Sunday, May 17, 2026
Home Blog Page 1378

PM pays tributes on Shaheed Diwas

New Delhi (NVI): On the occasion of Shaheed Diwas today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru, saying that the country will always remember their sacrifice.

“On Shaheed Diwas, I bow down to the great sons of Mother India, Veer Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru. The country will always be grateful to their sacrifice for the country,” PM Modi said in a message on Twitter in Hindi.

March 23 is observed as Shaheed Diwas every year to pay tribute to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar- the Indian revolutionaries who were hanged by the British Government in 1931.

The trio was hanged by the British for their alleged involvement in the killing of deputy police superintendent JP John Saunders in 1928, to avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai.

COVID-19 cases surge across US, Italy, Spain; death toll crosses 14k

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases globally has surged past 3,36,000, with more than 14,500 fatalities, according to John Hopkins University, which reported that China, Italy and the United States had the most people diagnosed with the coronavirus.

At least 400 people have been reported dead due to the COVID-19 in the US, another grim milestone as the number of US cases topped 32,000.

Almost half of those cases — 15,168 — were in New York, where Governor Andrew Cuomo said that an estimated 40 per cent to 80 per cent of residents could get coronavirus over the course of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Italy has banned all internal travel in the country, in a further escalation of its attempt to curb the spread of the pandemic, as more than 5,400 people have died in the country from COVID-19.

Spain has become the second-worst affected country in Europe, and has extended a state of emergency until April 11, after recording more than 1,700 deaths.

Meanwhile, the death toll in Iran reached to 1,685, according to Anadolu news agency. The toll rose after 129 people died in the coronavirus-affected country, an Iranian health official was quoted as saying by the news agency.

According to Iranian state TV, Health Ministry Spokesperson Kianoush Jahanpour said 1,028 new virus cases were found, raising the number of cases to 21,638.

He added that a total of 7,913 people who were treated for the virus have so far been discharged from hospital.

China continues to see more cases of coronavirus being imported from abroad, and is ramping up control measures to cope up with the disease.

The Chinese National Health Commission says there were 39 new confirmed cases on Sunday, down from 46 a day earlier. All involved travellers arriving from abroad.

On the other hand, German Chancellor Angela Merkel is placed in self-quarantine after a doctor who treated her tested positive for coronavirus, according to the media reports.

In addition to this, Harvey Weinstein, the former movie producer jailed for sexual assault and rape under the #MeToo campaign, has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the media.

PM asks states to enforce lockdown as people violate curbs

New Delhi (NVI): The central government today asked states to strictly enforce the lockdown and take legal action against violators as Prime Minister Narendra Modi noted that people were not taking the regulations seriously.

A day after the entire nation observed ‘Janata Curfew’, the Prime Minister appealed to the citizens to take the shutdown seriously after several videos of people taking out rallies and gathering on roads emerged. The PM also appealed to the state governments to ensure that rules and regulations imposed to combat COOVID-19 are being implemented properly.

The Central Government has also directed states to strictly enforce lockdown. An official statement said that legal action will be taken against violators.

The Central and state governments have completely imposed lockdown in 80 districts across the country, especially at places where coronavirus cases have been reported, which include districts of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.

So far, the total number of COVID-19 cases is nearing 400 in India, with 7 deaths reported, according to the Health Ministry.

Light to heavy rains expected in western Raj in next 3-4 days

Light rains in Delhi
Representational Image

New Delhi (NVI): The weather has completely changed in many cities in Rajasthan as intermittent rains have started there due to a cyclonic system over the state due to western disturbance in northern India.

According to SkymetWeather, rains are expected in the western Indian state in the coming days. The state has witnessed a good spell of rains in the pre-monsoon season. However, the precipitation has not favored the farmers in the state as crops have received damage due to hailstorm.

The weather remained clear yesterday but rain activities are expected from today in Churu and Ganganagar. The weather monitor also forecasts that rains may continue on March 24, 25 as well and will further intensify on March 26 and 27.

During March 26 and 27, the western parts of Rajasthan including Churu, Ganganagar, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Sawai Madhopur, Udaipur, and Kota may receive heavy showers. State capital Jaipur may also receive rains during this time.

So these places in the western part of the state may also affect crops as hailstorm is also expected, the report said.

The weather monitor has also warned the farmers and people in the region to remain alert and take care of their cattle as thunderstorms and lightning is also expected along with rain activity.

In the last 24 hours, many parts of South and West Rajasthan have also been experiencing light to moderate rain and thundershowers.

These rains can also be considered as ‘unseasonal’ rains as, during the month of March, rainfall activities occur in the wake of Western Disturbance.

The rainfall activities will lead to a marginal drop in temperature by 3 to 4 degrees Celsius. And, the maximum temperatures will start increasing after March 27.

Meanwhile, the state of Madhya Pradesh will also observe light to moderate rain and thundershowers.

In Delhi, the minimum temperature today was recorded at 16 degrees Celsius.

However, the maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to rise over the next few days, according to IMD.

Kashmiri students stranded in Jammu, other parts of the country

Jammu Bus Stand (File)

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): Scores of Kashmiri students have been stranded in Jammu and other parts of the country after they were not able to move easily because of lack of transport or other restrictions imposed by the government in the wake of COVI-19.

Most of the students, who were pursuing studies in various parts of the country, are not able to come back to the valley, due to restrictions and lack of transport facilities.

Rashid Ahmad, a Kashmir student pursuing a Ph.D. in Punjab told NVI that after facing a lot of difficulties, they were able to reach their home villages in Kashmir.

“Our university hostel was shut by the administration and we had no other choice but to return home.  Yesterday when we reached Jammu, we didn’t get any transport and had to spend a night under the open sky in Jammu,” Rashid said.

Another student Khalid Ahmad Dar, who is pursuing Nursing in Bangalore, too narrated the same ordeal. Khalid was preparing for his exams in his hostel room when college authorities asked them to vacate their hostels and return home.

“We had already booked for tickets for today because we didn’t know, it was Janta curfew. We have to face lot of difficulties while boarding cab till airport,” he said.

Khalid said when they reached Srinagar today, they had to wait for hours to reach his hometown Sopore. “Due to restrictions, we were blocked on Srinagar-Baramulla highway for hours, forces were not allowing us to move,” Khalid said.

Besides these students, around 100 students are stranded in Jammu and other parts of India currently. “Only a few cabs left for Srinagar on Sunday. Most of the students cramped just to reach home. When transport is limited, cab owners start overcharging. Many students are running out of cash,” said one of the students.

In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, all the educational institutions have been shut till March 31.

Spokesperson of Jammu and Kashmir Students Association, Nasir Khuehami said that hundreds of Kashmir students are stranded in different parts of the country. “The airfares are very expensive and students can’t afford such huge chunk of money,” he said.

He said some air ticketing agents are taking advantage of the closure of Srinagar-Jammu Highway and over-charging these students.

The association has requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Puri to look into the matter.

J&K Govt orders complete shutdown in all districts till Mar 31

Mubashir Bukhari

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir Government ordered a complete shutdown of all establishments today except essential services across the Union Territory till March 31, in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.

“Deputy Commissioners/District Magistrates shall issue orders under Section 144 Cr PC and also under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 (both Acts) to shutdown all establishments except these providing essential commodities in their districts from Sunday 22 March (08:00 PM) till Tuesday the 31 March 2020 (06 00 PM),” read order by Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam.

Rohit Kansal, government spokesperson, J&K said: “shutdown of all establishments and services except essential commodities/ services throughout J&K from 8:00 pm today till 6 PM March 31. Vehicles carrying essential supplies exempted; essential services too exempted.”


The Government has also restricted assembly of three persons at public places.

Earlier today, Srinagar administration had ordered the closure of all establishments in Srinagar from this evening till March 31.

District Commissioner Srinagar, Dr. Shahid Choudhary in a tweet announced:  “There will be complete shutdown of establishments in District #Srinagar w.e.f 8PM 22nd March to 6PM 31st March. Essential Services exempted.”

In view of the situation arising due to COVID-19, Secretary Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Simrandeep Singh today issued an order declaring 16 services as Essential services and commodities within the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

According to the order, the Essential Services will include supply of groceries (wholesalers and retailers) supply of fresh fruits and vegetables (mandies and retailers), dispensing of petrol/diesel at pumps, milk shops and dairies and related products, supply of cattle feed and fodder, medicines and other pharmaceuticals (retailers, wholesalers and manufacturing), banks and ATMs, supply of LPG (domestic and commercial), health services ( including movement of staff thereof), manufacturing of health and medical equipment, telecom operators and their designated agencies, newspapers, post offices, loading and unloading of wheat and rice at FCI and state food depots, transportation of essential commodities through National and State Highways (Petrol, Diesel, Kerosene, Milk, Vegetables, Fruits, groceries, FCI supplies, etc.) and provision of electricity, water supply and Municipal and Sanitary Services (including the movement of staff thereof).

Delhi under lockdown from 6 AM tmrw till Mar 31: Kejriwal

New Delhi (NVI): Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today announced that the national capital will be under lockdown from 6 AM tomorrow till the midnight of 31st March.

“Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures,” he said.

The Delhi CM’s announcement came in the evening as Delhiites observed the nationwide ‘Janta Curfew’, a call for which was given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday.

“Certain exceptions have been made to ensure essential items are available for purchase and basic services continue to operate,” Kejriwal said as he imposed the much-anticipated lockdown in Delhi after similar action was taken in some other parts of the country, including 97 districts from where cases of COVID-19 have been reported.

In the special press conference called in the wake of pandemic, Kejriwal was accompanied by Delhi Lieutenant Anil Baijal, who said: “For preventive measures to contain spread of covid-19 outbreak, directions have been issued for lockdown in the whole territorial jurisdiction of NCT of Delhi from 0600 hrs on Monday 23rd March 2020 to midnight 31st March 2020”.

During the presser, CM Kejriwal informed that so far 27 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the capital out of which 6 are transmission cases. 21 cases are those which have foreign travel history, he said.

The CM assured people in the capital that no essential services like food and medicines will be disrupted.

Under the Delhi Government’s week-long lockdown, E-commerce activities related to essential items will continue. However, only take-away and home delivery from restaurants will be allowed, Kejriwal said.
‘
As a precautionary measure, five or more than five persons will not be allowed in a group. “However, if a person is going out to buy essential items like ration and medicines, he will be allowed,” CM said.

He also informed that all state borders with Delhi will be sealed but essential commodities will be allowed to be transported. Other key takeaways from the press conference by Delhi Government are:

– All municipal services including water supply and electricity to continue normally.
– Delhi assembly session to take place tomorrow.
– Print and electronic media to operate as usual.
– All Domestic and international flights to be suspended in Delhi
– All religious places to be closed.
– All private offices to pay their employees during the lockdown. The employees will be considered on duty.
– All construction activities to be suspended.
– All factories, offices closed but banks and ATMs will open.
– All public transport will be suspended including auto-rickshaws but 25 percent DTC buses will operate
– Hospitals, petrol pumps, LPG gas agencies, police stations to remain open during lock-down in Delhi

The DMRC has already announced the closure of its services till March 31. Three more fresh deaths were reported today in the country, one each from Maharashtra, Gujarat and Bihar. With this, the total number of COVID-cases has reached 370.

Delhi Metro suspends services till Mar 31

New Delhi (NVI): The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) today announced that it will remain completely closed till March 31 in the wake of novel coronavirus and the increasing number of cases in the country due to the pandemic.

In a statement, the DMRC said that the move is aimed at controlling the spread of coronavirus by ensuring social distancing and encouraging people to stay at home for the time being.

“The Delhi Metro system will however continue to be powered for essential operational maintenance activities during this duration and security of the system will continue to be taken care of by CISF,” the DMRC said in an official statement.

This will be the first time that DMRC will completely stop its operations in the capital.

WATCH | A locality in Delhi during Janta Curfew today

The national capital witnessed the nationwide Janta Curfew today as market spaces remain shut and roads wore a deserted look with no almost no vehicle in sight. People remained in their homes and also expressed gratitude by clapping at around 5 PM. Prime Minister on had called for a self-imposed curfew on Thursday to combat coronavirus which has claimed seven lives in the country so far. Around 370 COVID-19 cases have been reported across the country.

7th death in India reported from Gujarat; 370 COVID-19 cases

(Updating earlier copy)

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus deaths in the country rose to seven today, with the states of Bihar and Gujarat, each reporting their first death due to COVID-19.

The state of Bihar recorded its first coronavirus death today while a 63-year-old man died in Mumbai, taking the total number of COVID-19 casualties in the country to six.

A 38-year-old man in Bihar, who was tested positive for Covid-19, died due to kidney failure, media reports said.

In Mumbai, a man admitted to HN Reliance hospital on March 19 with suspected symptoms of flu pass away late Saturday night, reports said.

Even as the country is observing Janta Curfew today, around 370 cases have been reported in the so far.

In the wake of the pandemic, the Centre also issued an advisory to all states today, directing them to lockdown 75 districts where COVID-19 cases have been reported.

“Only essential services to operate in 75 districts that have reported positive cases. All train services including sub-urban and metro services, interstate passenger transports are suspended till 31st March,” the government said in an official statement today.

The government has also issued the closure of all trains, metro services, and inter-state passenger travel till March 31, to contain the virus.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Government has ordered a complete shutdown in the state till March 31 to contain the spread of the virus.

“Statewide lock down till March 31, to check spread of #COVID19 ordered. All essential Govt services will continue & shops selling essential items such as milk, food items, medicines, etc will be open. All DCs & SSPs have been directed to implement the restrictions immediately,” the Punjab Government tweeted from its official handle.

1...1,3771,3781,379...1,611Page 1,378 of 1,611

MUST READ