作者： bharat.cn

India reported a record daily jump in the number of novel coronavirus cases on Friday as Chennai locked down following fresh outbreaks there.

Given India’s high population density, experts have long worried that a sustained Covid-19 outbreak would lead to pressure on its stretched healthcare system.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lifted most restrictions that were part of a nearly three-month nationwide lockdown on June 8, despite the continuing rise in cases.

Data from India’s federal health ministry on Friday showed an additional 13,500 cases over the previous 24 hours, with over 300 deaths.

India now lags only the United States, Brazil and Russia in total number of infections and has reported four times more than China, which has a similar size population and is where the virus originated late last year.

On Friday Tamil Nadu imposed a lockdown with tough restrictions in Chennai and surrounding districts until June 30.

Roads in Chennai, known as “India’s Detroit” for its large car-making industry, were largely empty on Friday and most shops were closed amid heavy police patrolling to ensure adherence to the rules.

“Police officers and medical professionals are fighting for you. Please cooperate and be hopeful,” Tamil Nadu state Health Minister C Vijayabaskar said in a tweet on Friday.

“Let’s follow social distancing, stay aware and win this battle against this pandemic.”

Tamil Nadu has tested over 800,000 people for COVID-19 – the highest number in the country – and its mortality rate is nearly a third of the national average. But it has been facing criticism over delayed reporting of deaths, and the number of cases and casualties have been rising steeply in recent days, mainly in and around Chennai.

With the release of 10 Indian Army personnel who were in captivity of the Chinese army for three days, the dialogue between the two countries is expected to get back on track to discuss further disengagement at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh.

Ten Indian Army personnel, including four officers, were released by China on Thursday evening.

Over the last three days, discussions during the Major General-level talks revolved around release of the 10 Indian Army personnel who were held captive by the Chinese after the fierce clash in Galwan Valley. Twenty Indian Army personnel, including a commanding officer, were killed in action.

After the release on Thursday, no talks were scheduled for Friday, but a dialogue for further disengagement is likely to continue later, sources said.

On Thursday, the Army and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said no Indian army personnel were missing or not accounted for.

Since the brutal clash of June 15, the Major Generals of both armies met for three consecutive days to discuss the release of Indian Army soldiers. It is, however, not clear what led to Indians being taken in captivity by the Chinese.

While the 10 Indian army men returned to their units, the situation on the ground remains volatile as a troop build-up continues in Galwan Valley area and the Pangong Lake where a stand-off continues since May 5.

The ugliest clash took place on June 15 in Galwan Valley but there have been skirmishes at the north bank of the Pangong Lake where the Chinese have set up a camp at a point which was always under Indian control in a bid to change status quo.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India should be the world’s largest coal exporters considering the size of reserves it has and unlocking of coal mining for commercial players is a step in that direction.

Launching the virtual auction process of 41 coal blocks for commercial mining, expected to garner Rs 33,000 crore of capital investment in the country over next 5-7 years, the Prime Minister said it is a major step in the direction of achieving ‘self-reliance’.

He also said that the coronavirus pandemic has taught India to be self-reliant.

The launch of the auction process not only marks the beginning of unlocking of the country’s coal sector from the “lockdown of decades”, but aims at making India the largest exporter of coal, PM Modi said.

Despite being the world’s fourth largest producer at present, he said India is the second-largest importer of the dry-fuel.

“The country which the fourth-largest in terms of coal reserves and is the second-largest coal producer, that country is not exporting coal. But is the second-largest importer of coal. The big question is if India is the one of the largest coal producers in the world, then why can’t we become the largest exporter,” Modi said.

The PM further said, “To make India self-reliant in the energy sector, a major step is being taken. In the near future, we will be the major exporters of the products that we import now “.

He said, “India will turn this COVID-19 crisis into an opportunity. It has taught India to be self-reliant and we will reduce our dependence on imports.”

The Prime Minister also said that the government has set an aim of gasification of 100 million tonnes of coal by 2030 with an investment of Rs 20,000 crore.