New Delhi: A 43-year-old woman’s SOS to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson made the Indian Embassy in London, the Ministry of External Affairs here and the Delhi Police swing into action and prevent her from killing herself.

“If help is not met in next two hours, would commit suicide” was the message emailed on Wednesday night by the woman, who is apparently suffering from some psychotic disorders due to breakdown of her marriage, police said.

The Indian Embassy in London was immediately informed, which contacted the Ministry of External Affairs officials here and sought quick response as the life of the woman appeared to be at risk, a senior police officer said.

The matter was reported at Rohini’s Aman Vihar police station following which police launched an intense exercise late night to locate her with house-to-house search in the area as she did not mention her complete address in the email and also was not receiving phone calls.

The officer said the women had sent the email to the Prime Minister of United Kingdom apparently seeking help, sounding to be in an extremely distressful state of mind.

The police officer said that the woman has a huge financial burden due to loans and lives in a rented accommodation in Delhi’s Rohini area.

“The information reached Aman Vihar police station in Rohini area. The woman did not write her full address in the mail. Police reached area, but failed to locate her as her complete address was not mentioned,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Rohini) P K Mishra said.

Starting around 1 am, the police checked each house in the locality and managed to locate her house after two hours of search, the DCP said.

Initially, the woman did not open the door despite repeated persuasions, raising alarm bells among the police who called the fire brigade to break open the door, the DCP said.

Just after two-three minutes of fire brigade operating on the door, the woman came outside, looking fraught with anxiety and fear, the police officer said.

The woman said she was ok and requested the fire brigade and the police to go back, following which most staff left the spot, Mishra said, adding some staff went inside her house on her request.

Around 16 to 18 cats were roaming around and the entire house was stinking, suggesting that it was not cleaned for years, he said.

The woman herself was smelling so foul that it was almost impossible to stand next to her, police said.

She said she used to be a teacher in an MCD school, but left the job due to some personal reasons. She is a divorcee and had incurred some loans a few years ago but failed to pay EMIs for some reasons, the DCP said.

The woman refused to give details about her relatives, police said.

Two psychologists and a doctor were called in immediately to address her problems or to advise if the police should obtain the requisite assent of the magistrate concerned to shift her in the Institute of Human Behaviour & Allied Sciences (IBHAS) for further treatment, police added.

She was allowed to stay at her home and is being counselled, they said.

New Delhi: As many as 1,095 look out circulars have been deleted and 630 foreign members of the Tablighi Jamaat have left India, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday.

On the issue of foreign Tablighi Jamaat members stuck in India for violating visa rules and pandemic restrictions, MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said the ministry has been actively facilitating their consular access, deletion of LOCs and smooth repatriation to their respective countries.

“We have kept the respective foreign embassies informed through the entire process,” he said.

“As of August 24, 1,095 look out circulars (LOCs) were deleted and 630 foreign members of the Tablighi Jamaat have left India,” he said at an online media briefing.

These members of the Tablighi Jamaat were charged under the Foreigners Act for indulging in activities that were incompatible with their visa status, he said.

Therefore, for such activities, appropriate category of visa has to be sought, Srivastava said.

To a separate question on whether External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) foreign ministers’ meeting next month, Srivastava said the minister has received an invitation for the meeting to be held in Moscow and a decision on his participation would be made known once it is taken.

On whether the Kerala government had sought MEA’s approval for signing an MoU with the UAE Red Crescent Authority – an NGO — for a project, Srivastava said no such approval had been taken.

The dairy sector which provides livelihood to lakhs of dairy farmers in the State is reeling under a severe loss due to the Covid-19 crisis.

cow, cattle, cow slaughter, dairy For representational purposes (Photo | PTI)By Subhash Chandra N SExpress News Service
KARWAR: The dairy sector which provides livelihood to lakhs of dairy farmers in the State is reeling under a severe loss due to the Covid-19 crisis. The milk unions have reduced their payment to the farmers by about Rs 4-6 per litre. Despite surplus production, the marketing of milk and byproducts has hit badly, according to the milk unions.

The closure of hotels, restaurants, schools and colleges and cafeterias in software firms and postponement of marriages has hit the Karnataka Milk Federation hard, which is now hoping that Covid-19 ends soon. “Earlier the hotel, restaurant and cafeteria segment consumed up to 4 lakh litres. They would buy our jumbo packets (6 litre packet of milk and 25 litres curd).

The cafeterias of the software companies consumed over one lakh litres of milk. All this has stopped ever since the pandemic outbreak.” B C Satish, Managing Director, Karnataka Milk, told TNIE. Nelligere Balu, Director, Mandya Milk Union, said that all the milk unions in the State have reduced the payment to the farmers based on the availability of cash.

Accordingly, Bangalore Milk Union Limited (BAMUL) and Mangalore Milk Union are paying Rs 26 per litre of milk – a reduction of Rs 4 per litre. “Our Mandya Milk Union used to pay Rs 30 per litre,then it reduced it by Rs 2.76. It has again reduced it to Rs 24,” said Balu. “This is all due to the Covid-19 situation where the demand for milk has reduced sharply. We are in a severe crisis and wondering how to pay the farmers from next month,” Balu said.

However, the milk producers of North Karnataka are still in the safe zone.“ We are producing about 3 lakh litres of milk, of which 2.9 lakh litres is our consumption, the remaining is converted into powder. We have always been paying Rs 23.50 per litre. Only those who paid Rs 30 have now reduced the payment,”said Guru Siddanagouda, former president, Raichur, Ballari, Koppal Milk Union Limited.
When contacted, B C Satish, Managing Director, KMF, only said the milk producers are being paid by taking a working capital of Rs 750 crore as announced by the Prime Minister.

The total COVID-19 caseload rises to 31,06,349 including 23,38,036 cured/discharged/migrated cases & 57,542 deaths, as per the latest Union Ministry of Health data.

Health workers conduct COVID-19 antigen tests for migrant workers in New Delhi, India, Aug. 18, 2020. (Photo | PTI)By Online Desk
A single-day spike of 61,408 COVID-19 cases took India’s virus caseload past the 31-lakh mark on Monday, a day after it crossed 30 lakh, while recoveries surged to 23,38,035 pushing the recovery rate to over 75 per cent, according to the Union Health Ministry data.

India’s COVID-19 caseload mounted to 31,06,348, while the death toll climbed to 57,542 with 836 fatalities being reported in a span of 24-hours, the data updated at 8 am showed.

The COVID-19 case fatality rate has declined to 1.85 per cent, while the recovery rate has risen to 75.27 per cent.

There are 7,10,771 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which comprises 22.88 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated.

India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7.

According to the ICMR, a cumulative total of 3,59,02,137 samples have been tested up to August 23 with 6,09,917 samples being tested on Sunday.

According to the ICMR, a cumulative total of 3,59,02,137 samples have been tested up to August 23  with 6,09,917 samples being tested on Sunday.

India’s COVID-19 caseload mounted to 31,06,348, while the death toll climbed to 57,542 with 836 fatalities being reported in a span of 24-hours, the data updated at 8 am showed.

The COVID-19 case fatality rate has declined to 1.85 per cent, while the recovery rate has risen to 75.27 per cent.

There are 7,10,771 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which comprises 22.88 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated.

India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7.

According to the ICMR, a cumulative total of 3,59,02,137 samples have been tested up to August 23  with 6,09,917 samples being tested on Sunday.

Of the 836 fresh deaths, 258 are from Maharashtra, 97 from Tamil Nadu, 93 from Andhra Pradesh, 68 from Karnataka, 59 from Uttar Pradesh, 57 from West Bengal, 50 from Punjab, 23 from Madhya Pradesh, 16 from Delhi, 14 from Gujarat, 11 from Rajasthan and 10 from Odisha.

Nine fatalities have been reported from Jammu and Kashmir, eight each from Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Puducherry, six each from Haryana and Telangana, five each from Kerala and Uttarakhand, four each from Chandigarh, Jharkhand and Goa, two from Ladakh, while Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Meghalaya and Tripura have registered one fatality each.

Of the total 57,542 deaths, Maharashtra has reported the maximum at 22,253 followed by 6,517 in Tamil Nadu, 4,683 in Karnataka, 4,300 in Delhi, 3,282 in Andhra Pradesh, 2,895 in Gujarat, 2,926 in Uttar Pradesh, 2,794 in West Bengal and 1,229 in Madhya Pradesh.

So far, 1,086 people have died of COVID-19  in Punjab, 955 in Rajasthan, 761 in Telangana, 617 in Jammu and Kashmir, 603 in Haryana, 511 in Bihar, 409 in Odisha, 312 in Jharkhand, 242 in Assam, 223 in Kerala and 200 in Uttarakhand.

Chhattisgarh has registered 197 deaths, Puducherry 159, Goa 144, Tripura 73, Chandigarh 37, Andaman and Nicobar Islands 33, Himachal Pradesh 29,  Ladakh 23,  Manipur 22, Nagaland nine, Meghalaya eight, Arunachal Pradesh five, Sikkim three and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu  two.

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

“Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research,” the ministry said on its  website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.

Sahdev Singh, an ambitious name and an inspiration to many was born in April, 1968. Mr. Singh has been serving the Indian Government from the past over 20 years with an excellent service. He joined the Indian Government services immediately after qualifying the 10th matrix. He served as Person Assistant, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and later on as a Section Officer in the Ministry of Shipping, Government of India.
He did his MA in History and LLB from Delhi University. Then he went to Malta & London to do his LLM in International Maritime Laws from IMO – IMLI. He has also done Post Graduate Diplomas in- Constitutional Law, Parliamentary Procedures & Institutions and International Law and Diplomacy. Being so much educated and an intellect he has attended many short courses, meetings, workshops and conferences at various renowned institutions and educational centres. He visited about 10 countries. In recent past, he was working as Under Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Human Resource Development. He was now on deputation as Assistant Commissioner/Deputy Assessor & Collector, South Delhi Municipal Corporation. And at any time likely to be promoted as Deputy Secretary to the Government of India.

Swab samples of the JMM Chief and his wife were taken as Shibu Soren was not feeling well for the last few days.

RANCHI: Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief and former Chief Minister Shibu Soren, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP, has tested positive for coronavirus.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren informed that both of his parents have tested positive for coronavirus. “Test reports of my father Shibu Soren and mother Rupi Soren came last night where they have been found positive for coronavirus. Both of them have been put in home isolation for faster recovery,” said Soren on his twitter handle.

With the blessings of the people of Jharkhand and the countrymen, he will soon be among us, he added.

Swab samples of the JMM Chief and his wife were taken as Shibu Soren was not feeling well for the last few days.

76-year old Shibu Soren had also undergone coronavirus tests a few days back but was found negative. Earlier on August 7, 12 security guards posted at Soren’s official residence at Morhabadi ground in Ranchi had tested positive for the virus. 

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who is currently in home isolation, will also be undertaking coronavirus test for the third time on Monday after coming in contact with his Cabinet colleague Banna Gupta, who was tested positive earlier on Tuesday.

After Gupta tested positive for coronavirus, the entire Jharkhand Cabinet, including the Chief Minister, has gone into home quarantine.

Notably, before his test results came on Tuesday, Gupta had attended the Cabinet Meeting held at the Project Building in Ranchi due to which the entire Cabinet Secretariat has been put under the scanner of COVID-19.

The head constable was dismissed from service following the incident. Surender told police that Deepak Gehlawat, the victim, was recording video while they were drinking.

NEW DELHI: A day after a Delhi Police head constable was arrested in connection with a murder case, police found that the accused fired at the victim as he was video-recording the policemen while they were drinking in uniform, officials said on Thursday.

Surender (47), posted at Shahbad Dairy police station, was arrested after he fired two shots at a 28-year-old man with his service pistol on Thursday morning, following a quarrel between them, officials said.

The head constable was dismissed from service following the incident. Surender told police that Deepak Gehlawat, the victim, was recording video while they were drinking.

He objected to being filmed in uniform and asked Gehlawat to stop recording. However, when Gehlawat continued recording the video, a quarrel broke out between them during which Surender fired bullets at him, a senior police officer said.

At the time of the incident, the accused and the victim were drunk, police said. Police said the accused did not submit his service pistol after completing his duty.

The incident took place near a hotel in Budh Vihar area on Thursday morning, when Surender was on his way home after working in night shift.

The head constable was coming back in a car along with Gehlawat, a gym owner in southwest Delhi’s Dwarka Mor.

Gehlawat suffered injuries on his left forearm and upper chest. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead, police said.

The service pistol used to kill Gehlawat has been seized, they said.

The suicide of the taluk doctor at Nanjangud is only the tip of the iceberg. Stress and exhaustion have affected government healthcare workers physically and mentally.

BENGALURU: The suicide of the taluk doctor at Nanjangud is only the tip of the iceberg. Stress and exhaustion have affected government healthcare workers physically and mentally. They say they have been overworked for the past six months, in several cases without a day’s leave.

A 55-year-old woman doctor on Covid duty at a government hospital in Bengaluru said, “We haven’t had a single day off since March. I feel tired and suffer migraines often. We are ready to work but if there were more staff, we could have taken a weekly off. Doctors work extra shifts to help colleagues take off for religious festivals.

Nurses don’t even have this option and need to report each day.” Medicos feel the administration, comprising IAS and KAS officers, is not listening to the woes of the medical community. Each PHC (Primary Health Centre) has targets to meet in terms of Covid tests done per day. However, there are several practical factors that higher-ups don’t account for.

“We have to wear and remove PPE kits, enter the patient’s mobile number to generate an OTP through which the SRF ID gets assigned for the swab taken.We have to take down details of patient’s name, risk status, if they are from containment zones and other details, all this takes time,” said a PHC doctor from Bengaluru, on condition of anonymity.

Doctors have to visit containment zones, test pregnant, symptomatic and other high-risk contacts, quarantine people, send positive patients into home isolation, Covid Care Centres (CCC) or hospitals. Non-Covid patients frequent PHCs for services such as urine tests and blood tests as well, which have to be attended to.

“We get calls even at midnight to shift patients by ambulance in case of emergency, and sudden deaths too. We need rest so we can maintain our own health,” the doctor added. The rule that doctors have to be quarantined for 5 days after 10 days of Covid duty, is not followed due to excess workload. 

“I haven’t got a day’s holiday since March. I tested positive, after which my pregnant wife was also infected. We are not corona warriors but are human beings. When we reach targets, we are not appreciated and if we don’t meet them, we are reprimanded,” said Dr Vinay Manjunath who works at a PHC in Chikkaballapur, while also a CCC. Bagalkot DHO Dr Ananth Desai said health staff are under severe pressure due to testing targets. “We can perform better if the government doesn’t pressure us with targets,” Dr Desai said.