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12:53 AM

Himachal Pradesh reports 139 new COVID-19 cases

Himachal Pradesh reported 139 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours. According to the state health bulletin, the state has 1,237 active cases and the total count of cases is 2,20,618. The state reported two deaths in the last 24 hours and the death toll is 3,690.

 

A total of 245 people have recovered from the disease in the last 24 hours taking the total number of recoveries in the state to 2,15,674. Kangra has the highest number of active cases at 371 followed by Hamirpur with 310, Mandi 196 and Una 118. India reported 18,132 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, which is the lowest in 215 days, Health Ministry said.

10:52 PM

1,303 new COVID-19 cases, 13 deaths in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu on Monday recorded 1,303 fresh coronavirus cases and 13 deaths with Chennai, Coimbatore and Chengalpattu districts seeing the maximum numbers. Chennai with 168 fresh cases, Coimbatore 128 and Chengalpattu 98 took the caseload to 26,79,568. With 13 deaths - four in private hospitals and nine in government facilities, the toll rose to 35,796. With 1,428 patients getting discharged today following treatment, the cumulative recoveries stand at 26,27,780. The number of active cases, including isolation as of today, remained at 15,992, said a bulletin.

 

Seven districts registered fresh cases in single digits while 28 districts recorded new cases less than 100, the bulletin said.

 

Chennai, the State capital, saw no deaths today. Nevertheless, the COVID-19-related fatalities in the city was 8,505 till date. With 1,856 active cases, the metropolis saw the total cases at 5,51,788 while the total recoveries, including 167 today, stand at 5,41,424.

 

State Health and Family Welfare Minister Ma Subramanian said the State registered 67 per cent coverage of the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine while 11.02 lakh persons out of 25 lakh beneficiaries due for the second dose have already received the shots. The rest would be covered soon. Speaking to reporters here, he said the government has planned to conduct 'Varumun Kappom' (preventive healthcare) on Tuesday.

10:01 PM

Post COVID-19 recovery, people continue to suffer from musculoskeletal problems, say experts

People continue to suffer from musculoskeletal problems like joint pain, backache, muscle pain, fatigue and stiffness in joints even after recovery from the novel coronavirus infection, doctors said.

 

The systemic inflammatory response to SARS-CoV-2 adversely impacts the musculoskeletal system. Inflammatory molecules break the muscle fiber protein and decrease muscle protein synthesis leading to decreased muscle strength and also weaken bones, Dr Uma Kumar, Head of Department of Rheumatology at AIIMS, said on the eve of the World Arthritis Day.

 

Inflammatory molecules damage cartilage leading to worsening of osteoarthritis.

 

"Even after recovery from COVID-19, patients continue to suffer from musculoskeletal problems like joint pain, backache, muscle pain and weakness, fatigue, and stiffness in joints.

9:36 PM

India's total vaccination coverage crosses 95.80 crore doses

The total COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country crossed 95.82 crore on Monday as 59 lakh more jabs were given during the day, the Union Health Ministry said.

 

The daily vaccination tally for Monday is expected to increase with the compilation of the final reports for the day by late night, the ministry said.

 

The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 with healthcare workers (HCWs) getting inoculated in the first phase. The vaccination of frontline workers (FLWs) started from February 2.

 

The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from March 1 for people over 60 years of age and those aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions. The country launched vaccination for all people aged more than 45 years from April 1. The government then decided to expand the vaccination drive by allowing everyone above 18 to be vaccinated from May 1.

9:27 PM

Mumbai sees 410 fresh COVID-19 cases, 358 recoveries, four fatalities

The financial capital on Monday reported 410 new coronavirus positive cases and four fatalities while 358 patients recovered, a civic official said. The new additions took the tally of COVID-19 infections in Mumbai to 7,48,168, the death toll to 16,162, and the number of recoveries to 7,24,421, leaving the metropolis with 5,075 active cases, he said. This is the second day in a row that Mumbai recorded less than 500 cases. On Sunday, Mumbai logged 453 infections and six fatalities.

 

Generally, the city witnesses fewer cases on Mondays as compared to other days of the week due to the lesser number of tests.

 

With 28,319 new cases, the number of samples tested so far in Mumbai went up to 1,07,57,354, the official said.

 

As of Monday, Mumbai's average case recovery rate stands at 97 per cent. The average doubling rate has dipped to 1,096 days. The average growth rate of cases in Mumbai stood at 0.06 per cent for the period between October 4 to October 10, the official said.

 

He said 46 buildings in Mumbai are currently remained sealed due to the outbreak of COVID-19 cases. Mumbai has been free of containment zones in slums and chawls from mid-August.

8:52 PM

NCB officials complain about being followed by Mumbai police

8:40 PM

BJP playing politics over Chhath Puja; Delhi govt exploring ways to celebrate festival safely:AAP

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday slammed the Delhi BJP's move to celebrate Chhath Puja in a grand manner and accused it of playing politics in the name of religion.

The AAP said the BJP should understand that celebration of the festival at public places can lead to the spread of COVID-19.

AAP's chief spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj termed the Delhi BJP's declaration as "unfortunate" but said the Delhi government is holding discussions with experts to explore options for celebration of Chhath Puja without spreading coronavirus.

8:35 PM

Maharashtra bandh: Good response in Pune; shops, markets shut

Monday's Maharashtra bandh called by the ruling parties in the state and some other outfits to protest against the violence and farmer deaths in Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh on October 3 evoked a good response in most parts of Pune district.

Federation of Trade Association of Pune (FTAP) chief Fatehchand Ranka said shops remained closed till 3pm, though many opened after that, mainly to take advantage of Diwali shopping.

Civic-run Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd. (PMPML) late Sunday night decided to keep their vehicles off the road till Monday noon, leading to terminals at PMC, Swargate and Pune railway station being deserted, an official said.

8:17 PM

Reviewed progress on India-UK Agenda 2030, exchanged views on climate action: PM Modi after speaking to UK PM

8:08 PM

Encounter started at Tulran Shopian. 3-4 terrorists trapped: J&K DGP

7:48 PM

WHO experts recommend extra Covid-19 jab for immunocompromised

7:36 PM

National Conference gets another jolt, 6 prominent faces among three dozen workers resign

The National Conference has got yet another jolt as over three dozen party activists, including a provincial secretary, two district presidents and two Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) corporators, resigned on Monday.

The fresh resignations came a day after two prominent leaders of the NC -- provincial president Devender Singh Rana and former minister S S Slathia -- quit the party. Both the leaders joined the BJP in Delhi on Monday.

7:00 PM

Power situation 'very critical' in entire country, says Kejriwal

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said the power situation is "very critical" in the entire country even as his cabinet colleague Satyendar Jain claimed that the Delhi government has to depend on costly gas-based power and spot purchase at high market rate as the NTPC has halved electricity supply to the city.

Kejriwal said all efforts were being made to address the power crisis and his government did not want that any "emergency situation" is created.

"The situation is very critical in the entire country. Several chief ministers have written to the Centre about it. All are trying together to improve the situation," he told mediapersons.

6:39 PM

India economy poised to attain double-digit growth in FY22: PHDCCI

The economy is poised to achieve 10.25 per cent GDP growth in FY 2021-22 on the back of effective government policies, Reserve Bank's accommodative policy stance and improved business sentiments, industry body PHDCCI said on Monday.

The Reserve Bank last week retained the GDP (gross domestic product) forecast for the current financial year at 9.5 per cent and flagged global semiconductor shortages, elevated commodity prices and potential global financial market volatility as downside risks to economic growth.

The National Statistical Office, the official agency of the government, on August 31, had said the real GDP growth for the first quarter of 2021-22 was at 20.1 per cent. The RBI projected the GDP growth for the first quarter of the next financial year at 17.2 per cent.

6:26 PM

Kerala reports 6,996 new infections, 84 deaths

6:06 PM

Special court to hear Aryan Khan's bail plea on Oct 13; seeks NCB's reply

A special court here on Monday said it would hear the bail application of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan, arrested in connection with the seizure of banned drugs onboard a cruise ship, on October 13 and directed the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to file its reply on that date.

Special Judge V V Patil, hearing matters related to the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, said the court would hear the bail plea on Wednesday after the NCB said there was "no extreme urgency" to hear the application and sought a week to file an affidavit. The defence said Aryan Khan was "falsely implicated" and releasing him on bail would not stop the probe.

Aryan Khan was arrested on October 3 after the NCB raided a Goa-bound cruise ship off the Mumbai coast and claimed to have recovered drugs from some persons. He is currently in judicial custody and lodged at the Arthur Road prison in Mumbai.

5:56 PM

Lakhimpur Kheri violence: Gujarat Congress demands SC-monitored inquiry

The Gujarat Congress on Monday staged a silent protest against the killing of farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh on October 3 and demanded an inquiry into the incident under the direct supervision of a Supreme Court judge.

Newly appointed Gujarat Congress in-charge Raghu Sharma, who is Health Minister in the Rajasthan government, led the silent protest organised by the party outside the Mahatma Gandhi-founded Kochrab Ashram in Paldi area of the city.

Congress leaders, among them Gujarat unit president Amit Chavda, Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Paresh Dhanani and former state unit chiefs Bharatsinh Solanki and Arjun Modhwadia, and workers took part in the three-hour long silent protest wearing black masks and holding banners demanding justice for the farmers.

5:25 PM

500 dengue cases in Gwalior now, health teams constituted: Health Officer

5:11 PM

Delhi govt launches "Desh ke Mentor" programme today

5:03 PM

Power ministry mandates energy accounting for discoms to curb electricity losses

The Ministry of Power on Monday said it has mandated energy accounting of distribution companies (discoms) to reduce electricity losses.

"As an important step under the ongoing power sector reforms, the Ministry of Power today mandated electricity distribution companies to undertake energy accounting on a periodic basis," the ministry said in a statement on Monday.

The regulations in this regard have been issued by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) with the approval of the Ministry of Power, under the provisions of the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.

4:34 PM

Lakhimpur Kheri case: MoS Ajay Mishra Teni's son Ashish Mishra has been sent to three-day police remand

4:18 PM

Maharashtra bandh evokes good response in Chandrapur

The bandh called by three parties in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) against the Lakhimpur Kheri incident evoked a good response in Chandrapur city in Maharashtra on Monday with shops and hotels remaining closed.

In Chandrapur, Shiv Sena workers ransacked a Shivbhojan hotel located near the bus stand.

Notably, this hotel provides food at a cheap rate to underprivileged people under the Shiv Bhojal Thali (food plate) scheme of the Shiv Sena-led MVA government.

4:00 PM

Seven new companies will be launched formally on October 15: Defence ministry

3:53 PM

Kerala govt will take a decision on imposing power cuts after Oct 19

3:34 PM

Maharashtra bandh: Road transport affected, shops closed in many cities

Leaders of three ruling parties - Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP - staged protests against the Lakhmipur Kheri incident, and Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut claimed the bandh to protest the killing of four farmers in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri distric was “100 per cent” successful.

The opposition BJP in the Maharashtra claimed it was a state government-sponsored bandh and was unwarranted.

However, Maharashtra Water Resources Minister and NCP leader Jayant Patil said the bandh, which began at midnight, and the state government had no connection with the protest, which was called by the ruling parties.

Essential services were not involved in the bandh, he said.

3:15 PM

Stone pelting being reported in Maharashtra, not right: Nawab Malik on statewide 'bandh'

Amid the Maharashtra bandh that was announced in light of Lakhimpur Kheri violence, state's minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Nawab Malik on Monday said that there are reports of stone pelting in the state and it is not right.

He urged people to not involve themselves in such acts.

"There are reports about stone pelting at some places, which is not right. No one should indulge in such activities," said the NCP leader.

 

3:04 PM

Pune shopkeepers support Maharashtra Bandh, all shops except essential services remains shut

Pune shopkeepers extended support to Maha Vikas Aghadi's (MVA) call for Maharashtra Bandh on Monday. All shops except the essential services remained closed in the district.

The bandh was called by MVA, a coalition of NCP, Congress, and Shiv Sena in protest against the Lakhimpur Kheri incident that claimed the lives of eight people including four farmers.

"The traders of the market had decided to observe the bandh and informed the farmers in advance," market administrator Madhukant Garad said.

3:00 PM

Union Power Minister RK Singh, Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi arrive at MHA to meet HM Shah

2:36 PM

NCP leader Jayant Patil says people are supporting bandh called by Maha Vikas Aghadi

Amid the ongoing state bandh in protest against the Lakhimpur Kheri incident that claimed the lives of eight people including four farmers, Maharashtra Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Jayant Patil on Monday said that the people of Maharashtra are supporting the bandh called by the Maha Vikas Aghadi.

Patil also alleged that BJP is 'anti-farmer' and wants to crush them.

"People are supporting the bandh. No action has been taken against the Union minister and his son who were involved in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence. BJP is anti-farmer and wants to crush them," he said.

2:29 PM

PM Modi to virtually attend upcoming G20 Extraordinary Leaders’ Summit on Afghanistan on Oct 12