (MND), has said his ministry is monitoring movements of “hostile forces” through intelligence gathering and surveillance, according to Central News Agency (CNA) of Taiwan.

His statement came after Japan’s Kyodo News reported that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is planning to hold a large-scale beach landing exercise near Hainan Province in August, with a scenario of capturing the Dongsha Islands (Pratas Islands), currently controlled by Taiwan.

The Kyodo report, which did not cite its sources, said the Dongsha Islands are significant to Beijing as these are located at a strategic point, because Chinese warships have to sail by them when going to the Pacific from Hainan Province, according to CNA.

Maj. Gen. Lin said the MND has contingency plans in place for the South China Sea and that work to strengthen combat readiness and defence preparedness on Taiping Island and the Dongsha Islands will not stop.

Taiwan, along with Brunei, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam, claim ownership of the South China Sea region, either in part or wholly. At present, Taiwan controls Taiping, the biggest island feature in the South China Sea, and the Dongsha Islands, with coast guard personnel deployed on them.

Lin said that although those deployed there are not military, they possess the same skills and capabilities as marines.

In a legislative session on April 30, National Security Bureau Director-General Chiu Kuo-cheng revealed that there are about 200 men and women guarding Taiping Island, equipped with light and heavy weaponry, the CNA said, adding he did not mention the Dongsha Islands.

Meanwhile, Qi Yue-yi, a Taiwanese military expert in PLA issues, told CNA that China could have been preparing to target the whole of the South China Sea with the reported drill, but instead selected the area near its own Hainan Province so as not to alarm other claimants in the region.

Suicides among security personnel in J&K a matter of concern amid Covid-19

Kashmir
Representational Image

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Suicides and fratricides are not uncommon among CRPF and Army personnel deployed in Kashmir. Stress, daily threat of violence, worries for home and domestic issues, and long duty hours are pushing personnel to the brink.

The Covid-19 pandemic has further made their jobs more challenging, as they have to go beyond the call of duty now and ensure social distancing as well as security in the Union Territory. Corona is the invisible enemy they are coping with, and the risk of getting infected with the deadly virus bothers many.

Yesterday, two CRPF personnel committed suicide in the UT by shooting themselves dead with their service rifles. One of them left a suicide note behind that read: “I am afraid, I may have Corona.”

Concerned over the issue, the top brass of the security grid has stepped up efforts to prevent such incidents among their men.

To recall, leave applications of all security forces’ personnel– CRPF, Police as well as Army — were canceled on March 20, to deal with the pandemic in the Union Territory.

Speaking to NVI on the issue, Special Director General of CRPF in Kashmir, Zulfikar Hassan said, “Suicides among our men are very unfortunate. We will act but will first try to find out the exact reason for suicides.”

CRPF spokesman in Srinagar, Pankaj Singh didn’t shy away from saying that due to the lockdown, there is an increased amount of tension among the men on the ground. “This is a serious issue and a challenge for us. We need to fine-tune our daily briefings, counseling sessions and de-stressing measures.”

A CRPF commandant told NVI that due to Covid-19 outbreak, recreational activities are not taking place which is also a major source of tension among the men. “At this juncture, suicidal tendencies are a big worry for us,” he said.

“After performing day-long duties on roads, then facing law and order and at the same time taking part in anti-militancy operations is not that easy,” he added.

Not just the CRPF, but Police is also worried about its men despite the fact that 95 per cent of its workforce belong to J&K districts only.

“We give constant briefings to our boys with the sole aim of increasing their morale so that they keep away with any negative thoughts. Besides morning and evening briefings, we keep on passing direction to them throughout the day on wireless sets and also through their concerned officers to stay calm, stay alert as they are serving for the humanity,” a senior police officer in Srinagar said.

In 2019, the guidelines framed by a board of officers of psychiatrists, which include regular psychiatric evaluation, improving the grievance redressal mechanism, were handed over to the paramilitary forces by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs amid directions for the strict implementation of the same.

According to the data shared by the Central Government in Rajya Sabha in 2018, 228 CRPF jawans lost their lives due to suicides between 2010 to 2017 across the nation.

A CRPF official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that suicides among the forces are “noiseless self-executions.”

“Though these deaths aren’t yet alarming but that doesn’t mean these aren’t troublesome,” he said.

Experts and counsellors working towards addressing the psycho-social problems among the forces deployed in Kashmir say that stress, separation from families, long duty hours and poor command and control structures work as contributing factors for more than 70 per cent of deaths that have taken place since 2001.

In 2018, taking serious note of the suicides among the CRPF personnel in Kashmir, the then Director-General of CRPF, RR Bhatnagar, now advisor to  LG Jammu and Kashmir, had launched a maiden project to ascertain “jawans’ mental health”.

Bhatnagar had said that he had passed directions and “made it a point that every suicide case in the force is thoroughly investigated.”

“This is to see that if there were certain signals that the person who committed suicide was giving and if yes, were they picked up and responded to or not?”

Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) had conducted a study in 2004 into the factors causing stress while in 2012, Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad also did a similar study for BSF and CRPF. Some of the reasons for committing suicide by police personnel cited in these studies were personal problems, illness and other family circumstances.

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