scorecardresearch
Friday, Mar 29, 2024
Advertisement

Bangalore News Highlights: Two cases of Omicron Covid variant found in Karnataka

🔴 Bangalore Covid-19 Cases Live, Bengaluru Omicron Strain News Highlights, Bangalore Travel Guidelines: While one case is of a male aged 46, the other is of a male aged 66.

By: Express Web Desk
Bengaluru | Updated: December 3, 2021 08:37 IST
The health ministry has been advising states and Union territories to keep a strict vigil and undertake surveillance of international passengers coming to the country through various airports.The health ministry has been advising states and Union territories to keep a strict vigil and undertake surveillance of international passengers coming to the country through various airports.

Bangalore Live Highlights: The Health Ministry on Thursday confirmed that two cases of Omicron Covid variant have been found in Karnataka. While one case is of a male aged 46, the other is of a male aged 66.

The health ministry has been advising states and Union territories to keep a strict vigil and undertake surveillance of international passengers coming to the country through various airports.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj S Bommai on Thursday met Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and sought advice and approval from the Centre on the possibility of administering booster doses to frontline workers in the state.

Bommai, who reached New Delhi on Thursday to attend a private event, also met Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat as well as Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju in Parliament House. Member of Parliament from Haveri constituency Shivakumar Udasi and state principal secretary Manjunath Prasad were also present during the meeting.

Live Blog

Karnataka Bangalore Highlights: Omicron variant detected in Karnataka; Task force recommends setting up Karnataka career guidance centre of excellence; 322 new Covid cases, 2 deaths in Karnataka.

21:21 (IST)02 Dec 2021
Two Omicron cases in Karnataka: Doctor with no history of travel, South African who went back

A 46-year-old doctor at a private hospital in Bengaluru with no travel history and a 66-year-old South African national, who returned home last week, have been identified as the first two persons in whom the new Sars-Cov-2 variant, Omicron, has been detected in India. Both the cases were reported in Karnataka. Click here to read the full report.

20:32 (IST)02 Dec 2021
Bengaluru airport: New rules cause chaos, fliers complain of absence of protocols

With both the Karnataka government and the Centre announcing a set of guidelines each for international fliers, the authorities at the Bengaluru airport and the passengers found themselves in the middle of chaos from Tuesday midnight.

In an email communication to The Indian Express, the airport authorities said it is abiding by the new guidelines from Wednesday.
 
Officials informed around 1,600 international passengers arrived in eight flights since Tuesday midnight and of them, as many as 1,191 were from the at-risk countries. Meanwhile, the remaining 409 were from other nations or domestic flyers who had flown in from outside the country to other airports in India and then reached Bengaluru airport. More details here.

20:29 (IST)02 Dec 2021
KSPCB asks authorities to mandatorily use waste plastic in road construction

The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has directed Karnataka State Highways Improvement Project (KSHIP), Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited (KRIDIL) and Karnataka Public Works Department (KPWD) to mandatorily use waste plastics in road construction as per the Indian Road Congress (IRC) guidelines. More details here.

19:26 (IST)02 Dec 2021
Mangaluru man arrested for sexually assaulting daughter

The Mangaluru Police Wednesday arrested a man for sexually harassing his minor daughter. City police commissioner N Shashi Kumar said the arrested person had earlier been booked for beating up his mother. According to police, the accused used to harass his wife and minor daughter, regularly after consuming alcohol.

“When his wife found that the accused used to harass his daughter sexually, she came to the police station and lodged a complaint against her husband,” a police officer told The Indian Express on Thursday. The girl is undergoing treatment in a local hospital.

17:38 (IST)02 Dec 2021
Omicron detected in India: What we know so far

Two cases of Omicron variant have been detected through INSACOG in Karnataka, the Union Health Minister said on Thursday, while asking people not to panic but follow Covid-appropriate behaviour and get vaccinated without delay.

Here's what we know so far:

*Both cases of Omicron Covid variant have been found in Karnataka.

*While one case is of a male aged 46, the other is of a male aged 66.

*No severe symptoms have been reported in both patients. 

*Govt says all primary and secondary contacts of the two patients were traced and were being tested.

*The Health Ministry has urged people not to panic and follow Covid-appropriate behaviour and avoid large gatherings.

*Officials also said that an increase in COVID-19 vaccine uptake was the need of the hour.

*The government said that that 373 cases of Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 have been detected in 29 nations so far and India was monitoring the situation.

17:21 (IST)02 Dec 2021
Need not to panic about Omicron detection: Govt

"We need not panic about Omicron detection but awareness is absolutely essential. Follow Covid-appropriate behaviour and avoid gatherings," the Health Ministry official said during the media briefing on Thursday. 

"It is too early to assess whether Omicron causes more severe infection or less compared to variants, including Delta," the official told the press conference quoting the World Health Organisation which has designated the new variant as a 'variant of concern'. (PTI)

17:12 (IST)02 Dec 2021
All contacts of both Omicron cases traced: Karnataka govt

The Karnataka Health Department has said that following the detection of the two Omicron cases, all their primary and secondary contacts were traced in time and are kept under home quarantine.

17:01 (IST)02 Dec 2021
Omicron detected in Karnataka: 'No severe symptoms reported so far,' says Lav Agarwal

"No severe symptoms of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 reported so far," Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal said during a media briefing.

"All Omicron related cases are found to have mild symptoms so far...In all such cases in the country and across the world so far, no severe symptom has been noted. WHO has said that its emerging evidence is being studied," he added.

16:32 (IST)02 Dec 2021
Two cases of Omicron variant found in Karnataka

Union Health Ministry on Thursday said that two cases of Omicron variant have been discovered in the country. Both cases are in Karnataka.

15:41 (IST)02 Dec 2021
Bengaluru gang which robbed Rs 2.5 crore worth gold nabbed

Seven members of a gang have been arrested for allegedly robbing over 5,500 grams of gold biscuits worth over Rs 2.5 crore from a bullion trader in Cubbonpet, the police said. A special team, which was formed to trace and arrest the accused, managed to seize the gold biscuits from them.

The accused were identified as Mohammad Farhan (23) of Sarvajnanagar, Mohammed Hussain (35) of Nagawara Main Road, Mohammed Arif (34) and Anjum (39), both residents of Venkateshapura, Shahid Ahmed (24) of Kushalanagar, Umesh (54) of RT Nagar, and Suhail Baig (24) of Govindapura. More details here.

14:46 (IST)02 Dec 2021
Karnataka CM meets Health Min, awaits response on booster dose queries

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai Thursday met Union Health minister Mansukh Mandaviya in Delhi.

The CM requested the Health Minister, as recommended by the state Covid-19 Technical Advisory Committee, to explore possibilities if a booster dose of the vaccine against the infection can be made available to health and frontline workers in the state.

An official response on the same is awaited.

14:06 (IST)02 Dec 2021
Karnataka HC directs national wildlife board to assess impact of Hubballi-Ankola railway project

Karnataka High Court on Wednesday directed the National Board for Wildlife Wildlife (NBWL) to assess the impact on wildlife due to the proposed broad-gauge railway line project between Hubballi and Ankola, for which 594.64 hectares of forest land is set to be diverted.

A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum, passed directions to the NBWL while hearing a batch of petitions challenging the wildlife clearance for the project. The bench heard the public interest litigations (PILs) that contested clearance for the 168-km new broad-gauge railway line in the 14th meeting of the State Board for Wildlife (SBWL) in March 2020. (Read more)

13:06 (IST)02 Dec 2021
Karnataka sticks to central guidelines, will test only 2% travellers from ‘non-risk’ countries

A few days after the Karnataka government made it mandatory for all international passengers arriving at airports and seaports in the state to undergo RT-PCR testing after cases of the Omicron variant were identified in a few countries, the state government has rolled back the decision to “strictly abide by the testing protocol mandated by the Centre.”

Karnataka will test only 2% travellers from ‘non-risk’ countries henceforth. (Reuters photo for representation)

Principal Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) T K Anil Kumar told The Indian Express that only 2 per cent of the international passengers arriving from non-risk countries will be subjected to RT-PCR testing on arrival. “Two per cent of travellers, from countries excluding those listed as ‘high-risk’ where Omicron cases have been confirmed, in each flight shall be identified by the concerned airlines for RT-PCR testing. We are strictly abiding by the guidelines issued by the Union Health Ministry,” he explained.

However, he clarified that all travellers from Europe (including the UK) and ten other countries (South Africa, Brazil, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Israel) are being subjected to RT-PCR testing at all international entry points in Karnataka, as on December 1. (Read more)

11:52 (IST)02 Dec 2021
As Dharwad Covid cluster grows, authorities urge contacts to get tested

With the Covid-19 cluster identified at SDM Medical College and Hospital (SDMCH) in Karnataka’s Dharwad exceeding 300 cases, local authorities have stepped up precautionary measures to ensure the situation is contained at all levels in the twin cities of Hubballi-Dharwad.

Hubballi Urban tahsildar Shashidhar Madyal issued a circular to all schools and colleges, asking students and their parents to subject themselves to RT-PCR Covid-19 testing if they had come in contact with medical students, doctors or any staff member of the medical college and hospital.

The new instruction came in the wake of a student of GV Joshi Rotary School in Hubballi contracting the infection on Wednesday. The patient was later found to be a primary contact of a student from SDMCH. (Read more)

11:25 (IST)02 Dec 2021
Fees in govt engineering colleges hiked by Rs 10,000; ‘anti-student, anti-education move’, say students

The Karnataka government’s decision to hike fees at state-run engineering colleges by Rs 10,000 from the ongoing academic year, 2021-22, has drawn criticism from students who have questioned the “untimely move”, citing the financial crisis caused by Covid-19 and related restrictions.

A recent note issued by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) mentioned an additional Rs 10,000 as “other fees” in the updated fee structure for those pursuing engineering courses in state-run colleges. With this, the total fees paid by such students has risen to Rs 33,810. (Read more)

11:24 (IST)02 Dec 2021
Covid victim bodies found after 16 months: Dean of hospital removed from post

The ESIC has ordered Dr Jeetendra Kumar J M,  Director Professor of General Medicine and dean in-charge of the ESI hospital in Bengaluru to handover the charge to Dr Renuka Ramaiah, Director Professor and report to ESIC Headquarters.

The order comes days after bodies of two Covid-19 victims were found in an old mortuary building of the hospital around 500 days after their deaths. The bodies had been kept in the cold storage of the mortuary a year ago and a new mortuary building had started functioning in the meantime. “On Saturday, when the housekeeping staff went to clean the old mortuary, they sensed a foul smell and later discovered these two bodies,” said a senior police officer. 

The transfer order came on Wednesday. Dr Renuka has been directed to report on Thursday. The letter says that it has been done in the interest of public.

10:56 (IST)02 Dec 2021
Failed 2005 satellite deal: ISRO arm Antrix opposes move by Devas investors to discover its assets across US

Antrix Corporation, a commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has stated in a filing before a US federal court that it has very few assets in the US even as foreign investors in a Bengaluru-based startup Devas Multimedia moved the US federal court to allow nationwide discovery of US assets of Antrix.

The US federal court for the western district of Washington allowed the Devas investors to discover Antrix assets in the region through an August 16, 2021 order. (Representational image)

Three Mauritius-based investors in Devas Multimedia are attempting to identify assets of Antrix for attachment to recover $111 million compensation over a failed 2005 Devas-Antrix satellite deal. (Read more)

10:46 (IST)02 Dec 2021
Karnataka Forest Department deploys sniffer dog in BRT to detect wildlife crimes

Karnataka Forest Department has deployed a sniffer dog to detect wildlife crimes in Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve in Chamarajanagar. The German Shepherd named Jhansi underwent a seven-month training at Chandigarh by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force.

The Deputy Conservator of Forest and BRT Tiger Reserve project director G Santhosh Kumar said the dog was deployed with support from NGO TRAFFIC and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) which started the wildlife sniffer and tracker dog training programme in 2008. Since then, the sniffer dogs trained in detecting wildlife crimes have been deployed by forest departments across the country. (Read more)

09:07 (IST)02 Dec 2021
Serum Institute seeks DCGI's approval for Covishield as booster dose

Serum Institute of India has sought from India's drug regulator approval for Covishield as a booster dose citing adequate stock of the vaccine in the country and a demand for a booster shot due to the emergence of new coronavirus variants, official sources said.

In an application to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), Prakash Kumar Singh, the Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs at Serum Institute of India (SII) cited that the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has already approved the booster dose of AstraZeneca ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine, they said.

Recently, Kerala, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Chhattisgarh have urged the Centre to decide on allowing booster doses of Covid-19 vaccine diseased amid concerns raised by 'Omicron', the new variant of SARS-CoV-2. (PTI)

09:06 (IST)02 Dec 2021
Covid-19: 322 new cases, 2 deaths in Karnataka

Karnataka on Wednesday logged 322 new cases of Covid19 and two deaths, taking the total number of infections to 29,96,470 and death toll to 38,213, the health department said.

The day also saw 162 discharges, pushing the total number of recoveries to 29,51,654. Of the new cases, 165 were from Bengaluru Urban, as the city saw 72 discharges and 1 death.

Total number of active cases in the state is at 6,574. (PTI)

09:05 (IST)02 Dec 2021
Task force recommends setting up Karnataka career guidance centre of excellence

A task force, formed under the 'Mission Yuva Samruddhi' to create one crore jobs in five years, has recommended to set up 'Karnataka Career Guidance Centre of Excellence' similar to the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission.

The task force, which submitted its interim report in a meeting chaired by Minister for IT-BT and Skill Development Dr C N Ashwath Narayan on Wednesday, said it would get the final report ready in the next 10 days.

A statement issued by the office of the Minister said, "The task force has felt the need for 'Karnataka Career Guidance Centre of Excellence' as there is no systematic career guidance in the State as of now."

"Multiple models are in existence and there is a need to create a common framework for career guidance from school to college to employment," the task force said. It has also recommended focusing on imparting digital skills and creating entrepreneurial mindsets, providing career information and guidance, youth incubation, creating entrepreneurial eco systems in the district, the Minister said in the meeting. (PTI)

22:38 (IST)01 Dec 2021
Video on alleged plot to kill Karnataka BJP MLA Vishwanath surfaces, probe on

A video containing a conversation between a Congress leader and a person who is said to be his associate, allegedly discussing about eliminating Yelahanka BJP MLA S R Vishwanath has surfaced, following which the legislator's security has been enhanced and a probe is on.

The purported conversation between Gopalkrishna, a Congress candidate, who had lost twice against Vishwanath in the Yelahanka assembly segment and his associate Kulla Devraj is said to have taken place a couple of months ago. It was aired widely by Kannada news channels on Wednesday.

While Vishwanath has sought a detailed probe and punishment for those involved, Gopalakrishna has denied the allegation, suggesting that it was the MLA's 'ploy'.

Without divulging much, Bengaluru police chief Kamal Pant merely said that the City Crime Branch is conducting a probe into the case and necessary action will be taken. (PTI)

21:23 (IST)01 Dec 2021
Inquiry report junks Karnataka BJP MLA’s claims on ‘forceful religious conversions’

The Chitradurga administration submitted an inquiry report on the allegations of forceful conversions to Christianity and said it was found that the families had voluntarily undergone conversion.

The inquiry was initiated after BJP’s Hosadurga MLA Gulihatti Shekhar alleged that over 20,000 people of his constituency had been converted to Christianity along with his mother.

The officers, led by tahsildar Y Thippeswamy, conducted an inquiry into the matter and found that 42 families in the two villages had converted to Christianity and the inquiry concluded that there was no substance in the allegation and all conversions were voluntary. Read more

20:01 (IST)01 Dec 2021
Karnataka: Man held for sexually assaulting daughter

Mangaluru city police have arrested a man for allegedly sexually assaulting his daughter in an area under the Kadri police station here. City police commissioner N Shashi Kumar said the accused is a history-sheeter and a repeat offender.

He was previously booked for beating up his mother, he said. The accused used to work as a delivery boy for an online food delivery platform in the city, police sources said. (PTI)

18:30 (IST)01 Dec 2021
Congress holds protest against move to shift ISRO's programme to Gujarat from Bengaluru

President of Karnataka Congress D K Shivakumar, along with the party affiliated National Students' Union of India (NSUI), staged what the party called a symbolic protest in front of the ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) office here on Wednesday.

The protest, the Congress said, was against any move to shift the Indian Human Space Flight programme of the space agency from Bengaluru to Gujarat and called it a matter of State's pride. Shivakumar recently shot off letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai opposing any such move amid some reports of such a plan being under consideration of the Central government.

NSUI members shouted slogans, held placards and posters which read "Stop Shifting ISRO to Gujarat '', "Stop Privatisation ''. Speaking to reporters, Shivakumar said human space flight programme should not be shifted out of the State for any reason.

"It is a matter of Karnataka's pride; they (Central government) are planning to shift the Human Space Flight programme out of Bengaluru, it should not happen. Let them start any other new project or programme there in Gujarat, but it is not right to shift the programme that began and is running here," he said. (PTI)

16:39 (IST)01 Dec 2021
Woman undergoes surgery at Fortis Hospital to have ovarian tumour weighing 7.5 kg removed

An ovarian tumour weighing around seven and a half kg was successfully removed from the abdomen of a 43-year-old woman at Fortis Hospital.

The lady was diagnosed with the non-malignant tumour during a routine health check-up on her visit to Fortis Bannerghatta Road. The 43-year-old lady was experiencing continuous weight gain and her stomach size had visibly increased in the past six months.

Dr Manisha Singh of Fortis Hospital said, “During her pelvic scan, we were surprised to see a huge cyst in her tummy. CT scan showed a cyst weighing 7.5 kg. An extensive surgery was required to remove the tumour. The procedure went on well and the patient was discharged in four days.” (ENS)

15:59 (IST)01 Dec 2021
Comedian Kunal Kamra says his Bengaluru shows cancelled after threats

Comedian Kunal Kamra on Wednesday said his upcoming stand-up shows, scheduled to be held in Bengaluru, have been cancelled after the organisers received threats.

The cancellation of Kamra’s shows come just days after another stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui was denied permission to perform in the city with the police calling him a “controversial figure”.

Kamra, who has criticised the BJP-led NDA government over a number of issues in the past, posted a sarcastic statement on Twitter to inform his followers and detractors about the cancellations of his shows that were to be held in the city in the coming days. Read more

15:55 (IST)01 Dec 2021
Modi, Gowda bonhomie heightens buzz around BJP, JDS poll pact in Karnataka

There is heightened buzz over a possible pact between the ruling BJP and JD(S) for the coming legislative council polls, following full display of bonhomie between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the regional party's patriarch H D Deve Gowda.

The Prime Minister met Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday, photos of which were widely shared by BJP leaders on the social media platforms.

The biennial election to the Karnataka Legislative Council from 20 Local Authorities' Constituencies for 25 seats, due to retirement of sitting members, will be held on December 10.

The development has come in the backdrop of state BJP strong man and former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa openly seeking JD(S) support in the seats where the regional party is not contesting.

The JD(S) has fielded only six candidates, while the BJP and Congress are contesting in 20 seats each. (PTI)

14:36 (IST)01 Dec 2021
Comedian Kunal Kamra says his Bengaluru show cancelled

After Munawar Faruqui, standup comedian kunal Kamra says that his shows in Bengaluru has been canceled

14:28 (IST)01 Dec 2021
Covid-19 vaccine for children soon: Karnataka Health Minister

Karnataka Health and Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar Wednesday hinted that the Centre would “soon” take a call on finalising a Covid-19 vaccine that can be administered on children. 

“While it is not very clear on how the Omicron variant will impact children, we are aware that it has the ability to spread fast. The central government is contemplating on a Covid-19 vaccine for children. The vaccine is expected to be available in all states at the earliest, upon approval,” he said. 

Further, Sudhakar urged the public to cooperate with the government calling for strict compliance with all Covid-19 norms. “With public cooperation,  we can quickly overcome all fears allayed by the new variant. Collective awareness and vigilance is a must to overcome Omicron concerns,” he said.

13:28 (IST)01 Dec 2021
Deve Gowda meets PM Modi, JD(S)-BJP alliance likely for Karnataka MLC polls

Amid speculation that Janata Dal (Secular) and the BJP may forge a pre-poll alliance for the December 10 election to the Karnataka Legislative Council, the upper house of the bicameral legislature, JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday.


H D Deve Gowda 



Gowda said: “We discussed the MLC polls and I told Modi that leaders from JD(S) and BJP in Karnataka have to decide on forging an alliance.” (Read more)

13:28 (IST)01 Dec 2021
Isolation facility for international passengers set up at Bowring hospital

Amid concerns over the new Covid variant Omicron, the Karnataka government has set up isolation facilities for international passengers at state-run Bowring and Lady Curzon Medical College and Research Institute.

Health commissioner D Randeep told The Indian Express that more than 120 beds have been set up at Bowring and Lady Curzon Medical College and Research Institute. (Read more)

13:22 (IST)01 Dec 2021
Shivakumar protests proposed shifting of ISRO prog to Gujarat

Karnataka Congress chief D K Shivakumar on Wednesday held a protest opposing the proposed shifting of Indian Human Space Flight Programme of ISRO from Bengaluru to Gujarat.

D K Shivakumar has shot off letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai opposing the proposal. 

Kannadigas are severely hurt and shocked to know that there are plans to shift this prestigious programme to Gujarat. If it happens, they will feel the federal government is ignoring and giving scant respect to the feelings of the local people, he said.

12:44 (IST)01 Dec 2021
60% population inoculated with both doses of Covid-19 vaccine: Karnataka Health Minister

Karnataka Health and Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar Wednesday claimed that 60 per cent of the eligible population in the state were inoculated with both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. 

“Karnataka achieved 60% SECOND DOSE vaccination yesterday! Fourth major state in the country to achieve this milestone,” he tweeted. 

The Minister also lauded health workers and district administration for their contributions to the achievement. 

As per the Covid-19 bulletin issued by the State Health Department, over 7.37 crore doses have been administered cumulatively since January 16 across the state. 

While 4.45 crore of these were administered as first doses, the rest constituted second doses administered to those aged 18 and above.

12:35 (IST)01 Dec 2021
Resident docs’ indefinite strike enters third day

As the indefinite strike called by the Karnataka Association of Resident Doctors continue, agitating members from Bengaluru Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI) have planned to organise a candlelight march on Wednesday evening. 

“On Day-3 of our indefinite strike, resident doctors of BMCRI will hold a candle-light march scheduled to begin at 6 pm in the premises of  Victoria Hospital. Awareness programmes on World AIDS DAY will also be held thereafter,” a KARD statement read.

The demands put forth by the doctors include payment of Covid-19 risk allowance, restructuring academic fee on the lines of that followed pre-pandemic, and expediting NEET-PG counselling among others.

10:45 (IST)01 Dec 2021
Karnataka CM to meet Union Health Minister to discuss administration of booster dose of Covid vaccine

Amid fresh concerns of Covid-19, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday said the state government intends to administer booster doses of vaccine to health and front line workers and he will discuss it with the Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.

He said no decisions have been taken regarding restrictions on Christmas and New Year celebrations, and there is no need for "unnecessary worry" on lockdown like measures, when social and economic activities are slowly picking up. (Read more)

10:26 (IST)01 Dec 2021
Karnataka likely to seek Rs 1,100 crore rain relief from centre: Minister

Karnataka Revenue Minister R Ashoka on Tuesday said that the state is likely to seek Rs 1,100 crore as relief from the Centre for damages caused during the recent rains. "The report we have to submit to the Centre is getting ready. We may ask for Rs 1,100 crore as relief," he said.

According to preliminary data, the recent deluge has resulted in 26 people losing their lives, 5.81 lakh hectares of crop loss and 2,339 km of damaged roads. Officials say these figures have been updated and are being compiled. (PTI)

10:17 (IST)01 Dec 2021
Four injured during MLC campaigning

Four persons injured after a fight ensued between two factions of BJP in Arasikere in Hassan  district on Tuesday. 

It all happened during MLC election campaign where district incharge minister K Gopalaiah was chairing the meeting. Ranganath, a supporter of BJP leader Mariswamy, was allegedly attacked by supporters of N R Santosh, who was the personal assistant to former chief minister B S Yediyurappa. 

The sources said that the fight took place Santosh was accommodated on the dias and Ranganath and his associates  took objection of it. The factions started with heated argument  and ended up attacking each other physically.

23:07 (IST)30 Nov 2021
New travel guidelines effective from December 1

As per new travel guidelines effective from December 1, all international passengers arriving from at-risk countries (viz Countries in Europe including UK, South Africa, Brazil, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Hong Kong and Israel) are required to mandatorily undergo Covid-19 testing and wait for results at the Bengaluru International airport, Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL) said in a statement.

22:34 (IST)30 Nov 2021
Karnataka govt likely to seek Rs 1,100 crore rain relief from centre: Revenue Minister

Karnataka Revenue Minister R Ashoka said that the state is likely to seek Rs 1,100 crore as relief from the Centre government for damages caused during the recent rains in various parts of the state 

"The report we have to submit to the Centre is getting ready. We may ask for Rs 1,100 crore as relief," he said on Tuesday.

“The memorandum seeking compensation under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) norms will be submitted in three to four days. According to preliminary data, the recent rain has resulted in 26 people losing their lives, 5.81 lakh hectares of crop loss and 2,339 km of damaged roads,” he added.

He also said that the government has so far released a crop loss compensation of Rs 318.87 crore to 4.61 lakh farmers.

22:30 (IST)30 Nov 2021
Karnataka: Many private schools halt on-campus classes over Covid-19 concerns

With Covid-19 clusters being reported from educational institutions in Karnataka, several private schools have halted offline classes for now. With the Omicron variant having also fuelled concerns among parents, these institutions have gone back to online classes and decided to adopt a “wait-and-watch policy” for now.

According to M Srinivasan, President of Management of Independent CBSE Schools’ Association (MICSA), Karnataka, over half of their member schools that had resumed offline classes have decided to go back to a “completely online” mode in the last few days. “With the Omicron variant now being a cause for concern, over 50 per cent of the managements that partially resumed on-campus classes have now decided to go back to online mode of teaching. Senior students (of classes 9 and 10) are now attending offline exams which will be over by this week,” he told The Indian Express.

Ralph Alex Arakal reports

21:07 (IST)30 Nov 2021
291 new COVID-19 cases, 8 deaths in Karnataka

Karnataka logged 291 new COVID-19 cases and eight deaths on Tuesday, taking the total number of infections to 29,96,148 and the toll to 38,211.
        
The day also saw 745 discharges, taking the total number of recoveries in the state so far to 29,51,492, a health department bulletin said.  Bengaluru Urban continued to top the list in number of cases (185), as the city saw 654 discharges and 6 deaths.
        
The total number of active cases is now 6,416.  (PTI)

20:23 (IST)30 Nov 2021
Karnataka: Four genome-sequencing labs to start receiving samples

The process of setting up of four genome-sequencing laboratories at the Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences, Mysore Medical College, Belgaum Institute of Medical Sciences and the Bowring Institute of Medical Science has been completed and the centres will start receiving samples later this week, TK Anil Kumar, the principal secretary of the department of health and family welfare, said.

“Equipment has been sent to the colleges. They are expected to receive the samples this week. The fact is that there are other public health labs attached with the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genome Consortia (INSACOG) but even they do not receive samples often as the cases are very low. However, the labs set up at the medical colleges will start receiving the samples later this week,” he said. 

19:49 (IST)30 Nov 2021
Bengaluru auto fare to increase from tomorrow

Auto-rickshaw fares in Bengaluru will increase from December 1, as per the state transport department’s order earlier this month.

According to the order, the base fare has been hiked to Rs 30 from the present Rs 25 for the first two kilometres. Meanwhile, Rs 15 will be charged for every subsequent kilometre.

District Commissioner of Bengaluru Urban J Manjunath, who is also the chairman of the Road Transport Authority, had held a meeting with the stakeholders on the issue of fare hike and revised the fare. Read More

19:06 (IST)30 Nov 2021
Highways and railways turn into death traps for tigers

Twenty-six tigers have died across the country between January 2010 and January 2021 in road and rail accidents. Of them, 12 tigers have lost their lives in road accidents and 14 in rail accidents. The information recently came to light after wildlife conservationist Giridhar Kulkarni filed a Right to Information (RTI) query.

Maharashtra recorded 10 deaths, Uttarakhand (5), Uttar Pradesh (2), Andhra Pradesh (1), Bihar (1), and Madhya Pradesh (6) during the period. Karnataka recorded the death of one tiger owing to a road accident on July 27, 2019 inside the Bandipur Tiger Reserve. Read More

18:16 (IST)30 Nov 2021
Bengaluru: Gunmen enter house disguised as BBMP officials, rob jewels

Disguised as health officials from Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) conducting a door-to-door vaccination drive, four men robbed an elderly person at her residence Monday.

The incident took place in Mathikere in Yeshwanthpura Monday around 11:30 pm. According to police sources, the miscreants entered a house located on the second floor of a building asking 54-year-old Pista Devi whether she had taken the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. Pista Devi and her 25-year-old relative were inside the house at the time of the incident. Read More

17:11 (IST)30 Nov 2021
Karnataka makes RT-PCR test must on arrival for all international passengers

The Karnataka government Tuesday made it mandatory for all international passengers to undergo RT-PCR Covid-19 testing on arrival. According to Minister of Health and Medical Education K Sudhakar,  this will apply to all  irrespective of whether the origin country features in the high-risk list or not. 

"Around 2,500 international passengers arrive in Karnataka daily, and it is now mandatory for everyone to undergo RT-PCR testing,” he announced after meeting the Covid-19 technical advisory committee (TAC) on Tuesday. 

Sudhakar said that mandatory RT-PCR test was, at present, being carried out for travelers from countries where the new virus is found. “The Chief Minister has instructed us to test travelers from any country,” he said. 
“For those who are negative, will be home quarantined for seven days. For those who are symptomatic and negative, will have to undergo testing at home on the fifth day. Asymptomatic will be tested on the seventh day. If positive, they will be immediately hospitalized. They will be treated separately,” Sudhakar explained

17:04 (IST)30 Nov 2021
Bengaluru: Fake marksheet racket busted, 4 held

The Bengaluru police have arrested four persons for allegedly selling fake marksheets of various universities in the country.

The arrested are identified as Rakesh (34), K Krishna (27), Haider Ali (37), and Tanam Debroy (33), all residents of Bengaluru. The accused were running a firm named Dream Education Services in Kempapura and allegedly offered fake certificates of different courses. Read More

16:52 (IST)30 Nov 2021
IAS officer Akram Pasha transferred as Commissioner for Labour department

IAS officer Akram Pasha, Secretary, Karnataka Building and other Construction Workers Welfare Board is transferred as Commissioner for Labour department

16:37 (IST)30 Nov 2021
Explained: What are the kickback allegations against BJP-led Karnataka govt?

The BJP-led Karnataka government is facing fresh charges of corruption following a letter by state contractors to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Though Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has ordered a probe into alleged kickback charges by the Karnataka State Contractors’ Association, the Congress has urged the Governor to invoke Article 356 and impose President’s rule in the state. Darshan Devaiah BP explains

16:21 (IST)30 Nov 2021
Covid-19 technical advisory panel meets; Discuss measures to be taken in view of Omicron

Karnataka government's Covid-19 technical advisory panel met today to discuss the measures to be taken in the state in view of the Omicron variant of Covronavirus.

Committee Chairman Dr. MK Sudarshan, State Health Minister Dr. K Sudhakar, and other members were present. 

14:57 (IST)30 Nov 2021
Keeping a strict check at airports: CM Basavaraj Bommai

As the fear of the new Covid variant Omicron looms, chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said strict measures are followed at airports in Karnataka.  "We are keeping a strict check at the airport especially for foreign travellers from nations where omicron has been detected," he told news agency ANI. 

14:47 (IST)30 Nov 2021
Man gets 7-year RI for raping minor in Karnataka

A court here has sentenced a man to seven years rigorous imprisonment in a case of abducting and raping a minor girl student in 2014.
  
The man was found guilty was facing the charge of abducting the girl, confining her in a lodge and raping her in August 2014.
Irfan (28), a resident of Deralakatte in Kotekar village here, had got acquainted with the girl who was studying for PU and often conversed with her on phone. (PTI)

14:18 (IST)30 Nov 2021
Bengaluru police raid firm which ran fake marks cards racket, 4 nabbed

Four persons who were selling fake marks cards of various universities have been arrested in Bengaluru. The arrested are Rakesh (34), K Krishna (27), Haider Ali (37), and Tanam Debroy (33), all residents of the city. The accused were running a firm named Dream Education services in Kempapura and offered different courses.

14:14 (IST)30 Nov 2021
No proposal to impose lockdown, says Karnataka CM Bommai

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has dismissed fears over a possible lockdown in the wake of Omicron, a new variant of Covid-19. Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, the CM urged people not to panic about Omicron, and asked them to strictly follow Covid-19 guidelines. "I request people to follow all Covid-19 protocols... There is no proposal to impose lockdown and people should not listen to any kind of rumors,” he said.

13:40 (IST)30 Nov 2021
PM Modi meets former PM and ex-Karnataka CM H D Devegowda
13:23 (IST)30 Nov 2021
Indefinite strike by Karnataka resident doctors enters Day 2

On the second day of their indefinite protest, Karnataka's resident doctors marched from Victoria Hospital to Town Hall in Bengaluru today. They have "long-pending" demands, including payment of Covid-19 risk allowance, restructuring academic fees on the lines of that followed pre-pandemic, and expediting NEET-PG counselling, among others.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka Association of Resident Doctors (KARD) has announced that it will organise marches to respective deputy commissioner offices across all districts as well.

12:57 (IST)30 Nov 2021
Jnanpith awardee Chandrashekar Kambara meets CM Basavaraj Bommai

12:46 (IST)30 Nov 2021
Karnataka health minister meets Covid committee

Karnataka Health and Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar’s meeting with the Covid-19 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) is underway in Bengaluru. The minister and top government officials, including Health Commissioner D Randeep, are discussing the possibility of imposing additional precautionary measures in the state, especially for international arrivals, in the wake of the new Omicron variant. 

On Tuesday, CM Basavaraj Bommai reiterated that all international arrivals would be subject to Covid-19 testing, and shall be allowed to leave the airport only after obtaining a negative RT-PCR result.

12:43 (IST)30 Nov 2021
ICMR report on sample from South African national with Covid to take 2-3 days

The lab report of the South African national who tested positive for Covid-19 on arriving in Bengaluru, will take two or three more days. Karnataka's Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar Tuesday said the report by the Indian Council of Medical Research can be expected in the next few days.

Sudhakar on Monday had said the 63-year-old was infected with a variant "different from Delta", which is why his sample was sent to ICMR for further testing. The patient is one of the two South African nationals who landed in Bengaluru from their country and tested positive. The second patient had the Delta variant.

"The sample of one of the two infected persons is different from the delta variant. Hence, we had sent it to the Indian Council for Medical Research. It may take another two to three days to get the report," Sudhakar was quoted as saying by PTI.

Here are a few contacts that might come in handy for you in emergency situations:

COVID-19 related queries / emergencies / clarifications: 104 (toll free); +91-80-4684-8600/6669-2000 | Home Quarantine-related queries: Telegram messenger/WhatsApp - +91 97777 77684, Voice call - 080 45451111 | BBMP control room: 080-22221188 | In case of power disruptions, contact BESCOM: 1912. If the water supply is hit in your area, contact BWSSB: 1916

  • news-guard-logo
  • The Indian Express website has been rated GREEN for its credibility and trustworthiness by Newsguard, a global service that rates news sources for their journalistic standards.
  • news-guard-logo-with-title
First uploaded on: 29-11-2021 at 10:13 IST
Latest Comment
Post Comment
Read Comments
close