Page 22 - Delhi

Delhi hospitals 'fully equipped' to fight any surge in Covid cases: Sisodia

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday said that the city government-run hospitals are "fully equipped" to fight any surge in Covid cases as mock drills were conducted at various medical facilities in the national capital to assess their preparedness to deal with the viral disease. Sisodia, who also holds the health portfolio, visited the Delhi government-run Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital around noon to assess the drill, and later told reporters that the Delhi government is "prepared for any kind of emergency". "At the LNJP Hospital, there are 2,000 beds and 450 of those are dedicated to COVID-19. If need arises, we can dedicate all 2,000 beds for COVID-19... We can also increase this number by using nearby banquet halls and add an additional 500 beds for COVID-19 fight, so there would no shortage," he said. Sisodia said that the availability of medical oxygen at LNJP Hospital has been "increased manifold" as compared to the capacity last time. Five PS

Delhi govt is taking over DMRC's electric bus fleet to enhance connectivity

The Delhi government will soon take over the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation's fleet of electric buses to strengthen last-mile connectivity, officials said. The Cabinet recently decided to take over 100 existing electric buses of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and also operate an additional 380 feeder buses under the Transport department in 2023. In a statement, the Delhi government said, "DMRC has been operating feeder e-buses in east and north clusters since December 2019 from Shastri Park and Majlis Park depots. These buses will be run by the Transport department through the Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS). "In addition, for the operation of additional 380 electric buses, six stations have been identified -- Welcome, Kohat Enclave, Rithala, Nangloi, Mundka and Dwarka." The depots at these locations will be constructed by the DMRC. The Transport department will operate the feeder buses on a per-kilometre basis where operators will be paid on the basis of

Delhi court grants bail to accused in extortion case post 3 months custody

A Delhi court has granted bail to an accused in an extortion case, saying "bail cannot be denied by taking merits into consideration as a punishment". Special Judge Shailender Malik granted the relief to one Anuj Srivastava, accused of extorting money from a 85-year-old man by threatening to falsely implicate him into a rape case. The judge allowed the bail application on a personal bond of Rs 30,000 with one surety in the like amount, and directed him not to leave the country without prior permission of court and not to influence or contact the witnesses, or tamper with evidence. "Having considered the submissions and taking note of the fact that accused/applicant is in judicial custody for last three months and no more required in the investigation. It is settled law that bail cannot be denied by taking merits into consideration as a punishment, whereas bail is a rule and denial thereof is an exception. "Taking into consideration period of custody of the accused, accused/applican

Delhi colder than Dharamsala; fog blots out sun in parts of northwest India

The national capital shivered on a severe cold day on Tuesday as its minimum temperature fell below that of Dehradun, Dharamsala and Nainital. With a high windchill factor -- a measure of the rate of heat loss from skin that is exposed to the air -- in play, the weather office predicted a cold day. The Safdarjung observatory, Delhi's primary weather station, logged a minimum temperature of 5.6 degrees Celsius -- a notch below normal. The maximum temperature was predicted to settle around 16 degrees Celsius. In comparison, the minimum temperature in Dehradun was recorded at 7 degrees Celsius, Dharamsala at 6.2 degrees Celsius and Nainital at 7.2 degrees Celsius. Meteorologists attributed the sharp drop in day temperatures to frigid north westerly winds barrelling through the plains and reduced sunshine due to foggy weather. Mahesh Palawat, vice president (meteorology and climate change) at Skymet Weather, said a western disturbance led to a fresh spell of snowfall in the mountains

Orders of deploying govt teachers on Covid duty at Delhi airport withdrawn

However, the authority in the order has said that if needed, civil defence staff will be deployed to ensure Covid protocol and guidelines for travellers landing from abroad at the airport

Delhi hospitals to conduct mock drills today to check Covid readiness

Hospitals across Delhi will conduct mock drills on Tuesday to assess their preparedness, including availability of beds and manpower, to deal with any increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. The Centre issued an advisory to this effect on Monday amid a spurt in COVID-19 cases in some countries. In the national capital, the drill will take place at Delhi government-run facilities like LNJP Hospital and private hospitals. Following the Centre's directions, a mock drill will be held in all hospitals on Tuesday to check their readiness for Covid management, said Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who holds the health portfolio. Any gaps would be addressed immediately by the health department officials, he said. The mock drill will assess bed availability, manpower, referral resources, testing capacity, medical logistics, telemedicine services and medical oxygen availability, among other things. Real-time data on the availability of beds, oxygen cylinders and ventilators will be

Ahead of Delhi mayoral polls, Independent councillor Daral joins BJP

Ahead of Delhi mayoral polls scheduled to be held on January 6, Independent councillor Gajendra Daral on Monday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

Delhi's peak power demand clocks 4,803 MW, season's highest: Officials

Delhi's peak power demand clocked 4,803 MW on Monday, the highest this season, according to officials. The highest peak power demand comes amid plummeting mercury levels in the city. At 4,803 MW recorded at 10.22 am, Delhi's peak power demand this year is more than the peak power demand clocked in December 2021 and December 2020. "Green power will play an important role in meeting the power demand in the BSES areas in the winter months. Apart from the long-term agreements with power-plants, including hydro and Delhi-based gas fuel-generating stations, the BSES is also receiving 840 MW of solar power from SECI, 439 MW of wind power...," a BSES official said in a statement. "It is also being helped by 127 MW+ of rooftop solar power installed on rooftops in South, West, East and Central Delhi," he added. Apart from these, the BSES discoms are using avenues such as "banking" and "power exchange" and ensuring sufficient "spinning reserves" to dispose of surplus power as well as ensurin

20 cars gutted in fire at multi-level parking in Delhi's Subhash Nagar

As many as 20 cars were gutted after a fire broke out in a Municipal Corporation's multi-level parking in Delhi's Subhash Nagar area in the wee hours of Monday

Shivraj meets PM Modi in Delhi, discuss several issues on public welfare

Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday called on PM Modi in New Delhi ahead of next year's key meetings of G-20, Khelo India Youth Games, Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas

Delhi authorities start taking stock of Covid arrangements in hospitals

Officials on Monday began physically visiting all government hospitals in Delhi to ascertain their preparedness to deal with any eventuality in view of the surge in Covid cases in some countries, authorities said. "We have started physically visiting all government hospitals. An inventory of beds, liquid medical oxygen, ventilators and other equipment is being prepared. It will be ready by Monday evening," East Delhi District Magistrate Anil Banka said. A mock drill will be conducted across all city government hospitals on Tuesday following the Centre's directions. Delhi Health Secretary Amit Singla had on Sunday chaired a meeting with all district magistrates and directed them to visit all hospitals and prepare an inventory of beds and equipment available. Real-time data related to the availability of beds, oxygen cylinders and ventilators will be available for the public on a Delhi government portal from Tuesday. An official said testing was also likely to be ramped up soon. At

Delhi authorities to check hospitals' readiness, increase Covid testing

In view of a surge in COVID-19 cases in some countries, officials will physically visit all government hospitals in Delhi and ascertain their preparedness to deal with any eventuality, authorities said on Sunday. In pursuance of the central government's directions, a mock drill will be conducted across all city government hospitals on Tuesday. Delhi Health Secretary Amit Singla chaired a meeting with all district magistrates on Sunday morning and directed them to visit all hospitals and prepare an inventory of beds and equipment available there, a district official said. "From Monday onwards, we are going to physically assess the situation at the government hospitals with regard to the availability of beds, oxygen cylinders, ventilators etc. These details will be available on a Delhi government portal for public viewing from Tuesday," another official said. The Delhi government's coronavirus dashboard was last updated on December 12. "Real-time data will be available on the portal

G20 summit: MCD to repair old toilets, build new facilities in Delhi

New toilets will be built and old ones will be repaired across five zones of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi as part of the civic body's preparations for the G20 summit, officials said on Saturday. India assumed the year-long presidency of G20 on December 1. More than 200 meetings will be held at 55 locations in India and the summit will take place in the national capital in September 2023. The G20 comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the US and the European Union. Several roads and parks will be beautified, trees illuminated and public art will be installed at many locations in Delhi, according to civic officials. Work for the construction of new community toilet complexes (CTCs) and public toilets (PTs) and to repair the old ones has been intensified, the MCD said in a statement. The work would be carried out in five zones -- Ka

PM Narendra Modi to attend 'Veer Bal Diwas' programme in Delhi on Monday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in a "historic" programme marking 'Veer Bal Diwas' at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here on December 26, his office said. Modi will attend a 'Shabad Kirtan' performed by about 300 'Baal Kirtanis' and also flag off a march-past by about 3,000 children in Delhi, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a statement. The government is organising interactive and participative events all over the country to inform and educate the citizens, especially young children, about the story of exemplary courage of the 'sahibzades', the children of the last Sikh guru Gobind Singh, who laid down their lives while defending their faith, it said. Essay writing, quiz competitions and other activities will be organised in schools and colleges across the country. Digital exhibitions will be set up at public places like railway stations, petrol pumps and airports, among others, the statement said. All over the country, programmes will be organised .

Gandhi family walks together as Bharat Jodo Yatra entered Delhi today

The Gandhi family walked together in the Bharat Jodo Yatra on Saturday as former party president Sonia Gandhi, her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren joined Rahul Gandhi in the march in the national capital. Sonia Gandhi and her family members walked with Rahul Gandhi for a short distance till the yatra halted for the morning break at the Ashram Chowk in Delhi. This is the second time Sonia Gandhi, also Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson, joined the yatra that began in September from Kanyakumari. She had earlier taken part in the march in October when it was in Mandya in Karnataka. This is the first time the entire family has walked in the Bharat Jodo Yatra together. Wearing a mask, Sonia Gandhi walked with Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Robert Vadra and her grandchildren and waved to the public waiting along the roads to see the family. "The love that I have received from her, I am sharing the same with the country," Rahul Gandhi tweeted in Hindi with a picture of

CM Yogi, PM Modi meet in Delhi to discuss UP Global Investor Summit

With just a few weeks left for the global summit, Uttar Pradesh has managed to get investment proposals worth almost Rs 7 lakh crore, according to official updates

Beginning as six-station journey, Delhi Metro completes 20 yrs of operation

From its humble beginning in December 2002 with a corridor of just 8.2 km spanning six stations on the Red Line, the Delhi Metro has grown into a network of over 390 km in 2022, completing an eventful journey of 20 years of operations. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation today operates multiple corridors in the national capital and neighbouring cities. Delhi Metro had begun its commercial operations on December 25, 2002, a day after then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had inaugurated DMRC's first stretch, spanning 8.2 kilometre from Shahdara to Tis Hazari, with just six stations. To mark the two decades of operations, Delhi Metro is slated to run a special train on Saturday that was flagged off by Vajpayee on December 24, 2002. "It is an exciting milestone for the DMRC, and the special run of the six-coach train will take place today from Kashmere Gate station to Welcome station on the Red Line," a senior official said. A special exhibition commemorating 20 years of operations w

Random Covid testing of int'l arriving passengers begins at Delhi airport

The random coronavirus testing of international arriving passengers started at Delhi airport on Saturday as the authorities step up measures to prevent possible spread of the infection in the country. Two per cent of passengers arriving in each international flight will be subject to random coronavirus testing at airports from Saturday. Such travellers in each flight shall be identified by the airlines concerned and after submitting the sample, passengers will be allowed to leave the airport. Thermal screening will be done for all passengers at the point of entry and those found to be symptomatic during screening will be immediately isolated. The testing of the international arriving passengers started in the morning, according to an airport official. "We are Ready! Your safety is our priority. 2% random sampling for international arriving passengers will commence today from 10 AM at T3, at no cost to the passengers," Delhi airport said in a tweet in the morning. It also urged ..

Dense fog covers Delhi, rail traffic affected; visibility reduces to 100m

A dense layer of fog engulfed parts of the national capital Saturday morning reducing visibility to 100 metres, and affecting road and rail traffic. The Safdarjung Observatory, the national capital's primary weather station, recorded the minimum temperature at 5.4 degrees Celsius, three notches below the season's normal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). A total of 14 trains were running late by 1.30 to 3.30 hours, railway officials said. At 5:30 am, visibility was 100 metres at Palam and 200 metres at Safdarganj, two Delhi weather stations. Among other cities, it was 25 metres at Patiala (Punjab) and Ganganagar (Rajasthan), and 50 metres at Churu. IMD officials said a layer of fog was seen mainly over Punjab, north Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi. Another layer is seen over some parts of Bihar, while regions in Uttar Pradesh are free from the fog cover, they said. According to the IMD 'very dense' fog is when visibility is between 0 and 50 metres, 51 and 200 is

Bharat Jodo Yatra enters Delhi, gets warm welcome at Badarpur border

The Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra, led by party leader Rahul Gandhi, entered Delhi early Saturday morning and was accorded a warm welcome at the Badarpur border. A large number of workers from Delhi Congress-led by Delhi unit chief Anil Chaudhary welcomed Gandhi and the Yatris at the Delhi border in Badarpur. The yatra entered Delhi from the Faridabad side in Haryana. Senior party leaders, including former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Kumari Selja, Randeep Surjewala, Shaktisinh Gohil and others accompanied Rahul Gandhi as part of the yatra. "Remove inflation, unemployment and hatred. Carrying this voice of India, we have come to the throne of the 'king', we have come to Delhi. Come join us in the capital to rise it even higher," the Congress said in a tweet in Hindi. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh earlier tweeted in Hindi that the Bharat Jodo Yatra on its 108th day is entering Delhi. "For the last few days, there has been a heightened sense of unease there. But, one