LIVE News Updates: I urge ECI to consider holding remaining phases in one go, says Mamata Banerjee

India reports 2,00,739 new COVID-19 cases, 93,528 discharges and 1,038 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per Union Health Ministry

Chhattisgarh: Due to upsurge in COVID-19 cases, an 11-day lockdown will be imposed in Bijapur district from April 16 to 26. Essential services exempted, their operations to be unrestricted: Collector Bijapur Ritesh Agarwal

Amid ongoing pandemic, we firmly opposed ECI's decision to conduct West Bengal polls in 8 phases. In view of surge in COVID-19 cases, I urge ECI to consider holding remaining phases in one go. This will protect people from further exposure to virus: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee

Election Commission of India (ECI) imposes a 24-hour ban on West Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh for violation of Model Code of Conduct, prohibits him from campaigning from 7 pm on April 15 to 7 pm on April 16

Prominent Lucknow markets, including Hazratganj and Aminabad, will remain voluntarily closed from Thursday to check the spread of Covid-19 virus in the city.

“Markets in Hazratganj will remain close from April 15 to 18 in wake of pandemic,” said Kishan Chand Bhambwani, president, Hazratganj Traders Association after a late-night meeting of traders on Wednesday.

Traders of Jhandewala Park Vyapar Mandal, State Bank Vyapar Mandal and Dildar Vyapar Mandal in Aminabad have also decided to close their business establishments from April 15 to 21 because of Covid.

In a press release issued by these trader associations, the traders said that despite the ongoing marriage season, Navratri and Ramzan they have decided to close their establishments because saving lives was more important for them than business.

“In absence of any announcement of lockdown from the government it is the duty of traders to break the chain of coronavirus,” said Sandeep Bansal, president of Uttar Pradesh Udyog Vyapar Mandal.

North East Delhi Violence: Delhi court grants bail to JNU former student leader Umar Khalid (in file pic). Court noted that he can't be made to incarcerate in jail for infinity merely on account that others who were part of the mob have to be identified & arrested in the matter.

Election Commission of India (ECI) issues notice to BJP's Sayantanu Basu over his "inflammatory statement" which is an "open threat to Bengal & its people" delivered at a rally in North 24 Parganas' Baranagar. ECI asks him to explain his stand within 24 hours.

The Odisha government on Thursday postponed all board examinations including the Class 10 and 12 tests in the wake of spiraling COVID-19 cases in the state.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik made the announcement after reviewing the coronavirus situation in Odisha, where active cases have surpassed the 14,000-mark.

Weekend curfew on the movement of individuals in NCT of Delhi to be applicable till April 30 or further orders.

Dear Members,

The Editors Guild of India urges the Union Government to declare journalists as frontline workers and be allowed priority vaccination against Coronavirus, along with other frontline workers. News organizations have been relentlessly covering the pandemic, elections, and other current affairs in an effort to ensure that the flow of news and information to readers continues unabated. News media is at is included in essential services. Therefore it will only be fair that journalists be given this cover of protection, especially in the face of number of infected rising to astronomical levels. Without the protection of a vaccination, media persons are finding it very difficult to discharge their professional responsibilities.

Therefore EGI calls on the Union Government to immediately get all the journalists, regardless of age, vaccinated so that there is no disruption in their work during this critical time.

Thanks and wishes

Seema Mustafa, President

Sanjay Kapoor, General Secretary

Anant Nath, Treasurer

50 can offer prayers at Nizamuddin Markaz five times a day during Ramzan, says Delhi High Court, NDTV reported

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray writes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggesting various measures to be undertaken in view of the COVID-19 pandemic

Schools in UP closed till May 15; board exams for classes 10, 12 postponed till May 20: Govt

Night curfew hours extended, 8 pm-7 am - in Noida, Lucknow, other UP districts with over 2,000 active cases

Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh announces that all students of class 5, 8 & 10 be promoted to next class, without taking any examination. A decision on Class 12 PSEB exams, which have already been postponed, to be taken later based on the emerging situation: Punjab CMO

Curfew passes to be issued to those rendering essential services. Malls, gyms, spas and auditoriums to be closed. Cinemas halls to operate at 30% capacity only. People will not be allowed to dine-in restaurants, only home deliveries permitted: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

There is no shortage of beds in hospitals in Delhi. According to the latest data, more than 5000 beds are available: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on COVID-19 situation

To control the spread of COVID19, it has been decided to impose weekend curfew in Delhi: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

All staff members of SC judge Justice M R Shah test positive for COVID-19, says judge

A student died at quarantine centre set up at IIT Roorkee. He was at the centre from April 11th after coming in primary contact of another student who had tested positive for COVID-19. Cause of death can be ascertained in postmortem: IIT Roorkee media cell incharge

Maharashtra: Shortage of medical oxygen in a number of hospitals in Nashik District.

Only when the oxygen supply is increased we'll be able to admit more patients. We need 50 cylinders daily but we're getting only 30 cylinders, says Dr.Yogesh More, Uma Hospital news agency ANI reported.

WPI inflation rises to 7.39 per cent in March against 4.17 per cent in February

A candidate for the village head panchayat polls was shot at by a rival in Mahuadabar village under Khajni police circle.

Andhra Pradesh: 6 members of a family killed by a man whose daughter was allegedly raped by a member of the said family; the alleged rapist is absconding. The incident occurred in Juttada village of Visakhapatnam district. Police team present at the spot, investigation underway.

Madhya Pradesh: A Covid patient died at Shivpuri district hospital allegedly after a ward boy removed oxygen support The deceased was a dialysis patient & his hemoglobin had dropped. We'll check CCTV footage and look into the allegations leveled by family: Arjun Lal Sharma, CMHO

Jaslok Hospital converted into a dedicated COVID-19 hospital, catering to COVID patients only. It will no longer admit non-COVID patients: Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai

Addl 250 COVID beds in Jaslok Hospital will come online on BMC dashboard (including 40 ICU beds) by Saturday morning. In addition to this, 30 more ICU beds being added in SevenHills Hospital today. 1500 addl beds will be added in NESCO Jumbo centre within 7 days: BMC Commissioner

Telangana reported 3,307 fresh COVID-19 cases pushing the tally to over 3.38 lakh, while the toll rose to 1,788 with eight more fatalities, the state government said on Thursday.

With the addition of 5,566 new cases of coronavirus, the infection count in Maharashtra's Thane district has reached 3,95,690, an official said on Thursday.

26,20,03,415 samples tested for COVID-19 up to 14th April 2021, including 13,84,549 samples that were tested yesterday: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

Gorakhpur: Residents of Vantangia villages cast their votes for panchayat polls, for the first time ever. The villages were declared revenue village by CM Yogi Adityanath in 2018. Voting for the first phase of UP Panchayat polls are being held today.

Maharashtra: 284 active cases of COVID-19 currently in prisons across the state, including 198 inmates and 86 members of jail staff. 15 deaths reported, comprising 7 prisoners and 8 jail staff. 1326 prisoners and 3112 jail staff vaccinated so far.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to hold a meeting with Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal today over increasing COVID-19 cases in the national capital.

Maharashtra Government's 15-day restrictions, in the wake of the COVID-19 situation, comes into effect. Section 144 imposed across the state.

Maharashtra Government's restrictions, in the wake of the COVID19 situation, came into effect from 8 pm yesterday. Section 144 has been imposed in the entire state, restrictions will remain in place till May 1st.

People stand in a queue at a polling booth in Ayodhya as they await their turn to cast vote for the first phase of Uttar Pradesh Panchayat polls.