Prayer of 12 years snuffed out in smoke-filled ICU

Prayer of 12 years snuffed out in smoke-filled ICU

Jamal Ayub & Sudeept Mishra TNN

Bhopal:11.11.2021

Raees and Irfana Ahmed’s 12-year prayer for a child was answered last week. They named him Rahil. After eight days of hospitalization, the baby was scheduled for discharge on Tuesday. The house was decked up for the homecoming.

A discharge sheet signed on Tuesday – but it was a death certificate. “I did not let my wife see our baby’s body. I could identify him but his skin had blackened due to the smoke that engulfed the ward after the fire,” said Raees, struggling to get each word out.

Raees is from Nasrullah Ganj in Sehore district, some 100 km from Bhopal. His first born was referred to the state’s largest tertiary care hospital in the state capital with breathing difficulties.

His mother was with the baby till around 8.30pm. The couple was excited and had made plans for the child’s homecoming. Then, disaster struck.

A fire broke out in the paediatric ICU, and the attendants and patients’ kin were ordered to move out. They resisted, pleading to be allowed to take their children to safety. But the security staff would hear none of it. Firefighting and rescue were to be left to the professionals.

Rahil’s maternal uncle, Rashid, told TOI that when the fire erupted, he had gone home to have dinner. “Irfana called me about the fire in the baby ward. I rushed back and went into the hospital building. It was dark and I tried to find my way with the help of a mobile torchlight. Only 4-5 hospital staff were present, along with seven to eight family members of the babies. Together, we rescued seven to eight babies and shifted them to another ward,” said Rashid.

Raees was all cut up on Tuesday as he waited to collect the little bundle at the mortuary. “My baby was going to be discharged. I should have been allowed to rescue him. After 12 years, when the Almighty finally answered our prayers for a child, he was snatched from us,” ,” he sobbed. “We are in deep shock,” said Rashid.

A newborn baby being shifted to another hospital after fire in Kamala Nehru hospital on Tuesday

Investigation Is Progressing: NTA Informs Kerala High Court In Alleged NEET- OMR Scam

Investigation Is Progressing: NTA Informs Kerala High Court In Alleged NEET- OMR Scam

Hannah M Varghese 8 Nov 2021 6:00 PM

The National Testing Agency (NTA), on Monday informed the Kerala High Court that it has initiated a probe into the alleged incident of manipulation in the NEET-UG OMR sheet.

Justice N Nagaresh after recording the same directed NTA to file its report soon. The matter will be taken up again on November 16.

When the petition came up for hearing, Advocate S Nirmal appearing for NTA informed the court that a Committee was constituted under the chairmanship of the Joint Director to conduct an investigation.

It was further informed that three eminent professors from IIT were also included in the Committee.

The court then enquired as to when the investigation will be over. The counsel replied that the Committee has heard the parties, including the petitioner. He added that the investigation was progressing and the report will be filed soon.

NTA made the submission on the petition filed by a candidate in the NEET UG 2021 exam, conducted on September 12, seeking a CBI probe into the alleged manipulation.

The petitioner alleged that in the OMR sheet, her signature was seen to be manipulated and the names of her mother and father were wrong. She further contended that the markings on the OMR sheet were not hers. It was added that her roll number in the numerical section did not tally with the bubbled portion.

The petitioner also raised serious doubts over the left-hand thumb impression seen in the OMR sheet. Based on these allegations, the Court had ordered a probe by NTA.

Case Title: Rithu Sibi v. Union of India & Ors.

No foreign funds for NGOs if purpose not declared: SC

No foreign funds for NGOs if purpose not declared: SC

AmitAnand.Choudhary@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:11.11.2021

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said NGOs should not be allowed to receive foreign funds if the donor did not declare the purpose for which the money is to be spent and said the Centre has diluted the intent of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) by not insisting on such a provision.

A bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari and C T Ravikumar said as per Section 8 of the Act, disclosure has to be made at the outset regarding the purpose for which a contribution has been made and asked the Centre to make its stand clear on the issue.

Section 8 says every person who is registered and granted a certificate or given prior permission under the Act and receives any foreign contribution, shall utilise such contribution for the purposes for which the contribution has been received.

Referring to the section, the bench said the purpose of the contribution has to be disclosed and only then would inflow of funds be allowed. Solicitor general Tushar Mehta contended that an NGO can use the fund for activities for which they are registered which could be social, cultural, religious purposes.

SEEKING TRANSPARENCY

HC: Things can be set right if one officer is sent to jail

DISREGARD FOR COURT ORDERS

HC: Things can be set right if one officer is sent to jail

BBMP Ordered To Raze Illegal Structure In Two Weeks

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:11.11.2021

Reiterating its strong disapproval of government officers’ tendency to take court orders lightly, the high court on Tuesday said the situation may improve if one officer is sent to jail for disobeying them, as a test case.

If one officer is sent to jail, everyone will fall in line, a division bench headed by chief justice Ritu Raj Awasthi orally observed after noticing gross delay and inaction on the part of BBMP in relation to demolition of an illegal structure in Sriramapura put up by a temple trust, despite a specific court order passed on February 5, 2020 to complete the task within six weeks.

The bench noted that the fourth respondent (Sri Ramachandra Swamy temple trust) has not moved any application for grant of time to undertake removal of the illegal construction and added it was the responsibility of BBMP to ensure the demolition.

“Counsel for BBMP informed us that a certain portion of the illegal construction has been removed. But some part hasn’t. We are surprised as to why the illegal construction has not been demolished. We direct BBMP to complete the demolition within two weeks, failing which its chief commissioner along with all authorities concerned shall be present before the court so that they may be proceeded against for deliberate noncompliance of the court order,” the bench observed.

On February 5, 2020, the court had recorded based on BBMP’s submission that the illegal structure consists of two parts — the first floor measuring 15.5 x 9.45 metre and sheet room which measures 4.7 x 7.4 metre. Though the Palike had claimed it needs to prepare an expenditure estimate and obtain sanction for demolition, the court had noted that since there is an order under sub-section (3) of Section 321 of Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, 1976, and another under Section 462 of the Act was passed on January 20, 2020, no further nod was required.

Docs remove 222 fibroids from 34-yr-old’s uterus

Docs remove 222 fibroids from 34-yr-old’s uterus

Woman Was Anaemic, Waited 1 Yr For Surgery

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:11.11.2021

A 34-year-old woman who suffered from acute pelvic pain for at least one year has got a new lease of life after doctors from the city removed 222 fibroids, totally weighing 2.2kg, from her uterus.

Media professional Ritika underwent a four-and-a-half-hour surgery on October 6, and doctors at Sakra World Hospital preserved her uterus. Ritika’s uterus was found to be enlarged (the size of an 8-month pregnant woman’s), causing a bulge in her lower abdomen.

Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous, estrogen-dependent tumours, usually occurring at child-bearing age. They cause anaemia and in Ritika’s case, her haemoglobin level had fallen to 7 grams per decilitre as against the normal of 12 to 15.

Though she experienced typical symptoms of pain, excessive bleeding and abnormal menstrual cycles, she delayed consulting doctors due to Covid fear.

Dr Shantala Thuppanna, senior consultant, head of obstetrics and gynaecology, Sakra World Hospital, who operated on Ritika, said uterine fibroids are common in approximately 40-50% women. But only a few have symptoms. “In Ritika’s case, she was anaemic and faced heavy bleeding despite practising yoga daily and maintaining an active lifestyle. She had waited for about one year to undergo the surgery due to the pandemic,” said Dr Shantala.

During the operation, doctors found that the fibroids — of various sizes and shapes (one resembling a large cauliflower) — were located below the urinary bladder and were spread throughout the left side of her uterus. “The fibroids were near important structures in the abdomen, which made the surgery complicated as they appeared like bunches of grapes. We were able to remove all the fibroids in her uterus that appeared compressed in the MRI scan, without any complications,” explained Dr Shantala.

According to the doctor, uterine fibroids are made of muscle and fibrous tissue, and vary in size and shape. The symptoms include pelvic pain, abnormal menstrual cycles, and sometimes even abortion, premature delivery, bulge in tummy, and urine and motion disturbance.

“They sometimes go away on their own. However, when left untreated, these fibroids can grow in size and numbers, resulting in worsening of the symptoms and causing further complications, including anaemia and infertility,” she said, adding initial symptoms must not be ignored.

The media professional underwent a four-and-a-half-hour surgery on October 6, and doctors at Sakra World Hospital preserved her uterus. Though she experienced symptoms of pain, excessive bleeding and abnormal menstrual cycles, she delayed consulting doctors due to Covid fear

MP couple lose boy born after 12yrs in ICU fire

MP couple lose boy born after 12yrs in ICU fire

Jamal Ayub & Sudeept Mishra TNN

Bhopal:11.11.2021

A couple who waited 12 years for a child took the baby back home, dead, just a week after birth. A father of twins ran about in tears, seeking to know their fate, only to learn in the wee hours that one of them was dead and the other critical.

The grandmother and aunt of another newborn fainted on seeing his blackened body, with his plastic crib apparently melted on the skin .

Bhopal’s Kamala Nehru Hospital was torn by heartrending scenes a day after a fire in the paediatric ICU killed four babies.

‘Brought kids to hospital 2 hours before fire broke out’

Ankush Yadav staggered as he carried a cardboard box in his arms on Tuesday morning. It contained the remains of one of his twin daughters, born less than 12 hours before the fire broke out. At night, he was told the other twin had died too. They were the first-borns of Rachna and Ankush. “I brought them to Kamala Nehru Hospital in the evening, barely two hours before the fire broke out,” said Ankush, who runs a grocery shop.

Ankush switched two hospitals — one of them asked for Rs 10 lakh — before landing up at Kamala Nehru where the twins were admitted to the ICU. “On Monday night, a doctor asked me to bring an injection that costs Rs 8,000. I went back to verify the name of the injection when the fire erupted around 8.30pm,” Ankush said.

Travel booster: 96 countries to sign vax cert pact with India

Travel booster: 96 countries to sign vax cert pact with India

UK, EU Nations In Long List; Talks On With More

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:11.11.2021

In a big boost to international travel, 96 countries — including US, UK, many European and Middle East nations — have agreed to mutual recognition of Covid-19 vaccination certificates with India, health minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Tuesday.

The government continues to be in communication with more countries so that beneficiaries of the world’s “largest Covid vaccination programme are accepted and recognised”, thereby easing travel for education, business and tourism purposes, Mandaviya said in a statement.

The move will ease travel for those vaccinated with Indian-manufactured Covishield and Covaxin. The countries include Canada, Turkey and Australia as well. Canada has sought an application from Covaxin to approve it, even as WHO’s emergency use approval has boosted the vaccine’s international acceptability.

“At present, 96 countries have agreed to mutual recognition of vaccination certificates and also those [countries] who recognise Indian vaccination certificates of travellers fully vaccinated with Covishield/WHO approved/ nationally approved Covid vaccines,” the government statement said.

Consecutively, persons travelling from these countries are provided certain relaxations as enunciated in the health ministry’s guidelines on international arrivals issued on October 20, 2021, the ministry said. For those who wish to travel abroad, the international travel vaccination certificate can also be downloaded from the CoWIN portal.

A couple reunite at Newark airport on Monday after US relaxed curbs

No vax shot, no entry at Ajanta caves

The district disaster management authority (DDMA) for Aurangabad has decided to aggressively assist the endeavour to push up vaccination coverage in the district by making it mandatory for visitors to tourist places, like the Ajanta-Ellora caves, to have taken at least one Covid vaccine dose.

MEA in touch with all countries: Min

Many countries from Europe, Africa, Asia, South America and the Caribbean islands have agreed to recognize Covid-19 certificates with India.

“The ministry of health along with the ministry of external affairs is in continuous communication with all countries for mutual recognition of vaccine certificates, and WHO and nationally approved vaccines to facilitate hassle-free international travel across countries,” the minister said. “The government’s commitment to accelerate the pace and expandthe scope of Covid-19 vaccination across the country has resulted in crossing the 100 crore milestone in administration of doses on October 21, 2021,” he stated.

Red alert for Chennai, coastal dists; 2-day leave for schools and colleges

Red alert for Chennai, coastal dists; 2-day leave for schools and colleges

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:11.11.2021

The low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal may soon concentrate into a depression and bring widespread rainfall across Tamil Nadu for the next few days, the Meteorological department said on Tuesday, issuing red alert for Chennai and other coastal districts of the state.

The department has sounded red alert for Chennai on Thursday, and for one more day for the other coastal districts.

The government has declared holiday for schools and colleges in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Chengalpet, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, and Mayiladuthurai districts on Wednesday and Thursday.

While Nungambakkam received 11.1mm rainfall, airport recorded 1.9mm rain on Tuesday.

The weather system is likely to bring extremely heavy rainfall on Wednesday at isolated places over delta districts, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Pudukottai, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram and Puducherry and Karaikal. On Thursday, extremely heavy rain may be recorded in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram, Chengelpettu, Villupuram and Tiruvannamalai. “Rainfall will be mostly in the night. After November 11, rain will reduce significantly,” said IMD area cyclone warning centre director N Puviarasan. Many interior and western districts may also receive heavy to very heavy spells for two days.

Revenue and disaster management minister KKSSR Ramachandran on Tuesday said five people died in rain-related incidents in Theni, Trichy, Madurai and Chennai districts. At least 64 cattle deaths were reported across the state, and 538 huts and 129 houses were damaged.

In Chennai, 1,723 people have been moved to 22 relief centres and 147 more centres have been kept ready. More than 11.49 lakh food packets have been given away to people across the city.

Poondi, Puzhal, Cholavaram, and Chembarambakkam lakes have almost reached their full capacity.

“Steps have been taken to release surplus water taking into consideration the inflow and the safety of dams,” water resources minister Duraimurugan said.

Balagurusamy to head MKU V-C search panel

NEWS DIGEST

Balagurusamy to head MKU V-C search panel

11.011.2021

Anna University former vice-chancellor E Balagurusamy has been appointed as convenor of Madurai Kamaraj University vicechancellor search committee. Former vice-chancellor of Madurai Kamaraj University P Maruthamuthu and former vice-chancellor of Tamil University M Rajendran will be other members of the search committee. The university VC's post has been lying vacant after previous vicechancellor M Krishnan was appointed as vice-chancellor of Central University of Tamil Nadu in August. The search panel will recommend three names to governor R N Ravi.

‘COVID-19 victims entitled to a minimum of ₹50,000’

‘COVID-19 victims entitled to a minimum of ₹50,000’

HC says individual governments can also pay more than the minimum amount

10/11/2021

Legal Correspondent CHENNAI

The Madras High Court on Monday said the governments in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are obligated, as per Supreme Court orders, to pay a minimum of ₹50,000 each to the familes of over 36,000 people who had died so far due to COVID-19 in the State as well as the Union Territory.

Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice P.D. Audikesavalu said the minimum amount was fixed by the Supreme Court under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. The individual governments, however, would be free to pay much more than the minimum amount.

The judges granted a week's time for the governments to disclose the amount of money, over and above ₹50,000, that they would be willing to pay from the State Disaster Relief Fund.

The court also wanted a mechanism to be in place o redress the grievances of the claimants quickly.

The interim orders were passed on a couple of public interest litigation petitions seeking adequate compensation to the victims. Counsel for one of the petitioners, Kabilan Manoharan, insisted that the legal heirs or the next of the kin of every person who had succumbed to COVID-19 must be paid ₹4 lakh.

Rain lets up, but woes of Chennai continue

Rain lets up, but woes of Chennai continue

HC cracks the whip over inundation

10/11/2021

Bounteous yield: Residents fishing in Korattur Lake that overflowed on Tuesday.M. VEDHANThe Hindu

Special CorrespondentCHENNAI

Chennai had some respite from the rain on Tuesday when inundation cleared up in a few areas. But people were stranded and in need of help at other places where the stagnant water was yet to be drained. Residents are approaching the next couple of days with fear as heavy rain has been forecast.

The Madras High Court warned the Chennai Corporation that it would take up a suo motu public interest litigation petition on the travails of residents due to waterlogging, if the situation did not improve by Friday. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said action would be taken against the contractors implementing Smart City.

In the 24 hours till 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Chennai recorded 3.2 cm of rain. The weather office has issued a red alert in Chennai for Wednesday and Thursday as the low-pressure area that had formed on Monday is likely to turn into a depression.

The government announced a holiday for schools and colleges in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, and Mayiladuthurai on November 10 and 11. A holiday has been declared for schools and colleges in Pudukottai, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Madurai, Dindigul and Virudhunagar districts on November 10. Schools in Tiruchi and Ramanathapuram will be closed on November 10. The toll in the rain has risen to five and over 500 huts have been damaged.

Public transport operated in reduced numbers due to poor patronage

Public transport operated in reduced numbers due to poor patronage

10/11/2021

Special Correspondent CHENNAI

Public transport in the city was operated with limited strength taking into consideration the reduced footfalls due to heavy rain. However commuters reaching the city from far flung western localities of Tiruttani and Arakkonam, had a tough time, because of the fewer train services.

The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) has been operating reduced number of buses for the past two days. The MTC, which would normally operate nearly 3,250 buses on regular days, has been operating 2,200 to 2,500 buses in the past two days.

A senior official said since Sunday around 2,200 to 2,500 buses are being operated because of the announcement of holidays for schools and colleges and poor commuter population on several routes.

Buses are operated only based on the needs of particular routes.

Similarly, Chennai division of the Southern Railway, which started truncated operation of train services from Monday evening, operated Sunday schedule of train services on Tuesday also citing water stagnation and poor patronage.

The operation of reduced number of train services caused severe hardship to the working population travelling from the neighbouring districts of Tiruvallur and Vellore, as a large number of commuters depended on train services from Tiruttani and Arakkonam.

Social activist A. Roy Rozario, in a representation sent to the Chennai Divisional Railway Manager, highlighted the hardships faced by hundreds of commuters from Arakkonam, Tiruttani and Tiruvallur.

The Southern Railway on Tuesday has announced more stoppages for the fast line proceeding towards Arakkonam and Tiruttani effective from Friday.

Pvt edu institutions get property tax relief

Pvt edu institutions get property tax relief

Chandigarh: 09.11.2021

The Haryana government has decided to give exemption in property tax for one year to private educational institutions. Haryana urban local bodies minister Anil Vij said the state government had decided to give exemption to private educational institutions on the account of losses suffered by them during the Covid-19 period.

Vij said the private educational institutions in the state would get a relief of Rs 23.50 crore from the relaxation of one year. He said chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar had given his approval to the decision.

The government educational had already been given similar exemption in property tax and the state would foot bill of Rs 10.35 crore for this. Thus, 8,986 educational institutions in 88 civic bodies of the state would get a relief of Rs 33.85 crore.

Haryana private schools association president Kulbhushan Sharma thanked the ULB minister. He, however, said that the schools should be given more exemptions. TNN

Sharma makes temple run to Tirupati

Sharma makes temple run to Tirupati

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Hyderabad: 09.11.2021

On a day the Rs 18,300-crore IPO by Paytm made its debut, its founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma made a temple run to Tirupati on Monday to seek the blessings of Lord Balaji.

The Paytm boss landed in Tirupati on Monday afternoon for a darshan of the lord of the seven hills. “Just met Sh Jawahar Reddy Executive Officer, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (#TTD) in Tirupati as I have come here to seek blessing of God for all of @Paytm family,” Sharma tweeted after his visit to the abode of one of the richest gods in the world.

The Paytm IPO, which opened on Monday (November 8) and will close on November 10, aims to raise Rs 18,300 crore through a fresh issue of Rs 8,300 crore and an offer for sale of Rs 10,000 crore.

Special trains cost more, but amenities missing

Special trains cost more, but amenities missing

No Blankets Or Pillows, Curtains Removed

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 09.11.2021

More than 90% of trains may have resumed with full patronage, but railways continue to run them as specials, unreserved express specials and festival specials, charging high and varying fares without offering onboard amenities.

Concessions for senior citizens have been suspended, blankets and pillows are not given and curtains removed from all AC classes but charges have not been reduced. Passengers say it is unfair to keep fares high under different classifications when reservation status is at waitlist and RAC for weekends and holidays.

On Friday, Southern Railway announced around 11 unreserved specials with fares equivalent to express trains. This means people will have to spend double the money they had been spending for tickets on passenger trains to travel by these unreserved express specials between interior towns.

S Vijayaraghavan, who used to travel by passenger trains, said a passenger had to pay ₹30 or more to travel by one of these trains from one station to another while it used to cost only ₹7 on a passenger train. “Railways should introduce passenger trains instead of running trains that charge more money from the people. It is of no help.”

The railways is also introducing festival specials which have fares that will cost ₹300-₹500 more than regular AC III tier class on scheduled trains on the route. However, these trains do not offer any additional facilities.

Suresh Seshadri, a Kolkata resident who works in Chennai, said that on Coromandel Special and Howrah Mail special, the last few 2nd AC and 3rd AC tickets under premium tatkal category cost ₹4,000 and ₹2,500. “The actual fare is ₹2,500 and ₹1,750. A flight to Kolkata booked in advance will be cheaper than a 2nd AC seat.”

This, said consumer activist T Sadagopan, was fleecing in the name of pandemic. “There is no point in running the same express and mail trains by calling them specials and then cancelling all concessions for senior citizens and others. Curtains are removed, pillows and blankets are not given. Railways should be charging less from passengers who travel by AC class because half of the amenities are not provided on board. There is no justification to continue to charge the same fare.” However, railways maintain that all passenger trains are not being operated because the pandemic is still on. The Railway Board has said that a decision on running of passenger trains and running scheduled trains will be taken only after the pandemic reduces considerably.

Hospitals try to sell unsold vax stocks at discount, no takers

Hospitals try to sell unsold vax stocks at discount, no takers

Sumitra.Debroy@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:09.11.2021

Stuck with unsold Covid vaccine doses worth crores, private hospitals have started offering their stocks at 10-30% discounted rates to bulk purchasers. Many have even approached the manufacturers hoping to return unsold inventory.

Far from the situation in May-June when private players faced a crisis of shortage, they were sitting on more than 47lakh doses in October last week. Hospitals in Mumbai may have more than 85% of the unsold doses. Vaccinations in the city’s private sector nosedived in October with less than 3lakh paid jabs administered.

Sanjeevani Hospital in Malad has 7,000 doses of Covishield worth Rs 44lakh and hardly any takers. “I’ve approached both the manufacturer and BMC, but nobody is willing to take the vaccines,” said Dr Sunil Agarwal, the hospital’s director. “We are willing to liquidate it at a discount of 30%...it is better than doses going to waste altogether,” he said. The hospital’s daily footfall for vaccination has dropped to 20-25 people, far below the crowd of 1,000 they had previously.

In a similar dilemma is Oscar Hospital in the western suburbs with around 25,000 doses. Dr Nitin Pawar said, “We have all threes-—Covishield, Covaxin and Sputnik, but hardly any people are coming forward,” Dr Pawar said. Oscar, like many others, is pinning hopes on the government approving a booster shot. “The other way we may see a surge in demand is if the interval between doses is reduced,” he said. The corporation had said more than 22 lakh people would be eligible for vaccination immediately if the 84-day interval is shortened.

Dr Prince Surana, CEO of Surana Group of Hospitals said many hospitals are trying to sell stocks at discounts, but few have found buyers. CoWin allows private hospitals to transfer doses to each other. “That option is used mainly when someone is in urgent need of 100-200 doses. If anybody wants more doses, they usually place orders directly with manufacturers,” he said. Another hospital head said he spoke to the Serum Institute of India to ask them to take some doses back.

“They turned it down saying they cannot be sure how the vaccines were stored,” he said. The extension of expiry period of Covaxin from 6 month to 12 months has brought some relief though, he said. A state official said private hospitals have offered vaccines to the government. “But we cannot buy from private sector when there is abundant supply from the Centre,” the official said. Interestingly, no hospital has slashed rates despite the oversupply.

Doctor among two held for making fake death certificate

Doctor among two held for making fake death certificate

Indore: 09.11.2021

Dewas police have arrested two persons including a doctor for allegedly making a fake death certificate for claiming an insurance sum of Rs 1 crore.

Two others involved in the scam are absconding. The matter came to light after an insurance firm lodged a complaint with Kotwali police after suspicions over the documents, police said.

The police during investigation found the certificate to be fake, police said. The accused Abdul Haneef purchased an insurance claim of rupees one crore from SBI life insurance in May 2019 on Rs 40,000 annual deposit. The accused deposited two instalments of Rs 4,000 each, police said.

In September 2019, his son Iqbal applied for a death certificate with the municipal corporation declaring his father as dead based on a fake document issued by Dr Shakir Mansoori, police said. TNN

Panel to scrutinise govt tenders above ₹50 crore

Panel to scrutinise govt tenders above ₹50 crore

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:09.11.2021

To bring transparency and avoid irregularities in the tendering of government works, the Karnataka government has decided to subject tenders costing Rs 50 crore and above to scrutiny by an independent committee headed by a retired judge of the high court.

The state cabinet took a decision in this regard at its meeting here on Monday. Besides the retired high court judge, the committee will have two members with expertise in finances and technical field. “All tenders costing Rs 50 crore and above will go before the committee and they should be cleared in 15 days,” said state law and parliamentary affairs minister JC Madhuswamy.

Sand mining policy gets approval

The set government up two such has committees decided to to speed up the process of scrutiny. Currently, each department has a panel of its own to scrutinise the tenders. But allegations of overestimation of budget, tweaks in qualification of bidders and taking up works deemed not necessary have put a question mark on the functioning of these committees. “The new system will address all these issues,” said Madhuswamy.

The cabinet cleared a sand-mining policy, which seeks to empower gram and taluk panchayats to dispose of sand mined in their jurisdiction.

Under the policy, gram and taluk panchayats can sell sand extracted from streams and lakes at Rs 300 a tonne. Similarly, Mysuru Mines and Minerals and Hatti Gold Mines have been empowered to extract sand from riverbeds and sell it in south and north Karnataka regions, respectively. The sand extracted from rivers will be priced at Rs 700 a tonne. The initiative will help GPs financially as 25% of the royalty will go to them.

SC: States withdrawing consent to CBI ‘not desirable position’

SC: States withdrawing consent to CBI ‘not desirable position’

‘Need To Examine Issues Of Permission Recalls, Court Stays’

AmitAnand.Choudhary@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:09.11.2021

Expressing concern over eight states withdrawing their general consent granted earlier for CBI probe within their territories and allowing the agency to probe only 18% of the 150 requests made from 2018 to June, 2021, the Supreme Court on Monday said “it is not a desirable position” and decided to examine the issue.

A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and M M Sundresh took note of an affidavit filed by CBI director S K Jaiswal that informed the court that the CBI’s functioning as an investigating agency and also as a prosecuting authority was being hampered with West Bengal, Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram having withdrawn their general consent, forcing the agency to approach the states to get consent on a case-tocase basis, which “is time consuming and at times may be detrimental to timely and prompt investigation”.

Directed by the court to place a “report card” on the CBI’s efficiency as a prosecuting agency, the director said that some of the cases in which permission was denied involved high-stake financial matters with a bearing on the economy. He also said that delays in trials were also caused by stays granted by HCs and furnished details of 367 cases in which proceedings were stayed, some of them in the 1990s.

The bench said that both the issues — states not granting sanction for probe and courts passing stay orders — needed to be examined and issued notice to all states and high courts concerned. The bench referred the case to the Chief Justice to decide on registration of a fresh PIL and for adjudication of the issues raised by the CBI director by an appropriate bench.

Additional solicitor general Sanjay Jain and advocate Sanjay Tyagi, appearing for the CBI, said that the problem faced by the agency was because of the “peculiar nature” of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946 which regulates the CBI. As per the law, the CBI requires the consent of a state government to conduct investigations within its territorial jurisdiction.

“Requests in approximately 78% of cases were pending, which mainly pertained to bank frauds of high magnitude impacting the economy of the country. The delay caused in taking up cases by the CBI due to any of the reasons mentioned above, at times, leads to destruction or dissipation of evidence. This is detrimental not only for the investigation by the CBI but also for subsequent prosecution of cases,” Jaiswal said. He said that the CBI’s legal department was at present handling 13,291 appeals pending in sessions courts, HCs and the SC. He also gave details of pending trials in 9,757 cases — in 500 cases trial had been pending for more than 20 years and in 921 cases for 15-20 years.

Times View: This is what happens when there’s mistrust over the functioning of central agencies. That’s why it is important that agencies are not seen as partisan and do a professional job. States too should only raise objections when necessary, rather than try to score political points.

Kumbh mela Covid testing scam: Main accused nabbed from Noida

Kumbh mela Covid testing scam: Main accused nabbed from Noida

MS Nawaz@timesgroup.com

Haridwar:  09.11.2021

A special investigation team (SIT) on Monday arrested Mallika and Sharat Pant, co-owners of Max Corporate Services, the firm accused of conducting over 1 lakh fake Covid tests during the Kumbh mela at Haridwar earlier this year.

The Pants, who are main accused in the matter, had been evading arrest for the past few months and had been declared 'proclaimed offenders’ by court. They were arrested early morning from their residence in sector 49, Noida. They had also applied for anticipatory bail over a week ago, but their plea was turned down by the Uttarakhand high court.

‘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.