News Analysis India

Tag: Uttar Pradesh

  • UP govt showed alertness in handling COVID-19 situation, says Rajnath Singh

    By ANI
    LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh government has shown alertness in handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday.

    While visiting the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Covid Hospital set up by Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) in Lucknow with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, he said, “The Uttar Pradesh government has shown alertness in handling the COVID-19 pandemic situation in the state. Only those who work make mistakes but this is not the time to criticise. If someone sees faults and makes suggestions, the government will welcome it.”

    During his visit, Singh also inaugurated the 255-bed COVID hospital set up by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Uttar Pradesh government after converting the Haj House.

    He informed that around 25 ventilators and approximately 100 HFNCs (High Flow Nasal Cannula) are in the facility.

    According to Rakesh Kumar Mishra, Chief of the project, HAL (Lucknow), the hi-tech hospital was set up in 10-12 days at Haj house.

    “Management of the hospital will be done by the Uttar Pradesh government. Today we will transfer this hospital to UP government,” Mishra said.

    As per the union health ministry, there are currently 2,25,271 active COVID-19 cases in Uttar Pradesh. A total of 12,83,754 recoveries and 15,742 deaths have been reported so far.

    Uttar Pradesh is one of the ten states that account for 72.28 per cent of the new coronavirus cases in the country.

  • Human corpses float, pile up at Ganga bank, this time in Uttar Pradesh

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: A day after bodies of suspected Covid patients washed up on banks of Ganga in Bihar’s Buxar, some unidentified corpses were found floating in the Ghazipur district of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday.

    The local administration has initiated the probe.

    “Our officers are present on the spot to investigate and ascertain where they came from. A probe into the matter is underway,” MP Singh, Ghazipur’s District Magistrate told ANI.

    The local people, traumatised by the sight of floating human bodies in the Ganga, fear spreading of diseases in the area, which has not been spared by the ravaging Covid pandemic.

    They complained of stench coming from the bloated, decomposed corpses and accused the authorities of ineptitude.

    “We informed the administration about the matter, but no action has been taken by them. If the situation continues like this, there is fear of us getting infected by Coronavirus,” Akhand, a resident, told ANI.

    The incident of floating and piling up of corpses in Bihar sparked fears about the scale of the Covid crisis in the country. Authorities believe the relatives of those succumbed to the virus, may not have been able to find space for the last rites.

    Union Minister of Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Tuesday termed the incident as “unfortunate” and asked concerned states to take immediate cognizance.

    “The incident of corpses found floating in Ganga in Buxar region of Bihar is unfortunate. This is definitely a matter of investigation. The Modi government is committed to the cleanliness ‘mother’ Ganga. This incident is unexpected. The concerned states should take immediate cognizance in this regard,” Shekhawat tweeted. 

  • UP panchayat poll: Wrong candidates declared winners, additional returning officer booked

    By PTI
    GORAKHPUR: An FIR has been registered against a government official deputed as additional returning officer (ARO) in the Uttar Pradesh panchayat polls on for allegedly giving winning certificates to candidates who lost, an official said on Friday.

    Additional returning officer (ARO) Virendra Kumar has been booked for cheating, forgery and fraud on a complaint from Returning Officer Sunil Kumar, a senior police official said.

    On Wednesday night, there were incident of arson in Nai Bazar police outpost by the supportes of the candidates who alleged that they was not declared winner due to fraud committed by the official.

    Police have arrested 18 people and lodged four separate FIRs in connection with vandalism and arson of the police outpost.

    After the counting of votes on Tuesday, Ravi Nishad, a candidate of district Panchayat ward number 60, and Kodai Nishad, of ward number 61, claimed they have won the election with over 2,000 votes, but the administration didn’t give them certificate.

    On Wednesday morning, certificates of victory was given to Gopal Yadav for ward number 60 and Ramesh for ward number 61.

    The supporters of Ravi and Kodai held a demonstration at Nai Bazar crossing, pelted stones, and also set ablaze the police post there.

    Taking note of the incident, District Magistrate Vijyendra Pandiyan ordered matching of votes booth-wise and declared both Ravi and Kodai winners on Thursday.

    “An FIR has been lodged against ARO Virendra Kumar, who is an executive engineer in the irrigation department. A a letter recommending action against him would be sent to the State Election Commission,” the DM said.

    Police said, “Four cases under various IPC sections have been lodged against 60 named and 500 unidentified people in connection with the vandalism. Based on CCTV footage, we have arrested 18 people and are looking for others.”

    SSP Dinesh P Kumar said strict action would be taken against those involved in the arson.

  • FIR lodged against private hospital in Uttar Pradesh for lying about oxygen availability: Police

    By PTI
    LUCKNOW: An FIR has been lodged against a private hospital in Gomti Nagar here for allegedly giving wrong information about the availability of oxygen at the facility and turning away patients, police said on Friday.

    “An FIR has been registered against Sun Hospital on Wednesday night for giving wrong information about the availability of oxygen and asking relatives of the patients to take away their patients,” a senior police official said.

    The FIR was lodged against hospital operator Akhilesh Pandey at Vibuti Khand police station under sections of the Disaster Management Act and the Epidemic Diseases Act as well as under Indian Penal Code sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), he said.

    “More names could be added in the FIR during the probe,” Station House Officer Chandra Shekhar Singh said.

    ALSO READ: UP man’s ‘sensational’ tweet asking for oxygen cylinder lands him in jail

    The FIR was registered after a probe by the district administration found that the hospital “spread rumours” of oxygen shortage and circulated a notice on social media on May 3 asking attendants to take away the patients who needed oxygen support.

    “It was found that eight jumbo cylinders and two B-type cylinders and concentrators were available with the hospital and there was sufficient oxygen (available),” as per the probe report shared with media.

    Sun Hospital, located in Lucknow’s Gomti Nagar area, was declared a COVID facility around a month ago.

    While Pandey, against whom the FIR was lodged, was not available for a comment, the hospital administration said it would move the Allahabad High Court over the matter and apply for the anticipatory bail of the accused.

    The Allahabad High Court had on May 4 said deaths of patients due to lack of oxygen supply “is a criminal act and not less than a genocide” by those who have been entrusted the task to ensure continuous procurement and supply chain of the liquid medical oxygen.

  • Journalists in Uttar Pradesh to get priority in vaccination; separate centres to be allotted

    By PTI
    LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government has announced that journalists and their families will now get special consideration in the state and will be given priority in vaccination against COVID-19.

    Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday issued instructions to allot separate vaccination centres for journalists and their family members, who are above 18 years of age, an official statement said here.

    The chief minister took the decision to recognise the efforts of journalists, who have been putting their lives and health at risk to cover the pandemic, it said.

    ALSO READ: Curfew in Uttar Pradesh extended till May 10

    Adityanath has also instructed officials to ensure that all journalists get vaccinated, the statement said.

    “If required, go to their workplace and administer free vaccination. All those above 18 years of age will be vaccinated in the families of journalists,” Adityanath said.

    Non-accredited journalists and freelancers will also get the benefit of the welfare scheme, the statement said.

  • COVID-19: Curfew in Uttar Pradesh extended till May 10

    By PTI
    LUCKNOW: Amid a surge in coronavirus cases, the Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday decided to increase the duration of the weekend lockdown till 7 am on May 10, an official spokesman said here.

    “The corona curfew from Friday 8 pm to Tuesday 7 am, which was extended on May 3 for 48 hours and is in force till May 6 till 7 am has been further extended till Monday (May 10) 7 am,” an official spokesman said here.

    All shops and establishments will now remain closed till Monday 7 am.

    The official said that further decision to extend the curfew will be taken on Sunday.

    The decision for extension has been taken for breaking the chain of coronavirus.

    During this period, all essential services will be allowed and vaccination drive will continue, a senior official said, but refused to term it as a “lockdown”, preferring “closure” instead.

    On April 29, the state government had announced that weekend lockdowns will now cover Mondays too and on May 3 it was extended till May 6.

  • Frightening pictures coming from UP hospitals exposing tall claims of CM Yogi Adityanath: Akhilesh Yadav

    By PTI
    LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday accused the ruling BJP government in Uttar Pradesh of remaining in “isolation” and said that the frightening pictures coming from hospitals are exposing the tall claims of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

    “The BJP government did nothing in past four years and remained in isolation due to which it has put entire state in isolation now. The tall claims of Adityanath is exposed in frightening pictures and videos coming from hospitals daily,” Yadav said in a statement here.

    He also questioned the work being done by chief minister’s ‘Team-9’, saying that in some cases, entire families are COVID-19 positive and no one is there to take care of them.

    The SP leader also alleged that alive people are being declared dead in hospitals.

    “There is no proper supply of oxygen and no beds in hospitals. Hundreds of people are dying due to mismanagement and BJP government is responsible both administratively and morally,” Yadav said, adding that such irresponsible government is of no use to people.

    ‘Team-9’ comprises a nine-member set of ministers and bureaucrats who are tasked with managing the COVID-19 crisis.

    It will take policy decisions and ensure their implementation, giving reports directly to the chief minister, a government spokesperson had said.

  • Bihar, Uttar Pradesh among 10 states accounting for over 73 per cent of new COVID-19 cases

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi are among 10 states that account for 73.78 per cent of the new 3,68,147 COVID-19 cases registered in a day, while the daily positivity rate has increased to 21.19 per cent, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday.

    Maharashtra has reported the highest daily new cases at 56,647.

    It is followed by Karnataka with  37,733 while Kerala reported 31,959 new cases, the ministry said.

    Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and Rajasthan are the other states on the list of 10.

    India’s total active caseload has reached 34,13,642 and now comprises 17.13 per cent of the country’s total infections.

    A net increase of 63,998 cases has been recorded in the total active caseload in a day.

    Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Bihar and Haryana cumulatively account for 81.46 per cent of India’s total active cases.

    “The National Mortality Rate has been falling and currently stands at 1.10 per cent and is continuously declining,” the ministry said.

    Besides, 3,417 deaths were reported in a span of 24 hours.

    Ten states account for 74.54 per cent of the new deaths.

    Maharashtra saw the maximum casualties (669) followed by Delhi (407) and Uttar Pradesh with 288 daily deaths.

    The number of COVID-19 tests conducted across the country has crossed 29.16 crore today.

    India’s cumulative recoveries have surged to 1,62,93,003  with 3,00,732 recoveries being reported in a span of 24 hours.

    Ten states account for 73.49 per cent of the new recoveries.

  • COVID-19 curfew extended by two days in Uttar Pradesh

    By PTI
    LUCKNOW: Amid a surge in coronavirus cases, the Uttar Pradesh government on Monday decided to increase the duration of the weekend lockdown by 48 hours to cover Tuesday and Wednesday also.

    “The corona curfew from Friday 8 pm to Tuesday 7 am has been extended for 48 hours. Now it will continue till May 6 till 7 am,” Additional Chief Secretary, Information, Navneet Sehgal told PTI.

    All shops and establishments will now remain closed till Thursday 7 am.

    This arrangement is for this week only, he said adding that decision has been taken for breaking the chain of coronavirus.

    During this period, all essential services will be allowed and vaccination drive will continue, a senior official said, but refused to term it as a “lockdown”, preferring “closure” instead On April 29, the state government had announced that weekend lockdowns will now cover Mondays too.

  • Amid raging pandemic, Uttar Pradesh Congress calls for white paper on state’s COVID Care Fund

    By PTI
    LUCKNOW: The Congress on Sunday demanded the Uttar Pradesh government release a white paper on the state’s COVID Care Fund amid a massive surge in coronavirus cases.

    In a statement issued here, UP Congress chief Ajay Kumar Lallu said the COVID Care Fund was created in April 2020 through which people from different sections of society deposited money.

    The MLA funds were suspended for a year, and 30 percent salary of the ministers and legislators cut and deposited in the COVID Care Fund.

    It was said that the money would be used to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Lallu said no one knows where this fund is in the second wave of COVID-19.

    “Where is the fund being spent now? The people in the state are facing a shortage of oxygen, medicines, and basic facilities. In this scenario, where is the COVID fund being spent, nothing is known,” Lallu said adding that the government should release a white paper on this issue.

    The UP Congress chief also claimed that the money meant for being used to provide medical treatment to the people was diverted.

    “As a result in the second wave of COVID-19, the government has left the people to die. Today because of the laxity and insensitivity of the Yogi Adityanath government, every citizen is fighting the COVID pandemic at their own level and in their own capacity,” Lallu said.

    He also said the UP Chief Minister in a written reply to the UP Legislative Assembly had said that till July 2020, Rs 412 crore was deposited from various sources, of which Rs 252 crore was used to buy medical equipment and to help the migrant laborers.

    “Where the rest of the Rs 160 crore has gone is not known. Any information about money being deposited in the COVID Care Fund has not been made public. Why is it so?” Lallu questioned in the statement.