Even as the country is yet to truly evaluate the trails of death and destruction left begind by Cyclone Tauktae, a new cyclonic storm, named Cyclone Yaas, is expected to start forming in the Bay of Bengal by 22 May, said R.K. Jenamani, senior scientist, National Weather Forecasting Centre, India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday.

“Low pressure of the new cyclonic storm is expected to start forming in the Bay of Bengal by May 22. May 23 should mark depression stage, and the final cyclonic storm is expected to hit by May 24-25,” Jenamani told ANI.

Cyclone Yaas will hit the coasts of Odisha and West Bengal on 26 May. Meanwhile, both the states will experience heavy rainfall from 22-26 May.

Talking about cyclone Tauktae, Jenamani said, “Cyclone Tauktae has already crossed Gujarat on Monday night (17 May). It is now close to Rajasthan’s Udaipur. The southern area of the state has received heavy rainfall the entire day (Wednesday).”

“The cyclone has now weakened and has reached its point of depression. However, its remnants are still very active in Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, west of Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand,” he added.

The department has issued no wind warnings as such, as the winds are blowing at the normal speed of 30-40 km per hour. Heavy rains are nonetheless predicted for Uttarakhand and western Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday. Jenamani further told ANI that Delhi would receive less rainfall as compared to Noida and Ghaziabad due to the cyclonic storm.

Delhi and its adjoining areas received light spells of rain on Wednesday under the impact of cyclone Tauktae which has now moved north-northeastwards across Rajasthan to west Uttar Pradesh after making landfall in Gujarat on Tuesday.

Earlier on Wednesday, the IMD predicted that light to moderate intensity rain and gusty winds with a speed of 30-40 Km/h would continue to occur over and adjoining areas of the entire Delhi and parts of western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan. Tauktae stands to be the strongest storm to impact Gujarat since 1998 as it battered parts of the state and left behind a trail of destruction along the coast, uprooting electric poles and trees, and damaging several houses and roads, before weakening, officials said.

WITH ANI INPUTS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on a one-day aerial visit to Gujarat to take stock of the situation in the state following the devastating Cyclone Tauktae. He boarded a helicopter from Bhavnagar to inspect the situation after the cyclone. After 1 hour and 50 minutes of aerial observation, a review meeting was held in Ahmedabad with Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and senior secretaries of state. The meeting was attended by Chief Minister’s Chief Secretary K. Kailasanathan, Chief Secretary Anil Mukim; Principal Health Secretary Jayanti Ravi joined the meeting.

After this review meeting, PM Modi announced immediate assistance of Rs 1,000 crore to Gujarat against the loss of crores caused by the cyclone. In addition, Rs 2 lakh has been announced for those who died during the hurricane across the country and Rs 50,000 for the injured.

The PM conducted aerial inspections in Una (Gir-Somnath), Jafrabad (Amreli), Mahuva (Bhavnagar) and Diu to assess the damage caused by the cyclone. After this meeting, he announced immediate assistance of Rs 1,000 crore to Gujarat.

The Central government will then send a team of ministers to each of the cyclone-affected states. This team will further take stock of things, based on which more help will be given.

Assuring the people of Gujarat, PM Modi said that the Central government is with the state government in these difficult times. Whatever help is needed in the affected areas will be provided. This includes everything from repairing houses to building new ones, the PM said.

Apart from this, PM Modi also discussed in depth the current Covid-19 situation. The PM was apprised of the steps taken by the state administration. The PM advised to take further steps to prevent the transition.

PM Modi had arrived at the Ahmedabad airport after conducting the aerial inspection of the areas affected by cyclone Tauktae in Gujarat. PM Modi held a meeting with the top officials, including the CM, at the Ahmedabad airport.

Cyclone Tauktae has wreaked havoc in many places after hitting the coast of Saurashtra. From Saurashtra to many districts of South Gujarat, 5 inches of rain have fallen in 8 hours. Roads have also been blocked with trees collapsing due to strong winds. Heavy rains have been recorded in Bhavnagar, Valsad, Surat, Amreli, Bharuch, Anand, Ahmedabad and other districts in the state.

According to the State Emergency Operations Centre, Gandhinagar, 176 talukas in 23 districts of the state received heavy to moderate rainfall from 6 am to 2 pm today, including 5 inches in Bhavnagar taluka, 4.8 inches in Umargam, 4.5 inches in Olpad and 4 inches in Rajula. Botad and Surat received 3.7 inches of rain, Ahmedabad received 3 inches, Sinhor 3.6 inches, Hansot, Palitana, Pardi and Vallabhipur 2.9 inches, Umrala 2.7 inches and Vapi 2.5 inches.

A brother-sister duo, Vishnubhai Chunara and Manjuben Chunara, died due to electrocution following storms and rains in Sanand city of Ahmedabad district. In Ahmedabad district, roofs and mud houses have also reportedly collapsed due to strong winds and rains.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s request to the Centre to immediately suspend flights from Singapore because of an alleged new strain in that country that is suspected to affect children and could lead to a third wave of Covid infections in India, has led to a full-blown war of words, with the BJP attacking Kejriwal and Singapore’s Ministry of Health also saying there is no truth about a “Singapore variant”.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday reprimanded Kejriwal over his claims of a “new Singapore Covid-19 variant” alarm and said the “Delhi CM does not speak for India”.

However, addressing a digital press conference on Wednesday, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia strongly slammed the BJP-led Central government for its inadequate and substandard Covid-19 crisis management. He also pointed out how the Central government is interested in playing murky politics rather than timely and swiftly taking control of the crisis. 

Sisodia said, “CM Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday pointed out that the third wave of Covid-19 might unravel on young children and alerted the Central government against this. However, instead of preparing or taking any action against this important news, the Central government has shown condemnable behaviour by playing dirty politics of blame and lies. CM Arvind Kejriwal rightly notified two facts to the public, first on the development of new strain in Singapore and second on how this strain might affect children and how we need to be careful. The Central government, instead of showing any concern towards the danger our children might be in, gave more attention to building its diplomatic image in Singapore.”

He said, “The unabated ridicule by BJP of CM Arvind Kejriwal only indicates that BJP and Central government are more worried about Singapore and how Singapore views us, instead of worrying about how this new strain in Singapore may adversely affect our children, if it is brought to India. BJP is more worried about how Singapore will respond to our concern rather than our own children in India. They will not bring vaccines for children, but worry about Singapore.”

Warning against the strain that has recently been discovered in Singapore, Sisodia said, “Today, our doctors and scientists are warning the nation against the new strain that has emerged in Singapore. Even the Supreme Court has mentioned that the next wave will adversely impact children. But our Central government is least concerned about the chances of a third wave or how our children will have to face the brunt of it.”

He said, “The Central Government needs to prioritise our children first and foremost, instead of playing politics and fixing its image abroad. Delhi Government has always been committed and will continue to commit itself for the safety of our children. We want to protect and save our children from this deadly crisis. Our nation is worried for our children instead of how Singapore views us. The Central government has just taken keen interest in glorifying its image abroad and helping other countries to accumulate vaccines, but the Delhi government will ensure that every step is taken to stop this new strain from affecting our children and keeping our children, our citizens completely safe.”

However, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar tweeted on Wednesday and said: “Irresponsible comments from those who should know better can damage long-standing partnerships. So, let me clarify—Delhi CM does not speak for India.”

The Singapore government has also strongly objected to Kejriwal’s tweet. “Singapore Government called in our High Commissioner today to convey strong objection to Delhi CM’s tweet on ‘Singapore variant’. High Commissioner clarified that Delhi CM had no competence to pronounce on Covid variants or civil aviation policy,” tweeted Arindam Bagchi, official spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs.

Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) on Tuesday said there is no truth in the references in reports in a section of Indian media about the presence of a new variant of coronavirus in the country, adding that there is no “Singapore variant”.

WITH AGENCY INPUTS FROM SINGAPORE

After an advisory from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on the use of convalescent plasma for the treatment of coronavirus patients, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital chairperson Dr D.S. Rana has told The Sunday Guardian that Remdesivir is also being considered to be dropped from the Covid-19 treatment regime soon. 

Although Remdesivir has been approved as an investigational drug for strict use under hospital conditions, it has seen a surge in demand amidst the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic. This has led to shortage of the drug, and its black marketing and hoarding. The Health Ministry had urged hospitals to use the drug judiciously and rationally.

Dr Rana said that there is no evidence of the anti-viral drug’s effectiveness in treating Covid-19 patients. “If we talk about other medicines which we use in Covid treatment, there is no evidence that Remdesivir works in Covid-19 treatment. Medicines that do not have any activity to work, will have to be discontinued.”

“All the experimental medicines, be plasma therapy (which is now discontinued) or Remdesivir, all of them may be dropped soon as there is no such evidence of their functioning. Right now, only three medicines are working, we all are examining and monitoring. The medical fraternity is trying to gather more information, by the time you gain full knowledge about this pandemic, I think it will be over,” he added.

On use of plasma therapy, Dr Rana told The Sunday Guardian, “We have seen in the last one year that giving plasma does not make any difference in the condition of the patient and other people. Also, it is not easily available. Plasma therapy was started on a scientific basis and has been discontinued on the basis of evidence.”

The statement comes amid a high demand for the anti-viral drug in the face of the deadly second wave of coronavirus that is sweeping the country.

AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria recently said that the anti-viral drug is not a “magic bullet”. According to him, the drug could, in fact, cause harm if given too early or too late.

India on Wednesday recorded its highest single-day toll of 4,529 Covid-19 deaths. The country also recorded 267,334 new cases of coronavirus in 24 hours, taking the total case tally in the country to 2,54,96,330.

The active caseload in the country has registered a dip, dropping by more than 1.27 lakh. It now stands at 32,26,719, which is the second-highest caseload after the US. The top five states which have registered the maximum number of cases are Tamil Nadu with 33,059 cases, followed by Kerala with 31,337 cases, Karnataka with 30,309 cases, Maharashtra with 28,438 cases, and Andhra Pradesh with 21,320 cases. Together, these five states account for 54.05 percent of the new cases reported.

As India recorded its highest daily death count, medical health experts stated that the trend may continue to rise for another week at least before the numbers start settling down in proportion to the number of daily cases.

“It is true that the total number of Covid-19 cases and the positivity rate has declined in the last 10 days or so but the number of deaths is still very high. It is because a large number of patients are still admitted in ICU in various hospitals and because of medical interventions (many may be on rigorous life support) they may survive for many days. However, because of the complications of Covid-19 and prolonged stay in hospitals, they may lose the battle, thus resulting in increased figures of death,” ANI quoted public health expert Dr V.K. Monga as saying.

Experts also highlighted that the severity of the infection directly affecting the standard operating procedures (SOPs) in a very short span, especially the oxygen parameters, is responsible for deaths in the second wave. Variants of Covid-19 spreading in rural India have also increased the death toll. This is also being augmented by inadequate health infrastructure, added the experts.

Dr Rajiv Parakh, Chairman, Vascular Surgery, Medanta, told ANI, “There are more than 4,000 reported deaths taking place and there are many more who have not even been tested and passed away. The death rate in the second wave is high because this time it has struck a large number of the population. The intensity and the mutation capacity have been responsible for the severity. Last time the virus was not as severe and virulent compared to the second wave.”

Although cases pan-India are showing a downward trend with 267,334 positive cases, as per the official data of the Union Health Ministry, the number of deaths remains a concern.

Dr Suresh Kumar, Director of Delhi government’s Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital said, “This is a matter of concern because we have seen this for the first time. In Delhi, the death toll is coming down but if we see in other states death tolls are escalating… If we compare with last year, the oxygen level of patients is dropping to 60 percent to 70 percent on an average. We have also seen patients dying while on their way to the hospital. We have seen severe patients who were brought to the hospital when his/her oxygen level is dipping down and are in need of ICU beds immediately and all these are directly responsible for the higher death toll.”

Maharashtra tops the chart of registering the maximum number of deaths with a total of 83,777, followed by Karnataka which has recorded as many as 22,838 Covid-19 deaths since the onset of the pandemic last year. Delhi and Tamil Nadu are next on the list with 22,111 and 18,369 deaths reported, respectively. Compared to India, only the US has had a worse single-day death toll, when it lost 5,444 people on 12 February, a Reuters tracker shows.

With overwhelmed hospitals and crematoriums, it is also being said that the official figures for Covid-related deaths do not present the true picture. Some experts are putting the real numbers to be many times higher.

Data from private labs like Thyrocare also seems to support this argument as nearly two-thirds of the people tested across the country have shown exposure to Covid-19, reported Reuters. According to Thyrocare’s data, accessed by Reuters, 63.5 percent of the people tested positive for Covid-19 antibodies on an average over the last seven days, up from 45 percent a month ago.

WITH AGENCY INPUTS

An alumni of the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, Ranna Gill launched her label ‘Ranna Gill’ two decades ago. Over the years, she has carved a space of her own in the Indian fashion Industry. Ranna recently joined NewsX’s special series NewsX India A-List and not only her journey till now but also how the pandemic has changed the fashion industry. 

Speaking about how the pandemic has impacted her label and how she overcame the challenges, Ranna said, “We are still fighting. The challenges were big. We overcame them a little bit and then we came back to the fighting ground again. We have two businesses, so we have an export business in United States and then we have stores and retail in India. So, we kind of need to paddle both. When this side of the river is stormy, we jump to the other side. We kind of need to paddle both sides and somehow try to come out of it, get out of the troubled water and we will.”

When asked about the brand ‘Ranna Gill’ and how was it conceptualised, she responded, “It is a lot of work. I started this brand with my mother, so the company is owned by my mom and me. I always loved fashion as a young student. I went to fashion school, it was my passion, it was my first love. It was what I always wanted to do so it’s not a plan B. It’s not like I wanted to be something else and i just rolled into fashion. I studied fashion. I have got bachelors in fashion from FIT New York, so I am a student of fashion and as well as a fashion designer. So, I have trained in fashion and i have always loved it. Even to this date, after having designed over twenty years, I still get excited when I look at products when I look at fashion I look at colours. Colours to me, are like what candy is to children. It’s just such a special treat to look at the colour palette, to look at swatches, to dip die, to look at textures. Prints are very important USP to our brand. Even now, I am wearing a print from my collection. I love prints, the play of prints, and colours. We like to do easier, more playful, more ready to wear bodies, using these tools. We always stay closer to the story, what it is speaking, what the brand is speaking to its customers. You will always we see colour in our collection and you will always see prints in our collection.”

Talking about the trick or mantra behind increased online sales amid the pandemic, she said, “I think it’s mostly product and the price point. It’s not very expensive, not very pricey and it’s not very difficult to wear. You don’t need to think of an occasion before coming onto our website or our stores to buy a line. To buy our products, whether it is a blouse, a tunic or a dress, you can always buy them over this weekend or two weekends down. You can wear it in the summer or bring it up in the falls. I think the product is always king and we kind of stay close to our language or the message we are sending to our customers. We don’t pivot from sarees  to sometimes go on to making a blouse. We are always going to make the blouses, the dresses and tunics and that’s what we are going to always be designing into and circling back to. I think product is very important, which helped us through this time, price point, sensible pricing. sensible making of products. It’s not too fashionable that it won’t be relevant next year or two years down the line. So it’s all of those things that we kind of always come back to.”

Finally, when asked about the lessons she learned during this phase and future plans for her brand, she said, “We want to 100% focus on our online business. That is where we are headed and that I think is the future. Having said that I think we can bring more to our stores maybe. I am a little old school but i still think that they are very lovely to come in shop. The customer has this special feeling. When she comes to our store, the girls know her she wears the garment so I think it’s gonna be a bit of both. It’s really not gonna be some clear messaging but at the moment it’s online, of course.”

She added, “There have been some really hard learning lessons. I think one has to for all of us. For our brand, it was just mainly we just decided to fight for the brand. We won’t gonna give it away, we won’t gonna let it go and we just kind of all  held hands. When did our business quietly and just fought for what we stood for so many years. One thing we learnt in our business, is working via technology. In the past, we would take a flight and go to any place and really quickly. We would meet a buyer or meet or go to fashion fare or meet. I feel that one of the great learning is that we all got out of this phase was using technology for fashion, for all streams of business, even to connect with friends and family and fighting for your own business. Those were the two big learnings for me.”