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Mon, 18 May 2020

SC verdict on Arnab Goswami's plea tomorrow

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23:52 SC verdict on Arnab Goswami's plea tomorrow

The Supreme Court is scheduled to pronounce verdict on Tuesday on plea by Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami, seeking to quash multiple first information reports lodged against him in various states over his alleged defamatory statements against Congress chief Sonia Gandhi in a news show relating to Palghar mob-lynching case.

A bench headed by Justice D Y Chandrachud will also deliver its judgement on another plea of Goswami seeking to quash the FIR lodged on May 2, against him by Mumbai Police for allegedly hurting religious sentiments by making some remarks during his news show.

The top court on May 11 had directed that no coercive action should be taken against Goswami in the fresh FIR lodged by Mumbai police and had reserved its verdict on both of his petitions.

Goswami had claimed in the top court that he was interrogated by Mumbai Police for over 12 hours with regard to FIR on alleged defamatory statements and one of the two investigating officers probing the case against him has tested positive for COVID-19.

Maharashtra government had also moved the apex court alleging that Goswami has been misusing protection granted by the top court and has been 'browbeating' the police by 'creating fear psychosis'.

During the hearing on May 11, senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Goswami, had argued that this case is all about a political party targeting a journalist as the complainants are members of one particular party.

"This will have a chilling effect on freedom of press," he had said, adding that press is not institutionalized but other institutions are protected and there are safeguards, wherein judges, MPs and bureaucrats are protected.

The top court had told Salve that points raised by him could be argued before the Bombay High Court either in an anticipatory bail plea or petition for quashing of the case.

It had said the court can give liberty to Goswami to approach the high court after the expiry of interim protection already given to him by the apex court earlier in the cases related to Palghar incident.

The top court had said if Goswami wanted quashing of the FIRs lodged in Bombay, including the fresh one, he can move the high court.

It had added that the court had earlier intervened in the matter due to multiplicity of FIRs arising out of the same cause of action.

"We must ensure somebody is not subject to harassment but we should not create an environment where anybody in particular is exempted from the normal course of proceedings," the bench had observed.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Centre, had told the bench that this is a peculiar case as the accused is saying that police is pressurising him and interrogating him for 12 hours whereas the police has also come to the court to insulate it from any pressure and threat.

He said that since the accused has made allegations against the police, which too has made certain accusations, then the court must look at the possibility of having an independent investigation agency like CBI to probe it.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Maharashtra government, had said that this is a clear violation of Article 19 and Goswami cannot stigmatise people by way of sensationalising things.

At the fag end of the hearing, the bench had pointed out that the multiple FIRs are word-to-word same.

Sibal had contended that if they (FIRs) are same, then court can quash them as it is quite possible that Congress workers may have placed copy of the first FIR, when they went ahead with lodging of complaints.

The top court on April 24 had granted 3-week protection to Goswami against any coercive steps in connection with some FIRs lodged against him in various states for alleged defamatory statements made during news shows on Palghar mob-lynching of three persons, including two saints in Maharashtra.

The May 2 FIR was lodged in Mumbai against him and two others for allegedly hurting religious sentiments by making derogatory remark regarding a mosque located in suburban Bandra, a Mumbai Police officer had said.

Hundreds of migrant workers had gathered in Bandra on April 14 demanding transport arrangements to go back to their native places, hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced extension of the nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19 till May 3.

The FIR was lodged in Pydhonie police station in south Mumbai on May 2 by Irfan Abubakar Sheikh, secretary of Raza Education Welfare Society. -- PTI

23:36 2,033 new Covid cases in Maha; 1,185 in Mumbai

Maharashtra recorded 2,033 new COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 35,058 on Monday, said the health department.

This was the second consecutive day when the state has reported more than 2,000 COVID-19 cases, said a health department official.

Also, 51 fresh deaths took the toll in the state to 1,249, he said.

Mumbai on Monday reported 1,185 fresh COVID-19 cases and 23 more deaths, taking the total casecount to 21,152 and the fatalities to 757, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said.

Of the 1,185 new cases, 300 samples were tested positive in private laboratories between May 12 and 16.

The number of recovered patients mounted to 5,516 with 504 more people being discharged from hospitals, an official release said.

"A total of 804 new suspected cases have been admittedin hospitals," it stated. -- PTI

22:32 Guj announces major relaxations in lockdown

In a major relief to people affected due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown, the Gujarat government on Monday announced several relaxations, including opening of markets and shops in non-containment zones, from Tuesday.

While there will be no relaxations in containment zones, shops and offices in non-containment zone can remain open between 8 am and 4 pm, said Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.

However, such business and commercial establishments need to follow odd-even formula, wherein only 50 per cent establishments can remain open on any given day.

Moreover, the government has also allowed reopening of barber shops and salons in non-containment zones besides shops selling paan masala.

Restaurant and eateries can remain open for takeaway orders only, Rupani said. He also announced resumption of bus and autorickshaw service across the state, barring a few places. -- PTI

21:51 India has done well in tackling Covid: Vardhan

India took all the necessary steps well in time to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, Union Health minister Harsh Vardhan said on Monday, asserting that the country has done well in dealing with the disease till now and is confident of doing better in months to come.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally monitored the situation and ensured a preemptive, proactive and graded response, leaving no stones unturned to contain the deadly virus from spreading, Vardhan said addressing the the 73rd World Health Assembly via video conferencing.

"India took all necessary steps well in time, including surveillance at points of entry, evacuation of nationals stranded overseas, massive community surveillance through robust disease surveillance network, strengthening of health infrastructure, capacity building of over two million frontline human resources, risk communication and community involvement," he said.

"I think we did our best and we did well. We are learning and we are confident of doing better in the months to come," Vardhan added.

The minister stood up towards the end of his speech to hail the efforts of the COVID-19 warriors around the globe.

His remarks come after India on Monday joined nearly 120 countries at the crucial conference of the World Health Organisation in pushing for an impartial and comprehensive evaluation of the global response into the coronavirus crisis as well as to examine the origin of the deadly infection.

The two-day 73rd session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) of the WHO began in Geneva amid growing calls including by US President Donald Trump to investigate how the virus originated in China's Wuhan city and subsequent action by Beijing. -- PTI

Former Union minister Yashwant Sinha sat on a dharna at the Rajghat in New Delhi on Monday, demanding that the armed forces be deployed to help migrant workers reach their homes.

Sinha was joined by Aam Aadmi Party leaders Sanjay Singh and Dilip Pandey who demanded proper arrangements for moving stranded migrant workers back to their states.

They were, however, picked up Delhi Police later in the evening and taken to a nearby police station.

'We have just been arrested by the Delhi Police,' Sinha tweeted.

There was no immediate comment from the police.

Sinha, a former Bharatiya Janata Party leader and a trenchant critic of the Narendra Modi government, said civilian authorities, be it central or state dispensations, have 'failed' migrant workers who have been compelled to walk on roads, with some even dying in the process.

"Our simple demand is that the responsibility be given to the armed forces and paramilitary forces that they should, with all resources at their command and with whatever civilian resources they can commandeer, send these migrant workers to their homes with dignity," he said.

Before being taken into custody by the police, Sinha said he will continue with his dharma until his demands are met.

Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh alleged that the BJP just cares about the rich and it has left the poor to fend for themselves.

"The government has no strategy because it has no will to help the migrants. The BJP is an anti-poor government.

"You can call people from abroad but not help the migrants walking on the streets. The ongoing crisis has proved that," he said.

AAP MLA Dilip Pandey said the government should show some sensitivity towards the migrants.

"The government has capacity to run 20,000 trains daily and ferry 2.3 crore people daily across the country. It should use this capacity to help people," he said.

AAP leaders later protested against the police decision to break up their dharna and detain them.

Sanjay Singh asked if it is a crime to protest for the rights of migrants.

The politicians who spread hatred are not arrested by police but those who fight for the rights of poor migrants are taken into custody, Pandey said. -- PTI

20:49 Centre asks 50% of junior staff to join office

The Centre on Monday asked 50 per cent of its junior employees, below the level of deputy secretary, to join work in office, according to an official communique.

Due to the coronavirus-triggered lockdown, only 33 per cent of such employees were asked to attend office till now.

"For regulating the attendance of officers and staff below the level of deputy secretary, all heads of the department shall prepare a roster so as to ensure that 50 per cent of officers and staff attend office on every alternate day," it said.

Those officers staff who are not required to attend office on a particular day, shall work from home and should be available on telephone and electronic means of communications at all times, the communiqus issued to all central government departments by the personnel ministry said.

All officers of the level of deputy secretary and above shall attend office on all working days, it said.

All heads of the department have been asked to ensure that the 50 per cent of officers and staff who attend office observe staggered timings, the Personnel Ministry said. -- PTI

20:13 'Amphan' severe like 1999 super cyclone: NDRF

'Amphan', categorised as a super cyclone, is expected to make landfall on May 20 and it is being taken seriously as this is only the second time that such a severe cyclone will hit India after 1999, National Disaster Response Force chief S N Pradhan said on Monday.

Pradhan said 'Amphan' will be an extremely severe cyclonic storm, a notch below the 'super cyclone' category, when it makes landfall.

The NDRF chief said the coming cyclone is a 'serious' one as it is only the second time after 1999 in Odisha that a storm hitting the country's coast has been categorised as a 'super cyclone'.

The 1999 super cyclone was very deadly and it is expected that Amphan upon landfall will be like the 'Fani' cyclone that hit the Odisha and Andhra Pradesh coasts in May 2019.

This is a cause of concern and the central government is also very serious about it, he said in a video message.

"We request the affected states of Odisha and West Bengal to undertake the required measures. These states are already doing it," Pradhan said.

The NDRF has already deployed a total of 37 teams in the two states apart from others that have been kept on standby. -- PTI

Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui's wife Aaliya Siddiqui has sent a legal notice to the actor claiming maintenance and divorce.

The notice was sent to the Sacred Games star on May 7 through email and WhatsApp due to the unavailability of speed post amid the coronavirus pandemic, lawyer for Aaliya (Anjali), Abhay Sahai said.

The lawyer also said that Nawazuddin is yet to respond to the notice.

"Mrs Siddiqui, our client, has also sent the notice through WhatsApp.

"However, Mr Siddiqui has not responded till date. The notice has been sent claiming maintenance and divorce," Sahai told PTI on Monday.

The 45-year-old actor is currently in his hometown Budhana, Uttar Pradesh, with his family members, where he reached on May 12 after getting the necessary permission for travel from the authorities in Maharashtra.

'Due to the recent loss of my younger sister, my mother, who is 71 years old, got anxiety attack twice. We have followed all the guidelines given by the State Government. We are #HomeQuarantined at our hometown Budhana. Please #StaySafe #StayHome (sic),' Nawazuddin tweeted on Monday.

Sahai said he can't divulge the details of the notice as it is confidential, but said the allegations against the actor as well as his family members are 'quite serious'.

Nawazuddin and Aaliya, who got married in 2009, have two children.

Previously, the actor had a short-lived arranged marriage with Sheeba. -- PTI

19:32 'Amphan' to hit on May 20, cause heavy damage

'Amphan' to make landfall on West Bengal coast on May 20 evening as extremely severe cyclonic storm with wind speeds up to 195 kmph, says the government.

The cyclone will cause heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in coastal districts of West Bengal. East Medinipur, South and North 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly and Kolkata likely to be worst affected by the cyclone, says the government.

It said 'Amphan' has potential to cause extensive damage in coastal districts of West Bengal. It is also likely to impact North Odisha coastal districts including Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Bhadrak and Balasore.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting to review the response preparedness against 'Amphan' and assured all possible central assistance to the states.

Soon after the meeting, the prime minister wrote on Twitter that he prays for everyone's safety 'and assure all possible support from the central government'.

At the review meet, Modi took stock of the situation and reviewed the measures as well as the evacuation plan presented by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), a statement from the Prime Minister's Office said.

'During the presentation of the response plan, DG NDRF (SN Pradhan) informed that 25 NDRF teams have been deployed on the ground while 12 others are ready in reserve. 24 other NDRF teams are also on standby in different parts of the country,' the statement said.

The prime minister said he 'reviewed the preparedness regarding the situation due to cyclone 'Amphan'. The response measures as well as evacuation plans were discussed'.

Home Minister Amit Shah, Principal Advisor to the PM P K Sinha and Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba also attended the meeting. -- PTI

Ayurvedic herb Ashwagandha can be an effective therapeutic and preventive drug against the COVID-19 infection, a collaborative research by IIT-Delhi and Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology has found.

The natural compounds from Ashwagandha and Propolis have the potential to be an effective novel coronavirus preventive drug, according to the research team.

"The researchers targeted the main SARS-CoV-2's enzyme for splitting proteins, known as the main protease (Mpro), that plays a key role in mediating viral replication. This is an attractive drug target for this virus, and as humans don't naturally have this enzyme, compounds that target Mpro are likely to have low toxicity," said D Sundar, head of the Delhi Indian Institute of Technology's Biotechnology department.

"The findings may not only connect to save time and cost required for screening for anti-COVID-19 drugs, but may also offer some preventive and therapeutic value for the management of fatal COVID-19 pandemic, and hence, warrant prioritized validation in the laboratory and clinical tests," he said.

The drug's development may take some time, and in the current scenario, these natural resources -- Ashwagandha and Propolis -- can offer some preventive or even therapeutic value, according to Sundar.

He said that "although these are easily available and affordable, one has to be cautious about the content of bioactive ingredients. CAPE, while is a major component of propolis, its amount and stability are critical factors that could be managed by generating its complex with cyclodextrins".

"Withanone, on the other hand, varies with geography, parts and size of the Ashwagandha plant. So, in order to acquire or appreciate particular effects, we must use the right and quality-controlled resource and extracts," Sundar said.

The government has also initiated a study on whether Ashwagandha can be an alternative to anti-malarial drug Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) as a potential COVID-19 preventive.

The study is being carried out by a group of scientists and researchers from the Ministry of AYUSH, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the University Grants Commission and the Indian Council of Medical Research.

"While new line of drug and vaccine development have been initiated worldwide, in the current scenario of high infected numbers, severity of the disease and high morbidity, repurposing of the existing drugs are heavily explored by recruiting integrative genomics and bioinformatics research tools," Sundar said. -- PTI

19:08 ICMR revises COVID-19 testing strategy

Revising its strategy for COVID-19 testing, the Indian Council of Medical Research said on Monday that returnees and migrants who show symptoms for influenza-like illness will be tested for coronavirus infection within seven days of ailment and stressed that no emergency clinical procedure, including deliveries, should be delayed for lack of testing.

The ICMR in its revised strategy for coronavirus testing in India also added that all hospitalised patients who develop symptoms for influenza-like illness and frontline workers involved in containment and mitigation of COVID-19 having such signs will also be tested for coronavirus infection through RT-PCR test.

Besides, asymptomatic direct and high-risk contacts of a confirmed case are to be tested once between day five and day 10 of coming in contact, the new document stated. Asymptomatic contacts of a confirmed case were being tested once between day five and day 14.

An official said, "The apex body for health research revised its strategy in view of a spurt in coronavirus cases in the country. The new strategy aims to contain the spread of infection more effectively and to provide reliable diagnosis to all individuals meeting the inclusion criteria of COVID-19 testing."

The death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 3,029 and the number of cases climbed to 96,169 on Monday, registering an increase of 157 deaths and a record jump of 5,242 cases in 24 hours since Sunday 8 am.

"ILI case is defined as one with acute respiratory infection with fever more than or equal to 38 degrees Celsius and cough while a SARI case is defined as one with acute respiratory infection with fever more than

or equal to 38 degrees Celsius and cough and requiring hospitalisation," the ICMR stated.

Till now, people with ILI symptoms living within hotspots or containment zones, patients of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) and symptomatic healthcare workers were being tested for coronavirus

infection as per the guidelines.

All asymptomatic individuals with a history of international travel in the last 14 days and all symptomatic contacts of laboratory-confirmed case were also being tested.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday chaired a high-level meeting to review the response preparedness against cyclone Amphan, developing in the Bay of Bengal.

The prime minister took full stock of the situation and reviewed the measures as well as the evacuation plan presented by the National Disaster Response Force, a statement from the Prime Minister's

Office said.

During a presentation on the response plan, the NDRF director general informed that 25 NDRF teams have been deployed on the ground, while 12 others are ready in reserve.

Twenty-four other NDRF teams are also on standby in different parts of the country, the force chief told the meeting, the statement said.

Cyclone 'Amphan' intensified into a super cyclonic storm on Monday and is likely to move across the northeast Bay of Bengal, and cross the West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts between Digha and the Hatia island on May 20, the IMD has said. -- PTI

18:58 Rahul takes dig at PM for 'U-turn' on MGNREGA

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday for his "U-turn" on the MGNREGA scheme, and thanked him for understanding its vision and allocating an additional budget of Rs 40,000 crore for it.

Gandhi also used the hashtag -- "ModiUturnOnMNREGA" -- while putting out a video clip of the prime minister's speech in Parliament after he assumed power in 2014.

"MGNREGA is a living monument of your failures," Modi had said about the scheme in his speech in Parliament, while noting that even after 60 years of the independence, the Congress had to send people to dig up ditches. -- PTI

Shops can reopen in Delhi and buses, autos and taxis can run with limited passengers, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said today, adding that the lockdown would be extended till May 31.

Here is What's allowed, what isn't:

- Taxis with 2 passengers, auto rickshaw and e-rickshaw with 1 passenger each, buses with 20 passengers to be allowed

- Passengers boarding buses will be screened

- Markets to be opened with staggered timings; four-wheelers with only two passengers will be allowed:

- Metro trains, schools, colleges, shopping malls and swimming pools to remain closed

- Restaurants can open for home-delivery, dining facility not allowed

- 50 people to be allowed in marriage functions; 20 people can attend funerals

- Religious gatherings not allowed; spa, saloon to remain closed

Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui on Monday said he travelled to his hometown Budhana, Uttar Pradesh, with his family members as his mother wasn't keeping well and followed the necessary guidelines set by the state government.

Nawazuddin, along with his family members, reached his hometown on May 12 after getting necessary permission for travel from the authorities in Maharashtra.

"Due to the recent loss of my younger sister, my mother, who is 71 years old, got anxiety attack twice. We have followed all the guidelines given by the State Government. We are #HomeQuarantined at our hometown Budhana. Please #StaySafe #StayHome," the actor wrote on Twitter.

The Scared Games star and his family members were tested for COVID-19 but their reports came negative.

Nawazuddin's bother, filmmaker Shamas N Siddiqui, shared a letter issued by the Mumbai police which granted the family the permission to travel to UP on May 10, with return date of August 18 for "medical reasons.'

The actor, along with his family members, is currently placed under home quarantine. -- PTI

The Kerala government on Monday decidedto allow public transport in a restricted manner withan increased travel fare to compensate the shortage of passengers due to implementation of social distancing norms in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Transport Minister A K Saseendran said initially public transport will be allowed only for intra-district services but hotspots will be avoided.

Public transportation was stopped in the state on March 24 when the national lockdown was declaredto contain the spread of COVID-19.

"We will open the public transport system in a restricted manner. Initially, the bus services will be allowed within the district.Services will not operate to hotspots. There will be an increase in the minimum charge," the minister said.

He also said that theservices willbe only as per the guidelinesissued by thecentre.

"With the present guidelines issued by the centre, we will assess the situation and decide upon the inter- district and inter-state services," he said.

Saseendran also said Kerala preferred train services over inter-state bus services.

"For inter-state, Kerala prefers trains over bus services.Few trains are better than around 250 buses," he added.

The centre has issued guidelines easing certain restrictions even as it extended the lockdown till May 31.-- PTI

"Amphan" (pronounced UM-PN) had turned into an extremely severe cyclonic storm and gathered more strength over the Bay of Bengal while moving slowly towards the coast. It has now intensified further into a super cyclonic storm, the India Meteorological Department said.

It is likely to move north-northeastwards and fast across the northwest Bay of Bengal, and cross the West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts between Digha and the Hatia island as a very severe cyclonic storm, the department said.

This has raised the likelihood of heavy rains and high-velocity winds in coastal Odisha and the state government has initiated the process of evacuating people from the vulnerable areas. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea till May 21, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) P K Jena said. -- PTI

16:42 Rahul takes dig at PM for 'U-turn' on MGNREGA

"The prime minister has approved an additional budget of Rs 40,000 crore for the MNREGA scheme created during the UPA era. We express our gratitude to him for understanding the vision of MNREGA and promoting it," he said in a tweet in Hindi. Gandhi also used the hashtag -- "ModiUturnOnMNREGA" -- while putting out a video clip of the prime minister's speech in Parliament after he assumed power in 2014.

Karnataka has reported its biggest ever spike with 84 new COVID-19 positive cases, taking the total number of infections to 1,231, the health department said on Monday. With 37 deaths and 521 discharges, there are 672 active corona cases in the state, the department said in its mid-day situation report.

Among the 84 cases, Bengaluru urban, Mandya, Uttara Kannada constitute major share, while cases have also been reported from Hassan, Raichur, Koppal, Vijayapura, Gadag, Ballari, Davangere, Yadgir, Bidar and Belagavi. Most of the cases which tested positive have an inter state travel history to Maharashtra, followed by contacts of patients already tested positive. -- PTI

The bus-services within a district excluding corona hotspots will be resumed in Kerala during Lockdown 4.0, said Transport Minister AK Saseendran on Monday.

"Kerala government has decided to resume bus services in the areas excluding COVID-19 hotspots during the lockdown. However, inter-state and inter-district bus services will remain suspended," said Saseendran.

The Central government on Sunday extended the ongoing COVID-19 induced nationwide lockdown till May 31, but with a set of new relaxations commencing from Monday.

The Union Home Ministry has also given powers to States/UTs demarcate areas in Green, Orange and Red zones, which will allow them to start activities except in containment zones.

According to the guidelines, "all other activities will be permitted except those which are specifically prohibited under these guidelines. However, in containment zones, only essential activities shall be allowed, as mentioned earlier." -- ANI

A boy rests on his bags as he waits to board a bus.

16:25 UP govt accepts Priyanka's offer to ferry migrants

Awanish Awasthi, UP Additional Chief Secretary (Home) writes to Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accepting her proposal to deploy 1000 buses for migrants. He has sought details of the 1000 buses and drivers without delay.

The Congress party has said that it has organised around a 1000 private buses to facilitate the movement of migrants on the directives of Uttar Pradesh Congress in-charge and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

The decision was taken purely on humanitarian grounds and there is no question of politcising the issue since neither UP nor Rajasthan are going to polls anytime soon, the party has said.

None of the buses had any Congress symbol like a sticker or flag on them.

Priyanka Gandhi had earlier in the day asked UP CM Yogi Adityanath to allow the party to ferry migrant labourers back home in buses arranged by it and kept ready at the state border.

Heavy rains accompanied by lightning and thunder lashed the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts on Monday. The rains that began on Sunday evening came as a relief from the hot weather, but also caused damage in some parts, prompting authorities to issue a yellow alert in the coast till Tuesday.

The Meteorological department has forecast heavy rains for the next two days also due to the low pressure area formed over the Bay of Bengal. In Udupi district, a 20-year old man was killed when a house collapsed due to lightning at Katapady Sunday night, police sources said.

A large number of fruits and vegetables kept at the Agricultural Produce Market Committee yard in Baikampady here were washed away in heavy rains this morning, causing losses to vendors. -- PTI

Image: Around 50 fishing boats were damaged after a thunderstorm in Rameswaram on Monday. Pic: ANI

Rampukar: The face that shook a nation's conscience

15:55 Couldn't even hug my family: Migrant in viral pic

Labourer Rampukar Pandit, whose mournful face became emblematic of the tragedy faced by poor migrants currently, has been shifted to a hospital in Begusarai, Bihar, where he met his wife and nine-year-old daughter from a distance.

The 38-year-old man, who recently reached Bihar by a Shramik Special train, was quarantined in a school near Begusarai town after his arrival. He said on Sunday that officials took him to a hospital and conducted a test.

A despondent Rampukar, who took a long and arduous journey from Delhi to reach his hometown amid the nationwide lockdown after learning of his infant son's death, broke down when PTI contacted him over phone.

"My head spins when I open my eyes and I feel very weak. They brought me to a hospital in a car from the quarantine centre yesterday afternoon," he said in a very feeble voice. "They also did tests on me, by taking swabs from throat and nose. The result has not come yet."

The father, who lost his nearly one-year-old son, has been hankering to reunite with his family, but due to social-distancing norms in place amid the coronavirus pandemic, the reunion, too, meant separation. Rampukar said his wife and daughter Poonam visited him at the hospital in Khodawandpur block of the district, but doctors allowed them to meet him briefly, only from a distance. They had come around 4 pm yesterday, both wearing masks and doctors told them to stand a bit far from my bed, according to Rampukar.

"We were all crying, we wanted to hug each other. I wanted to hold my daughter, but a few metres of closeness and 10 minutes with them is all I could get," he told PTI. "My wife and daughter brought me 'sattu', 'chura' and cucumber. But, I am too weak to eat by myself," Rampukar said. Later, a hospital staff served dal-rice, which he ate in the afternoon.

"One friend also came from Bariarpur, my native place, and met me today," he said. "I feel very weak. My children are also not eating because of my condition," Rampukar said. "I am the breadwinner of the family and I am down. I need help," he said. "I appeal to the government to help me and people like me in this tragic time. We poor will just die otherwise."

Read Rampukar's tragic story here.

Representational image

15:48 Two trucks carrying migrants detained

Two trucks carrying 95 migrants illegally from Maharashtra were seized in Rishikesh over the last two days. One truck with 33 migrants from Pune was seized near Saptrishi barrier of Raiwala on Sunday while another carrying 62 migrants from Nasik was seized by police in Muni ki Reti police station area on Saturday, police officials said. Driver of the truck bringing migrants from Pune fled as he saw policemen waiting at Saptrishi barrier, an official at Raiwala police station said. The truck, however, was seized and the migrants, who were travelling in it after paying the driver, were quarantined in Haripur area after being screened, he said.

Another truck was seized on Friday in Muni ki Reti police station area after it was found carrying 62 migrants illegally from Nasik, Tehri's Additional SP Uttam Singh Negi said. They were screened and offered food before being sent to their respective districts in Uttarakhand as they were travelling hungry, Negi said. The truck driver was arrested and a case under different sections of the IPC and Disaster Management Act was registered against him but he was let off on bail, he said.

When contacted Director General (Law and Order) Ashok Kumar said the police is under great pressure with around 10,000 migrants returning on an average from different parts of the country daily. They have to be properly screened before being quarantined or sent home as per COVID-19 protocol, he said.

"Truck drivers are perhaps taking advantage of our preoccupation with returnees coming in trains and buses. The police personnel at the barriers, however, have been asked to keep a tab on the movement of incoming trucks also," he said.

A total of 395 cases have been registered by Maharashtra Cyber till Sunday for spreading rumours, hate speeches and false news on social media amid the lockdown for the novel coronavirus outbreak, an official said. He said 169 cases were registered in connection with content on WhatsApp, 154 on Facebook, 18 on Tiktok, seven related to Twitter, four on Instagram, he said.

"Besides, 43 cases were registered for misusing audio clips and Youtube videos. In all, 211 people have in arrested for these offences till now," the official said on Monday. In Hingoli, seven cases were filed for using Tiktok to show a particular community in a bad light in connection with the coronavirus outbreak, he added.

The Maharashtra Cyber department urged parents to keep a watch on the surfing habits and social media usage of children between the ages 8-17. -- PTI

15:15 No first anniversary gala for Modi Sarkar 2

The Bharatiya Janata Party has shelved whatever plans it had to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Prime Minister Narendra Modi winning a second term, on May 30, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

However, BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda is expected to issue a commemorative statement on the occasion.

Nadda, who succeeded Amit Shah as working president after the 2019 elections and became full time party chief this January, is also giving the final touches to his new team of general secretaries.

But more interesting will be his choice of members of the BJP's central parliamentary board, the party's highest decision-making body.

Speculation is rife that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, on a high after delivering Modi's economic stimulus package, will be inducted into the CPB, both to present her as a face for the southern states as well as to fill the slot left by M Venkaiah Naidu following his elevation as India's vice president.

Former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis making the cut from the national executive to the CPB will depend on his Nagpur rival and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari agreeing to it, say sources.

Home Minister Amit Shah drove to the BJP headquarters last week and spent three hours with senior leaders to finalise the various berths in the BJP organisation.

The names should be out soon, say insiders.

-- R Rajagopalan in New Delhi

15:00 Buses for migrants needed month ago: Priyanka

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday slammed the Uttar Pradesh government for not making proper arrangements to transport the migrant workers to their homes in Uttar Pradesh and said that if buses were arranged a month ago, the labourers would not have suffered.

"A large number of migrant labourers are waiting at Ramlila Maidan in Ghaziabad to go home. There is no system from the Uttar Pradesh government. If a proper procedure to transport them had been established a month ago, the labourers would not have suffered so much," she tweeted (translated from Hindi).

She claimed that the UP government did not give permission to transport migrant workers to their respective homes."Yesterday we arranged 1000 buses...talked to UP government. When we brought buses to the border, the UP government started doing politics and did not even give permission. The government is not ready to help people in distress. And if someone offers to help them it refuses," she said.

The Congress leader had on Sunday requested Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to allow the buses arranged by the Congress party, to enter the state in order to transport migrant labourers back to their homes. -- ANI

The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board is in the process of formulating SoPs that will be followed once pilgrimage to the cave shrine in Trikuta hills of Jammu and Kashmir resumes. The yatra will resume only when directions from the Union Home ministry are issued. The pilgrimage to the shrine in Reasi district was stopped on March 18 in view of spread of coronavirus in Jammu and Kashmir.

"The Shrine Board is in the process of formulating SOPs for the resumption of the yatra once the lockdown is lifted. The pilgrimage will start only when directions from the Home Ministry are issued", CEO, SMVDSB, Ramesh Kumar, told PTI.

He said the board is considering online registration of devotees, while GPS-enabled systems are also under consideration to track pilgrims in real-time to ensure they adhere to social distancing measures. Kumar said the board is mulling installation of door-mounted thermal scanning at multiple places en route Bhawan while the bed capacity at free dormitories is being reduced temporarily to implement social distancing measures.

Only families will be permitted to use the paid lodging to reduce the chances of the spread of the infection. "Some other suggestions like reducing seating capacities at bhojanalaya (food court) and langars (community kitchens) besides giving coupons to devotees with specific time slots to manage the crowds better, are under consideration," he said. -- PTI

14:48 Uddhav meets governor

Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray called on Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at Raj Bhavan today. The Governor congratulated the CM on his election as a member of Maharashtra Legislative Council. With the CM were his wife, Rashmi, and son, Aaditya.

As many as 92 healthcare workers, including medicos and non-medicos, at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last two months. A faculty from the orthopedic division is the latest to be found to have contracted the infection, after which about 10 people were quarantined.

As per the latest data compiled at AIIMS, COVID-19 positive cases include - one faculty, two resident doctors, 13 nursing staff, 45 security guards, 12 sanitation workers among others like technicians, hospital attendants, data entry operators, etc - working at the medical institute.

"On Saturday, a faculty from the orthopaedic department was found COVID-19 positive. However, he was not posted at coronavirus unit. Contact tracing has been started and at least 10 people have been quarantined as a precautionary measure," said Dr DK Sharma, Medical Superintendent at AIIMS.

Dr Sharma confirmed that about 92 healthcare workers at AIIMS were found infected with coronavirus. "We are taking all safety and precautionary measures against COVID-19 for our healthcare workers at the hospital. Most of them have joined their duties after completing their treatment and quarantine period. Our doctors, nurses, paramedics, and other healthcare workers have been provided with all facilities of protective gears.

"In view of COVID-19, AIIMS authorities have given strict directions to patients to wear face masks for the entire time they are in the hospital. All patients coming to AIIMS OPD, emergency, in-patient wards or visiting any other patient care areas ought to be wearing face masks (cloth mask/surgical mask).

The medical institute is also planning to restore limited OPD and non-emergency services in a phase-wise manner for which the talks are on with all the departments to resume medical facilities, said a doctor.

With the highest-ever spike of 5,242 new cases in the last 24 hours, the total number of positive COVID-19 cases in India reached 96,169 on Monday, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.With 157 deaths reported in the last 24 hours, the death toll has risen to 3,029, as per the latest update by the ministry. -- ANI

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

14:37 Analysing Sitharamans economic stimulus package

Anand Rathi, the online stock trading and advisory firm, has released its analyses of tranches 3, 4 and 5 of the economic stimulus Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced over the weekend.

You can read them here, here and here.

14:34 CBSE releases datesheet for Class 10, 12 exams

The Central Board for Secondary Education on Monday released the much awaited datesheet for Class 12 board examinations for the remaining papers and for the re-scheduled board examinations for Class 10.

Class 12 Physics exam has been slated for July 3 (North-East Delhi), Accountancy on July 4 (North-East Delhi), while Chemistry exam is scheduled for July 6 (North-East Delhi). The Business Studies exam is slated to take place on July 9 (All India), while Geography exam is scheduled for July 11 (All India).

Mathematics examination will be held on July 15 (North-East Delhi).

The Class 10 exams announced, are for North-East Delhi only. Social Science examination has been scheduled for July 1 from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm.

Science-Theory and Science Without Practical exams have been scheduled for July 2 from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm, while Hindi Course A and Hindi Course B exams will take place on July 10 from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm.

English Communicative and English Language and Literature examinations are scheduled for July 15 from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm.

The students have been directed to follow social distancing, carry their own hand sanitiser in a transparent bottle and cover their nose and mouth with mask/cloth.

-- ANI

Easing COVID-19 induced lockdown norms further, the Karnataka government on Monday allowed buses of all the four state transport corporations to operate, except in red and containment zones, from tomorrow. Private buses have also been permitted to run their services, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said.

Only 30 people would be allowed to travel in the buses and wearing of face masks and maintaining physical distancing are mandatory, he said. Bus fares would not be increased, he added. Inter-state transport would not be allowed, except in emergency cases. Auto and taxis were also given green signal to get on to roads, but there should be only three passengers, including the driver. In maxi-cabs, the maximum number should be four passengers, including driver.

Trains can operate within the State but not inter- state services till May 31. Saloons can also pull up their shutters. Parks have been allowed to open from 7 am to 9 am and from 5 pm to 7 pm, Yediyurappa said. Except shopping malls and cinema halls, all shops can open, he added. The chief minister said night curfew would continue from 7 pm to 7 am and there would be a complete lockdown on Sundays. -- PTI

The West Bengal government will on Monday evening come out with a notification on the modalities of the fourth phase of the lockdown in the state, a top official said. The Centre on Sunday extended the coronavirus lockdown for two more weeks till May 31, with the fourth phase providing more relaxations outside the containment zones including inter-state movement of buses with mutual consent of states that is expected to be of immediate relief for thousands of migrant workers on the roads.

"The MHA in its order has given some relaxations. But, there are chances of further easing of curbs in non-containment zones in the state government's notification. By this evening, the notification will be issued," the senior West Bengal government official said.

Standalone shops in non-containment and green zones are likely to remain open from 7 am to 6 pm, he said, adding, the zones under containment are expected to be divided into segments based on high and low levels of infection. Nothing, however, has been finalised yet, the official said. -- PTI

A man, who had tested positive for COVID-19 and was admitted to a hospital last week, was found dead at a bus stand in Gujarat's Ahmedabad. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has ordered an inquiry into the incident.

The body of the 67-year-old man was found at the Danilimda BRTS bus stand on Friday. He was admitted to a hospital on May 10 and was sent for home isolation on May 14.

State Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has ordered an inquiry into the incident, according to a statement from the Gujarat CMO.

Former Health Secretary JP Gupta has been entrusted to investigate the matter. -- ANI

The Punjab government has granted permission to operate taxi and cab aggregators and allow salons and barber shops to open under the revised guidelines as part of the fourth phase of lockdown.In a big relief to the salon owners and barbers, following the Union Ministry of Home Affairs' guidelines, the Punjab government has decided to open all salons and barber shops, adhering to social distancing norms.

In Ludhiana, salons and barber shops opened their doors to customers in Ludhiana. in Mohali, people started opening their salons after proper sanitisation of shops.

"The government has taken a good decision as people have been waiting for the salons to open for nearly two months. The services provided here cannot be performed at home so people need to visit the shop. It will be a great relief for the people as well as for the shop owners," Sushil, manager of a salon, said.

"We will follow all the guidelines while performing our job. We will provide PPE to customers and we will also wear them. We are planning not to start services today as it is the first day of resumption so we are cleaning the shops first," he said. -- ANI

The Congress on Monday said the fiscal stimulus package announced by the government is "hopelessly inadequate" given the gravity of the economic crisis as it amounts to only Rs 1.86 crore, which is 0.91 per cent of the GDP. The party sought a revised and comprehensive package of 10 per cent of the GDP.

Senior Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram said the stimulus package has left several sections like the poor, migrants, farmers, labourers, workers, small shopkeepers and middle class high and dry.

"We express our thorough disappointment and request the government to reconsider the stimulus package and announce a revised and comprehensive fiscal stimulus package of not less than Rs 10 lakh crore of real additional expenditure equivalent to 10 per cent of GDP," he said at a press conference through video-conferencing.

Chidambaram also accused the government of being opportunistic by pushing reforms. It is bypassing Parliament and a discussion on the package and this will be strongly resisted, he added.

"I think the government is deliberately sidelining Parliament. A meeting of the Parliamentary Committee should at least be held to discuss the fiscal stimulus package," he said. -- PTI

Image: A man grieves beside a coffin holding the body of a female family member who died of Covid.

The Tamil Nadu government said on Monday the state will not face the impact of cyclone 'Amphan' but it was constantly monitoring the situation along with the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Revenue Minister R B Udhayakumar said satellite images of the storm have been released.

"It has come to be known that there will be no impact of this storm on Tamil Nadu. However, we, along with the IMD are constantly monitoring regarding the cyclone," he was quoted as saying in a release.

Constant updates will be shared with the public in this connection, he added. Cyclonic storm 'Amphan' is likely to intensify into a super cyclone by Monday evening and hit the West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts as a very severe cyclone with a wind speed up to 185 km per hour on Wednesday, the Union Home Ministry had said earlier. -- PTI

The home ministry has said no state or Union Territory will dilute the guidelines issued for the nationwide lockdown that will continue till May 31. In a communication to the chief secretaries of the states and Union territories, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said the guidelines for the fourth phase of the lockdown were issued after taking the views of the states, following a video-conference held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with chief ministers on May 11.

"As emphasised in my earlier letters, I would like to reiterate again that States and Union Territories cannot dilute restrictions imposed vide the aforesaid guidelines issued by MHA. States and UTs, based on their assessment of the situation, may prohibit certain other activities in various zones, or impose such restrictions as deemed necessary.

"I would urge you to ensure compliance of the new guidelines and direct all concerned authorities for their strict implementation," Bhalla said in his letter to the chief secretaries on Sunday night. He said under the new guidelines effective from Monday, the states and Union territories will categorise "red", "orange" and "green" zones taking into consideration the revised guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Sunday. Inside the "red" and "orange" zones, containment and buffer zones will be identified by the district administration and local urban bodies with technical inputs at the local level and by taking into consideration the health ministry guidelines.

Within the containment zones, strict perimeter control shall be maintained and no movement of persons will be allowed across the zones, except for medical emergencies and maintaining the supply of essential goods and services, the letter said. -- PTI

Migrant workers assemble to go home to Bengal

13:00 Maha districts concerned over migrants coming home

A number of Maharashtra districts have expressed concern over the state Home departments decision to issue travel passes to those who wish to return home during lockdown, saying the influx in rural areas from cities could spread COVID-19 if guidelines are not followed.

Administrations of districts like Kolhapur, Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, Solapur, Nanded, among others, are worried about such a situation. Kolhapur Collector Daulat Desai, in a video conference with Pune divisional commissioner on Sunday, said if people coming in large numbers do not follow the institutional or home quarantine orders and skip COVID-19 testing, it could harm the local population.

"The influx could spread the coronavirus. There should be strict instructions to people leaving cities like Mumbai and Pune that they will have to comply with the mandatory procedures," he said. Minister of State for Home Satej Patil has also expressed similar concern.

"A number of people carried the coronavirus infection to Kolhapur in last some days. We need to take extra precautions while dealing with the arrival of people and contain spread of the disease," he said on Sunday.

The state Home department on Sunday said it has issued around 3.69 lakh passes to residents of Maharashtra so far to allow them to travel to their hometowns.

"People are desperate and there is nothing wrong if they want to go back home. Many of them are either unemployed or students who can no longer live in cities like Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad, Nagpur which are severely affected by the coronavirus," a state Home department official said.

There have been cases of people taking roads, where there is not much police security, to reach their native villages. This has made locals suspicious of the returnees, the official said.

"Instead of that, if we ask people to travel after taking proper precautions and medical tests, they will not be ill-treated in their native villages," he said. In several villages of Solapur, Ahmednagar and Ratnagiri, locals have blocked the roads for outsiders. "In some cases, returnees are asked to stay at some school or temporary shed. It is very difficult in the current summer heat to spend over a week sitting idle in those schools or temporary shelters.

Even the local administration is clueless about how to deal with the influx, said a social worker from Ratnagiri. The entry point of Sindhudurg district saw a nearly two-km-long queue of vehicles on Sunday evening. Authorities deployed there do not know how to handle so many people who are anxious to return home, and the fear that may carry the infection has increased the worry of local administration, the activist said. -- PTI

12:41 PM to chair meeting on cyclone Amphan at 4 pm

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a high-level meeting Monday afternoon to review the situation arising out of cyclone 'Amphan', which is likely to hit the eastern coast. Union Minister Amit Shah said the Prime Minister's meeting with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the National Disaster Management Authority will take place at 4 pm.

"To review the arising cyclone situation in various parts of the country, PM @narendramodi ji will chair a high level meeting with MHA & NDMA, today at 4pm," Shah tweeted.

The Prime Minister is the chairman of the NDMA.

In an advisory to West Bengal and Odisha governments, the ministry has said 'Amphan' (pronounced as UM-PUN) was spotted on Monday morning over the central parts of South Bay of Bengal and the adjoining central Bay of Bengal.

It has been moving nearly northwards with a speed of 13 kmph during past six hours and lay centred at 0530 hours IST on Monday. The storm is very likely to intensify further into a super cyclonic storm by Monday evening.

It is very likely to cross West Bengal-Bangladesh coasts between Digha (West Bengal) and Hatiya Islands (Bangladesh) during the afternoon or evening of May 20 as a very severe cyclonic storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 155-165 kmph gusting up to 185 kmph, the official said. -- PTI

The coronavirus death toll in Delhi mounted to 160, while the total number of COVID-19 cases in the national capital crossed the 10,000-mark on Monday, authorities said.

As many as 299 fresh cases were recorded while the total number of active cases stood at 5,409.

In a bulletin issued on Monday, the Delhi health department said, the death toll from coronavirus infection has risen to 160, and the total number of cases has climbed to 10,054.

It, however, added that the cumulative death figures refer to fatalities where primary cause of death was found to be COVID-19, as per the report of the Death Audit Committee on the basis of case sheets received from various hospitals.

On Sunday, the the total number of cases stood at 9,755, including 148 deaths.

-- PTI

12:11 Khan Market gang is back in business

Chicken and meat shops, stationery shops, dairy, bakeries, sweet shops and photostat shops open at Khan Market as the fourth phase of the Corona lockdown begins today.

Cyclonic storm 'Amphan' is likely to intensify into a super cyclone by Monday evening and hit the West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts as a very severe cyclone with a winds peed upto 185 km per hour on Wednesday, the Home Ministry said. In an advisory to West Bengal and Odisha governments, the ministry said 'Amphan' (pronounced as UM-PUN) is now spotted over the central parts of South Bay of Bengal and the adjoining central Bay of Bengal. It has been moving nearly northwards with a speed of 13 kmph during past six hours and lay centred at 0530 hours IST on Monday, the ministry said.

The cyclone is currently over west-central and adjoining central parts of South Bay of Bengal (near latitude 13.2N and longitude 86.3E) about 790 km nearly south of Paradip (Odisha), 940 km south-southwest of Digha (West Bengal) and 1,060 km south-southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh), a home ministry official said, quoting an India Meteorological Department bulletin.

The storm is very likely to intensify further into a super cyclonic storm by Monday evening, the official said. It is very likely to move north-northeastwards across northwest Bay of Bengal and cross West Bengal-Bangladesh coasts between Digha (West Bengal) and Hatiya Islands (Bangladesh) during the afternoon or evening of May 20 as a very severe cyclonic storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 155-165 kmph gusting upto 185 kmph, the official said.

The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) on Saturday reviewed the preparedness for the impending cyclone and directed immediate assistance to West Bengal and Odisha, which are likely to hit by the storm.

A meeting of the NCMC, headed by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, was held to take stock the preparations for the cyclone. The cabinet secretary took stock of the current situation and preparedness for rescue and relief operations and directed that immediate assistance, as required, be provided, an official statement had said. Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, accompanied by high speed winds and tidal waves are expected in the region. PTI

11:44 Just the decent thing to do

'Human decency made many people help migrant workers get home, or report on them, or speak for them in court; did this, in decency, seem anti-national? When that the poor have cried, human decency hath wept; perfidy should be made of sterner stuff. Yet, Modi's government doesn't much mention the humanitarian emergency his policy made, and is incredibly tight-fisted, except when it comes to spending Rs 20,000 crore digging up the centre of Delhi for a narcissistic remodel in the middle of the worst crisis in Independent India, and Modi is an honourable man.'

Mitali Saran, at her stinging best, in the Deccan Herald, here.

11:25 No respite for migrants

Migrant workers queue up outside Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai to board the 'Shramik Special' trains for Katihar, Samastipur and ishanganj in Bihar.

10:56 Hero auto driver uses savings to feed migrants

In a novel gesture, a 30-year-old auto-rickshaw driver, who saved Rs 2 lakh for his marriage but postponed the ceremony due to the lockdown, is now using the money to feed migrant labourers and those in distress on Pune streets. Akshay Kothawale is not just stopping at that, but also helping senior citizens and pregnant women by offering them free rides to clinics in his vehicle, and also going around the city creating awareness on how to stay protected against the coronavirus. With the help of his friends, Kothawale is using the money he saved for his wedding to prepare food for nearly 400 people every day. They then go around the city streets and distribute the food among migrant labourers and poor people.

Talking to PTI, Kothawale, who comes from a humble background, said he feels happy to be able to help others in this time of crisis. "While working as an auto-rickshaw driver, I could save around Rs 2 lakh for my marriage, which was scheduled on May 25. But, due to the lockdown extension, we thought it would not be appropriate to have the ceremony now, so my fiancee and I decided to postpone the marriage," he said.

During the lockdown, Kothawale was pained to see several poor people, specially migrant labourers, facing hardships due to no work and no income. "I saw several people on roads who could not even afford to have one meal and were struggling to survive. I and some of my friends then thought of doing something to help the daily wagers and needy people," he said.

"I decided to use my savings for the cause and some of my friends also chipped in," said Kothawale, who is a resident of Timber market area in the Maharashtra city. They then set up a kitchen and started preparing 'chapatis and sabji' (flat bread and vegetables), which they have been distributing at places where migrant labourers and needy people gather.

"Using my auto-rickshaw, we distribute one-time meal among people at Maldhakka Chowk near the railway station, Sangamwadi and Yerawada areas," he said. Since his cash flow is also drying up fast, Kothawale and his friends have now decided to replace 'chapati-sabji' with 'pulao', masala rice or sambhar rice, he said.

"But, we are continuingdistribution of food among the migrant labourers and those in need," he said. The group intends to continue providing food to people at least till May 31 with the help of the funds they have. Kothwala has also put up a loudspeaker on his auto- rickshaw through which he and his friends have been creating awareness among people about the coronavirus and how to stay protected against it. The group has also distributed masks and sanitisers. -- PTI

Image: Migrants in Patna travelling in an auto with their belongings to reach their native place. Pic: ANI

Bollywood actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui and his family members were placed under home quarantine after they reached Budhana town in Muzaffarnagar from Mumbai, police said on Monday.

Siddiqui, along with his family members, reached his hometown on Saturday after getting necessary permission for travel from the authorities in Maharashtra, Superintendent of Police (Rural) Nepal Singh said.

He said the actor and the family members were tested for COVID-19 but their reports came negative. However, they have been placed under mandatory 14-day home quarantine, Singh said.

Nawazuddin's brother Ayazuddin Siddiqui said the actor came to his ancestral place to celebrate Eid with his family. He, however, said the actor will not meet anyone outside the family in the wake of the situation arising out of coronavirus. PTI

Tamil Nadu: Around 50 boats of fishermen damaged in Rameswaram following the thunderstorm and rainfall which hit parts of the state last night.

A 'Very Severe Cyclonic Storm AMPHAN' is expected over central parts of South Bay of Bengal moved north-northeastwards during past six hours. It has now intensified into 'Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm' and lies centred at 0230 hours today over central parts of South Bay of Bengal and adjoining central Bay of Bengal, the IMD says.

t's very likely to move north-northeastwards & move fast across northwest Bay of Bengal & cross West Bengal Bangladesh coasts between Digha (West Bengal) and Hatiya Islands (Bangladesh) during afternoon/evening of 20th May as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm

As India enters the 4th phase in lockdown, there's been no drop in Covid infection figues. The country recorded its highest ever spike of 5242 COVID-19 cases in last 24 hours with 157 death reported in as many hours. The total number of positive cases in India is now at 96,169, including 56,316 active cases, 36,824 cured/discharged/migrated cases, death toll 3029 deaths, says the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The Delhi Government has issued a revised order for disposal of bodies of COVID-19 patients or coronavirus suspected persons. No sample for COVID-19 test will be taken of the body. However, if doctors are satisfied with the clinical examination that the cause of death may be COVID-19 infection, the body may be released as suspected COVID-19 infected body.

The following are the SOPs:

Scenario 1: If, Death occurred at a hospital or COVID-19 positive patient is brought dead: "The hospital should provide a trained healthcare worker to handle and pack body. A hospital should provide hearse van to carry the body to the cremation or burial ground to ensure that no further infection is caused. A properly packed body will be handed over to the relatives as per Government of India guidelines," said the Delhi government. "In case no relative is available, the hospital should store the body in the mortuary after ensuring proper disinfection of the body and the body bag as per the guidelines; Hospital should decide whether to carry out an autopsy or not. The hearse van used must be brought back to the designated area in the district and disinfected as per the protocol before using it again," it added.

Scenario 2: If, death occurred at COVID Care Centre, COVID Health Centre or COVIDTesting Centre of COVID positive person:"It will be managed by the linked hospitals as if it has occurred at their hospital, except the hearse van will be provided by the District Magistrate of the area to transport the body to the mortuary of the link COVID Hospital and further for cremation or burial of the body.

Scenario 3: If, death occurs outside the Health Care Facility of a COVID-19 positive person at home:"The relatives of the deceased should immediately inform the office of the District Magistrate of their area of jurisdiction. District magistrate shall immediately inform the nearest Hospital in the district. District Magistrate of the area shall provide hearse van to carry the body to the hospital and thereafter for cremation or burial to ensure that no infection is caused," said Delhi Government.

"Trained healthcare worker shall be provided by the designated hospital to District Magistrate for the hearse van. They will handle and pack the body ensuring proper disinfection of the body and body bag as per the guidelines. The body will be brought to the hospital for needful," it added.

Scenario 4: If unclaimed or otherwise a body found at a public place:"If the death is not falling in any of the categories of COVID-19 infection death, the body would be handled by the agencies like Delhi Police or local civic bodies," it said.In view of above, All DM/MS/MDs/Directors of the Hospitals and Delhi Police are hereby directed to follow the above procedure to ensure protection from the spread of infection of COVID-19, the order read. -- ANI

In a bid to allay fears of the OCI card holders over the temporary suspension of their long-term visas, India's Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan has said the government will soon take an appropriate decision. He also invited members of the Indian diaspora to invest in the country in view of the recent economic reforms announced by the government.

Participating in a virtual panel discussion with Indian-Americans on COVID-19, organised jointly by the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) and the Bihar Jharkhand Association of North America (BAJNA) on Sunday, Muraleedharan was flooded with queries over the OCI (overseas citizen of India) card issue.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was aware of it and will take an appropriate decision soon. A large number of Indian citizens whose children are OCI card holders and several people of Indian-origin having the card are unable to travel to India, even for emergency reasons, because of the temporarily suspension of their long-term visa.

"This is step-motherly treatment with people of Indian origin and against the very ethos and spirit behind it," said Jaipur Foot USA chairman Prem Bhandari.

India's top leadership, including Prime Minister Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Home Minister Amit Shah, are personally aware of it and they have no doubt whatsoever about the Indianness of the overseas Indian community, Muraleedharan said in response to a question.

"I understand the agony of the OCI card holders. Please do not have any ill will," he said, assuring the participants that the prime minister will take appropriate decision on this issue soon. Muraleedharan urged the diaspora to invest in India given the opportunity being offered by the major economic reforms announced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.

"Perhaps, India has never had such an economic reform. This is a great opportunity for the Indian diaspora to come and invest in India," he said. The announcements by Sitharaman in the last five days are a clear indication of how and what the Indian diaspora should look for, he said. PTI

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla has written to Chief Secretaries of all states and Union Territories, asking them to ensure compliance of new guidelines issued for the extended lockdown till May 31 and also reiterated not to dilute the guidelines.

"I would urge you to ensure compliance of the new guidelines and direct all concerned authorities for their strict implementation. Further guidelines issued by the MHA and consequent orders issued by the respective state governments/UT administrations should be widely disseminated to the public and to the field functionaries for the convenience of people," Bhalla said on Sunday.

He also reiterated that "states and UTs cannot dilute restrictions imposed vide the aforesaid guidelines issued by the MHA. "States/UTs, based on their assessment of the situation, may prohibit certain other activities in various zones, or impose such restrictions as deemed necessary," Bhalla said.

The Home Secretary stated that under the new guidelines effective from May 18, "states and UTs will now categorise Red, Orange and Green zones taking into consideration the revised guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on May 17."

"Inside the red/orange zones, containment and buffer zones will be identified by the district administration/local urban bodies with technical inputs at the local level and by taking into consideration the Health Ministry guidelines," he said.

Within the containment zones, strict perimeter control shall be maintained and no movement of persons would be allowed across the zones, except for medical emergencies and for maintaining the supply of essential goods and services, Bhalla further said. -- ANI

08:39

Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray and 8 other newly elected MLCs will take oath as Members of Legislative Council today at 1 pm.

08:38 US to deport 161 Indians this week

The United States this week will deport 161 Indian nationals, most of whom had entered the country from its southern border with Mexico and have exhausted all legal options. A special chartered flight will take them to Punjab's Amritsar.

Among those on the list to be deported, the maximum 76 are from Haryana, followed by 56 from Punjab; 12 from Gujarat; five from Uttar Pradesh; four from Maharashtra ; two each from Kerala, Telengana and Tamil Nadu; and each from Andhra Pradesh and Goa. According to Satnam Singh Chahal, executive director, North American Punjabi Association (NAPA), they are from among the 1,739 Indians languishing in 95 jails across the US.

They were arrested by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE while trying to enter the United States illegally. According to an ICE report, the US deported 611 Indian nationals in 2018, which rose over two-and-a-half times to 1,616 in 2019. NAPA said among the 161 to be deported to India, three are women. -- PTI

File pic

08:35 Obama was 'grossly incompetent president': Trump

US President Donald Trump on Sunday called his predecessor Barak Obama a 'grossly incompetent president'. The Trump's reaction came after Obama on Saturday criticised the US authorities' response to the coronavirus outbreak.

"He (Obama) was an incompetent president. That's all I can say. Grossly incompetent," Trump told reporters at the White House on his arrival from Camp David. Trump was responding to a question on the virtual commencement address by Obama a day earlier.

In his address to college graduates, Obama had said that the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the American leadership. "More than anything, this pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what they're doing," Obama said without naming officials.

"A lot of them aren't even pretending to be in charge," he added. There was no immediate response from the office of the former president on the remarks made by Trump. -- PTI

US President Donald Trump said that there is a significant decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases across the United States.

"The number of Coronavirus cases is strongly trending downward throughout the United States, with few exceptions. Very good news, indeed!" Trump wrote on Twitter.

A total of 1,486,423 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the United States, according to the Johns Hopkins University. The number of deaths in the country is over 89,550.

In April, the daily increase in the coronavirus cases in the US was around 36,000 which has since come down, Sputnik reported.

The United States is worst-hit country globally in the number of reported COVID-19 deaths and cases.

Meanwhile, there are more than 4.7 million COVID-19 cases worldwide and over 315,000 deaths.

-- ANI

Office of the Special Relief Commissioner Odisha said that concerned government departments and 12 coastal and adjoining districts have been alerted and advised to undertake required measures in the backdrop impending danger from cyclone Amphan.

"Concerned departments of the government and 12 coastal and adjoining districts (Gajapati, Ganjam, Nayagarh, Puri, Khordha, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore and Mayurbhanj) have been alerted and they have been advised to undertake required preparedness measures to effectively handle the disaster.

Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur districts have been instructed to remain fully prepared," read a press release from Office of the Special Relief Commissioner, Odisha.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reviewed the preparedness on May 16 with concerned Departments and Collectors of 12 vulnerable districts.

"The District Administration of vulnerable districts have been directed to keep Multipurpose Cyclone and Flood Shelters in readiness and to identify other suitable RCC roofed public buildings for use as safe shelters in case of requirement," it read.

-- ANI

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