Tuesday, 13 September 2016

40,000 people in the country affected by dengue & chikungunya

New Delhi, Sep 13, 2016 (PTI)

Union Health Minister J P Nadda today stressed on the need for close coordination between the Centre and states to deal with the outbreak of chikungunya and dengue, which have affected about 40,000 people in the country, even as he said there was no need to panic.
He assured all help to states in fighting the spread of vector-borne diseases and said it should not be an issue for indulging in blame game.

"We will try to fulfill all requirements. Whether it is dengue or chikungunya, we should not panic. There is a need to give symptomatic treatment. There is a need to take a lot of liquid.

"We are ready to offer all help to state governments. This is not an issue for the Centre and states to indulge in blame game. We should work together," Nadda said.

60 people have died across the country due to dengue. Four people have died in Delhi due to Chikungunya.

However, a senior Health Ministry official said the chikungunya deaths are being probed by its agencies to ascertain the exact reasons.

Nadda said that his Ministry had recently held a meeting with Delhi Health minister and various municipal agencies and directed them to follow all protocols while various other issues like providing guidelines, arrangemet of beds, training of doctors have been provided.

He said the Ministry has also put a cap on rates charged by various testing facilities for the diseases while all technical support has been provided to the states to deal with the situation.

As per the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), around 27,879 cases of dengue have been reported across the country and 60 people have succumbed to the disease till August 31.

5,000 cases each have been reported from West Bengal, Odisha and Kerala. While West Bengal has reported 5,129 dengue cases and 22 deaths, the disease has affected 5,183 people and claimed nine lives in Odisha.

AIIMS, Delhi, has reported five "suspected" dengue deaths this month. The national capital has recorded nine dengue deaths this year. The number of those diagnosed with the virus in the city has risen to over 1,150.

Around 12,255 cases of chinkungunya have been reported across the country. Karnataka alone has recorded 8,941.

Two chikungunya deaths were today reported from the national capital, taking the number of fatalities due to the vector-borne disease in the city to four while the number of cases have mounted to over 1,000 this season.

Meanwhile, a senior Health ministry official said that at this moment, there is an "outbreak" situation with regard to chikunguniya.

Kapil Sharma may be called for questioning soon

Mumbai, Sep 13, 2016, (PTI)

Popular stand-up comedian Kapil Sharma, who has been booked for alleged unauthorised construction at his flat in suburban Goregaon, is likely to be questioned by the police soon.
"(An) FIR was lodged last evening. Six cases have been registered against him (Kapil Sharma). Our documentation is going on and we will issue him a notice in a day or two, after doing 'panchnama' (preliminary investigation)," said a senior official, who is privy to the probe.

"As per the Supreme Court order, it is essential to call him (Kapil) for investigation after sending a primary notice. He cannot be arrested directly," said the official.

"Based on the evidences we gather after investigation, we will call him (Kapil) to investigate the matter," he added.

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) sub-engineer Abhay Jagtap had lodged a complaint at Oshiwara police station in this regard.

In the complaint, Jagtap had alleged that Sharma, who owns a flat in DLH Enclave on New Link Road in Goregaon, had violated norms and carried out illegal construction in the flat, police had said.

Following the complaint, Sharma was booked under section 53(7) of Maharashtra Regional Town Planning Act (MRTP) 1966.

Sharma had kicked up a controversy last week by alleging that he had been asked to pay a bribe of Rs five lakh by an official of BMC which, in turn, claimed that the actor had flouted norms in his Versova office building and his apartment in suburban Goregaon.

Cauvery situation: Airlines waives off flight cancellation/ rescheduling changes

New Delhi, Sep 13, 2016, (PTI)

In the wake of the prevailing situation in Bengaluru due to the Cauvery water issue, domestic airlines including national carrier Air India today announced waiving off flight cancellation/ rescheduling changes for some of their flights for a specified period.

Air India said it would not charge any fee for cancellation of a ticket or rescheduling of its flights to and from Bengaluru and Hubli upto September 16.

"On account of disturbance, Air India waives applicable penalties of re-issuance, date change, no-show, cancellation & refund charges for travel from/to BLR & HBX for both dom & intl flts,on all tkts issued on/before Sept 13th '16 for trvl on Sept 13th '16," Air India tweeted.

Private carriers Jet Airways and Vistara also said they have decided to waive off date and flight change fee due to the situation in the Karnatka capital.

"Due to the present situation in BLR (Bangalore), we are waving off date and flight change fee to & from BLR for travel on 13th & 14th Sep," Vistara said in a tweet.

Due to the current situation in Bengaluru, we will waive off penalties for date change & flight change on confirmed tickets to and from Bengaluru for September 12 and 13, Jet Airways announced.

A day after being rocked by large-scale violence, Bengaluru appeared to limp back to normalcy today with sporadic protests, even as the Karnataka government decided to comply with the Supreme Court's modified order to release 12,000 cusecs of water Tamil Nadu till September 20.

Gadkari wants Elon Musk to test-run supersonic train in Pune

Mumbai, Sep 13, 2016, (PTI)

If Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has his way with high-tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, the American billionaire's company SpaceX may test-run its futuristic high speed train, the Hyperloop, in Pune.
Speaking about his recent visit to the American west coast, which is the global hub of hi-tech innovations, Gadkari said he spent quality time with the officials of Tesla, which is also founded by Musk, who is known for his futuristic ideas.

"I just offered them ... they want some road for experimental purpose. I offered them the westerly bypass of Pune connected to the Express Highway. The idea is they can take an experiment between Mumbai and Pune as a pilot project," he said, without naming SpaceX.

He said the Hyperloop, whose idea was first presented in 2013, runs faster than an aircraft at a speed of 1,120 kmph and can cut the distance between his hometown Nagpur and Mumbai in 35 minutes.

Among other things, SpaceX is also working on commercialising space travel.
Speaking about the futuristic concept which is yet to be commercialised, the minister said the Hyperloop "is a tube" which uses air for propulsion.

The company's website says SpaceX is "interested in helping to accelerate development of a functional Hyperloop prototype".

Speaking to reporters later on the sidelines of an infrastructure summit organised by Marathi daily Lokmat, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also confirmed that there indeed have been some discussions between the governments on such a proposal but was quick to add that Maharashtra has asked the company to develop the product first before making test-runs in the state.

Gadkari said the government has invited Tesla to invest in the country as he expressed interest in clean energy like solar and battery storage, areas in which the American company is focused on.

He said he also encouraged Musk to set up a manufacturing base here. Tesla has been offered land free of cost near some ports.

Eid-ul-Azha celebrated across India

New Delhi, Sep 13, 2016 (PTI)

Eid-ul-Azha was celebrated with traditional gaiety and fervour across the country today as Muslims thronged mosques for prayers and exchanged greetings on the holy day.
Hordes of people visited mosques and idgahs in the national capital to offer prayers on Eid this morning kickstarting festivities on the auspicious occasion.
Large number of people attended special prayers at the historic Jama Masjid, Fatehpuri Masjid and other prominent mosques in all parts of the city.

The sacrifice ritual was also performed by the devout at their homes on the occasion of the festival also known as Bakr-Id.

People, specially children, in their festive best visited friends, neighbours and relatives exchanging greetings and gifts, all over the city.

Elaborate security arrangements were in place by Delhi Police for prayers at mosques and old city areas where large number of people visited markets and enjoyed festivities.

Clerics and community leaders delivered sermons on the festive occasion which occurs the day after pilgrims performing Haj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia by Muslims worldwide, descend from Mount Arafat.

The festival is celebrated approximately 70 days after the end of the month of Ramzan, which is observed as Eid-ul-Fitr.

Animal sacrifices are also performed as a ritual to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the nation on Eid, hoping the festival will usher in peace and togetherness.

"Id-ul-Zuha greetings. May this festival enhance the spirit of peace & togetherness in our society," he tweeted.

In trouble-torn Kashmir, curfew and widespread clashes that left two youths dead marred Eid festivities in the Valley which has been witnessing continued protests for last 65 days claiming lives of 78 people.

For the first time, no Eid prayers were offered at the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar in nearly two centuries. The last time the grand mosque was closed was in 1821.
Similarly, no Eid prayers were offered at Idgah though authorities allowed partial use of Hazratbal Shrine for prayers.

This is probably for the first time that curfew is in place on the day of Eid festival ever since militancy broke out in the state in 1990.

While curfew was in force in Kashmir valley, Jammu region celebrated Eid-ul-Azha with religious fervour as Muslims flocked to mosques to offer prayers.
Besides offering prayers, people in colourful attire exchanged Eid greetings and pleasantries in all the districts of Jammu province. Hindus and Sikhs also participated in the celebrations, extending greetings to their Muslim brethren on the auspicious occasion.

"Eid is the day when we remember the God and seek his blessings. While we prayed for ourselves, we also prayed for peace in the country, especially the Kashmir valley," said Irfan Khan, a local shopkeeper.

Three-day encounter in Poonch ends

Jammu, Sep 13, 2016, PTI

After three days, Army and Police today declared that an encounter in Mini Secretariat in Poonch was over with the killing of four terrorists.

Personnel of Army and Police stormed the under- construction complex this evening and eliminated the last of the four terrorists, a police officer said.

"The encounter has ended,” said Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jammu Zone Danish Rana.

The encounter began at around 7.30 AM on Sunday when the terrorists fired at a police party killing one cop. The terrorists then took shelter in a house, where an elderly couple lived, and the under-construction Mini Secretariat.

Security forces had safely evacuated the couple.

One militant was killed on Sunday, two were killed yesterday and the remaining one was eliminated today, a police officer said.

Earlier, the police had said that three terrorists had been killed on Sunday and one yesterday.

DGP Rajendera Kumar had said, "There might be a group of 4 to 6 involved in this incident.. We have recovered bodies of two militants. Two more militants have been killed. We feel one or two militants are still alive."

Explaining the confusion, DIG Johny Williams said there was a perception that three militants had been killed on Sunday. "But one militant had survived and was firing. He was gunned down today," he said.

Asked whether the slain militants were Pakistanis, SSP J S Johar said it was a matter of investigation.

He said four AK rifles and a large quantity of ammunition was recovered from them.

The terrorists had taken position inside the building which has two floors and several rooms and the terrorists were taking benefit of it by firing from different areas, an army officer said.

He said mortars had to be used to eliminate the holed up militants.

Two security personnel were injured last evening when they launched an assault on the building to eliminate the holed up terrorists.

The DGP had said militants had come with full preparation to disturb peace in the border district as there is calm and communal harmony in the area.

"Militants infiltrating a day before Eid is clearly pointing towards the fact they had come here to disturb peace on Eid," Kumar said.

Three-day encounter in Poonch ends

Jammu, Sep 13, 2016, PTI

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