‘Technical snag’ administers 2nd dose to many on paper

VACCINATION DRIVE

‘Technical snag’ administers 2nd dose to many on paper

VMC Officials Unaware Of The Reason For Glitch

Sachin.Sharma@timesgroup.com

Vadodara:  09.11.2021

The Vadodara city boasts of having the highest percentage of vaccinated persons who have taken both doses of Covid-19 vaccine. But creating doubts regarding this claim are several cases of persons getting certificates for the second dose even when they have not got it.

Covid-19 vaccination in the city had been a largely smooth affair after the hiccups when the vaccination of all adults had started. Incidents, when vaccination was low as doses were not available, have also gone down. But now, a new row has cropped up over certificates of second vaccination being issued without the dose being given.

Ravi Barot, a resident of Gorwa, got the message and the certificate regarding the second dose last month. “I was busy with work regarding property tax on the day I was shown to have taken the second dose. The certificate was complete with the name of the vaccine, date and the name of the vaccinator,” he said.

Barot is not an exception. Such cases are being reported from across the city.

Nilesh Mohite, who was part of a team that organised a vaccination camp said that many who were vaccinated on the camp held on July 11 got messages. “A few persons told me about this initially. Then I happened to meet a functionary from Sanstha Vasahat where the camp was held. He told me that many people were approaching him with similar issues,” said Mohite.

Congress worker from Tandalja, Wasim Sheikh, too said that there were many such cases in Tandalja. “I have gathered details of such persons who met me too,” he said.

The second dose messages and certificates are believed to be snags much like the initial phase of the drive when persons who did not take vaccines got messages. At that time even those who had died were shown as vaccinated.

Vadodara Municipal Corporation’s medical officer (health) Dr Devesh Patel said that the exact reason was not known, but certificates were being generated on their own in some cases. “We ensure that in such cases, the person takes the dose,” said Patel.

Nine flights delayed from city airport

Nine flights delayed from city airport

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:  09.11.2021

Some nine flights from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) airport in Ahmedabad were delayed on Monday.

These included flights to Bagdogra, Bhopal, Kochi, Amritsar, Mumbai, Varanasi, Goa, Jaipur and Chennai, which were delayed due to operational constraints. These flights were delayed by 30 to 240 minutes.

‘Little girls don’t know what rape is, can’t resist’

CHILD PREDATOR

‘Little girls don’t know what rape is, can’t resist’

After Raping Seven-Year-Old, He Decided To Hunt For More

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:09.11.2021

Vijay Thakor, the man arrested by Gandhinagar police for allegedly raping three minor girls and murdering one of them, told police that he stalked little girls as they did not know about rape and would not even be able to say what had happened to them.

He said he targeted small girls because they could not resist. He said he realized this after he raped the first girl, seven years old, who he overpowered easily and no one even found out about his crime.

“The accused targeted small girls as they could not resist and he felt they would also not be able to tell anyone,” an investigator said.

He said that Thakor has a six-yearold daughter and his wife is seven months pregnant. For the past 15 days he could not have sex with his wife and decided to hunt for small girls.

“When he raped the first girl ten days ago, she could not resist and nor did anyone find out about the incident, so he felt emboldened and decided to hunt for more,” said the cop.

On Diwali day, he lured away a five-year-old girl with the promise of new clothes, raped her and dumped her.

“He was further emboldened and thought he could keep hunting for such girls,” said a cop.

The police officer said there was garba organized in a village near his on the night of New Year’s, November 6.

“He saw some young girls doing garba and then went looking for his next target. He roamed about in a few villages but people were awake due to the festival. He only found a sleeping tribal family of about eight near Santej Crossroads. Thakor saw the three-year-old girl sleeping next to her five-year-old brother and picked her up,” said the police officer.

He took the girl to a secluded place but as she woke up, he pressed her mouth and nose for around a minute after which she stopped moving. “The girl may have died by itself. Thakor then raped her, or more likely her body,” said a police officer.

When he was caught, he told the cops that after raping the body, he duped her in the culvert where she was found on Sunday.

Overflowing lakes inundate Avadi, Tambaram

Overflowing lakes inundate Avadi, Tambaram

Residents Demand Deployment Of Special Officers To Drain Out Water From Their Areas

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 09.11.2021

Several areas in the newly formed corporations outside the city limits -- Avadi and Tambaram -- have been inundated with rainwater flooding the streets and entering homes for the second day on Monday.

Residents demand that special officers should be allotted to their neighbourhoods too to ensure that the stagnated water is drained off as the authorities are struggling to handle waterlogging with the limited resources. In the southern suburbs, residents and associations have also been chipping in to drain out water from many areas.

Though the rain intensityhas lessened, water did not drain off in many neighbourhoods because lakes and tanks are overflowing. The upgrade to Corporation exists only on paper and residents are left in lurch in times like flood.

In Ganapathy colony in Kannadapalayam, water overflowing from the Kovilpadagai tank has left the entire area flooded.

“The situation is the same every year. It was worse in 2015. But this time with just one night’s rain, the area is flooded and with forecasts of more rain, it is scary. People cannot venture out in case of emergency as all streets are flooded,” said K J Jeyan, a resident. On Monday, Tiruvallur district collector, Dairy development minister SM Nasar visited the areas.

Residents of Chrompet and Pallavaram near GST road are suffering after a day of intense rain has left roads flooded. Water from the previous day's rain remained in Postal Nagar, Zamin Royapettah, new colony for most part of the day. The authorities used multiple pumps to drain out the water.

However, neighbourhoods of Hasthinapuram like Jain Nagar, Maruthi Nagar, AK Nagar, AGS Colony and nearby areas of had stagnant water on the streets because water from Hastinapuram lake had flooded the area.

MAROONED: Kovil Padagai Tank water flows onto Kannadapalayam Main Road in Avadi; officials inspect waterlogged areas in Chromepet

CM, officials spend endless hours on field for relief work

CM, officials spend endless hours on field for relief work

Komal.Gautham@timesgroup.com

09.11.2021

The spectacle of chief minister M K Stalin, senior ministers and IAS/IPS officers, with sleeves rolled up and sporting gloves and gum boots, visiting flooded neighbourhoods and overseeing relief measures has taken residents by surprise.

R Gowri Shankar and Mahalakshmi of Perambur were originally worried if their marriage would take place at all on Monday due to rain. But the event became more memorable for the couple, as Stalin spotted them on road, blessed them in person and handed them a cash gift too. While returning home after the wedding, the couple noticed Stalin’s entourage at Kannadasa Nagar. They waved at it, but didn’t expect him to stop.

To their surprise, Stalin asked his driver to reverse the car. He did not just get down from the vehicle to bless the couple, but also gave them ₹1000 each as cash gift. “He told me to take care of my wife well, and blessed us. I will frame this currency and will never use it. I will never forget this incident in my life,” Shankar said.

HR&CE minister PK Sekar Babu recalls how Stalin walked into a Sathya Nagar household that was least prepared to host him. “He sat there and inquired about their grievances. This attitude sets an example for us all. When the chief minister himself is travelling hundreds of kilometre we don’t feel like sitting at home at all,” he said.

Gagandeep Singh Bedi, Chennai corporation commissioner, says it is only through field visits certain problems can be resolved. “Many officials and ministers were worried stagnant water in T Nagar. When we made a spot visit, we found there were two blockages in Mambalam canal. When it was removed, water began flowing freely,” he said.

BEST WISHES: Chief minister M K Stalin in rain gear blesses a newly wed couple in Kannadasa Nagar on Monday

CITY STAYS IN WITH FINGERS CROSSED

CITY STAYS IN WITH FINGERS CROSSED

Thunderstorms With Heavy Rain Forecast For City, TN Districts on November 10, 11

U.Tejonmayam@timesgroup.com

09.11.2021

The rain over the weekend was only the prelude. India Meteorological Centre has issued an orange alert for Tuesday (November 9) forecasting thunderstorms with heavy rain in the city and many districts triggered by a low pressure system.

The Nungambakkam weather station (city), with 141cm so far this year, has already surpassed its annual normal rainfall of 140cm, while Meenambakkam (132cm so far) is inching towards its quota of 138cm.

The rain forecast for November 9 may increase on November 10 and 11 with heavy to very heavy and isolated extremely heavy spells.

The city, private forecasters said, may get a break from heavy rain on November 9 before it picks up pace on November 10 and continues through November 11. For the next 48 hours, thunderstorms with moderate rain, heavy at times have been forecast over some city areas and the suburbs with the skies remaining generally cloudy. Maximum and minimum temperature will be around 26 degrees C and 24 degrees C.

“The system is approaching the coast as a depression,” said N Puviarasan, director of IMD’s Area Cyclone Warning Centre.

The low pressure area is likely to form under the influence of a cyclonic circulation over southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining south Andaman Sea extending up to 5.8km above mean sea level. “It is likely to move west-northwestwards, concentrate into a depression and reach north Tamil Nadu coast by November 11 early morning,” IMD said.

IMD has forecast rain of varied intensity over some southern, interior and delta districts on November 9. Intensity may increase on November 10 and 11 with rainfall ranging from extremely heavy to heavy over many parts of the state including Chennai and neighbouring districts.

On Monday, Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam recorded 14.5mm and 14.8mm till 7.30pm. The northeast monsoon has so far left 632.2mm and 520.4mm in the two stations since October 1, an excess of 226.4mm and 116.9mm. Tamil Nadu recorded 346.1mm against a normal of 241.2mm in the same period. Chennai subdivision registered 547.9mm against 392.5mm (40% excess), while neighbouring Kanchipuram recorded 17%, Tiruvallur 31% and Chengalpet 34% excess.

Mahesh Palawat, Skymet Weather chief meteorologist, tweeted that Chennai got 415mm between November 1 and 8, against the average of 374.4mm for November, the wettest for Chennai.

Blogger Pradeep John said models showed the system may move a few hundred kilometres into the land before losing strength. “There won’t be any break in rainfall. We will continue to receive rain even after the system fizzles out because of weak northeasterly winds. But they may be mostly light spells,” an IMD official said.

Govt to start vaccination for kids only after nod to Covaxin

Govt to start vaccination for kids only after nod to Covaxin

Sushmi.Dey@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:09.11.2021

Children may have to wait for some more time to get vaccinated against Covid-19 as the government will start immunisation for kids only after Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin is approved for use which might take a few more weeks, a senior official told TOI.

The government is concerned that supplies of ZyCoV-D — a three-dose vaccine given emergency use authorisation (EUA) for children between 12-17 years — may not be adequate to begin inoculating children. Covaxin, currently in use for adults, has been recommended for use in children of 2-18 years. However, the final approval for EUA is pending with the DCGI. The regulator has been cautious in its approach as the vaccinations concern young children. The official said data has been reviewed thoroughly now and DCGI approval for use of Covaxin in children is expected by end of November.

The government plans to initiate vaccination with children who have been diagnosed with certain health conditions that make them more vulnerable to Covid.

Centre places order for 1cr Zydus doses

The health ministry placed an order for one crore doses of Zydus Cadila’s Covid vaccine, ZyCoV-D, at ₹358 per dose, exclusive of GST. The government aims to to start distribution of the jabs by December once supply begins. ZyCov-D, the world’s first DNA vaccine, is a three-dose vaccine that will be given on day zero, day 28 and day 56. P 8

‘ZyCoV-D supplies may not suffice to cover all children’

“We will wait for Covaxin to be approved for used in children before opening up Covid immunisation programme. ZyCoV-D supplies are limited and may not suffice to cover all children. Besides, it has been approved only for children above 12 years of age,” the official said.

Once the DCGI approves Covaxin for use in children, it will be reviewed by National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) before the final guidelines for immunisation of children are issued. The government expects to begin the programme for children by end of December or early next year, once approval is granted.

There are around 44 crore children in the country as per current data and government estimates around 10-12% will be eligible under prioritisation. With limited supplies of ZyCoV-D, it may be difficult for the government to ensure smooth supplies for such a large cohort, the official said.

The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) formally endorsed the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children above five recently. The EU regulators have not yet authorised any Covid vaccine for children below age 12.