Over five lakh COVID-19 positive cases, and more than 15,600 deaths — India's coronavirus numbers continue to climb nearly five months after the first case was detected in the country.

As the new cases rose by 1 lakh in six days, a Union Health Ministry official said the recovery rate has also steadily improved to reach 58.13%. It was for the fourth consecutive day that coronavirus infections increased by more than 15,000.

Noting that India’s recovery rate is rising, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India is much better placed than many other nations due to lockdown and many initiatives taken by the government as well as a people driven fight. At the same time, he cautioned that people can’t let their guard down yet.

Worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic is taking a strong hold in populous nations like the U.S., Brazil, Indonesia, Pakistan, South Africa and Mexico.

Here is a list of State Helpline numbers. You can track coronavirus cases, deaths and testing rates at the national and State levels here.

Here are the latest updates:

 

Madhya Pradesh on Saturday recorded 167 new COVID-19 cases, taking the count to 12,965. The number of active cases stands at 2,444. Four patients died of the illness on the day, taking the State-wide death toll to 550. As regards recoveries, 167 patients were discharged from hospitals on the day. So far, 9,971 persons have been cured of the illness, says the State Directorate of Health Services. -- Sidharth Yadav

Recoveries exceed active cases by 98,493: health ministry data

The total number of recoveries has fast outgrown the number of active COVID-19 cases, with the difference between the two nearing one lakh fast, the Union health ministry said on Saturday.

The recovered cases have exceeded the active cases by 98,493 as of Saturday.

The number of active cases stood at 1,97,387 while 2,95,880 patients have recovered, the ministry said, adding, “With this encouraging status, the recovery rate is touching 58.13 per cent amongst COVID-19 patients.”

India’s COVID-19 tally raced past the five-lakh mark on Saturday with the biggest single-day surge of 18,552 cases, while the death toll climbed to 15,685 with 384 fatalities.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a cumulative total of 79,96,707 samples have been tested up to June 26 with 2,20,479 samples being tested on Friday, the highest in a day since the beginning of the pandemic.

The top 15 states in terms of absolute numbers of COVID-19 recoveries are Maharashtra with 73,214, Gujarat with 21,476, Delhi with 18,574, Uttar Pradesh with 13,119, Rajasthan with 12,788, West Bengal with 10,126, Madhya Pradesh with 9,619, Haryana with 7,360, Tamil Nadu with 6,908, Bihar with 6,546, Karnataka with 6,160, Andhra Pradesh with 4,787, Odisha with 4,298, Jammu and Kashmir with 3,967 and Punjab with 3,164.

Top 15 states in terms of recovery rate are Meghalaya at 89.1 per cent, Rajasthan 78.8 pc per cent, Tripura 78.6 per cent, Chandigarh 77.8 per cent, Madhya Pradesh 76.4 per cent, Bihar 75.6 per cent, Andaman and Nicobar Islands 72.9 per cent, Gujarat 72.8 per cent, Jharkhand 70.9 per cent, Chhattisgarh 70.50 per cent, Odisha 69.5 per cent, Uttarakhand 65.9 per cent, Punjab 65.7 per cent, Uttar Pradesh 65 per cent and West Bengal 65 per cent.

As a testimony to the ramped-up testing facilities, India now has 1,026 diagnostic laboratories dedicated to COVID-19. This includes 741 in the government sector and 285 private laboratory, the ministry said.

Serological survey to analyse COVID-19 spread commences in Delhi

A serological survey to undertake a comprehensive analysis of the spread of COVID-19 in Delhi commenced in some parts of the city on Saturday amid a rise in the number of coronavirus cases.

As part of the survey, blood samples of 20,000 people will be tested to ascertain the presence of anti-bodies, the Union health ministry has said.

The exercise will be jointly carried out by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Delhi government till July 10.

“The serological survey has started from Saturday and will cover 20,000 people. The survey is being conducted door to door and will reveal the extent of coronavirus spread in Delhi,” Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said in an online briefing.

His deputy Manish Sisodia also echoed similar views.

“Sero Testing has been started from today in the fight against Corona in Delhi. Under this, 20 thousand blood sample will be taken from all over Delhi. This test will prove to be very effective in the Delhi government’s campaign against Corona,” he wrote on Twitter.

Gujarat records 615 new cases and 18 deaths, increasing its tally of fatalities to 1790 and infections to 30773. Out of 615 cases, 11 are from Army cantonment in Kutch. So far, 22417 patients discharged including 379 on Saturday

Maharashtra registers another over 5,000 cases

Maharashtra on Saturday registered the highest-ever single-day spike of 5,318 new COVID-19 cases, state Health department said.

The state’s total case count now stands at 1,59,133.

With 167 deaths, the fatality count has gone up to 7,273, it said.

Of the 167 deaths, 86 people died in the last 48 hours.

Saturday’s spike in cases has surpassed the record 5,024 detections recorded on Friday.

With 4,430 patientsbeing dischargedin the day, the number of the recovered cases mounted to 84,245, a Health official said.

 Former Gujarat Chief Minister Shankersinh Vaghela has tested COVID-19 positive and is in home isolation at his residence. -- Mahesh Langa

Delhi registers 2,948 cases, 66 deaths on Saturday

2,948 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Delhi in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 80,188, according to a health bulletin released by the Delhi government on Saturday.

Also, 66 more deaths have been reported in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of deaths to 2,558.

Of the total cases, 49,301 people have recovered and there are 28,329 active cases. -- Nikhil

13 more deaths take West Bengal’s toll to 629; 521 fresh cases detected

Thirteen more people died due to COVID-19 in West Bengal on Saturday, taking the State’s toll to 629, while 521 fresh cases pushed the tally to 16,711, a health department bulletin said.

Twelve of the 13 deaths were due to comorbidities where COVID-19 was incidental, it said.

A total of 254 patients have been discharged from hospitals since Friday and the number of active cases in the state now stands at 5,293.

During the last 24 hours, 9,548 samples have been tested, the bulletin said.

‘Ministry of Health began COVID-19 awareness campaign from March 3’

The awareness campaign on the COVID-19 pandemic in both print and electronic media started in the first week of March 2020, a response to a Right to Information (RTI) query by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has revealed.

Kolkata-based Biswanath Goswami, a socio-legal researcher and activist, had filed an RTI petition dated March 22 to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, seeking details on various aspects related to the management of the COVID-19 pandemic, including meetings held by the Centre, preparations taken, testing kits and protective gear arranged, and also awareness and publicity carried out by the Centre. The RTI questions were initially transferred to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), respectively.

“I received a response a few days ago only on the issue of awareness and publicity. The earliest date mentioned by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on when they started awareness in electronic media is March 3,” Mr. Goswami said. Print media advertisements for generating awareness on COVID-19 started from March 5. -- Shiv Sahay Singh

TV cameraperson dies in Chennai, CM announces Rs 5 lakh assistance

A 41-year-old video journalist working for a Tamil television channel in the news section died of COVID-19 at a hospital here on Saturday, the government said.

The video cameraman, who was being treated from June 14 at a hospital here for the infection, died today, Chief Minister K Palaniswami said.

Condoling his death, the Chief Minister said he has ordered a solatium of Rs 5 lakh to the bereaved family.

Minister for Information, Kadambur Raju too condoled the death and said he would provide Rs 50,000 assistance.

TN registers another 3,713 cases on Saturday

Tamil Nadu, on Saturday, reported 3,713 more cases taking the total to 78,335.

A total of 2,737 persons were discharged on Saturday and the recovered patients total stood at 44,094.

The State reported another 68 deaths taking the death toll past 1000 to 1,025.

TN conducts over 10.42 lakh tests, chasing virus cases, says Health Secretary

Over 10.42 lakh COVID-19 tests have been conducted in Tamil Nadu and the focus was to cover the population street-wise for early detection and treatment, Health secretary J Radhakrishnan said here on Saturday.

The basic idea of detecting the symptomatic cases through fever camps is to ensure a healthy population by early detection and treatment for COVID-19, he said.

“So, when people step out of their houses after the lockdown is relaxed, they do not emerge as carriers of the virus,” Radhakrishnan told reporters after reviewing a fever camp at Tondiarpet.

He said Tamil Nadu has tested over 10.42 lakh samples for COVID-19, after the capacity was ramped up in the State.

Of these tests, 70 per cent of them were done in government facilities, he said.

With aggressive testing continuing to be the focus, 33,675 samples were tested on Friday alone and in total, 10,42,649 specimens have been examined.

Tamil Nadu has 89 testing centres, 47 in government and 42 in private facilities.

 

From 1 to 5 lakh cases in 39 days; medical experts point to increased testing

It took 110 days for coronavirus infections in the country to reach one lakh, while just 39 days more to go past the five lakh-mark.

Medical experts have pointed to the ramped up COVID-19 testing, now available more extensively and at a reasonable price, as a big reason for the spike in cases recently.

Six days after recording four lakh infections, India’s COVID-19 tally went past the five lakh-mark on Saturday with the highest single-day surge of 18,552 cases, while the death toll climbed to 15,685, according to Union health ministry data.

The COVID-19 caseload increased to 5,08,953, while 384 fatalities were recorded in the last 24 hours, the updated figure at 8 am showed.

This was the fourth consecutive day when coronavirus infection increased by more than 15,000, while there has been a surge of 3,18,418 infections from June 1 till 27. Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh are the top contributors to the rising tally.

It took 64 days for COVID-19 cases in India to touch the (May 19) one lakh-mark from 100 cases, and another fortnight to cross two lakh cases on June 3. It took 10 days for the tally to touch the three lakh-mark and another eight days for the cases to climb to four lakh.

Puducherry govt. to recruit 40 doctors, 200 paramedics on temporary basis

With COVID-19 positive cases rapidly rising in Puducherry, the territorial administration has come out with a series of measures, including temporary recruitment of doctors, paramedical staff, strengthening of Public Health Centres and sub-centres.

As more patients are getting added on a daily basis, the Health Department would soon start recruiting around 40 doctors and 200 paramedical staff, including nurses and technicians, Minister for Health Malladi Krishna Rao told The Hindu on Saturday over phone. -- Rajesh B. Nair

 

Minister for School Education K.A. Sengottaiyan on Saturday said that a decision on reopening schools would be taken later, after discussing the matter with all stakeholders.

 

Target should be to increase daily testing capacity to 25,000: UP CM

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday expressed satisfaction over the daily COVID-19 testing capacity in the State reaching the 20,000 mark, and said the target should now be to increase it to 25,000 each day, an official said.

At a meeting with senior officials, the Chief Minister stressed on encouraging industrial, commercial and business establishments to set up COVID-19 helpdesks to keep people safe from the virus, Additional Chief Secretary Awanish Awasthi said.

Mr. Adityanath said it must be ensured that social distancing is followed wherever five or more people are working, while continuous monitoring regarding precautions from the infection is carried out in industrial units.

Directing officials to give special attention to the state’s western districts, especially the Meerut division, the chief minister stressed on giving momentum to surveillance works and awareness drive.

He also directed medical, revenue and police departments to make preparations for a special programme in Meerut division from July 1 to 7, under which door-to-door medical screening would be undertaken.

 

8 states contributed 85% caseload, 87% deaths: Health Ministry

Eight states, including Maharashtra, Delhi and Tamil Nadu, contributed 85.5% of the active COVID-19 caseload and 87 per cent of the total deaths due to the disease in India, according to the Union Health Ministry.

The ministry said it briefed the Group of Ministers on COVID-19 on the coronavirus situation in the country and the efforts to boost healthcare infrastructure on Saturday.

“It was mentioned that presently eight states — Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Telangana, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal — contribute 85.5% of active caseload and 87% of total deaths in India,” it said in a statement.

India has reported five lakh COVID-19 cases with the worst single-day jump of 18,552 cases on Saturday. The death toll has climbed to 15,685.

The health ministry said it also briefed the GOM during its 17th meeting about the recovery and mortality rates, doubling rate and ramped up testing in various states. It told the GOM 15 central teams consisting of public health experts, epidemiologists and a senior joint secretary-level officer have been deployed to provide support to the states.

 

 

COVID-19 death toll rises to 10 in Puducherry

The Union Territory’s COVID-19 death count has gone up to 10 with the death of an 82-year-old woman at the Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Research Institute on Saturday.

The victim, a resident of Muthialpet, had  diabetes, Director of Health and Family Welfare S. Mohan Kumar told reporters here.

Puducherry also witnessed the highest single day spike with 87 people diagnosed for the virus. Of the total reported cases, 15 are from Karaikal.

With the latest admissions, the total number of cases had gone up to 619 and at present there are 388 active cases. So far, 221 people have been cured and discharged from various hospitals, Mr Kumar said.

Of the 14,689 people tested for the novel coronavirus till Friday, 13908 have turned negative. The results of 216 people are awaited, the Director added. -- Special Correspondent

Jharkhand extends lockdown till July 31

The Jharkhand government announced an extension of the lockdown till July 31.

“Considering the seriousness of the situation, the state government has decided to extend the lockdown till July 31,” Chief Minister Hemant Soren said in a tweet.

Interstate and intrastate bus services, hotels, lodges, inns and dine-in restaurants will not be in operation during this period.

Spas, salons and barber shops will continue to remain closed till July-end.

Puducherry Chief Minister’s office closed after staff tests COVID-19 positive

The Office of the Chief Minister at the Legislative Assembly has been closed for two days after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday.

A multi-tasking staff member, who works at the office of the Chief Minister’s private secretary, tested positive for the novel coronavirus. After disinfectants were sprayed, the office was sealed on Saturday morning. The sanitisation of entire Assembly complex will also take place, an official told The Hindu.

“At least four to five people who have been in close contact with the affected person have been quarantined. The Health Department will make an assessment on the number of people to be tested and they will all be quarantined by evening,” he said.

 

Health Ministry adds steroid dexamethasone in COVID-19 treatment protocol

An inexpensive, widely used steroid dexamethasone was included in the treatment protocols for COVID-19 patients in moderate to severe stages of illness among other therapeutic measures by the Union health ministry on Saturday.

The updated protocol includes the advice to use dexamethasone as an alternative choice to methylprednisolone for managing moderate to severe cases of COVID-19.

Hyderabad’s high COVID-19 positivity rate worries experts

Amidst apprehension that COVID-19 community transmission may be under way in large urban cities, Hyderabad’s high COVID-19 positivity rate (32.1% on June 23), the highest among major infected cities in India, coupled with low tests per 10 lakh population compared to other cities has been repeatedly red-flagged by worried Central government experts.

Pointing to the abysmally low testing rates in Telangana, the report ‘Testing Status: Hyderabad and Telangana’ accessed by The Hindu notes, “Only 1 out of 19 private labs in Telangana is conducting more than 500 tests per week and testing in Telangana is heavily focussed on Hyderabad. Tests per 10 lakh population in other highly infected districts (Ranga Reddy, Sangareddy, Warangal Urban and Jagaon) is extremely low.”

 

Student writing SSLC exam tests positive

A student appearing for the SSLC examination has tested positive for COVID-19 infection on Saturday. The laboratory test result came even as the student was answering the paper at a centre in Arkalgud town.

The 16-year-old student had an influenza-like illness and had recovered from dengue recently. The student was immediately shifted to another room and allowed to complete the examination.

The student's temperature was normal, when he was screened before appearing for the examination. - Tanu Kulkarni

Virus threat doesn't deter junior doctors, PG students from joining duty

 

Firoz Mohammed, a PG student from Andhra Medical College was a bundle of nerves when he was tested positive for coronavirus in May. The 26-year-old was on duty in a designated nodal hospital for COVID-19 in Visakhapatnam, which was believed to be reason of him contracting the infection.

Dr. Firoz is now back on the duty, after undergoing treatment in GITAM for nine days and completing his 14-day quarantine on June 2.

In the last one and a half months, as many as 13 PG students and some staff on duty have been tested positive. Many junior doctors have also put under quarantine, being the close contacts of patients. However, nothing stops them from serving the patients.

 

COVID-19 scare restricts entry to Kodagu temples

 

The ‘darshan’ timing in Kodagu's famous pilgrim sites, including Bhagamandala and Talacauvery, has been restricted for a period of 15 days from June 28.

The district had no new infections for a long time but cases spiked over the last few days, forcing the authorities to act swiftly.

Sri Omkareshwara Temple in Madikeri, Sri Bhagandeshwara Temple in Bhagamandala and Talacauvery shrine at Talacauvery will remain closed for devotees from 8.30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The temples will be open from 6 a.m. to 8,30 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre to be disinfected after employee tests positive for COVID-19

Selected areas on the sprawling campus of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) here will be disinfected on Saturday after an employee tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday.

Areas exposed to the patient including the air-conditioning section, a number of laboratories and the main gate at Veli have been identified and isolated. They will be disinfected, the VSSC said in an official statement.

The employee, a 41-year-old male hailing from Manacaud in the State capital, last reported for duty on June 15. In all, 13 VSSC personnel who were suspected of having come into contact with him were advised to go into quarantine on Friday itself.

Tiruppur police station closed after sub-inspector’s wife tests COVID-19 positive

Tiruppur North police station was temporarily closed on Saturday, after the wife of a sub-inspector (SI) tested positive for COVID-19.

The woman, who is also a sub-inspector in the Greater Chennai Police limits, returned to Tiruppur on June 24 in a car. She and her husband were tested for COVID-19 the next day, a police officer from Tiruppur North police station said. On Friday, the test results showed that she was COVID-19 positive, while her husband tested negative.

Following this, swab samples of all the police personnel in Tiruppur North police station were taken on Saturday. The station will remain closed till the test results of the other police personnel arrive, the officer said.

After turning their backs during lockdown, cities now want migrant workers back

Until the novel coronavirus outbreak and the consequent lockdown imposed by the government to curb its spread, migrant workers lived hidden from the public gaze in many cities in India. The workers who had built the fast-growing city’s houses, apartment complexes, workplaces, and other imposing and immediately visible structures, and others who had worked in them, were largely “invisible” themselves. They lived in structures held up flimsily by tin sheets; these were the boxes that these builders called home.

But when the lockdown was imposed and economic activity came to a grinding halt, these workers emerged on the streets, demanding that they be allowed to go home. With no public transport to take them anywhere, and as they were abruptly left unemployed and hungry, many decided to do what was unthinkable until then — walk to their towns and villages situated as far as in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Jharkhand.

The lockdown has lifted in most places and the economy is slowly re-opening, but there is a severe shortage of labour. Ajeet Mahale and K.V. Aditya Bharadwaj report on how cities that had turned their backs on migrant workers for more than two months now want them back.

 

Delhi taking 5 pronged strategy to combat COVID: Kejriwal

The surge in coronavirus cases after lockdown has exceeded the government's expectation, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Saturday.

Speaking at a press briefing, Mr. Kejriwal detailed the five steps taken by the government to tackle the issue.

"Our first step to tackle the situation was increasing hospital beds on a war footing. There was a time in early June when beds weren’t available, but over the coming days Delhi will have 13,500 beds," said Mr. Kejriwal.

"The next focus is on testing and isolation of COVID-19 patients. The third step is to make Oximetres and Oxygen concentrators available. Next came plasma therapy, and survey and screening to locate patients," said the Delhi CM.

 

Can shipping containers become vaccination units?

A vaccine has not yet been found for the coronavirus, but the UK is already preparing for a post-vaccine scenario. Experts at Waugh Thistleton Architects, known for its sustainable projects and innovations with timber, have designed mobile vaccination centres crafted from shipping containers. In late May, after weeks of discussions, debates and drawings, the company announced the proposal to fit out 6,500 shipping containers as mobile units.

Presently under discussion with the UK government, the company has said that in about 12 weeks, these containers can be mobilised across the country, stationed in car parks and other public areas. The National Health Service (NHS) staff will then work in shifts to vaccinate the entire population of the UK. The units can go into the heart of villages and remote communities, or be set up in clusters in towns and cities.

Our correspondent Nidhi Adlakha caught up with Andrew Waugh, co-founder of Waugh Thistleton Architects, to learn more. Click here to read the interview.

NMMC to seal 10 places for seven days

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has decided to declare a complete lockdown from June 29 to July 5 in 10 areas of Navi Mumbai that reported a rise in the last fortnight. Close to 70,712 households would be under lockdown during this period. “Due to mass screening, more and more cases were revealed. These 10 areas are mostly densely populated,” Municipal Commisisoner Annasaheb Misal said.

 

SSLC official on examination duty tests positive

An official who was on SSLC examination duty in Pavagada, Tumakuru has been tested positive for COVID 19. Following this all the invigilators in the centre have been asked to undergo quarantine.

Sources in the examination centre said that the official did not come in contact with the students and had only visited the designated school on Thursday. Sources said that it was declared that he is tested positive on Friday.

 

COVID-19 triggering panic attacks, depression and suicides, say experts

As the COVID-19 wave sweeps strongly across the country, including in Tamil Nadu, mental health experts say the pandemic has triggered panic attacks among those who tested positive for the virus, causing bouts of depression and even driving some to the brink of suicide.

According to experts, nervousness, fear of contamination, panic attacks, constant reassurance seeking behaviour, sleep disturbance, excessive worry, feelings of helplessness and probability of an economic slowdown are the major factors leading to depression and anxiety among the people.

Potential job losses, financial burden, uncertainty about the future and fears of running out of food and necessities add to the worries. - PTI

Latest update on India's COVID numbers:

Anther day, another record surge in cases. India saw a record single-day surge of 18,552 cases in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of cases in the country to 5,08,953.

The total death toll is now 15,685 with 384 new fatalities, according to the Union Ministry of Health.

Maharashtra reports record single-day high of 5,024 cases

With a record single-day high of 5,024 fresh COVID-19 cases, Maharashtra’s total tally surged to 1,52,765 on Friday. The toll went up to 7,106 with 175 deaths.

Of these, 91 deaths were reported in the last 48 hours and 84 were from an earlier period, Health Department officials said.

Pune and Aurangabad districts reported 14 deaths each, pushing their toll to 675 and 226. Most areas in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) reported a record increase in cases. Thane district reported a record surge of 500 cases for the second consecutive day.

 

99-year-old Bengalurean conquers COVID-19 in 9 days

A spirited 99-year-old woman returned home on Friday after recovering from COVID-19 in a record nine days in Bengaluru. She is the oldest person to recover from the disease in Karnataka so far.

 

Marceline Saldanha walked out of the Emergency and Trauma Care Centre at Victoria Hospital on Friday along with her 29-year-old grandson Vijay Saldanha.

“I am happy that I am free from the infection. People should not panic... over the infection," says Mrs. Saldanha.

Any tips to beat the infection? "Follow doctors’ advice, take precautions, and take medications regularly,” she says.

 

BMC to conduct sero-survey to find out extent of virus spread

To know the extent of the spread of coronavirus in Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation would be conducting a `sero-survey’ during which 10,000 random blood samples will be tested, it said on Friday.

The survey will be conducted in wards M- West, F North and R North in association with the NITI Aayog, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai and some other institutions, the BMC said.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has urged all the States to take up sero-surveys, it said, adding that under ICMR’s guidance one sero-surveillance of 500 samples has already been conducted in Mumbai. Participation in the survey will be voluntary. - PTI

Mizoram govt eases lockdown norms

The Mizoram government on Friday eased lockdown norms in Aizawl municipal area, district headquarters and containment zones following a dip in coronavirus cases in the past two days, officials said.

The new order came into effect from Friday and will be valid till June 30.

Shops can open and commercial activities will be normal in Aizawl municipal area, district headquarters and containment zones, the state government notification said.

However, outlets in commercial hubs and shopping complexes will open on alternate days based on the arrangement made by district deputy commissioners in consultation with local/village-level task forces, it said. - PTI