巴拉特

作者： bharat.cn

  • Fisherman anchoring their boats in Hooghly river in West Bengal ahead on Cyclone Amphan

    Fisherman anchoring their boats in Hooghly river in West Bengal ahead on Cyclone Amphan

    Fisherman anchoring their boats in Hooghly river in West Bengal ahead on Cyclone Amphan

    SUPER CYCLONE DOWNGRADED TO EXTREMELY SEVERE CYCLONIC STORM

    The Indian Metrological Department has said that Cyclone Amphan is likely to be the worst since 1999, in which over 9,000 people were killed in Odisha. But as the states embark on a massive evacuations drill, the cyclone has lost some of its strength.

    However, it still packs enough force to pulverise coastal districts of Odisha and West Bengal.

    The gale-force wind, blowing at a speed of 240 to 250 kmph and gusting to 275 kmph at one point, had lost intensity and was moving at a speed of 200 to 210 kmph, gusting to 230 kmph on Tuesday evening.

    The weather department has said the storm could destroy standing crops, damage mud and thatch houses, and disrupt power and communication lines in coastal districts of the two eastern states.

    The IMD has advised people to remain at home and warned against opening markets in and around affected districts on Wednesday.

    “Storm surge of 4 to 5 metres above astronomical tide is likely to inundate low lying areas of South and North 24 Parganas and about 3 to 4 metres over low lying areas of East Midnapore district of West Bengal during the time of landfall,” the weatherman has said. These districts had suffered the most during cyclone ‘Bulbul’ and ‘Fani’ last year.

    IMD Director-General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said since the cyclone is gradually weakening, its impact is unlikely to be very severe in Odisha.

    However, coastal districts like Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak and Balasore are likely to be battered by heavy rains and high-velocity winds from Tuesday evening, he said.

    CYCLONE AMPHAN PROJECTED PATH AND LANDFALL

    Cyclone Amphan is expected to make landfall between Digha in West Bengal and Hatiya Island in Bangladesh on Wednesday, May 20. The cyclone will likely cross the coast in the afternoon or evening as ‘very severe cyclonic storm’ with a maximum wind speed of 185 kmph.

    Plotted using Google Maps below is the excepted path of Cyclone Amphan over the next two days. The path has been plotted based on information released by the India Meteorological Department on Tuesday afternoon. It’s a rough estimate of Cyclone Amphan’s expected progress. The various pins on the map below offer an idea of the location of Cyclone Amphan at a particular point; tap on the pins to know more.

  • India’s coronavirus toll crosses 1 lakh as states start easing curbs in Lockdown 4.0

    The nationwide tally of Covid-19 cases crossed one lakh on Monday with more people testing positive for the deadly virus in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and other states, even as a much-relaxed fourth phase of the lockdown began with restarting of market complexes, autos, taxis and inter-state buses in various parts of the country.

    The death toll due to Covid-19 crossed the 3,000-mark too.

    The nationwide count of confirmed infections incidentally crossed the crucial one-lakh mark on a day when the fourth phase of the nationwide lockdown kicked in with several relaxations for economic and public activities, barring in containment zones or areas identified as serious hotspots of the virus infection.

    LOCKDOWN 4.0 BEGINS WITH MORE RELAXATIONS

    With an aim to reboot numerous locked down economic activities, authorities across the country ordered reopening of markets, intra-state transport services and even of barbershops and salons in some states, barring in containment zones. However, schools, colleges, theatres, malls and religious gatherings are among those that would remain shut down, at least till May 31.

    India has been under lockdown since March 25, which was first supposed to be for 21 days or toll April 14, but was later extended till May 3, then further till May 17 and now for another two weeks till May 31.

    However, a number of relaxations have been given in the current fourth phase, while states and union territories have also been granted significant flexibility for deciding the red, orange or green zones in terms of the quantum and severity of the virus spread.

    INDIA CROSSES 1-LAKH CASES

    In its morning 8 AM update, the Union Health Ministry put the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases 96,169 and the death toll at 3,029. It also said that 36,824 people have so far recovered from the infection.

    However, if we add the number of new cases that have been reported in major states today, the overall number of Covid-19 cases crosses the 1-lakh mark.

    Maharashtra topped the nationwide tally with over 35,000 confirmed cases and 1,249 deaths, followed by Tamil Nadu with 11,760 confirmed cases and 81 deaths. Gujarat has also reported 11,746 confirmed cases, while its death toll is higher than that of Tamil Nadu at 694.

    Delhi has also crossed the 10,000-mark in terms of the number of confirmed cases, while its death toll has now reached 160.

    Gujarat, during the day, recorded 366 new Covid-19 cases and 35 deaths, including 31 from the worst-hit Ahmedabad, taking the state”s case count to 11,746 and the number of fatalities to 694, a health department official said.

    Maharashtra reported 2,033 new cases, taking the tally to 35,058. This was the second consecutive day when the state has reported more than 2,000 Covid-19 cases.

    Mumbai alone reported 1,185 fresh cases and 23 more deaths, taking the total count of the city to 21,152 and the fatalities to 757. Of the 1,185 new cases, 300 samples were tested positive in private laboratories between May 12 and 16.

    Kerala also saw 29 new cases — all but one being returnees from overseas and other states — raising concerns about the state witnessing a possible third wave of the dreaded virus infection. The state was first to report the virus infection, but at least twice it has already been seen as having flattened the curve of the infection.

    Later in the night, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Telangana also reported new cases.

  • Restrictions on businesses and movement of people have been partially relaxed in Delhi under lockdown 4.0

    Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday laid out a detailed plan of partially opening up economic and other activities as the country entered the fourth phase of lockdown ending on May 31.

    “We used the lockdown period to make arrangements to deal with COVID-19. We have to slowly move towards the opening of economy,” he said adding that 10,054 COVID-19 cases reported in Delhi so far.

    On the last day of lockdown 3.0 on Sunday, CM Kejriwal said the centre’s latest guidelines for the fourth phase of COVID-19-induced lockdown are largely in line with the proposal sent by the Delhi government.

    Here is a detailed list of what of which activities are allowed and which are not till May 31, as announced by the Delhi government.

    What is Allowed:

    – Government and private offices are allowed to resume operation.

    – Markets will be opened with staggered timings.

    – Four-wheelers with only two passengers are allowed. Two-wheelers will be allowed but without a pillion rider.

    – Taxis with two passengers, auto rickshaw and e-rickshaw with one passenger each, and buses with 20 passengers are allowed to ply. Passengers boarding buses will be screened.

    – Up to 50 people are allowed in marriage functions while 20 people can attend funerals.

    – Construction activities are allowed to resume.

    What is prohibited:

    – Metro trains, schools, colleges, shopping malls and swimming pools to remain closed.

    – No activity is allowed in containment zones in Delhi.

    – Religious gatherings not allowed.

    – Spas and saloons to remain closed.

    – Restaurants can open for home-delivery but dining facility is not allowed