Meanwhile, a day after three fishermen drowned to death and nine others went missing after a fishing boat capsized off Mangaluru coast on Tuesday, the search was intensified for the others with the Indian Navy deploying its surface and air assets.
READ | Mangaluru sea accident: Navy deployed as search for 9 missing fishermen intensifies
At the same time, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa Wednesday distributed safety vests, new uniforms and equipment to sanitation workers of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in front of the B R Ambedkar’s statue in Bengaluru’s Vidhana Soudha as part of an event to commemorate the late leader’s 130th birth anniversary
READ | Karnataka CM Yediyurappa distributes new uniforms, protective equipments to sanitation workers on Ambedkar Jayanti
Here are a few contacts that might come in handy for you in emergency situations:
COVID-19 related queries / emergencies / clarifications: 104 (toll free); +91-80-4684-8600/6669-2000 | Find your nearest fever clinic and testing Covid-19 facility here | Home Quarantine-related queries: Telegram messenger/WhatsApp - +91 97777 77684, Voice call - 080 45451111 | BBMP control room: 080-22221188 | In case of power disruptions, contact BESCOM: 1912. If the water supply is hit in your area, contact BWSSB: 1916
A fire broke out in the Income Tax office located in the Central Revenue Building in Karnataka's Mangaluru on Thursday with a few files and computers getting destroyed under the flames.
According to Mangaluru City Police, the incident took place due to a short circuit in the Air Conditioner duct from which fire spread around. "The fire service was called in immediately after smoke was seen outside the building on Thursday morning. The fire was soon brought under control and none has been injured," Hariram Shankar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law & Order) confirmed.
Meanwhile, an income tax official said that no data was lost due to the incident. "We had all data uploaded into a centralised system online. The fire broke out in the TDS section of the office," the official explained.
Technical advisory committee will be submitting a report on increasing Covid cases and containment measures soon, said health minister Dr. K Sudhakar. “The report will be handed over to the Chief Minister and he will take the decision after a detailed discussion with leaders in the all party meeting and cabinet colleagues,” he said.
"I have discussed the crematorium issue with BBMP commissioner. 14-15 fatalities were reported yesterday. All of them were sent to single crematorium since they were covid cases. That is the reason for congestion", he clarified.
Speaking on the KMC registration issue of MBBS students, he said rural service is mandatory for all medical students. "Some students have appealed in the court. We understand the plight of students and government has taken the decision in favour of students. They are permitted to work else where till they are recruited. They have been asked to get clearance from legal department as well", he added.
Government hospitals in Bengaluru are instructed to reserve more beds for Covid patients. Private hospitals have also been instructed to reserve 50% of the beds. Strict action will be initiated against those who do not co-operate with govt, warned Health & medical Education Minister Dr. K Sudhakar
Speaking to the media in Bengaluru on Thursday, Dr.Sudhakar said that 400 doctors have been transferred from Medical education department to Health department. RGICD has been kept reserved for SARI and ILI related cases. "Presently, 300 beds are available in Victoria for Covid patients and will be increased to 500 shortly", he said. "300 beds in Bowring, 150 in Charaka, 100 beds in HSIS GHOSHA and 100 beds will be reserved in KC General hospital within two weeks", said the minister.
Amid restrictions in place due to the ongoing second wave, owners of hotels, restaurants, and pubs in Bengaluru have demanded the state government to slash down property tax, fixed charges in electricity bills, and exemption in excise license rates to help them survive in the industry.
According to a letter addressed to Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, President of Bruhat Bangalore Hotels Association (BBHA) P C Rao mentioned, "While the hotel industry is yet to resurrect from the losses experienced during the coronavirus-induced lockdown last year, the second wave has hit the industry again. The 50 per cent seating rule and night curfew have further burdened us with more losses this time."
Among other demands put forth by the BBHA are 50 per cent exemption in license charges of the Pollution Control Board, Food Safety and charges levied as per the Karnataka Shops and Establishment Act.
Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala received the second dose of the coronavirus vaccine in Bengaluru on Thursday.
According to a Raj Bhavan, nurse Vedha administered Vala the Covishield vaccine under the supervision of Medical Superintendent Dr B R Venkateshaiah at KC General Hospital, Malleshwaram in the city.
Speaking to reporters, Vala appealed to the people to take the vaccine as a precautionary measure to save themselves from Covid-19. He got the first shot on March 2.
Shares of Bengaluru-based Infosys on Thursday declined over 5 per cent on profit-booking after its March 2021 quarter earnings missed market expectations.
The stock dipped 5.59 per cent to Rs 1,320.35 on BSE. At NSE, it tumbled 5.52 per cent to Rs 1,320.
“Infosys reported a muted set of Q4 FY21 numbers. FY22 revenue growth (12-14 per cent) and margin (22-24 per cent) guidance were lower than our expectations of 13-15 per cent revenue growth and 23-24 per cent margin,” according to a report by Edelweiss Securities.
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The Belgaum Lok Sabha bypoll on April 17 has turned into a prestige battle for the BJP and Opposition Congress in Karnataka. Top leaders from both camps including Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddirappa and Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah have campaigned for the two candidates.
The bypoll was necessitated after Minister of State for Railways Suresh Angadi died due to Covid last year. His wife Mangala Angadi is contesting from the constituency against Congress’s Satish Jarkiholi, the sitting MLA of Yamkanmaradi.
While the BJP hopes to bank on sympathy factor, the Congress is playing the anti-incumbency card.
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The number of telephone lines operated by Bengaluru's municipal body the BBMP will be doubled soon to enable more public access to the 24-hour Covid-19 helpline operating in the city, BBMP Commissioner Gaurav Gupta confirmed.
"At present, six telephone lines are being operated. This will be soon increased to 12 to tackle the pandemic efficiently," he said.
Rainfall occurred at most places over South interior Karnataka; at many places over Coastal Karnataka and at a few places over North interior Karnataka, IMD said in a release on Thursday.
Chief amounts of rainfall in cm: Kaginele ARG (Haveri dt) 8 am, T Narasipur (Mysuru dt) 6 cm, Manki (Uttara Kannada dt), Hassan PTO 5 cm each; Dharmasthala (Dakshina Kannada dt), Tiptur (Tumakuru dt), Mandya PTO, Krishnarajasagara (Mandya dt), Channapatna (Ramanagara dt), Kolar PWD (Kolar dt) 4 cm each; Yelburga ARG (Koppal dt), Srirangapatna (Mandya dt), Madikeri PTO, Bargur (Tumakuru dt), Kottur (Ballari dt) 3 cm each.
Karwar recorded the highest Maximum temperature of 36.6C in the State.
Forecast for State for 24 hours: Rain/thundershowers likely to occur at many places over Coastal Karnataka & South Interior Karnataka: at isolated places over North Interior
Karnataka Thunderstorm warning: Thunderstorm with lightning likely to occur at isolated places over the State.
Heavy rainfall warning: Heavy rainfall likely to occur at isolated places over South Interior Karnataka.
Local Forecast for Bengaluru city for next 24 hours: Partly cloudy sky. Rain/thundershowers very likely in some areas. Maximum and Minimum temperatures very likely to be around 31 and 21 degree Celsius respectively.
In a bid to cater to the rising demand for designated Covid-19 beds in Bengaluru amid the second wave of the pandemic, 1505 more beds will be readied by Friday, BBMP officials confirmed.
“We will open eight Covid Care Centres (CCCs) with 1,505 beds by Friday. These CCCs will have an ample number of octors, staff nurses, support staff and marshals,” the official said.
A programme has been designed for sports persons in the state to keep them healthy and fit. State Youth Empowerment and Sports department, RGUHS and Department of Sciences have entered into an MoU where Health experts from RGUHS will guide the talented sports persons, said Health & medical Education Minister Dr.K. Sudhakar.
Speaking on the occasion, the Health Minister said that the department of youth empowerment and sports has designed a programme to provide quality health care to resident sport persons in 34 sports hostels in the state.
"Sports is very important for youth. It helps to maintain both physical and mental health. The sports medicine and other experts in RGUHS will guide to keep them healthy and fit by maintaining right and balanced diet and activities suitable for each individual", he said.
"We need to question ourselves that how many medals we are winning in Olympics in a country like India with population over 130 Crore. There is no dearth of talent in our country, but proper guidance is what the need of the hour. Sports department is putting efforts to induce new concepts. RGUHS is assisting in this task. Residents of 34 sports hostels should get maximum benefit out of it. This will yield better results and earn good fame for the country", said Dr.Sudhakar.
Karnataka Health and Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar Thursday reiterated that all pilgrims returning to the state after attending the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar in Uttarakhand shall undergo RT-PCR testing and self-isolation at home.
'I urge that they continue normal activities only after testing negative,' Sudhakar tweeted attaching a copy of an order issued by the state government on March 1 earlier this year.
Around 62 state road transport corporation buses were damaged as miscreants pelted stones on them from April 7 to April 15 at 10 am, according to Karnataka road transport corporations.
It's been nine days since the workers of the Karnataka road transport corporations called for an indefinite strike demanding that the government implement a salary system as per the 6th Pay Commission for workers of state transport undertakings.
The workers of Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), and North Eastern Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NEKRTC), under the banner of Karnataka State Road Transport Employees League, have called for an indefinite strike.
Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa wished Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath a speedy recovery after he had tested positive for Covid-19.
Best wishes to UP Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath Ji for a speedy and complete recovery. My prayers for your good health and well-being @myogiadityanath Ji,” Yediyurappa tweeted.
Adityanath on Wednesday tested positive for COVID-19.
As the statewide indefinite strike called by various employee unions of road transport corporations in Karnataka continued for the ninth day, Kannada superstar Yash Thursday called for peaceful dialogue in a bid to resolve the issue. In an open letter posted on Twitter, Yash made references to his own life, identifying himself as a son of a public transport bus driver. Addressing the protesting employee unions, he offered support to them mentioning that he has tried to intervene in the standoff.
"Be it the workers who are currently on strike demanding justice or the public, especially from the middle class who are affected by the lesser number of available buses plying, I am quite aware of troubles faced by people on both sides," he noted.
Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar has said the State is the best in implementing a health and wellness centre programme.
"Karnataka has emerged the best State in the implementation of health and wellness centre programme for the year 2020-21. As of March 31, 2021, a total of 5,832 sub-centers, PHCs & UPHCs have been upgraded to health & wellness centres (HWCs) across the state," Sudhakar tweeted.
Earlier On Wednesday, he told reporters there was no dearth of essential drugs and vaccines to combat coronavirus. Also, he ruled out a lockdown saying the country cannot afford it as it would spell a doom on the economically weaker sections of society. (PTI)
Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, will visit Bengaluru today as part of his three-day official visit to India, which started on Tuesday.
According to a release by the French Embassy in India, Le Drian will begin his programme in Bengaluru by visiting the campus of Bangalore Life Sciences Cluster (BLiSc), which comprises the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP), and the Institute of STEM Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inSTEM).
Following this, Minister Le Drian will be welcomed at ISRO’s Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) by the Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Dr K Sivan, and Dr S Unnikrishnan Nair, Director HSFC. “On this occasion, the Minister will announce France’s contribution to India’s human space flight programme, GAGANYAAN,” release said.
With 376 more people contracting coronavirus, the cumulative tally rose further to 27,205. Meanwhile, three people succumbed to the infection as the death toll rose to 371 since India’s first fatality on March 10 last year, in the district so far.
Among the deceased were a 55-year-old male patient, a 69-year-old male patient, and a 74-year-old male patient. All the three deceased had been admitted to various designated hospitals in the district diagnosed with SARI.
With 260 others recovering from the infection, the total active cases in the Kalyana-Karnataka district dropped to 2,232 on Wednesday.
Karnataka on Wednesday reported 11,265 fresh Covid-19 infections and 38 deaths, taking the tally to over 10.94 lakh and toll to 13,046, the health department said.
According to a department bulletin, there were 9,96,367 discharges cumulatively in the state, including 4,364 on Wednesday. There were 85,480 active cases in Karnataka which includes 506 in the ICU.
Besides Bengaluru, deaths have been reported in other districts as well — five in Mysuru, three each in Kalaburagi and Dharwad, two in Bidar and one each in Ballari and Tumakuru.
With 1,13,242 tests on Wednesday including 1,05,630 using the RT PCR and other methods, total tests conducted in the state stand at 2.30 crore. Cumulatively, 61.26 lakh vaccinations were done since the inoculation drive started in the state on January 16, the department added.
As many as five more people succumbed to Covid-19 in Mysuru on Wednesday. These included a 66-year-old male patient, a 55-year-old male patient, two 50-year old male patients, and a 52-year old female patient, all diagnosed with Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) before testing positive.
Mysuru is the only district other than Bengaluru Urban to have reported over a thousand Covid-19 deaths (1,093 till date) since the pandemic broke out.
Meanwhile, with 356 new Covid-19 cases identified, the active caseload in the district rose to 2,385. At the same time, 232 others recovered from the infection as the cumulative recoveries since March 2020 rose to 55,943.
A day after three fishermen drowned to death and nine others went missing after a fishing boat capsized off Mangaluru coast on Tuesday, the search was intensified for the others with the Indian Navy deploying its surface and air assets.
Patrol vessel INS Subhadra reached the site — 40 nautical miles west of New Mangalore — during the early hours of Wednesday from Karwar with a diving team. “Two specialist diving teams are undertaking snag line search in the area in an effort to locate the sunk fishing craft,” the Indian Navy confirmed.
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Amid Covid-19 pandemic, the state health department of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has designed a new portal named Public Health Activities Surveillance and Tracking (PHAST) that integrates all COVID-19 related data at the Public Health Centre (PHC) level for the first time.
According to BBMP, PHAST will have information like ICMR data on people who have tested positive for COVID-19, contact tracing data, ILI-SARI cases reported from government hospital, private hospitals, international passengers coming into the city being reported to the central COVID-19 war room, from where every evening it is disseminated to the zonal level.
At a time when Bengaluru is driving the second wave of Covid-19 in Karnataka with an explosion of cases and rising fatalities, especially over the last few days, as many as 280 workers at a crematorium in the state capital run by the civic body have alleged that haven’t been paid over the last one year.
A Suresh, Karnataka general secretary of Dr BR Ambedkar Dalita Samithi, a body representing the staffers of the crematorium run by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike(BBMP), said the workers who are toiling every day to bury or cremate Covid 19 infected bodies are even considered front line workers. “Apart from this and more importantly, the civic body has not paid about 280 workers for more than a year,” Suresh told indianexpress.com
We met all the officials concerned and staged many protests. They have only given assurances while the workers keep going unpaid,” he added.
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Undergraduate students pursuing odd semesters at Mangalore University will resume attending exams from Thursday after a brief break due to the ongoing bus strike in the state.
The exams, originally scheduled to be held from April 8 to April 12 will resume from April 15 (Thursday), university officials informed. "The university has decided to go ahead with the undergraduate examinations. The schedule as fixed originally will continue," Registrar (Evaluation) PL Dharma said in a statement.
Further, the varsity has also made a public appeal seeking "support in whatever manner they" to help students attend the examinations. The exams had begun on April 1.
Also Read | Conducting online exams not possible: Karnataka Deputy CM says amid Covid-19 second wave
The cumulative Covid-19 caseload in Bengaluru surpassed the 5 lakh-mark on Wednesday with 8,155 new infections. As many as 23 more people died in the Karnataka capital alone, as 15 others from various districts also succumbed to the infection.
Meanwhile, the state reported 11,265 new cases in total as the active caseload in the state rose to 85,480. Of these, 506 patients admitted to Intensive Care Units of designated hospitals.
At the same time, 4,364 people recovered from the infection from across 30 districts in the state during the last 24 hours.
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Welcome to the live blog from Bengaluru where we bring to you the latest updates on COVID-19 vaccination drive, COVID-19, lockdown 6.0, unlock phase 6, BBMP and more across Bengaluru and Karnataka. Follow the blog to stay up to date with the state in real time.