BENGALURU: After a technical glitch that lasted almost four days, the education department has finally set the portal right for feeding marks of first PUC students and SSLC exams, as per department sources. After schools were asked to upload marks for the past two years, they saw that the data they uploaded were wiped off from the department’s website. The whole day gets wasted if data is being uploaded on the SATS portal during school hours, as the server is busy,” said Aaisha, State Secretary from Private Schools and Children Welfare Association Ningegowda

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BENGALURU: The Karnataka Government on Friday issued guidelines for relaxation of lockdown norms in 19 districts, starting Monday. While Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa announced most of the key relaxations on Thursday after a meeting of ministers and officials, the official guidelines listed out additional relaxations. 

“Movement of trains and air travel are permitted. Movement of public transport, private vehicles and taxis to and from airports, railway stations and bus terminals/stops/stands is allowed for facilitating the movement of air, rail and road passengers. The movement will be allowed only on displaying valid travel documents/tickets,” the order said. 

On the day Karnataka eased restrictions in 19 districts, with Covid-19 cases showing a declining trend, rain forced people indoors in many places while in some districts, the local administration ensured that the curbs continued to be enforced strictly. For instance, in Udupi, due to the torrential rain on the first day of unlocking, the streets remained almost empty. Similar was the situation in Karwar town. 

Up north, Kalaburagi too witnessed incessant rain from 11 am to 1 pm, due to which there was very thin movement of vehicles and people. In Ballari, many people chose to remain indoors on day 1 of the unlocking. Interestingly, Gadag roads wore deserted look till 10.30 am and people poured out on to the roads later on as grocery stores and vegetable markets were to shut at 2 pm. Shopkeepers ensured that only those who followed Covid-appropriate behaviour were entertained.However, in the twin cities of Hubballi-Dharwad, there was heavy traffic on the roads with people trying reach their work place or out to buy essentials. Private vehicles and autorickshaws filled the roads during peak hours. 

Interestingly, in Bagalkot district, though the state government permitted shops to open till 2 pm, the district administration ordered them to close at 12 pm itself. Officials said, “This decision has been taken on the experts’ advice who say that the next one week or ten days is crucial in flattening the curve. So, shops have been restricted to operate only between 6 am and 12 pm till June 21.”

Meanwhile, in Tumakuru, thousands of vehicle owners thronged police stations to get their vehicles released following the High Court order. There wasn’t much crowds at vegetable markets or grocery shops in the district. In Kolar, the situation seemed out of control with people crowding the roads on two-wheelers. Many were riding triples on motorcycles and some didn’t even have masks on. Social distancing norms too went for a toss. 

On April 27, the government had imposed stringent  restrictions 27 to contain the spread of Covid-19 virus. Though curbs were relaxed in some districts on Monday, Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga, Davanagere, Mysuru, Chamarajnagar, Hassan, Dakshina Kananda, Bengaluru Rural, Mandya, Belagavi and Kodagu districts will continue will all restrictions, barring the 6 am-10 am relaxation, as cases are still on the higher side in those parts.

BENGALURU : With the number of black fungus deaths in the State on the rise, the opposition Congress and JDS have asked the government to wake up and procure the medicine, Liposomal Amphotericin B, immediately. They alleged that deaths were due to non-availability of this critical drug. 

The state authorities said they are waiting for supplies from the Central government, but it is four weeks since mucormycosis numbers have increased, and the government has not given sufficient vials of medicine to patients. Congress MLA Ranganath Doddaiah, a medical professional, has demanded that the government release facts about how many were diagnosed with mucormycosis, how many were treated, how many have died and other official details. He alleged that there is a serious lapse on the part of the government as medicines are not available in sufficient numbers.

Ranganath, who has taken on Sudhakar on this issue, demanded transparency. He said patients have died because of shortage of medicines, delay in diagnosis and lack of awareness. JDS deputy leader in the Assembly Bandeppa Kashempur said, “Black fungus cases have increased and so have fatalities. It has been four weeks since this fatal fungal infection was discovered but the government has done very little to get the medicines.” JDS state president H K Kumaraswamy said the government has to ensure the medicines are available.

New Delhi: India recorded a single-day rise of 70,421 new COVID-19 cases, the lowest in 74 days, taking the country’s infection tally to 2,95,10,410, while the count of active cases fell below 10 lakh after over two months, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday.

The COVID-19 death toll in the country climbed to 3,74,305 with 3,921 fatalities recorded in a span of 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am showed.

The count of active cases has further declined to 9,73,158 which is 3.30 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to 95.43 per cent.

A net decline of 53,001 cases has been recorded in the COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours, the data showed.

Also, 14,92,152 COVID-19 tests were conducted on Sunday, taking the total number of such examinations in the country so far to 37,96,24,626, it stated, adding that the daily positivity rate was recorded 4.72 per cent.

It has stayed below 10 per cent for 21 consecutive days, the ministry said.

The weekly positivity rate has also reduced and stands at 4.54 per cent.

Recoveries outnumbered daily new cases for the 32nd consecutive day in the country.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has surged to 2,81,62,947, while the case fatality rate has increased to 1.27 per cent, the data stated.

Cumulatively, 25,48,49,301 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.

India’s COVID-19 infection tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7 last year, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5, 50 lakh on September 16, 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and one crore on December 19.

India crossed the grim milestone of two crore cases on May 4.

The 3,921 new fatalities include 2,771 from Maharashtra, 267 from Tamil Nadu, 206 from Kerala and 125 from Karnataka.

A total of 3,74,305 deaths have been reported so far in the country. This includes 1,11,104 from Maharashtra, 32,913 from Karnataka, 29,547 from Tamil Nadu, 24,823 from Delhi, 21,786 from Uttar Pradesh, 16,896 from West Bengal, 15,562 from Punjab and 13,317 from Chhattisgarh.

The Health Ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities.

Jaipur: Rumours regarding the death of BJP MLA Babulal Kharadi went viral on social media on Sunday, but were soon dismissed by the legislator.

The rumours started after a man posted a status on his social media account about the MLA’s death.

The man’s location was traced to Udaipur, following which police teams started searching for him, Jhadol Circle Officer Girdhar Singh said.

His mobile phone was found to be switched off, the circle officer said.

No FIR has been lodged in this regard till now, he said, adding that action is being taken for breach of peace.

The Jhadol MLA told that his party workers were upset over the incident and he had to put out a statement on social media about his well being.

He alleged that it is a conspiracy of a Bhartiya Tribal Party (BTP) worker.

A complaint has been given in this matter by the workers at Jhadol police station, the MLA said.

“I have also told the Kotda police station officer that if any such news has come, then it should be investigated. He has assured me of an investigation, Kharadi said.

BENGALURU: Home Minister Basavraj Bommai, who is deputing for Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa in the GST Council, welcomed the recommendations of the Group of Ministers.Bommai urged Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to consider reducing GST on temperature-checking equipment from 18 per cent to 5 percent, gas electric and other furnaces for cremation from 18 per cent to 5 per cent and ambulances from 28 per cent to 12 per cent.

Sitharaman agreed to these suggestions and the GST Council approved them.  The Council agreed to extend the GST concessions up to September 30, 2021. Bommai also sought a meeting to discuss GST compensation-related issues beyond 2022, and Sitharaman said that the GST Council will meet shortly.

Bommai thanked Sitharaman and the Union Government for approving the GST compensation loan of Rs 18,109 crore for financial year 2021-22 to the state and said that this will help in Karnataka’s fight against the Covid pandemic.

BENGALURU: With the buzz around a reshuffle of the Union Cabinet after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a flurry of meetings over the last two days,  speculation is rife that a BJP MP from Karnataka may be inducted. While the names of two BJP MPs from the Lingayat community are doing rounds, senior party leaders said the induction of a non-Lingayat MP cannot be ruled out.

On Friday, Modi held meetings with BJP national president J P Nadda, Home Minister Amit Shah and others. Modi is also meeting Union Ministers in batches over the last few days, giving rise to speculation about a rejig. Of the 28 MPs from Karnataka, 25 are from BJP. After the death of Union MoS for Railways, Suresh Angadi, his wife Mangala won the bypoll in Belagavi. 

The names of four-time MP from Bagalkot, P C Gaddigoudar, and three-time MP from Haveri-Gadag, Shivakumar C Udasi, are currently doing the rounds. Both leaders are from the Lingayat community. Angadi was also a Lingayat. Coincidentally, Gaddigoudar is in Delhi now. He said he is ready to take up any post given by party leaders. “I have not approached them, neither have they approached me,’’ he said. 

Since Gaddigoudar is senior to Udasi, he stands a better chance, sources indicated. However, another senior BJP leader said it would be no surprise if the central leadership chooses a non-Lingayat MP as Union Minister considering that CM B S Yediyurappa too is from the same community.

Union Minister D V Sadananda Gowda said that in 2014, four MPs from Karnataka were inducted into the Cabinet – himself, H N Ananth Kumar, G M Siddeshwar and Venkiah Naidu (Rajya Sabha Member). In 2019, he, along with Pralhad Joshi, Nirmala Seetharaman and Angadi were inducted. “We are hoping they will induct one from Karnataka this time too,’’ he added.  Another Union Minister from Karnataka, Pralhad Joshi, said when and whom to induct will be decided by  Modi and  Nadda.

NEW DELHI: Diesel price on Saturday breached the Rs 100 per litre mark in Rajasthan after yet another increase in fuel rates, which also led to Karnataka becoming the 7th state to record Rs 100 a litre petrol.

The hike — 23rd since May 4 — pushed fuel prices across the country to new historic highs.

In Delhi, petrol hit an all-time high of Rs 96.12 a litre, while diesel is now priced at Rs 86.98 per litre.

Fuel prices differ from state to state depending on the incidence of local taxes such as VAT and freight charges.

And because of this petrol retails at over Rs 100 per litre mark in six states and union territories — Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Ladakh.

Karnataka got added to that list with many places in the state including Bidar, Bellary, Koppal, Davanagere, Shimoga and Chakmangalur recording over Rs 100 per litre petrol.

Petrol in the state capital Bengaluru is priced at Rs 99.39 per litre and a litre of diesel comes for Rs 92.27.

Sri Ganganagar district of Rajasthan near the India-Pakistan border was the first place in the country to see petrol hit Rs 100 a litre mark in mid-February and on Saturday it also earned the distinction of diesel crossing that psychological mark.

Petrol in the city is sold at Rs 107.22 a litre – the highest rate in the country, and diesel comes for Rs 100.05.

Premium or additive laced petrol in the town sells for Rs 110.50 a litre and same grade diesel at Rs 103.72.

Rajasthan levies the highest VAT on petrol and diesel in the country, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Mumbai on May 29 became the first metro in the country where petrol was being sold at over Rs 100 a litre.

Petrol now costs Rs 102.30 a litre in the city and diesel comes for Rs 94.39.

After Leh, Srinagar too is witnessing near Rs 100 a litre petrol (Rs 99.27).

Hyderabad too is in the same league with petrol costing Rs 99.96.

Petrol sells for Rs 101.73 a litre in Leh and diesel costs Rs 93.66.

The hike on Saturday was the 23rd increase in prices since May 4, when state-owned oil firms ended an 18-day hiatus in rate revision they observed during assembly elections in states like West Bengal.

In 23 increases, petrol price has risen by Rs 5.72 per litre and diesel by Rs 6.25 a litre.

Oil companies revise rates of petrol and diesel daily based on the average price of benchmark fuel in the international market in the preceding 15 days, and foreign exchange rates.

International oil prices have firmed in recent weeks in anticipation of demand recovery following the rollout of vaccination programme by various countries.