Mumbai Dec 31 PTI With prohibitory orders in place the beaches promenades and parks of Mumbai wore a deserted look as the sun went down on the last day of 2021 Earlier in the day the city police issued an order prohibiting people from visiting beaches open grounds sea-faces promenades gardens parks and similar public places between 5 pm to 5 am till January 15 in view of the surge in coronavirus cases DCP operations S Chaitanya issued the order under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure CrPC which came into force from 1 pm on Friday As a result there were no crowds at the iconic Gateway of India a favourite spot of many Mumbaikars to bring in a new year Police personnel were seen blowing whistles asking people to move away since as early as 5 in the eveningI had come to witness New Year celebrations with wife and children but we learnt here that police are not allowing people to visit Gateway of India said 28-year-old Rafique Abdul Hamid a resident of Mira Road in neighbouring Thane district Raj Patel 23 and Kushal 21 who had come to Mumbai from Gujarat to celebrate New Years Eve were also among those who were turned away by police from the spot Now we will go back to our hotel and sleep said Kushal who is a photographer by profession There was heavy police deployment on approach roads and barricades were placed at other prominent tourist spots and hang-outs across the city At Marine Drive in south Mumbai police personnel were standing every 50 meters Even runners and evening walkers were turned away from the popular seashore promenade We dont like turning people away like this especially those who arrive with families to watch the sunset and celebrate Near Years Eve But people should understand that it is for their own safety said a police official But though celebrations remained muted the facades of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC headquarters and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus were lit up in the evening with special lights PTI DC KRK KRK

Noida Dec 31 PTI The Noida Police on Friday conducted foot marches and checks across markets shopping malls metro stations and other public places in the city to review security arrangements on New Years eve officials said Besides police personnel specialised Pinaka commandos and dog squads were also roped in for the intensive checking that also covered congested city lanes as well metal detectors installed in private establishments the officials said The police also raised awareness among the public about the surge in COVID-19 cases and the night curfew which begins at 11 pm and said efforts were being made to enforce the restrictions strictly The drill was carried out on instructions of Police Commissioner Alok Singh under supervision of Assistant Commissioner of Police Noida 1 Ankita Sharma and ACP Noida 2 Rajneesh Verma a police spokesperson said ACP Ankita Sharma said occasions like New Year or New Years eve become vulnerable to anti-social activities since crowds gather at public places for celebrations Hence comprehensive checking was done at shopping malls metro stations markets and other public places A decoy was also sent to some shops and malls in a surprise check of their security installments which were found working well Their metal detectors were also found functional Sharma said Some suspicious-looking persons who were found during the checks were questioned by police she said The officer said a night curfew has been imposed from 11 pm to 5 am on the basis of the new guidelines of the UP government for the coronavirus pandemic and police will take strict action against those flouting the norms PTI KIS RDK RDK

New Delhi Dec 30 PTI Long queues of commuters were seen outside various Delhi Metro stations for the second consecutive day on Thursday morning after imposition of fresh curbs by authorities to check the spread of COVID-19 in the cityMeanwhile anticipating gathering of commuters on New Years Eve Delhi Metro authorities have decided that exit from the Rajiv Chowk metro station will not be allowed after 9 PM on that dayEvery year revellers gather at Connaught Place the heart of New Delhi adjacent to the metro station to ring in the New Year However with new Covid restrictions and night curfew in place from 11 PM onwards in Delhi amid a scare of Omicron variant of the coronavirus the crowd is likely to be smallTo ease overcrowding on New Years Eve exit from the Rajiv Chowk Metro station will not be allowed from 9 PM onwards However entry of passengers will be allowed till the departure of the last train from the station Commuters are requested to plan their journey accordingly the DMRC said in a statement on ThursdayYellow alert category graded action was put in place by authorities on Tuesday which also entails running of metro trains with only 50 per cent seating capacity and no provision for standing for commuters in view of rising cases of COVID-19 in DelhiIn view of the latest guidelines issued by the city government for the containment of coronavirus in Delhi travel inside the metro will be allowed with certain restrictions DMRC officials saidSince the new restrictions came into force the queues in the morning time when metro services are used by a large number of office-goers were again seen getting longer at some of the stations officials said adding they were doing theirs best to manage the situation to ensure compliance of Covid normsOn Wednesday long queues of commuters were seen outside stations at Laxmi Nagar Akshardham among others Many also had taken to Facebook and Twitter to share pictures of such queues outside stationsSources said as offices are open and not many can afford a private car or other means of transportation every day so they are bound to use public transport and if 50 per cent seating capacity rule is in place such queues will be seenDelhi resident Rameen Khan who takes a metro to reach his office in Gurgaon said there was a massive queue at the stationDelhi Metro in a statement on Wednesday had said as part of the intensified measures for containing COVID-19 spread 15 flying squads were deployed across the Delhi Metro network to ensure that the Covid safety protocols are strictly adhered to by the passengers inside trains and on DMRC premisesThe frequency of checking drives is also being increased to ensure strict adherence to the guidelines and offenders are also being penalised on the spot a senior official had saidDue to the strict reinforcement of social distancing norms the passengers are advised to plan their journey in advance and allow for some additional time for their commute They should travel by the metro only if absolutely essential the official addedThe DMRC networks current span is nearly 392 km with 286 stations including the NoidaGreater Noida Metro Corridor and Rapid Metro GurgaonIndia saw the highest single day rise of 180 cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus taking the total tally of such infections in the country to 961 according to theUnion Health Ministry data updated on ThursdayDelhi recorded the maximum number of263 cases followed by Maharashtra at 252Gujarat 97 Rajasthan 69Kerala 65 and Telangana 62The national capital on Wednesday had recorded 923 fresh Covid cases the highest daily rise since May 30 as the positivity rate again breached the 1 per cent-mark 129 per centPTI KND DV DV

New Delhi Dec 25 PTI The Christian community in the national capital celebrated Christmas on Saturday with caution as fewer people reached churches amid concern over the Omicron variant of coronavirusOn Wednesday the Delhi Disaster Management Authority DDMA had directed district magistrates to ensure that no Christmas and New Year gatherings take place in the national capitalHowever after receiving various communications seeking clarity it said on Thursday that religious places will remain open on Christmas and New Years Eve for celebrations and prayers subject to strict compliance of Covid-appropriate behaviourTalking about the midnight mass across churches in the city Anil Joseph Thomas Couto Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Delhi said not many people stepped out for Christmas this yearEven though there is no such restriction on visitors there was confusion regarding the DDMA order So not many people have come out this year People seem a bit anxious due to the entire situation We havent seen much footfall Couto told PTIHe said a lot of churches made extra efforts by holding early services last eveningEven though churches were prepared to handle the situation keeping the Covid SOPs in mind the overall environment is not very positive and vibrant he saidFather James Peter Raj of St Lukes Church in Defence Colony also said that fewer people attended the celebrations this yearPeople were wearing masks and maintaining social distancing but the celebrations were less crowded than usual this year he saidCentenary Methodist Church in Lodhi Road also had a subdued service with fewer people in attendanceOn Friday Delhi reported 180 fresh Covid cases the highest since June 16 while the positivity rate increased to 029 per cent according to health department data PTI MAH DIV DIV

New Delhi Dec 24 PTI The Delhi High Court on Friday appealed to the people to show restraint and avoid large congregations in view of the rising number of COVID-19 cases as it took on record the city disaster management bodys decision to permit the opening of religious places on Christmas and New Years eveA bench headed by Justice Vipin Sanghi who was hearing a petition challenging the sudden prohibition on religious gatherings in the national capital before Christmas said that it was clear from the clarification issued by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority DDMA on December 23 that religious places were open for offering prayers and celebrations subject to the attendees following Covid-appropriate behaviourThe bench also comprising Justice Jasmeet Singh observed that in view of the DDMA decision the petitioner was satisfied and had no further grievancesIn light of the aforesaid it is clear that temples mosques churches gurudwaras etc are open for visitorsdevotees to offer prayersdevotion celebrations within such places subject to strict compliance of SoPs for such places issued from time to time and adherence of Covid appropriate behaviour namely wearing of masks maintaining social distancing regular hand washing and use of sanitisers etc the court statedWe appeal to the people to avoid large congregations in light of number of active cases of COVID-19 and to show restraint the court urgedThe petitioner a Christian senior citizen contended in the plea that a blanket ban on religious gatherings struck at the very sacrosanct right of a citizens right to practice and profess his or her religionThe petition stated that Christmas is the only festival celebrated by Christians across all the country and it ought to be permitted to be celebrated in the national capital subject to compliance of COVID-19 protocolsLawyer Sameer Vashisht appearing for the Delhi government said that the petitioners grievances stood remedied by the DDMAs clarification Amid a rise in coronavirus cases and the threat of the Omicron variant of concern the DDMA had on December 22 directed district magistrates to ensure no Christmas and New Year gathering takes place in the national capitalOn December 23 it had however clarified that religious places would remain open on Christmas and New Years eve for celebrations and prayers subject to strict compliance of Covid-appropriate behaviourOn this issue it is to clarify that as per DDMA order no 492 dated December 15 all religious places temples mosques churches gurdwaras etc are already permitted to open for visitorsdevotees to offer prayersdevotion celebrations within such places subject to strict compliance of related SoPs and adherence of COVID-19-appropriate behaviour DDMA had stated PTI ADS ZMN

New Delhi Dec 23 PTI The Delhi Disaster Management Authority DDMA on Thursday clarified that religious places will remain open on Christmas and New Years Eve for celebrations and prayers subject to strict compliance of COVID-19-appropriate behaviour Various communications are being received seeking clarifications about the status of permission for celebrating Christmas festival and New Years Eve in the territory of Delhi in view of the DDMA order as well as instructions issued on Wednesday the authority said in an order On this issue it is to clarify that as per DDMA order no 492 dated December 15 all religious places temples mosques churches gurdwaras etc are already permitted to open for visitorsdevotees to offer prayersdevotion celebrations within such places subject to strict compliance of related SoPs and adherence of COVID-19-appropriate behaviour it said The DDMA which devises COVID-19 management policies for the capital said no separate permission is required for these activities Amid a rise in coronavirus cases and the threat of the new variant of concern Omicron the DDMA had Wednesday directed district magistrates to ensure no Christmas and New Year gathering takes place in the national capital However restaurants and bars will continue to operate with up to 50 per cent of the seating capacity Marriage-related gatherings are permitted with a maximum of 200 people in attendance The DDMA also directed the district magistrates DMs to identify potential COVID-19 superspreader areas ahead of Christmas and New Year All socialpoliticalculturalreligiousfestival related gatherings are prohibited throughout NCT of Delhi All district magistrates and DCPs shall ensure that no cultural eventgatheringscongregation takes place for celebrating Christmas or New Year in the NCT of Delhi the DDMA order stated The national capital logged 125 cases on Wednesday the highest since June 22 when it had reported 134 cases of the infection The district magistrates and deputy commissioners of police have also been directed to tighten the enforcement machinery to ensure people follow social-distancing norms and wear masks According to the Union Health Ministry Delhi has logged 64 cases of Omicron so far of which 23 have been discharged According to officials most of the Omicron patients are fully vaccinated and have mild symptoms PTI GVS SMN SMN

New Delhi Dec 22 PTI Genome sequencing of samples of all COVID-19-infected people in Delhi began Wednesday to ascertain if the new Omicron variant has spread in the community city Health Minister Satyendar Jain said The national capital is recording around 100-125 cases a day while it has the capacity of genome sequencing of 400-500 samples daily The Delhi government-run labs at the Lok Nayak Hospital and the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences can sequence 100 samples each day Two Centre-run labs in Delhi can sequence 200-300 samples a day So 400-500 samples can be analysed in a day Jain said Around 100 to 125 new cases are emerging every day Samples of all COVID-19 patients will be sequenced from Wednesday Through this we will be able to ascertain the number of cases from the society Till now the maximum number of Omicron cases have come from foreign countries sic he told reporters Jain had said Tuesday that three Omicron patients in Delhi had no travel history The total number of Omicron cases in the national capital mounted to 54 according to data shared by the Union Health Ministry on Tuesday Following a meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority on Monday Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had announced that samples of all Covid-positive patients would be sent for genome sequencing Minister Jain said the government will take steps to prevent crowding during Christmas and New Years Eve celebrations PTI GVS SMN SMN

Kolkata Oct 27 PTI Only green crackers will be allowed on Diwali and Kali Puja in West Bengal as per an official orderIn a notification the West Bengal Pollution Control Board WBPCB said green crackers will be allowed on the evening of Diwali-Kali Puja for two hours from 8 pm to 10 pmBursting of green crackers will be allowed for two hours on Chhat Puja from 6 am to 8 am and for 35 minutes on Christmas and New Years Eve the notification saidThe notification dated October 26 also noted that the air quality in Kolkata and districts were at moderate satisfactory levels till third week of OctoberThe authorities have been asked to implement the order and take action against anyone flouting it Our teams will be monitoring the situation with active support of the police WBPCB chairman Kalyan Rudra said on WednesdayExpressing concern environmentalist Subhas Dutta said there is a possibility of the order being flouted as people may burst crackers beyond the stipulated hoursAlso banned fireworks may get entry into the market he said PTI SUS SOM SOM

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], October 27 (ANI): West Bengal Pollution Control Board permitted the sales and bursting of green firecrackers in the state for a limited time frame during Diwali, Chhath Puja, Christmas and New Years Eve on Wednesday.