Health ministry asks States to ensure availability of oxygen, isolation beds and ventilators amid rise in Covid-19 cases
A series of technical review meetings were held on June 2 and 3 under the chairpersonship of Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr Sunita Sharma.
The meeting was held with representatives of Disaster Management Cell, Emergency Management Response (EMR) Cell, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and central government hospitals in Delhi and with representatives from all states and Union territories to evaluate the current Covid situation and preparedness measures.
According to the sources, state and district surveillance units under IDSP are closely monitoring Influenza Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI).
"Testing is recommended for all admitted SARI cases and 5 per cent of ILI cases as per guidelines and positive SARI samples are sent for Whole Genome Sequencing through the ICMR VRDL network," an official source said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
‘Forever' gets shorter as Hyderabad see rise in divorce filings
Hyderabad: Divorce filings are on the rise in Hyderabad, with the city recording a 25% jump over the past five years, according to data accessed by TOI. In 2019, around 4,805 petitions were filed across the city's family courts. By 2024, this number increased to 6,406 across the three courts of the Integrated Courts on Family Disputes. Each court currently handles over 1,000 active cases. Legal experts attribute the rise to changing social norms, increased financial independence among women, and a shift in expectations from marriage. They also cite the role of social media in fuelling mistrust and relationship strain. According to advocates, divorce filings have seen a noticeable rise after the Covid-19 pandemic. "The pandemic took a toll on everyone, including married couples. We're seeing more cases where couples struggle with emotional instability and compatibility issues, which is leading to an increase in filings," a senior advocate, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told TOI. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad City advocates have also observed a shift in both the nature and frequency of divorce cases. Krishnaveni, a practising advocate at the Kukatpally Court Complex, said, "In today's households, both partners often have to work to meet financial needs. But this necessity is also becoming a key factor in rising divorce rates. Irregular work hours, job stress, long commutes, and poor urban infrastructure contribute to mental exhaustion. Many couples reach a breaking point before they even realise it." She added that the way people find partners has also changed. "Several alliances are now formed through matrimonial websites. In many cases, individuals misrepresent themselves in their profiles, leading to unrealistic expectations that unravel after marriage when reality sets in." She pointed out that many of the current filings stem from minor to frivolous disputes, which often lead to misunderstandings and ultimately divorce. Advocates also pointed out that divorce proceedings often stretch over several years, with most cases taking a minimum of three years to conclude. In many instances, the process often extends well beyond the average timeline due to delays in hearings, non-cooperation between parties, and procedural complexities. Habeeb Sultan, an advocate practising in the city, noted a rise in divorces among couples who marry later in life. "In many of the cases I've handled or come across, individuals are getting married at a later age, men around 30, women around 28. By then, both are more independent and set in their routines, beliefs, and lifestyles. This makes adjustment and compromise more difficult, often leading to friction early in the marriage," he said. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
Offence by Prajwal Revanna could be construed as offence against society at large: Court
The Special Court of Sessions for criminal cases against former and present MPs and MLAs while awarding 'imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life' to former Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, said that the offence in this case 'could be construed as an offence committed towards the society at large wherein women are worshiped'. In his order, judge Santosh Gajanan Bhat further said that 'the question of commission of an offence by a legislator is a serious aspect'. Terming the case, where the victim is a former help at the accused's family farm as a 'David vs Goliath' battle, Mr. Bhat said that 'committing sexual offences against a maid and other women in society by showing disdain towards them due to their economic condition is a grave offence' and that 'the act of committing forcible sexual intercourse on the victim repeatedly would be more than committing of murder'. Quoting the Sanskrit saying 'Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitaha...', the judge said that 'dharma should not be destroyed so that we may not be destroyed as a consequence thereof' and awarded the maximum punishment under Section 376(2)(n) (repeated rape on the same woman) of Indian Penal Code for Prajwal Revanna. The judgment rejects appeals for leniency by the convict's counsel on the grounds that he has to look after his former Prime Minister grandfather and aging parents and that he had no criminal antecedents, among other grounds. Victim's statement key to conviction The 480-page judgment examines the victim's statement at length and considers depositions by multiple witnesses, including her sister who was working with her and other family members, Prajwal's driver Karthik, who allegedly copied the explicit clips from the MP's phone, to corroborate the same and rejected defence's arguments that there were contradictions in the same. The defence had argued that the victim had never worked at the Gannikada farmhouse and it did not belong to the Revanna family in 2021, when the crime was committed. It further argued that the victim was unable to tell the date of the crimes. However, the court concludes that the depositions by Karthik, the victim's sister and the victim's son studying at a school in Gannikada for three years, proved that she worked there. Further, the defence's contradictory stands itself indicated that they accepted that she worked at the farm, the court concludes. Further, the farmhouse belonged to Bhavani Revanna's brother Prakash since 2015 and was bought by Suraj Revanna in October, 2021 and the family, including Prajwal was using the same, the court concludes through multiple witnesses. Regarding the dates of the two sexual assaults, the court concludes that the victim being a rustic villager, also an illiterate, though may not have told the exact dates, was consistent with the timeline of events, as during COVID-19 lockdown and four years before she lodged the complaint. The court also quotes the statement of the victim's sister who was with her when she was abused at Basavanagudi, though the victim did not confide in her then. The sister told the court that on the third day of their visit to Basavanagudi, where the victim was raped, her sister was dull and upon enquiry, she was silently uttering that they cannot do anything. The court said this 'would become relevant because of the fact of the behaviour of the victim immediately after the incident'. Corroborative evidence Apart from the victim's statement, the judgment further relies on two scientific evidences. 'The prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt about the commission of the incident by placing corroborative evidence of the scientific experts in the form of DNA Examination Report wherein the stains found on the sari and other clothes of the victim matched with the DNA profiling of accused Prajwal Revanna. The prosecution has also proved the digital records in the form of videos which were circulated were not edited/morphed and also the male and female voice found in the videos matched with the sample voice of accused Prajwal Revanna and the victim,' the judgment said.
Hans India
5 hours ago
- Hans India
BJP Demands Urgent Installation of High-Mast Lights at Aija Bus Stand Junction
Gadwal: Led by BJP Aija Town President Kampati Bhagat Reddy, local leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party staged a representation at the main road near the new bus stand, demanding the installation of high-mast street lights at the busy junction. Speaking to the media, Bhagat Reddy criticized the Congress-led government for neglecting public infrastructure and ignoring key civic issues faced by residents, particularly in Jogulamba Gadwal district's Aija Municipality. He highlighted the hardships faced by the public due to the absence of proper lighting at the new bus stand and main junction, which has become increasingly dangerous during night hours. He recalled that in March 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown, an existing iMAX light pole collapsed due to poor quality, fortunately causing no injuries. However, since then, no action has been taken to restore lighting at the crucial junction, leaving the area in darkness for over four years. Multiple representations were made in the past: To former Municipal Commissioners on September 28 and October 24, 2024 To the current Commissioner on June 2, 2025 And to the District Collector on March 13, 2025 Following the Collector's intervention, 20 high-mast lights were sanctioned to Aija Municipality in May 2025. However, Bhagat Reddy alleged that these lights were selectively installed in areas favorable to Congress leaders, without any consultation with municipal officials or public representatives, ignoring more critical locations like the new bus stand junction. He demanded immediate action from the Municipality Commissioner, the District Collector, and the State Government, urging them to prioritize the safety and convenience of the general public. 'If the government fails to respond and install the high-mast lights at the junction without delay, the BJP will take to the streets along with the public and organize massive protests,' warned Bhagat Reddy. Present at the event were: District Council Member Pradeep Kumar, Aija Town Vice-President Lakshman Goud, OBC Morcha District Committee Members Lakshmachari, Raghu, Veeresh, Venkatesh, and Shivayya among others.
