2,100 people evacuated from "Markaz Nizamuddin", the Delhi headquarters of Tablighi Jamaatz
As India entered the second-week of lockdown, 1,637 positive coronavirus cases have been confirmed across the nation with 38 deaths, the health ministry data showed. More than a hundred people tested positive for coronavirus and a nationwide manhunt is on for suspected cases after a large religious gathering at Delhi's Nizamuddin that has emerged as a virus hotspot with links to seven COVID-19 deaths.
All 2,100 people have been evacuated from "Markaz Nizamuddin", the Delhi headquarters of the Tablighi Jamaat group, since Sunday and at least 441 in Delhi have shown symptoms of the virus. Hundreds were staying in the 100-year-old mosque complex, which has a six-floor dormitory, since March 8. On March 21, there were 1,746 in the centre and 216 were foreigners, according to the home ministry. The Home Ministry has told states to track down Tablighi members who travelled to various parts of the country after the two-day gathering on March 8-10.
Among the states, Tamil Nadu on Tuesday registered 57 new COVID-19 cases, the highest spike in a single day so far, including 50 who had travelled to Delhi to attend a religious congregation earlier this month, the government said. Six people have died in Telangana. A man who died in Srinagar had visited the Deoband seminary in UP. Ten more, who returned to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, have tested positive. 1,800 are quarantined in Andamans. More than 100 people from Kashmir attended the gathering and Andhra Pradesh is trying to trace 700 members.
Here are the Updates of the coronavirus cases:
Near-exponential growth in number of new coronavirus cases: WHO
The head of the World Health Organization voiced deep concern on Wednesday about the rapid escalation and global spread of COVID-19 cases from the new coronavirus, which has now reached 205 countries and territories.
"In the past five weeks there has been a near-exponential growth in the number of new cases and the number of deaths has more than doubled in the past week," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual news conference at the organisation's Geneva headquarters.
"In the next few days we will reach 1 million confirmed cases and 50,000 deaths worldwide," he said.
49-year old man dies in Telangana due to coronavirus
A 49-year-old coronavirus patient died in the government Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad on Wednesday, the Telangana government said.
Hospital Superintendent Shravan Kumar said the patient had a travel history to Delhi. He was admitted five days ago and was undergoing treatment for coronavirus.
Nearly 2,000 contacts identified in J&K: Official
The Jammu and Kashmir administration said on Wednesday that nearly 2,000 contacts of positive cases had been identified and all of them would be subjected to testing.
Talking to reporters, official spokesperson Rohit Kansal said many of the positive cases could be traced as due to a "vigorous" contact tracing exercise. "Nearly 2,000 contacts of positive cases have been identified. We have issued instructions that no known contact be left untraced," he said.
Muzaffarnagar villagers attack cops during lockdown
A sub-inspector and a constable were seriously injured when a police team trying to enforce the ongoing lockdown was attacked by a group of villagers in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar district on Wednesday, an official said.
The police team was patrolling Morna village area and spotted the residents gathered outside, said Circle Officer Ram Mohan Sharma.
When the villagers were asked to follow the prohibitory orders they started pelting stones at the police personnel and some of them even started attacking the officials with iron roads, the official said.
First J&K Resident Who Died Of COVID-19 Attended Delhi Mosque Event: Cops
The first person who died due to COVID-19 in Jammu and Kashmir had earlier attended the religious gathering at Markaz Nizamuddin in Delhi, Director General of Police Dilbag Singh said.
He stated that out of 855 potential coronavirus-infected persons'' list provided to the police, many have been traced."
Officials of SAARC countries to meet over coronavirus pandemic
Commerce ministry officials of all the SAARC countries will hold deliberations in the next few days on possible areas of cooperation to fight the coronavirus pandemic in the region, official sources said on Wednesday.
At an India-initiated video conference of SAARC leaders on March 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggested that the member nations of the bloc should come together to jointly fight against the pandemic.
Coronavirus News: All 5 COVID-19 Patients In Goa Are Stable: State Health Minister
All the five patients, who have tested positive for coronavirus in Goa, and currently undergoing treatment at a hospital, are in a stable condition.
State Health Minister Vishwajit Rane gave this information today.
"All the five patients are stable. They are getting proper treatment and responding well," he said.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that all the fair price shops would be open from Thursday, which will help people to get the essential commodities.
The state government will also start "needs-on-wheels" system, wherein the essential items would be transported to the village through state-run Kadamba Transport Corporation Ltd, he said.
Mr Sawant said the government has taken up sanitation drive at various public places, while all the state-run vehicles would be sanitised from April 2 to April 22, news agency PTI reported.
Coronavirus News: Kerala High Court Directs Centre To Remove Blockades Put By Karnataka On National Highways
Kerala High Court directs centre to remove blockades put up by Karnataka on national highways connecting the two states so as to facilitate free movement of vehicles carrying persons for urgent medical treatment, reported PTI.
Coronavirus News: Mumbai Cops Searching For 150 Who Attended Nizamuddin Congregation
Mumbai Police are trying to track down at least 150 people who participated in the congregation organised by Tablighi Jamaat in Delhi's Nizamuddin area last month and returned to the city, an official said today.
The congregation, attended by people from across India as well as other countries, was later found to have been a coronavirus hotspot.
Search is on now for the participants who left Delhi so that they can be tested for coronavirus infection infection and quarantined if
necessary.
The city police had recently received a list of at least 150 people who attended the event and returned to Mumbai, said an official.
The police are trying to trace them and also find out their travel history after the congregation and the people they came in contact with, he said.
As many as 32 persons including 12 Indonesian nationals who attended the Nizamuddin event and later traveled to Mumbai have been quarantined, news agency PTI reported.
Coronavirus News: 105 Quarantined In Ghaziabad After Returning From Tablighi Event
As many as 105 people, who returned to Ghaziabad after attending a religious congregation organised by the Tablighi Jamaat in New Delhi's Nizamuddin last month, have been quarantined, said an official on Wednesday.
Chief Medical Officer Dr NK Gupta said they have been kept in isolation at a private institute and the district hospital.
Police and health department teams are trying to trace all those persons who came in their contact, the official said, reported PTI.
Coronavirus News: Mumbai Man Who Tested COVID-19 Positive In Dharavi, Dies
The person from Dharavi in Mumbai who had tested positive for coronavirus has died at a Mumbai hospital. He had symptoms like fever, cough, respiratory issues and also had co-morbid condition of renal failure, reported news agency ANI.
Coronavirus News: 105 People Who Returned To Ghaziabad After Attending Tablighi Jamaat Congregation Quarantined
As many as 105 people who had come to Ghaziabad after attending a religious congregation organised by the Tablighi Jamaat in New Delhi's Nizamuddin last month have been quarantined, said an official today.
Chief Medical Officer Dr NK Gupta said they have been kept in isolation at a private institute and the district hospital.
Police and health department teams are trying to trace all those persons who came in their contact, the official said.
Meanwhile, the district police constituted a surveillance cell which will work to identify those who arrived in Ghaziabad after attending the congregation, news agency PTI reported.
Coronavirus News: Delhi Police Distributes Over 1,000 Food Packets Amid Lockdown
A Delhi police unit distributed over 1,000 food packets in various areas of the national capital to help people amid the lockdown over the coronavirus pandemic, officials said today.
The Delhi Police First Battalion arranged 1,422 food packets for distribution in various localities.
"The packets contained rice, pulses and table salt. Out of these, 400 food packets were distributed in Tilak Nagar, Mundka, Rampura, Karampura, Mohan Garden, Nangli and Najafgarh areas," Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Rakesh Bansal said.
Another 472 packets were distributed at Naraina, Karol Bagh, Samaypur Badli, Swaroop Nagar, Chhatarpur, Narela, Paharganj, Todapur, Kapas Hera and Sadar Bazar areas.
Rest 550 packets were distributed among the students from the Northeast stranded in areas like Munirka, Kishangarh, Kotla Mubarakpur, Maharani Bagh, Mahipalpur, Naraina, SJ Encalve, Aurobindo Marg and Mehrauli, the DCP said, news agency PTI reported.
Coronavirus News: Haryana Nurse Tests COVID-19 Positive After Using Infected Patient's Cell Phone
A nurse working in a Haryana 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," a doctor of the hospital said today.
However, the doctor 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," the doctor said, ANI reported.
Coronavirus News: G Kishan Reddy Donates Rs 1 Crore To PM CARES Fund For Covid-19 Combat
Union Minister for State Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy today donated Rs 1 crore from his Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLAD) fund to the PM CARES fund.
"Union Minister for State Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy has donated Rs 1 Crore from his MPLAD fund to PM CARES Fund, Rs 50 lakhs to Telangana CM Relief Fund and Rs 50 lakhs to Hyderabad District to fight COVID -19," according to an official.
Several people including businessmen, sports authorities and Bollywood actors, have contributed to the PM CARES fund till now.
The PM CARES Fund was created on March 28 following the COVID-19 outbreak in India.
The fund will be used for combat, containment and relief efforts against the coronavirus outbreak and similar pandemic like situations in the future, ANI reported.
Coronavirus News: 13 New COVID-19 Positive Cases In Gujarat, Total Tally Reaches 87 Mark
With 13 new cases, the number of coronavirus positive cases in Gujarat rose to 87 today, a senior health department official said.
A 57-year-old COVID-19 patient was discharged from the hospital today after recovery, taking the count of such patients to seven.
"On Wednesday, 13 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the state- eight from Ahmedabad, two from Porbandar and Surat each, and one from Panchmahal district," Principal Secretary (Health) Jayanti Ravi said.
As many as three patients are on ventilator and in critical condition, while the condition of 71 others is stable, she said, news agency PTI reported.
Coronavirus News: Nearly 200 Attendees From Maharashtra's Konkan To Delhi Congregation Identified: Top Cop
As many as 200 people from Maharashtra's Konkan administrative division who participated in the religious congregation in Nizamuddin area of Delhi have been identified, a senior official said today.
The gathering organized by Tabligi Jamaat in Delhi last month has been found to have been a coronavirus hotspot, prompting other states to launch a search for those who attended it and were possibly exposed to the infection.
Konkan Divisional Commissioner Shivaji Rao Daund said his office had received a list of200 persons from Konkan division who participated in the religious gathering.
As many as 139 of them were from Thane, 42 from Raigad, three from Ratnagiri and 16 from Palghar, he said, reported news agency PTI.
Coronavirus News: 48 Uttarakhand Tablighi Jamaat Members Attended Nizamuddin Congregation
At least 48 members of Tablighi Jamaat from Uttarakhand attended the Nizamuddin Markaz in March causing concern among authorities who are also trying to reach its 650 other members who had travelled to the state from outside since January this year.
At least 48 members of the Jamaat attended the Nizamuddin Markaz during March out of which 19 were from Dehradun district and 29 from Haridwar, Intelligence Department sources here said.
Twenty-six of them are still in Delhi, DG (Law and Order) Ashok Kumar said.
The rest may have moved to other states from the congregation at Nizamuddin, intelligence officials said.
They also said efforts are underway to reach 650 members of Tabligh-e-Jamaat who had travelled to Uttarakhand from outside since January this year, news agency PTI reported.
Coronavirus News: J&K Reports 7 New COVID-19 Cases, Total Goes Up To 62
The Jammu and Kashmir government said seven people tested positive today taking the number of coronavirus cases in the union territory to 62, an official said.
Principal Secretary Planning, Information, Rohit Kansal told reporters that there are 62 positive cases of COVID-19 in Jammu and Kashmir till now.
Giving a breakup of the figures at a press briefing, Mr Kansal said 58 are active cases of which 48 are in Kashmir division and 10 in Jammu division.
"A total of 17,041 cases are under surveillance so far. This is a dynamic process and while some cases who complete their period are being released for home quarantine, newer cases keep getting added as per contact tracing results," Mr Kansal said.
The government is conscious that there has been a concern among the public about many cases being tested positive, he pointed out.
"However, we would like to emphasise that we have a robust tracing process. Many of the positive cases could be traced as a result of a vigorous contact tracing exercise undertaken by the administration," Mr Kansal added.
As per the daily bulletin on novel coronavirus, seven new positive cases of COVID-19, all from Kashmir division, taking the total to 62, reported news agency PTI.
Coronavirus News: Maharashtra Releases 412 Prisoners In A Bid To De-Congest Jails Amid Coronavirus
In a bid to de-congest jails in view of the coronavirus outbreak, the Maharashtra government today released 412 prisoners from various facilities, taking their total number to 2117 in the last five days, an
official said.
The government had decided to release those prisoners who are serving jail terms for a period of less than seven years, an official said.
Accordingly, the Prisons department started releasing such prisoners on bail from March 27, he said, adding that 412 prisoners were released today, news agency PTI reported.
Coronavirus News: 300 Released After Completing Quarantine Period In J&K's Kathua District
Three hundred people were released today after completing their quarantine period in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, officials said.
With this, over 600 people have been released from various quarantine centres across Jammu and Kashmir.
"We have released 300 people rom quarantine centres (after completing the term). They have been sent to home districts in private vehicles," District Magistrate, Kathua OP Bhagat told reporters.
Kathua, which is the entry point into Jammu and Kashmir, houses one of the biggest quarantine centres.
A total of 236 people were discharged from various quarantine facilities in Srinagar after they completed their quarantine period, the officials told news agency PTI.
Coronavirus News: 13 Bangladeshis, 2 Asamese Isolated In Thane After Their Return From Tablighi Event
13 Bangladesh nationals and two people from Assam who attended the gathering at Tablighi Jamaat Markaz in Delhi's Nizamuddin area and returned to Thane have been home quarantined, Subhas Burse, DCP Mumbra said on Wednesday, reported PTI.
"13 Bangladeshi nationals and two people from Assam who visited Markaz Nizamuddin and came to Thane have been home quarantined. Their test reports will be available by tomorrow. On the basis of the reports, further action will be taken," he said.
Tablighi Jamaat event has emerged as a hotspot for COVID-19 after several positive cases across India were linked to the gathering, including deaths in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana.
Coronavirus News: 23 Cases Of Coronavirus In Bihar, Says Nitish Kumar
23 coronavirus positive cases have been reported in Bihar so far while one person has died of the infection, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said on Wednesday.
"23 coronavirus positive cases have been reported in Bihar till now while one person has died due to the virus. We all are alert and working towards to contain the spread of coronavirus," Mr Kumar said addressing a press meet in Patna.
He said a decision had been taken on March 22 and some limited areas in the state were put under lockdown, reported PTI.
Coronavirus News: Top Tourism Body To Provide 2,000 Meals Daily To Health Workers Of Government Hospitals
The India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) will provide up to 2,000 cooked and packed meals every day to health workers of government hospitals, AIIMS and Ram Manohar Lohia (RML), amid the lockdown due to coronavirus pandemic, the Public sector undertaking (PSU) said in an official statement today.
Union Tourism Minister Prahlad Patel said the ITDC delivered the first batch of 500 meals to RML Hospital in Delhi today.
The food is being cooked in the kitchen of ITDC's flagship hotel 'The Ashok'. "These are testing times which all of us are going through. ITDC in a humble move will provide up to 2,000 meals per day to the healthcare professionals and other needy people as part of its CSR activity," Mr Patel told news agency PTI.
Coronavirus News: 49-Year-Old Tests Positive In Chandigarh, Total Cases Rise To 16
A 49-year-old man in Chandigarh, with no travel history to any coronavirus-hit country, tested positive for the infection on Wednesday, taking the number of confirmed cases to 16 in the union territory, officials said.
According to an official release, the Sector 35 resident had a "typical pneumonia with bilateral pneumonitis", reported PTI.
Coronavirus News: Meghalaya MLAs To Get Rs 25 Lakh Each For Providing Relief Amid Lockdown
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today said district deputy commissioners were empowered to release Rs 25 lakh to each legislator from the MLA scheme 2020-21 to provide relief to the people affected by the ongoing nationwide lockdown.
He said MLAs and members of district councils have been requested to work in coordination with the local administrations to ensure that essential commodities are made available to people.
All 60 legislators in the state have been asked to submit detailed list of essential commodities to be distributed to the beneficiaries and avail the funds, which will be sanctioned by the deputy commissioners, Mr Sangma said.
The chief minister said his government has been engaging with MLAs of different districts to solicit their views and suggestions which will enable the administration to streamline the delivery mechanism, news agency PTI reported.
Coronavirus News: 5 kg Rice To Be Distributed For Free To ration-Card Holders After Reqular Quota Bought, Says Maharashtra
Maharashtra government said on Wednesday that 5 kg rice will be distributed for free to ration-card holders, as promised by the centre, only after they buy their regular quota of grains at Fair Price Shops.
This decision was taken as otherwise stocking of food grains and their transportation would pose a problem, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said in a statement, reported PTI.
Free rice, announced by the centre last month as part of a relief package during lockdown on account of coronavirus, will be provided every month from April to June and not in one go, he said.
Coronavirus News: 10 Escaped Rajasthan's COVID-19 Quarantine, 9 Brought Back
Ten people had escaped from a quarantine facility in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer district and nine of them have been brought back, the police said today.
A case has been registered against the nine people who were traced by the police and a search is underway for the person who is still missing, a senior police officer said.
He told news agency PTI that these people ran away from the quarantine centre in Pokaran town on Tuesday night after spending two days there.
"They are labourers who worked in Karnataka and recently returned to their homes in Jaisalmer," the police added.
Coronavirus News: Gujarat Defers Retirement Of Health Staff By 2 Months
Gujarat Health Minister Nitin Patel on Wednesday said retirement of employees of the health and family welfare department will be deferred by two months amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The minister also announced that private medical practitioners will be recruited by government medical colleges and hospitals to maintain the strength of the public healthcare system during the viral outbreak.
Speaking to reporters, Mr Patel said health department employees, who were scheduled to retire on March 31, will continue to work till May 31 in view of the pandemic, reported PTI.
"Employees of sub-health centres, primary health centres, community health centres, district, sub-district and civil hospitals are a big support for us (during coronavirus outbreak). They are working hard and round the clock, by conducting surveys or treating patients," Mr Patel said.
Coronavirus News: Assam Now Has 13 COVID-19 Cases After 8 Test Positive
Eight more test positive for COVID-19 in Assam's Jorhat, taking total cases 13 in the state. All the patients had attended the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi, the Health Minister said, news agency PTI reported.
Coronavirus News: In Maharashtra, 6 Dies From COVID-19 Infection, Total Count Tops 10
Six coronavirus patients died in Maharashtra today, five of them in Mumbai, taking the death count to 16, health officials said.
Three men and as many women, all confirmed coronavirus patients, died during the day, he said.
The female patients were 84, 73 and 63 years old, respectively.
"One of them died at the civic-run Nair Hospital while two succumbed at private hospitals in the city," the official said.
A 75-year-old man and another, 51-year-old man died at Mumbai hospitals. A 50-year-old man died in adjoining Palghar district, officials said. It was the first death reported from Palghar, a predominantly tribal district.
The state has recorded 335 coronavirus cases so far. (PTI)
Coronavirus New: Mamata Banerjee Seeks Rs 25,000 Crore COVID Aid From Centre
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, seeking financial assistance of Rs 25,000 crore to fulfil the state government's commitments of providing free ration to the people and continuing other welfare schemes amid a dip in the revenue at a time when all businesses are shut due to the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown.
In the letter, Ms Banerjee stated that the West Bengal government needs assistance from the centre to cope with the unprecedented "impasse to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic".
"Our state finances like that of many other states, is in a dire situation with practically no revenue flows after the closure of all businesses. Despite this, we have somehow been able to pay the salaries, wages and pensions of government employees this month though some major states of the country could not do that on full. And even with the massive debt trap left behind by the previous government, we were able to service the debt so far, but future remains uncertain," Ms Banerjee said in the letter to the prime minister.
"Furthermore, we are required to meet our commitments towards girl child, students, farmers, unorganised workers, weaker sections, minorities, SC, ST and OBCs. We are also having to honour our commitments of providing free ration to almost 9 crore people, who need this so crucially to survive in this perilous time," she wrote, reported PTI.
"The Centre has already reduced their devolution to our state by over Rs 11,000 crore and were yet to pay Rs 36,000 crore owed by the GoI to our state," she said in the letter.
Coronavirus News: Muzaffarnagar Jail In UP Releases 170 Inmates Over Coronavirus
170 inmates have been released on parole till date in an attempt to decongest the Muzaffarnagar district jail to prevent the spread of coronavirus, an official said on Wednesday.
Jail Superintendent AK Saxena said there were 2,200 inmates lodged in the prison, of which 170 were released on parole as a precautionary measure.
A district-level committee is scrutinising cases on the basis of merit for the release of prisoners, reported PTI.
Coronavirus News: 71 From Bengal Who Attended Tablighi Event Traced
Bengal Chief minister Mamata Banerjee said 71 people, who attended the Tablighi event in Delhi, have been traced in the state, reported PTI.
Coronavirus News: 2 New Cases In Maharashtra
Two more cases of coronavirus reported in Maharashtra, says Health Miniser Rajesh Tope, reported PTI.
Coronavirus News: Kerala Governor Praises State Over "Pro-Active" Handling Of "Invisible Threat"
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Wednesday praised the LDF government for its "pro-active" handling of the "invisible threat" of coronavirus.
Kerala has reported a total of 241 COVID-19 cases, of which 24 people have been cured. Eighty per cent of the state's coronavirus patients were those who had returned from the Gulf, Europe and UK.
The Governor, in a release, said the very fact that only 20 per cent of the local people have been infected, proves that the state governmnet has been very "pro-active" in battling this invisible threat, PTI reported.
Though initially the required awareness was lacking, people realised the importance of social distancing after the lockdown, he said.
Mr Khan also expressed anguish over the recent religious congregation held by Tabligh-e-Jamaat at Nizamuddin west in Delhi, which is among the Covid19 hotspots in the country.
"I feel deeply anguished, very sad about this totally ignorant behaviour. We must learn a lesson from this episode. They ignored the advisory, they ignored the guidelines and they organised a gathering of over 1,000 people from various parts of the country and abroad," he said.
"Although all these people have been dispersed and they have been taken to quarantine centres, but those who have gone back to their respective states and districts, have become a source of spreading corona virus," Mr Khan said.
Coronavirus News: UP Will Not Deduct, Defer Salaries Of Government Employees, Says Yogi Adityanath.
The Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday said salaries of its employees will neither be deferred nor deducted amid the coronavirus lockdown and its impact on revenues, PTI reported.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has clearly said that the condition of the state's economy is strong and it would deal with the challenge posed by the pandemic, Additional Chief Secretary Awanish Awasthi told the media in Lucknow.
There would be no cut or deferment in the salaries of state government employees, Mr Awasthi said, quoting the chief minister.
The chief minister is of the view that when he has asked private agencies to pay full salary to their employees in this hour of crisis, it is the responsibility of the state government to pay its employees as well, Mr Awasthi pointed out.
Coronavirus News: Kerala Reported 24 New Cases Today
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said 24 ne cornavirus cases have been reported in the state today, reported PTI.
Coronavirus News: Central Railways Loads Over 28,000 Wagons With Essential Commodities Amid Lockdown
The Central Railways (CR) has loaded more than 28,000 wagons of over 550 goods trains in the last 10 days to ensure availability of essential commodities amid the ongoing lockdown aimed at stopping the spread of novel coronavirus, an official said on Wednesday, reported PTI.
Total 28,555 loaded wagons include, 16,964 ones of coal, 2,443 of petroleum products, 7,059 of containers (carrying different items), 475 of fertilizers, 42 of food grains, 84 of sugar, 84 of onions and 676 of miscellaneous goods and 728 other commodities, a press release issued by the CR said.
"These wagons were loaded at various locations of the Central Railway, like Mumbai, Bhusawal, Nagpur, Solapur and Pune between March 21 and 31," Shivaji Sutar, chief public relations officer of the CR, said.
Coronavirus News: Students Of Class 9, 11 Not Promoted This Time Can Take Online Tests, Education Ministry said
Students of classes 9 and 11, who have not been promoted this time, can appear in school based tests online or offline, PTI reported quoting the Education Ministry.
Coronavirus News: Armed Forces Provide Over 8,500 Doctors, Support Staff For COVID-19 Treatment
The armed forces have made available over 9,000 hospital beds and more than 8,500 doctors and support staff across the country to deal with the rising cases of coronavirus infection.
Additionally, nearly 25,000 volunteers of National Cadet Corps (NCC) are being mobilised to provide assistance to civil administration to cope with the increasing number of infected people, officials said after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the military's efforts to fight the pandemic.
Mr Singh carried out a comprehensive review of contributions made by the three services and various wings of the defence ministry in helping civil authorities deal with coronavirus at a video conference with top military brass.
"The defence minister directed all the organisations to redouble their efforts and work in close coordination with other ministries/organisations of central government in this crucial time," the defence ministry said in a statement, reported PTI.
Coronavirus News: Uttarakhand Quarantines 173 Attendees Of Delhi's Tablighi Event
Uttarakhand has quarantined as many as 173 people who attended the congregational prayers in Delhi over the last month, state Director General of Police Ashok Kumar said on Tuesday.
"Twenty six people of Uttarakhand participated in the Tablighi Jamaat event at Delhi's Nizamuddin Markaz. They are still in Delhi. 173 out of 713 people who participated in regular prayers in mosques in the last 28 days have been quarantined," Ashok Kumar said, reported ANI.
Coronavirus News: Building That Hosted Tablighi Event In Delhi Sanitised
The Markaz building in Nizamuddin was sanitised on Wednesday after hundreds tested positive after attending the Tablighi event.
Earlier in the day, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that a total of 2,361 people have been brought out from Markaz in Nizamuddin in a joint operation by authorities which lasted 36 hours till 4 am today.
Out of these, 617 have been sent to hospitals while the rest have been sent to different quarantine facilities, he said.
An FIR has been registered against Tablighi Jamaat head Maulana Saad and others under the Epidemic Disease Act 1897, reported ANI.
Coronavirus New: 89 Tablighi Jamaat Attendees Traced To Maharashtra's Nagpur, Ahmednagar
At least 89 people who were part of a religious gathering in Delhi's Nizamuddin have been traced to Nagpur and Ahmednagar in Maharashtra, officials said on Wednesday.
Fifty four of these people were found in Nagpur and they have been quarantined, Nagpur Municipal Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said, adding their medical examination is being done, reported PTI.
"Apart from these 54 people, I appeal to the other citizens who attended the Tabligh-e-Jamaat congregation in Nizamuddin West in the national capital to come forward and contact us, so that appropriate treatment could be provided to them if they have any (coronavirus) symptoms," Mundhe said.
Besides, 35 such people have been identified in Ahmednagar.
Coronavirus News: 5 Cases Of Coronavirus In Assam, Says Himanta Biswa Sarma
Five coronavirus cases have been reported in Assam, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Wednesday.
He added that four patients have been shifted to Gauhati Medical College, whereas one has been moved to Silchar Medical College and Hospital.
Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Sarma had stated that scores of Assamese people, who were at the Tablighi Jammat's Markaz in Delhi, are still in the national capital.
The Markaz came in the spotlight on Monday after 24 men, evacuated from the building, were tested positive for COVID-19, reported PTI.
Coronavirus News: J&K Quarantines 10 After Their Return From Tablighi Jamaat Event
Ten people, who had returned from Delhi after participating in a Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin area have been identified and put under quarantine in the state's Poonch district, officials said on Wednesday, reported ANI.
"Ten people who arrived in Poonch district after attending Tablighi Jamaat in Delhi's Nizamuddin, have been identified by District Administration. All of them have been kept under quarantine," said Ramesh Angral, SSP District Police, Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir.
Coronavirus News: Goa Sets Up Helpline For Those Who Returned After Attending Delhi Mosque Event
Goa on Wednesday asked people who participated in the religious congregation organised by the Tablighi Jamaat in Delhi's Nizamuddin to contact the state health department immediately.
The gathering held last month at Markaz Nizamuddin, the Delhi headquarters of the Tabligh-e-Jamaat, has become an epicentre for the spread of the infection.
Goa Health Services Director Jose D'Sa has released helpline numbers, 0832-2225538/2421810, for those from the coastal state who attended the Delhi event, and asked them to get in touch with the health department immediately.
"If anyone has attended the religious event, they should inform the health authorities," Mr D'Sa said in a release.
Six people from Telangana and one from Jammu and Kashmir, who attended the event, have died of coronavirus, reported PTI.
Coronavirus News: 43 Have Coronavirus In Andhra Pradesh After Attending Delhi Mosque EventAll 43 patients, who tested positive for COVID-19 in Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday, had returned to the state after attending the event at Delhi's Nizamuddin Markaz, the Chief Minister's Office said.
With 43 new COVID-19 positive cases, the total number of coronavirus cases in Andhra Pradesh has reached 87, informed the state's Nodal Office earlier today.
The 43 new coronavirus positive cases were reported between March 31 and April 1.
373 samples were tested during this time period and of them, 330 were negative while 43 tested positive.
240 COVID-19 cases have been reported in the last 12 hours across the country.
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of COVID-19 positive cases have reached 1,637 in India while 38 have died.
Coronavirus News: Nurses, Staff At Mumbai Hospital Demand Protective Gear To Treat COVID-19 Cases
As many as 18 nurses and medical staff from civic-run Balasaheb Thackeray Hospital in the city's Jogeshwari suburb on Wednesday staged a protest demanding protective gear to attend to COVID-19 patients admitted at the facility.
The protesting medical staff from Balasaheb Thackeray Hospital signed a letter addressed to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's medical officer.
The hospital was converted into a COVID-19 facility, for treating positive patients and suspected cases, the letter stated.
"Despite the guidelines, the required kits have not been provided for our own safety while serving patients. If any one of us suffers from the infection, the BMC would be solely responsible for it," the nurses have stated in the letter.
As many as 167 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Mumbai, of which 14 have recovered from the infection.
Coronavirua Updates: Ludhiana Sets Up 4 Temporary Jails For Lockdown Violators
Four temporary jails have been set up in Ludhiana to lodge those who violate the lockdown, Police Commissioner Rakesh Agrawal said on Wednesday.
He said that over 200 people were sent to these jails on Tuesday and were later released after they gave written apologies for the violations.
"Four temporary jails have been set up to lodge the curfew violators in Ludhiana, Punjab. 6,000 people can be lodged in these jails. Yesterday, we sent 200 people to these jails and released them in the evening after they gave written apologies," Mr Agrawal told ANI.
Coronavirus News: 26 People Attended Tablighi Event In Delhi From Uttarakhand, Police Say
Uttarakhand DG (law and order) Ashok Kumar on Wednesday said that 26 people from the state had attended the Tablighi Jamaat event held in south Delhi's Nizamuddin area and none of them have returned to their homes so far.
"There is some sort of confusion pertaning to the number of people from Uttarakhand in connection with Nizamuddin Markaz event. The reality is that only 26 people from here have gone to attend the event and at present all of them are in Nizammudin. No one has returned home," he said while speaking to ANI in Dehradun.
Tablighi Jamaat event has emerged as a hotspot for COVID-19 after cases all across India were linked to the gathering, including deaths in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana.
Spain reports more than 100,000 coronavirus casesThe number of cases of coronavirus in Spain surpassed 100,000 on Wednesday while the number of fatalities reported overnight reached a new record, the country's health ministry said.
The number of cases rose to 102,136 on Wednesday up from 94,417 on Tuesday, the ministry said. Overall fatalities caused by the disease rose to 9,053 from 8,189 on Tuesday
142 new coronavirus cases reported in MalaysiaMalaysia reported 142 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, taking the total to 2,908, the highest in Southeast Asia. The health ministry said it has recorded a total of 45 deaths, with two reported on Wednesday.
Health workers who serving the COVID-19 patients "no less than soldiers protecting the country": Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal
If anyone loses their life while serving COVID-19 patients, whether sanitation workers, doctors or nurses, their family will be provided Rs 1 crore as respect to their service: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal
22 people from Kerala's Mallapuram district under quarantine: Kerala Superintendent of Police
22 people from Kerala's Mallapuram district who attended the (Tablighi Jamaat) meeting at Delhi's Nizamuddin have been placed under home quarantined on their return, says Kerala Superintendent of Police Abdul Kareem
Indonesia confirms 149 new coronavirus infections, taking total to 1,677Indonesia confirmed on Wednesday 149 new coronavirus infections, taking the total in the Southeast Asian country to 1,677, a health ministry official said.
Achmad Yurianto reported 21 new deaths from the virus, taking the total to 157, while 103 had recovered
Philippines reports 227 new coronavirus cases, eight more deathsThe Philippines recorded 227 new coronavirus cases and eight more deaths on Wednesday, the health ministry said. The latest figures brought the total number of infections and deaths in the country to 2,311 and 96, respectively.
18 Lucknow residents, who participated in Delhi's Nizamuddin Markaz event, haven't returned: Lucknow police
With people's support battle against coronavirus will be won: Odisha Chief MinisterChief Minister Naveen Patnaik extended his greetings to the people of the state on Wednesday, on the occasion of Utkal Divas (Odisha Day).
He stated that the state had set a benchmark in disaster management, and with people's support, even the battle against the coronavirus would be won. "I believe, with your support, we will win our ongoing fight against Corona Virus" the Chief Minister said.
China reports 1,300 asymptomatic virus cases after public concernChina on Wednesday said it has more than 1,300 asymptomatic coronavirus cases, the first time it has released such data following public concern over people who have tested positive but are not showing symptoms.
Health officials also reported the first imported case from abroad in Wuhan -- the epicentre where the virus first emerged late last year -- heightening fears of infections being brought into China from other countries.
Of 36 new cases reported Wednesday, 35 were imported from abroad.
4 temporary jails set up to lodge curfew violators in Ludhiana, Punjab
Delhi's Nizamuddin Markaz and the area around it being sanitised by South Delhi Municipal Corporation
Two COVID-19 patients die in Bengal, death count 6Two persons infected with coronavirus have died in West Bengal, taking the total number of COVID-19 deaths in the state to six, a health department official said on Wednesday.
A 57-year-old man, who was admitted to a private hospital in Golabari area of Howrah district two days ago, died on Tuesday night, he said.
"We are trying to find out the travel history of the deceased and whether he had come in contact with any person infected with coronavirus," the official said.
Another 57-year-old man died in a hospital in Belghoria in North 24 Parganas district on Wednesday morning, he said.
Russian plane takes off for US with coronavirus help onboard: ReportA Russian military transport plane took off from an airfield outside Moscow early on Wednesday and headed for the United States with a load of medical equipment and masks to help Washington fight coronavirus, Russian state TV reported.
President Vladimir Putin offered Russian help in a phone conversation with President Donald Trump on Monday, when the two leaders discussed how best to respond to the virus.
"Trump gratefully accepted this humanitarian aid," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was cited as saying by the Interfax news agency on Tuesday night.
Coronavirus Lockdown: Gujarat Chief Minister holds Cabinet meeting through video conference
300 people from Karnataka attended Nizamuddin jamaat: State Health MinisterKarnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu on Wednesday said about 300 people from the state had attended the religious congregation of Tablighi Jamaat at Nizamuddin Markaz Masjid in New Delhi last month, and 40 of them have been identified and quarantined.
8 new coronavirus cases in GujaratEight new coronavirus cases have been found in Gujarat, taking the total number of such cases in the state to 82, a health official said on Wednesday.
All the new cases have been were reported from Ahmedabad,which has been declared as one of the COVID-19 hotspots in India.
Of the eight new patients, four have history of inter-state travel, three are cases of local transmission while one person has foreign travel history, Principal Secretary (Health) Jayanti Ravi said.
China reports 36 new coronavirus casesChina reported on Wednesday a fall in new confirmed coronavirus cases, with almost all cases imported from overseas.
China had 36 new cases on Tuesday, the National Health Commission said on Wednesday, down from 48 a day earlier.
All but one of the cases were imported, bringing the total number of imported cases to 806.
Another 130 asymptomatic cases were reported, with a total of 1,367 such cases under observation as of March 31.
There was one reported new case of a local infection, in Guangdong province.
Thailand confirms 120 new coronavirus cases, two more deathsThailand confirmed 120 new coronavirus cases and two more deaths on Wednesday, said a spokesman of the government's Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration
The new figures brought the total number of infections in the Southeast Asian country to 1,771 and 12 fatalities
Coronavirus in India: Total shutdown in Nagaland's Dimapur from WednesdayAt the end of the first week of 21-day nationwide lockdown, the district administration of Dimapur in Nagaland has ordered the total closure of all shops, commercial, private establishments, and imposed restrictions on movement of public and vehicles for 66 hours with effect from 6 am on Wednesday.
In exercise of powers under Disaster Management Act, 2005 and the Nagaland government order to initiate effective and immediate measures needed to contain the spread of coronavirus, total closure will be imposed from 6 am on April 1 to midnight of April 3, 2020, an order issued by Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur, Anoop Khinchi, said on Tuesday.
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa to donate one year's salary to fight COVID-19Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Wednesday announced he will donate his one year's salary to the Chief Minister Relief Fund COVID-19.
He has appealed to ministers, legislators, Members of Parliament, officials and citizens to also do their bit and contribute in whatever capacity possible to help the state in fighting the coronavirus outbreak.
"It is a very difficult time that we are all going through. And it is important that we fight this epidemic together. Personally, I am donating my one year's salary to the #CMRF Covid19. I request you all to contribute, however small, and help #Karnataka fight #Corona.Thank you," Mr Yediyurappa tweeted along with a video message announcing the same.
Andhra Pradesh Government has started door to door distribution of welfare pensions from today
20 new coronavirus cases in Madhya PradeshTwenty more people tested positive for coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday, taking the total number of such cases in the state to 86, a health official said.
Among the new cases, 19 were reported from Indore and one from the neighbouring Khargone district, he said.
Of the 19 new patients in Indore, nine are from one family, including three children, aged 3, 5 and 8, residing in Tanzeem Nagar area of the city, the official said.
COVID-19 pandemic most challenging crisis since Second World War: UN chiefThe coronavirus pandemic is the most challenging crisis the world faces since the Second World War, one that is killing people and will also lead to an economic recession that probably has no parallel in the recent past, UN chief Antonio Guterres has warned.
"We are facing a global health crisis unlike any in the 75-year history of the United Nations - one that is killing people, spreading human suffering, and upending people's lives. But this is much more than a health crisis. It is a human crisis," Mr Guterres said at the virtual launch of the report.
Later, in response to a question on why he thinks the pandemic is the worst global crisis since the UN was founded, Mr Guterres said "because it is a combination, on one hand, of a disease that represents a threat to everybody in the world and, second, because it has an economic impact that will bring a recession that probably has no parallel in the recent past."
Food packets being prepared in a community kitchen in Ayodhya
12 dead in Maharashtra due to coronavirus Two more COVID-19 patients died in Maharashtra, taking the number of deaths in the state to 12, health officials said on Wednesday.
One was a 75-year-old man from Mumbai, while the other, a 50-year-old man, died in adjoining Palghar district, the officials said.
"The 75-year-old male patient died here on Tuesday. We are finding details of his travel history and also checking if someone close to him had a travel history, an official said.
The Palghar man had no travel history, he said. This is the first death reported from Palghar, a predominantly tribal district.
COVID-19: Rajasthan defers salary of CM, ministers and bureaucratsThe Rajasthan cabinet on Tuesday decided to defer a potion of salary of the chief minister, deputy chief minister, MLAs and government employees as part of austerity measures amid the novel coronavirus pandemic in the state.
In a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, it was informed that most of the industrial units and business activities in the state are closed due to the lockdown.
- Functioning in several departments related to revenue collection has also been affected. Revenue collection has reduced by Rs 17,000 crore in March
- The state cabinet has decided to defer 75 per cent of the gross salary of March of the chief minister, deputy CM, ministers, assembly Speaker, leader of Opposition all MLAs, an official statement said
- Officers and employees of all categories of medical and health services, police, Class IV employees and personnel working on contract and honorarium have been exempted from salary postponement, according to the statement
- The cabinet decided that 36.51-lakh below-poverty-line (BPL) beneficiaries, 25-lakh construction workers and registered street vendors who do not come under the purview of social security pension scheme would be provided an ex-gratia of Rs 1,500 instead of Rs 1,000 decided earlier
- A sum of Rs 500 crore will be spent on it
18 new COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra; tally climbs to 320: Health officialOf the 18 new cases, 16 have been reported from Mumbai and two from Pune, health official said.
"Maharashtra's COVID-19 tally till Tuesday night was 302. Today, we got reports of 18 more people testing positive for the viral infection. This has taken the state tally to 320," the official said.
Andhra Pradesh government defers salaries of Chief Minister, government staffThe Andhra Pradesh government late on Tuesday night announced deferment of payment of full salaries to the chief minister, officers and employees, saying its revenue streams have "totally dried up" in view of the ongoing lockdown to combat coronavirus.
The deferments will range from 10 to 100 per cent for different categories of employees, it said.
In an order issued around midnight, Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney said the deferment will continue to be in force till further orders.
Tamil Nadu on Tuesday registered 57 new COVID-19 casesTamil Nadu on Tuesday registered 57 new COVID-19 cases, the highest spike in a single day so far, including 50 who had travelled to Delhi to attend a religious congregation earlier this month, the government said.
The total number of coronavirus cases stood at 124 in Tamil Nadu, with at least 77 of them having links to the congregation held in the national capital's Nizamuddin area recently.