Thiruvananthapuram Apr 19 PTI The Kerala government on Tuesday rejected allegations that the state did not submit daily COVID-19 figures to the Centre and termed an ongoing campaign at the national level in this connection as condemnableClaiming that the state had submitted the COVID figures to the central government on a daily basis in the prescribed format without any fail Health Minister Veena George said the digital evidences could not be covered upShe also expressed displeasure over the media getting hold of the copy of a letter sent by the union joint secretary before it reached the principal secretary of the state health departmentThe state would soon submit a reply to the Centres letter attaching all the details the minister told reporters hereExplaining that the state had stopped publishing daily Coronavirus figures on April 10 due to the decline in the number of those affected by the virus George said it was the decision of the state governmentHowever the COVID data is strictly being collected submitted to the Centre and reviewed accurately she said adding that the figures would be published again if the cases show an upward trendThe argument that Kerala did not submit the COVID figures to the Centre is wrong George saidReiterating that the number of COVID cases is decreasing in the southern state she also said a total of 209 cases were reported on MondayHowever the minister said the state was aware that the cases were going up in other parts of the countyThe southern state is even prepared to face another COVID wave she added PTI LGK ROH ROH

Srinagar Jan 31 PTI The minimum temperature across Kashmir improved as Chilla-i-Kalan -- the harshest winter period when the chances of snowfall are maximum and most frequent - ended officials said on MondayHowever the minimum temperature settled below the freezing point across the valley on Sunday night the officials saidChilla-i-Kalan -- the 40-day harshest winter period which began on December 21 last year -- is a period when a cold wave grips the region and the temperature drops considerably leading to the freezing of water bodies including the famous Dal Lake here as well as the water supply lines in several parts of the valleyThe chances of snowfall are the most frequent and maximum during this period and most areas especially in the higher reaches receive heavy to very heavy snowfallHowever the Chilla-i-Kalan this year was not harsh like the last year and there was less snowfall during the periodEven after the end of Chilla-i-Kalan the cold wave continues in Kashmir with a 20-day-long Chillai-Khurd small cold and a 10-day-long Chillai-Bachha baby cold However both these periods are considered less harshSrinagar the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir recorded a low of minus 16 degrees Celsius up from minus 23 degrees Celsius the previous night they saidThe famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 66 degrees Celsius up from minus 74 degrees Celsius the previous nightPahalgam tourist resort in south Kashmir which also serves as the base camp for the annual Amarnath yatra recorded a low of minus 48 degrees Celsius up from minus 7 degrees Celsius the previous night they saidThe officials said Qazigund recorded a minimum of minus 28 degree Celsius while the nearby south Kashmir town of Kokernag recorded a low of minus 22 degrees CelsiusThe minimum in Kupwara in north Kashmir settled at a low of minus 06 degrees CelsiusThe MeT Office has said there is a possibility of rain or snow at scattered places over the next 24 hoursAfter that there are chances of a wet spell from February 2 to 4 as well it said PTI SSB MIJ DV DV

New Delhi Nov 28 PTI Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai will hold a high-level meeting on Monday to review the air pollution situation in the capital officials saidThe minister will take stock of the situation with senior officials of the departments concerned and discuss steps that could be taken in addition to the existing restrictions on construction and truck entry an official saidThe Supreme Court will also conduct a hearing on a public interest litigation pertaining to high levels of air pollution in Delhi-NCR on MondayThe Delhi government had on Thursday re-imposed the ban on construction and demolition activities following the Supreme Court order in this regardChief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the workers affected by the ban on construction activities in the national capital will be provided a financial assistance of Rs 5000 each and his government will also compensate them for the loss of minimum wagesPhysical classes in schools colleges and other educational institutions will resume and government offices will reopen from MondayHowever the ban on the entry of trucks barring those engaged in essential services will continue till December 3 CNG and electric trucks are allowed to enter DelhiOn November 13 the city government had ordered the closure of all educational institutes banned construction and demolition activities and asked its employees to work from home to combat air pollution and minimise its health effectsFour days later it extended the restrictions besides banning the entry of trucks carrying non-essential items in Delhi PTI GVS DV DV