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J&K records 20th Covid death as elderly woman dies at Srinagar hospital

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir today recorded its 20th Covid death as the medical reports of an 80-year-old lady, who died yesterday at a Srinagar hospital, came positive today, health officials said.

“An 80-year-old lady from Usmania Colony, Bemina Srinagar was admitted in SMHS Hospital Srinagar with bilateral pneumonia and hypertension on 19 May and was kept in isolation ward. She died on 20 May and was kept in GMC Srinagar mortuary. Her COVID test report came today as positive,” said Dr Salim Khan, Nodal Officer CD Hospital Srinagar.

The woman died late last night. This is the second Covid death in Kashmir in the last 24 hours.

Earlier today, a 70-year-old woman from Central Kashmir’s Budgam district died at CD hospital Srinagar, health officials said.

“A 70-year-old from Parisabad, Budgam who was initially admitted at SMHS Hospital on May 15, tested positive for COVID and was shifted to CD Hospital Srinagar died today after her condition worsened,” said Dr Saleem Khan, Nodal Officer for Covid-19 at Government Medical College hospital Srinagar.

Khan said the deceased had restrictive lung disease and COVID pneumonia.  “She was in ICU of CD Hospital and died after sudden cardiac arrest today afternoon,” he said.

With the fresh death, the total number coronavirus fatalities have reached 20 in the Union territory, out of which 18 are from Kashmir and two from the Jammu region.

Three newly-recruited terrorists arrested in J&K’s Kupwara district

Arms and ammunition were seized from the three terrorists held today. (Photo via arrangement).

Abid  Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Three newly recruited terrorists were caught alive after a brief exchange of firing in the dense woods of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, police said today.

The development comes just a day after gun-wielding pictures of the trio had gone viral on social media pushing the security agencies to launch a massive manhunt to nab the new militant recruits.

A police official said that the trio was zeroed in at Sogam forest area of the district this morning after a brief exchange of gunfire between them and the security forces.

“Acting on a specific lead, a joint cordon and search operation was launched early morning today in Sogam forest area after which trio who had recently joined militant ranks were arrested along with arms and ammunition,” he said. The official said that the three new recruits were cornered from all sides and caught alive.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kupwara, Shriram Ambarkar said that the three militants were apprehended in Sogam early this morning.

He said a search operation was launched in Sogam area and after a brief exchange of fire, the trio was caught alive.

He said arms and ammunition were also recovered from the possession of arrested militants. Police said that two of the three militants arrested belong to Lalpora area of Kupwara while the identity of third one was being ascertained.

“They are young and are being questioned as to how they joined militancy,” police sources said, adding that the trio is being quizzed and also counselled by the experts.

State-wise details of Covid-19 cases in India

New Delhi (NVI): India has entered into the fourth phase of nationwide lockdown which will be in force till the end of this month. 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 total number of confirmed cases at present is 112,359 with 3,435 deaths so far, according to the Union Health Ministry.

Total positive cases in States/UTs:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 33

Andhra Pradesh- 2,62

Arunachal Pradesh- 1

Assam- 170

Bihar- 1,674

Chandigarh- 202

Chhattisgarh- 115

Dadar Nagar Haveli- 1

Delhi- 11,088

Gujarat- 12,537

Goa- 50

Haryana– 993

Himachal Pradesh- 110

Jammu and Kashmir- 1,390

Jharkhand- 231

Karnataka- 1,462

Kerala- 666

Ladakh- 44

Madhya Pradesh- 5,735

Maharashtra- 39,297

Manipur- 25

Meghalaya- 14

Mizoram- 1

Odisha- 1,052

Puducherry- 18

Punjab- 2,005

Rajasthan- 6,015

Tamil Nadu- 13,191

Telangana- 1,661

Tripura- 173

Uttarakhand- 122

Uttar Pradesh- 5,175

West Bengal – 3,103

State/UT wise total death toll:

Andhra Pradesh- 53

Assam- 4

Bihar- 10

Chandigarh- 3

Delhi- 176

Gujarat- 749

Haryana- 14

Himachal Pradesh- 3

Jammu and Kashmir- 18

Jharkhand- 3

Karnataka- 41

Kerala- 4

Madhya Pradesh- 267

Maharashtra- 1,390

Meghalaya- 1

Odisha- 6

Puducherry- 1

Punjab- 38

Rajasthan- 147

Tamil Nadu- 87

Telangana- 40

Uttar Pradesh- 127

Uttarakhand- 1

West Bengal- 253

A total of 45,300 people have been cured or discharged from hospitals in India. There are around 63,624 active cases currently, according to the Health Ministry.

Coronavirus cases nearing 5 million-mark globally

Coronavirus cases

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases are nearing 5 million worldwide while more than 3,26,000 people have lost their lives, according to John Hopkins University tally.

The coronavirus outbreak in Brazil has worsened as nearly 20,000 new infections and 888 deaths were reported in a single day, pushing the total cases to 2,91,579 and a total of 19,000 deaths, making the country the world’s third most affected country in the world.

Meanwhile, the number of positive infections in Peru has surpassed 1,00,000, making it the country with the secnd-highest number of cases in South America after Brazil.

In the US, more than 93,000 people have died due to the coronavirus contagion with nearly 1.55 million confirmed cases.

The World Health Organization gave a stark warning on Wednesday that the coronavirus pandemic is far from over, after 106,000 new cases were recorded worldwide over the past 24 hours – the most in a single day so far.

Tourists will be welcomed back to Greece from 15 June, the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has announced.

In another development, The Chinese city of Wuhan, where the global coronavirus pandemic is believed to have originated, has issued a total ban on the hunting, breeding and human consumption of wild animals.

MHA drops domestic air travel from prohibited activities in lockdown

New Delhi (NVI): The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has removed domestic air travel from the list of prohibited activities during the ongoing nationwide lockdown.

The order came after Union Minister of Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri yesterday said that domestic flights will resume in a calibrated manner from May 25 (Monday).

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla issued a letter in this regard yesterday.

“In para 2 (i), domestic air travel of passengers is deleted from the list of prohibited activities. Detailed guidelines for operations of airports and air travel of passengers, will be issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation,” the order read.

The domestic flights will be resuming after around two months, since their suspension on March 25. Only cargo flights, medical evacuation flights and special flights approved by the DGCA were allowed to operate after the lockdown.

However, no announcement has been made regarding international flight operations and they remain suspended till further orders.

COVID-19 cases in India surge to 1.12 lakh, death toll at 3,435

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India has risen to 112,359 and fatalities from the virus has gone up to 3,435, according to Union Health Ministry.

In the last 24 hours, 5,609 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in the country, the highest single day rise.

In Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases jumped to 39,297, followed by Tamil Nadu with 13,191 cases, and Gujarat with 12,537 cases so far.

Maharashtra has also reported the highest number of deaths, 1,390, followed by 749 in Gujarat and 267 in Madhya Pradesh.

The coronavirus cases in national capital have increased to 11,088, the Health Ministry data shows.

The other worst affected states are Rajasthan (6,015), Madhya Pradesh (5,735), and Uttar Pradesh (5,175).

The ministry also said, at least 40 per cent of the total coronavirus cases were recovered from the disease.

So far, number of active cases stands at 63,624 and 45,300 people have been cured/discharged.

Apart from this, the ICMR said that a total of 25,12,388 samples have been tested so far, and the testing capacity has been scaled up to 1 lakh tests per day.

Meanwhile, the Indian Railways will start operations of 200 passenger trains. These trains shall run from June 1 and booking of all these trains will commence from 10 am today.

UPSC prelims date to be decided on Jun 5

New Delhi (NVI): The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) today said that the date for this year’s civil services preliminary examination is likely to be decided on June 5.

The prelims exam, which was supposed to be held on May 31 was deferred due to Covid outbreak and subsequent lockdown.

In a special meeting held today, the commission took notice of the extension of several restrictions and decided that it will not be possible to resume examinations and interviews, for the present.

The Commission, however, took note of the progressive relaxations being announced by the Central Government and various States and has decided to review the situation once more, after the fourth period of lockdown.

“With a view to giving some clarity to candidates of various examinations and interviews, which have been deferred over the last two months, the Commission will issue a revised schedule of examinations in its next meeting to be held on June 5, 2020,” UPSC said in a statement.

Details of the new calendar of examinations will be published on the UPSC website, after the Commission’s meeting on June 5, 2020.

Govt extends PMVVY social security scheme for senior citizens by 3 yrs

Representational Image

New Delhi (NVI): In good news for senior citizens, the Union Cabinet today approved the extension of Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY) up to 31st March 2023, for a further period of three years.

The government had extended the scheme up to March 2020 in the Union Budget 2018-19. The decision in this regard was taken by Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today. The scheme is aimed at welfare and to enable old age income security for Senior Citizens.

The approval will allow initially an assured rate of return of 7.40 % per annum for the year 2020-21 per annum and thereafter to be reset every year, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement.

The Cabinet has also given its approval for annual reset of assured rate of interest with effect from April 1st of financial year in line with revised rate of returns of Senior Citizens Saving Scheme (SCSS) upto a ceiling of 7.75% with fresh appraisal of the scheme on breach of this threshold at any point.

The income security scheme for senior citizens is implemented through the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC).

It intends to give an assured minimum pension to senior citizens (60 years and above) based on an assured return on the purchase price/subscription amount.

The minimum investment has also been revised to Rs 1,56,658 for pension of Rs.12,000/- per annum and Rs.1,62,162/- for getting a minimum pension amount of Rs.1000/- per month under the scheme.

Konark town, Sun Temple in Odisha to be 100% solarised

New Delhi (NVI): The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) today said that the Central Government has launched a scheme for 100 per cent solarisation of Konark Sun Temple and Konark town in Odisha.

R K Singh, Union Minister of State for Power, new and renewable energy, said, “Government of India launched the Scheme with an objective to take forward the Prime Minister’s vision to develop the historical Sun temple town of Konark in Odisha as ‘Surya Nagri’, to convey a message of synergy between the modern use of solar energy and the ancient Sun Temple and the importance of promoting solar energy.”

Under the scheme, a 10 MW grid-connected solar project will be set up. Various solar off-grid applications like solar trees, solar drinking water kiosks, off-grid solar power plants with battery storage etc will be set up with a 100% Central Financial Assistance (CFA) support of around Rs 25 Crores from Centre through Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) will fun, read an official statement.

Implementation of this project will be done by Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA), the ministry said.

1,773 ‘Shramik Special’ trains ferried over 23.5 lakh migrants home: Railways

New Delhi (NVI): A total of 1773 “Shramik Special” trains have been operationalised from various states across the country since May 1, carrying more than 23.5 lakh passengers back home, the Ministry of Railways said today.

“These 1773 trains were originated from various states like Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chandigarh UT, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Puducherry UT, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal,” the Ministry said in a statement today.

Yesterday, a record 205 Shramik trains were run by the Railways from various states across the country with more than 2.5 lakh passengers, the Ministry said.

These trains were terminated in various States like Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal.

The Rail ministry said that proper screening of passengers is ensured before boarding the train. During the journey, passengers are given free meals and water, it added.

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