GK General Knowledge
Remove Blockades By Karnataka On Highway, Kerala High Court Tells Centre Kerala High Court said any delay in issuing directions could entail loss of precious lives
Thiruvananthapuram:The Kerala High Court has issued strong directions to the central government, asking it to intervene against blockades erected by Karnataka on the National Highway connecting Kerala, and ensure they are removed. The blockades were set up by Karnataka to check the coronavirus outbreak.
Further delay in issuing directions could entail loss of precious lives of our citizens, a two judge bench stated on Wednesday.
The petition was filed by the Kerala High Court Advocates Association seeking to lift the blockade. Karnataka government had last week blocked several arterial roads between Karnataka and Kerala with mud to prohibit cross-border movement and also has not allowed ambulances from Kerala to cross the border from the National Highways.
We expect the Central Government to act expeditiously in this matter... Central government should ensure that the blockades by Karnataka must be removed, the High Court order states.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display( adslotNativeVideo ); });The arterial roads connecting Mangalore in Karnataka to Kasaragod in Kerala, are part of the National Highway network, and the centre must ensure they are kept blockade free, the order explains.
No doubt, restrictions may be imposed in times of a national emergency such as the present, but when the guidelines issued by the Central Government under the Disaster Management Act itself permits travel for urgent medical treatment, then the said guidelines have necessarily to be enforced by the Central Government through the removal of the blockades that prevent such travel, the order stated.
Karnataka had blocked connectivity to Kerala at borders, not allowing medical emergencies to enter from one state to another. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi against the blockade, citing difficulties in movement of essential commodities and people seeking expert medical help. Mr Vijayan had also told the media that he tried speaking to Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa several times, but couldn t.
Comments Haryana Nurse Tests Positive For COVID-19 After Using Patient s Phone Total number of COVID-19 positive cases has reached 1,637 in India. (File)
Panchkula:A nurse working in a Panchkula hospital has tested positive for coronavirus after she used the mobile phone of a COVID-19 patient under her care.
The nurse who has tested positive for coronavirus was attending a patient already infected with the virus, Dr Jasjeet Kaur, civil surgeon, Panchkula Civil hospital said on Wednesday.
However, she added that using the possibly infected cell phone could not be the only reason behind the nurse catching the infection.
Though she had used the phone of the coronavirus infected patient, it cannot be the only reason for her to have got affected, Dr Kaur said.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display( adslotNativeVideo ); });As of now, only two affected patients are admitted in the hospital and 28 people have been kept in isolation, she added.
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of COVID-19 positive cases has reached 1637 in India, including 1466 active cases, 133 cured/discharged/migrated people and 38 deaths.
Comments Air Force Pilots Transport Aircraft Safely After Engine Catches Fire Indian Air Force Pilots safely landed Avro aircraft at Agra airbase. (Representational)
Agra:Indian Air Force Pilots safely landed Avro aircraft at Agra airbase on Tuesday after one of its engines caught fire at an altitude of around 250 feet, according to IAF sources.
The incident took place soon after the plane took off from the airbase with supplies. Both the pilots are safe.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display( adslotNativeVideo ); });(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Comments Need To Adopt Global Response To COVID-19: PM Modi Tells Chinese Premier PM Modi said he looked forward to working with the Chinese Premier (File)
New Delhi:Leaders of India and China have exchanged messages of felicitation to mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries today with Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveying to his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang that COVID-19 pandemic was a reminder of the interconnected nature of the world today and there was a need to adopt a truly global response to it.
An External Affairs Ministry release said that messages of felicitation have been exchanged between the Presidents, Prime Ministers and External Affairs Ministers of India and China to mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations on April 1, 2020.
In his message to Li Keqiang, PM Modi said that India and China were two ancient civilizations, with a long history of mutually beneficial exchanges over centuries.
He said good relations between the two countries were important from the perspective of peace, stability, and prosperity of the region and the world.
Today, we are two large developing countries and emerging economies who are increasingly playing an important role on the global landscape. As such, good relations between India and China are conducive not only for our respective countries but are also important from the perspective of peace, stability and prosperity of our region and the world, the Prime Minister said.
The COVID-19 pandemic was a reminder to us of the interconnected nature of our world today and the need therefore to adopt a truly global response to it, he added.
PM Modi said he looked forward to working with the Chinese Premier to further deepen and strengthen our Closer Developmental Partnership and take it to even greater heights in the years to come .
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in his letter to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, remarked that in the last seven decades India-China relations have expanded substantially and become increasingly diverse and multifaceted.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display( adslotNativeVideo ); });He added that due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the two sides have been unable to carry out the various activities that had been planned to celebrate this historic anniversary.
Nonetheless, we should continue to work cooperatively in the coming months and, once we and the world are able to control the COVID-19 outbreak, celebrate this milestone in a manner duly reflective of its significance and the common aspirations of our two peoples, he said.
President Ram Nath Kovind, in his letter to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, conveyed warm greetings, felicitations, and good wishes to the government and the people of China, and observed that the two sides have made considerable progress especially in the last few years in enhancing our bilateral engagement in a number of areas, including political, economic and people-to-people ties .
The ministry said due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, India and China have so far not been able to prepare and carry out the various activities that had been planned to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Nevertheless, even as both countries continue to address the challenges posed by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, they remain engaged in discussions on commemorating this historic anniversary in a manner truly reflective of its significance and the common aspirations of their two peoples, it said.
The release said that the two sides are currently working together to jointly design a logo to mark these celebrations.
Comments Attacks On Doctors, Healthcare Workers Rise Amid COVID-19 Pandemic Doctors and healthcare workers have been attacked by people over deaths due to COVID-19
New Delhi:Doctors at Hyderabad s Gandhi Hospital were allegedly attacked after a patient with multiple illnesses died of COVID-19 today. The 49-year-old man was critical and tested positive for coronavirus around a week ago. After his death, two of his family members blamed the doctors for it and allegedly attacked them.
Gandhi Hospital s doctors claim that these incidents are happening frequently. Requesting protection and assurance from the chief minister, the doctors wrote to the police.
These attacks on healthcare workers are however not limited to Hyderabad alone.
In Madhya Pradesh s Indore, angry locals threw stones at healthcare workers and civic officials who went to screen people for coronavirus in the city s Taat Patti Bakhal area. This comes two days after locals of Ranipura area of the city allegedly spat at officials and abused them during screening.
#CoronaUpdate Locals pelt Stones on health department officials in Taat patti Indore, engaged in screening of #COVID19Pandemic@ndtv@digvijaya_28@BeingSalmanKhan@ChouhanShivraj@OfficeOfKNath#CoronaVirusUpdates#COVID19#lockdownpic.twitter.com/SbJA5Iiwjk
- Anurag Dwary (@Anurag_Dwary) April 1, 2020Two cases were reported from Taat Patti Bakhal and as many as 54 families have been put under home isolation. Yet the resistance from locals continues. Both areas have been declared COVID-19 hotspots in the city.
Sources said that a team of two doctors were on sent to the area for screening of locals.
The coronavirus pandemic has forced the country to shut down for 21 days. And police has been trying to ensure it is followed diligently. Police has also extended help to the healthcare workers who are often at the receiving end of people s anger.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display( adslotNativeVideo ); });Telangana s Director General of Police condemned the attack on the doctors of Gandhi hospital and said security of the doctors will be increased with immediate effect.
Similarly in Indore, officials have zeroed in on a suspect.
We have identified one garage owner who will be arrested; some of the residents hurled abuses and also threw stones at the team forcing them to stop their screening work and leave the area but no injury to anyone was reported in the incident, Collector Manish Singh said.
The coronavirus outbreak has been spreading exponentially around the world and has affected over 1,800 people in India and 8 lakh globally.
Comments Padma Shri Recipient Nirmal Singh Tests Positive For Coronavirus Nirmal Singh was awarded the Padma Shri in 2009. (Representational)
Amritsar:Padma Shri recipient and former Hazoori Raagi at the Golden Temple, Nirmal Singh, has tested positive for coronavirus, a health official said on Wednesday.
The report of the samples of the 62-year-old Gurbani exponent came positive, Civil Surgeon Prabhdeep Kaur Johal said in Amritsar.
Mr Singh, who recently returned from abroad, was admitted to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital after he complained of breathlessness and dizziness on March 30, she said.
Meanwhile, police sealed the area around Mr Singh s residence to check the spread of the infection.
According to officials, Singh had held a large sammelan (religious gathering) in Delhi and some other places after he returned from abroad.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display( adslotNativeVideo ); });Mr Singh, along with his family members and other relatives, had performed a kirtan at a house in Chandigarh on March 19.
The civil surgeon said his two daughters, son, wife, a driver and six others who accompanied him have been isolated at a hospital here and their samples will be taken for testing.
She further said the Chandigarh administration has been informed about the religious gathering organised by him at Sector 27.
Mr Singh has the knowledge of all 31 raags in the Gurbani of the Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh holy book). He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2009.
Comments 21-Day Coronavirus Lockdown Leaves No One At All For Harvests Farmers will struggle to sell their produce amid the coronavirus lockdown in the country
New Delhi / Singapore:A severe shortage of labour, triggered by the nationwide 21-day lockdown to curb the spread of the new coronavirus, will disrupt harvesting of winter crops in India - the world s second largest producer of staple food grains, such as wheat.
Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, considered the bread basket of the country, rely on farm labourers from the eastern part of the country, but after the lockdown began on March 24, most of them returned home to their villages.
We ve never seen anything like this, said Ramandeep Singh Mann, a farmer from Punjab, whose family grows wheat, rice and cotton on more than 45 acres (18 hectares) and would employ about 10 workers if they used mechanical harvesters.
We ve no one at all for harvests.
Mr Mann is just one of thousands of farmers concerned he will be unable to get mechanical harvesters to fields or even manage to gather by hand crops likely to be ripe in mid-April.
Late harvests mean lower yields, reduced returns, and a smaller window to plant next season s crops, as well as leaving crops vulnerable to rain and hailstorms.
India has stockpiles of wheat, rice and sugar for its own population and has not been exporting wheat, so international grains markets are unlikely to be affected for now by the labour issues.
But trade and industry officials say delays in arrival, berthing and other shipping operations could affect rice exports, while the lack of workers could limit exports of fresh vegetables, such as onions.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display( adslotNativeVideo ); });Even if farmers manage to bring in the harvest, they could struggle to get produce to market because of a lack of drivers for the trucks that can carry large volumes.
Most farmers sell produce at wholesale markets, which depend on large numbers of labourers to unload produce and weigh and pack grain. The staffing shortage could also delay farmers payments for produce.
Who is going to put grains in the bag, bring produce to wholesale markets, and then transport it to various storage facilities? asked Jadish Lal, a merchant at the Khanna grain market in Punjab.
In sum, the labour shortage is likely to paralyse activity at the wholesale markets, Sudhir Panwar, head of the farmers group Kisan Jagriti Manch said, adding vegetable and horticulture growers are likely to struggle to sell produce, as well as the wheat and rapeseed farmers.
The country has forecast wheat output at a record 106.21 million tonnes this year, and farmers are likely to produce 7.8 million tonnes of rapeseed.
Some farmers harvested early sown wheat and rapeseed varieties in March, but most growers will collect ripening crops by mid-April.
India has so far seen 1,834 infections and 41 deaths from the coronavirus outbreak, which has caused more than 850,000 cases worldwide, with more than 42,000 deaths.
Comments Tele-Rehabilitation Programmes For Children With Special Needs During Covid-19 The CDMRP is providing online assistance to children by providing adequate home training programs.
Kozhikode:As the spread of coronavirus grows, children with developmental disabilities are facing different challenges at home including behavioral and other related issues. These difficulties have become a major concern for the parents as children most cases could not attend the therapy sessions due to the Covid-19 lockdown imposed across the country.
To address this problem, Community Disability Management and Rehabilitation Program (CDMRP), a joint initiative by Department of Psychology, University of Calicut and Social Justice Department , Government of Kerala, has begun tele-rehabilitation program for the Children with developmental Disabilities.
Hundreds of children are benefiting this on a daily basis, an official told NDTV.
The Centre is providing online assistance to children by providing adequate home training programs and parental education programs in the view of the lockdown.
CDMRP has also started a new mobile application for children with learning problems named Ilakal Pacha , with all training assistance with the mode of effective and creative mix of learning alphabets and words.
This app is developed by Beena Manoj,Clinical psychologist-CDMRP.
This mobile app is one of the flagship schemes by the CDMRP for differently abled children and first of its kind in Kerala, making easier for children to learn at home.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display( adslotNativeVideo ); });The application paves way to learn alphabets and words both in English and Malayalam more creatively and effectively through fun and entertainment, says Prof Dr Manikandan, Director CDMRP.
CDMRP YouTube channel , created by the centre is also providing various information on different tasks for children to do at home for behavior management and attention enhancement etc.
Currently, the Centre has also made several in-clinic therapy and management activities online with the assistance of expert therapists of the CDMRP.
The video demonstrations of various activities to perform at home is also provided through online through the Channel with the regular follow up of the Expert therapists at each community Clinic.
Established in 2015, currently CDMRP, has an advanced disability management Centre at Department of Psychology, University of Calicut and ten community clinics across three districts of Kerala, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Kannur Respectively.
More than hundred and fifty cases are being seen on a daily basis by different therapists and a total of more than seven thousand children are beneficiaries as of now of Centre s endeavours.
COVID-19 Does Not Mean Much For Climate : UN Agency We expect the impact will be fairly short-lived, a UN agency official said.
Geneva:Though factories have shut, planes have been grounded and cars left in the garage, the coronavirus pandemic is having very little impact on climate change, the World Meteorological Organization said Wednesday.
Any reductions in pollution and carbon dioxide emissions are likely to be temporary, said Lars Peter Riishojgaard, from the infrastructure department of the WMO, a United Nations agency based in Geneva.
It does not mean much for climate, he told a virtual press conference.
Lars Peter Riishojgaard said there was a lot of media speculation about what impact the global pandemic might have on the climate, greenhouse gas emissions and longer-term global warming.
The UN agency official said that there
The answer to that is it probably does not mean very much, he said.
While in the short term, carbon dioxide emissions would go down as cars stay put and aircraft remain on the ground, we expect the impact will be fairly short-lived, Lars Peter Riishojgaard said.
The pandemic will be over at some point and the world will start going back to work and with that, the CO2 emissions will pick up again, maybe or maybe not to quite the same level.
He said visibility in cities such as New Delhi had improved because there were fewer traffic-emitting fumes, but cautioned that it was only down to an artificial halt to normal activity.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display( adslotNativeVideo ); });You could see it as maybe science experiment: what happens if all of a sudden we turn the whole thing off? he said.
It will lead some people, and perhaps also some governments, to rethink.
He reflected on China shutting down much industrial production during the Beijing 2008 Olympics.
They demonstrated very clearly that you can absolutely, if you have enough control over the situation, you can turn off the air pollution, he said.
But I don t think we should claim victory here yet because things will pick up again eventually.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Comments Mumbai Civic Body Identifies Containment Zones To Curb COVID-19 Spread Mumbai s containment zones include slums, nursing homes, housing colonies (Representational)
Mumbai:The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has identified over 145 containment zones across the city and sealed some of them completely with the help of police to prevent the spread of coronavirus, an official said on Wednesday.
The civic body identified these containment zones, where either one or more COVID-19 cases were found or suspected patients lived, the official said.
These containment zones include slums, isolated buildings, nursing homes and housing colonies, he said.
Some areas, including Worli Koliwada, Prabhadevi and Bimbisar Nagar in the western suburb of Goregaon, fell under the red zone and were sealed completely with the help of the police, he added.
All the entry and exit points of these red zones are barricaded and no one is allowed to go in and out of these areas, the official said, adding that disinfectants were also sprayed to sanitise these places.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display( adslotNativeVideo ); });Meanwhile, a Shiv Sena corporator from Central Mumbai said that Municipal Commissioner Praveen Pardeshi had held a meeting with city corporators through video-conferencing on Tuesday and asked them to provide assistance to people living in containment zones.
The BMC is making all necessary arrangements in these areas, but we have been asked to provide food or other necessary things, he added.
Till Wednesday evening, the number of coronavirus positive patients in Mumbai were 181, including 12 deaths.
Comments Haryana Awards COVID Soldiers For Creativity During Lockdown Haryana has suffered Rs 3,000 crore revenue loss this month amid lockdown, Manohar Lal Khattar said
Chandigarh:The Haryana government has come up with a competition - COVID Soldier - in order to ensure the people of the state are productively engaged during the nationwide lockdown, imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19 caused by a novel coronavirus.
Haryana has launched the competition even as citizens across the country are fighting the global pandemic by staying in their homes since Prime Minister Narendra Modi shut down the country from March 24 midnight.
Those who wish to take part in the competition can visit the official website of the Haryana government - https://haryana.mygov.in/. The participants will have to submit innovative ideas regarding hygiene best practices like washing hands, social distancing, and preventing the spread of rumors related to COVID-19.
Under the competition, which began on March 21, the selected entries for original poems, songs, stories will be awarded cash prizes every day.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display( adslotNativeVideo ); });No fresh COVID-19 case was detected today in Haryana which has seen 29 coronavirus cases so far, a bulletin issued by the state health department said. The figure does not include the 14 Italian tourists who were earlier admitted to a private hospital in Gurgaon for treatment.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Tuesday that the state has suffered a revenue loss of nearly Rs 3,000 crore this month and the figure is set to double next month in the wake of the situation arising from the coronavirus pandemic.
Prime Minister Modi has imposed a 21-day lockdown that will end in mid-April in an attempt to contain the spread of the contagious disease which has infected over 1,600 people in the country and over 8 lakh worldwide.
Comments Gujarat Court Seeks Details Of Delhi Mosque Event Attendees From State Many of the participants of the congregation had come from countries such as Indonesia. (File)
Ahmedabad:The Gujarat High Court on Wednesday asked the government to furnish details of those who arrived in the state after attending a congregation of Tabligh-e-Jamaat in Delhi, and inform about the steps taken to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection due to them.
The congregation in Delhi s Nizamuddin area last month has turned out to be a hotspot of coronavirus.
A division bench of Chief Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Ashutosh Shastri also directed the Central and state governments to inform what corrective or punitive measures were being taken, or can be taken, if the participants in the congregation in New Delhi were found to have traveled to India and within the country in violation of visa rules.
Many of the participants of the congregation had come from countries such as Indonesia.
The court passed the order, seeking replies by April 3, while hearing a suo motu Public Interest Litigation about coronavirus pandemic.
It observed that infections spreading from the religious congregation held in the national capital last month posed an equally big challenge to the nation when it is already crippled with and is facing the challenge of dealing with the pandemic of coronavirus.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display( adslotNativeVideo ); });Earlier in the day, the Gujarat government had stated that at least 1,500 people from Gujarat were present in Nizamuddin area of Delhi when the congregation was being held.
The court took cognizance of the coronavirus outbreak suo motu (on its own) on March 13 and sought response from the government about the measures it was taking to check it.
The matter was listed for hearing on April 4, but the hearing was advanced on the Chief Justice s orders following media reports about the Nizamuddin event taking place despite warnings about such gatherings, and many of the attendees later traveling to other parts of India including Gujarat.
The hearing was conducted through video conference.
Comments Coronavirus Cases In Delhi Rise To 152 53 people who took part in the Tablighi event tested positive for coronavirus in Delhi
New Delhi:The number of novel coronavirus cases in Delhi climbed to 152 on Wednesday after 32 new infections were reported in the past 24 hours, the Chief Minister s Office said.
These 152 cases include 53 people who took part in a religious congregation in Delhi s Nizamuddin last month, it tweeted.
🏥 Delhi Health Bulletin - 1st April 2020 🏥
New Positive Cases - 32
Total Positive Cases - 152
Foreign Travel Cases - 51
Contacts History Cases - 29
Markaz Masjid Cases - 53
Under Investigation - 19
Discharged/Migrated out - 06/01
Death - 02#DelhiFightsCorona
Six people have been discharged, two died, while one has migrated out of the country, the CMO tweeted.
Till Tuesday night, the number of COVID-19 cases in Delhi stood at 120, including two deaths.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display( adslotNativeVideo ); });At least three doctors of government hospitals have tested positive for COVID-19 infection, officials said.
Comments Jostling For Space On Ground, Planes Find Parking On Runway Amid Lockdown Most of the aircraft in the country s commercial fleet have been grounded amid lockdown (FILE)
New Delhi:As commercial flight services remain suspended, hundreds of planes across the country seem to be jostling for space at airports with some of them even being parked on runways and bays near them, according to industry officials.
With the country under a 21-day lockdown in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak, domestic and international flights have been banned till April 14. Cargo flights and special flights approved by aviation regulator DGCA are operating in the Indian airspace.
The country s commercial fleet of aircraft is around 650 in number and most of them have been grounded. A few are being used to ferry cargo to and from different parts of the country, and some to operate special flights.
The Indira Gandhi International Airport in the national capital is the country s largest aerodrome and has 194 parking stands for planes. This excludes stands available for general aviation purposes.
General aviation refers to use of planes for recreation and chartered services, among others.
The airport, operated by DIAL, handled 69.8 million passengers and 1.04 million metric tonne of cargo in 2019. It has three passenger terminals and one cargo terminal.
State-owned Airports Authority of India (AAI) Chairman Arvind Singh said it has been able to manage parking of planes.
AAI manages 137 airports and out of them, 107 are operational.
So far we have been able to manage. In Delhi airport, a runway that is operational in normal times is being used to park aircraft, Singh told PTI.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display( adslotNativeVideo ); });When contacted, a Delhi airport spokesperson said the aerodrome has 194 parking stands, excluding the stands for general aviation aircraft.
As part of normal operations, all parking stands are used on a daily basis including remote stands. While all three runways are operational, at present runway 9/27 is closed due to lack of demand, the spokesperson said.
Budget airline AirAsia s COO Ankur Garg said that due to the temporary suspension of commercial air passenger services, airports have allowed airlines to park at the remote bay area near runways due to space constraints.
Many hangars are also being used as spaces to park the aircraft and we are not facing any shortage of parking bay at any of the airports. We have worked with the airports and managed to secure parking slots as per our requirements, he said.
Low-cost carrier GoAir s spokesperson said all its aircraft are secured and parked at various airports.
We have worked with airports and managed to secure parking slots as per our requirements, a spokesperson for full service carrier Vistara said.
Queries sent to the country s largest airline IndiGo, national carrier Air India and budget airline SpiceJet regarding parking of their aircraft remained unanswered.
There was no comment from Mumbai airport operator MIAL.
Comments Punjab Police Release Song To Spread Awareness Over Contagious Virus Sub-inspector Baljinder Singh urges people to fight coronavirus with will power through the song
Chandigarh:A Punjab police sub-inspector has found a unique way to spread awareness about precautionary measures against the novel coronavirus pandemic.
In the video that has now gone viral on social media, sub-inspector Baljinder Singh can be seen singing a Punjabi song to caution people about protecting the elders and their children, earning praises from the chief minister.
Desh mere de vasiyo, ek ral ke muhim challayee, iss corona virus utte ethe hi bann laayey (People of the country, we should collectively run a campaign against coronavirus and prevent it from spreading), sings Mr Singh.
He asks people to use masks, sanitisers and gloves to keep the deadly COVID-19 at bay, and urged them to do a namaste from a safe distance.
The song is written by Assistant Sub-Inspector Partap Paras.
The video of the song shows cops training children from the poor about how to wear masks and giving sanitisers to the people for use.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display( adslotNativeVideo ); });The cops were also shown distributing food and other essential items to the needy.
In the song, Mr Singh also urges people to follow all steps recommended by the health authorities to check spread of infection.
Is aafat de agge datt ke khadiye, ichcha shakti naal is virus naal ladiye (we should face the virus with all our strength and fight it with will power), he says in the four-minute song.
Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has shared the video of the song on his Twitter handle.
A song on precautions against Coronavirus by SI Baljinder Singh of @PunjabPoliceIndia. A creative way of spreading awareness on COVID-19, Mr Singh tweeted.
A song on precautions against Coronavirus by SI Baljinder Singh of @PunjabPoliceIndia. A creative way of spreading awareness on #COVIDー19. pic.twitter.com/Qvbc9bMWo1
— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) April 1, 2020The song came after many police officials at several places were criticised for brutally thrashing people for violating curfew restrictions last week.
Comments NEET, JEE Main Application Correction Window Reopened. Details Here NEET, JEE Main correction window reopened @ ntaneet.nic.in, jeemain.nta.nic.in
New Delhi:The National Testing Agency (NTA) has reopened the JEE Main and NEET application form correction correction window at jeemain.nta.nic.in and ntaneet.nic.in portals respectively. The NTA has already postponed the April edition of JEE Main examination and May NEET examination due to the coronavirus outbreak in the country. Both the examinations, which are being conducted for engineering and medical undergraduate admissions in the country, will now be held in the last week of May, according to a statement from the Agency.
In view of the hardships faced by the aspirants of NEET (UG)-2020 in making corrections in the particulars in the Online Application Form due to COVID19 epidemic, the National Testing Agency has further given the facility for making corrections in the particulars in the Online Application Form, the statement on NEET application form correction said.
In view of the hardships faced by the aspirants of JEE (Main) 2020 in making corrections in the particulars in the Online Application Form due to COVID-19 epidemic, the National Testing Agency has further given the facility for making corrections in the particulars in the Online Application Form, the NTA said in another statement regarding JEE Main said.
Candidates are given chance to make changes in their application forms from April 1, 2020 to April 14, 2020.
The requisite fee can be paid through Credit/Debit Card/ Net Banking/UPI and PAYTM.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display( adslotNativeVideo ); });The candidates are requested to undertake the correction(s) very carefully as no further chance of correction will be provided to the candidates. In case, additional fee payment is required depending on the changes made in the form, the final updates will be reflected after the payment, the NTA statement said.
The additional amount (if applicable) can be paid through Credit/Debit Card/ Net Banking.
Click here for more Education News
Comments No Pending Exams For CBSE Class 10 Students No pending exams for CBSE class 10 students, to hold main papers for northeast Delhi students.
New Delhi:After the education ministry asked the Central Board of Secondary Education or CBSE to conduct only main subjects that will be required for promotion and crucial for admissions , the Board will no longer hold the pending class 10 examinations across the country. However, the Board will announce dates for north east Delhi students who missed their examinations due to the law and order situation in February last week. Along with this, Board has also decided to not to conduct pending annual examinations for class 10 and class 12 students who are studying in CBSE-affiliated schools in foreign countries.
The Board, which conducts annual secondary and higher secondary certificate examinations for class 10 and class 12 students, had postponed the examinations scheduled from March 19 to 31 in view of the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.
That time, only two class 10 examinations were left to be held; Information and Communication Technology and Computer Applications. Now the Board has decided to not to conduct these two papers which were earlier scheduled to be held on March 20, 2020.
CBSE will later announce dates for class 10 students from northeast Delhi for these following subjects: Hindi Course A, Hindi Course B, English Comm, English Language and Literature, Science and Social Science.
The Board will conduct examinations for only main subjects that will be required for promotion and maybe crucial for admissions in higher educational institutions, CBSE said in a statement released on Wednesday.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display( adslotNativeVideo ); });For the rest of the subjects, the Board will not hold examinations; the instructions for marking/assessment in all such cases shall be separately issued by the Board, the statement added.
Due to the law and order situation in North East Delhi District the board was not able to conduct exams on 4 examination days, while a very small number of students from and around this District were not able to appear in exams on 6 examination days.
Click here for more Education News
Comments Anna University To Remain Shut Till April 14, Faculty To Work From Home Anna University will remain shut till April 14
New Delhi:Anna University has extended the closure of all departments and affiliated colleges till April 14, 2020. During this period, the University says, faculty members and teaching fellows should teach their classes online to all the course students.
The University has also encouraged them to explore other options including WhatsApp to send notes etc. to help students continue their studies while at home. The University has asked Researchers to work from home too.
Technical and non-technical administrative staff, however, has to remain available for any clarifications or any other urgent work.
The University has also urged everyone to observe all the preventive measures issued time and again for containment of coronavirus.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display( adslotNativeVideo ); });Educational Institutes across the country had suspended classes and postponed examinations until March 31 and had resorted to online learning resources after directions from UGC and MHRD. Later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nation-wide lockdown for 21 days which commenced on March 25. With approximately two weeks of lockdown left, the educational institutes naturally are extending their closure till at least April 14.
Revised dates for all suspended activities will be announced later. Students should check their respective institute s website regular for updates. Board exams were also postponed across the country and will now be scheduled after a review of the prevailing conditions after lockdown is over.
Coronavirus Outbreak: Full Coverage | Cases in India | Helplines | FAQs
Click here for more Education News
Comments Trump Urged To Suspend H-1B Visas After Job Loss Amid COVID-19 Layoffs US President Donald Trump has been urged to suspend the H-1B visa programme for 2020 (File)
Washington:A US body representing American technology workers has urged President Donald Trump to suspend for this year the H-1B visa programme, the most sought-after among the Indian IT professionals, to protect their interests amidst the massive layoffs in the country due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.
Companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.
US Tech Workers, a non-profit organisation which describes itself as representing the voices of American workers harmed by the H-1B visa programme, in its letter to Donald Trump also urged him to suspend the H-2B visa programmes for the foreign guest workers too.
We have written a letter asking that the H-1B & H-2B visa programme be suspended for this year due to the economic fallout from the coronavirus. Letters have been sent to the office of the President, to his Chief of Staff, & to all members of congress, the organisation said.
H-2B visas are mostly for foreign farm workers. US businesses hire people from Latin American countries.
With the historical displacement of workers, compounded by the current crisis, it is very concerning that the Department of Homeland Security is working to accelerate the delivery of H-1B and H2-B workers to the United States. We ask that you stand up for the productive class of this country and protect the interest of American workers, the letter said.
According to some reports, the Department of Labour would be looking at 50-70 million unemployed Americans by the end of April.
Last Thursday, unemployment claims ramped to three millions, shattering the record high of 695,000 in October 1982, the letter pointed out.
We urge you to pause the H-1B visa programme that would bring in 85,000 workers this year and suspend the recently approved addition of 35,000 workers for the H-2B visa. Overall the importation of workers should be undertaken with great caution during this period of tremendous uncertainty, the letter said.
Battling both a pandemic and the resulting fallout to our economy from the coronavirus is no time to approve employment visas for more foreign workers, wrote US Tech Workers in the letter to President Trump.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display( adslotNativeVideo ); });Economic experts fear massive layoffs in various sectors of the American economy due to the current economic distress that is only going to deteriorate in the coming months.
A record 3.3 million Americans have filed initial jobless claims for the week ending March 21.
Even as the peak of coronavirus in the US is two weeks away, millions of people in the country have lost their jobs.
According to an estimate, some 47 million people could be rendered unemployed.
Meanwhile, a report released by the CATO Institute think-tank, said that more than 200,000 petitions filed for Indians could die of old age before they receive green cards. This is mainly because of the projections according to which Indian technology workers would have to wait for decades to receive permanent legal residency or a Green Card.
Based on the statistics obtained from the US government under the Freedom of Information Act, which is similar to India s Right to Information, the institute said that for the first time, the US government has approved more than 1 million petitions for workers, investors, and their families who cannot receive legal permanent residence solely as a result of the low green card caps.
The government is approving nearly two petitions for the employment-based immigrants for every Green Card it is issuing to them. At the current rate of increase, the backlog will exceed 2.4 million by 2030, it said.
Skilled Indian workers make up 75 per cent of the employment-based backlog, and recently backlogged Indian workers face an impossible wait of nine decades if they all could remain in the line, the CATO Institute said.
A Green Card allows a non-US citizen to live and work permanently in America.
According to the estimates by the Johns Hopkins University, there are more than 850,500 confirmed coronavirus cases in the world, and over 41,000 deaths.
The US now has the highest number of cases in the world at 184,183 and more than 4,000 deaths.
4 Women Killed, One Injured In New York Apartment Fire Firefighters have got a major fire at an apartment building under control (Representational)
Four women died and one person was injured after a fire broke out in an apartment building in the Bronx, New York, police and media said late on Tuesday.
The fire broke out in the sixth floor of an apartment and four women from two nearby apartments of the same building were taken to BronxCare Health System, where they were pronounced dead, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, NYPD added. It did not reveal the identity of the deceased.
The New York Times reported that an injured individual was taken to the hospital. The New York City Fire Department did not respond to requests for comment.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio had tweeted about the fire before the news on deaths came out.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display( adslotNativeVideo ); });The firefighters have got a major fire at an apartment building on the Grand Concourse under control, de Blasio said. We re so grateful for their valiant efforts.
Several people are in critical condition. We re praying for them and their families tonight.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Comments