India

New Delhi, Jun 3 (PTI) Five senior pilots of Air India have died in May due to COVID-19, senior officials said on Thursday, adding that the carrier has started vaccinating its employees from May 15 onwards after a delay due to non-availability of vaccines.

These five senior pilots were Captain Harsh Tiwary, Captain G P S Gill, Captain Prasad Karmakar, Captain Sandeep Rana and Captain Amitesh Prasad, they said.

New Delhi, Jun 3 (PTI) A new book offers heartfelt perspectives on Islamic theology and also walks readers through practical exercises that inspire love, strengthen faith, and increase reliance on and intimacy with God.

"Secrets of Divine Love: A Spiritual Journey into the Heart of Islam" by A Helwa draws upon the inspirational words of the Quran and Prophet Muhammad and shares lessons through stories from the world's greatest spiritual masters.

New Delhi, Jun 3 (PTI) Kerala has retained the top rank in Niti Aayog's SDG India Index 2020-21, while Bihar has been adjudged as the worst performer, according to a report released on Thursday

The Index for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) evaluates progress of states and union territories on social, economic and environmental parameters.

Kerala retained its rank as the top state with a score of 75. Both Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu took the second spot with a score of 74.

NEW DELHI, June 3 (Xinhua) -- India's federal government has finalised arrangements with Hyderabad-based vaccine manufacturer, Biological-E, to reserve 300 million COVID-19 vaccine doses, officials said Thursday.

KANPUR: An inspection of the Lala Lajpat Rai Hospital in Hallet by the company officials was conducted. As many as two oxygen plants will be set up to make the hospital totally self-sufficient in this case.

The spot where both the oxygen plants will be installed was also surveyed.

According to the information, one oxygen plant will supply the gas to all the Wards of the hospital. It will be set up near Ward number 5.

Aligarh (UP), Jun 2 (PTI) Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) Pro-chancellor Ibne Saeed Khan died at his home here due to Covid complications, his family said on Wednesday.

Khan, 98, passed away on Tuesday night, according to a release issued by the university.

He was the longest living alumnus of the AMU and had held several posts in different governing bodies of the university, including that of honorary treasurer for the past thirty years.

Srinagar, Jun 2 (PTI) Authorities in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday ordered a magisterial inquiry into an encounter between militants and security forces last month in which three ultras were killed, officials said.

In an order, the Shopian additional district magistrate, who is also the inquiry officer, asked people to share information about the anti-militancy operation that took place at Kanigam in Shopian on May 5-6.

New Delhi, Jun 2 (PTI) Former Supreme Court judge justice Arun Mishra on Wednesday took charge as the new chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, official sources said.

The post of the NHRC chief had been lying vacant since justice H L Dattu, ex-chief justice of India, had completed his tenure in December 2020.

"Justice Arun Mishra today joined as the new chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission. One panel member has also joined," the sources said.

Ballia (UP), Jun 2 (PTI) A 16-year-old girl was allegedly raped by two youths in a village in Rasda area here, police said on Wednesday.

The incident took place on May 29 when the girl went to the fields to attend nature's call and Rajesh Yadav and Akash Yadav raped her, SHO, Rasda Nagesh Upadhyay said.

He said on the complaint of the girl, an FIR was registered against the two under relevant sections of the IPC and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The accused are absconding, police said.

Ahmedabad, Jun 2 (PTI) The Gujarat government has announced a relief package of Rs 105 crore for fishermen affected by cyclone Tauktae which caused severe damage in the state's coastal belt last month, officials said on Wednesday.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani took the decision about the relief package after reviewing the situation during a meeting on Tuesday evening, an official release said.

Cyclone Tauktae hit the Gujarat coast on May 17 night with a very high wind speed of about 220 kmph.