Screening of passengers at railway stations made compulsory

Screening of passengers at railway stations made compulsory

Passengers have to reach railway stations at least 90 minutes in advance

30/05/2020, STAFF REPORTER,GUNTUR

The railways has made screening of all passengers compulsory and said that only asymptomatic passengers will be allowed to board trains.

The railways have issued guidelines which make it mandatory for all passengers to reach railway stations at least 90 minutes in advance, and said that only passengers with confirmed tickets will be allowed to enter railway station.

All passengers must wear masks at the entry and during the travel and passengers have to observe social distancing both at the station and on trains.

On arrival at their destination, passengers should adhere to health protocols as prescribed by destination State/UTs.

The railways would refund the fare in case passengers not found fit for travelling due to symptoms of corona and passengers with very high temperature/Symptoms of COVID-19 etc. would not be allowed to travel despite having confirmed tickets. Full refund would be paid to them.

For refunds, online TDR should be filed within 10 days from date of journey and original TC certificates to be sent by the passenger to IRCTC and full fare to be refunded in customer’s account.

The railways have also banned catering charges to be included in the fare, and encourage passengers to carry their own food and drinking water.

All static catering and vending units at railway stations remain open and no no linen blankets and curtains to be provided inside the train.

New system for COVID-19 testing

New system for COVID-19 testing

30/05/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ,THRISSUR

A nucleic acid extraction system that will enable rapid COVID-19 tests will be launched at Government Medical College Hospital, Thrissur, on Saturday.

The new system, which will be installed at the virology lab of the hospital, will ensure test results in three hours. T.N. Prathapan and Ramya Haridas, MPs, will inaugurate the system.

A sum of ₹40 lakh from Ms. Haridas’ local area development fund was used for the installation of the system, procured from Germany.

Jagan to lay stone for medical college

Jagan to lay stone for medical college

30/05/2020, STAFF REPORTER,VISAKHAPATNAM

Tourism Minister M. Srinivasa Rao said that Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy will lay the foundation stone for the medical college which is proposed to come up at Paderu in Visakhapatnam Agency soon. He said that the medical college will be set up in about 35 acres and orders have been issued for the construction. He was speaking to the media about the government initiatives in Medical & Health and the Tourism Departments, at the VMRDA arena here on Friday.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao said that the State government will set up medical colleges in all parliamentary constituencies in the State, including one at Anakapalle. The college at Paderu will boost medical facilities for the people living in tribal areas, he said.

“Nearly ₹2,280 crore will be spent for construction of medical colleges at Anakapalle and Paderu, CHCs and PHCs,” he said.

Degree exams likely to start from June 20

Degree exams likely to start from June 20

30/05/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,HYDERABAD

Degree final year examinations may start from June 20, with the exam time reduced to two hours if suggestions made by the Telangana State Council of Higher Education (TSCHE) to varsities are followed.

TSCHE suggested reduction of examination time from three hours to two hours and set the paper accordingly. It means varsities can give more choice in questions to lessen the burden on students. However, covering the entire syllabus is mandatory.

TSCHE chairman T. Papi Reddy said that based on UGC guidelines issued earlier, the council held a meeting with registrars and controller of examinations of various universities. Based on the discussions, TSCHE has issued certain guidelines on the conduct of examinations.

Prof. Reddy said that the degree examinations may be held from June 20 onwards but the universities can have their system according to their convenience. The PG exams can be held later as priority was for the degree exams with students prepared for admissions in PG courses across the country.

Universities were also advised to finish the exams within a span of 10 to 15 days covering two papers of different streams per day. It also suggested that examinations for students of Intermediate semesters may be conducted after reopening of colleges or in November and December along with odd semesters’ main examinations.

TSCHE said that students of Intermediate semesters may be promoted to next higher semester irrespective of the number of backlogs, and most universities seem to be already in the mood for that.

With regard to project viva voce and seminars and Ph.D seminars, it said they can be conducted online as per UGC guidelines. However, a web link has to be shared with the DRC members if the Ph.D seminars are conducted online.

‘States show variations in testing contacts’

‘States show variations in testing contacts’

Kerala tested an average of 40 contacts per confirmed positive case, and Maharashtra only eight

30/05/2020, JACOB KOSHY,NEW DELHI

States that are grappling with the highest burden of COVID-19 are those that least tested the contacts of persons who were confirmed positive, suggests data from an analysis of nearly 1,00,000 individuals tested for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and published by a core group of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) scientists and independent epidemiologists leading India’s COVID-19 testing.

A large proportion of both — those tested and those found positive — were asymptomatic family contacts.

Kerala, which is among the States that have contained the initial surge of the pandemic, tested an average of 40 contacts per confirmed positive case. On the other hand, Maharashtra, which on Friday had 38,948 active cases and 1,982 deaths, had tested only eight contacts per positive case. Gujarat, which had 6,599 cases and 960 deaths, only tested 12 contacts per confirmed positive case.

‘Wide variations’

“States demonstrated wide variations in contacts tested per case. It represents the robustness of contact tracing. While exposure to different contacts could vary per case, the reason for this variation needs to be further explored to improve tracing and testing strategies,” says the paper, published on Friday in the Indian Journal for Medical Research.

According to the paper, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand were among the States that had tested greater than the 75th percentile of contacts.

Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi were among those with less than 50th percentile of the contacts tested.

Testing contacts and isolating suspects is a critical aspect of restricting fatalities and ensuring that infections don’t spread rapidly.

For the analysis, the researchers studied individuals who had tested positive between January 22-April 30. Cases in India started to measurably pick up only after March 5, and by March 23, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had declared a lockdown.

Highest proportion

The proportion of positive cases was highest among symptomatic and asymptomatic contacts, two-three-fold higher than among those with severe acute respiratory infections, or those with an international travel history, or among healthcare workers.

The attack rate (based on the number of positive cases in a category) per million by age was highest among those aged 50-69 years (63.3%) and was lowest among those under 10 years (6.1%). The attack rate, or a fraction of a population testing positive, was higher among males (41.6%) than females (24.3%). The secondary attack rate (based on positive cases among contacts of primary cases) was 6%.

Tests for COVID-19 were conducted in 99% of 736 districts in the country, and 71% of these districts reported positive cases.

Cough and fever

Of the 40,184 positive cases until April, 25.3% were asymptomatic family contacts, 10.6% were symptomatic contacts, and 10.5% were SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Infection) patients. Among the 12,810 cases with reported symptoms at the time of specimen collection, cough and fever were the most commonly reported symptoms (64.5% and 60%, respectively).

As on Friday, 1.65 million people in India had tested positive, the highest in Asia.

Travellers coming to State have to pay for their own tests

Travellers coming to State have to pay for their own tests

‘Aim is to improve participation of private labs in testing’

30/05/2020, STAFF REPORTER,BENGALURU

International air passengers and inter-State air and train passengers arriving in State will have to now get their COVID-19 “pooled sample test” done in a private lab that would cost them ₹650. The government, however, will pay for those who cannot afford it.

An order issued on Friday states that each traveller will have to pay a private lab which will conduct the test by the pooling method. According to the Indian Council for Medical Research, this method involves five samples being taken and tested together.

The order comes a day after the Department of Health and Family Welfare said it was not necessary for passengers coming from high-risk States, who finished their seven-day quarantine period, to undergo a COVID-19 test. According to sources, Friday’s decision was because it would be difficult for all passengers coming from high-risk States to be quarantined for seven days in hotels and lodges.

On those who cannot afford to pay, Pankaj Kumar Pandey, Commissioner, Department of Health and Family Welfare, said, “This is only an order to facilitate private labs to conduct tests. Once the swab collection centres come up, we will plan how it will be done in the next two or three days.” He said the State government would pay for those who cannot afford to pay.

An official who monitors testing of people in Bengaluru, however, said the order lacked clarity.

The department issued a clarification and said this order was issued to “improve the participation of private labs that have been approved by the ICMR in testing and were currently running at sub-optimal level”. It is also to help the special category passengers and their attendants to leave early after giving the sample once the swab collection centres are established at airport/ railway stations etc.

The department also clarified that there is no change in the institutional quarantine period for those coming from high-risk States and they would have to complete their seven-day quarantine.

53 flights cancelled to and from KIA, strict surveillance at border roads

53 flights cancelled to and from KIA, strict surveillance at border roads

Air traffic from five high-risk States Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan to be reduced

30/05/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

A day after the State government decided to request the Civil Aviation Ministry to reduce the number of flights from high risk States to Karnataka, 53 arrivals and departures were cancelled at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) as of Friday evening. Twenty-six flights scheduled to land from Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Delhi and other cities were cancelled. Similarly, 27 flights scheduled to take off from KIA did not do so.

On Thursday, the State government after the Cabinet meeting said that it wanted to reduce air traffic from five high risk States - Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan.

Karnataka is not the first State to take such a step. In the past, other States, too, had asked the Union government for reduced flight operations from high prevalence States. However, the cancellation of flights is causing a lot of inconvenience to people who had booked tickets, which many carriers have acknowledged.

“We are painfully aware that continuing last minute changes in regulations, mandated by the State governments at short notice, are causing a huge number of disruptions for our customers, and accessing our call centre has become very difficult,” said IndiGo, in a release to the media.

Vigilance at the border

District administration officials closed all the minor roads connecting Belagavi to Maharashtra. The Police and Revenue departments personnel put up barricades and piled mud mounds on the roads to stop people from entering the State. Check-posts have been put up on the national highways as per the standard operating protocol at three places.

“Due to rising number of cases, we have clear instructions to stop the entry of persons from five high-risk States. We are following them strictly,” Raghavendra Suhas, IGP, northern range, told The Hindu. Land routes from - Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan, pass through Belagavi, Vijayapura and Bagalkot. The official added that they are especially focusing on Nippani and Chikkodi taluks as they have porous borders. “We are not only posting constables and officers at villages, but have also told villagers to alert us if they see anyone cross the border,” he said.

Punjab govt. increases fines for norms violation

Punjab govt. increases fines for norms violation

Penalty for not wearing masks raised to ₹500 from ₹200

30/05/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHANDIGARH

Policemen trying to pacify migrant workers who blocked the national highway near Amritsar on Friday. AFP

The Punjab government on Friday increased the penalties in case of violation of instructions and guidelines issued to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said, taking cognisance of violation reports about the instructions and guidelines concerning the COVID-19, the penalties need to be enhanced and made more stringent to keep Punjab safe from the claws of the pandemic.

Mr. Sidhu said now a ₹500 penalty will be imposed for not wearing a mask in public places, which was earlier ₹200, while a ₹2,000 penalty will be imposed for violating the home quarantine instructions which was previously ₹500. For spitting in public places, the fine will be ₹500, which was ₹100 earlier, he said.

He said non-payment of fine by the violator will attract legal action under Section 188 of the IPC as per regulations framed under the Epidemic Disease Act, 1897. Mr. Sidhu said the Amarinder Singh government was working round-the-clock to prevent the spread of the disease.

He said Punjab became the leading State in the country in recovery of COVID-19 patients, which is around 91%.

The Minister clarified that officials not below the post of block development and panchayat officer, naib tehsildar and any official authorised by Deputy Commissioners can impose the penalties under the provisions of Epidemic Disease Act.

39 fresh cases

Punjab recorded 39 fresh COVID-19 cases on May 29 and reported two more death taking the tally to 42. ,

The number of positive cases has reached 2,197. The patients who died were from Ludhiana and Amritsar districts.

(With PTI inputs)

TNSTC operates 143 buses across four districts for essential services

TNSTC operates 143 buses across four districts for essential services

30/05/2020, STAFF REPORTER ,COIMBATORE

Coimbatore Division of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) operated 143 buses across four districts for essential services on Friday.

The buses were operated for conservancy workers, government employees, migrant workers and teachers involved in evaluation of Class XII answer scripts.

The maximum number of buses was operated in the Coimbatore Zone with 113 out of 143 buses, officials said.

A total of 78 buses were operated for teachers, 16 buses for conservancy workers of Coimbatore Corporation, 13 buses for government employees at the District Collectorate and six buses for migrant workers.

Tiruppur

In Tiruppur Zone, nine buses were operated for teachers and three for Collectorate employees. Erode Zone saw the operation of 11 buses - nine buses for teachers and two for Collectorate employees.

Udhagamandalam Zone had the least number of buses operated – seven buses comprising four for government employees and three for teachers on evaluation duty, according to the TNSTC officials.

Rain inundates underpasses in Coimbatore city

Rain inundates underpasses in Coimbatore city

30/05/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,COIMBATORE

Water stagnated at the North Coimbatore underpass on Friday morning. M. PeriasamyM_PERIASAMY

On the last day of ‘Agni Nakshatram’ (the peak summer days) on Thursday, sky opened up in Coimbatore bringing down the mercury. The city as well as rural areas saw good rain, which in some areas lasted till the night.

In the city, the rain left low lying areas and underpasses inundated forcing the Coimbatore Corporation to remove the water before traffic resumed on Friday morning. The Corporation sources said that as all the motor pumps were in operational condition, there was no problem in removing the water from the underpasses at Lanka Corner, Uppilipalayam, Kaleeswara Mill, Kikani School and North Coimbatore.

The rainfall data collated by the district administration showed that Valparai’s Parambikulam Aliyar Project area received the maximum rainfall - 59 mm followed by Valparai taluk 58 mm, Sulur 50.2 mm, Coimbatore airport 35 mm, Coimbatore South 19 mm and Periyanaickenpalayam 17.6 mm. Sources in the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board said that the Siruvani catchment received 54 mm and the foothills 21 mm. The water level in the reservoir stood at 7.67 feet.

Erode Staff Reporter adds

Rain that lashed many parts of the district on Thursday night brought much relief to people who were experiencing intense heat due to ‘kathiri veyil’.

Accompanied by lightning and thunder, many places in rural areas received good rainfall as uprooting of trees were reported across the district. However, no major damage was caused to property. Power supply was disrupted for many hours and normalcy restored later. Stagnation of rainwater on city roads caused inconvenience to motorists who wanted repair works carried out before the onset of monsoon.

Rainfall recorded at various places (in mm) were Gobichettipalayam 61, Bhavani 59.4, Kodumudi 59, Kavundapadi 52, Elandakuttai Medu 50, Erode 49, Nambiyur 46, Bhavani Sagar 31, Ammapettai 28.6, Gunderipallam 28, Talavadi 26 and Perundurai 22.

Environment clearance for diversion of forest land for govt. medical college

Environment clearance for diversion of forest land for govt. medical college

One of the last remaining green spaces within town will be destroyed: activists

30/05/2020, ROHAN PREMKUMAR,UDHAGAMANDALAM

The land allotted for medical college in Udhagamandalam.M. Sathyamoorthy M_Sathyamoorthy

One major hurdle for the construction of a government medical college and hospital in Udhagamandalam has been cleared, with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change clearing the diversion of 25 acre of reserve forest around Udhagamandalam town for the setting up of the facility.

The Nilgiris District Collector J. Innocent Divya confirmed the latest development to The Hindu, with the clearance now paving the way for the construction of the facility which has been a popular demand among the residents for the last few years.

“To compensate for the diversion, 50 acre or double the amount of land being taken over in the Nilgiris will be handed over to the Forest Department in Salem for compensatory afforestation works,” the Collector added.

The government had been pushing for the medical college to be set up at the site, located near Fingerpost in Udhagamandalam. An alternative was the existing building infrastructure at the now defunct Hindustan Photo Films Manufacturing Company Limited.

However, the plan was deemed not feasible due to the factory being under litigation, with a court ruling dictating that the assets be sold to pay compensation to the workers who were employed at the factory.

Forest Department officials said that there were 2,000 exotic trees, primarily eucalyptus and wattle on the 25 acre. Local residents said that apart from Indian gaur and barking deer, three leopards and a family of sloth bear used the reserve forest.

Local activists voiced their displeasure at the developments, stating that if the hospital was to be constructed near Fingerpost, one of the last remaining green spaces within Udhagamandalam town would be completely destroyed.

“It’s not just the hospital itself, but the accompanying infrastructure and activities, businesses that will invariably follow when such a huge project finally comes to fruition,” said an activist in the Nilgiris.

Reports of ‘lost’ trains fake, says Railways

Reports of ‘lost’ trains fake, says Railways

‘Only four of 3,840 trains run since May 1 have taken over three days to reach their destinations’

30/05/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT, ,NEW DELHI

Journey begins: A migrant worker, along with his children, before boarding a train at Egmore station.B. VELANKANNI RAJ

Railway Board Chairman V.K. Yadav on Friday termed reports of Shramik Special trains “getting lost” as “fake news,” and said only four trains of a total of 3,840 run so far since May 1 have taken more than 72 hours to reach their destinations.

He said only 1.8% of all such trains run so far, or 71 trains, were diverted and even that only between May 20 and 24, as 90% of the Shramik Special trains run in the four days were bound for Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and this had led to network congestion.

Among the destination-States of the diverted trains were Bihar (51), Uttar Pradesh (16), Jharkhand (2) and Assam and Manipur (1 each). Among the originating-States were Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan.

The statement comes amid severe criticism of the Indian Railways for Shramik Special trains taking longer routes and lack of proper food and drink.

“In normal times, catering is done by IRCTC via contractors,” said Mr. Yadav.

“In the beginning, many of them didn’t want to distribute food inside the trains due to coronavirus... Initially, we started keeping food packets as per the number of passengers in the train... some issues came up in sharing the food, which is understandable... These incidents happened in some 2-3% of the trains. “These are not normal times... whatever lessons we learnt, we used them to improve services.”

He stressed that 90% of the trains, in fact, were running at greater speeds that the normal Mail Express trains, and there was a delay of a couple of hours in about 10% of them.

To a query on the incidents of death on board such trains, Mr. Yadav said the Railways was compiling a list of people who died on the Shramik Special trains from the State governments.

“The set protocol is that local State police investigate the deaths, including the reason for the death. We have seen reports that people died due to starvation. We have analysed them and there was no shortage of food and drinks on these trains.”

Till May 28, Mr Yadav said, 3,840 Shramik Specials operated ferrying a total of 52 lakh passengers.

40% of air passengers lackAarogya Setu app

40% of air passengers lackAarogya Setu app

30/05/2020, SUNITHA SEKAR,CHENNAI

Nearly 40% of passengers flying out of Chennai airport did not have the Aarogya Setu app and instead signed the self-declaration form before entering the departure terminal.

Airports Authority of India officials said staff were helping people with smartphone install and set up the app. “But over the past few days, some didn’t carry a smartphone and others didn’t have a phone at all. In these cases, we guide them to fill up the form,” an official said.

The form asks for the passenger’s health status, recent travel history, destination and residential details.

Minister of Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri recently clarified that the app may not be mandatory for those who don’t have smartphones and as an alternative they can give a self-declaration form. AAI officials noted that they have seen several first-time flyers after the Chennai airport resumed domestic flight operations.

“We see hundreds of people stranded in the city. So, there are many who use their savings or those who borrow a sum to buy a ticket and fly home. We have seen a lot of workers who came to the airport with tickets, desperate to return to the families,” another official said.

Operating with PPE kits — a challenge for doctors

Operating with PPE kits — a challenge for doctors

Breathing difficulties, profuse sweating and fogged up goggles have become part of the new normal

30/05/2020, SERENA JOSEPHINE M.,CHENNAI

PPE kits have become essential for surgeons.B. Jothi Ramalingam

Inside an operation theatre in Chennai, a surgeon at work gets breathless.

The multiple layers of protective clothing cause profuse sweating. Her spectacles and goggles fog up, affecting her vision. She knows the surgery has to go on and she cannot risk patient safety, and in the struggle between getting to see better and being able to breathe, she quickly removes the goggles.

“Wearing protective gear during surgery is difficult. I experience a lot of difficulty breathing. Sometimes I feel like lowering the mask to breathe better. But I remove the goggles so that I can see clearly and complete the procedure,” the surgeon said.

New normal

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) may have become the new normal for healthcare providers.

Wearing the protective kit has become particularly essential for doctors while performing surgeries. Though government hospitals are yet to start performing elective procedures, doctors have been performing emergency surgeries and caesarean sections during the pandemic.

“It is very tough,” a surgeon in a government hospital said, summing up his experience of wearing PPEs during surgeries.

“There is too much sweating and dehydration. It makes me tired. While my arms and fingers hurt, the sweating that causes dehydration and a loss of electrolytes makes the mind numb. Just one surgery wearing PPE is tough,” he said.

Proper donning of PPE takes 10 minutes. Surgeons are used to wearing operation theatre (OT) apron over the OT dress.

“One or more layers over and above that actually hinders, albeit in a minor way, movement. Surgeons are birds of practice, and therefore, though it looks like a small hindrance, the routine is affected,” he observed.

A number of doctors are facing breathing difficulties during surgeries.

“Not all patients are screened for COVID-19 now. So, invariably, we have to wear PPE during surgeries. I become hypoxic half way through the procedure. I sweat profusely and feel my clothes getting soaked quickly. The goggles fog up and my vision is compromised. We need to improvise on safety gear. We are trying out some respirators that will enable us to breathe better,” another surgeon said.

‘PPE manageable’

A senior surgeon in a private hospital said that wearing PPE was manageable up to 45 minutes to one hour of surgery.

“It becomes difficult beyond that, and worsens if the surgery prolongs for four to six hours. We will have to adjust and get used to wearing PPE. But this will take months, or even a year, for many of us,” he said.

E-learning to pose problems for rural students

E-learning to pose problems for rural students

30/05/2020, STAFF REPORTER, MADURAI

Students from government-run schools outside Corporation limits will have problems connecting to web-based crash course for National Eligibility cum Entrance (NEET) coaching, say students and teachers.

The State government on Thursday announced that the Department of School Education in association with Amphisoft Technologies E - box will offer a free online crash course to government and government-aided school students registered for NEET. However, with little percolation of e-education in schools and homes in rural areas, students may not be able to make the best of this offer, say school heads.

A headmaster from a government school in Melur says teachers taking higher secondary classes are sending out potential questions on WhatsApp to those with internet connectivity. Some other students call them and get the sample questions dictated. “There are few or no computer centres. Most parents in poor families only have phones that can be used for talking. Smartphones are a rarity,” says a hheadmaster from Kottampatti block. He adds that teachers send notes to neighbours of their students so that they get access to study material.

Another higher secondary school physics teacher from Othakadai says most teachers are evaluating papers and do not have enough time to clear doubts of students. “Without students gathering in a single place to learn, we wonder how we will get good results,” he says.

S. Rajalakshmi, a student of Government Higher Secondary School, Kottampatti, says schools are only signing up toppers for NEET online coaching. “What about those who wish to study outside it. Can’t we avail online facilities if we have access to smartphones?” she asks. M. Kannan, a student of Government Higher Secondary School, T. Kallupatti, says his friends have asked whether they could come home and do group studies as he has a smartphone. “We have to share what we have now,” he says.

Can’t disturb age-old practices: HC

Can’t disturb age-old practices: HC

30/05/2020, B. TILAK CHANDARMADURAI

Refusing to interfere into the conduct of religious practices and rituals, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Friday dismissed a writ petition that sought a direction to the State to prevent the practice of breaking coconut on the head of devotees during Aadi festival in a temple in Karur district.

The petitioner-society, Arulmighu Mahalakshmi Mumudiyar Kulanala Sangam, represented by its 26 members filed the writ petition last year against the practice that was being followed in Mahalakshmi Amman Temple in Karur district.

The petitioners said the practice of breaking coconut on the head of devotees resulted in serious head injuries and must be stopped. Instead, the coconut could be simply placed on the head of the devotee first and then broken on the ground.

Justice R. Suresh Kumar observed that the breaking of the coconut on the head of devotees in common parlance may be considered one of the most weird rituals to be performed in temples. But the devotees were willing to practise it. Under Article 26 of the Constitution, it has been made clear that freedom to manage religious affairs was subject to public order, morality and health. These practices that were performed for several centuries cannot be considered to be against public order, morality and health.

Such practices were followed not only in the Karur temple, but also in shrines across the State for ages. The devotees come to temples and volunteer to perform the ritual every year. This was not only the practice where devotees put their body to suffering. Fire walking (thee mithi) and body piercing (alagu kuthuthal) were the other two.

Such religious faith and practices have been mentioned in Tamil literature and were part of the Tamil tradition.

A classic example can be found in Kalingathu Parani in which Jayamkondar described how valiantly the Chola army men fulfilled their vow after conquering Kalinga, the judge said.

“The beliefs of any religion or religious denomination or community cannot be easily disturbed by the diktat of courts of law except in the manner known to law. Therefore, this court is not inclined to issue any direction, as sought, in this writ petition,” the judge said and dismissed the petition.

Swab test on all inter-State passengers at Madurai airport

Swab test on all inter-State passengers at Madurai airport

Till Thursday, the test was done only on Madurai-bound passengers

30/05/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,MADURAI

After three air passengers tested positive on Thursday, Madurai district administration changed the strategy and started conducting swab test on all inter-State passengers, irrespective of the districts they are headed to.

Till Thursday, swab test was conducted only on the inter-State passengers who were bound to Madurai district. They were kept in facility quarantine till the test results were out. The inter-State passengers who were proceeding to other districts were cross-notified to the respective districts and allowed to proceed to their districts.

“On Friday, we started testing all inter-State passengers even if they are from other districts,” said Madurai Collector T.G. Vinay.

Stating that in a few cases there was a delay in taking swabs when the passengers reached other districts, Dr. Vinay said that the swab test was now done on all passengers in Madurai to avoid delay.

“The result of the test would be intimated to the passenger and the respective district administration,” he said. The district administrations and health officials could take further action based on the results, he added.Stating that since the number of inter-State passengers coming to Madurai airport was relatively small, Madurai district administration was able to conduct the swab test on all inter-State passengers.

Meanwhile, sources at Madurai airport said that some of the inter-State passengers were not willing to undergo the two-day facility quarantine as mandated by the district administration. “Some of them were complaining that they were unaware of this rule,” an official said.

However, the Collector said that the standard operating procedure was followed and every passenger had to follow the rules. “A very few are creating a scene at the airport, while a vast majority are cooperating,” he added.

Stating that in one of the cases, a woman passenger who refused to cooperate in this regard at Bengaluru airport was sent back to Delhi, Dr. Vinay said that those passengers who refused to abide by rules would have to go back.

No relaxation could be given for passengers for their ignorance of law, he added.

₹ 32.86 crore allocated for works in horticulture farms

₹ 32.86 crore allocated for works in horticulture farms

30/05/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,VIRUDHUNAGAR

Virudhunagar district administration has allocated ₹ 32.86 crore for providing drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation and sub-surface water management scheme for 2020-21.

In a statement, Collector R. Kannan said that horticulture crops had been cultivated on 10,642 h.a. and coconut palms on 10,005 h.a.

In order to make judicious usage of water against the backdrop of decrease in the water resources and rainy days and to increase the area of cultivation of horticulture crops, the district has been implementing Prime Minister’s Precision Irrigation scheme through Department of Horticulture.

Drip irrigation and sprinkler irrigation facility would be provide for 4,070 hectare at a cost of ₹ 27.49 crore. Besides, under sub-surface water management, new deep borewell would be sunk and motorpump with pipelines and water storage tanks would be provided at a cost of ₹ 5.37 crore.

The statement said 100 % subsidy would be given to marginal farmers for land up to 2.5 acres and for small farmers 100 % subsidy would be given for land up 5 acres. For other farmers, a subsidy of 75% would be given for 12.5 acres.

Under the sub-surface water management scheme 500 borewells would be sunk for moderate depth in firkas identified as safe zone for groundwater availability with a subsidy of ₹ 25,000 each. Besides, a subsidy of ₹ 15,000 each for 1,077 diesel/electric motorpumps would be given.

The statement added that ₹ 10,000 per ha of subsidy would be given for laying pipelines on 1,425 ha.

At total of 270 ground-level water storage sumps would be constructed at a cost of ₹ 40,000 each.

Interested farmers can submit their applications with the respective office of Block Assistant Director (Horticulture) with all relevant documents like adangal, computer chital, land map, soil and water quality test reports, the statement added.

Three held for violating e-pass regulations

Three held for violating e-pass regulations

30/05/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,THANJAVUR

Three persons, two from Kumbakonam and one from S. Pudur near Thiruvidaimaruthur, have been arrested for violating the e-pass regulations.

According to Collector M.Govinda Rao the accused persons hailing from Kumbakonam – Sankar and Nirmal – obtained e-passes to visit Chennai. While they were heading towards Chennai it was found that the number of persons travelling in the vehicles was more than the number of persons permitted to travel. Thus, both of them were arrested and booked under sections 188, 269 and 270 of IPC for violating the e-pass regulations.

Similarly, Jerald of S. Pudur, who had obtained e-pass to travel to Chennai from Nagapattinam, had brought two persons to Kumbakonam on the return journey. He was booked under sections 420 and 511 of IPC.

Ajit Jogi, first CM of Chhattisgarh, dead

Ajit Jogi, first CM of Chhattisgarh, dead

He was hospitalised after a heart attack

30/05/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,NEW DELHI

Ajit Jogi

Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, 74, died on Friday after being hospitalised in Raipur following a heart attack. His death was announced on Twitter by his son Amit Jogi.

The former bureaucrat-turned-politician, who was the incumbent MLA from the Marwahi seat, was the first chief minister of Chhattisgarh after it was carved out of Madhya Pradesh as a separate State in November 2000.

Tributes poured in from across the political spectrum.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, offering his condolences to the family, tweeted,“Shri Ajit Jogi Ji was passionate about public service. This passion made him work hard as a bureaucrat and as a political leader.”

“Jogi ji’s death is an irreparable loss to the State. He laid a roadmap for the development of the State and delivered an important role as a skilled politician and administrator in its progress,” said Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who declared a three-day State mourning.

Mr. Jogi lost power in the 2003 Assembly elections but continued to be one of the tallest leaders of the Congress party until he and his son got embroiled in a controversy over a leaked audio tape towards the end of 2015, amid allegations that they “had forced” Manturam Pawar to withdraw his nomination as the Congress party’s official candidate in a bye-election.

After the controversy, the Jogis formally quit the Congress in 2016 and floated a regional outfit, the Janata Congress Chhattisgarh.

Throughout his career, Mr. Jogi also faced repeated scrutiny over his claim of being an Adivasi. Several petitions and cases were filed against him and all of them were legally challenged by him.

A seasoned politician

In November 2000, when the new State of Chhattisgarh was created, Mr. Jogi was chosen by Sonia Gandhi to head the State, pipping veterans like Moti Lal Vohra and the late Vidya Charan Shukla.

After losing power to the BJP in the State in 2003, he returned to the 14th Lok Sabha as a member of Parliament from the Mahasamund seat. But a car crash during the 2004 election campaign left him and wheelchair-bound.

In 2008, he successfully contested the Assembly elections from the Marwahi Assembly seat, a reserved constituency. But after the Congress could not to wrest back the State from the BJP, he once again became a Lok Sabha member in 2009, but failed to win his seat in 2014.

Through his life, Mr. Jogi always fought the odds to make a comeback but his dream of returning as the Chief Minister remained unfulfilled as he was out of the Congress long before his former party became the ruling party in Chhattisgarh.

Rajasthan farmers, officials in night-long fight against locusts

Rajasthan farmers, officials in night-long fight against locusts

In Garh, swarms perched on trees were eliminated

30/05/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,JAIPUR

Grave concerns: Swarms of locusts seen in the walled city of Jaipur, Rajasthan, earlier this week. PTI

Farmers in Rajasthan are assisting officials of the Agriculture Department in their operations to control locust swarms, which have spread over 20 districts, posing a threat to the vegetation. The officials have been destroying locusts with insecticide, mostly in night-long operations.

Agriculture Minister Lal Chand Kataria had recently asked the officials to alert the farmers and get their “active cooperation” in the anti-locust operations. In a midnight operation in Garh village in Bassi tehsil of Jaipur district, locusts perched on neem and acacia trees. They were almost completely eliminated in a 42-hectare area on Thursday.

Assistant Director (Agriculture) Rekha Chaudhary, who led the operation, told The Hindu that a survey was undertaken to determine the affected area. Five teams of tractor-powered sprayers were formed for spraying high-intensity insecticide. “Though the Department’s supervisors were present in our team for monitoring the operation, the farmers guided us to the affected areas in the surrounding foothills through their fields,” she said.

Radheshyam Prajapat, 45, a farmer who owns 10-bigha land at Garh, said the villagers, reeling under the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown, were willing to render help to the officials in order to save their crops.

The villagers were also trying to scare away the tropical locusts by beating drums, tin cans and plates and bursting firecrackers.

‘Avoid travel by train unless it is essential’

‘Avoid travel by train unless it is essential’

Cases of deaths were due to pre-existing medical conditions, says Railway Minister Piyush Goyal

30/05/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,NEW DELHI

Piyush Goyal

In the wake of some deaths on the Shramik Special trains, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said the “few unfortunate cases” were related to pre-existing medical conditions.

Mr. Goyal put up a Twitter post appealing to people “suffering from serious ailments, pregnant women and those above 65 years and below 10 years” to travel on Shramik Special trains only if necessary.

The railways started running the trains from May 1 to ferry migrants stranded due to the nationwide lockdown. As per reported data, at least nine migrants have lost their lives while travelling on them.

“Indian Railways has been running Shramik Special trains on a daily basis throughout the country to ensure that migrants can travel back to their homes. It has been observed that some people who are availing this service have pre-existing medical conditions which aggravates the risk they face during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mr. Goyal’s post said.

“...Ministry of Railways makes an appeal that persons with co-morbidities (for example - hypertension, diabetes, cardio-vascular diseases, cancer, immune deficiency conditions), pregnant women, children below the age of 10 years and persons above 65 years of age may avoid travel by rail, except when it is essential,” the post said.

The railways were working 24x7 to ensure that services were provided to all the citizens of the country needing to travel, the post said.

He further said that the safety of passengers was “our biggest concern. So, we seek the cooperation of all citizens in this matter.”

As of May 28, the railways had operationalised 3,736 Shramik Specials across the country, transporting around 50 lakh passengers to their home States.

Rahul asks govt. to tell nation what’s happening with China

Rahul asks govt. to tell nation what’s happening with China

‘Silence on border situation is fuelling massive speculation’

30/05/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,NEW DELHI

Rahul Gandhi

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday asked the government to ‘come clean’ on the reported border tension with China and inform the nation what exactly is happening.

“The Government’s silence about the border situation with China is fuelling massive speculation and uncertainty at a time of crisis. The government of India must come clean and tell India exactly what’s happening”, he said on twitter.

His tweet came a day after United States President Donald Trump claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was ‘not in a good mood’ over the border row and offered to mediate between India and China, something that was both denied and rejected by India.

Last Tuesday, Mr Gandhi said he expected the government to be transparent about the border tensions with China and Nepal but refused to make any specific comment. “I think on the India-China issue, we would like to see some more transparency on what is going on. It becomes very difficult for us to have a position without understanding the facts. I think the Government should make clear to the people of India, what exactly is happening on the border. We are hearing different stories. So, I don’t want to go into conjecture but it is important that the Government of India makes it clear what is happening on the border,” he had said.

On May 5, Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in a violent face-off on the eastern Ladakh border that prompted a meeting of local commanders to ‘disengage’ from such skirmishes.

We will decide our present, future: PM

We will decide our present, future: PM

30/05/2020

But, Mr. Modi said the country displayed its unity and resolve in all spheres in dealing with the disease outbreak.

“In a crisis of this magnitude, it can certainly not be claimed that no one suffered any inconvenience or discomfort. Our labourers, migrant workers, artisans and craftsmen in small scale industries, hawkers and such fellow countrymen have undergone tremendous suffering,” he wrote.

“However, we have to take care to ensure that inconveniences that we are facing do not turn into disasters. Hence it is very important for every Indian to follow rules and guidelines. We have displayed patience so far and we should continue to do so,” he wrote a day before Lockdown 4 is to end, adding that it was a “long battle” against COVID-19, but that “victory was our collective resolve.”

The Prime Minister also took the opportunity to comment on the spirit behind many of the bold decisions that his government had taken or had to react to.

“(The dilution of ) Article 370 furthered the spirit of national unity and integration. The Ram Mandir judgement, delivered unanimously by the Honourable Supreme Court of India, brought an amicable end to a debate persisting for centuries. The barbaric practice of Triple Talaq has been confined to the dustbin of history. Amendment to the Citizenship Act was an expression of India’s compassion and spirit of inclusiveness,” he wrote.

For the future, the Prime Minister Modi dwelt at length over the economic challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, stating that the spirit of self reliance or atmanirbharta was the only way forward.

“At such a time, there is also a widespread debate on how the economies of various countries, including India’s will recover. However, given the way India has surprised the world with its unity and resolve in the fight against coronavirus, there is a firm belief that we will also set an example in economic revival,” he said. He added that the initiatives announced by his government as part of the ₹20 lakh crore package will “usher in a new era of opportunities for every Indian, be it our farmers, workers, small entrepreneurs or youth associated with start ups.”

He quoted a Sanskrit shloka that translated to “if we have action and duty on one hand, then success is assured on the other” signing off as “Pradhan Sewak” or “chief servitor.”

HC clears the air on Jaya’s heirs

HC clears the air on Jaya’s heirs

The term ‘Class II’ droped from order passed on Wednesday

30/05/2020, MOHAMED IMRANULLAH S.,CHENNAI

The Poes Garden residence of Jayalalithaa

The Madras High Court on Friday ordered removal of the term ‘Class II’ heirs from orders passed by it on Wednesday declaring former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s nephew J. Deepak and niece J. Deepa as her legal heirs.

This is because classification of legal heirs as Class I and Class II under the Hindu Succession Act of 1956 would apply only to heirs of a male Hindu who died intestate.

In its clarificatory order, a Division Bench of Justices N. Kirubakaran and Abdul Quddhose pointed out that Mr. Deepak claimed to be the legal heir of the former Chief Minister under Entry IV Class II of the 1956 Act. Therefore, in Wednesday’s court order, it was inadvertently stated that he and his sister had become the legal heirs of their aunt under Entry IV Class II.

The Bench held the siblings would actually be entitled to inherit all self-acquired properties of their aunt as per Section 15(1) (d) of the Act.

They would also be entitled to other properties, which had been inherited by their aunt from her parents in terms of Section 15(2) (a) of the Act.

The Act, basically, classifies inheritors under Class I and Class II in a Schedule appended to the Act only with respect to properties left behind by a male Hindu dying intestate. Section 8 of the Act states that properties of a male Hindu dying intestate shall devolve firstly upon the heirs specified in Class I of the Schedule and secondly upon those specified in Class II if there were no Class I heirs.

In so far as self-acquired properties left behind by a female Hindu, who died intestate, was concerned, Section 15(1) of the Act states that they shall devolve firstly upon her sons and daughters (including the children of any predeceased son or daughter) and the husband. Secondly, they would devolve upon heirs of the husband and thirdly upon the mother and father.

Only if none of such people were available, the properties would fourthly devolve upon the heirs of the father as per Section 15(1) (d) of the Act.

Since Mr. Deepak and his sister were the children of Jayalalithaa’s brother J. Jayakumar (who predeceased her), the siblings would be entitled to inherit her self-acquired properties in terms of Section 15((1)(d), the Bench held.

Fresh spike of 874 cases takes T.N. past 20,000-mark

Fresh spike of 874 cases takes T.N. past 20,000-mark

30/05/2020

Experts said that restrictions should continue on places of worship, educational institutions, cinemas, malls and public transport, while calling for routine testing of healthcare workers, strict implementation of masks in workplaces and other public places.

Nine deaths

Of the nine deaths, five persons died at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) and four in private hospitals. Four of the deceased were women.

The 32-year-old man, who tested positive for COVID-19, was admitted to RGGGH at 12.35 a.m. May 28. He died at 9.20 p.m. the same day due to cardiopulmonary arrest, COVID-19 pneumonia, type I respiratory failure, hypoxic encephalopathy and acute respiratory distress syndrome.

The number of COVID-19 cases has been steadily rising in Chengalpattu.

With 61 new cases, the district’s total of positive cases reached 1,000 on Friday. There were 14 cases in Tiruvannamalai, 12 in Kancheepuram, nine in Tiruvallur, five each in Cuddalore and Kallakurichi, four in Tirunelveli, one each in Ariyalur, Dindigul, Kanniyakumari, Tiruchi and Villupuram.

The fresh cases included a total of 141 persons who had returned from other States and tested positive for COVID-19.

Out of this, 129 persons had returned from Maharashtra.

A total of 72 of them, who were under railway quarantine, tested positive, while the remaining tested positive in districts including Tiruvannamalai, Tirunelveli and Kallakurichi.

Three persons from Kerala, and one person each from West Bengal, Telangana and Karnataka have also tested positive.

Six persons, who had returned to the State from Maharashtra in a flight, also tested positive for COVID-19.

Samples tested

A total of 4,66,550 samples have been tested so far, including the day’s samples of 11,334. One more testing facility has been approved in the government sector — the Communicable Diseases Hospital, Chennai. As of now, there are 43 testing facilities in the government sector and 28 in the private sector.

(*This is inclusive of two deaths cross-notified to other States and one patient who died after testing negative for the infection)

Palaniswami hints at extension of lockdown beyond May 31

Palaniswami hints at extension of lockdown beyond May 31

COVID-19 spread under control in all districts, except Chennai, says CM

30/05/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

Edappadi K. Palaniswami

Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Friday indicated that the COVID-19 lockdown might be extended beyond May 31.

Wrapping up a two-hour interaction with District Collectors at the Secretariat through videoconferencing, he called upon them to follow fully the conditions of the lockdown and said that no relaxation could be given to any district. “If you want to have any relaxation, please get in touch with Chief Secretary [K. Shanmugam] and get his consent before making any announcement,” he observed.

According to Mr. Palaniswami, the spread of the COVID-19 infection was under control in all districts, except Chennai.

If migrant workers or others come from other States, they should be subjected to tests and conditions should be created for treatment of the infected. He cautioned officials about the likelihood of spread of the virus only through those coming from other States.

Appeal to officials

“Barring Chennai, we have been able to keep the situation under control in other districts. I appeal to you all to follow the guidelines of the government, so that the situation remains under control,” Mr. Palaniswami said.

A participant at the interaction said that it could be gauged from the deliberations that the Chennai situation was holding back the government from announcing any major relaxation.

The day’s discussion mainly centred on the status of the northern districts and select southern districts, including Madurai and Tirunelveli.

Pointing out that several industrial units had resumed functioning, the Chief Minister advised the officials to permit willing inter-State migrant workers to work again even if they had made online registration for return to their home States. Their earlier request could be ignored.

In the case of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, 100% of the enrolled beneficiaries could be allowed to work.

Earlier, while inaugurating the interaction, Mr. Palaniswami said that about 2.47 lakh inter-State migrant workers had been sent back through 170 train services. As many as 2,218 Tamils, living abroad, returned home by air or sea.

Lockdown 5.0 to be strictly implemented in 13 cities

Lockdown 5.0 to be strictly implemented in 13 cities

In single-day record, country registers 7,707 cases, 263 deaths

30/05/2020, VIJAITA SINGH,NEW DELHI

The government is all set to announce Lockdown 5.0 for two weeks, with strict implementation in 13 cities that have recorded 70% of the total COVID-19 cases.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will issue revised guidelines soon, a senior government official said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday and is learnt to have given him the feedback he received from the Chief Ministers. Mr. Shah called all the Chief Ministers on Thursday, and sought their views on extending the lockdown.

Even as the new guidelines are set to be announced, there were 7,707 new COVID-19 cases and 263 deaths on Friday, the highest on a single day. This takes the total number of cases to 1,73,052 and fatalities to 4,970.

In the new set of relaxations planned, all kinds of religious places will be allowed to open, but malls and restaurants are expected to remain shut.

The lockdown, imposed first in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic on March 24, has been extended four times. The ongoing phase is in force till May 31.

The Centre is not in favour of running metro trains as most routes fall in the containment zones in cities.

Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba held a meeting on Thursday with Municipal Commissioners and District Magistrates of the 13 worst- affected COVID-19 regions: Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi/New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Thane, Pune, Hyderabad, Kolkata/Howrah, Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Jaipur and Jodhpur (Rajasthan), Chengalpattu and Thiruvallur (Tamil Nadu).

The State governments will be given more autonomy in implementing the MHA’s guidelines issued under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. “States can improvise to make them more stringent, but they cannot dilute the provisions,” said the official.

ஒரு நாளைக்கு 81 மைல்களுக்கு மேல் பயணிக்க வெட்டுக்கிளிகள் குறித்து தெரிந்து கொள்ளுங்கள்

ஒரு நாளைக்கு 81 மைல்களுக்கு மேல் பயணிக்க வெட்டுக்கிளிகள் குறித்து தெரிந்து கொள்ளுங்கள்

இணைய தளத்தில், வெட்டுக்கிளியின் (Locusts) தாக்குதல் தொடர்பான வீடியோக்களை பார்த்தால், அதன் பயங்கரத்தை அறியலாம். பாலைவன வெட்டுக்களிகள் என்றால் என்ன என நீங்கள் யோசிக்கிறீர்களா? அதற்கான விடையை அறிந்து கொள்ளலாம்.

 ZH Web (தமிழ்) | Updated: May 28, 2020, 08:00 PM IST

Photo: Zee Network

புது டெல்லி: வெட்டுக்கிளி (Locusts) தாக்குதல் தொடர்பான செய்திகள் சமூக ஊடகங்களில் அதிக அளவில் காணப்பட்டது. வெட்டுக்கிளி படையெடுப்பை புயல் என்று தான் கூறவேண்டும். ஏற்கனவே இந்த வெட்டுக்கிளி புயல் மத்திய பிரதேசம் மற்றும் ராஜஸ்தானின் சுமார் 16 மாவட்டங்களில் படையெடுத்து பெரும் அழிவை ஏற்படுத்தியுள்ளன என முந்தைய தகவல்கள் தெரிவிக்கின்றன.

இப்போது,மத்திய பிரதேசம் மற்றும் ராஜஸ்தானை தாக்கிய பின்னர், வெட்டுக்கிளிகள் (Locusts) டெல்லி மற்றும் அதை ஒட்டிய தேசிய தலைநகர் பிராந்தியத்தை (என்.சி.ஆர்) நோக்கி செல்கின்றன.

வெட்டுக்கிளி (Locusts) பசுமை நிறைந்த மண்டலங்களில் பெரும் சேதத்தை ஏற்படுத்தும் என்ற அச்சம் உள்ளது. இது தலைநகருக்கு மிகவும் தீங்கு விளைவிக்கும். ஏனென்றால், இங்கு பசுமை நிறைந்த பகுதிகள் அதிகம் உள்ளன. குறிப்பாக, இந்த ஆண்டு, இது பெரிய அளவில் தாக்குதல் நடத்தியுள்ளது. ஏனெனில் பாலைவன வெட்டுக்கிளிகள் பொதுவாக தனியாக அல்லது சிறிய குழுக்களாக வந்து தான் பொதுவாக தாக்குதல் நடத்தும். ஆனால் இந்த ஆண்டு வழக்கத்திற்கு மாறாக பெரிய திரளாக வந்து தாக்குதல் நடத்தியுள்ளது என்பது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது.

இணைய தளத்தில், வெட்டுக்கிளியின் (Locusts) தாக்குதல் தொடர்பான வீடியோக்களை பார்த்தால், அதன் பயங்கரத்தை அறியலாம். பாலைவன வெட்டுக்களிகள் என்றால் என்ன என நீங்கள் யோசிக்கிறீர்களா? அதற்கான விடையை அறிந்து கொள்ளலாம்.

பாலைவன வெட்டுக்களிகள் என்றால் என்ன?

பாலைவன வெட்டுக்கிளி (ஸ்கிஸ்டோசெர்கா கிரேகாரியா; கிரில்லஸ் கிரெகாரியஸ்) என்பது ஒரு வெட்டுக்கிளி இனமாகும், இது அக்ரிடிடே குடும்பத்தில் ஒரு குறுகிய கொம்பு உள்ள வெட்டுக்கிளி. இது உலகின் மிகவும் ஆபத்தான, பெரிய அளவில் தாக்கத்தை ஏற்படுத்தும் புலம்பெயர்ந்த பூச்சிகளில் ஒன்றாகும். இவை அனைத்து வகையான பசுமை பயிர்கள் மற்றும் தீவனம் உள்ளிட்ட எந்தவொரு தாவரங்களையும் அதிக அளவில் சாப்பிடும்.

பாலைவன வெட்டுக்கிளியின் நீளம் 0.5 முதல் 3 அங்குலங்கள் வரை இருக்கும் என்றும், அது 0.07 அவுன்ஸ் எடையுள்ளதாக இருக்கும் எனவும் நேஷனல் ஜியோகிராஃபிக் வலைத்தளத்தில் உள்ள தகவல்கள் கூறுகின்றன.

உலகில் உள்ள பாலவைவன வெட்டுக் கிளி வகைகள்:

10 வகையான வெட்டுக்கிளிகளின் இனங்களை உலகம் அறியும். இந்த இனங்களின் பெயர் - பாலைவன வெட்டுக்கிளி, பாம்பே வெட்டுக்கிளி, இடம்பெயர்ந்த வெட்டுக்கிளி, இத்தாலிய வெட்டுக்கிளி, மொராக்கோ வெட்டுக்கிளி, சிவப்பு வெட்டுக்கிளி, பழுப்பு வெட்டுக்கிளி, தென் அமெரிக்க வெட்டுக்கிளி, ஆஸ்திரேலிய வெட்டுக்கிளி, மர வெட்டுக்கிளி ஆகியவை.

இந்தியாவில் 4 வகை வெட்டுக்கிளிகள் உள்ளதாக கூறப்படுகிறது. அவை பாலைவன வெட்டுக்கிளி (சிஸ்டோசெர்கா கிரேகரியா), இடம்பெயர்ந்த வெட்டுக்கிளி (லோகஸ்டா மைக்ரேட்டோரியா) பம்பாய் வெட்டுக்கிளி (நோமடாக்ரிஸ் சுசின்க்டா) மற்றும் மர வெட்டுக்கிளி (அனாக்ரிடியம் எஸ்பி.).

பாலைவன வெட்டுக்கிளிகள் பற்றிய தகவல்கள்...

1. வெட்டுக்கிளி திரளாக மிகப் பரந்த தூரத்தை கடக்கக்கூடும், சில இனங்கள் ஒரு நாளைக்கு 81 மைல் அல்லது அதற்கு மேற்பட்ட தூரங்களை கூட கடக்கக்கூடும் என்பது உங்களுக்குத் தெரியுமா?

2. சராசரியாக சிறிய வெட்டுக்கிளியின் கூட்டம் ஒரே நாளில் சுமார் 10 யானைகள், 25 ஒட்டகங்கள் அல்லது 2500 நபர்கள் உண்ணும் உணவை சாப்பிடுகின்றது.

3. வெட்டுக்கிளிகள் தனது நிறம் மற்றும் உடல் வடிவத்தை கூட மாற்றலாம்.

4. ஒரு பாலைவன வெட்டுக்கிளி கூட்டம் 460 சதுர மைல் அளவுவிற்கு பரவி இருக்கலாம். அதில் அரை சதுர மைலுக்குள் 40 முதல் 80 மில்லியன் வெட்டுக்கிளிகள் வரை இருக்கும்.

5. பாலைவன வெட்டுக்கிளி காரணமாக 64 க்கும் மேற்பட்ட நாடுகள் பாதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன.

6. ஒரு திரளில் 80 மில்லியன் வெட்டுக்கிளிகள் இருக்கலாம்.

(மொழியாக்கம்: சித்ரா விக்னேஷ்)