India

Mumbai, Mar 30 (PTI) The Indian fell 32 paise to 75.21 against the US dollar in opening trade on Monday, as investors braced for a prolonged period of uncertainty as coronavirus-induced lockdowns tightened across the world and in India.

Forex traders said weak opening in domestic equities dragged the local unit amid mounting fears of a coronavirus-led economic slowdown.

Lucknow, Mar 29 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh has reported a total of 68 coronavirus cases with around half of them from Gautam Buddh Nagar district which includes Noida, officials said on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, the Gautam Buddh Nagar district administration said five new cases were reported taking the total cases to 31.

New Delhi, Mar 29 (PTI) A doctor and a junior commissioned officer in the Indian Army tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday, official sources said.

The Colonel-rank doctor is serving at the Command Hospital in Kolkata while the JCO is posted to an Army base in Dehradun.

Amethi, Mar 29 (PTI) More than 100 packets containing essential edible items were distributed in different parts of Amethi on Sunday.

The packets were sent by local MP Smriti Irani, who is also the Union Minister for Women and Child Development, and distributed among the needy people while also respecting the social distancing norms.

Lucknow, Mar 29 (PTI) Labourers reaching Lucknow from Delhi and other states had a similar tale to narrate that they had no money and food, forcing them to return to their homes.

The state government has decided not to charge any ticket amount to any labourers, workers and families who are travelling in state-run buses, said Raj Shekhar, the managing director of the Uttar Pradesh State Roadways Transport Corporation.

Mumbai, Mar 30 (PTI) Equity benchmark Sensex plummeted over 1,375 points on Monday, tracking heavy losses in banking and auto stocks, amid an unsettling spike in Covid-19 cases.

After plunging over 1,500 points during the day, the 30-share BSE barometer ended 1,375.27 points or 4.61 per cent lower at 28,440.32.

New Delhi, Mar 30 (PTI) The government on Monday said that there was no immediate plan to extend the 21-day lockdown amid fears that shutdown of businesses across the country to counter the spread of coronavirus may trigger severe economic and social distress.

The clarification by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba came after hundreds of thousands of migrant labourers undertook long journeys from major urban centres on foot to their homes in the last five days, reflecting their struggle for survival due to job losses following the lockdown.

Ahmedabad, Mar 30 (PTI) The number of deaths due to coronavirus in Gujarat has gone up to six after one more patient succumbed to the infection, a senior health official said on Monday.

Besides, the number COVID-19 cases in the state went up to 69 as six more people tested positive for the deadly virus on Monday, principal secretary (health) Jayanti Ravi said.

Kolkata, Mar 30 (PTI) A woman has been arrested here for allegedly sharing fake information pertaining to COVID-19 on WhatsApp, a senior police officer said on Monday.

She had apparently claimed in her post that 15 people have tested positive for novel coronavirus in New Alipore area of the city and that the state government was suppressing the information, the officer said.

KANPUR: A strange scene was seen in Jajmau area of the district on Friday. When the parents need more quarantine in these tough times, the young sons are not extending helping hands to them. 

It is they who approach the vendors to buy daily needs and the sons look at them standing in the front side balcony. How cruel are they to their aged fathers?

In the afternoon one vendor appeared on the roadside. Hearing his voice, the elderly father approached him. He purchased whatever vegetables he required but his son did not come down. It a clear case of callousness.