Covid LIVE: Delhi, Maharashtra, Bengal see big jump in cases

Mumbai sees 12% rise in daily Covid cases while Gujarat and Karnataka also see an uptick in cases

9:30 AM

China implements new border law, India concerned

India is likely to face more challenges at the northern border as China implements its new border law from Saturday.

 

Sources said from now on China is likely to dig in its heels at the current disputed positions at the Line of Actual Control and will come up with more model border villages -- to be used both for military and civilian purposes.

 

Making a provocative assertion, China on December 30, 2021 renamed 15 places of Arunachal Pradesh in their map.

 

Major General Ashok Kumar (Retd) told IANS, "The new land border law is the latest attempt by China to unilaterally delineate and demarcate territorial boundaries with India and Bhutan."

 

Explaining how this law has huge implications for India, Major General Kumar said that by bringing in such a law, and in conjunction with accelerated construction of 624 "Xiaokong" known as model villages along and inside the disputed land boundaries with India, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has created conditions for a 'militarised solution' to the boundary issue.

 

"It is a hybrid unconventional warfare methodology, applied for taking over illegal control of sovereign spaces of other states and gets converted into a legalistic nation-building exercise which brooks no opposition," he said.

 

9:28 AM

Mata Vaishno Devi shrine stampede: Helpline numbers issued

The authorities on Saturday announced helpline numbers for families and friends of devotees of Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine where 12 people died and 14 injured in a stampede.
 

The helpline numbers are:

Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Helpline nos:
 

01991-234804

01991-234053
 

Other Helpline nos:

PCR Katra 01991232010/ 9419145182

PCR Reasi 0199145076/ 9622856295

DC Office Reasi Control room

01991245763/ 9419839557.

The PMO announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 2 lakh each for the best of kin who lost their lives during the stampede.

J&K Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha has announced Rs 10 lakh each for the next of kin of those killed in the stampede.

The stampede occurred around 2.45 a.m. Saturday when a large number of devotees entered the Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan without permission slips on new year.

Officials said the stampede took place outside the sanctum Santorum of the shrine.

9:05 AM

Very distressed: Prez Kovind on loss of lives in stampede at Vaishno Devi shrine

President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday said he was very distressed to know that an unfortunate stampede claimed lives of devotees at Mata Vaishno Devi Bhavan in Jammu and Kashmir and offered heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.

"I wish speedy recovery to those injured," he said.

At least 12 people were killed and 20 others injured in the stampede at the famous shrine, triggered by a heavy rush of devotees.

The stampede occurred near gate number three outside the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine atop Trikuta hills.

9:04 AM

China reports 175 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases

China on Friday reported new 175 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, local media reported on Saturday.

Of the new local cases, 174 were reported in the province of Shaanxi, and one in Guizhou, Xinhua reported citing the National Health Commission report.

Also reported were 56 new imported cases in 12 provincial-level regions, according to the commission.

Earlier on Wednesday, in sweeping restrictions, China locked down the entire 13 million residents of Xi'an city after the COVID-19 cluster was found in the area. 

8:52 AM

Vaishno Devi stampede: Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh express grief over loss of lives

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday expressed grief over the loss of lives in a stampede that took place early this morning, resulting in the death of at least 12 persons and injuring 13 others.

Shah tweeted in Hindi, "Deeply pained by the tragic accident at Mata Vaishno Devi Temple. I have spoken to Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. The administration is working continuously to provide treatment to the injured people. I express my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this accident."

Singh tweeted, "The tragedy due to a stampede at Mata Vaishno Bhawan is heart-wrenching. Anguished by the loss of lives due to it. My condolences to the bereaved families in this sad hour. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured."

8:51 AM

Xi Jinping calls for reunification of motherland

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for the complete reunification of their motherland that is an aspiration shared by people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, a media report said.

"The complete reunification of our motherland is an aspiration shared by people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait," Global Times quoted Xi as saying on Friday night when he delivered his 2022 New Year Address.

Emphasising that the "prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao" are always "close to the heart" of the motherland, XI underlined the importance of the sound implementation of the "one country, two systems" model.

8:42 AM

COVID-19 vaccination: CoWIN registrations for 15-18 age group begins from today

In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement on Christmas, registrations for vaccinating 15-18-year-old children against COVID-19 starts from Saturday on the Co-WIN portal.

"Let's get ready to ensure COVID vaccination of all eligible citizens. Registrations on #CoWIN for 15-18 year old children starts from 1st January 2022. #LargestVaccineDrive #Unite2FightCorona," tweeted the Ministry of Health on Friday.

As announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 25, 2021, the vaccination for the age-group 15-18 years is scheduled to begin from Monday while administration of precautionary third dose for the vulnerable categories is to commence from January 10, 2022.

8:41 AM

Stampede at Vaishno Devi shrine: Union Min Jitendra Singh rushes to Katra to take stock of situation

Union Minister Jitendra Singh has rushed to Katra in Jammu and Kashmir to take stock of the situation after a stampede at Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine killed at least 12 people and injured 20 others.

Singh, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), is Lok Sabha member from Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur constituency.

"I'm immediately rushing to #Katra to take stock of the situation arising out of the tragedy at Mata #VaishnoDevi Shrine. I look forward to have a detailed discussion with the administration and report it back to Hon'ble PM Sh @NarendraModi, he tweeted on Saturday.

At least 12 people were killed and 20 others injured in a stampede at the famous shrine, triggered by a heavy rush of devotees, officials said Saturday.

The stampede occurred near gate number three outside the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine atop Trikuta hills.

8:37 AM

Mata Vaishno Devi shrine stampede: Helpline numbers issued

The authorities on Saturday announced helpline numbers for families and friends of devotees of Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine where 12 people died and 14 injured in a stampede.

The helpline numbers are: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Helpline nos:

01991-234804

01991-234053

Other Helpline nos:

PCR Katra 01991232010/ 9419145182

PCR Reasi 0199145076/ 9622856295

DC Office Reasi Control room

01991245763/ 9419839557.

The PMO announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 2 lakh each for the best of kin who lost their lives during the stampede.

J&K Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha has announced Rs 10 lakh each for the next of kin of those killed in the stampede.

The stampede occurred around 2.45 a.m. Saturday when a large number of devotees entered the Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan without permission slips on new year.

Officials said the stampede took place outside the sanctum Santorum of the shrine.

8:26 AM

Vaishno Devi stampede: JK LG expresses grief, announces ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh each for kin of deceased

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday expressed grief over the loss of lives in a stampede at the Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan in Katra and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh each for the next of kin of those who died.

"Deeply pained at the loss of lives due to stampede at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine. My condolences to the families of the deceased and prayers with the injured," Office of Jammu and Kashmir LG said in a tweet.

The Lieutenant Governor further also announced Rs 2 lakh to the injured and said that the Shrine board will bear the cost of the treatment of the injured.

8:24 AM

Vaishno Devi stampede: Rahul Gandhi offers condolences to families of victims

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi mourned the deaths in a stampede at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday.

"The stampede at Mata Vaishno Devi temple is tragic. I extend my condolences to the families of the deceased," Gandhi said on Twitter.

He also wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

8:23 AM

HM Amit Shah speaks to J-K LG Manoj Sinha over stampede at Vaishno Devi shrine

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said he was deeply pained by the tragic accident at Mata Vaishno Devi temple and spoke to Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha who assured that the administration is providing treatment to the injured.

At least 12 people were killed and 20 others injured in the stampede at the famous Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Deeply pained by the tragic accident at Mata Vaishno Devi temple. In this regard, I have spoken to Lieutenant Governor of J&K Shri Manoj Sinha. The administration is working continuously to provide treatment to the injured. I express my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this accident," Shah tweeted in Hindi.

8:15 AM

PM Modi expresses grief over stampede at Mata Vaishno Devi temple

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed grief over the loss of lives in the stampede that took place early this morning at Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan in Jammu and Kashmir's Katra, in which at least 12 people were killed and several others injured.

 

The Prime Minister also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to those injured.

 

"Extremely saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede at Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. Spoke to JK LG Shri @manojsinha_ Ji, Ministers Shri @DrJitendraSingh Ji, @nityanandraibjp Ji and took stock of the situation," PM Modi tweeted.

 

"An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of those who lost their lives due to the stampede at Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000: PM @narendramodi," tweeted the Prime Minister's Office.

8:00 AM

12 dead, 20 injured in stampede at Vaishno Devi shrine in J&K

At least 12 people were killed and 20 others injured in a stampede at the famous Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir triggered by a heavy rush of devotees, officials said on Saturday.

The stampede occurred near gate number three outside the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine atop Trikuta hills.

The stampede was triggered by a heavy rush of devotees who have come to pay their obeisance to mark the beginning of the New Year, the officials said.

Senior officials and shrine board representatives are on the spot.

Officials said 12 people died in the stampede and their bodies have been removed to a hospital in the Katra base camp for identification and other legal formalities.

7:55 AM

20 injured in stampede at Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir

At least 20 people were injured in a stampede, triggered by heavy rush of devotees on New Year's Day, at the famous Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta hills in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Saturday.

 

The stampede happened shortly after midnight.

 

Senior officials and shrine board representatives are on the spot.

 

Hospital and police sources said at least 20 people were injured in the stampede and were taken to hospitals, including Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality hospital, and the condition of some of the injured was stated to be serious.