Be strict with hoarders of essential medicines, PM Narendra Modi tells states

Karnataka Revenue Minister R. Ashoka said that the state government has decided to impose a ban on all construction activities during the weekends. "We have banned all civil and all construction work during weekends, till the weekend curfew is in force. As of now, weekend curfew will be in force till May 4," he said.

The COVID-19 tally in Mumbai increased by 7,221 on Friday to touch 6,16,221, while 72 deaths during the day took the toll to 12,648, an official said. The day also saw 9,541 people getting discharged, taking the recovery count to 5,20,684, leaving the metropolis with an active caseload of 81,538, BMC data revealed.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has constructed a 160-foot-long bailey bridge on the Tarnah river to connect Sakol village in Punjab with Jammu, an official statement said on Friday.

The bridge will provide a much-needed lifeline to the village's residents, who had to go through a lot of hardship to cross the "dreaded" river every year during monsoon, it noted.

An Indian Air Force C-17 transport plane on Friday carried an empty oxygen tanker from Indore in Madhya Pradesh to Jamnagar in neighbouring Gujarat, an official said. After refilling, the 30 metric tonne-capacity tanker will return to Indore from Jamnagar by road, he added. "The IAF plane landed at Indore airport at 3:15 pm and left for Jamnagar with the tanker soon after. The transport aircraft will come back to Indore in the evening to ferry another empty tanker to Jamnagar," the official informed.

An Indian Air Force C-17 transport plane on Friday carried an empty oxygen tanker from Indore in Madhya Pradesh to Jamnagar in neighbouring Gujarat, an official said. After refilling, the 30 metric tonne-capacity tanker will return to Indore from Jamnagar by road, he added. "The IAF plane landed at Indore airport at 3:15 pm and left for Jamnagar with the tanker soon after. The transport aircraft will come back to Indore in the evening to ferry another empty tanker to Jamnagar," the official informed.

Rajya Sabha member and LJD leader M V Shreyams Kumar on Friday flagged concerns about the central government's vaccine policy, saying it will not only be "counter-productive" but also result in vaccine makers playing with the dynamics of the existing limited supply of vaccines.

Kumar, who is also a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Chemicals & Fertilizers, has raised the concerns in a letter written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi wherein he has also termed the central government's decision to make vaccine available to everyone above the age of 18 years a "welcome step".

Additional Secretary in the health department of Bihar, Ravi Shankar Choudhary passed away due to COVID-19.

Be strict with hoarders of essential medicines: PM Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi requested states to deal strictly with hoarding and black marketing of essential medicines and injections. PM Modi said that Railways and the Air Force have been deployed to reduce travel time of oxygen tankers. "Every state should ensure that no oxygen tanker, whether it is meant for any state, is stopped or gets stranded," the Prime Minister said.

Andhra Pradesh crosses one million COVID-19 cases mark on April 23, adding a record 11,766 fresh positives, says govt data

In view of coronavirus crisis, Punjab government will celebrate 400th birth anniversary of ninth Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur from April 28 virtually, says CM Amarinder Singh

No weekend lockdown to be imposed in Chandigarh, only night curfew from 9 pm to 5 am to remain enforced on all days, says Manoj Parida, Advisor, Chandigarh Administration 

PM Narendra Modi calls for utilising industry's full potential to meet medical oxygen demand in coming days, says there is need to increase availability of oxygen cylinders as well as to upgrade logistical facilities for its transportation

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she would have participated in the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the chief ministers of states with the highest burden of COVID-19 cases, had she been invited. Addressing a press conference, Mamata said she heard that Friday's meeting on the COVID situation was meant for the worst-hit states, and hence she was not told about it.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she would have participated in the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the chief ministers of states with the highest burden of COVID-19 cases, had she been invited. Addressing a press conference here, Banerjee said she heard that Friday's meeting on the COVID situation was meant for the worst-hit states, and hence she was not told about it.

Andhra Pradesh reports 11,766 new #COVID19 cases, 4441 recoveries, and 38 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Total cases 10,09,228
Total recoveries 9,27,418
Death toll 7579

Active cases 74,231

Gurnam Singh Chaduni, leader of BKU's Haryana unit, says protesting farmers should not be compelled to get themselves tested or vaccinated and if health workers tried to force them, they will not allow them to enter protest sites

Breaking:

Bihar Additional Secretary in the health department, Ravi Shankar Choudhary passes away due to COVID-19: ANI

Gujarat: Union Home Minister Amit Shah holds a meeting with CM Vijay Rupani, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel and other officials in Ahmedabad over the COVID-19 situation in the state.

West Bengal is voting for governance free of partiality. The people are looking for employment opportunities, ease of living and ease of doing business. BJP has taken a pledge to complete all such needs: PM Modi

Record investment is coming to India. We want a major chunk of this to be used in Bengal to promote every form of industry and employment. BJP government will try its best to ensure this: PM Modi

Will use technology to transform Kolkata, the city of joy, to city of future: PM Modi at virtual rally in West Bengal

Illegal immigration, syndicates, extortion hurdles to West Bengal's development: PM Modi

People of Bengal want dignity of labour, ease of living, ease of doing business: PM Modi

West Bengal yearns for peace, security and development, says PM Modi in virtual rally

PM Narendra Modi addresses virtual rally in West Bengal

Delhi CMO expresses regret over live streaming of COVID-review meet with PM

After Arvind Kejriwal faced criticism over the breach of protocol by sharing a live telecast of an in-house COVID-19 review meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Delhi Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said it has regretted the inconvenience caused by the live streaming of the conference, adding that there was never any instruction from the Centre that the interaction could not be shared live.

Virar fire mishap controversy

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope stoked a controversy when he stated that the fire incident at a private hospital in Virar, which killed 13 COVID-19 patients, was not a 'national news'. 

However, the minister later made it clear that earlier in the day when he was speaking to reporters about the issues he would be discussing with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he was suddenly asked a question related to the Virar fire tragedy, to which he had responded. Talking to reporters earlier in the day, Tope said, "We will be speaking about oxygen, Remdesivir...The Virar incident though is not a national news."

Delhi Police conducts multiple raids in the national capital in connection with black marketing of Remdesivir vaccine. The police arrested two persons and seized 13 Remdesivir injections.

Shiv Sena MP writes to PM Narendra Modi over Oxygen supply, demands high-level probe into Oxygen supply delay to state

Breaking:

Drugs Controller General of India, DGCI, approves emergency use for Zydus Cadila's Pegylated Interferon alpha-2b, 'Virafin' for treating moderate #COVID19 infection in adults.

Discussed COVID situation with CMs, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweets, "Discussed the COVID-19 situation with Chief Ministers of the states seeing a surge in infections. We discussed the steps being taken to strengthen the fight against the pandemic."

Supreme Court starts hearing the suo motu cognisance case on #COVID19 crisis, it will also examine the judicial power of High Courts to declare lockdown.

A three-judge bench of the Court, headed by CJI SA Bobde is hearing the case.

Bihar: A jeep, carrying at least 15 passengers, fell into river Ganga at Peepapul in Patna today; at least 10 people missing. Search operation for the missing peole is underway.

Bihar: A jeep, carrying at least 15 passengers, fell into river Ganga at Peepapul in Patna today; at least 10 people missing. Search operation for the missing peole is underway. pic.twitter.com/wObcjXFYQM

— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2021

Talking about the vaccine policy recently announced, Delhi CM Kejriwal said that there should be one price for all vaccines. "One nation, one rate," he said while requesting the PM to reconsider the new policy.

CM Kejriwal requested the Oxygen tanks to be escorted by the army so they get delivered to the hospitals without delay.

Delhi CM Kejriwal pleaded with PM Narendra Modi to help Delhi avail of more medical oxygen resources by air and train services.