Kolkata: BCCI president and former India Captain Sourav Ganguly, who underwent angioplasty after a “mild” heart attack, is stable and his health parameters are normal, doctors said on Sunday.
He was diagnosed with three blocked coronary arteries on Saturday, following which a stent was inserted in one to remove the blockage.
“He had an uneventful last night and presently Afebrile (not feverish)… He is sleeping now,” a bulletin issued by the private hospital where Ganguly is admitted, said.
The celebrated former cricketer’s blood pressure is 110/70 and oxygen saturation level is 98 per cent, it said.
Doctors said they will be deciding on conducting another angioplasty after accessing Ganguly’s condition.
“He will be requiring another angioplasty because of the triple vessel disease. But, that depends on how his condition is. He is, however, out of danger now,” one of the doctors treating Ganguly had said on Saturday.
A routine ECG will also be conducted on Sunday morning, the bulletin said.
The batting great was rushed to hospital on Saturday afternoon following complaints of chest pain. (agencies)
Sourav Ganguly stable, decision on further angioplasty soon
We won’t prefer back-to-back matches in SCG, looking forward to final Test at Gabba: Wade
Melbourne: Australia opener Matthew Wade on Sunday said his side would not like the scheduled final Test in Brisbane being shifted to Sydney even as reports emerged that India are reluctant to play at the Gabba because of stricter quarantine protocols there.
According to reports, the Indians are not keen to travel to Brisbane in view of the stricter quarantine protocols in Queensland and want to play back-to-back games in Sydney where the third Test begins on Thursday.
“I have not heard of this, but we obviously prefer not to (play back-to-back in Sydney). The schedule has been rolled out and we prefer to stick to that. Regardless, if that is a quarantine-based hotel, go to the ground, play and come back,” Wade said in a virtual press conference.
“Cricket Australia have been firm that they will stick to the schedule that we rolled out at the start of the summer so we fully expect to play at Gabba. There is no secret that we would love to play at Gabba”
“Harder quarantine and stricter bio-security protocols will be there. But we are ready for more sacrifice and face more challenges,” he added.
India has not won a single Test match at the Gabba.
According to Australian media reports, the Indians are not happy at the possibility of going to another strict quarantine in Brisbane since they have already served 14-day quarantine upon entry to Australia.
The fourth and final match is scheduled from January 15. The four-match Test series is currently level at 1-1.
“From our position, there is no uncertainty, we are going to play at the SCG and then playing at the Gabba until we are told that it is going to change. So, we are rolling to the next game expecting what is going to be. It is out of our control and there is nothing we can do.”
He side-stepped the issue of five India Test players, including vice-captain Rohit Sharma, being placed in isolation and an investigation launched into a possible breach of COVID-19 bio-security protocol after a video of them sitting at an indoor restaurant here surfaced.
“What India is doing, I have not really thought much about. As a group and personally have not thought much about what India is doing outside a cricket ground. That is the situation. We are thinking of how we can do much better,” said the 33-year-old left-handed batsman.
Wade said he expects star batsman Steve Smith to come back to form after underwhelming performances in the first two Tests and deal better with the Indian spinners led by R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
“They (Ashwin and Jadeja) are a tough spin duo to crack, very consistent and have bowled terrifically well, especially in Melbourne. Probably they got more spin and bounce, more than what we expected in first innings. That was a little bit of shocker, but we expected that to come into play.
“We didn’t adapt quick enough to that wicket, but Steve (Smith) played against Ashwin plenty of times before this and he has been very successful on our wickets against him. I am sure he will be fine and no problems at all.
“We have to find a way, that’s the nature of the beast,” said Wade who has scored 111 runs from the four innings he has played so far.
His batting position has been a topic of discussion after David Warner and Will Pucovski were named in the squad for the third Test but Wade said he is ready to bat anywhere.
“I have really enjoyed opening, moving forward if that is something that selectors want me to keep doing more, I am comfortable doing. If I slide back down the order, I will do that also.
“I am ready from 1 to 7. I am happy to bat wherever playing games for Australia, I will take every run I get.”
Wade said he is also prepared about the possibility of even being dropped.
“Will (Pucovski) has come back into the squad, so whether they make that change straight way and I slid back down, or whether I don’t play at all, who knows.
“I am not a selector but no indication at this stage and I prepare to bat where I have been batting and if I slide back down, I am comfortable there as well.” (agencies)
Heavy rains add to woes of farmers protesting at Delhi borders
New Delhi: Overnight rains in the national capital added to miseries of farmers who have been camping on the borders of Delhi for over a month in protest against new farm laws, with the continuous downpour leading to waterlogging at agitation venues.
Farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar, who is a member of Sankyukt Kisan Morcha, said on Sunday that farmers have waterproof tents but they cannot protect them from biting cold and waterlogging.
“The situation is very bad at protest sites due to rain which has caused waterlogging. There is so much cold after the rains, but the government is not able to see our misery,” he said.
Gurwinder Singh, who is camping at Singhu Border, said there is waterlogging at some places as civic facilities are not up to the mark.
“Despite facing several problems, we will not move from here until our demands are met,” he asserted.
According to a MeT Department official, heavy rainfall was reported in areas across Delhi and minimum temperatures have increased due to clouding and easterly winds.
“Safdarjung observatory recorded a minimum temperature of 9.9 degrees Celsius, an increase of 6.7 degrees with 25 mm rain. Palam observatory recorded a minimum temperature of 11.4 degrees Celsius with 18 mm rain. Rain with hail storm is expected until January 6,” the official said.
Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, have been camping at three Delhi border points — Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur — for more than a month, demanding repeal of three farm laws and a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) and other two issues.
Bharatiya Kisan Union Ugrahan leader Sukhdev Singh, whose Union is leading the protest at Tikri border, said arrangements made by farmers to brave the cold weather are not helping much because of rains and subsequent waterlogging. (agencies)
COVID-19 vaccines of SII, Bharat Biotech approved for restricted use in emergency situation
NEW DELHI: COVID-19 vaccines of Serum Institue of India and Bharat Biotech have been granted permission for restricted use in emergency situation, said Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on Sunday.
“After adequate examination, CDSCO has decided to accept the recommendations of the Expert Committee and accordingly, vaccines of M/s Serum and M/s Bharat Biotech are being approved for restricted use in emergency situation and permission is being granted to M/s Cadila Healthcare for conduct of the Phase III clinical trial,” said VG Somani, DCGI, during a media briefing today.
“We’ll never approve anything if there is slightest of safety concern. The vaccines are 100 per cent safe. Some side effects like mild fever, pain and allergy are common for every vaccine. It (people may get impotent) is absolute rubbish,” he added.
The SEC of Standard Drug Organisation met on 1st and 2nd Jan and made recommendations in respect of proposal of restructed emergency approval of COVID-19 vaccine of SII, according to DCGI.
SII Pune has submitted safety immunogenisity and efficacy data generated on 23,745 participants aged more than or equal to 18 years or older from overseas clinical studies, he added.
The overall vaccine efficacy was found to be 70.42 per cent. Further SII was granted permission to conduct phase 2/phase 3 clinical trial on 1,600 participants within the country, according to DCGI.
“The firm also submitted the interim safety and immunogenisity data generated from this trial and the data was found comparable from the data from overseas clinical studies,” said Somani.
“After detailed deliberations SEC has recommended for grant of permission for restricted use in emergency situation subject to certain regulatory conditions. The clinical trial ongoing the country by the firm will continue,” he added.
Bharat Biotech has developed a vaccine named covaxin in collaboration with ICMR and National Institute of Virology, from where they received the virus seed strains. This vaccine is developed on Vero cell platform, which has well-established track record of safety and efficacy in the country and globally.
The firm has generated safety and immunogenicity data in various animal species such as mice, rats, rabbits, Syrian hamster, and also conducted challenge studies on non-human primates (Rhesus macaques) and hamsters. All these data has been shared by the firm with CDSCO. Phase I and Phase II clinical trials were conducted in approx.800 subjects and the results have demonstrated that the vaccine is safe and provides a robust immune response. The Phase III efficacy trial was initiated in India in 25,800 volunteers and till date, 22,500 participants have been vaccinated across the country and the vaccine has been found to be safe as per the data available till date.
M/s Cadila Healthcare Ltd., has developed a Novel Corona Virus-2019-nCov-Vaccine using DNA platform technology. The firm initiated Phase-I/II clinical trial in India in more than 1,000 participants which is ongoing. The interim data suggests that the vaccine is safe and immunogenic with three doses when administered intradermally. Accordingly, the firm has sought permission to conduct Phase-III clinical trial in 26,000 Indian participants, which has been recommended by the Subject Expert Committee.
M/s Serum and M/s Bharat Biotech vaccines have to be administered in two doses. All the three vaccines have to be stored at 2-8° C, said DCGI. (AGENCY)
Delhi wakes up to heavy rain, thunderstorm on chilly winter morning
NEW DELHI: Several parts of Delhi and adjoining areas received moderate to heavy rainfall along with thunderstorms on Sunday morning.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had earlier predicted “thunderstorms with light to moderate rainfall” over some parts of South Delhi viz Ayanagar, Deramandi, Tughalkabad, and some districts of Haryana.
Both the maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to rise further over the next two days, with the IMD forecasting light rain for Sunday and light to moderate showers on Monday.
“Thunderstorm with light to moderate intensity rain would occur over many parts of entire Delhi, Gurugram, Farukhnagar, Kosli, Manesar, Sohna, Faridabad, Bhiwadi, Rewari, Bawal, Ballabgarh, Nuh, Tijara,” the Department said.
The maximum and minimum temperature would be around 20 and 8 degree Celsius respectively in the national capital, the Department said in its forecast.
The MeT department also forecasted the chances of hailstorm activity and moderate showers.
The air quality is likely to remain largely in the moderate category from Monday onwards.
However, on Saturday the department predicted in the next 24 hours in the national capital will most likely be more comfortable with a rise in temperature after several days of biting cold and chilly weather. (AGENCY)
Srinagar turns white due to fresh snowfall
SRINAGAR: Srinagar, the summer capital of Union Territory(UT) of Jammu and Kashmir, turned white on Sunday due to fresh snowfall, heaviest of the winter so far, since early this morning.
Meanwhile, the Board of School Education (BOSE), has due to snowfall postponed 11th class examination, which was scheduled to be held today in the Kashmir valley.
Tree and roof tops, electric poles and transmission wire besides open fields and roads had turned white as people woke up this morning in the city and outskirts. However, there was major improvement in the minimum temperature, which remained below freezing point during the past over a week due to open sky. Parts of the world famous Dal Lake and other water bodies which were frozen due to sub zero temperature, has also partially melted following surge in the night temperature due to cloudy sky.
People remained inside their houses enjoying snowfall outside. Interestingly small children, including minors were seen outside enjoying snowfall and targeting each other with snow balls. Tourists and locals were also out in the Dal Lake area taking photographs and playing with snow since early this morning.
Though the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and Mechanical division have started snow clearance operation in Srinagar city, most roads, including in the uptown, remained under snow till 1000 hrs. However, no snow clearance operation was started in the interior areas, lanes and by-lanes in the city.
Though majority shops and business establishments remained closed due to Sunday, shops selling “Haresa”, special winter dish in Kashmir witnessed heavy rush of customers since early this morning.
People said snowfall during this time when 40-day-long Chilai-Kalan” harshest period of winter, entered 14th day today, will be beneficial for farming and drinking water in summer. The snow will get frozen on the higher reaches and melt only in the summer which will help irrigation and drinking water supply.
11 persons injured in bus accident in Doda
DODA: Eleven persons were injured after a passenger bus met with an accident in Doda district of Jammu division.
According to reports, a passenger bus bearing registration number JK02D-7191 was on its way from Baderwah to Jammu when it rolled down into deep gorge near Ganpat Bridge in Doda resulting in injuries to eleven persons.
All the injured persons have been identified as Driver Pushvinder Singh S/o Sukh Dev R/o katra age 32 year, Cleaner Susheel Singh S/o Davinder Singh R/o Ramnager Udhampur age 24 year, Mohd Sabir S/o Ali Batt R/o Gundna age 35 year, Ashok Kumar S/o Roshan Lal R/o Jammu age 36 years, Vista Devi W/o Sanjay Kumar R/o Bhaderwah age 33 years, Arun Kumar S/o Ashok Kumar R/o Bhall Bhaderwah age 22 years, Naseema Begum W/o Gh Hadir R/o Bhalla Bhaderwah age 45 years, Inder Kumar S/o Amar Chand R/ o Bhaderwah age 63 years, Neelma Devi W/o Dharminder Singh R/o Udhampur age 45 years, Hamanshu S/o Sanjay Kumar R/o Udhapur age 4 years and Kamlesha Devi W/o Pritam Singh R/o Bhaderwah age 60 years.
All the injured persons were shifted to GMC Doda for treatment.
Snowfall in Kashmir Valley, road, air links snapped
JAMMU: A blanket of snow covered Kashmir on Sunday as most areas received moderate snowfall, cutting the valley’s surface as well as air connection with the rest of the country, officials said.
The snowfall started during the night at most places and early in the morning at few places, the officials said.
They said while some areas in north Kashmir received light snowfall, most areas in central and south Kashmir experienced moderate snowfall.
The higher reaches of the valley experienced moderate to heavy snowfall, the officials said.
As of now, snowfall of same intensity is likely to continue till afternoon and there will be a temporary break till evening, the officials said.
Srinagar received about three to four inches of fresh snowfall, while Qazigund the gateway town to the valley in south Kashmir recorded around nine inches of snowfall, they said.
The officials said Pahalgam tourist resort recorded five to six inches of snow, while Kokernag about nine inches.
The famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir received four inches of fresh snowfall, while the areas around Jawahar Tunnel on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway recorded about ten inches of snowfall, they said.
The fresh snowfall led to the suspension of traffic on the highway.
A Traffic Control Room official said the highway was closed for traffic movement due to heavy snowfall around Jawahar Tunnel.
The snowfall also disrupted the air traffic to and fro Srinagar airport here.
No flight operations have taken place at the airport so far this morning due to accumulation of snow on the runway, an official at the Srinagar Airport told PTI.
He said a decision to operate flights would be taken after the runway is cleared.
The minimum temperature improved across the valley due to the snowfall but still stayed below the freezing point, the officials said.
Srinagar city — the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir — recorded a low of minus 1.5 degrees Celsius — up from the previous night’s minus 5.9 degrees Celsius, they said.
The mercury at Gulmarg improved from the previous night’s low of minus 7.5 degrees Celsius to settle at a low of minus 5.0 degrees Celsius on Saturday night.
Pahalgam tourist resort, which also serves as a base camp for the annual Amarnath yatra in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 1.5 degrees Celsius up from minus 8.4 degrees Celsius on the previous night, the officials said.
Qazigund recorded a minimum of minus 0.2 degrees Celsius, Kupwara, in the north, minus 3.3 degrees Celsius and Kokernag, minus 1.4 degrees Celsius.
The MET Office said moderate to heavy snowfall, with isolated very heavy snowfall, was most likely to take place, especially in south Kashmir, Gulmarg, Banihal-Ramban, Poonch, Rajouri, Kistawar and Zanskar, Drass as well as on the higher reaches of Ladakh UT, over two days from Monday.
Overall, the snowfall will continue from Sunday to Tuesday forenoon with the occasional break.This may lead to the disruption of surface and air transportation, water-logging in plains of Jammu and Srinagar cities, the MET Office said.
Kashmir is currently under the grip of ‘Chillai-Kalan’ — the 40-day harshest winter 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 valley.
The chances of snowfall are the most frequent and maximum during this period and most areas, especially in the higher reaches, receive heavy snowfall.
While ‘Chillai-Kalan’ which began on December 21 — will end on January 31, the cold wave continues even after that in Kashmir with a 20-day-long ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day-long ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold).
India reports 18,177 new COVID-19 cases
NEW DELHI: India reported 18,177 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 1,03,23,965, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) informed on Sunday.
With this, the total number of active cases now stands at 2,47,220.
As many as 217 lives were claimed by the coronavirus in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 1,49,435.
So far 99,27,310 recoveries have been reported in the country.
Maharashtra reported 3,218 new cases and 51 deaths in the last 24 hours. There are now 53,137 active cases in the state, the health department informed.
So far, 18,34,935 people have recovered, while the death toll stands at 49,631.
Kerala reported 5,328 new cases, 4,985 recoveries, and 21 deaths on Friday. With this, the total number of active cases in the state now stands at 65,374.
As many as 494 new coronavirus cases and 496 recoveries were reported in the national capital on Friday, as per the Delhi Health Department. The total number of positive cases now stands at 6,26,448, while the death toll stands at 10,571, including 14 on Thursday. There are currently 5,342 active cases in the national capital.
With 9,58,125 samples tested for the coronavirus on Thursday, the total number of samples tested so far stands at 17,48,99,783, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) informed. (AGENCY)