Month: May 2020

India Among Top Ten Worst Hit Countries By Covid-19

By LokMarg

India saw its highest spike of 6,977 COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours as the total number of cases went over 1.38 lakh on Monday with Maharashtra accounting for over 50,000 cases.

The total number of deaths due to COVID-19 now stands at 4,021 in the country with 154 persons dying in the last 24 hours.

India is now among the top 10 countries in the world regarding the total number of COVID-19 cases. The cases have been rising by new levels over the past four days.

Health Ministry said that of the total number of 1,38,845 cases, 77,103 are active cases and 57,721 have been cured/discharged/migrated, taking the recovery rate to 41.57 per cent.

Maharashtra continues to remain the worst affected state with 50,231 COVID-19 cases. A total of 14600 patients have been cured and discharged while 1,635 patients have died so far in the state.

Tamil Nadu, the second worst-affected state, has a total of 17,082 cases. The state reported 805 new COVID-19 cases of which 549 cases are from Chennai. Seven deaths were reported on Monday while 407 patients were discharged in the state during the day.

Gujarat reported 394 new COVID-19 positive cases in the last 24 hours taking the total number of cases in the state to 14,063. Of the total cases, 6,412 have been cured and discharged and 858 people have died.

Delhi recorded 635 more COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of coronavirus cases in the national capital to 14,053.

Delhi government health bulletin said that a total of 231 patients have been discharged in the last 24 hours taking the total number of cured patients to 6,771 in the city.

The death toll due to the virus in the national capital is 276 while it has 7,006 active cases.

Rajasthan reported 145 new COVID-19 positive cases today and the total number of cases in the state now stands at 7,173. The death toll stands at 163. There are 3,150 active cases in the state.

Uttar Pradesh has reported 273 new positive cases in the last 24 hours. The number of active cases in the state is 2,606. Of the total cases, 3,581 people have been discharged while 165 people have died in the state.

Uttarakhand reported 15 new cases of COVID-19, which has taken the state’s total count of coronavirus patients to 332. There are 267 active cases while results are awaited in 3,522 tests. As many as 58 people have recovered from the infection while four people have succumbed to the infection.

Punjab recorded 21 new COVID-19 positive cases today taking the total number of cases to 2,081. There 128 active cases in the state.

Madhya Pradesh has a total of 6,665 COVID-19 cases of which 3,408 patients have been cured and recovered, while 290 have died.

Domestic Air Travel Resumes, Many Flights Cancelled

By LokMarg

Although the central government has allowed the resumption of domestic flight from Monday, some of the passengers were left helpless at several airports as their tickets were cancelled due to other state governments not permitting the flights to land.

A long queue of passengers was spotted outside IGI Airport’s Terminal 3 on Monday as all domestic flights from the national capital are operating. However, as many as 80 flights at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International airport have been cancelled today, officials said.

Domestic flight operations have resumed today across the country after two months of suspension except in Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.

All scheduled commercial passenger flights were suspended in India following the Centre imposed lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) on Thursday issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for airports as part of preparations for the recommencement of domestic commercial flight operations.

According to the SOPs, airports have been advised to ensure that passenger seating arrangement is done in such a manner so as to maintain social distancing among passengers by blocking those seats that are not to be used, with proper markers or tapes. All passengers also must compulsorily be registered with the Aarogya Setu app on their phones as per the directives.

Besides this, alternate check-in counters should be used to avoid congestion. The airport staff must be provided PPE kits, face masks etc, and they should also be provided with hand sanitisers.

Muted Eid Celebrations As India Offer Namaz At Home

By LokMarg

On the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr on Monday, Delhi Police stated that detailed arrangements have been made in the area surrounding the Jama Masjid as people have been advised to offer Namaz at their respective homes as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of COVID-19.

“Arrangements have been done in the wake of Eid here. People have been appealed to stay at their respective homes and offer Namaz, and do not come out. Regarding this, we have been doing announcements since yesterday and appealed to people via social media. From what I can see, the situation is good right now. People are coming out only for buying essential items. We are hopeful that people will stay at home and offer Namaz and celebrate Eid,” Sanjay Bhatia, DCP Central Delhi, told ANI here.

The official informed that motorcycle patrolling and foot patrolling is being conducted in the area.

“We have made detailed arrangements for this. Arrangements have done at all gates of Jama Masjid. People are listening to us. So, I don’t think there will be an issue now,” he said.

Eid-ul-Fitr marks the conclusion of the holy month of Ramzan, which is a month of fasting and prayer for the Muslim community.

This year, Eid is being celebrated amid nationwide lockdown imposed as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of COVID-19. Mosques remain closed adhering to the government’s COVID-19 lockdown norms.

(ANI)

Heat Wave North India

Heatwave In North India To Subside From June 28: IMD

By LokMarg

The heatwave prevalent in the northern part of the country will ease from May 28 as easterly winds are expected to flow in the region, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed on Monday.

“India has seen the highest temperature of this year – 47.6 in the last 2 days at Churu in Rajasthan. The heatwave will start subsiding from May 28 as easterly winds will start blowing in northern parts of the country,” Rajendra Kumar Jenamani, head of Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre told ANI.

“Rain accompanied by thunderstorm will occur from May 29 due to easterly winds in the northern parts of India and the temperature is expected to go down to 40 degrees Celsius,” he added.

He further said that the monsoon is expected to arrive on the Kerala coast in the first week of June.

“Southwest monsoon is expected to arrive over Kerala coast between June 1 and June 5. It is likely to reach Mumbai between June 15 and June 20,” he said. (ANI)

Kashmir Headed For A Hot Summer

By Lt Gen Ike Singha

While the nation including the politicians, bureaucrats, police, public and last but not the least Corona warriors that include doctors, nurses and hospital staff are busy combating Covid-19, militancy in Kashmir is picking up with the onset of summer months. India need to remain vigilant.

Traditionally, there is a spurt in infiltration attempts with the opening of passes but the last month has seen unprecedented bloody encounters resulting in the death of 22 security personal including Col Ashutosh Sharma, Maj Anuj Sood and three other brave hearts. The tracking down and final elimination of a prominent leader of Hizbul Mujahideen Riaz Naikoo, is a shot in the arm of security forces, but should not be termed as retaliatory or revenge operation as covered by the mainstream media.

While the world is desperately fighting against the global Coronavirus pandemic, Pakistan has been continuously perpetuating proxy war. It is reliably learnt that Pakistan is motivating Covid-10 affected terrorists to infiltrate and carry out violent actions against Indian security forces so that they can go to heaven after their martyrdom. While Hizbul Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-Ul-Hind remain the main active Tanzeems, Lakshar-e-Taiba leadership in Pakistan has floated a new outfit called The Resistance Front to give an indigenous look and ward off the pressure from Financial Action Task Force.

ALSO READ: Weather Reports, The New Frontier Of War

A lid was kept on the internal security situation with a heavy hand by overwhelming deployment of security forces ever since article 370 was abrogated in early August 2019 but the dissatisfaction and disenchantment amongst the Kashmiris was brewing over time. Come November and as winter set in, the infiltration from across the Line of Control (LoC) came down to a trickle.

The central government thought that the security forces were on top of the situation; but it was the combination of the curfew, crowd control measures, uncertainty, prolonged house arrest of political leaders, blocking of internet and social media and the inclement weather that did not allow terrorists groups to reorganise and operate freely during the winter months. This period also witnessed a reduction in number of stone throwing incidents as the locals were not sure whether the security forces will continue to show restraint or use adequate requisite force.

At the beginning of this year, schools and colleges in Kashmir started reopening, internet was restored and the situation appeared to be inching towards normalcy in the Valley. Ironically, as the 70-odd Kashmiri political leaders including Abdullahs were released in March from house arrest, the rest of the nation was confined to homes due to the threat of Covid-19 and Kashmiris came at par with the rest of the countrymen. The security forces in Kashmir had to have a balancing act of fighting on two fronts, militancy and Covid-19. That is not an easy task.

ALSO READ: Chronicles Of An Arrest Foretold

A few questions have arisen as to why the armed forces are facing so many casualties including those among senior officers. The answer lies in the ethos of the officers of the Indian Army.

The Indian Army has a tradition of officers leading from the front. This was evident during the various wars fought after Independence. Officer casualties have been proportionately higher than the other ranks.

This is also true for some other armies of the world. Israel is a shining example. In the Armoured Corps Memorial and Museum at Yad La-Shiryon, Latrun, there are over two thousand names of officers and enlisted men who have died between the age of eighteen to twenty years.

It was heartening to see that one section of the museum in Israel is dedicated to an Indian army officer; Lt Gen JFR Jacob, a Jew who was the brain behind the meticulous planning of operations in East Pakistan, later Bangladesh, in Indo-Pak War of 1971. Incidentally, in the 1971 War a large number of casualties were officers from the batch that got commissioned on 13 November 1971, from Indian Military Academy, barely three weeks prior to the war.

In Kashmir, Handwara has traditionally been a hot bed since it has thick forests around it like Machipora, Kainyar, Kandi, Harfudda, Saren, Dalar, Surhalu and Galganjan. Its proximity to the LoC gives it the correct positioning for reception areas after the infiltrations. Infiltrating groups come to these forests, have their rest and the recoup and plan operations using these forests as bases.

Invariably over the years, there have been bloody encounters with security forces. The army has always had one to two Special Forces teams operating in these areas alongside the Rashtriya Rifles and regular infantry battalions operating in a grid pattern in the hinterland.

ALSO READ: Will Modi’s Gamble In Kashmir Pay Off?

Detailed analyses of the counter insurgency operations in J&K since 1989 reveal that the maximum casualties to own troops are either at the beginning of the operation when the exact location of the terrorist is not really known to the troops and they are fired upon by terrorists hiding in houses or under natural cover; or at the end of the successful encounter when own troops in a rush of adrenaline, close in to mop up the operation but some half dead terrorist opens up at close range knowing fully well that he is going to die. In both cases, the officers are generally leading and have greater chances of becoming casualties.

The 15 Corps Commander, Lt Gen BS Raju in a recent interview claimed that the leadership of various Tanzeems active in the Valley and named above; has been eliminated. Basu says local recruitment has come down by 45 percent. However there are further dangers.

The US pullout from Afghanistan will give Pakistan leverage over Afghan terror groups who can be easily diverted to Kashmir. The foreign constituents of terrorist networks would substantially be increased. Regarding the leadership, most of these Tanzeems work in cellular system and there is always a standby leader who takes the place of the slain leader. Sometimes the same alias like Abu Bakker is also inherited by the new leader.

Since Pakistan was not able to get adequate traction and leverage in its relentless diplomatic efforts to isolate India internationally after the abrogation of Article 370, it is likely to push a large number of terrorist groups into the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir this summer. Our brave officers and jawans are having to fight on two fronts, the Covid-19 pandemic and the terrorist escalation from across the border. The launch pads and training areas as per the Corps Commander, are working at full capacity and therefore we need to be fully prepared for a hot summer in the Kashmir Valley. Ready the Indian Security Services will be.

Hot Spot Zone

‘Hot Spot Zone Residents Must Follow Rules Strictly’

By LokMarg

Paras Gupta, 27, an IT professional who got stuck in a hot spot zone during a visit to his hometown in Moradabad, says people in a containment area must adhere to the rules set by administration

I live and work in Noida, Delhi-NCR. In mid-March I had come to my hometown Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh for some family work. I have been here since the lockdown was first announced. In a way, I am happy that I get to be with my family at such a crucial time. My house is in Kothiwal Nagar area which has been declared as a hot spot zone.

I must congratulate the local administration due to which we are facing no problem as far as the essential supplies are concerned. There’s no shortage of fruits, vegetables or milk etc. The timing of grocery stores are strictly regulated and the authorities make sure everyone gets the essential items they need.

ALSO READ: ‘Life Is Tough In Hot Spot Zone’

 My family and I are facing no problems at all even though we are living in a high-risk zone. The containment measures are strictly followed, which is good for everybody’s safety. If by not going out, we can save our own lives as well as that of others, we surely can do that much for our society.

Only if more people (in fact everyone) had behaved responsibly, we wouldn’t have reached such a crisis situation, where for the fault of a few an entire locality has to live locked inside their houses. Many people at the early stages of the Coronavirus pandemic were unaware about the precautions to take, but now everyone knows about the dos and the don’ts. Still there are so many people who don’t follow measures like social distancing.

ALSO READ: ‘Lockdown Has Turned My Kids Into Chefs’

I am an IT Professional and thus working from home isn’t a problem right now. However, I wish I had a little more time so I could help my mother a bit more with the household chores. In all this, I also take out time to keep myself updated with the news and connect with my friends over phone. The other day I was missing my friends badly and really wanted to meet him, but my father sat me down and talked to me about how little discipline goes a long way.

I think if we can listen to our parents, we can listen to the authorities as well. I feel the centre is doing effective communication and soon we should be able to flatten the curve if enough people listen.

India’s Covid-19 Cases Jump To 1,31,868; Death Toll 3,867

By LokMarg

With the highest ever single-day spike of 6,767 cases, India’s COVID-19 zoomed to 1,31,868 on Sunday, as per the details shared by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).

There were 54,440 recoveries today as against 51,783 from Saturday taking the recovery rate to 41.28 per cent. The country recorded 147 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the toll to 3,867. Out of the total number of cases, 73,560 are active cases.

Maharashtra continues to remain the worst-affected State with 50,231 COVID-19 cases, with 3,041 new cases in the last 24 hours. With 58 deaths today, the State’s total corona toll now stands at 1,635.

In the south, Chennai city reported 587 new COVID-19 cases today, taking the total number of patients to 10,576 in the metropolis, said Tamil Nadu Health Department. The total number of cases in Tamil Nadu is 16,277, while 8,324 patients have been cured. The number of active cases in the State is 7,839. The toll stands at 111.

Karnataka reported 130 new positive cases of COVID-19 today, taking the total number of positive cases in the State to 2,089, including 1,391 active cases and 654 discharges, said Karnataka Health Department. 42 deaths have been reported in the State due to COVID-19.

Showing no let-up in the corona cases, Gujarat has reported 13,664 COVID-19 cases so far, while 6,169 patients have been cured and discharged. 829 COVID-19 patients died in the State, as per the details on the website of MoHFW.

Sixty-six more people have tested positive of coronavirus, taking the total count in Andhra Pradesh to 2,627. “In the last 24 hours, 11,357 samples were tested in the State, of which 66 people were tested positive of COVID-19. As of now, 764 are active cases,” reads an official statement released by the State’s COVID nodal officer.

“In the past 24 hours, 29 persons have been discharged, taking the total number of discharged people to 1,807. However, no new deaths have been reported. Till now, the total number of deaths in Andhra Pradesh is 56, as per the statement.

There is no respite from the corona cases in the national capital, which reported 508 new COVID-19 patients in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 13,418 in the city on Sunday. However, what came as a big relief was that the city didn’t report any corona death in the last 24 hours.

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said: “No death was reported in the last 24 hours. The city has reported 508 cases in the last 24 hours. The total cases are 13,418 out of which 6,617 are active cases.”

“In the last 24 hours, 273 people have recovered. A total of 6,540 people have recovered so far. The death toll due to the virus stands at 261 in the city,” added Jain.

Uttar Pradesh has 2,493 active cases of COVID-19 so far. 3,433 people have recovered from the disease while 155 deaths have been reported till date, said Uttar Pradesh’s Principal Health Secretary Amit Mohan Prasad on Sunday.

Rajasthan today reported 100 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of positive cases to 6,894 in the State, said Rajasthan’s Health Department.

Madhya Pradesh has so far reported 6,371 COVID-19 cases. While 3,267 patients have been cured and or discharged, 281 people have died so far in the State.

The total number of positive COVID-19 cases in Himachal Pradesh rises to 195 including 129 active cases, 59 recovered and three deaths, said the state’s Health Department today.

Uttarakhand has reported 53 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, taking the total tally of cases to 298 so far in the State. A total number of active cases in the State currently is 238, while those recovered is 56. Total deaths due to coronavirus are three. One patient has migrated out of the State.

Haryana reported 21 more COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of cases to 1,152 in the State on Sunday, said the Health Department. According to the bulletin, the State has 385 active cases and 16 people have died due to the infection so far.

Goa has reported 11 COVID-19 cases, taking the total tally of the state to 50, informed state Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Sunday. He said that all these people who have been detected with the lethal infection were the passengers of Rajdhani Express, which had come from Mumbai on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has said the doubling rate of COVID-19 cases in the country is currently at above 13 days, which is a significant improvement as compared to 3.4 days, which existed in the pre-lockdown phase.

“If the doubling rate in India before the lockdown was between 3.4 days, today the doubling rate is more than 13-days. Lockdown and all its guidelines have acted as a potent social vaccine,” said Dr Vardhan.

ANI

Nepal Deploys Army Near Darchula-Tinkar Road Project

By LokMarg

The Nepal Army has deployed a ‘section plus’ unit near Ghantibagar of Darchula district for the construction of 87 kilometres section of the road under the Mahakali corridor or the Darchula-Tinkar Road Project.

The government had last month decided to entrust the Nepal Army with the construction project.”The ministers during a meeting on April 26 had decided to deploy a section plus force of the Nepal Army with the required equipment to build the 87 kilometres section of the road. A mule track which falls under the road section will have a width of 2 meters and 450 meters length,” the Nepal Army said in the statement on Thursday.

The Government of Nepal in 2008 had sanctioned various contractors to build on-road which would run parallel with the India border on Dharchula side, separated by the Mahakali River.An estimated 50 kilometres of the road construction runs in parallel with the Indian border side leading to Tinkar Pass in far west Nepal for trade with China. Currently, the locals of Darchula District have to get across India to reach the other high-lying sides of the mountainous district of Darchula in Nepal’s far west.

“Once the army will open the 450-meter road section in between the MauriBhir and Ghanti area, around 1,200 residents of 182 households there do not have to travel via the Indian route to come to their own village within Nepal’s territory,” the statement read further.

Last week, Nepal released an ‘updated’ political map including Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura within its own territory. India marked the tri-junction point within its political map last released in November 2019. (ANI)

Heat Wave To Hit Central, North India Next Few Days

By LokMarg

The heatwave condition is likely to prevail over Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh for the next few days, said Dr Naresh Kumar, (Scientist) India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday.

He further stated that rainfall is expected on Friday in these states due to the Western Disturbance (WD) affecting the Himalayan region.

“Punjab, Haryana, South Uttar Pradesh will be under heatwave condition for the next five days. Later, Western Disturbance is likely to cause rainfall activity in the Himalayas because of which these states many receive rainfall and get a respite from the heat for a brief period,” said Kumar while speaking to ANI.

“We will keep Haryana, Vidarbha region, western Rajasthan in red colour warning tomorrow and day after tomorrow because the temperature is expected to cross 43 degrees. In many places the temperature will reach 47,” he added.

However, in Gujarat, the temperature is likely to decrease as the region is expected to be “hit by high-velocity winds.”

The IMD in the morning has predicted that the temperature in Delhi also for the next four days would oscillate between 45 degrees Celsius and 46 degrees Celsius and after that, the region is expected to be battered by rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms. (ANI)

China Terms US Claims On Spy Balloon ‘Hysterical, Absurd’

Battle Covid-19 Together, Stop Blame Game: China

By LokMarg

In an apparent reference to the countries blaming Beijing for spreading the coronavirus pandemic, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday that self-conceit and blame-shifting will not help any country solve this problem but will only hurt other countries legitimate rights and interests.

“Multilateralism must be safeguarded and promoted more firmly. Covid-19 drives home once again that no country, no matter how strong it is, can insulate itself from a global challenge. The disaster wrecks havoc watching from an apparently safe distance and sitting idle will eventually backfire. Pointing fingers at others will only damage one’s own reputation,” he said during a press briefing.

“Self-conceit and blame-shifting instead of helping any country solve this problem will only hurt other countries’ legitimate rights and interests. In the face of mounting global challenges, the only multilateralism can bring the world together and only solidarity can see us through the current difficulties,” Yi added.

Many countries including the United States, have blamed China for the origin of the coronavirus, which has infected more than 5 million people worldwide.

Yi also said that global governance needs to be reformed and improved where it is most lacking. “Covid-19 has exposed witnesses in national public health systems the fragility of the global, industrial and supply chains and deficiency in our global governance capacity and system. All nations must play a central role. WHO and other United Nations-specialised agencies must be able to perform the mandates without hindrance. All countries must intensify macro-policy coordination and strengthen government capacity,” he added.

The foreign minister further urged the countries globally to re-double its commitments to international law and the basic norms of international relations. “The world will never be the same again. And China will never stop moving forward. Covid-19 has been an all-round test on China’s social systems and governance capacity. China has stood the test, displayed its composite national strength, and shown itself to be a responsible major country,” he said.

ANI