Tuesday, September 8, 2026
Home Blog Page 1378

PM pays tributes to Jawaharlal Nehru

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today paid tributes to India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, on his 56th death anniversary.

“Tributes to our first PM, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Ji on his death anniversary,” PM Modi wrote on twitter.

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the country’s longest-serving Prime Minister, fought for India’s freedom against the British rule.

Nehru was born in Allahabad on November 14, 1889. He served as the country’s PM from 1947 until his death on May 27, 1964.

He was also imprisoned several times during the freedom struggle.

COVID cases in India climb to 1.5 lakh, death toll at 4,337

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India has risen to 1,51,767 while the death toll due to the virus has gone up to 4,337, according to the Union Health Ministry.

In the past 24 hours, India has reported 6,387 COVID-19 positive cases.

At least 64,426 patients have been cured of the virus or discharged, the ministry said.

In the worst-hit Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases climbed to 54,758, followed by Tamil Nadu with 17,728 cases, and Gujarat with 14,821 cases so far.

Maharashtra has also reported the highest number of fatalities 1,792, followed by 912 in Gujarat and 305 in Madhya Pradesh.

The coronavirus cases in national capital have increased to 14,465 with 288 deaths reported so far, according to the Health Ministry data.

Other states with high virus cases are Rajasthan (7,536), Madhya Pradesh (7,024), and Uttar Pradesh (6,548).

The government has claimed that lockdowns since March have caused a drastic improvement in the country’s COVID-19 recovery rate and also brought down the mortality rate.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court took note of the situation of migrant workers amid the nationwide lockdown and issued notices to the Centre and states.

Horse quarantined in J&K’s Rajouri for travel history from Kashmir

Representational Image

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Strange but true, the district administration of Rajouri in Jammu region today sent a horse with a travel history from Kashmir into quarantine, stating that “it can’t take any risk.”

An official in Rajouri said that the caretakers of the horse have been directed to use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) while dealing with the horse.

They said that a team of police intercepted a man this evening who had travelled to Rajouri district from Kashmir along with his horse. “The man had travelled through Mughal Road to reach Rajouri district,” the official said. “He was intercepted along with the horse and immediately put under quarantine for having a travel history of over 200 kilometers.”

However, the authorities in Rajouri were in a dilemma. Tehsildar of Thanamandi, Rajouri, Anjuman  Anjum Khatak invited the veterinary experts to get their views on the horse.

“Majority of the veterinary experts were of the belief that animals are not potential carriers of Covid 19 and that the horse be set free and kept in a stable,” official sources said. However, some experts suggested otherwise, stating that the horse be sent to quarantine and that “no risk should be taken.”

The final call was taken by the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Rajouri, Sher Singh who decided that the horse be medically screened for body temperature.

“The caretakers of the horse were asked to deal with the animal after wearing Proper personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and that the horse is kept in an administrative quarantine where it will be monitored by veterinary experts for a period of four weeks,” Singh said, adding that the administration faced this case for the first time since the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic in the UT.

India’s Covid fatality rate among lowest in the world: Govt

New Delhi (NVI): India’s fatality rate due to Covid-19 is among the lowest in the world at 2.87 per cent, the Union Ministry of Health said today.

Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry, while addressing a media briefing said, “4.4 deaths per lakh population have been reported for the world, while India has reported about 0.3 deaths per lakh population, which is amongst the lowest in the world.”

“A total of 60,490 patients have recovered so far from COVID-19. Recovery rate continues to improve and presently it is 41.61 per cent,” Aggarwal added.

“This has been made possible due to lockdown, timely identification and management of COVID-19 cases,” he said.

The Joint Secretary further stated, “Our focus should now be on prevention and containment measures so as to contain the spread of coronavirus. Behavior change for prevention should be made a part of our daily life.”

The number of positive coronavirus cases reported in India in the last 24 hours is 6,535, taking the country’s tally to 1,45,380. The number of active cases in the country stands at 80,722, while a total of 60,490 people have been treated and discharged. 4,167 deaths have been reported so far.

J&K records 24th Covid death; 4 pregnant women among 91 new cases

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir today recorded 24th Covid-19 death while 91 more cases tested positive taking the total number of cases in the UT to 1,759.

Officials said that four pregnant women were also among the new cases. Today, the Jammu region also witnessed a surge in the Covid cases as out of 91 total cases, 54 were from Jammu and 37 from Kashmir, they said.

Medical Superintendent, SKIMS Soura, Dr Farooq Jan said that a 90-year-old man from south Kashmir’s Kulgam, who tested positive last evening, passed away this morning. The death toll of Covid-19 positive cases in J&K has now reached 24 including 21 from Kashmir division and 3 from Jammu division.

Officials said that the total number of positive cases in the Kashmir division has reached 1,411 including 650 recoveries and 21 deaths while the total number of positive cases in the Jammu division has reached 255 including 90 recoveries and 3 deaths.

They added that the total number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir are 902 including 647 from Kashmir and 255 from Jammu.

Cases tested positive in J&K include 1 from Kulgam, 7 from Srinagar, 12 from Budgam, 1 from Kupwara, 4 from Bandipora, 6 from Baramulla, 4 from Ganderbal and 2 from Pulwama in Kashmir while 54 are from Jammu including 10 from district Jammu, 29 from Ramban, 4 from Kuthua, 2 from Udhampur, 2 from Samba district, 3 from Reasi and 4 from Poonch.

Among the new cases, 12 are from Budgam including 7 from Magam, 4 from Soibug and 1 from Narbal. Apart from that, 6 are from Srinagar including 3 from Alamgiri Bazar and 2 from Hawal and one from Kathua.

As per officials figures, 278 positive cases include four deaths and 113 recoveries are from Anantnag, 228 including four deaths and 17 recoveries from Kulgam, 189 including six deaths and 126 recoveries from Srinagar, 143 including one death and 131 recoveries from Bandipora, 143 including 98 recoveries and four deaths from Baramulla, 129 including 107 recoveries from Shopian, 166 including 70 recoveries from Kupwara, 76 including 47 recoveries and two deaths from Budgam, 31 including 24 recoveries from Ganderbal and 28 including 10 recoveries from Pulwama.

In Jammu, 109 including 34 recoveries and two deaths are from Jammu district, 53 including 15 recoveries are from Kathua, 39 including 21 recoveries and one death are from Udhampur, 74 including 2 recoveries are from Ramban, 29 including 10 recoveries from Samba, 13 including 4 recoveries are from Rajouri, 8 including 1 recovery is from Kishtwar, 12 with no recovery from Poonch, 9 including 3 recoveries from Reasi and 2 from Doda.

As per the daily information bulletin, 142,901 persons in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while 32,714 persons have been kept under home quarantine. Apart from that, 902 persons are in hospital isolation while 62 persons are under hospital quarantine.

According to the bulletin, 75,626 persons have completed surveillance period and 33,573 persons are under home surveillance.

Besides, so far results of 140,962 samples are available out of which 139,203 tested negative while 1,759 have been tested positive. Among positive cases, 902 are active, 833 have recovered and 24 have died.

Pak minister accused of demolishing houses of Hindus, Christians

(Pic courtesy: Naya Daur)

New Delhi (NVI): Several houses of Hindus and Christian workers living in Yazman city of Bahawalpur district of Pakistan were forcibly demolished last week in an alleged case of land grabbing and persecution of non-Mulsims, reports Naya Daur.

The incident took place on May 20 and Federal Minister for Housing and Works, Tariq Bashir Cheema, has been named as the accused, whose goons allegedly beat people up and destroyed their houses amid the coronavirus crisis, according to the Pakistan news portal.


A video of the incident has been doing rounds on social media in which women from the minority community have been protesting, saying that they have been rendered homeless with no food or water in such harsh weather. They said that they are starving and will die of homelessness before they die of coronavirus, the Pak media website reported.

The displaced men and women have been protesting in the area for the last few days, saying that they had been living there for 20 years. Some of them told this media outlet that suddenly, they were told that they were illegal.

However, this is yet another case of religious persecution in Pakistan as Hindu and Christian minorities have been ill-treated at several places in the country in the past as well.

Centre looking for options in J&K, ‘anything possible’: Apni Party leader

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Senior Apni Party leader Ghulam Hassan Mir today said that the Centre was looking for options in Jammu and Kashmir to fill the vacuum caused by the rollback of article 370 last year.

The former Agriculture Minister said that so far there is no reality in the rumors of forging an alliance with the Centre, but “anything is possible in the coming days.”

Mir, who is a key member of J&K Apni Party led by former PDP leader and finance minister Syed Altaf Bukhari, kept the suspense alive that his party head was in touch with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP big-wigs in New Delhi over forming an alliance to bridge the gap in J&K.

“Let me tell you clearly that so far whatever is spreading on social media and other platforms is a rumor. Some are saying that Altaf Bukhari is lobbying for Chief Minister’s post and Apni Party leaders are busy making ground for J&K Advisory Committee to get themselves accommodated. This all is a rumor,” Mir told NVI in an exclusive chat.

However, he said that nothing can’t be ruled out as anything is possible if the Centre takes a call. “Till August 4 last year, none believed that Centre would scrap article 370, but it did. So if Centre wishes to constitute an advisory committee by accommodating Apni Party members, none can stop it from happening,” he said, adding that “parleys were on behind the scene between Apni party leaders and some major developments were on cards till June 2.”

Mir, however, said that elections can’t be held at this juncture in J&K, and “some middle path has to be found.” Sources said that Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari is camping in New Delhi and has kept all his phones off. “He is holding secret meetings with the BJP top leaders including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav to strike a deal before June 1 or 2,” sources in the Apni Party said.

A senior Apni Party leader said that making amendments in the constitution is not a big deal as it can be done through a simple presidential order. “If Delhi wishes, there can be an interim chief minister from Apni Party or there can be an Advisory Committee which is equivalent to the council of ministers. Powers of members of the Advisory Committee can be redefined by the Centre as per the suggestions of Apni party leaders,” he said, requesting anonymity.

“Somebody has to take a lead and there can’t be a status quo. The political vacuum needs to be filled and people need to be given some respite on development and political front. So expect some surprise in the days ahead,” he said.

Pertinently, Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari had recently downplayed the rumors that he was lobbying for Advisory Committee and Chief Minister’s post saying, “it’s a good joke.” However, sources said that he was deliberately downplaying the hectic lobbying going on between him and the BJP top brass in New Delhi as he wanted to “strike a deal” away from the media glare.

It may be recalled that on March 9 this year, Altaf Bukhari floated Apni Party with former ministers of PDP and independent legislators as its members. At the launch, Bukhari had stated that his party would fight for the people’s rights and statehood of J&K amid enough indications that the clock can’t turn back and that abrogation of article 370 was “quite acceptable to them.”

Locusts attack crops in several states in India; Mathura, Delhi on alert

(Twitter)

New Delhi (NVI): Farmers in several parts of India fear imminent threat to their crops due to locust outbreak as large swarms of the migratory pests have entered in the country via Pakistan, and have already reached Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra after attacking parts of Rajasthan.

Huge swarms of desert locusts have reached as far as Panna in Bundelkhand region in Madhya Pradesh. At least ten districts in Uttar Pradesh are on alert, including Mathura. National capital Delhi is also on alert as the swarm expands the area.

Desert locusts move in large groups, called swarms and can eat crops up to their own weight every day. When millions of locusts descend on a crop, they destroy everything.

These pests have already invaded East Africa, threatening crops that feed millions of people and undermining food security in the Afro-Asian region. The locust menace is worrying especially amid the Covid-19 outbreak.

In India, the migratory pests have reached Maharashtra where four to five villages have come under attack. Huge swarms were also seen in Jaipur as the locusts made their way into the pink city through Western Rajasthan.

Netizens have also reacted to the unusual and “scary” sight of these pests on their terrace, colonies and trees.

Parveen Kaswan, an IFS (Indian Forest Service) officer tweeted, “This time desert locust attack is severe. They have arrived earlier, in huge numbers & now reached till Panna in MP. The changing climate conditions are linked with locust growth in east Africa. The swarms has potential of eating everything & destroy the crops.”

In a series of tweets, he further stated, “In last two years we are seeing an upsurge in locust swarms. The reason according to experts is Mekunu and Luban cyclonic storms of May and October 2018 in Oman & Yemen. Which created condition for upsurge in population. You see climatic condition has such role in pest production.”

Earlier in December 2019, when parts of Gujarat were invaded by locusts, they had destroyed crops spread over 25,000 hectares of land. This time, the attack is more widespread.

Meanwhile in Rajasthan, the pest attack has reached residential colonies of Jaipur. Unable to find crops to feed on, the locusts have started destroying trees.

In addition to this, United Nations has also warned that armies of locusts swarming across continents pose a “severe risk” to India’s agriculture this year.

Nepal reports 90 new coronavirus cases, total climbs to 772

New Delhi (NVI): Nepal registered 90 new cases of coronavirus, the highest single day spike, taking the national tally to 772, according to local media reports.

The country’s Ministry of Health and Population said, among the new infected, 26 cases hail from Kapilvastu, 22 from Rautahat and 12 from Surkhet.

Likewise, eight cases from Banke district, five from Siraha, three from Bara, two each from Mahottari, Arghakhanchi, Gulmi and Syangja, one each from Dhanusha, Rupandehi, Kailali and Achham district have been reported.

Additionally, two people from Jumla, working in Bara, have also tested positive for the novel coronavirus infection.

The health condition of all patients is normal and they are in contact with health officials, the ministry added.

As of today, 46 districts have witnessed the transmission of COVID-19. As many as 86 cases have been detected in seven districts of Province 1, 268 cases have been seen in eight districts of Province 2, and 38 cases in 11 districts of Bagmati Province.

Likewise, seven cases have been reported in four districts of Gandaki Province, 331 cases in eight districts of Province 5, 25 cases in three districts of Karnali Province, and 17 cases in five districts of Sudurpaschim Province, the ministry data shows.

So far, four people have died of coronavirus in Nepal.

At present, 155 people have been cured form the virus and discharged.

Afghanistan reports 658 new Covid-19 cases, 11,831 in total

Representational Image (Credit: TOLO News)

New Delhi (NVI): Afghanistan authorities have recorded 658 new positive cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours, bringing the total in the country to 11,831, according to Afghan media reports.

The Afghan Ministry of Public Health said, the number of total known active cases stands at 10,483 in the country.

Among the fresh cases, 237 were reported in Kabul, the country’s hardest-hit area

In addition, 85 cases reported in Herat, 77 in Balkh, 59 in Baghlan, 52 in Badghis, 52 in Farah, 29 in Faryab, 27 in Nangarhar, 11 in Bamiyan, seven in Logar, six in Kapisa, four in Sar-e-Pul, one in Samangan and one in Takhar province.

Despite persistent calls by the Ministry of Public Health to stay home, the pandemic continues to expand in various areas of the country, as per the reports.

The doctors in Parwan province today asked residents to stay home and comply with the health and hygiene guidelines suggested by the Health Ministry to stop the COVID-19 pandemic.

They warned that there will be more cases of COVID-19 in the country because the public does not follow the directives of the ministry.

The doctors also said that residents should show mercy to their families by staying at home.

At present, 32,870 people have been tested for COVID-19 in the country, ministry said.

So far, 220 people have died due to the COVID-19 and 1,128 others have recovered since the outbreak across the country.

1...1,3771,3781,379...1,730Page 1,378 of 1,730

MUST READ