India

India: More than 17,000 stranded people travel within Assam

Guwahati, Apr 25 (PTI) More than 17,000 people stranded in different parts of Assam travelled to their homes within the state by buses and personal vehicles on Saturday, the first day of the three-day movement allowed by the state government during the lockdown.

State Transport Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary flagged off the buses carrying passengers from the Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT) here to different districts.

Patowary said 300 buses plied on the first day from different districts, carrying over 5,000 stranded people.

India: MHA relaxation orders not applicable for Pune: police

Pune, Apr 25 (PTI) The orders issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for relaxation of lockdown will not be applicable for Pune city, Joint Commissioner of Police Ravindra Shisve said on Saturday.

The MHA had clarified that relaxation orders were not applicable for the areas affected by the coronavirus pandemic, he said.

Therefore, the orders issued by the local police officials to prevent the spread of coronavirus will remain in force, he said.

India: 226 Swiss nationals evacuated

Kochi, Apr 26 (PTI) As many as 226 Swiss nationals stranded in India following the nationwide lockdown have left for Zurich by a Swiss International Airlines, an airport spokesperson said here on Sunday.

The flight departed for Zurich at 11.20 PM on Saturday from Cochin airport, he said.

The aircraft had arrived here after picking up 62 Swiss nationals stranded in Kolkotta and 164 of them boarded the flight from here

Earlier, the UK and Oman had evacuated their citizens stranded in Kerala due to lockdown by operating special flights.

India: BJP's Anantkumar Hegde says his Twitter account blocked

Bengaluru, Apr 26 (PTI) Former Union minister and controversial BJP MP Anantkumar Hegde on Sunday said his Twitter account has been blocked and accused the microblogging siite of taking an 'anti-India stand' and acting "with very prejudiced intentions'.

The MP from Uttara Kannada has also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi against the 'Digital colonisation' by a a corporate entity.

India: Senior govt doctor, another man die of COVID-19 in Bengal

Kolkata, Apr 26 (PTI) A senior government doctor involved in the fight against COVID-19 and a 34-year-old man, both diagnosed with the disease, died at a hospital here on Sunday, sources at the facility said.

The 60-year-old doctor, posted as assistant director health services (equipment and stores), was initially admitted to Beliaghata Infectious Diseases hospital and later shifted to a private hospital in Salt Lake on April 18, where he succumbed to the disease.

India: Youngsters are not shying away from fasting

KANPUR: As people are passing the day under stay-at-home orders in order to stall the spread of coronavirus, the devout Muslims are observing the fasting with equanimity and obligation. 

There is no possibility of relaxation in the lockdown so the month of Ramazan gives the opportunity to the devouts for focus on the prayers in accordance with the ordained rules. Even the youngsters were showing a strong urge to have fasting.

India's Modi urges citizens follow lockdown as coronavirus cases rise

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday appealed to citizens to strictly comply with a nationwide lockdown and maintain social distancing norms, as cases of coronavirus mounted steadily despite over a month-long curfew.

In a radio address, Modi said the country was in the midst of a “war” and urged hundreds of millions of citizens to sustain the “people driven” fight and not be misled into believing the spread of the virus has been brought fully under control.

India: Plea filed in court seeking quashing of lockdown

Chennai Apr 25 (PTI) A plea has been filed in the Madras High Court seeking quashing of the complete lockdown announced by theState government for four days from Sunday in some cities and three days in some other municipal corporations.

Challenging the shutdown the petitioner submitted it was unlawful and unconstitutional.

According to the petitioner, a day after the announcement on April 25, all the five corporations witnessed large gathering of public to stock up essential commodities and vegetables in complete violation of social distancing.

India: Constable dies of COVID-19 in Mumbai

Mumbai, Apr 25 (PTI) A 57-year-old police constable who had been diagnosed with COVID-19 passed away at a private hospital in Mumbai on Saturday, officials said.

This is the first known case of a police personnel dying due to coronavirus infectionn in Maharashtra.

The constable was attached to a police station in western suburbs. He lived in Worli Naka area in south Mumbai.

A total of 96 police personnel, including 15 officers, have contracted coronavirus infection in Maharashtra so far, officials had said earlier in the day.

India: HC seeks report from prison authorities on steps taken to prevent COVID-19 spread in jail

New Delhi, Apr 25 (PTI) The Delhi High Court has sought a report from authorities on steps taken for preventing the spread of COVID-19 in jails here.

Justice Brijesh Sethi issued the direction while hearing the interim bail plea of an accused in a murder case who cited potential risk of COVID-19 infection to seek the relief.

"Let a report be called from the concerned Jail Superintendent as to what steps have been taken to protect the prisoners from COVID-19 pandemic like social distancing etc. in jail.

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