Follow us on: @TheDailyPioneer facebook.com/dailypioneer Established 1864 RNI No. TELENG/2018/76469 Published From *LATE CITY VOL. 3 ISSUE 175 MONEY 06 AGENDA 7 HYDERABAD DELHI LUCKNOW Air Surcharge Extra if Applicable TELLING THE TALE BHOPAL RAIPUR CHANDIGARH PHARMA EXPORTS GROW BHUBANESWAR AT 18% TO 24 BN IN ’21 OF HERITAGE RANCHI DEHRADUN VIJAYAWADA VISAKHAPATNAM

HYDERABAD, SUNDAY APRIL 18, 2021; PAGES 10+16 `5 Celebrity couple J.Lo and A-Rod split, saying “we are better as friends” 10

www.dailypioneer.com Civic bodies ordered to Price of Remdesivir take up sanitation on 195 testing positive reduced to Rs 899 campaign mode PNS n HYDERABAD PNS n HYDERABAD The Telangana State government In a decision that should bring has issued instructions that will every hour in Telangana relief to Covid patients and their keep urban local bodies (ULBs) on families, manufacturers of their toes with regard to sanitation. Remdesivir injection have reduced Among other things, authorities of its maximum retail price, follow- ULBs have been told to focus ing the Centre's intervention. more on places of public congrega- Remdesivir is used intravenous- tions in view of the alarming surge ly to treat COVID-19 infection, in Covid cases. caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, Accordingly, markets, bus sta- in hospitalised adults and children tions, recreational centres and other aged 12 years and older who areas involving public congregation weigh at least 88 pounds (40 kg). would be disinfected in a compre- According to a note sent to the hensive manner at regular intervals. Principal Health Secretaries of all The Department of Municipal Jathara in Adilabad led States and Union Territories by the No vaccination Administration and Urban National Pharmaceutical Pricing Development has issued instruc- Authority, the revised prices of today at tions to all the municipal corpora- to biggest outbreak major brands of Remdesivir injec- - P-2 tions and municipalities with tion 100mg/vial would be now emphasis on the overall upkeep and hrowing caution to wind that 34 other persons also tested available in the range of Rs.899 to Govt centres daily sanitation in ULBs. amid rising Covid-19 positive. These persons in turn Rs.3,490. 2 2 Tcases, on March 24, 20 spread to 4-5 villages and by people came to Telangana from April 12, 433 people were infect- Maharashtra to celebrate a festi- ed. In just 12 days, the infection NAVEENA GHANATE Covid cases jump val. These 20 people were joined spread to 433 people, reflecting n HYDERABAD by 30 locals from Telangana in a the speed of the virus. No shortage of beds, oxygen in State village in erstwhile district of Sources pointed out that the About 195 people are testing pos- to record of 4,446 Adilabad. The district shares locals were warned against hold- ML MELLY MAITREYI n People should stick to Covid to voluntarily observe lockdown for itive for Covid-19 every hour in Telangana continues to record borders with Maharashtra, which ing such a gathering in the midst n HYDERABAD norms as second wave more the next four to six weeks, consid- Telangana or one person is turning successively higher daily has become a hotspot in the sec- the raging pandemic as it could severe due to mutations ering the distinct possibility of the positive every 18 seconds. The Covid tallies with each pass- ond wave. Soon five persons prove to be catastrophic. The second wave of corona is virus spreading more rapidly in the hourly average of the new cases in ing day, and on Saturday, the began exhibiting symptoms. Ten However, some local leaders severe across the country because n Tests to be stepped up to identify coming days, he said. Telangana touched a new high with state registered 4,446 new days into the celebrations i.e. on opposed the move to stop cele- of the mutations of the virus, par- positive patients quickly The State government could 4,666 new cases being reported on cases and 12 deaths. Apri l5th, five persons went to bration of the festival, saying it ticularly the double mutation, and tackle the first wave effectively Friday. Nearly 3.25 persons are test- The previous daily high of PHC and got tested for was very important for them. the surge in cases is mainly because n Next 4-6 weeks crucial with the cooperation of people. But ing positive for coronavirus every 3,840 new cases and nine Coronavirus. All of them turned Festivals and gatherings are a people are not taking due care, said after the first wave people had minute. deaths were reported on out to be positive. big thing, but human lives are Dr.Srinivasa Rao, TS Director of n Mask up until June, 70% of become complacent under the On April 1, 40 people were test- Friday. Twelve persons suc- The surveillance teams then more important. However, this Public Health. population now wearing masks notion that the pandemic had ing positive every hour. The havoc cumbed to the virus during began tracking how these 5 peo- outbreak had wreaked havoc on At a media conference in his receded, he said. People did not of the second wave took Telangana's the 24-hour period ending 8 ple were infected in that village. the healthcare system. Earlier this office here on Saturday, Dr Srinivasa istered in the State on Friday, while learn any lessons from the first wave official tally to 3.46 lakh. p.m. on Friday. During this tracking, the teams week, RIMS Adilabad reported Rao said that it was a matter of con- over two lakh cases were registered and let down their guard, though 3 3 were taken aback as they found shortage of beds. cern that 4,446 cases -- the highest across the country. the virus has become more virulent single-day spike so far -- were reg- The situation warranted people infecting people faster. 2 Fake IAS officer CWC says nation faces Top seer ends Kumbh Mela 88% polling in nabbed ‘unprecedented catastrophe' Nagarjuna Sagar PNS n MANCHERIAL PNS n HYDERABAD PNS n NEW DELHI after PM's request A second year B Tech student, About 88% polling was recorded who claimed to be an IAS officer The Congress Working Committee in the bye-election to the and collected Rs 80 lakh on on Saturday accused the central PNS n HARIDWAR ‘They’ll distribute Covid as prasad’: Nagarjuna Sagar Assembly con- promise of providing govern- government of "colossal misman- stituency till 7 pm on Saturday. ment jobs to 29 persons, was agement" in the war against the Hours after Prime Minister Mumbai Mayor slams Kumbh pilgrims Polling was peaceful. nabbed by the Mancherial police COVID pandemic and cautioned Narendra Modi appealed that Voting took place without any on Saturday. The police later of an "unprecedented catastro- Kumbh Mela in Uttarakhand's ilgrims returning from the "Those returning from Kumbh interruptions with voters queuing recovered two cars and a motor- phe" unless urgent corrective meas- Haridwar "should only be sym- PKumbh Mela in Mela to their respective states will up to exercise their franchise in cycle, name plate, dress, driver ures are taken. bolic" amid an unprecedented Uttarakhand's Haridwar will dis- distribute corona as 'prasad'. All an orderly manner. uniform, seven registers and Rs The highest decision-making increase in daily coronavirus tribute coronavirus as "prasad" in these people should be quaran- Polling began at 7 am and con- 2.50 lakh in cash from the body of the Congress, chaired by cases across the country, Swami their states, Mumbai's mayor tined in their respective states at cluded at 7 pm. According to poll imposter. party chief Sonia Gandhi, met here Avdheshanand Giri of Juna said today as coronavirus cases their own cost. In Mumbai also, officials, COVID-19 safety proto- Addressing media persons at virtually to discuss the COVID-19 Akhara - one of the top seers in ravage the country especially we're thinking of putting them cols were followed at polling the DCP office here on Saturday, situation in the country and sug- the country - has announced an Maharashtra - the worst-affect- under quarantine on their booths. DC Uday Kumar Reddy identified gest measures to the government minister Manmohan Singh. early end to the month-long ed state in India. return," Ms Pednekar said, ANI 2 the accused as Barla Lakshmi to tackle the crisis. "We charge the central govern- mega festival. Brihanmumbai Municipal quoted her as saying. Narayana (22), son of Sankaraiah. Addressing a press conference ment with colossal mismanage- "Our first priority is the pro- Corporation's mayor Kishori Hundreds of thousands of The accused, B Tech third year after the meet that lasted over two- ment of the war against the pan- tection of the people of India Pednekar also added that they are devotees gathered for the Kumbh TODAY student in Sidhdhartha College in and-a-half hours, Congress' senior demic," a CWC statement said, (against Covid). In view of the considering quarantining the Mela on the banks of the river Hyderabad, was picked up from spokesperson P Chidambaram while accusing the central govern- coronavirus pandemic, we have pilgrims on their return to Ganga for a holy dip, escalating ALMANAC his residence at Lekhalapalli in said concrete suggestions made by ment of failing on 14 different performed the visarjan of all Mumbai. They must also bear concerns about an exponential Month & Paksham: Birpur mandal. CWC members would be sent to fronts in handling the pandemic. Gods. This is the end of Kumbh the expenses of their quarantine, rise in Covid cases amid a coun- Chaitra & Shukla Paksha 2 Prime Minister Narendra Modi 2 for Juna Akhara," he tweeted in the Mayor added. trywide spike in infections. Panchangam through a letter by former prime Hindi. Tithi : Saptami: 12:00 am (Next Day) Nakshatram: Punarvasu: Full Night Time to Avoid: (Bad time to start Differences between YS Jagan, Sharmila widen any important work) Covid situation in Rahukalam: 07:34 am – 09:08 am Yamagandam: 10:41 am – 12:15 pm SNCN ACHARYULU expected this. n HYDERABAD YSRCP top leaders had con- Varjyam: 05:57 pm – 07:40 pm firmed that the decision of Sharmila Why strong followers of YSR Delhi ‘very serious’ Gulika: 01:48 pm - 03:22 pm On April 15, during her hunger to float a new political party in Good Time: (to start any important work) PNS n NEW DELHI strike demanding the TRS govern- Telangana was opposed by Jagan. target his son and daughter Union Health Minister Amritakalam: 04:17 am – 06:01 am ment release notification for recruit- This could be more or less con- Harsh Vardhan and ment, Sharmila made serious com- firmed by the fact that Sakshi, the t may be a coincidence, but Sharmila, daughter of YSR, the The Covid situation in requested him for sup- Abhijit Muhurtham: 11:50 am – 12:40 pm ments against Sakshi, the media vernacular daily, did not give undue human nature being what it late chief minister. Surprisingly, Delhi has become ‘very plies of oxygen, remde- house owned by her brother's fam- coverage to Sharmila after she Iis, doubts creep in the minds these leaders, both in Andhra serious and worrisome’, sivir and tocilizumab ily. announced that she would be float- of keen political observers. Pradesh and Telangana, had been and oxygen, remdesivir for Covid patients. HYDERABAD If nothing else, the recent com- ing a new political party. In Andhra Pradesh, three counted among the staunch sup- and tocilizumab for Kejriwal said that the ments by YS Sharmila indicate that This too was taken as an indica- prominent political leaders go porters and ardent followers of patients are in short supply, number of beds are also WEATHER the gap between her and her broth- tion of the widening gap between out of the way to criticise Chief YSR. They were also considered Chief Minister Arvind running out fast and the Forecast: Sunny er, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Sharmila and Jagan. Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy, to be very close to former Kejriwal said on Saturday. government is trying to ramp it up. Temp: 38/22 YS Jaganmohan Reddy, has widened. To put to rest all rumours, their son of YS Rajasekhar Reddy and Congress MP KVP The number of Covid cases are ris- In the next 3-4 days, the government Humidity: 32% If indeed this is true, it’s tragic and mother YS Vijayalakshmi, in a press now in Telangana, two promi- Ramachandra Rao. ing with 24,000 fresh cases reported will add 6,000 more beds, including Sunrise: 05:57 am totally unexpected. In fact, anyone note, tried to clarify that there are no nent leaders have begun making in the last 24 hours. A day before, 1,300 at Yamuna Sports Complex Sunset: 06:33 pm who knew the family of late chief differences between Jagan and wild allegations against YS 2 19,400 cases were reported, he said. and 2,500 at Radhaswami Satsang Current Weather Conditions Updated April 17, 2021 5:00 PM minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy never Sharmila. 2 The chief minister said he spoke to premises, he said.

OBTUSE ANGLE SONU SOOD TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID, POPULAR TAMIL ACTOR, COMEDIAN GENERAL MOTORS INDIA LAYS OFF SAYS HIS SPIRIT IS ‘SUPER POSITIVE’ VIVEKH, DIES IN CHENNAI AT 59 1,419 WORKERS AT ITS PUNE PLANT onu Sood has tested positive for opular Tamil actor and comedian Vivekh eneral Motors India on Friday laid COVID-19 on Saturday, the actor died this morning in the hospital, hours off 1419 workers at its Talegaon Sinformed his fans in an Instagram Pafter he was admitted after a cardiac Gplant. According to a report post. Sonu Sood, who was made the arrest. The 59-year-old was reportedly from ETAuto, the Indian subsidiary brand ambassador for Punjab's COVID critical in a Chennai hospital after a cardiac of the US carmaker sacked all vaccination programme by Chief arrest on Thursday morning. He was workmen at its Talegaon plant, Minister Amarinder Singh earlier this brought in unconscious at 11 am, was which is situated on the outskirts month, shared that even though he has resuscitated, subsequently underwent a of Pune by invoking section 25 of contracted the virus, his "mood and spirit coronary angiogram and then angioplasty. A the Industrial Dispute Act. Sources are super positive." His also shared a medical bulletin said he was critical on ECMO close to the matter say the Employees message for his fans in his post that read: support, which pumps and oxygenates blood Union is likely to challenge this move "Covid - positive. Mood and spirit - super positive. Hi every, outside the body, but died at 4:35 am Saturday. On Thursday, Vivekh legally. This move reportedly may extend a legal battle this is to inform you that I have tested positive this morning had taken his first Covid vaccine shot at a public event in the between the automaker and its employees on the winding for COVID-19”. presence of Tamil Nadu's Health Secretary to promote vaccination. of its Talegaon plant. HYDERABAD | SUNDAY | APRIL 18, 2021 hyderabad 02

ne of the building blocks Oof the Mission Karmayogi is the Capacity Building Commission, whose mem- The task ahead for the Capacity Building Commission bers were notified recently. Training the civil servant is a craftperson is tacit, that is, the (e.g. public administration, with increasingly complex Commission had noted that, formidable challenge because accomplished craftperson can- Civil servants possess tacit knowledge, welfare policies) and the skill cases, organizing the informa- "unalloyed generalism with the intersection of politics, not readily describe her exper- which is revealed in their effective action (e.g. program management) tion by adopting a perspective which we have been familiar people, program orientation tise. Second, the true skill of and works: "the mind of the proficient characterizes a novice (proba- and responding to the fea- and which is loosing its valid- and distinct characteristics of craft is specialized in nature performer seems to group together tioner). tures and aspects that the per- ity in several fields is progres- local places prevent formation and comes only with time and Probationers can follow spective makes important. sively declining in impor- of general theories. practice, typically obtained situations sharing not only the same goal or these without the benefit of Expertise is achieved only tance". One way to get over the lack under the tutelage of a person perspective but also the same decision”. any prior experience, and per- on the basis of a great deal of Therefore, civil servants of universal rules is to use the who has previously mastered formance is judged solely on experience of real-life and cannot remain generalists or experiential knowledge of civil the craft. sion, action or tactic simulta- larities between them or under the basis of application of varying situations and final- all-rounders their whole servants; however, individual Therefore, even when there neously comes to mind". what circumstances the simi- guidelines. ly, the expert responds intu- career - they have to develop experiences of civil servants is a natural talent, the develop- The challenge is to translate larity is valid, that is, the ways After returning from field itively, not on a consideration concentrations (not special- are often random and incon- ment of the talent to the level the direct experiences of civil in which X and Y are similar, training, during Phase II, the of which rules to apply. ization) in at least 2-3 sistent, and of little use in of craft usually involves some servants to case studies. These or under what circumstances DR. SAMEER SHARMA probationer advances to the The challenge for trainers domains. preparing training material. form of training. documented experiences are the similarity is valid. next stage and begins to is to document and bench- One way of developing Craftwork provides a middle Similarly, civil servants pos- expected to help other civil Like craftwork, expertise in understand how rules can be mark the decision-making of concentration is by training ground between generic pre- sess tacit knowledge, which is servants to decide in similar decision-making for civil ser- of a phenomenological five- applied under different con- civil servants who have civil servants to connect the scriptions and idiosyncratic revealed in their effective and new settings. vants comes only with time step learning process to ditions or in differing con- reached competence, profi- right experience with the individual experiences of civil action and works as follows, Furthermore, experiences and practice. This requires a progress from novice (proba- texts. Subsequently, during ciency, and expertise levels. right theory. Importantly, the servants. "the mind of the proficient are contextual, values-laden different sort of training at dif- tioner) to an expert. district postings civil ser- This is an intractable issue right theory would enable If craftwork provides an performer (civil servant) and subject to interpretation. ferent stages of career. The Dreyfus learning model vants are exposed to a grow- because several civil servants them to make innovative adequate description of the seems to group together situ- Professor Niraj Verma pro- Stuart and Hubert Dreyfus starts with the novice (Phase ing number of cases or situ- are exposed to experiences decisions. activities of civil servants, ations sharing not only the vides one way to make direct proposed a model in 1980, I), progressing to advanced ations, which allow them to without being affected by understanding the ways in same goal or perspective but experiences more useful for based on their research at the beginner (Phase II), compe- adapt rule application to dif- them; accordingly, the transi- (Author has a PhD from which craft knowledge is also the same decision, action other civil servants. University of California, tence (Phase III), proficiency ferent features or aspects tion to higher levels does not USA and a DLitt from acquired and transmitted is or tactic. At this point not only Trainers, in order to make Berkeley, Operations Research (Phase IV), and finally, exper- rather than follow rules rigid- always correspond with Kanchi University. The arti- expected to provide useful is a situation, when seen as connections between different Center, for the United States tise (Phase V). ly. seniority. cle is based on his research material to train civil ser- similar to a prior one, under- experiences, have to explicit- Air Force Office of Scientific Mastering a set of context- After their district tenures Around 50 years ago, the and practice and views are vants. First, the skill of the stood, but the associated deci- ly identify the nature of simi- Research. The model consists independent generalized rules civil servants learn to deal Administrative Reforms personal) Civic bodies ordered to take up sanitation... Singareni synchronises 28 MW Continued from Page 1 Greater Hyderabad Municipal MA&UD, shared with the gregation. The Commissioners Corporation, should follow Commissioners a protocol have been asked to keep suffi- The Commissioners of ULBs the instructions scrupulously, designed to ensure general cient stocks of disinfectant should take up sanitation and the department said in its upkeep and sanitation in materials, specially sodium solar plant with TSTransco grid related activities in a campaign memo to all the ULBs. ULBs. The protocol includes hypochlorite. All the sanitation mode. All cities and towns All the Commissioners of sanitation on a daily basis staff be equipped with protec- should be covered in a period municipalities and municipal with focus on vulnerable areas, tive gears, hand gloves, sanitis- PNS n HYDERABAD with the Transco. plant installation, 30 MW each installation of 47 MW plants of four days. The corporations in the State were ensuring a proper arrange- ers etc. Officials should assess Singareni Director from Manuguru and under the second phase and Commissioners could make instructed to pay special atten- ment in place in terms of staff requirements and hire extra The Singareni Collieries (Operations) S Ramagundam, 39 MW from 81 megawatts plant under the use of Pattana Pragathi funds tion to steps intended to keep and vehicles for lifting of entire vehicles on the basis of need. Company Limited (SCCL) on Chandrashekhar and Director Illandu and 10 MW from third phase would be complet- for the purpose, the depart- cities and towns clean and garbage generated on a daily Arvind Kumar said that dump Saturday synchronised anoth- (Electrical and Maintenance) Singareni thermal power plant ed by October 2021. ment said on Saturday. neat. The Commissioners have basis without any leftovers at yard facilities and intermedi- er 28 MW solar power plant D Satyanarayana and other has already been synchronised The SCCL would be saving The foregoing instructions been told to ensure cleanliness garbage vulnerable points, ate transfer station facilities at Mandamarri in Mancherial union leaders performed puja in addition to synchronisation Rs.120 crore electricity charges were issued after KT Rama of markets, bus stations, parks, hotspots etc. Appropriate peri- should be upgraded so as not district with the TSTransco. before switching on the power of 43 MW of solar power. every year by installing the Rao, Minister for MA&UD, commercial streets etc., by odicity must be established for to give scope for any issues in This power plant is part of the plant and synchronised it with Congratulating officials for solar power plants and efforts held a review. recourse to disinfectant spray lifting of garbage from these lifting of entire garbage gener- 300 MW solar power plants the Transco grid. With this, 43 their initiative in synchroniz- were on to install another All the Commissioners of - one per cent of sodium points. Disinfection should ated. All graveyards should be being installed by Singareni. A MW of solar power out of 90 ing the power plant with 350 MW floating power plants municipal corporations and hypochlorite solution - at reg- follow immediately after the provided with proper facilities few days ago, the SCCL has MW was synchronized till Transco, SCCL Chairman and on Manair Dam in municipalities, including ular intervals to maintain pub- garbage is lifted. Spraying of like water, lighting, to avoid synchronised 15 MW solar now. Managing Director N Sridhar Karimnagar district, officials Zonal Commissioners and lic health. Arvind Kumar, disinfectants should be taken any issues in disposal of the power plant at Mandamarri Out of 300 MW solar power said the works pertaining to said. Deputy Commissioners of Principal Secretary of up in all places of public con- dead. Why strong followers of YSR targets... Price of Remdesivir reduced... Continued from Page 1 No shortage of Continued from Page 1 RemWin, Redyx, Cipremi, lowed the efforts of the Union Desrem, Jubi-R and Covifor. Government for enhance- It has to be mentioned here Differences between YS Presently, the prices of The NPPA communica- ment of availability and afford- that KVP took great pride Remdesivir range between tion said that the voluntary ability of Remdisivir required when he was described as ‘the Jagan, Sharmila widen beds, oxygen... Rs.2,800 and Rs.5,400. The downward price revision by to treat Covid patients with soul of YSR’, such was the Continued from Page 1 popular brands are Remdac, the drug manufacturers fol- severe symptoms. affection they had for each Continued from Page 1 Sakshi indicate that the differ- positivity rate was 2.98 per other. KVP is still close to the ences between Sharmila and cent - almost double the 1.63 YSR family. It is this proxim- Vijayalakshmi emphasised Jagan have increased. It may Still, Dr. Srinivasa Rao said, per cent recorded on April 1. ity to the YSR family that is that there was difference of be noted that Sakshi media did there was no need for panic as In a matter of 15 days, the pos- No vaccination creating the doubts among opinion between the siblings not give coverage to Sharmila’s the state government was tak- itivity rate had doubled as peo- 88% polling in political observers. They won- and not differences. meetings at Lotus Pond with ing measures to bring the ple were not adhering to der why close followers of In this backdrop, Sharmila’s her followers and also her Covid second wave under Covid-appropriate behaviour today at Govt KVP and staunch loyalists of satirical comments against Sankalpa Sabha at control, including scaling up of wearing masks, maintain- YSR keep on criticising Jagan Sakshi’s electronic media dur- Khammam. If indeed differ- of testing, tracing, and treat- ing physical distance, follow- centres in state Nagarjuna Sagar and Sharmila. ing her deeksha at the Dharna ences exist between Sharmila ment facilities to tackle the ing hand hygiene and not YSRCP rebel MP Chowk at Hyderabad caught and Jagan, they may be a pandemic. stepping out of home unless ML MELLY MAITREYI Continued from Page 1 lost from the same con- Raghurama Krishnam Raju attention. blessing for their political The DPH emphasised that absolutely necessary. n HYDERABAD stituency in the 2018 was considered a very loyal “Enough with your cover- opponents, especially the there was no shortage of beds, The DPH said on an aver- As many as 4,000 police per- Assembly polls. follower of YSR and also very age. Sakshi channel won't give Telugu Desam Party. TDP medicines, oxygen, ventilators age 1.03 lakh tests were being There will not be any sonnel, including central The Nagarjuna Sagar by- close to KVP. Raju still main- coverage for us anyway,” leaders have already started or medical personnel in gov- done per day and they would Covid vaccination on forces, were deployed for the poll result would be an acid tains very good relations with Sharmila had said. shooting barbs at Jagan, say- ernment hospitals. Hence, be further increased to quick- Sunday April 18 in the by-poll. Election officials had test for the ruling TRS, resur- KVP, while going to immense Usually, TDP leaders make ing that when he did not do people should go straight to ly identify positive patients Go-vernment Covid set up as many as 346 polling gent BJP and the rump of the trouble to berate Jagan. such kinds of comments justice to his own sister and the designated government before they spread the infec- Vaccina-tion Centre’s stations. The by-poll for the Congress, with all three par- Former MP and now TDP against Sakshi. The comments family, how he could do jus- hospitals for free treatment. tion to others. Since corona (GCVCs) across the NS constituency was necessi- ties keen on proving their leader Sabbam Hari was also made by Sharmila against tice to women of the State. There was bed shortage in was largely air-borne these state. However, vaccina- tated by the death of sitting might, latent or manifest; as a a staunch loyalist of YSR and only about 15 to 20 corporate days, unlike during the first tion will be continued TRS legislator Nomula win or defeat in the NS by- very close to KVP. He also hospitals. In all, 1,935 private wave, before a Covid patient from Monday as per the Narsimhaiah in December poll may require modifica- takes every opportunity to In Warangal district of joined her proposed political hospitals were offering Covid was identified, the whole fam- schedule, according to last. The ruling TRS nominat- tions in the strategies they are level wild allegations against Telangana, former minister party. Another interesting treatment, he said. ily was getting infected, he Dr Srinivasa Rao, ed Nomula Bhagat, son of planning to adopt for the Jagan. Konda Surekha and her hus- thing is all these leaders por- Out of 100 every Covid said. In the first wave, against Director , Public Health. Narsimhaiah. The saffron Assembly polls in 2023. Likewise, former MP band Konda Murali, a former trayed themselves to be positive patients, 80 per cent 18,232 beds available, there Apparently there is party fielded P Ravi Kumar, Although candidates from Vundavalli Arun Kumar is MLC, were staunch followers staunch supporters of Jagan exhibited no symptoms and was only 40 per cent occupan- shortage of vaccine. while the Congress put up its other parties and indepen- also a staunch follower of of YSR and are still very close when he launched his politi- such people need to self- cy. Now the bed strength in Earlier in the media senior leader K Jana Reddy, dents are also in the fray for YSR and very close to KVP. to KVP. Konda Murali on cal party. It is not known why quarantine at home quaran- the State was 38,252 and it conference, Dr Srinivasa who had served as Leader of the Assembly segment, the Vundavalli is known to crit- Thursday alleged that they hold so much antago- tine; 10 per cent showed mild would soon be increased to Rao said they were Opposition in the previous contest would be mainly icise Jagan some times, and Sharmila offered him and his nism against the AP Chief symptoms, and they could be 53,556. Of the 116 govern- expecting expecting 2.7 Legislative Assembly. Reddy among the three parties. praise him at other times. wife crores of rupees if they Minister these days. treated at home, he said. Only ment hospitals, five were lakh doses by Saturday 7 to 8 per cent of infected peo- Covid-dedicated hospitals in night. The officials how- ple were being hospitalized the GHMC area alone. ever did not offer any with severe symptoms. He said that Remdesivir reason for not adminis- Dr.Srinivasa Rao said that injection/medicine should not tering the vaccine on CWC says nation... on Friday alone 1,26,235 tests be taken indiscriminately Sunday. Fake IAS officer nabbed were done in the State and the unless warranted. Continued from Page 1 Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Continued from Page 1 with SBI Cards division. service permanent. He also Singh and Rahul Gandhi have During March-June 2020, he got name plate designed bear- "We regret to say that the made valuable suggestions on The police nabbed him on a stayed in the village during ing the letters Collector. He HYDERABAD nation is paying a very heavy how to tackle the situation. All complaint filed by Tallapalli the lockdown. Several times appointed Mahender of BULLION RATES price for the thoughtlessness of them would be collated by Ramesh and Sweta, who he visited Secunderabad in an Rebbenapalli village of and unpreparedness of the tomorrow and sent to the cen- accused the fraudster of collect- effort to cement the impres- Dandepalli as his PA. He also GOLD NDA government to tackle the tral government. The CWC ing Rs 3 lakh from them on sion he had created among got fixed police siren to his ` 48, 160 (10 gm) gravest disaster that has hit the alleged that that the govern- promise of providing them the villagers that he was vehicle. Therefore, the driver country and has affected mil- ment failed to create sufficient government jobs. employed with the railways. and PA trusted him fully and ` 160 lions of families claiming public awareness that a waning Two separate cases were reg- During his travel to believed he was an IAS offi- SILVER 1,75,673 lives so far," it said. pandemic could be a precursor istered against him with the Secunderabad, he used to cer. ` 73, 500 (1kg) The working committee meet- to a second wave that may be Mancherial police. On the hire the car of Ramesh of The accused then asked ` 100 ing, attended by Manmohan more devastating than the first directions of Ramagundam Birpur village. the PA and the driver to Singh and former Congress wave. It also alleged that the Commissioner V He told Ramesh that he was bring to him people familiar chief Rahul Gandhi, besides Centre failed to rapidly scale up Satyanarayana, Uday Kumar employed as DE inwith them so that he could CHICKEN general secretaries and other the production and supply of Reddy's team arrested Barla Mancherial Railway Station place them in at least 20-30 RATES `/KG senior leaders, said it is a the two approved vaccines in Lakshmi Narayana here on and lied to him that he had government jobs and fixed shame that the country with India by providing sufficient Saturday morning. almost cleared the Civil the fees for such help as Rs 3- Dressed/With Skin `193 the world's largest vaccine funds and other concessions. Lakshminarayana completed Services examination. 5 lakh each. Without Skin `219 manufacturing capacity has "The government failed to uni- polytechnic diploma and later Later, he hired Ramesh as The driver and PA passed Broiler at Farm `133 earned the odium of being versalise vaccination after joined second year of engineer- his driver on a monthly salary on the information to their among the most affected coun- health workers and front line ing at the college in Hyderabad. of Rs 25,000 and lied to him near and dear ones who called tries in the world. workers had been vaccinated in He appeared for Railway JE in December 2020 that he was on the fake IAS officer, along EGG "With a heavy heart, we Phase I. "It failed to get rid of examinations, but failed to posted as JC in Mancherial as with their certificates. During RATES `/100 caution the people that unless pre-registration and bureau- clear it. However, he lied to the he had cleared Civil Services December 2020 and March urgent corrective measures are cratic control over the vaccina- villagers stating that he had got Examination. He also hired 2021, he collected at least Rs HYDERABAD 454 taken the nation faces an tion programme," the state- posting in the railways. an apartment in Krutika 80 lakh and purchased two VIJAYAWADA 393 unprecedented catastrophe. ment alleged. The opposition Credulous villagers trusted and Apartments and shifted his cars, one Bullet motorcycle, a May wisdom prevail," the also faulted the government for even felicitated him. residence. Later, he hiked the house under construction in VISAKHAPATNAM 505 CWC statement said. not leaving the vaccine roll-out While pursuing BE course, salary of Ramesh to Rs 45,000 Jagityal. He spent the rest of RETAIL PRICE `4. 54 Chidambaram said several to state governments and over he worked as a sales executive on the pretext of making his the sum lavishly. (IN HYDERABAD) Congress leaders including vaccine wastage.

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Printed and published by B Krishna Prasad for and on behalf of CMYK Printech Ltd., Phone: 040-23322341, Hyderabad Office: F-502, Diamond Block, Lumbini Rockdale, Somajiguda, Hyderabad - 500 082. Telangana. Printed at Sree Seshasai Enterprises, Plot No.19, IDA Balanagar , Hyderbad-500037, Medchal -Malkajgiri District, Telangana. Chief Editor: Chandan Mitra. Resident Editor: B Krishna Prasad, AIR SURCHARGE of Rs 2.00. HYDERABAD I SUNDAY I APRIL 18, 2021 hyderabad 03 Pubs re-emerge as virus hotspots 8th battalion police practice PNS n HYDERABAD customers to pubs in Banjara found to be not serious about Hills, Jubilee Hills, Hi-Tech city, precautions. They yell and Covid norms as they preach Pubs across the city that once Punjagutta, Film Nagar and amuse themselves. If any one of PNS n HYDERABAD emerged as Coronavirus other areas is very high. the visitors has had the infec- hotspots have begun to fall In this backdrop, manage- tion, there is risk of spreading The eighth battalion police back into the clutches of the ments of pubs instead of imple- it to others. On the whole, the personnel at Kondapur is ren- virus. menting the Covid precau- pubs have become hotspots to dering yeoman service to peo- With the implementation of tions have thrown them to spread infection. ple, besides the regular polic- Covid norms going for a toss, winds. People while away their Currently, Madhu and his ing acts, in reining in the people who throng the pubs for valuable time at pubs for hours friends are under quarantine at Covid-19 for the past one year ecstasy are soon contracting together. They indulge in their homes, while one of their and has set an example for oth- the virus. In fact, the behaviour embracing and kissing each friends who accompanied ers to emulate. The battalion is of the public visiting the pubs other, throwing self-regulation them to the pub tested positive earning plaudits from others does not conform to Covid to winds. As a result, the num- for the virus. for its special services in con- precautions. ber of Covid-19 cases is People regard the pubs are trolling the pandemic situa- spread of the virus. Besides battalion campus. Thermal Youth are visiting pubs not increasing. Recently, 10 per- no safe zone as these facilities tion. sensitising people on Covid- screening is compulsory to only on weekends but also on sons who enjoyed themselves threw the ‘No Mask-No Entry’ The battalion, raised during 19, the battalion members step into the campus. Instead weekdays. In fact, the number visiting a pub contracted the rule to winds. With an eye to the post 1980-communal riots, ensure that everyone wears of going out to buy essential of such persons visiting pubs pubs, wearing of masks, an open invitation to the pan- infection. make a quick buck, the pubs has a force of over 1,400. It not masks compulsorily. They commodities, the battalion daily is on the raise. The spurt observing physical distance, demic with their pub culture. A software employee Madhu have not been observing any only provides security to the counsel those who do not authorities struck a deal with in Covid-19 is directly pro- mingling with all freely, danc- Daily 200 to 300 visit the who is in the habit of visiting precautions. The managements VIPs during their visit to the wear the masks. They are also wholesale traders, who bring portional to the visitors to ing with each other in the arms pubs in Rangareddy, Medchal pubs along with friends visit- allow guests inside without city, but also protects historic sensitising people on how to the commodities inside the these facilities. of each other, yelling and other and Hyderabad districts. ed a pub three days ago. The taking any precautions. It is structures and other places of safeguard their health. campus. After sanitising them People will forget about the incidents take place under Partying will continue there management is not serious advisable for the government to tourist importance. Besides preaching, the bat- fully, the commodities are pandemic once they step into tipsy conditions. The revellers from evening to early hours of about implementing Covid- close them till the pandemic The battalion members are talion members also practice being distributed. the pubs. Once they enter the forget that they are extending the next day. The craze from 19 rules. People visiting here situation has improved. on security duty at Gandhi what they preach. The battal- The battalion quarters have Hospital, which is a Covid-19 ion campus is home to over been divided into eight sec- nodal treatment centre, TIMS 3,500 to 4,000 persons, includ- tions for the purpose of sani- in Gachibowli, besides at var- ing 1,400 personnel of the tisation. The punishment to CITY LIGHTS ious other isolation and treat- battalion. those who violate Covid-19 Groom-to-be kidnapped in outskirts ment centres. The battalion Last year 500 recruits rules is rather stern in the cam- Fire breaks out at chemical also serves as the police train- received training, while their pus. According to the battal- PNS n HYDERABAD behind the kidnap. both families. ing academy. number has come down to 466 ion commandant Murali The victim, Nadeem Khan, Police suspect that another Ever since the pandemic this year at the battalion. But, Krishna, with the support of company and scrap godown A youngster, who recently got 28, who was on his way home youngster, reportedly in love broke out in the city in March only 132 had tested positive for higher authorities like DGP major fire broke out in a chemical company in Jeedimetla engaged, was allegedly kid- on his motorcycle, was stopped with the girl, could have kid- last year, the battalion has the virus. That too, those who Mahender Reddy and others, industrial area on Saturday morning. No casualties were napped from King's Colony in by a group of youngsters who napped him. been rendering untiring ser- live off the campus tested pos- absolute care has been taken to Areported. According to the police, the fire spread to the plastic Mailardevpally on the city out- picked up an argument with Based on a complaint from vices and doing everything to itive. It stands as a good exam- rule out covid-19 cases in the drums filled with chemicals which led to thick fire and smoke. The skirts early on Saturday morn- him and forcibly took him Nadeem's family, a case has check the pandemic. On one ple how strictly the Covid battalion campus. The pan- company workers, who noticed the flames, alerted the police and ing. away. been booked and investigation hand the battalion takes care of precautions are being imple- demic has taught some lessons the fire department. Panic prevailed in the area for some time due to Police officials suspect a Sources said Khan was is on. Police officials are inves- the law and order duties and mented on the campus. to the people, especially mak- the chemical explosions. Two fire engines were rushed to the spot youngster who was in love with recently engaged with a girl in tigating in all possible reasons on the other, it is implement- Those who do not wear ing the people become strong and the flames were doused in about two hours and the worth of the victim's fiancee could be the presence of the elders of behind the kidnap. ing the measures to check the mask are denied entry into the both physically and mentally. the property damaged is to be estimated. In another incident, a minor fire broke in a scrap godown at the industrial areas in Mailardevpally on the city outskirts. None were hurt in the incident, as the warehouse was shut. Police suspect an electrical short circuit led to the fire mishap. Officials said around 1 am, local residents RAILWAYS TO FINE noticed the fire and thick smoke from the warehouse which is Cops nab Nigerian surrounded by residential colonies. A fire engine was rushed to the PEOPLE SANS MASK spot, but with the fire not dying out, another fire engine too joined in the firefighting. The warehouse was full of plastic scrap material, Railways on Saturday due to which thick smoke engulfed the surrounding areas, triggering announced that a fine of up to for cheating people panic among the residents. Rs 500 will be imposed on PNS n HYDERABAD “Henry adopted the same those for not wearing masks modus operandi to earn easy The Rachakonda Cybercrime money and joined them. They Hyderabad Airport introduces at rail premises as well for police nabbed a Nigerian fraudulently procured the those who not wearing masks national and his accomplice bank accounts to carry out luxury drives from the airport in trains. The order on face from Uttar Pradesh on charges their transactions,” police said. of cheating people in the guise In December 2020, they n a first-of-its-kind in India, masks has been issued for a period of six months till of sending gifts and foreign cheated a person from city RGIA is offering the luxury currency on social media on the pretext of send- Iof driving the ultra-modern, further instructions. on Saturday. ing gift and foreign state-of-the art, cars right The arrested perso- currency and fabri- after your landing at the ns are Henry Opera, cated a story that airport. Helping you drive in 31, a football coach parcel was caught style from the airport and and a native of Nigeria, by customs people at going around the city of and Suraj, 29, an auto- Delhi, and to get it Nizams, 4 Wheel - located at rickshaw driver. released made the victim the arrivals of GMR Hyderabad International Airport, offers you a According to the police, transfer money into bank range of luxury cars. You can choose your ride from a long list of Henry who came to India on accounts provided by Suraj. cars that includes Porsche 911 Carrera 4S, Jaguar F Type, medical visa for a surgery, ma- Following a complaint from Lamborghini Gallardo, Lexus ES 300h, Audi A3 Cabriolet, Mercedes rried a woman from Karna- the victim, the police booked Benz E 250, BMW 3GT, BMW 7 Series, Ford Mustang, Volvo S 60, taka and settled here and a case and with the help of Maserati Ghibli, Toyota Fortuner, Maruti Suzuki Ciaz to name a few. joined as part time football clues traced and nabbed the The options for rental include chauffeur drive and self-drive and coach, where he met his fellow suspects. They were produced what's more, it can be booked well in advance before you land at Nigerians who committed before the court for remand- the RGIA. Just a phone call/click away, all the cars available are online frauds. ing in judicial custody. sanitized after every trip to ensure the safety of the travelers. Stay indoors, Gandhi Hospital Agri universities play vital role Two-months-old superintendent urges residents TSRTC authorities take child sold away n view of the surge in Covid cases, Gandhi hospital in sustainable agriculture: Guv superintendent Dr. Raja Rao on Saturday urged the residents of measures to fight virus by father for 30K Ithe city to not venture out of their houses. Superintendent told PNS n HYDERABAD culture sector were also vital to PNS n HYDERABAD them that they should not go to hospitals unless it was needed. He realise the objective of Self- PNS n HYDERABAD the Covid precautions in a big said the power to contain the spread of the virus lies in the hands of Research in agricultural uni- Reliant India. way. Daily the bus drivers, A father sold away his two- the people of the city and the state.He warned the people that the versities is vital to make agri- The Governor said that the Rangareddy regional RTC conductors and employees months-old son for monetary virus might infect if they visit the hospitals for unnecessary reasons. culture sustainable and to dou- Covid pandemic had once authorities have been initiat- working in the region are gain. The incident came to Citing that there is no scope for the imposition of lockdown in the ble the income of the farmers, again highlighted the need to ing series of measures to keep being sensitised. Regional light after the child's mother state, he said that the people should impose self lockdown in the said Telangana Governor, Dr promote organic farming on a the pandemic at bay at the manager Vara Prasad said that lodged a complaint with the state. He said that they had admitted 150 people into the hospital on Tamilisai Soundararajan. massive scale to protect the MGBS in Hyderabad. the employees should always police. Friday alone and added that the hospital had only 350 beds, making She emphasised the need to nature. Besides ensuring people wear masks while on duty. The According Rajendranagar it clear that all the patients admitted by them were in the need of converge the traditional Citing the findings of a wear masks and sanitising all conductors should always to police, Syed Haider and ICU treatment and added that they had adjusted the beds by knowledge and modern tech- recent survey carried out by platforms, the sanitary staffers clean their hands from time to Shahana Begum, resident of working hard till night. nology in agriculture to make the Raj Bhavan in select prim- clear garbage daily and dispose time with hand sanitisers. MM Pahadi, have a two- the farming sustainable and to Jaya Shankar Telangana State itive tribal areas in Bhadradri it of safely. Sanitisers have Meanwhile, Sairam, senior month-old baby. ensure the food security of the Agricultural University, here, Kothagudem district, she said been made available at entry customer relations manager For the past two or three generations to come. in a virtual mode on Saturday. that people belonging to prim- points and near platforms. for MGBS and Jubilee Bus sta- days, Haider who is un- Rachakonda Commissioner The Governor, in her capac- Referring to the goals of itive tribal group, Kondareddy, The MGBS operates over tion, said that all the arrange- employed since lockdown has ity as the Chancellor, was Atma Nirbhar Bharat, Dr were not cultivating their lands 3,000 buses to various desti- ments to rule out any incon- been arguing with his wife for launches last ride services addressing the 5th Tamilisai stated that sustain- though they were having lands nations. Therefore, the RTC venience to commuters is selling away the infant and achakonda Commissioner of Police has launched the last ride Convocation of the Professor ability and self-reliance in agri- and huge backyards. authorities are implementing ruled out. bringing things home. services which will be operated in the Rachakonda Police The mother Shahana RCommissionerate limits. Mahesh Bhagwat lauded the efforts of Begum approached the police Feed the Needy NGO who is operating the service. He stated that with suspicion on her hus- during the first wave, 210 cremations were done through this band as the child went miss- service, out of which 160 are Covid. Of these 160, 30 are Covid Man gets 3 years RI for attempting to rape minor girl ing suspiciously. home deaths. He appreciated the group of 10 techies which includes The wife had lodged a Sai Teja, Srinivas Bellam, Pradeep, Prashant, Vinay, Ramanjeeth PNS n HYDERABAD of rigorous imprisonment for auto-rickshaw driver from her parents and molested and and subsequently arrested complaint with the Singh, Pradeep and Surendra for offering such a humane service. molesting and attempting to Sanjay Nagar in Yousufguda. tried to rape her. She resisted Riyaz. Police Commissioner Rajendranagar police alleging CP Rachakonda stated that the vehicle will be stationed at Uppal PS A special court for child abuse rape a minor girl five years ago In January 2017, Riyaz tres- his attempts and escaped. Anjani Kumar on Saturday that her husband had sold her and whoever in an unfortunate situation requires the service, may cases in Nampally on Friday in SR Nagar. The convicted passed into the house of the 16- Based on her complaint, the appreciated the investigation son for Rs 30,000 to buy call the Rachakonda Covid Control Room on 9490617234. sentenced a man to three years person was Sheik Riyaz, 35, an year-old girl in the absence of SR Nagar police booked a case officer and team. goods into the house. ‘TS managing TSPSC 195 testing positive every hour in TS Continued from Page 1 with only one person’ The GHMC area has been Covid cases jump to record of 4,446 recording highest cases with PNS n HYDERABAD as their top priority and make 598 cases on Friday, i.e. 25 Continued from Page 1 of Medchal-Malkajgiri and Urban, 129 in Mahbubnagar sure that they create jobs for people are testing positive for Rangareddy recorded 435 and and 121 in Mancherial. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister the unemployed youth," added Covid 19 in the city every This is the highest fatalities in 326 cases, respectively. According to a media bul- YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's sister Sharmila. one hour. Over the past one a day during the second wave Nizamabad district, bor- letin issued by the state health YS Sharmila on Saturday staged Speaking about the week, every hour 133 people of the pandemic. While the dering Maharashtra, remains department on Saturday, the a protest against state govern- Telangana state Public Service have tested positive for coro- cumulative death toll stands at a hotspot with 314 new infec- number of active cases ment demanding to fill up Commission, she said, “The navirus on an average -- 1,809, the case fatality rate tions reported from here. jumped to 33,514 from 30,494 government job vacancies in TSPSC must originally consist from April 10 to April 16 in remains stable at 0.52 per cent Kamareddy and Nirmal dis- the previous day. the state. of one chairperson and 10 Telangana. At present, 15 of against the national average of tricts adjoining Nizamabad The numbers include "I am sitting on a hunger committee members. But in the 33 districts are reporting 1.2 per cent. reported 184 and 160 cases, 22,118 persons who are in strike against the government Telangana, the system is being more than 100 cases which The state capital region respectively. home or institutional isola- of Telangana for failing to managed by only one person. equates to 4 cases every and surrounding districts Sangareddy reported 235 tion. While the recovery rate release notification to fill up The government must fill in hour. continue to bear the brunt of new cases followed by 180 in dipped further to 89.8 per government jobs," Sharmila these positions first so that the There are 33,514 active fresh covid outbreaks The Jagtiyal, 149 in Karimnagar cent, it remained above the said. "This strike is to create real reason behind the unem- cases in the state -- the high- GHMC region reported 598 and 148 in Khammam. There national average of 87.2 per pressure on the government to ployment issue in the state est ever active caseload since cases, while adjoining districts were 136 cases in Warangal cent. put the issue of unemployment comes to the limelight." the start of the pandemic. HYDERABAD | SUNDAY | APRIL 18, 2021 hyderabad 04

Harish Rao 117 file TPCC appoints panels for releases Ensure victory of TRS nominations third list for Khammam Wgl, Khammam Corpn polls PNS n SIDDIPET nominees: Errabelli municipal polls PNS n HYDERABAD bers of the committee. Khammam Municipal Minister for Finance T Harish PNS n WARANGAL PNS n KHAMMAM The TPCC has appointed com- Corporation Elections Rao released the third list of mittees for Warangal and Committee—Ponnam TRS nominees for the Minister for Panchayat Raj In all, 117 candidates have Khammam Municipal Prabhakar (Convener), Bhatti Siddipet municipal polls here Errabelli Dayakar Rao exhort- filed their nominations for Corporation elections. MLC T Vikramarka, P Durga Prasad on Saturday. ed important party leaders in the Khammam Municipal Jeevan Reddy will be the con- (DCC president), Renuka Following are the party Warangal East Assembly con- Corporation elections on the vener for the Warangal Chowdhary (former Union nominees, who will enter the stituency to work unitedly to second day of receiving nom- Municipal Corporation Minister), P Balram Naik (for- fray—Kemmasaram Praveen ensure the victory of party inations on Saturday. They Elections Committee and mer Union Minister), from 26th ward, Taslima candidates in 24 wards of the filed 137 nomination papers TPCC working president Sambhani Chandrasekhar (for- Begum from 33rd ward, Edla Municipal Corporation in the with many candidates sub- Ponnam Prabhakar will be the mer minister), Potla Arvind Reddy from 22nd East constituency in the forth- mitting over two sets of nom- convener for Khammam Nageshwara Rao (former ward, Pathuri Sulochana coming elections. ination papers. The total Corporation Elections MLA), Javed Ahemd (City Srinivas Reddy from 15th He was addressing them at number of nominations filed Committee. (former MLC), Donthi Congress president), Deepak ward, Paskula Sateesh from the TRS office in on Saturday was 141. The Warangal Municipal Madhava Reddy (former Chowdhary (City Congress 9th ward and Dharmavaram Hanmakonda on Saturday. TRS candidates have sub- Corporation Elections MLA), Vem Narender Reddy working president), Paruchuri Brahmam from 38th ward. He asked them to take the mitted 81 nominations, Committee—T Jeevan Reddy (former MLA), S Rajaiah (for- Murali Krishna, Puchakayala government’s welfare and Congress candidates 24, BJP (convener), D Sridhar Babu mer MP), Errabelli Swarna Veerabhadram, Jammula development schemes and a Minister for Panchayat Raj 22, CPM 3 and TDP 2. No (Co-convener), N Rajender (former mayor), Namindla Sarath Kumar Reddy, M Radha series of development pro- Errabelli Dayakar Rao asked them nominations were filed by the Reddy (DCC president) Srinivas ( PCC general secre- Krishna, Kotha Seetharamulu Couple jects worth Rs 25,000 crore, CPI yet while nine indepen- Ponnala Laxmaiah (former tary), E Venkatram Reddy, K and all sitting corporators will initiated recently by Minister to take the government’s welfare dent candidates have submit- minister), Konda Surekha (for- Srinivas and all sitting corpo- be ex-officio members of above for Municipal Administration and development schemes and a ted their nominations. mer minister), Konda Murali rators will be ex-officio mem- committee. knocked and IT KTR, to the people during the campaign. series of development projects worth down by tipper He asked them to explain to Rs 25,000 crore, initiated recently MUNICIPAL BYPOLLS IN JALPALLY AND LINGOJIGUDA the people the false propagan- by Minister for Municipal PNS n PATANCHERU da of the BJP and the tricks employed by it to dupe the Administration and IT KTR, to the A couple was killed in a road people. He asked them to people during the campaign. Rachankonda CP reviews arrangements accident on the National impress on the people that Highway in Patancheru on TRS alone can do good to PNS n MEDCHAL MALKAJGIRI advised those, who were hospi- ing to LB Nagar police station, ship by interacting with com- Saturday. According to them. Banda Prakash, MLCs Kadiam Rani, former Mayor Gunda talised and incurred expendi- Saroornagar police station, munity leaders and Peace Patancheru CI Venugopal Telangana State Planning Srihari, Baswaraj Saraiah, Prakasa Rao, Errabelli Pradip Commissioner of Police ture to avail the facility extend- Balapur police station, Committees for celebrating the Reddy, Sridhar (34), a native Board vice-chairman MLA Nannapaneni Ravinder, Rao and others were present at Rachakonda Mahesh M ed by the government, to claim Pahadisherif police station for festivities in a safe manner. He of Datta Jogipeta village in Boinapalli Vinod Kumar, MP former MP Gundu Sudha the meeting. Bhagwat conducted an online Rs 1 lakh towards Covid treat- the byelections. He instructed instructed all officers to ensure Ramadugu mandal of meeting with all officers of the ment. the officers to carry on enforce- visible policing and swift action Karimnagar district, was stay- rank of SHO, Inspector and As far as the byelections in ment to curb illegal activities wherever and whenever ing with his wife Deepika above to discuss and give Jalpally and Lingojiguda are and form Flying Squads for the required to avoid untoward (28), and a three-year-old ‘All tanks in Mahbubnagar dist instructions about various concerned, the Commissioner proper conduct of elections. incident. daughter at Shantinagar in issues on hand for the of Police instructed the officers As the holy month of He reviewed that vaccination Patancheru town. Rachakonda police. of LB Nagar zone to be alert. He Ramzan has commenced, the drive for Rachakonda police Sridhar was working in He cautioned all the officers reviewed the bandobast Commissioner of Police where nearly 5,822 police per- the local Mylan pharma will be filled with PRLIP water’ in the wake of the surge in arrangements, hypersensitive instructed all officers to be vig- sonnel have received their first industry while Deepika was Covid cases in the public as well locations monitoring by local ilant on the Covid norms to be dose while 250 yet to get the a software engineer at Tech PNS n MAHBUBNAGAR tres," he said. among the police personnel. He officers especially those belong- followed in the places of wor- dose. Mahindra. He said that in the past six The couple was going on a Boasting of development of the years, Rs 8 crore has been spent two-wheeler towards State in general and on pensions in the villages. He Patancheru when a tipper hit Mahbubnagar district, in par- said that the government was BJP chief calls their vehicle from behind on ticular, Minister for Excise, depositing monthly funds in AISF to fight against the national highway near Sports, Culture and Tourism V the accounts of gram panchay- Alwin Colony. Srinivas Goud said all the ats as part of the development upon people to Sridhar died on the spot tanks in the district would be of villages. while Deepika succumbed filled with the water after the The minister called upon get vaccinated TRS government to injuries at a hospital. completion of the Palamuru- the youth to focus on rural PNS n KHAMMAM Police said a case was reg- Rangareddy Lift Irrigation development and bring prob- K VENKATESHWARLU AISF state president NA istered and is being investi- Project (PRLIP) water. lems to his notice. The BJP State unit president and n HYDERABAD Stalin and secretary Ravishiva gated based on a complaint He inaugurated Rythu Minister for Excise, Sports, Culture and Minister distributed Kalyana Karimnagar MP Bandi Ramakrishna alleged that both lodged by their family mem- Vedikas and other develop- Tourism V Srinivas Goud addressing a Lakshmi cheques to seven Sanjay Kumar called upon Anything is possible in politics the Central and State govern- bers. ment works in several villages meeting in Mahbubnagar district on beneficiaries. the people to adopt self-reg- and Communists are no ments are hatching conspira- in Devarakadra constituency Saturday MLA Ala Venkateshwar ulation practices to protect exception in this regard. The cies to destroy the university Minister for Education Sabhita Indra and Moosapeta mandal in Reddy said that check dams themselves as the Corona CPI has extended its support education system. As a part of Reddy speaking at a programme in Mahbubnagar district on people as most of the villages have been constructed in all second wave is spreading to the TRS in Nagarjunasagar it, they are not appointing reg- Hyderabad on Saturday Saturday. He inaugurated had been deprived of electric- the villages in the constituen- fast. He was vaccinated for by-elections, along with the ular VCs, teaching and non- Rythu Vedika in Janampeta ity and irrigation and drinking cy. He clarified that steps were the first time at the vaccina- CPM. According to sources, teaching staff and not allocat- and a paddy procurement cen- water problems. But now, there being taken to modernise the tion camp set up at the RTC both the CPI and CPM came ing adequate funds to the uni- Sabitha terms tre. Additional classrooms, is either an electricity problem Nizalapur village pond. Hospital here on Saturday. to an understanding in versities in the budget, they which were built at a cost of Rs or an irrigation and drinking ZPTC Indraiah Sagar, MPP Speaking on the occa- extending support to the rul- pointed out. They alleged that 20 lakh at Moosapeta mandal water shortage. Even during Kalavati, Moosapeta sarpanch sion, he advised the people ing TRS to face the BJP in the the credit of transforming the CCTV cameras headquarters, were opened. the summers, ponds are being Annapurna, Mandal Rythu to take proper precautions as state keeping the main oppo- universities as the centers of Addressing the farmers, he filled with irrigation water. Bandhu coordinator Corona cases have been on sition party Congress aside problems goes to both the TRS as third eye said that many changes have Similarly, 1,000 Gurukuls were Raghupathi Reddy, Agriculture the rise for the past few days. stating that the Congress has and BJP governments. PNS n MEDCHAL taken place in the state after the set up across the State. "We are Department assistant director He said the BJP govern- no strength to control the Speaking to The Pioneer, MALKAJGIRI formation of Telangana. providing milk, eggs and nutri- Yashwant Rao, officials and ment at the Centre was BJP’s unexpected surge in the AISF state organising secretary Sridhar and Deepika during their Earlier, sarpanches could not tious food to women and chil- public representatives were working effectively to com- state. RN Shankar said that AISF As a part of expanding com- happy days (file photo) be held accountable to the dren through Anganwadi cen- present. bat the virus. In contrast, the CPI’s stu- will fight against the TRS gov- munity CCTV cameras net- dent wing All India Student ernment’s apathy towards uni- work across the Rachakonda Federation (AISF) state wing versities though the CPI has Commissionerate, Minister has announced on Saturday it been extending its support to for Education Sabhita Indra will wage movements not only the TRS. Reddy and Rachakonda SP seeks religious Cricket betting racket busted against the BJP led Central “As a student wing, we have Commissioner of Police government, but also against freedom and autonomy to Mahesh M Bhagwat inaugu- PNS n MEDCHAL MALKAJGIRI they contacted known persons, onwards. This illegal activity the State government. take the decisions. The AISF rated 106 community CCTV including Mandava Vinay was started on April 9. The AISF disclosed this has been fighting against the cameras, which were heads’ cooperation The sleuths of Special Kotha Jani and others, and The accused organised the while announcing a new com- Communist government in installed under Meerpet Operation Team (SOT) abetted them to participate in illegal online cricket betting mittee to the Osmania Kerala”, he pointed out. Police Station limits at a cost Bhongir zone of Rachakonda online cricket betting offering from the car décor shop on University that will wage On Saturday, Osmania of Rs 38,00,000 on Saturday. to keep virus at bay Commissionerate, along with them double payment on bet- April 16 during a match movements against the State University Committee These cameras will be con- the Bhongir town police, bust- ting money. The activity was between the Chennai Super and Central governments if Extended Council meeting nected to the Command PNS n MAHABUBNAGAR regard is likely to destroy ed the online cricket betting being organised from the car Kings vs Punjab Kings. The they failed to change their held at Dr Raj Bahadur Hall of Control Room. lives of people, he said. racket and apprehended four décor shop of one Naresh of sleuths of SOT Bhongir with step-motherly treatment Maqdhoom Bhavan under the Addressing the pro- District Superintendent of He assured the people at persons, including two organ- Bhongir town. town police raided and caught towards universities. The AISF aegis of AISF state president L gramme, Sabitha Indra Police Ravilala Venkateswarlu large that the police would isers, and seized cash, bike all According to organisers, the the four persons red-handed state wing made it clear that it Kranthi Raj and AISF state Reddy said that it was a has asked the elders of various deal with the public in a sen- worth of Rs 1,50,000 from their punters participate in the ille- and seized the booty. will intensify movements to organising secretary RN great initiative where the cit- religious faiths to give wide sitive manner. Observing self- possession. gal activity by betting money on The arrests were made under protect the government uni- Shankar, state vice-president izens with the help of police publicity to Covid-19 precau- regultions will not help fam- The accused were identified different odds i.e., toss winning, the supervision of Mahesh M versities. Putta Laxman, OU leaders-- V came forward and installed tions and ensure that the peo- ilies but also society at large. as Manda Shiva Kumar Reddy ball to ball scoring, dismissal of Bhagwat, Commissioner of The CPI student wing Uday Kumar, B Lingaswami, CCTV cameras for the secu- ple implement them as there He pointed out that the and Akula Naresh. Thye batsmen by the bowlers and Police, Rachakonda alleged that both the State and N Shiva Shankar, D Nikhil, P rity of all citizens. She is spurt in pandemic cases in police department lost 84 planned to organise illegal team winning. Before the Commissionerate, G Sudheer Central governments have Sandeep, Sai, Suman --and appealed to the public to join Mahabubnagar district sound- officers to the pandemic last online cricket betting in view of beginning of the match, on Babu, Additional Commissio been weakening the universi- others participated. hands for a safer Rachakonda ing alarm bells. year. In spite of it, the police the 14th IPL season. According receipt of the information from ner of Police, Rachakonda, ties without solving their prob- The committee announced and also appealed to local He pointed out that 495 will continue to protect soci- to their plan, they downloaded the accused, the punters keep under the guidance of Surender lems and not appointing the MD Suner Pasha as president public representatives to tested positive for the virus on ety. an illegal online cricket betting ready to participate and when Reddy, Superintendent of Police Vice-Chancellors and mak- of AISF Osmania University ensure the installation of a single day on Friday, sig- Advising all, including the app DREAM EXCHANGE on the match is started, they start (NC Special Operations Team), ing the universities as centres wing and Kranthi Raj as gen- more cameras in the remain- nalling danger for the police, to receive vac- their mobiles. Subsequently, betting money from Rs 5,000 Rachakonda. of problems. eral secretary. ing colonies. district. cine, he said that Addressing the vaccine elders of vari- boosts immu- ous faiths at nity to the police encounter head quarters the virus. Amid scarcity, two ventilators go missing in Bhupalapally here on He Saturday, the thanked the PNS n JAYASHANKAR the pandemic have occurred in recommending treatment in Manchiniparti tested posi- ing in-charge district collector SP said that elders of var- BHUPALAPALLY the district. Several doctors under home quarantine facil- tive for the virus. In Yedapalli Krishna Aditya with wrong the elders ious faiths predict doom for the people of ities. As a result, families of village of Mahadevpur mandal, information on Covid situa- should protect taking part in In spite of second wave of the the district if the officials fail to those who tested positive for 50 contracted the infections. In tion. The in-charge collector the society to do the meeting and pandemic is so virulent, the swing into immediate action to the virus are facing difficulties. Majidpalli under Kaleswaram was told that a 30 beds have good to all, keeping appealed to them officials have failed to provide address the problem of venti- The population of panchayat, 27 positive cases been reserved for Covid aside their personal prefer- that, "Let us put our best at least one ventilator to pro- lators. Bhupalapalli district headquar- surfaced. The officials declared patients in Chityala Area ences. foot forward to rein in the vide treatment to patients in Since the district shares ters will be around one lakh. Kaleswaram as containment Hospital and two ventilators are If precautions are not virus."SP Administration N emergency situations. Daily boundaries with Chhattisgarh For want of ventilators, they zone. In Mahadevpur, Pulugula availale for treatment of implemented, strict curbs like- Venkateswarlu, DSP G scores of cases are surfacing in and Maharashtra, where the have to go to Warangal or and Kaleswaram mandals, patients in emergencies. In ly to be placed, he said point- Sridhar laid emphasis on the district. number of infection is on the Hyderabad. Unable to afford which share border with fact, not a single ventilator is ing out how the economy of observing precautions for us, Several have been question- rise every day, there are no cost of treatment in private Maharashtra, the number of found there. Only 20 beds the state affected due to impo- for the sake of ourfamilies and ing the sincerity of the officials curbs placed on the travel to hospitals, the Covid-19 patients positive cases are on the rise. have oxygen supply. In fact, not sition of lock down last year. for the sake of society. following mysterious disap- these states leading to criticism have to put their lives in high Villages have been voluntar- even one bed is brought to use He said that society cannot Heads of various faiths in pearance of ventilators pur- of the state government and the risk. Officials have declared ily declaring lockdown. Even as in the facility. afford another dose of lock the town assured the author- chased during the first phase of bureaucrats. Gangapuri village as contain- the villages suffer from lack of Since Mulugu and down. ities that they would strive to the pandemic spending lakhs Daily at least 50 new cases Hotel and Singareni Area ment zone with 27 villagers basic services, the sarpanches Bhupalapally districts are Quoting scientists, the cur- implement the government of rupees of tax payers' money. are surfacing in the district. Hospital. testing positive for the virus. of affected villages accuse offi- under the administration of a rent virus is also air-borne, he suggestions to ensure that Therefore, in case of emer- The number of cases in the dis- Many Covid patients are The village panchayat is pro- cials of not visiting them. single collector, there is lack said adding that the spurt in the people of the district keep gencies the patients have to be trict has crossed already 1000 being driven on to streets as viding the essential commodi- Two ventilators purchased of effective supervision to the infections not only affects the virus at bay. rushed to either to Warangal or so far. The affected have been there is no facility to provide ties to the affected families. by Chityala civil hospital have monitor Covid-19 situation. the public health but also the DSP Sriram Kumar, inspec- to Hyderabad. In fact, the gov- facing problems in availing amenities to treat them under Similarly, the officials declared gone missing. The officials are Elected people representa- economy. tors Som Narayan Singh, ernment has failed to set up treatment since the authorities home quarantine facility. The Nagaram as containment zone not in a position to say what tives urge the in-charge dis- Implementing precautions Rajeshwar, Maheshwar, isolation centres in the district. wound up the covid treatment 20-bed quarantine facility at following 30 villages contract- happened to them. trict collector to provide 10 like wearing masks, personal Suresh, Srinivas, Appala As a result, several villages are facilities at Area Hospitals in Chityala is rendered useless for ed the infections there. In There are allegations that the ventilators to the district and hygiene, the virus can be put Naidu and others were pre- becoming containment zones. Chityala and Mahadevpur and want of facilities there. Doctors Tekumalla, 22 people tested medical and health authorities revive the erstwhile isolation at bay. Any negligence in this sent on the occasion. So far, three deaths due to the isolation centres at Harita treating the patients have been positive for the virus, while 13 of the district have been feed- centre. HYDERABAD | SUNDAY | APRIL 18, 2021 nation 05 Bhopal crematorium: Urns Minister says Centre blocked containing ashes pile up Remdesivir supply to Maha PNS n BHOPAL As the coronavirus pandemic PNS n MUMBAI when Government of Maharashtra try that have 20 lakh vials of “While there is a requirement of the issue), but was told that he rages in Madhya Pradesh, asked 16 export companies for Remdesivir. Since exports are now this medicine and availability too, (PM) is on a tour of West there is also an increase in the NCP leader and Remdesivir, we were told banned by the government, these a quick decision is the need of the Bengal...This shows that the BJP number of the urns containing Maharashtra minister that the Central gov- units are seeking permission to sell hour. This problem must be is more interested in winning ashes of the dead being kept at Nawab Malik on Saturday ernment has this medicine in the country, but solved and the vials elections than tackling this cri- the Bhopal's only crematorium alleged that the central govern- asked the central government is must be supplied sis." where the last rites of COVID- ment has asked export companies them denying the same.” “The to the govern- When contacted, state BJP 19 patients are allowed, an not to supply Remdesivir medicine not government says it should be ment spokesperson Keshav Upadhaye office-bearer of the cremato- to the state. to supply sold through seven compa- hospi- reacted sharply saying, "Instead rium said on Saturday. He also said that the BJP, which the medicine to nies that are pro- tals in making such wild and baseless Bhadbhada Vishramghat's is in power at the Centre, was more Maharashtra. These com- ducing it. all allegations, Nawab Malik should management committee secre- the rising number of cremated at the Vishramghat interested in winning elections panies were warned, if they did, provide proof or else he should tary Mamtesh Sharma told deaths…This is for the first so far this month. "Of them, than tackling the coronavirus cri- their license will be cancelled." apologise. It is high time that PTI that more than 150 urns time when such a large num- around 800 bodies were cre- sis. He said this was a dangerous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) containing ashes are current- ber of urns are being kept in mated with the COVID-19 The BJP hit back saying that precedent and under these circum- stops the blame game and does ly kept in the lockers at the cre- the lockers,” Sharma said. protocol, Sharma said. He Malik should either give proof or stances, the state government will its job of handling the pandem- matorium even as the number He said the renovation of caimed that 81 bodies were apologise for levelling "false" and have no choice ic.” of lockers is being increased to the Bhadbhada Vishramghat cremated at the Vishramghat "baseless" allegations, and said he but to seize BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar create the space for the storage was halted due to the pandem- on April 16. should step down from the post. the stock of also said that Malik should pro- of at least 500 urns. ic. “We are now creating the “Of these 81 bodies, 69 Malik's allegations come days Remdesivir vide proof of his allegations that Bhadbhada Vishramghat is space for 500 lockers to keep the were cremated as per the after the Centre banned the export from states Centre has asked the Remdesivir the only Hindu crematorium urns containing ashes. An addi- COVID-19 protocol. Of these of Remdesivir injections in view of these exporters not to sell their med- in Bhopal where cremation of tional locker room is also being 69 bodies, 46 bodies were a sudden spike in demand due to imme- icine in the state. COVID-19 victims is allowed. constructed to deal with the sit- from Bhopal while the rest 23 the surge in COVID-19 cases. diately,” In a video message, he said, However, people are also going uation,” Sharma added. were from other parts of Remdesivir is listed for use in seri- exporters the NCP “Malik just said that the Centre to other crematoriums because He said at least a dozen urns Madhya Pradesh,” Sharma ous coronavirus patients in the and leader added. has pressurised Remdesivir com- of the rise in COVID-19 kept inside the lockers con- said. Clinical Management Protocols for supply it Speaking to panies not to sell their exportable deaths, he said. tained ashes of those people On the other hand, the COVID-19 as an investigational to the reporters later, Malik stock in Maharashtra or they will “More than 150 urns are who had died "during the first state government put the therapy. needy. These seven compa- said, "Maharashtra Chief face action. I want Malik to pro- currently kept in lockers here. wave of COVID-19", but their number of COVID-19 fatali- Taking to Twitter, Malik, the In his ear- nies are refusing to take responsi- Minister Uddhav Thackeray was vide proof of it or he should On average, 10 to 15 urns are kin never turned up to collect ties in Bhopal on Friday at 4 state minority affairs minister, lier tweets, he said, “There are 16 bility. This is a decision making cri- trying to speak to Prime Minister resign from his post as state currently being kept in the them. Sharma claimed approx- out of the total 60 reported said, “It is sad and shocking that export oriented units in the coun- sis. Narendra Modi over phone (on minority affairs minister.” lockers here every day due to imately 1,100 bodies have been across the state. INDIA CORNER MP: Two held for ATM Cocaine worth Rs 1.8 crore Jharkhand HC grants bail to cash withdrawal fraud seized PNS n JABALPUR Lalu in Dumka treasury case PNS n MUMBAI Two persons were arrested in A 42-year old Tanzanian he Jharkhand High an ATM cash withdrawal fraud national was arrested early TCourt on Saturday amounting to Rs 92.39 lakh in on Saturday and cocaine granted bail to RJD Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur worth around Rs 1.8 crore president Lalu Prasad in district, police said on Saturday. was recovered from him at Dumka treasury case of The police have arrested Agripada in South the multi-crore rupees Shakir Hussain (30) and Mumbai, police said. fodder scam, paving way Cop booked for Inzamam-ul-Haq (24), both The arrest was made by for his release from jail. residents of Harayana's Nuh the Anti Narcotics Cell The bail was allowed to district, while three other (ANC) of the Mumbai Prasad by Justice Aparesh accused are at large, city super- crime branch, they said. Kumar Singh.The court directed him neither to leave the country raping colleague intendent of police (Omti) R D later making false complaints to transaction, the official said. "The Azad Maidan unit without permission nor change his address and mobile number Bharadwaj said. the bank to refund the money The accused would then of the ANC had received a during the bail period.Prasad had acquired bail in three other cases PNS n MUMBAI south Mumbai, an official said. The police have seized 86 though they had already with- complain, asking for a refund tip-off, following which it of the fodder scam and was waiting for judgement in the instant case The complainant has alleged ATM cards of various banks, drawn the sum from ATMs, he from the bank whose ATM laid a trap near Dr Malmida related to illegal withdrawal of Rs 3.13 crore from the Dumka An offence has been registered that the accused had promised three PAN cards, three said. they had used, following which Road in Agripada in the treasury in 90s to come out of the jail. The septuagenarian RJD against an assistant police to marry her and raped her, the Aadhaar cards, a cheque book, The accused had withdrawn the bank would transfer the early hours of Saturday and supremo was airlifted to AIIMS New Delhi in January last in view of inspector (API) for allegedly official said. Rs 11,500 cash and three cash in 134 transactions amount to their accounts, he caught the accused, who his bad health. raping a colleague on a false An offence has been regis- mobile phones from the between April 2 and 12 from said. was found roaming suspi- promise of marriage in Dongri tered under sections 376 (rape) accused, the official said. different SBI ATMs, he said. The men targeted ATMs ciously in the area," a senior area of south Mumbai, police and 420 (cheating) of the IPC The fraud came to light after The accused would alleged- that gave them an open access police official said. said on Saturday. and relevant provisions of the a manager with the State Bank ly switch off the power of the to power switches, so that The accused, identified BJP urges EC to scan The matter came to light Scheduled Castes and of India (SBI) lodged a com- ATM when the cash came out, when one of them is withdraw- as Danny Amani Emsufu, when the lady officer lodged a Scheduled Tribes (Prevention plaint with the police that while holding it in the tray, they ing the money, another accused is a resident of Kharghar in ‘Mamata audio clip' complaint of rape and cheating of Atrocities) Act, he said, some Axis Bank customers took the money and later could turn off the machine and neighbouring Navi against the accused, who is adding that further probe is were allegedly withdrawing switched on the machine, put it back on again, the offi- Mumbai, he said. BJP delegation posted with a police station in underway. money from SBI ATMs and which would display a failed cial added. Aon Saturday urged Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Ariz Aftab to take note of a Red Fort violence: Court JDS leader purported audio clip Cyber agency cautions -- in which Chief Kumaraswamy Minister Mamata Banerjee is heard grants bail to actor-activist tests Covid+ proposing a rally WhatsApp users with the bodies of PNS n NEW DELHI known public figure with deep Cooch Behar firing victims - as "such a move could lead to more roots in society and such PNS n NEW DELHI tension" in the state amid the ongoing lections.Senior BJP leader A Delhi court has granted bail apprehensions are capable of PNS n NEW DELHI Swapan Dasgupta, who led the delegation to the CEO office here, to actor-activist Deep Sidhu, being allayed by imposing Country's cyber security told reporters that he has apprised Aftab of the conversation that who was arrested in connec- stricter conditions.” Former Karnataka agency CERT-In has cautioned apparently took place between Banerjee and the TMC's Sitalkuchi tion with the Red Fort violence It further said, “It would Chief Minister H D WhatsApp users about certain nominee, and pointed out that it could lead to untoward on Republic Day. violate and infringe the funda- Kumaraswamy on vulnerabilities detected in the situations in the next Special Judge Neelofer mental right to life and liber- Saturday said he has popular instant messaging app Abida Perveen granted relief ty guaranteed to the accused, tested positive for that could lead to breach of to the accused on Friday on a if the accused is denied bail in coronavirus. sensitive information. personal bond of Rs 30,000 the present case on such "I request everyone A "high" severity rating advi- B’day bash turns tragic as 4 and two sureties of a like nature of accusations and who came in close con- sory issued by the CERT-In, or amount. “The prosecution's case material only on the ground tact with me over the the Indian Computer to execute arbitrary code or kids, 2 women drown in dam Sidhu was arrested on rests largely and on the con- that the investigating agency is last few days to isolate Emergency Response Team, access sensitive information on February 9 in connection with tents of video recordings and yet to establish the identity of themselves and get said the vulnerability has been a targeted system," the adviso- birthday celebration the Red Fort violence on footage available and accessi- the several other members of tested," the 61-year- detected in software that has ry issued on Saturday said. Aturned into a tragedy for a Republic Day during a farm- ble to all on social media sites the unlawful assembly.” old JD(S) leader tweet- "WhatsApp and WhatsApp Describing the risk in detail, group of friends as four chil- ers' tractor parade against the in public domain, and there is While granting the bail, the ed. For the last few Business for Android prior to it said that these vulnerabilities dren and two women Centre's three new agriculture therefore a remote possibility judge directed the accused to days, Kumaraswamy v2.21.4.18 and WhatsApp and "exist in WhatsApp applica- drowned in a dam in Igatpuri laws. of the accused-applicant being deposit his passport with the had been campaigning WhatsApp Business for iOS tions due to a cache configu- tehsil of Maharashtra's The court noted that the able to interfere with the con- investigating officer and for the party candi- prior to v2.21.32." ration issue and missing Nashik district, police said on accused was in custody since tent on such platform,” the appear before the police sta- date in Basavakalyan, The CERT-In is the nation- bounds check within the audio Saturday. The incident February 9, 2021, with 14 judge said. tion as well as the court as and which is going to al technology arm to combat decoding pipeline." occurred at Valdevi dam near days of remand in police cus- Rejecting the prosecution's when required. bypoll today. cyber attacks and guarding "Successful exploitation of Vadivarhe village on Friday tody. contention that the accused “He shall not influence, He had got himself the Indian cyber space. these vulnerabilities could evening, they said. "A group of nine friends, mostly minors, had It said that a police plea for might abscond if released on threaten, intimidate witnesses inoculated with the "Multiple vulnerabilities allow the attacker to execute gone to the dam to celebrate the birthday of one of them. While further incarceration for the bail, the court said, “The nor tamper with evidence in first dose of COVID-19 have been reported in arbitrary code or access sensi- clicking a group photo, some of them fell into the dam water. While sole purpose of voice sampling accused as per the own case of any manner whatsoever,” the vaccine on March 23. WhatsApp applications which tive information on a targeted six of them drowned, three others were safe," a police official said. was not justifiable. the prosecution is a well- court said. could allow a remote attacker system," it said. Soni Game (12), whose birthday was being celebrated there by the group, is among the deceased, he said. The other victims were identified as Khushi Maniyar (10), Jyoti Game (16), Himmat Chaudhari (16), Nazia Maniyar |(19) and Aarti Bhalerao (22), police Shortage of hospital Vax helps in reducing severity of Corona said. PNS n NEW DELHI helps you avoid death or other the surge,” he said. Indian serious health harm from the Council for Medical Research Modi pays homage to former beds in Lucknow COVID-19 vaccines do not infection, and it helps reduce (ICMR) Director General stop one from getting infect- the probability you will infect Balram Bhargava earlier this PM Chandrashekhar PNS n LUCKNOW to near 40. It is an alarming ed but instead help in curing someone else. So it is possible month had said that reinfec- sign," the grandson of the the disease faster and reducing to be reinfected, but the harms tion of cases are around one rime Minister Narendra A shortage of hospital beds in woman said. He said another of its severity, said health and of the infection will be lower," per cent. PModi on Saturday paid Lucknow seems to have kept a his relatives has an oxygen development economist he said. "We have studied the data of homage to former prime minis- 65-year-old COVID-19 patient level of 65, but her treatment Professor Anup Malani. The level of reinfection in reinfection cases in India. ter and socialist leader waiting for proper treatment. could not be started as the RT- He also said that reinfection the population depends on Globally, reinfection cases are Chandrasekhar on his birth The family mem- PCR report is awaited. can be one of the reasons Malani said, "I fear this is the the prevalence of the infection around 1 per cent,” he had said. anniversary. Chandrasekhar bers of the woman claimed that A few days ago, there was a behind the recent surge in biggest misunderstanding and the prevalence of immu- India is battling to a mas- was respected across party she could not be admitted to a shortage of oxygen cylinder cases in the country. around India and even in nity, natural or vaccine sive surge in COVID-19 cases. lines for his simplicity and hospital as no beds were avail- supply in a city hospital. Malani, a professor at the other countries today. Previous acquired, Malani said. The number of new coron- commitment to social empowerment, Modi said in a tweet. A tower- able in the capital city of Uttar According to sources in the University of Chicago Law infection and vaccines do not "The level of reinfection is avirus cases hit a record daily ing leader from Uttar Pradesh, Chandrasekhar became the prime Pradesh. hospital, the daily requirement School and the university's stop you from being infected. driven up by more activity high since the outbreak of the minister briefly between 1990-91 after the fall of the V P Singh-led "My grandmother cannot be of oxygen cylinders is around Pritzker School of Medicine, That was never how immuni- (like large gatherings), and pandemic with 2,34,692 new government at the Centre. Born in 1927, he joined the admitted as there is no bed in 60, but only 20 were supplied. has been leading a series of ty worked. Instead, natural down by immunity rates. infections being reported in a Congress in the 1960s, but was jailed during the Emergency for his any hospital in Lucknow. "However, as the issue figured COVID-19 serosurveys in and vaccine-acquired immuni- What may be going on in India span of 24 hours, pushing the trenchant criticism of the Indira Gandhi-led government for clamping Despite calling the helpline in the social media and pres- cities and states across India ty is helpful because it helps is that activity recently nationwide COVID-19 tally to down on civil liberties Chandrasekhar was one of the leading opposi- number, there is no concrete sure was exerted on the suppli- with economic development- you clear the infection faster increased at a faster rate than 1,45,26,609, according to tion leaders who joined hands against the Congress in the 1977 Lok response. The oxygen level, er, the situation improved," he focused think-tank IDFC. once you are infected." immunity. This is the most health ministry data updated Sabha polls after the Emergency was lifted.He passed away in 2007. which was 66, has now dropped said. In an interview with PTI, "This has two benefits – it optimistic interpretation of on Saturday. HYDERABAD | SUNDAY | APRIL 18, 2021 money 06 Case against lockdown: Pharma exports grow FICCI writes to 25 CMs at 18% to 24 bn in ’21 PNS n NEW DELHI Industry body FICCI has writ- ten to Chief Ministers of 25 states urging them to avoid PNS n HYDERABAD tively big as the exports of grow by reducing import imposing partial or total lock- March 2020 was crunched dependence and develop down in the wake of fresh Pharma exports from India due to lockdown across the export potential in the days surge in Covid cases. witnessed over 18 per cent world and supply to come as most of thecoun- The industry body also argued growth to USD 24.44 billion chain disruption, he was tries are looking at India for that the economy has barely during the last financial year quoted as saying. APIs ( active pharmaceutical begun to turnaround from the against USD 20.58 billion in When the global pharma ingredient) he said. impact of the earlier lock- FY20, Pharmaceuticals market is negatively grown North America is the downs and such decisions now Export Promotion Council by 1-2 per cent in 2020, largest exporting region for will push the push the econo- of India (Pharmexcil) said on there is a big surge in Indian pharmaceuticals with my into downward spiral. Saturday. demand for Indian made more than 34 per cent share. In the letter written to state schools, colleges and the ward for vaccination and build "We have observed a big generics owing to its quality Country wise exports to CMs by FICCI President Uday NGOs. Strict compliance to capacities with the help of leap in our exports in the and affordability, the official the US, Canada and Mexico Shankar, the chamber has Covid protocol may be private sector for the expected month of March 2021 which said adding Drug formula- have recorded a growth of acknowledged the need to ensured with suitable penalties jump in inoculation, FICCI has is USD 2.3 billion (figures for tions and Biologicals is the 12.6, 30 and 21.4 per cent break the Covid chain but has for violations," the letter states. urged states. March are provisional) and is second largest Principal respectively. suggested the strategy to focus FICCI has represented to the Vaccination camps in the highest among the exports of commodity being exported South Africa being the more on ramping up covid Union Government to open up colonies and societies with all the months of this finan- by India. second largest exporting testing, awareness drive and the vaccination for all the peo- the help of Resident Welfare cial year, the growth rate for The Pharma exports body country, enforcement of Covid appro- ple above 18 years of age to Associations (RWAs) will also this monthis 48.5 per cent is expecting big growth in recorded a big jump of 28 priate behaviour rather than give a massive push to the vac- help push the vaccination against the exports in March Indian vaccine exports in per cent growth while lockdown. cination drive as there is no drive, the letter added. 2020 (USD 1.54billion)," the coming years and the Europe was the third largest "The population may be shortage of vaccines and the The letter has been written Udaya Bhaskar, Director government policy on PLI exporting region which has sensitised about the Covid inoculation capacity can be to CMs of 25 states and UTs General of Pharmexcil saidin (production Linked recorded approximately 11 appropriate behaviour like increased with the participa- including Delhi, Goa, a release. Incentive) scheme will also per cent growth over previ- wearing masks, physical dis- tion of the private sector. Puducherry, West Bengal, Growth rate seems rela- help the domestic pharma to ous year. tancing and personal hygiene. The state government will Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Support may be taken by have to play a major role to Haryana, J&K, Odisha, Kerala, involving volunteers from the encourage people to come for- Gujarat, Assam, Tamil Nadu.

Prepare for third wave: Operating margins of sugar firms Skye Air names MONEY MATTERS Thackeray to India Inc ex-IAF official Mindtree reports robust revenue PNS n NEW DELHI with some of the leading business expected to moderate in '22: ICRA S Vijay as COO houses and corporate groups. growth of 5.2% q-o-q in USD Warning of a possible "third Health Secretary Dr. Pradeep PNS n NEW DELHI PNS n MUMBAI wave of Covid-19", Maharashtra Vyas said that the state is conduct- indtree, a global Chief Minister Uddhav ing 3-lakh tests per million pop- The operating margins of Drone technology deliv- Mtechnology services and Thackeray on Saturday appealed ulation and though the death rate sugar companies are likely to ery platform Skye Air digital transformation to India Inc. to make all-out is low, the infections are very high. moderate in FY22 due to high- Mobility on Friday said it company guiding its clients preparations to counter it right He requested the industries to er production cost and reduced has appointed former to achieve faster business now and ensure it doesn't hit the start setting up small oxygen export subsidy, ratings agency IAF official S Vijay as its outcomes, announced its state's industry and plants in their premises to absorb ICRA said in a statement. chief operating officer consolidated results today economy.Urging the corporate natural oxygen based on new Besides, benefits from around 4.2 million MT. and the remunerative pricing (COO). for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2021, as approved by its board houses and industrialists to col- technologies and provide the improved distillery perfor- ICRA expects sugar exports of ethanol is expected to result Bringing on board of directors. "We are proud to deliver another strong quarter, driven by laborate with the state govern- entire production (oxygen) for mance was also cited by the at around 5.5 million MT sup- in an improved distillery per- Wing Commander (retd) significant traction in our client portfolio globally, leading to revenue ment to combat the current and medical purposes. The meeting agency as a factor that might ported by the export policy formance in FY2022," said S Vijay will help the com- growth of 5.2%, EBITDA of 21.9%, and an order book of $375 M at the upcoming crises, Thackeray said with Thackeray was attended by moderate operating margins. and the closing stocks are like- Sabyasachi Majumdar, Senior pany accelerate its ambi- end of Q4. Our journey of profitable growth and seamless delivery India Inc. could contribute imme- leading India Inc. players like "In the medium term, the ly to remain higher than nor- Vice President & Group Head, tious plans of starting during the pandemic year has been made possible by the resilience of diately by setting up Covid care Niranjan Hiranandani, Uday government support measures mative sugar stock levels of 6- ICRA. drone deliveries in the Mindtree Minds, the commitment of our leadership team, and above all, facilities on their plants and Kotak, Deepak Mukhi, Harsh for higher diversion of sugar 6.5 million MT at around 9.5 "This is likely to be offset by domestic market, the the continued support of our clients," said Debashis Chatterjee, Chief premises and plans 'Covid-com- Goenka, Naushad Forbes, Sulajja for ethanol production would million MT for SY2021 season. the higher cane costs in FRP- firm said in a statement. Executive Officer and Managing Director, Mindtree. "The final dividend of patible workplaces' for the Firodia, Sameer Somaiya, S. N. reduce the sugar surplus and However, the stocks are based states, the lower recov- It added that his rich ?17.5 per share announced today reinforces Mindtree's commitment to future."Presently, the state is in dire Subramanian, Salil Parekh, Neel support in improving the expected to be lower than the ery rates in UP in SY2021 experience in the field of enhance shareholder value. For the year, we delivered revenues of need of oxygen, and currently the Raheja, Sanjeev Bajaj, Anant demand supply dynamics of previous season at around 11.0 (despite SAP being retained at drone technology will $1,076.5 M and margin expansion of 680 bps, while increasing our entire production is being utilised Goenka, Baba Kalyani, Anant the industry on a sustainable million MT. "Given the sugar previous year levels) resulting provide strategic leader- order book by 12.3%. As we enter FY22, we are confident that continued for medical purposes. Given the Singhania, B. Thagarajan, basis," ICRA said. surplus scenario in the domes- in higher cost of production ship to Skye Air Mobility client demand for our transformative services, a strong order book, and number of new patients coming Banamali Agarwal, Ashwin Yardi, As per the agency, domestic tic market, any significant and the decline in the export as the company eyes our strategic investments position us well to deliver double digit growth up daily (around 60K daily), we Sunil Mathur, Sanjeev Singh, sugar production is expected to increase in the sugar prices is subsidy by 44 per cent Y-o-Y overseas growth oppor- and sustain EBITDA above 20%." need a lot more oxygen for which Ashish Agarwal, representatives increase by 10 per cent to 30.2 ruled out in the near term. and result in moderation of tunities in the drone the industries can help out," of FICCI, CII and others indus- million MT in SY2021 and However, the higher diver- operating margins for sugar segment. Thackeray said, in an interaction try bodies. outstrip consumption by sion of sugar towards ethanol companies in FY2022." HDFC posts 16 pc rise in Q4 net profit at Rs 8,434 crore SpaceX wins $2.9 bn NASA JACK&JONES DPIIT notifies DFC Bank on HSaturday reported a takes you 15.8 per cent rise in its consolidated net profit at contract to build moon lander down memory PLI scheme for Rs 8,434 crore for the quarter ended March PNS n NEW YORK lane with the 2021. The private sector ACs, LED lights lender had registered a NASA has picked Elon net profit of Rs 7,280 Musk's SpaceX to develop the PAC-MAN PNS n NEW DELHI crore in the first commercial lander and PNS n MUMBAI corresponding quarter a take the next two US astro- The department for promo- year ago. "Consolidated nauts to the moon, the US JACK&JONES has time tion of industry and internal advances grew by 13.6 per cent from Rs 10,43,671 crore as on space agency said on Friday. and again enthralled trade (DPIIT) has notified March 31, 2020 to Rs 11,85,284 crore as on March 31, 2021," HDFC The contract is worth $2.9 with its quirky collec- the PLI scheme for ACs and Bank said in a regulatory filing. The consolidated net profit for the billion and is part of NASA's tions, making a mark in LED lights and said that selec- year ended March 2021 was Rs 31,833 crore, up 16.8 per cent over Artemis programme, which the fashion fraternity. tion of companies to avail the the previous fiscal year. Total income (consolidated) increased to Rs aims to return astronauts to the Keeping up with the tra- incentives would done to sup- 40,909.49 crore for the January-March quarter of FY 2020-21 from moon by 2024 as a stepping dition, JACK&JONES port manufacturing of compo- lay of Rs 6,238 crore. It will be Rs 38,287.17 crore in the year-ago period. The full-year income stone to the first human mis- moonwalks, NASA said. explore the lunar surface for announces the most nents which are not made in implemented over 2021-22 to (consolidated) in 2020-21 rose to Rs 1,55,885.28 crore from Rs sion to Mars, DPA news The goal is to eventually around a week before return- awaited collaboration India presently. 2028-29. 1,47,068.28 crore in the preceding year. On the asset front, the bank's agency reported. SpaceX had develop a fully reusable launch ing to Earth. with PAC-MAN. It said that mere assembly of According to the notifica- gross non-performing assets as of March 31, 2021 stood at 1.32 per been competing against and landing system that can be They will be the first people JACK&JONES finished goods would not be tion of the DPIIT, the cent of the gross advances, slightly up from 1.26 per cent in the year- Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' used for space travel to desti- to walk on the moon for more launches a limited edi- incentivised and companies Empowered Group of ago period. In absolute value, the gross advances were worth Rs private space company Blue nations including the moon than 50 years. At least one of tion collection with investing in basic/core compo- Secretaries chaired by Cabinet 15,086 crore at the end of FY21, down from Rs 12,649.97 crore. Net Origin and defence contractor and Mars. The mission will see the two will be a woman. PAC-MAN. This special nents would get a higher pri- Secretary will monitor the NPAs were 0.40 per cent (Rs 4,554.82 crore) as against 0.36 per cent Dynetics. Musk tweeted four astronauts launched on NASA also aims to bring the collection comprises of a ority. PLI scheme, undertake peri- (Rs 3,542.36. Provisions for bad loans and contingencies were "NASA Rules!!" in response to NASA's Orion spacecraft into first person of colour to the range of uber-cool print- Earlier this month, the gov- odic review of the outgo under raised to Rs 4,693.70 crore for the reported quarter from Rs 3,784.49 the decision. lunar orbit, where two of them moon's surface as part of the ed tee-shirts that show- ernment approved a produc- the scheme, ensure uniformi- crore parked aside in the year-ago period. "The bank also continues to The SpaceX Starship, which will transfer to the SpaceX Artemis programme. case different elements of tion linked incentive (PLI) ty of all PLIs and take appro- hold provisions as on March 31, 2021 against the potential impact of is designed to land on the human landing system for he US brought 12 astronauts the game, right from the scheme for white goods - Air priate action to ensure that the Covid-19 based on the information available at this point in time and moon, will include a spacious their final journey to the to the moon between 1969 and PAC-MAN logo to the Conditioners (ACs) and LED expenditure is within the pre- the same are in excess of the RBI prescribed norms," HDFC Bank cabin and two airlocks for moon.The two astronauts will 1972. flashing ghosts. Lights - with a budgetary out- scribed outlay. said. The bank held floating provisions of Rs 1,451 crore and contingent provisions of Rs 5,861 as on March 31, 2021. US lawmakers welcome India's move Glenmark Pharma arm files to increase FDI in insurance to 74 pc papers for IPO with Sebi PNS n WASHINGTON India trade and investment ties at a critical moment for lenmark Two influential US lawmakers bilateral relations. GPharmaceuticals ICICI Lombard Q4 profit have applauded the Indian “Considering these bene- on Saturday said its government's move to increase fits, we urge you to take all wholly-owned arm foreign direct investment in the available steps to ensure that Glenmark Life rises 23% at Rs 346 cr insurance sector from the exist- this reform is expeditiously Sciences has filed ing 49 per cent to 74 per cent, implemented law without preliminary papers PNS n NEW DELHI Lombard said in a statement. saying it will further deepen requirements that would for an initial public For the full year 2020-21, the bilateral trade and investment. undermine its efficacy and its offer with market ICICI Lombard General profit after tax or net profit India's Parliament last consistency with internation- regulator Sebi. Insurance Company on increased 23.4 per cent to Rs month passed the Insurance al norms,” the two lawmakers Glenmark Life Saturday reported 23 per cent 1,473 crore from Rs 1,194 crore Amendment Bill 2021 to said in their letter to Sandhu. Sciences has filed a rise in net profit at Rs 346 crore in the preceding fiscal year. increase the foreign direct ing insurance coverage for Ambassador to the US, Taranjit According to Berman and Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with the Securities and for March quarter 2020-21. GDPI of the company stood investment (FDI) limit in the Indian consumers and busi- Singh Sandhu, the two law- Chabot, given the opportuni- Exchange Board of India (Sebi) for an initial public offer, according The non-life insurer had at Rs 14,003 crore in last fiscal insurance sector. “We are very nesses, promoting both finan- makers said that such a move ty to increase their invest- to a regulatory filing. The offer comprises fresh issue of up to Rs posted a net profit of Rs 282 year as compared to Rs 13,313 encouraged by the inclusion of cial inclusion and economic proposed in the recent annu- ments in the Indian market, US 1,160 crore and an offer for sale of up to 73,05,245 equity shares crore in the corresponding crore in 2019-20, it said. a proposal to raise the limit on resilience in India,” they said. al budget would also increase insurers will be able to expand of Rs 2 each of Glenmark Life Sciences Ltd, by Glenmark period of 2019-20. "Solvency ratio was 2.90x at foreign direct investment in the Sherman is the Democratic the availability of capital to sup- their offerings of innovative, Pharmaceuticals Ltd, the filing said. The board of directors of The gross direct premium March 31, 2021 as against 2.76x Indian Insurance sector from Co-Chair of the House Caucus port India's ambitious infra- competitively priced insurance Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd during its meeting on April 16 income (GDPI) of the compa- at December 31, 2020 and 49 per cent to 74 per cent," on India and Indian structure goals. products - serving existing approved the offer for sale of up to 73,05,245 equity shares of Rs ny stood at Rs 3,478 crore in the higher than the minimum reg- Congressman Brad Sherman Americans. Chabot is the Finally, in addition to demand and stimulating new 2 apiece as part of the IPO. The IPO will be subject to market quarter under review as com- ulatory requirement of 1.50x. and Steve Chabot said. Republican Co-Chair of the advancing Indian economic demand - and thereby help conditions, receipt of applicable approvals and other pared to Rs 3,181 crore in the Solvency ratio was 2.17x at "This long-awaited reform Caucus. development, this reform improve Indian public safety, considerations, the filing said. year-ago period, ICICI March 31, 2020," it said. holds the promise of expand- In a letter to the Indian would further deepen US- health, and security. sunday magazine HYDERABAD, April 18, 2021

I personally think that if you deny something or if you hide something you're inadvertently admitting it's wrong — Amber Heard FROM THE INSIDE Lokas 2: What Exists Above virus gets younger To move from the Bhulok to Bhuvalok Alarm bells have reached a fever pitch (Astral Plan), from Tamas to more Rajas, with more and more COVID-19 cases being we need to work on controlling our senses 8 9 reported in the younger segment

TELLING THE TALE OF HERITAGE Stories are an excellent mode of keeping the history of heritage alive, writes SUTAPA BASU, as she shares her impressions on the importance of making heritage a part of contemporary storytelling

tories have disseminated consciousness of describes in great detail how a 12th century my historical fiction books, I create the historical our past cultures since times immemori- cathedral is built. He makes a tale of its unusual MEANS OF TRANSPORT period through visual pen pictures of the dress, al. Whether through cave paintings or architecture, politics and weaves civil war, famine Read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and cuisine and traditions of the period and place. In oral narrations, the earliest mode of pass- and religious strife around it. we find out about chaises, stagecoaches, barouch- The Curse of Nader Shah, I have exposed Nader ing traditions, history, customs, and ritu- Bimal Mitra’s Bengali novel Saheb, Bibi, es, phaetons, and curricles. What about 20,000 Shah’s obsession with the colour red on his gar- Sals through generations has been only through Golam made into the famous film, Sahib, Bibi Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne to know ments and his creation of the four-cornered hat, storytelling. Before written language was discov- Aur Ghulam is set in a zamindari mansion that about submarines or fictional wonder vehicles the kulah-e-naderi. In The Legend of Genghis ered, even certain work skills were passed from resonates with the culture of the period. His such as the muggle car from the Harry Potter Khan, I have described the wide range of knives father to son through stories. The reason is sim- entire story is about the feudal and patriarchal series? that the Mongols always carried on their belts ple, anything woven into a story is unforgettable. traditions which emanate from the mansion. Pather Panchali by written by and their varied purpose. Padmavati has numer- Storytelling is a powerful tool that has mas- Another story like that is Shatranj Ke Khilari Bibhutibhushan Bandhopadhya and put on cellu- ous regional words sprinkled across the story for sive lasting impact. When we listen to stories or about the nawabi culture that has been filmed in loid by Satyajit Ray shows its protagonist’s obses- the sake of authenticity. read them, they boost our feelings of trust, com- the old palaces of Lucknow. sion with the train that passes his village. Since My latest book, The Cursed Inheritance focus- passion, empathy and positively influence our his only travel experience had been on a bullock es on the city of Kolkata and its cultural nuances. social behaviour. Storytelling has a unique ability CUISINE cart, the speeding train enthralled him. The zamindari mansions that dot the city to build connections. When we hear a well-told An amazing story that revolves around food, inspired the setting of this cozy mystery inside a story, your brain reacts as if we are experiencing its concoction, history and influence is Like TRADITIONS dilapidated yet grand mansion of Kolkata, called it ourselves. We respond to stories because they Water For Chocolate by Laura Esquivel. Tita, the Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is a wonderful Sarkar Bari. I describe egg concoctions being cultivate a sense of togetherness. Thus, stories tragic protagonist of the story, is only able to cameo on the traditional Christmas spirit. cooked that are special to Kolkata as well as a that tell us about our past or what we have inher- express herself when she cooks. The chapters Similarly, Sense and Sensibility by Austen profiles coal stove built inside an iron pail, a common ited from our ancestors make us feel, we are part even carry recipes. They fascinated me and I even the Victorian custom of older men marrying cooking implement in Bengal. of something bigger than ourselves. cooked some of them. The stories about food young girls. Emily Bronte’s novel Wuthering Kolkata is one of few cities which still has the gave me a wonderful view of regional cuisine. Heights is all about how social class creates con- hand-pulled rickshaws. Mentioned numerous WHAT IS HERITAGE? Another book that has enamoured me is The flicts among its characters. times in my new book, is Kolkata’s iconic vehicle Heritage is the complete scope of inherited Flavour of Spice by Marryam H Reshi that glori- Khushwant Singh’s Train to Pakistan, Jhumpa though the protagonist also empathises with the traditions, monuments, objects, and culture. ously celebrates spices. Reading her book, I Lahiri’s Namesake and The Lowlands are excellent emaciated pullers and their livelihoods. I have Most significantly, it is the range of contemporary embarked upon a delightful foray into the her- profiles of traditions and rituals in different parts chronicled the tradition of celebrating the festival activities, meanings, and behaviour that we draw itage of Indian cooking as she traces history of of India. Arvind Adiga’s The White Tiger gives of Durga Puja in the mansions of old zamindari from them. Heritage includes, but is much more spices as far back as possible. insights into class disparities of an India of a families in this novel. Belief in tantric practices than just preserving, excavating, displaying, or decade ago. Chitra Divakaruni’s Palace of Illusions and demons as guardians of treasures is one the restoring a collection of old things. WAY OF LIFE takes the reader back to the rituals of the regional features of rural Bengal which has been Heritage is tangible as well as intangible. Reading Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mahabharata period of Indian history while exploited to the hilt. Monuments, artifacts, books, archived records of Mitchell gives the reader an excellent insight into Before We Visit the Goddess is about multi-gener- Stories, narratives, and storytelling are central events are tangible while traditions, lifestyles and lifestyles, dresses, social customs and attitudes WE RESPOND TO ational bonds, that rise from the countryside of aspects of all cultures and thus, a part of heritage. mannerisms are some of the intangible elements prevalent in southern parts of USA during the STORIES BECAUSE Bengal, India and sweep into the streets of For the storytelling to become an effective propa- that we inherit. We can explore heritage through American Civil War in the 1800s. The book has THEY CULTIVATE A Houston, Texas. gator of cultural history, it must engage the listen- excavations, conservation, restoration and display become a reference point for scholars of that SENSE OF er or reader, and provide a narrative that is both of concrete objects. However, history of songs, period. NUANCES OF LANGUAGE cognitively and emotionally compelling. People recipes, cuisine, nuances of language, dances, Vikram Seth’s novel A Suitable Boy brings us TOGETHERNESS. Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer are natural storytellers. They tell narratives about dress and other conventions of legacy need to be the perfume of courtesans and old-world charm THUS, STORIES is a wonderful study of the use of dialect by dif- their experiences and the meanings that these perceived and appreciated. An excellent mode of of the pre-independence period. It gives us a THAT TELL US ferent social classes in nineteenth century experiences have in their lives. All cultures and keeping the history of heritage alive, generation peep into lifestyles, notions and sentiments of a ABOUT OUR PAST America. In fact, introducing dialect into literary societies also possess their own stories or narra- after generation, is through stories. For what is bygone culture. writing goes back to Chaucer. Non-standard tives about their past and their present, and history but story telling? OR WHAT WE HAVE spellings and slang are used often in literature to sometimes about their view of the future. The Let’s see how some of the palpable as well as DRESS INHERITED FROM delineate characters and give them identity. memories and retelling of the past provide a abstract elements of heritage have benefited Dramas written by playwrights such as OUR ANCESTORS Evolving language is one of true measures of sense of security in an uncertain world. Stories, through telling stories. Shakespeare, Kalidas or Anton Chekov, when heritage. Do you remember Eliza Doolittle in both written and verbal, are veritable source for staged, are a feast for costume designers. They MAKE US FEEL, WE George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion? If only learn- this history. ARCHITECTURE display the fashions worn during a specific peri- ARE PART OF ing the correct dialect could make a flower girl Stories are a thread of timelessness that runs Old forts and castles, mansions and monu- od in a certain parts of the world where the dra- SOMETHING into a lady of consequence, how important can through a rapidly changing environment. Hence, ments are natural source for stories, myths, and mas are set. However, stories are created not only BIGGER THAN language be in the reconstruction of society? stories revolving around heritage bring a special tales. When I visited Chittorgarh fort, one of the by writers but are also told by raconteurs. Ruskin Bond often uses regional nuances and sense of belonging and of continuity. It reduces myths I heard was about how the religious fer- When the Ramcharitra Manas or Meghdoot OURSELVES dialect to create atmosphere and build his charac- global conflict and brings empathy for co-exis- vour of Meera Bai, the Princess of Mewar, had is recited there are vivid descriptions of garments, ters. Many of his stories are set in the terai of the tence. All said and done, storytelling is one of the kept intact her chamber in the huge palace headdresses and weapons which make them Himalayas and his villagers often use words in dominant means of preserving heritage and pass- though the rest of the royal residence had been come alive through mental visuals for the listen- their own dialect in dialogues. ing down of values and traditions that make the flattened. Obviously, I went back and read up ers. History and heritage of dresses come alive With such eminent authors to light up my global social fabric stronger. everything available about the history of the only through these descriptions. We can then path, I have included many features of heritage in The writer is an author and poet. Her book, palace and fort. I discovered more such myths. compare them and find out what of that heritage my books to build ambience, build characters The Cursed Inheritance, has In The Pillars of the Earth, author Ken Follet still remains in our fashions today. and bring authenticity to my storytelling. In all been recently published sunday magazine THAT MAN HAS REACHED IMMORTALITY WHO IS DISTURBED BY NOTHING MATERIAL spirituality 8 — SWAMI VIVEKANANDA HYDERABAD, April 18, 2021

HIDDENSOULS LOKAS 2: WHAT EXISTS ABOVE PRAMOD PATHAK In order to move from the Bhulok to Bhuvalok (Astral Plan), from Tamas to more Rajas, we need to work on controlling our senses, writes HINGORI

or the ‘Maharlok’ which lies beyond the ‘Dhurv Tara’ or the Pole star. Mahar is the land of the wise and bal- anced with qualities of selfless service, compassion and self-love. However, inactivity and observer capability is still one loka away. Birth on Earth Corona: Fear comes as teachers, reformers, saintly people, healers etc. Karmas are not doable at the level of these higher lokas. When one is the key qualifies beyond devotion and beliefs and attains the status of knowing or s the second round of Corona scare grips the world Gyan, one becomes an invited resident as many had predicted, mass hysteria of gargantuan of the ‘Janalok’. In the microcosm, this Aproportions seems to be building up again. loka is at the level of the Vishudhi Psychologists may call this reaction a paranoia that seems Chakra. One needs to be a sincere to affect large sections of the people all over the world. And practitioner of spirituality and dispas- Corona is not the only worry. US is worried about the gun sion to qualify for a seat here. Till you purchases reaching alarming levels as a sizeable section of harbour emotions, don’t attain Gyan Asian Americans are in some kind of an insecurity syndrome. or intuitive knowledge, you can read Worry and fear are all at the top of the mind as death seems about this loka but not live here. The to be lurking round the corner. The situation is eerily sim- senses especially the sense of sound ilar to the Corona scare round 1 suggesting that experience and hearing needs to be history at this is not always a good teacher. Rather, it accentuates the past point. behaviour many times over. Against this backdrop, we once When self-respect turns to self- again need to ask the same questions that were raised dur- reverence, when one feels the justifi- ing the previous round. The responses are of the same trial cation of self-worship, one takes and error nature. To add to the woes some new questions birth, if and when one needs, on have cropped up. Is this a different Corona? Does the vac- Bhulok as a spiritual leader and an cine has the answer? Difficult to say but history seems to be aspirant to a higher loka. When repeating itself. As the scare mounts and the toll counts rise Duality becomes an amalgam and to alarming levels, there is a need to have a relook at the entire wisdom hands the baton to observer- scenario and examine things in totality. And things may not ship or Sakshibhav, one gets catapult- appear to be as simple as they look. Yes, it has impacted lives, ed to the ‘Tapalok’. This is the loka of ruined families and caused death and destruction of enor- Divya Bhakti and reflection of oneself mous proportions. Yes, it has shattered economies and as divinity. You cease to be judgemen- crashed GDPs. But there is another side of the story. It has tal and identify as one with the uni- raised the number of billionaires in both developed and devel- t is believed that it is only when I have in the vision state visited a Remember this is a world ruled versal consciousness. As this is a place oping countries and there are some in the queue to gradu- you have suffered enough and few lokas but never connected the dots and perceived by senses. Our senses of the third eye in the body, one has ate to the trillionaire status. It has pushed the growth of e- built a resolve to change, do you and never pondered on the subject. do not offer us more than 5% to 10% started the journey to shift con- commerce companies astronomically while online platforms set an opportunity to get birth Unfortunately my experience was of reality. Between the Bhuvarlok and sciousness. rose in geometric proportions. Investors now realise that on the Bhulok or Earth. This is limited and though theory not my the Swalok or Swarg, the difference is There are 3 centres between the putting money in Pharma stocks yields big dividends, and Isupposed to be true for most of the normal choice, but in this case I had quite huge. Tapalok and the Satyalok. Above the rather fast, even though there is no sure medicine in sight. lokas and for movement from one to to resort to borrowing a few pages At the Bhuvarlok, we have a Ajna Chakra are 3 chakras including It also threw quacks and charlatans in thousands sermon- the other, either upwards or down- from the ancients and so these IT IS BELIEVED THAT slightly different set of off loads the Sahasra, the location for final ising on dos and don’ts on the social media. YouTube has wards. Only the Earth dimension pro- thoughts are a mixture of my realisa- ABOVE THE because this is a loka of intellect, mem- emancipation. become the most handy tool for the propaganda brigade who vides the infrastructure for the rele- tions combined with those of others. ory, relationships, heroic attitudes, and It is believed that above the are delivering unsubstantiated pearls of wisdom almost at vant criss-cross Visas. This is the Before we come to our own to do SATYALOK ARE LOKAS emotions. On the other hand it is also Satyalok are lokas like Vaikunth, the same pace as the speed of the spread of the virus. Quite Karma loka, where there is opportu- list, let us look at the ladders that stand LIKE VAIKUNTH, a loka of attainment. Goloka, Shivalok etc. It is possible that interestingly the biological virus seems to have acquired traits nity to go against your nature and parallel to the snake. What are the And then Swarlok is a place the Bhramlok and these are parallel of computer virus. So we are told that this time the vaccine qualify for the better. higher lokas? What qualifications are GOLOKA, SHIVALOK where you can spend your cosmic cur- and variable due to the inherent provides immunity for some months rather than a lifetime, Higher loka beings descend required? What can we do to get high- rency earned and stored. It is a place nature the being has evolved into. as it used to be earlier. The connection between computer downwards often to fulfil their own er on the ladders? ETC. IT IS POSSIBLE of immense pleasure and beauty. Gurudev once shared with me in and Corona seems interesting as there is an uncanny rela- completions and final attainments. Let us imagine ourselves standing THAT THE BHRAMLOK Seva leads to Swarg or beyond. It’s a confidence that when we die in our tionship between people having stakes in computers and Many gurus are obligated to take the at a mid-landing of a staircase. place where spiritual understanding afterlife, we have to first pass through Pharma. It is not just the medical angle. An interesting aspect rebirth to uplift their disciples and Climbing is greater effort and needs AND THESE ARE and aspirations begin. People learn the Dhruv Tara or the pole star to get is that one voice of dissent on the social media meets with help them gain completion. They do agility. For those who like to sound PARALLEL AND detachment and how to focus on the to where we belong. He also men- systemic campaign from troll brigade that makes sure that so to manipulate a change in their profound call it Purusharth. purpose of the self. They also prepare tioned that we come across crossroads, such voices are lost in the din. That apart, there are many gunas through example setting, moti- Technically, you cannot climb up the VARIABLE DUE TO for rebirth on Bhulok when spiritual and at these crossroads, one side has intriguing aspects to ponder. But we must understand that vation, counselling and sharing their ladder to higher lokas, you need to THE INHERENT assets dwindle. They get born as very bare looking places, while the while exercising utmost caution helps us, getting scared helps gyan. float up. kings and queens or administrators other has very aesthetically lovely others who have something to gain from our fear. Fear is a The latest and one of the greatest In order to move from the Bhulok NATURE THE BEING and dominating personalities maybe looking places. And he warned that big industry these days and marketing negativities pushes was the Mahaguru whose Karma or Earth plane to ‘Bhuvalok’ or ‘Astral HAS EVOLVED INTO as celebrities as well. If they are phil- the bare ones are the higher ones, and demand of goods and services that are often not required. Bhumi was Gurgaon and afterlife Plane’ or from the Mooladhara Chakra anthropic and kind, they retain their we should avoid getting stuck due to Making a fast buck is seldom done through fair business. headquarters is Najafgarh. While to the Swadishthan Chakra, from the loka status. If not they catch a snake our sense of sight. As Mario Puzo wrote in The Godfather — Behind every great most prophets came with a small con- Earth element to the water element, ride. If they are those who out do So choose wisely in this life and fortune there is a crime. Corona is certainly bad, but cash- tingent of a few, he brought along hun- from the predominantly Tamas to expectations, the ethereal ladder in your afterlife. ing in on Corona is rather worse. dreds of beings from higher lokas to more Rajas we need to work on con- appears and the ascent is in order. The writer is the author of Hingori Sutras Pathak is a professor of management, writer, and an acclaimed accomplish his mission. trolling our senses. The ascent is to the Anahta chakra series of spiritual books public speaker. He can be reached at [email protected] IN KRISHNA’S LOVE We are programmed Each one of us, whether in heart or mind, is trying to fill the void The programming of fear, or that God is not there to protect us, with energy. In my case, it is Krishna energy, says RAJIV KAPOOR can be changed through faith, writes AJIT KUMAR BISHNOI n the hollow emptiness within, a dark e, human beings, are pro- passage to seemingly nowhere, I search grammed to fear. Why blame Ifor myself, or perhaps dismiss myself in WGod for this? What do we do the perfect burial ground that one’s con- with our children? We instil discipline sciousness could serve. The more inward I in them by scaring them. This process look, the more beyond me the vision wants of scaring into submission is reinforced to travel. Whereto, if not Krishna’s feet or throughout one’s life. If a growing child the sound of His Flute that beckons many is not paying proper attention to his hearts. The outcome is peace when I tread studies, his parents may paint a very with faith, and frustration when I digress to dark picture of his future. Then, there alleys not in His name. That alternating is law to be afraid of for everyone. As peace and frustration is because I am a result, we are all insecure without human. In that lies both my hope and dis- exception. The thought of insecurity appointment. comes regularly, which makes us care- Why Krishna, and not simply empti- ful, cautious and fearful. ness? Buddhist proponents may argue. Or, In short, we are programmed to be another name to fill the void such as Jesus insecure. How else can a world with its or Mohammed, that few minority religious seven billions plus population coexist? minds in India might be provoked to ask. In This is the cosmic design, which is to raising those questions, the adult mind stop us from acting irresponsibly by remains minor. For all of us, whether in being fearful. Unknowingly, we con- them. The demonic try to cause harm people are assured of not ending up your heart or mine, are trying to fill the ceived from His Flute. “Climbing shall not end. Know this, tribute to instil fear in others. to the world by their cruel acts. (16.9) badly (6.40) or never perishing. (9.31) void with energy. In my case, it is Krishna Indeed, from atop that peak, one of love that with every step of yours howsoever This is not all, we are also pro- Those with divine endowments are cru- So what did we learn? That the pro- energy. The big personal journey inside and not marriage, I saw Krishna more rele- made, I will make one towards you.” grammed to think that in spite of all the cial for the proper functioning of the gramming of being fearful or having the would be best served without the myopic vant. So, I decided to talk to Him through Replied the Master. talk about God, if He exists at all, will world. That is why God and His divine feeling that God will not protect does lens of religion, and instead with an intu- my writings, in a more inspired version of In that leap of faith I continued. The not protect us. What good is God to us establishment favour them. There are not have to be permanently inched into itive eye of the seeker. It is in Krishna con- myself and in His own language of creation. only glimmer of light in the dark passage if, He will not protect us. Is our secu- three categories of such divine souls. us, it can be changed. However, there sciousness that this pen flows. In humility, I called my spirit to drop ink on within. The light of Krishna energy, that I rity not a major concern for us. This The first one consists of just good peo- are conditions, as mentioned earlier. If “Among the mountains, I am the paper floor. Then, with abandon, I danced nurtured from emptiness, dropping off all feeling is a big factor in people not hav- ple, who do mostly good acts not want- we have qualified, then, we need not be Himalayas.” said He. upon it. Krishna must be merry in the heav- that was useless in the climb towards the ing faith in God. On the other hand, we ing to harm anyone. so fearful or anxious; we can come to We are all trying to climb successive ens too. next peak. are told that God will punish us if we The next or higher lot is of good the level of being cautious, careful, etc., peaks that we see. Any relative comparison As I wrote in my book, Conversations I conjured up Krishna’s idol of white, stray, though this is factually incorrect, people, who also do public service. For which is necessary for our own good. among the peers is useless. Glorious peaks With My Love: Creativity is God. In it, we spotless marble. Ganges flowed down His because giving punishment is done by this reason, God does intervene in their This is when peace descends. One for a few could be futile plateaus for others. find ourselves; His scheme, how he fulfills; entire length and out through the door that divine authorities, based on our cases by protecting them by extricating knows in his heart that he is never alone Within us those subjectively defined heights Promises He makes, Ours’ that He keeps; my soul had opened. “It is my birthday, bad/sinful acts. God stays away from them from harmful situations, caused and helpless; God is with Him. (6.7) He are measured and more importantly, a Many through progeny, follow the creative mate,” said He, “of your Venusian heart, tell such administration of justice except in by their bad acts done earlier. enjoys God’s protection. God is real; He climbing process where life is felt and lived. path; I found other way, I came to write. me which void shall I fill?” rare cases like that of Ravana. At that Remember, these souls must have is no longer a figment of imagination. I saw the peak of a woman, and in her Another peak climbed, and yet not high My Lord, in your presence, and when time, God chooses to perform many erred like the rest of us human beings. Every time a fearful thought comes true love, my elixir. The energy that flows enough. Krishna was not always there to your eyes meet mine, there is no void any- functions like re-establishing dharma. God has to help out; He does. God does in the mind then one thinks that he is in true love is the same, whether it is for keep me drowned or submerged in Him. He more. The ocean fills all empty spaces. Only (Bhagavad Gita 4.7) This programming much more for His devotees — the not alone; God is with him; He will pro- God or a person. If I could not be con- had not yet granted me that fortune. depths remain unexplored, now that I have is also part of the cosmic design. highest category He puts them in the tect. Gradually, the earlier program- sciously in God’s love round the clock, then “Krishna, wither those clouds, that hide taken the dive. Call the mermaid with Your There are two kinds of people in “yogakshemam” group — (9.22). God ming will change from negative to pos- I needed her love. May be, through her love the next peak, and not my limbs,” said I, Flute and ask her to pull me deeper. the world — those born with predom- helps in getting what one does not have itive and life will be much better. only, could I hope to reach the higher and continued, “before I leave my pot of The writer is the author of book, inantly divine and demonic qualities. and provides security of what one has. Bishnoi is a spiritual writer and can be reached realms in my spiritual world that was con- earth behind, present yourself Master.” Conversations With My Love (16.6) There is always friction between This is how the two higher groups of at [email protected] HYDERABAD | SUNDAY | APRIL 18, 2021 special 09 VIRUS GETS YOUNGER Alarm bells have reached a fever pitch with more and more COVID-19 cases being reported in the younger segment, with fatalities. MUSBA HASHMI talks to doctors and experts to see what can be done

he unexplained COVID related deaths in children less than one has rung alarm bells all around the globe. To make things even worse, a heart wrenching video of a woman from TBrazil, who lost her toddler to COVID because of the late diagnosis is enough to give you a peek into how alarming the situation really is. Hospitals full, ICU wards on waiting list and oxygen cylinders running off the shelves, the trau- matic situation has left people in distress. Finding a bed in hospital has become a stroke of luck. There’s nothing else we could imagine with the nation witnessing not less than 2,00,000 cases a day in the second wave of COVID. And in the middle of all this chaos, the dev- astating fact is more and more children are test- ing positive, as compared to last year, and with increased complications. This has been a cause of worry for parents, who took a sigh of relief thinking that their young ones are immune to the virus. But, experts say this was never the case. Though the positivity rate was extremely low, that was mainly because of children being asympto- matic. “This has been a wrong perception. Children were never immune. They were asymptomatic. However, their caseload was relatively low, it is hard to speculate why at the moment,” Dr Sisir Paul, Director and Head of Department of Pediatrics, Madhukar Rainbow Children's Hospital, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi, tells you. With the studies still being at a nascent stage, doctors attribute the mutated strain as one of the main reasons of the high positivity rate in chil- dren. Not to mention complacency also has a role to play. “There’s no denying that people have become complacent. However, we speculate that the mutated strain is the reason behind the increased positivity rate. We can’t say whether children were immune, but yes cases were relatively low. Last year, we were working with 50 per cent capaci- ty, but now it is full,” Dr Praveen Khilnani, Director — Pediatric Critical Care, Senior Consultant Pediatric Critical Care & Pulmonology, Madhukar Rainbow Children's Hospital, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi, says. The silver lining, however, is that the mor- tality rate in the young people is less than 10 per cent. And children, specifically, are experiencing not-so-severe symptoms. “Children are often experiencing fever, cough and cold, sore throat, body ache and, in some cases, faster breathing. The recovery rate, fortunately, is between eight and 10 days,” Khilnani tells you. However, there is a varied picture now with this episode of the disease. The common symp- toms have changed and children are now report- ing gastrointestinal issues. “We have seen cases where some children are reporting diarrhoea and vomiting, with no fever or cold. The clinical pic- ture has changed. Even children as young as one are symptomatic now. To know the exact reason, it will require a lot more detail, but on the face of it, yes mutations have taken place and can be the reason behind the increase in cases,” Paul explains. He adds that the hospital hasn’t reported any casualties in children yet, but the situation around the globe is worse. “We have been for- tunate enough to have seen moderate cases. Some required ICU, but ventilators were nowhere in the scenario. This gives a ray of hope. However, hav- ing said that the situation is grim. Events like elec- tions, malls and theatres opening up and Kumbh Mela hold a possibility to become the reservoirs of the virus. Given such a hard situation, we can’t afford to put down our guards,” Paul says. While many doctors doesn’t suggest mask- ing up children below the age of five, what can’t be compromised at any cost is following all the other precautions. “Avoid outside contact. Don’t let your relatives visit you, more so if you have toddlers at home. Don’t call several house helps. Meet and greet sessions can wait, COVID won’t. Be on optimum guard. If you see any symptoms, children under the age of one might be at a high- self-isloate, even if its normal flu. Since, there has er risk of severe illnesses with COVID. been a change in weather, children may fall sick. “Toddlers may be at a higher risk of suffer- However, don’t ignore the symptoms, think of it GOLDEN RULES IT IS A WRONG ing from severe illnesses because of the imma- as COVID,” Paul opines. n ture immune systems. There are chances that they Dr Sumit Gupta, Pediatrician, Columbia Asia Keep children indoors importance, even if you are PERCEPTION. CHILDREN might develop breathing issues. However, as it is Hospital, Ghaziabad, agrees with Paul and says vaccinated WERE NEVER IMMUNE. being said, it is too early for us to make a state- that the surge in cases might be because of the n If an elder tests positive, make ment,” Gupta says. mutant virus. THEY WERE, IN FACT, In the absence of a proven vaccine for chil- “We have received around 50 per cent rise in sure he isolates himself n Avoid taking children out to play, dren, experts emphasise on the fact that there’s cases of COVID in children since the end of even if you do make sure your ASYMPTOMATIC. nothing much one can do except for following March and more than half of them show symp- n the guidelines laid out by the Government. toms. More than 60 per cent of all OPD cases in Avoid inviting your relatives to child doesn’t mix with other HOWEVER, THE CASELOAD While, it is not recommended for children children are suspected COVID. There is an acute your place children below five to wear masks, the World Health rise in number especially in Ghaziabad. The fact LAST YEAR WAS Organisation suggest children who are in general that more children are getting infected in this good health can wear a non-medical or fabric wave of the disease may have to do with the muta- n Mask, sanitiser and social n Eat healthy and fresh food RELATIVELY LOW. IT IS mask, if at all. This provides source control, mean- tions in the virus, which has brought in many distancing still holds as much HARD TO SPECULATE WHY ing it keeps the virus from being transmitted to changes in the disease and its manifestations this others if they are infected and are not aware that time. Since many children are showing symptoms, AT THE MOMENT they are infected. The adult who is providing the we have to closely monitor them if they develop Several data collected from a Chinese study toms. The perception that children are less mask should ensure the fabric mask is the cor- multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) of Covid-19 in children has confirmed that more affected as compared to adults is also because of — DR SISIR PAUL, rect size and sufficiently covers the nose, mouth and toxic syndrome, which may happen in severe than half of the children participated in the sur- the fact that the virus needs a protein on the sur- DIRECTOR & HEAD OF and chin of the child. cases,” Gupta tells you. vey showed mild symptoms of fever, cough, sore face of a cell (a receptor) to get into the inside of Children with underlying health conditions Experts tell you that MIS-C is a post- throat, runny nose, body aches and sneezing; a cell and start causing problems. A report from DEPARTMENT — PEDIATRICS, such as cystic fibrosis, cancer or immunosup- COVID complication that can result in swelling while around a third showed signs of pneumo- BBC stated that the Coronavirus seems to use the pression, should, in consultation with their of joints, rashes, fever, diarrhoea and bloodshot nia, with frequent fever, a productive cough and Angiotensin converting enzyme II (ACE-2) MADHUKAR RAINBOW CHILDREN'S medical providers, wear a medical mask. A med- eyes in children. wheeze but without the shortness of breath and receptor for infecting others. It may be that the ical mask controls spreading of the virus and pro- “About 50 per cent children that have been difficulty breathing as seen in more severe cases. children have less ACE-2 receptors in their HOSPITAL, MALVIYA NAGAR, tection to the wearer, and is recommended for admitted to our hospital has, at least, one adult Dr Manish Mannan, HOD — Paediatrics & lower airways (lungs) than in their upper airways, anyone who is at higher risk of getting serious- in the family who have tested positive. It is very Neonatology, Paras Hospitals, Gurugram, tells you which is why it is their upper airways that are pre- NEW DELHI ly ill from COVID-19. rare that a child alone has tested positive. So, it that contrary to the prior belief with the rising dominantly affected, causing less severe issues in “The only advice to the families is to stay back is not the children, but their family members who cases it is clear that the amount of infection in chil- them. With that being said, the amount of infec- home and bring back the guard. Even for the got infected first. But having said that, kids have dren is the same as in adults. “It’s just that when tion in children has risen considerably as com- older patients who have been vaccinated, we urge been, unknowingly, spreaders of the virus. they do get the infection they get much milder pared to the first wave but is still not same as that them to keep on following the precautions Because until last year they were mostly asymp- symptoms. Children are predominantly affected in adults presently,” Mannan tells you. because vaccine alone won’t help. You have to be tomatic,” Khilnani tells you. in their upper airways so they get cold-like symp- Another scary fact is the reports that suggest on optimum guard anyway,” Khilnani says. kaleid scope backpage HYDERABAD | SUNDAY | APRIL 18, 2021 Celebrity couple J.Lo and A-Rod split, Double-masking can be saying “WE ARE BETTER AS FRIENDS” potent to protect people PNS n WASHINGTON efficiency (FFE) of a range of mask compared to that in the masks, UNC researchers chamber, researchers deter- inger and actress Jennifer everyone who has sent kind words A new study by the worked with James Samet, mined the FFE. Lopez and former New York and support,” Lopez and Rodriguez University of North Carolina PhD, and colleagues in the "We also had the SYankees baseball star Alex said. Health Care shows that wear- USEPA Human Studies researchers in the chamber Rodriguez called off their engage- In March, they denied reports ing two face coverings can Facility on the campus of undergo a series of range-of- ment because “we are better as they had split, saying they were nearly double the effective- UNC-Chapel Hill. There motion activities to simulate friends,” announcing the breakup "working through some things." ness of filtering out SARS- they filled a 10-foot by 10- the typical motions a person on Thursday just months after At the time, celebrity website CoV-2-sized particles, pre- foot stainless-steel exposure may do throughout their denying their four-year relationship TMZ, the New York Post's Page Six venting them from reaching chamber with small salt par- day -- bending at the waist, was on the rocks. and multiple entertainment sites the wearer's nose and mouth ticle aerosols and had talking, and looking left, “We have realized we are better cited unidentified sources close to the and causing COVID-19. researchers don combina- right, up and down," said as friends and look forward to couple as saying the pair had called The findings published in tions of masks to test how Phillip Clapp, PhD, an remaining so," Lopez, 51, also off their engagement. JAMA Internal Medicine also effective they were at keep- inhalation toxicologist in the known by her nickname J.Lo, and Rodriguez and the "Love Don't states that the reason for the ing particles out of their UNC School of Medicine Rodriguez, 45, known as A-Rod, Cost a Thing" singer, who sang at U.S. enhanced filtration is not breathing space. who has been testing mask said in a joint statement. President Joe Biden's inauguration in about adding too many lay- Each individual mask or FFE with Sickbert-Bennett "We will continue to work January, began dating in early 2017 ers of cloth but eliminating layered mask combination since the pandemic began. together and support each other on and announced their engage- any gaps or poor-fitting areas was fitted with a metal sam- According to their find- our shared businesses and projects,” ment in March 2019. of a mask. ple port, which was attached ings, the baseline fitted filtra- Lopez and Rodriguez said. "The medical procedure to tubing in the exposure tion efficiency (FFE) of a One of the biggest celebrity cou- masks are designed to have chamber that measured the mask differs from person to ples in the United States for the past very good filtration potential concentration of particles person, due to each person's four years and sometimes known in based on their material, but entering the breathing space unique face and mask fit. But the media as J-Rod, Lopez and the way they fit our faces isn't underneath the researcher's generally, a procedure mask Rodriguez said they would largely perfect," said Emily Sickbert- mask. A second tube mea- without altering the fit is remain mum about the split out of respect for their children from Bennett, PhD, associate pro- sured the ambient concentra- about 40-60 per cent effec- previous relationships. fessor of infectious diseases at tion of particles in the cham- tive at keeping COVID-19- “We wish the best for each other and one anoth- the UNC School of Medicine ber. By measuring particle sized particles out. A cloth er’s children. Out of respect for them, and lead author of the study. concentration in the breath- mask is about 40 per cent the only other comment we To test the fitted filtration ing space underneath the effective. have to say is thank you to seized from his home. FBI agents who inter- page, at a viewed the teenager last FedEx operations center April found no criminal near Indianapolis International violation at the time and FedEx rampage:Airport. Sikh group fordetermined probing he possessed possible hate bias The attack in Indiana's state capital, no "racially motivated vio- alf of the eight the third most populous city in the lent extremism ideology," workers shot to Midwest, was the latest in a spate of at said Paul Keenan, special Hdeath at an least seven deadly mass shootings in agent in charge of the FBI's Thursday night’s shooting spree, and Indianapolis FedEx facility by a for- the United States over the past month. Indianapolis field office. at least one Sikh individual was mer employee before he killed him- It came a little over a year after Hole But the New York-based Sikh wounded, said Gurinder Singh Khalsa, self belonged to the Sikh religious was briefly placed under psychiatric Coalition, a civil rights advocacy a businessman and leader of the local community, leading an advocacy detention by police when his mother group, called for a full investigation Sikh community who said he was group to urge a probe of possible racial reported her concerns that he was con- into "the possibility of bias as factor" briefed by victims’ families. or ethnic hatred as a factor. templating "suicide by cop," according in the FedEx killings. Singh Khalsa also told Reuters the Law enforcement officials said to the FBI. A shotgun was Four members of the Sikh faith majority of employees at the FedEx site Friday they have yet to determine what - three women and a man - are Sikhs, whose religion originated in motivated the gunman, 19-year- were among the the Punjab region of the Indian sub- old Brandon Hole, who dead in continent. was white, to carry He said the FedEx center was out Thursday known for hiring older members of the night’s local Sikh community who did not ram- necessarily speak fluent English. The Sikh Coalition's exec- PNS n HAVANA utive director, Satjeet Kaur, said more than Raul Castro confirmed 8,000 Sikh- he was handing over the Americans live Coronavirus deaths cross leadership of the all-powerful in Indiana. Cuban Communist Party to a younger generation at its congress a staggering 3 mn globally that kicked off on Friday, ending six decades of rule by himself and older he global Covid-19 death brother Fidel. toll passed three million on In a speech opening the four-day event, TSaturday as the pandemic Castro, 89, said the new leadership were party continues to speed up despite loyalists with decades of experience working their vaccination campaigns, leading way up the ranks and were "full of passion and anti- countries like India to impose imperialist spirit." new lockdowns to fight Castro had said at the last party congress in 2016 spiralling infection numbers. it would be the last one led by the "historic generation" It is the latest grim milestone who fought in the Sierra Maestra to topple a U.S.-backed after the novel coronavirus dictator in the 1959 leftist revolution. He already hand- surfaced in central China in ed over the presidency to protege Miguel Diaz-Canel, 60, December 2019 and went on to in 2018. infect more than 139 million The congress is the party's most important meeting, held people, leaving billions more every five years to review policy and fix leadership. under crippling lockdowns and "I believe fervently in the strength and exemplary nature ravaging the global economy. An average of more than 12,000 deaths were recorded 829,596 new infections India now has three times the globally every day in the past reported worldwide on Friday is daily cases of the United week, shooting the overall toll the highest number yet, States, the world's worst-hit past three million at around according to AFP's tally. nation, and families are CASTRO ERA IN CUBA 0830 GMT on Saturday, The daily average of 731,000 clamouring for drugs and according to an AFP tally. cases registered over the last hospital beds. For comparison, three million week is also close to being a Hopes that South Asian people is more than the record. countries might have seen the population of Jamaica or India's capital New Delhi went worst of the pandemic have TO END AS RAUL CONFIRMS into a weekend lockdown been dashed, with India Armenia, and three times the death toll of the Iran-Iraq war Saturday as the world's recording over two million new which raged from 1980-1988. second-most populous nation cases this month alone and And the pandemic is showing recorded 234,000 new cases Bangladesh and Pakistan HE'S RETIRING no sign of slowing down: the and 1,341 deaths. imposing new shutdowns.

and comprehension of my compatriots, and as The congress is a closed-door event but ers. Castro's olive green military fatigues long as I live I will be ready with my foot in the excerpts are being broadcast on state television. contrasted with the civil get-up of his stirrups to defend the fatherland, the revolution Castro, who launched a raft of social and eco- protege, who is widely expected to and socialism," Castro told hundreds of party nomic reforms to open up Cuba after inherit- succeed him as party first secre- Two Russain delegates gathered at a convention center in ing the leadership from Fidel in 2008, hailed tary, the most powerful position Havana. Diaz-Canel as one of the new generation of lead- in Cuba's one-party system. cosmonauts, MUSIC AND MASSAGE: Malaysian farmers astronaut attempt to grow prized Japanese muskmelons return from

fter more than a director and co-founder of International decade of experiment- Mono, at the company's farm ing, a trio of Malaysian in Malaysia's administrative farmersA say they have found capital Putrajaya. Space Station the right concoction of nutri- Since the last century, ents and treatments to suc- farmers in Japan have been cessfully grow Japanese perfecting the art of cultivat- PNS n ALMATY, KAZAKHSTAN GMT around 150 kilometres having both made their ISS Entrepreneur Elon Musk's muskmelons, one of the ing these melons, which are (90 miles) southeast of the debuts following launches in SpaceX last year broke the world’s most expensive fruits. prized for their taste and Two Russian cosmonauts and town of Zhezkazgan. July and October of 2016 monopoly that Russia and The farmers at Malaysian precise spherical shape, and a NASA astronaut touched The Soyuz descent module respectively. Baikonur had held on manned company Mono Premium are sold in high-end shops as down Saturday on the steppe carring the trio landed upright Kud'-Sverchkov, 39, anoth- launches since the mothballing Melon regularly rub the mel- luxury items. of Kazakhstan following a after descending through a er ex-military man, is complet- of the US shuttle programme ons with a soft cloth or glove, In attempting to match half-year mission on the cloudless sky on a fine spring ing his first mission. in 2011, beginning a new a practice called "tama-fuki" this quality, the farmers have International Space Station, day in central Kazakhstan, a For the last decade, the chapter of spaceflight from US said to enhance their flavour, had to contend with footage broadcast by the Roscosmos TV commentator population of the space station soil. and play classical music over Malaysia's hot and humid Russian space agency showed. confirmed. has typically varied between As a result the number of speakers in the greenhouses, tropical climate, a world away Russia's Sergei Ryzhikov Molecular biologist Rubins, three and six as crews that crew on board will reach 11 which is believed to stimulate "Every single Japanese farm is almost like an art- from the more temperate and Sergei Kud-Sverchkov as 42, and former military pilot blasted off from Russia's next week with the arrival of growth. melon that you see in our piece," said Seh Cheng Siang, conditions in Japan. well as NASA's Kate Rubins Ryzhikov, 46, are completing Baikonur cosmodrome in NASA's SpaceX Crew-2 mis- landed on barren land at 0455 their second missions in space Kazakhstan came and went. sion.