<strong>EXPECTATIONS</strong> A launch-pad is always special, especially so when it is that of a star son. Moreover, when the debut affair is a love story then you do expect soulful music as well. This is what makes one look forward to what does Sunny Deol has in store for the launch of his son Karan Deol along with newcomer Sahher Bambba. The good thing is that he brings on board hottest sensations Sachet-Parampara to put together the soundtrack with Siddharth-Garima doing the honours as the lyricists. Rishi Rich produces the music and his touch is quite visible in there. <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1014370" src="https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Music-Review-Pal-Pal-Dil-Ke-Paas.jpg" alt="" width="720" height="450" /> <strong>MUSIC</strong> Newcomer Hansraj Raghuwanshi, who is known for his devotional songs, makes his Bollywood foray with <strong><em>'Aadha Bhi Zyaada'</em></strong>. A number about living life to the fullest, this one is a peppy outing and in fact reminds one of <em>'Sochna Kya Jo Bhi Hoga Dekha Jaayega'</em> from Sunny Deol's <em>Ghayal</em>. That song was rendered by Bappi Lahiri and incidentally Hansraj's voice pretty much sounds similar to that of the veteran composer-singer. Meanwhile, Karan Deol too makes an intermittent appearance as a rapper in this song which does carry the sound of <em>'Jai Bhole'</em>. The song that is set to become an anthem in time to come though is the title track <strong><em>'Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas'</em></strong>. An excellent number that is very high on melody and showcases the best side of composers Sachet-Parampara, it has poetic lyrics by Sidharth-Garima that makes a very strong impression. Meanwhile, the song is made special due to the voice of Arijit Singh who is superb all over again and also Parampara Thakur who shows once again that other than being an efficient composer, she is also a very good singer. No wonder, the song deserves to be heard in a repeat mode and that is evident in the kind of confidence that the makers have as well, what with <em>'Pal Pal Dil Ke Pass'</em> arriving in as many as three more versions. Whether it is the second version, the 'celebration' version or the one which goes by the title <strong><em>'Suun le Rabb'</em></strong>, the song is beautiful every time it is heard and one just can't let the melody go off from one's mind and heart. Composer Tanishk Bagchi makes a special appearance with a solitary number, <strong><em>'Ho Jaa Awara'</em></strong>. He too demonstrates once again that there is a lot more to him than the recreated versions that he is largely known for, what with this one turning out to be yet another beautiful number in <em>Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas</em>. Monali Thakur is the one who kick-starts the proceedings for the song and somewhere also reminds one of the kind of pitch that Hema Sardesai used to take in her songs back in the 90s. Ash King is her accompanying partner in this peppy-n-sweet outing. It is back to Sachet and Parampara and this time around other than being the composers, they are also the singers for three songs in a row. First to arrive is <strong><em>'Ishaq Chaliya'</em></strong> which has a good hook to it and makes one tap feet instantly. A Punjabi-Hindi number, this one has a good pace as well and lends a happy sound to the overall outing. A difficult song to sing, especially the manner in which Sachet brings on the hook words, this one takes a bit of time to grow on you but eventually you get a good hang of it. This is followed by <strong><em>'Dil Uda Patanga'</em></strong> which has Parampara Thakur taking the lead and Sachet Tandon joining her soon enough. A song which has a teenage feel to it with an Indi-pop flavour, there is certain innocence to it that should work with the teenagers if the film manages to strike a chord with the audiences. Play this one loop and you won't be disappointed at all. Third song that arrives in the voice of Sachet and Parampara is <strong><em>'Maa Ka Mann'</em></strong> and this one is a devotional piece with a difference. While the sound of 'Satnam Shri Waheguru' keeps playing in your mind during the track's duration, you like the manner in which there is a soulful feel being carried. This one should make for a good situational piece in the film's narrative. <strong>OVERALL</strong> The music of <em>Pal Pal Dil Ke Pass</em> was expected to be good but the soundtrack actually goes on to exceed expectations. Sahcet-Parampara, Sidharth-Garima and Richie Rich do quite well in their biggest album till date where they are entrusted to put together music for the two newcomers. There is certain consistency in the film's music and that is always on the cards as well when there is a single team put together in charge instead of multiple composers, lyricists and singers. This one is a winner. <strong>OUR PICK(S)</strong> <em>‘Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas’</em>, <em>‘Ishaq Chaliya’</em>, <em>‘Ho Jaa Awara’</em>

<strong>EXPECTATIONS</strong> Though Ayushmann Khurranna's upcoming release is titled <em>Dream Girl</em>, one doesn't expect a romantic soundtrack here. Reason being that even with Nushrath Bharucha as the leading lady, this Ekta Kapoor and Raaj Shandilyaa film isn't really a love story and instead a comedy about a man who mimics the voice of a woman. Hence, one expects a situational fun score by composers Meet Bros who are joined by lyricist Kumaar. <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1008181" src="https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Dream-Girl-Radhe-Radhe-Ayushmann-Khurrana-Nushrat-Bharucha.jpg" alt="" width="720" height="405" /> <strong>MUSIC</strong> This is what one gets right at the onset too as Amit Gupta croons <strong><em>'Radhe Radhe'</em></strong> which turns out be a fun song about Radha-Krishna love story. Ayushmann Khurranna gets into a full-on fun mood with this song which is also his biggest when it comes to the stage, setting and the canvas. In fact the manner in which this song is composed and orchestrated, it also reminds one of the kind of music that Sajid-Wajid created at the turn of the millennium. A good foot tapping number that also sees a good remix version, courtesy DJ Harshit Shah. There is more fun in store with Jonita Gandhi and Nakash Aziz letting their hair down and coming together for <strong><em>'Dil Ka Telephone'</em></strong>. Yet again, there is 'masti' and 'mazaa' galore in this song that has a 50s style retro feel to it. A song where Ayushmann Khurrana gets into phone conversations with his various suitors, this one is a fun outing with a good hook to it that catches up with you instantly. In fact it would really add on to the film if portions of the song, which also has a remix version by DJ Himani Singh, appear at various junctures of the narrative. It is a hat-trick of fun songs with Mika Singh and Jyotica Tangri coming together for the legendary Marathi song <strong><em>'Dhagala Lagali'</em></strong>. A foot tapping song that has no dull moment whatsoever, this one is instantly catchy and would immediately find attention in the Maharashtra belt. A lively song with good music arrangements going for it, <em>'Dhagala Lagali'</em> could well find itself on the list of DJ's favourites also in quick time. The mood changes though with a sufi outing <strong><em>'Ik Mulaqaat'</em></strong>. On the same lines as <em>'Dekhte Dekhte'</em> [<em>Phata Poster Nikhla Hero</em>], this one has Altamash Faridi taking the lead and singing in a style similar to that of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. With guest lyricist Shabbir Ahmed pitching in, this romantic number has Palak Muchhal pairing up with Altamash. Meet Bros aim to give this one a contemporary touch by fusing it with rock elements as well. Though one doesn't expect this one to be covering a very long distance, as a part of the film it should fit in well. The soundtrack of <em>Dream Girl</em> concludes with a mandatory Punjabi 'desi' number <strong><em>'Gat Gat'</em></strong> which has Jass Zaildar and Khushboo Grewal coming together. Yet again, there is good foot tapping appeal that the song carries, hence ensuring that the celebratory mood continues. In fact this is one of those songs that could well have been unveiled a little earlier as well since it has in it to become popular in time to come if promoted aggressively. <strong>OVERALL</strong> <em>Dream Girl</em> boasts of a good soundtrack with Meet Bros and Kumaar doing well to create songs that work for the narrative and also have it in them to enjoy a longer run as well beyond the release of the film. Hear it for some entertaining times. <strong>OUR PICK(S)</strong> <em>‘Dhagala Lagali’</em>, <em>‘Dil Ka Telephone’</em>, <em>‘Radhe Radhe’</em>

<strong>EXPECTATIONS</strong> There are good expectations from the music of <em>Dabangg 3</em>. After all, the music of both <em>Dabangg</em> and <em>Dabangg 2</em> had done quite well, and composer duo Sajid-Wajid is expected to score a hat-trick with this one. Danish Sabri is the prime lyricist with others pitching in as well. <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1057746" src="https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Music-Review-Dabangg-3.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="450" /> <strong>MUSIC</strong> The album kick-starts with the title song <strong><em>'Hud Hud'</em></strong> which has seen a variation of sorts this time around with Jalees Sherwani coming together with Danish Sabri as the lyricist. Somehow, the punch is missing in this re-dux version. Though the song is in the same zone as the earlier version, something which makes the 'mukhda' interesting, the 'antara' portions don't quite work. Moreover, rendition by Shabab Sabri, Divya Kumar and Sajid doesn't carry much energy either which results in <strong><em>'Hud Hud'</em></strong> turning out to be rather ordinary. As is the tradition with <em>Dabangg</em> franchise, there is yet another 'naina' song coming in the form of <strong><em>'Naina Lade'</em></strong>. The song belongs to the kind which was popular around a decade back when Salman Khan had many such chartbusters to his name. Perhaps the makers wanted to retain a similar sound in order to stick to the ethos of <em>Dabangg</em> franchise. However, what one ends up listening to is a rehashed version of sorts that has been written by Danish Sabri and rendered by Javed Ali. There is some excitement that steps into the proceedings with Danish Sabri written <strong>'Yu Karke'</strong> that has naughty undertones to it. In the same zone as <strong><em>'Saree Ke Fall Sa'</em></strong> from Prabhu Dheva's own <em>R... Rajkumar</em>, this one caters to the gentry and is an out and out massy number. Surprisingly, even though Salman Khan has sung this track which boasts of some eye catchy choreography and picturisation as well, the song hasn't been promoted to the fullest. Payal Dev accompanies Salman Khan behind the mike and has her share of fun as well. Badshah joins Danish Sabri as the co-lyricist for <strong><em>'Munna Badnaam Hua'</em></strong> and in fact also opens the number with his rap portion. Considering the kind of set up that <em>Dabangg</em> has, it seems a bit odd to have Salman Khan lip synching to a rap outing here. One of his favorite singer Kamaal Khan takes the lead along with Mamta Sharma for this fun-n-celebration track that is doesn't really turn out to be another <strong><em>'Munni'</em></strong> [<em>Dabangg</em>] or <strong><em>'Fevicol'</em></strong> [<em>Dabangg 2</em>]. Still, it is a better recreated version when compared to <strong><em>'Hud Hud'</em></strong>. Veteran lyricist Sameer Anjaan along with Sajid write <strong><em>'Awara'</em></strong> that doesn't really impress even after a couple of listening. Newcomer Muskaan renders this song and one can't really say that she ends up making an instant impression. Moreover, the tune is way too old fashioned here; so much so that another newcomer singer Salman Ali isn't able to salvage the song much. Last to arrive is <strong><em>'Habibi Ke Nain'</em></strong> which has Jubin Nautiyal taking charge with Shreya Ghoshal soon after. A love song which is on the same lines as <strong><em>'Awara'</em></strong> or <strong><em>'Naina Lade'</em></strong>, it scores in maintaining consistency but in the process also ends up becoming yet another romantic track that doesn't really have in it to cover much of a distance. Irfan Kamal's lyrics try to be all poetic and soulful but somehow the impact is missing, just as is the case with majority of soundtrack. <strong>OVERALL</strong> While relatively speaking the music of <em>Dabangg 3</em> is not a patch on <em>Dabangg</em> or <em>Dabangg 2</em>, even on an absolute scale it doesn't have much in there to go a long way in time to come. <strong>OUR PICK(S)</strong> ‘<em>Munna Badnaam Hua’</em>, <em>‘Yu Karke’</em>

<strong>EXPECTATIONS</strong> When a biggie arrives from the house of Karan Johar with a massive starcast led by Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor along with Diljit Dosanjh and Kiara Advani, you don't quite settle for something ordinary. Moreover, with the film also being titled <em>Good Newwz</em>, you expect the same flavor in the soundtrack as well. <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1057786" src="https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Music-Review-Good-Newwz.jpg" alt="Music Review - Good Newwz" width="750" height="450" /> <strong>MUSIC</strong> Tanishk Bagchi, who is known more for his recreated versions, hits it out of the park with an original track <strong><em>'Chandigarh Mein'</em></strong>. A Hindi-Punjabi number that has an eclectic mix of singers in the form of Badshah, Harrdy Sandhu, Lisa Mishra and Asees Kaur, this one has Tanishk and Badshah coming together for the lyrics department as well. A dance number with a mega celebratory feel to it, 'Chandigarh Mein' has a really catchy hook to it which doesn't take time to get on you, so much so that you find yourself humming this one soon enough. Next to arrive is <strong><em>'Sauda Khara Khara'</em></strong> which has stayed on to be a major chartbuster for many years now. Originally rendered by Sukhbir, this one has Diljit Dosanjh taking over the center-stage this time around, and the actor-singer does a really good job all over again. With Kumaar stepping as the lyricist, this one has Lijo George-Dj Chetas as the composers while Dhvani Bhanushali is also the newest entrant behind the mike. A Punjabi dance number, it is now bound to have an even longer shelf life due to the presence of Diljit and Akshay in the video. The manner in which <strong><em>'Maana Dil'</em></strong> begins, it reminds one of <strong><em>'Fakira'</em></strong>. However, the similarity is just for a few seconds as soon enough B Praak makes a solid impression once again with his characteristic voice even as Tanishk Bagchi spins together a soulful tune for this beautifully written sad number by Rashmi Virag. While the 'mukhda' makes a good impression, it's the manner in which the 'antara' portions are put together that take the song, which has Farhad Bhiwandiwala as the additional singer, take it to the next level. Hear this one for sure. It is back to celebrations with RDB's <strong><em>'Laal Ghaghra'</em></strong> brought to fore once again by Tanishk Bagchi, Manj Musik and Herbie Sahara. A fast paced dance number that sets one feet tapping from the word go, this one is written by Tanishk Bagchi &amp; Herbie Sahara and sung with aplomb by Manj Musik, Herbie Sahara &amp; Neha Kakkar. The song's placement in the film is also apt as it adds on to the fun feel that director Raj Mehta has adopted for the first half of the narrative. With each of the four songs making a really impression, it is indeed 'good news' so far. A song with a core Western touch to it, <strong><em>'Dil Na Jaaneya'</em></strong> arrives next. Composed by Rochak Kohli and Lauv who also sing this one with Akasa leading the show, this one is a kind of song that one associates with an urban romcom entertainer by Karan Johar. A soft number which is soothing to the ear, it has a mix of Hindi and English lyrics, courtesy Gurpreet Saini, Ari Leff and Michael Pollack. Though one waits to see if the song gains as much as popularity as rest of the massy soundtrack, this one would go down as a classy outing which is also heard in an unplugged version with Arijit Singh leading the show. Dance and celebrations continue with <strong><em>'Zumba'</em></strong> which is based on Punjabi folk music that is commonly heard in weddings up north. Tanishk Bagchi does well to bring on core Punjabi flavor in this dance number that has a mix of contemporary and traditional lyrics by Vayu with Romy taking center-stage as the singer. This is a song that keeps the narrative of the film exciting. Last to arrive is the peppy theme music of the film<strong><em>, 'Good Newwz Theme'</em></strong>, which is just an apt finale for the soundtrack. KSHMR and Tanishk Bagchi are the creators for this fun track. <strong>OVERALL</strong> The music of <em>Good Newwz</em> is quite good and has already helped the film find ample attention coming its way. With the film doing quite well in theaters already and the music gaining further thumbs-up from the audiences, expect the songs to play on for many more months to come. <strong>OUR PICK(S)</strong> <em>Chandigarh Mein</em>, <em>Sauda Khara Khara</em>, <em>Laal Ghaghra</em>, <em>Maana Dil</em>

<strong>EXPECTATIONS</strong> Filmmaker Luv Ranjan has certain style when it comes to creating soundtrack for his films. His <em>Pyaar Ka Punchnama</em> series as well as <em>Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety</em> in particular have boasted of youthful peppy music. Now that his production <em>Jai Mummy Di</em> is releasing, one expects something similar from over half a dozen songs that appear in the soundtrack. <img class="aligncenter wp-image-1063485 size-full" title="Music Review: Jai Mummy Di" src="https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Music-Review-Jai-Mummy-Di.jpg" alt="Music Review: Jai Mummy Di" width="720" height="450" /> <strong>MUSIC</strong> As is the trend, <em>Jai Mummy Di</em> too kick-starts with a couple of recreated songs. First to arrive is Sukh-E Muzical Doctorz composed and Jaani written <strong><em>'Mummy Nu Pasand'</em></strong> which has been recreated by Tanishk Bagchi who is also the man behind additional lyrics. Sunanda Sharma is the singer here and boasts of a distinct voice which is strikingly different from many of her ilk and hence lends quite a solid impression. The song has a catchy hook to it and is a chartbuster all the way. Even if you haven't heard this song before, you would like it this time around. Next to arrive is the chartbuster track <strong><em>'Lamborghini'</em></strong> which has a beautiful sound to it and has just the right mix of Punjabi mix and 'desi' feel with a slightly Western touch to it which gives it an edge. Written by Kumaar, this celebration track has a peppy presentation by Meet Bros who utilize the vocals of Neha Kakkar and Jassie Gill quite well to result in a number that would find a place amongst youth as well as elderly alike. The surprise though is <strong><em>'Dariyaganj'</em></strong> which is rendered by Arijit Singh. It is always so refreshing to hear a new team collaborate to create something melodious and this is where one would complement lyricist Siddhant Kaushal and composer Amartya Bobo Rahut. They put together an unconventional hook for the song's title while ensuring that the melody element remains intact. Rest is taken care of by Arijit who along with Dhvani Bhanushali makes sure that this romantic number finds itself in your playlist. Later Dhvani goes solo to make further impact. With a hat-trick of good songs, expectations soar further from <em>Jai Mummy Di</em>. Mika Singh is the man of the moment as his boisterous vocals kick-start the proceedings for <strong><em>'Ishq Da Band'</em></strong>. The manner in which the singing team (with Shilpa Surroch and Harjot K Dhillon as the other singers] comes together for this Gaurav Chatterji composed and Ginny Diwan written number, you get the feeling of one of those David Dhawan films from the 90s where 'masti' and 'dhamaal' ruled in many a Govinda or Salman Khan starrers. This one is fun while it lasts. Yet another new team joins forces for the title track <strong><em>'Jai Mummy Di'</em></strong>. Composer Parag Chhabra and lyricist Shellee join hands for this situational number. Though there isn't anything really memorable about this Nikhita Gandhi, Parag Chhabra, Vivek Hariharan and Devender Pal Singh sung track, expect this one to arrive at certain montage sequences in the film to lend entertainment to the narrative. Though Amartya Bobo Rahut and Siddhant Kaushal had done quite well in <em>'Dariyaganj'</em>, same can't be said about <strong><em>'Manney Ignore Kar Rahi'</em></strong> which comes across as a jamming session at best. Agreed that this Amitabh Bhattacharya rendered number aims to be all funny and has a parody flavour to it, the end result is the kind which can possibly be enjoyed only if accompanied by some really entertaining visuals. Last to arrive is <strong><em>'Ajaa Ajaa'</em></strong> which has a 50s style rock-n-roll feel to it and is yet another situational track. One in fact wonders at what situation of the film will this Divya Kumar sung number appear eventually as it comes across like a force fitment. Composed by Rishi Singh &amp; Siddharth Amit Bhavsar (who also lend additional lyrics), this one is written by Gautam G. Sharma and Gurpreet Saini who don't quite manage to come up with anything memorable. <strong>OVERALL</strong> The music of <em>Jai Mummy Di</em> starts well with a couple of recreated songs and then a couple of original songs making a mark. However, the impact tapers a bit as it progresses further. Nonetheless, it still manages to almost deliver what it promised with at least 2-3 songs expected to play on for some more time to come at least. <strong>OUR PICK(S)</strong> <em>‘Mummy Nu Pasand’</em>, <em>‘Daryaganj’</em>, <em>‘Lamborghini’</em>

<strong>EXPECTATIONS</strong> With close to a dozen off songs in <em>Street Dancer 3D</em>, one expects an out and out musical in the offering from filmmaker Remo D'Souza. With Varun Dhawan, Shraddha Kapoor, Prabhudeva and Nora Fatehi as the principle cast members, there is a good visual appeal on the cards as well. Multiple composers, lyricists and singers come together to put together the soundtrack. <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1073215" src="https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Gann-Deva-Full-Song-Street-Dancer-3D-Varun-Dhawan-Shraddha-Kapoor.jpg" alt="Gann Deva Full Song Street Dancer 3D Varun Dhawan, Shraddha Kapoor" width="720" height="405" /> <strong>MUSIC</strong> A.R. Rahman's chartbuster <strong><em>'Muqabla'</em></strong>, which has regaled audiences for over two decades now, is back in the fold with - who else but Tanishk Bagchi - bringing on the recreation. The essence of the original, especially the passages, is kept intact even as Shabbir Ahmed and Tanishk Bagchi add on to the lyrics that had been originally written by Valee. Yash Narvekar and Parampara Thakur do well to bring on the energy and though the end result is satisfactory, all said and done one would rather go back to the original. Badshah continues to bring on the sound of seduction with <strong><em>'Garmi'</em></strong> where he plays the triple role of being the composer, lyricist as well as singer. He is joined by Neha Kakkar who is just the right voice for this track that has Nora Fatehi at her sizzling best and Varun Dhawan serenading her. Expect this one to play on in night clubs for quite some time to come. Tanishk Bagchi and Intense join hands for <strong><em>'Illegal Weapon 2.0'</em></strong> which is yet another recreated version. Written by Priya Saraiya and Garry Sandhu with latter pairing up with Jasmine Sandlas behind the mike, this Punjabi-Western combo number is just the kind that is made for the night clubs. That said, this one had the kind of set up to it which would have been propelled to a higher stage had it been more energetic. Sachin-Jigar have composed as many as five songs in the album and the first one to arrive is <strong><em>'Dua Karo'</em></strong>. A situational track written by Priya Saraiya with a sad undertone to it, this one is a 'sufi rock' number that is rendered by Arijit Singh. Bohemia chips in as well for an intermittent rap portion, something that makes an impression primarily along with the film's narrative. Guru Randhawa's chartbuster track <strong><em>'Lagdi Lahore Di'</em></strong> is brought to fore all over again with Sachin-Jigar taking charge and Tulsi Kumar stepping in as a female vocalist. The song has been a huge success across the country, especially up North and its re-entry in <em>Street Dancer</em> <em>3D</em> brings on an added shelf life. However, just as was the case with <strong><em>'Illegal Weapon 2.0'</em></strong>, this one too could have gained further from enhanced energy. Somehow this one appears to be rather subdued. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Sameer's <strong><em>'Hindustani'</em></strong> [<em>Dus</em>] is recreated by Harsh Upadhyay and the results aren't really the kind that would have taken the song to the next level. As a matter of fact this one seems like a rather rushed job and even though the voices of Shankar Mahadevan and Udit Narayan are retained, the punch is clearly missing. <strong><em>'Bezubaan Kab Se'</em></strong>, which has a thematic appeal when it comes to the ABCD franchise set by Remo D'Souza, appears in a new version with Siddharth Basrur and Jubin Nautiyal crooning for Sachin-Jigar who compose as well as write this one along with Mayur Puri. While it does play a part in carrying forward the core spirit of <strong><em>'Bezubaan'</em></strong>, somehow it doesn't cover the distance. Next to arrive is Gurinder Seagal sung and composed <strong><em>'Pind'</em></strong> and somehow this sad song about returning to the motherland only slows down the soundtrack further. Kunaal Vermaa writes this Punjabi-Hindi number which has a very dull feel to it and just doesn't manage to make its presence felt or register any sort of impact whatsoever. It is back to some dance and fun with Neeti Mohan, Dhvani Bhanushali and Millind Gaba coming together for Sachin-Jigar created <strong><em>'Nachi Nachi'</em></strong>. Though the song has a good hook to it, somehow there hasn't been any promotion whatsoever which means this Millind Gaba and Asli Gold created track would largely go unannounced. This is followed by a devotional track comes next in the form of <strong><em>'Gann Deva'</em></strong> which is in praise of Lord Ganesha. Written by Bhargav Purohit, composed by Sachin-Jigar and sung by Divya Kumar, this one doesn't make an impact either. Garry Sandhu's <strong><em>'Sip Sip'</em></strong> finds a recreated version in <strong><em>'Sip Sip 2.0'</em></strong>, courtesy Tanishk Bagchi and Kumaar. Jasmine Sandlas comes behind the mike for this Punjabi-Hindi number which hasn't really been immensely popular at an all-India even as an original. The recreated version is the kind that could have covered some distance but since it hasn't been hammered all along, that won't really turn out to be the case. <strong>OVERALL</strong> The soundtrack of Street Dancer 3D starts off well but then as it proceeds, the impact starts getting lesser and lesser. The good thing is that this one is a music heavy album as a result of which around four to five songs do ultimately manage to make an impression. <strong>OUR PICK(S)</strong> ‘<em>Muqabla’</em>, ‘<em>Garmi’</em>, <em>‘Illegal Weapon 2.0’</em>, <em>‘Lagdi Lahore Di’</em>

<strong>EXPECTATIONS</strong> As is the current trend with majority of Bollywood flicks, soundtrack of <em>Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan</em> too has released alongside the arrival of the film in theatres. Though an early release of the jukebox can well help gain added popularity in days preceding to the film's release, one wonders if this trend would reverse in time to come. Moreover, yet again there are three recreated songs in this album which has over half a dozen numbers in there. <img class="aligncenter wp-image-1077562 size-full" title="Music Review: Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan" src="https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Music-Review-Shubh-Mangal-Zyada-Saavdhan.jpg" alt="Music Review: Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan" width="720" height="450" /> <strong>MUSIC</strong> Yo Yo Honey Singh (composer), Kinder Deol (lyricist) and singer J-Star's <strong><em>'Gabru'</em> </strong>from the album International Villager is recreated by, who else but, Tanishk Bagchi as <strong><em>'Pyaar Tenu Karda Gabru'</em></strong>. A fun track all the way which is already quite popular, especially up North, this one is a celebratory outing with newer lyrics by Vayu. Singer Romy does quite well in rendering this hard-core Punjabi number that is set to be a chartbuster all over again. Tanishk - Vayu come together to create number of songs in <em>Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan</em> and one of their first collaborations is <strong><em>'Mere Liye Tum Kaafi Ho'</em></strong>. Ayushmann Khurranna brings himself behind the mike for this Vayu written number and his voice actually comes across as quite different in here. A decent track which is easy on ears, it comes across as a situational number at best as it doesn't really have that punch in there to emerge as a chartbuster. Second recreated song in the album is <strong><em>'Arey Pyaar Kar Le'</em></strong> which is a take-off on Bappi Lahiri and Anjaan's <strong><em>'Yaar Bina Chain Kaha Re'</em></strong> from Anil Kapoor and Amrita Singh's <em>Saheb</em>. A good recreation by Tanishk Bagchi and Vayu, this one has Bappi Lahiri's voice been retained which actually works tremendously for the song. While Ayushmann Khurranna chips in as well, the real fun is to listen to Bappi Lahiri due to his unique vocals. A good take on 80s nostalgia. It's time for the Kakkar family to come together for <strong><em>'Ooh La La'</em></strong>. While Tony Kakkar writes and composes this one (along with Tanishk Bagchi), his sisters Sonu Kakkar and Neha Kakkar take centre-stage to let their hair down. A fun number all the way, its promotion surprisingly kick-started quite late in the film's campaign and it could well have been beneficial had this been earlier. Not that the song is a huge chartbuster in the making but still it has the kind of energy in there that would have pepped the film even further. Mika steps in soon after for Tanishk - Vayu created <strong><em>'Aisi Taisi'</em>.</strong> Though the fun element is intact this time around as well, as has been the case with most of the songs heard before, at the end of the day it only fits in the needs of being a situational outing. Same is the case with <strong><em>'Raakh'</em></strong> which is actually a melancholic outing and arrives out of nowhere. Though Arijit has sung for this Tanishk - Vayu creation, the punch is not really there and you don't quite crave to return and give this one a repeat hearing. There is some fun that comes to the proceedings though Anuradha Paudwal and Mohammad Aziz's <strong><em>‘Kya Karthe The Saajna’</em></strong> from Anand-Milind's <strong><em>'Lal Dupatta Malmal Ka'</em></strong> is sampled for <strong><em>'Kya Karte Thay'</em></strong> by Tanishk Bagchi and Vayu. Though Zara Khan tries to bring in something quirky to the proceedings, the fun element actually comes in when the original makes an appearance. <strong>OVERALL</strong> The music of <em>Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan</em> turns out to be decent enough with a couple of songs making an impression, albeit both being recreations. Somehow the new songs that have been created for the film don't quite cover the distance and had there been a chartbuster ortwo there, it would have only helped the soundtrack further. <strong>OUR PICK(S)</strong> <em>‘Pyaar Tenu Karda Gabru’, ‘Arey Pyaar Kar Le’, ‘Ooh La La’</em>

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The Vinoba Bhave Nagar police arrested a 34-year-old man for allegedly stealing batteries placed inside ATM centers as a power back up. The accused identified as Tawab Ali Jaffer Ali Shaikh, who was once an owner of a petrol pump was caught in a vicious circle of drugs settled on stealing batteries to finance his addiction. When produced in court today, he was remanded to judicial custody.

The VB Nagar police received a piece of information that a man in his 30s will be stealing batteries placed as a power back up for ATMs. Acting on the tip-off, the police team activated their informer network to find out about an unidentified man showing CCTV footage while stealing in Ghatkopar, Vakola, and Kurla.

Senior Inspector Rajesh Pawar formed a team under the leadership of Assistant Police Inspector Bapu Salunkhe. "An informer told us that the person in CCTV is Tawab Ali Jaffer Ali Shaikh, a resident of Kurla (W). We tracked him down and arrested him on Sunday," said an officer from VB Nagar Police station.

After interrogating Tawab, the police officials found the shocking story of his downfall. "Whatever information we have been able to gather from him and his elder brother, Tawab belongs to an affluent family that had ownership of a petrol pump at Reay Road. The family was well off making a handsome income," told an officer. "Tawab studied till 12th standard and then got married. He has two kids," the officer added.

"Four years back Tawab got addicted to drugs. Initially, he was taking synthetic ones but as his finances dried down he started taking Mephedrone (MD)," said another officer. "But, for a few months, as he couldn't afford MD too, he started with taking buttons (sleeping tablets). For this, he was stealing batteries," added the officer.

"In such an attempt, he was caught in the CCTV camera in which he was seen stealing batteries and keeping them inside his SUV. He was arrested on Sunday and while searching we have found a German-made revolver, a screwdriver, and knife," said Rajesh Pawar, Senior Inspector VB Nagar Police station.

Tawab was booked under Arms Act and was produced in Kurla Court on Monday where he was sent in judicial custody. The police are now in process to book him for theft of batteries and will seek his custody again for further investigation.

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As many as 918 COVID-19 cases and 34 deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of such cases to 8,447 in the country, the Union Health Ministry said on Sunday, while asserting that the government is "extra prepared" if there is an exponential rise in the number of coronavirus patients.

Addressing a press briefing, Health Ministry's Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal said the government is expanding the COVID-19 testing capacity in state-run as well as private medical colleges. "The total number of COVID-19 cases has risen to 8,447. A total of 918 new cases and 34 deaths have been reported since Saturday. The good news is that 716 people have recovered and have been discharged so far. Seventy-four people have been cured since Saturday. The government is extra prepared if the number of cases rises exponentially," he said.

"We are working on an urgent basis to expand the capacity for COVID-19 testing in government and private medical colleges across the country. Fourteen mentor institutes, including the AIIMS and NIMHANS, have been identified to mentor the medical colleges and expand the coronavirus testing capacity," Agarwal added.

According to ICMR officials, a total of 1,86,906 samples have so far been tested across the country, of which 7,953 have been found positive for COVID-19. "In the last five days, on an average, 15,747 samples were tested per day and 584 of those were found to be positive per day," an Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) official said at the press briefing. Responding to a question about development of vaccines, he said, "There are 40 plus candidate vaccines that are under development but none of them has reached the next stage."

Relief distribution pictures banned

District magistrate, Srinagar, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary has banned circulation of photos and videos showing distribution of relief on social media sites.

'Bengal not fighting a communal virus'

The Centre and the West Bengal government on Saturday pressed a confrontationist button over the Union Home Ministry writing to the state chief secretary and the director general of police seeking action against the 'dilution' of lockdown measures in the state, and over permission for religious gatherings given by the state cops. Hitting back, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hinted that the Centre had a communal stand and said her government was now busy fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and not any "communal virus".

AP govt introduces apps for food delivery

The Arunachal Pradesh government has introduced various Apps including 'U Tell Us' and 'Dukan Dada' to ensure essentials reach at the doorsteps of the people, officials said on Sunday. Besides the AP government, other state governments of the northeastern region have taken some fresh measures to maintain supply of essentials for effective enforcement of the lockdown.

No food, woman throws kids in river

In a shocking incident on Sunday, a woman threw her five children into the Ganga river in Jeghangirabad in Uttar Pradesh's Bhadohi district. As soon as the police were informed, senior officers reached the spot and divers were pressed into service to locate the kids. The woman has been arrested. Sources, meanwhile, said that the woman had earlier said that she and her children were not getting food in the lockdown.

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An officer's hand was chopped off with a sword and two other Punjab policemen injured on Sunday when a group of Nihangs attacked them after being asked to show curfew passes at a vegetable market in Patiala district, police said.

Seven people, including five attackers, were arrested hours later after an exchange of fire at a gurdwara where the group fled after the 6.15 am incident in Sanaur town. One of the arrested men suffered gunshot wounds, police said. A mandi official was also hurt earlier. A video clip on social media appears to show assistant sub inspector, Harjeet Singh seeking help. A man picks up the severed hand and gives it to the officer. He is then taken away from the scene on a two-wheeler.

The ASI was rushed to Rajindra Hospital nearby and then referred to PGIMER in Chandigarh where he was undergoing surgery, police said. The other injured policemen include Sadar Patiala's station house officer. With a lockdown in place to contain the spread of COVID-19, barricades were put up outside the wholesale market and entry restricted to those with curfew passes.

The Nihangs — members of a Sikh sect whose adherents carry traditional arms and wear blue robes — arrived in an SUV and were told to stop by mandi officials, police said. "They were asked to show passes. But they rammed the vehicle against the gate and the barricades," Patiala's senior superintendent of police, Mandeep Singh Sidhu said. The group then attacked the police personnel and fled to Gurdwara Khichri Sahib managed by them in Balbera village, around 25 km from Patiala city.

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A consignment of hydroxychloroquine from India has reached the US, the global COVID-19 hotspot, days after New Delhi lifted a ban on the export of the anti-malarial drug to America and some other countries on humanitarian grounds to help them combat the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 1.7 million people have tested positive and 108,867 people have died from the novel coronavirus globally. The US has emerged as the global hotspot with 20,580 deaths and nearly 530,000 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University data. America has replaced Italy as the country with the highest number of COVID-19 deaths at 20,597, the data shows.

Earlier this week, India at the request of President Donald Trump cleared the export of 35.82 lakh tablets of hydroxychloroquine to the US along with nine metric tons of active pharmaceutical ingredient or API required in the manufacturing of the drug.

"Supporting our partners in the fight against COVID-19. Consignment of hydroxychloroquine from India arrived at Newark airport today (Saturday)," India's Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu tweeted. Hydroxychloroquine has been identified by the US Food and Drug Administration as a possible treatment for the COVID-19 and it is being tested on more than 1,500 coronavirus patients in New York.

Anticipating that it will work, given the initial positive results, Trump has bought more than 29 million doses of hydroxychloroquine for potential treatment of COVID-19 patients. The arrival of consignment was welcomed by Americans.

"US will never forget this great humanitarian gesture by India. Under President Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the two largest democracies of the world have come together than ever in the past,' said New York-based Al Mason, a real estate consultant and a Trump supporter. "A wonderful gesture by India to its friends in need," tweeted Dr Sampat Shivangi.

20,597
N. of deaths in the US

1,10,005
No. of deaths worldwide

Death toll in Europe passes 75,000

Over 75,000 people have died from the Coronavirus in Europe, with 80 per cent of the fatalities occurring in Italy, Spain, France and Britain, according to an AFP tally. With a total of 75,011 deaths from 909,673 infections, Europe is the hardest-hit continent in the COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed more than 1,10,000 people worldwide.

Stay put: Indian students in US told

India's Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu has advised the Indian students, stranded in America due to the sudden closure of universities and the ongoing lockdown back home because of the coronavirus pandemic, to stay where they are and assured them help in this crisis situation. Sandhu addressed the concerns of over 500 Indian students who attended the Instagram Live session hosted by the Indian Embassy on Saturday. There are an estimated 250,000 Indian students in the US, a significantly large numbers of whom are stranded due to the sudden closer of the universities and asked to vacate their hostels and follow stay-at-home order issued by the authorities. The Indian government imposed a 21-day nationwide lockdown from March 24 to stem the tide of the fast-spreading disease and also suspended rail, road and air services during the period. "At this time the most advisable thing to do is stay where you are," Sandhu said.

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Like always, Google doodle has our hearts. Google Doodle did its bit to laud the selfless service of the frontline medical professionals and wrote a thank you message as well.

When one hovers over the doodle, it shows the message, "To all doctors, nurses and medical workers; thank you".

The logo also features a little heart emoji to everyone who is fighting on the frontlines of the COVID-19 battle.

Medical professions have sidelined the threat of catching the infection and are choosing duty over everything else. Despite that, many healthcare workers have been facing abuse and are accused of carrying the virus.

Google wrote, "As COVID-19 continues to impact communities around the world, people are coming together to help one another now more than ever. We're launching a Doodle series to recognize and honour many of those on the front lines."

More than 18 lakh people have been tested positive for COVID-19. The first case was reported from Wuhan which became the epicentre of the infectious virus.

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COVID-19 has brought everyone to their knees and this was what happened with Dharamnath Singh when he and his nine of his family members tested positive for the Coronavirus disease.

The 59-year-old had already lost his sister-in-law who was his first victim in North Bengal to the respiratory illness.

After his sister-in-law's death, ten members of the family tested positive.

Singh spoke to Hindustan Times, "When I and other members of the family tested positive, I initially thought the world had come to an end. I soon realised that the virus has to be defeated and for that we need determination. I am home now and free again."

He also encouraged others, to fight the disease with determination and will power. Singh fought the virus alongside his three-year-old granddaughter, Kavya and walked out of a private nursing home with the child.

Singh and his granddaughter spent 12 days in treatment and tested negative in three back to back tests.

“Positive thinking, determination, will power, discipline and social distancing are the mantras in the war against the coronavirus,” Singh said.

Kavya's mother said, "Initially we were scared. Had we remained scared and did nothing to bring out the positive energy from within we would not have come out of the nursing home so soon."

'One should not be afraid. If you are afraid it becomes difficult to fight a crisis. There are doctors, and even common people, to help you," she added.

"One must be firm, keep social distance and have lukewarm water regularly to defeat the virus. If you have the symptoms, please don’t hide it. Tell others and go for treatment. There are people to help you. One can recover in 15 to 20 days," Singh encouraged everyone and said.

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Eighty-two more cases of COVID19 have been reported in Maharashtra on Monday, taking the total number of coronavirus cases in the state to 2064. According to Maharashtra Health Department, out of the 82 new cases of COVID19, three are from Pune, 59 from Mumbai, 12 from Malegaon, five from Thane, one from Vasai Virar, and two from Palghar.

82 new COVID19 cases including 59 cases in Mumbai reported in the state today; the total number of positive cases in the state is now 2064: Maharashtra Health Department pic.twitter.com/vQFBOh4rqr

— ANI (@ANI) April 13, 2020

India's tally of positive COVID-19 cases rose to 9,152 following an increase of 796 cases in the last 24 hours, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Monday.

Out of the total number of cases, 7,987 patients are active cases while 857 cases have been cured/discharged and migrated. With 35 deaths in the last 24 hours, the death toll has mounted to 308.

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People were seen lining up outside liquor stores in huge numbers here on Monday after the Assam government permitted retail stores to remain open for seven hours and sell liquor. While standing in queue, the people were seen adhering to the norms of social distancing -- as advised by the health ministry and experts. They were also seen carrying bags in an attempt to stock up the liquor in their houses.

Assam: People line up outside a liquor shop in Dibrugarh as government permits sale of liquor between 10 AM & 5 PM during #CoronavirusLockdown. pic.twitter.com/d8HhAYJa5G

— ANI (@ANI) April 13, 2020

The shopkeepers also maintained social distancing in the stores as the staff strength was down to a bare minimum. On Sunday, the Assam government permitted retail liquor outlets in the state to open for seven hours daily from April 13.

An official notification stated that all liquor shops shall remain open from 10 am to 5 pm on the permitted days and follow social distancing. Along with the liquor shops, wholesale warehouses, bottling plants, distilleries and breweries have also been allowed to operate from Monday.

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Amid the rising number of coronavirus cases across the country, a heartwarming story of an IAS officer joining back work after delivering her baby is winning hearts online. Responding to the call of duty, IAS officer and Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation Commissioner (GVMC) G Srijana returned to work with her one month old baby thereby cutting short her maternity break in order to help the country fight the novel coronavirus crisis.

An extraordinary feather of @IASassociation. 2013 batch IAS Mrs @GummallaSrijana Commissioner @GVMC_OFFICIAL refused to take 06 months maternal leave and joined back her office with one month old baby in lap. Truly inspiring to all #CoronaWarriors #COVID__19 pic.twitter.com/mzbPsUyTco

— Chiguru Prashanth Kumar (@prashantchiguru) April 11, 2020

The 2013 batch IAS officer was working as the municipal commissioner of Greater Visakhapatnam until she was blessed with a baby boy nearly a month ago. But soon after the 21-day nationwide lockdown was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Srijana joined back work and cut short her maternity leave.

Stood in solidarity to the fight against #Covid_19 On the call of @PMOIndia @narendramodi #9PM9minute pic.twitter.com/kCT9PxQT7F

— Srijana Gummalla (@GummallaSrijana) April 5, 2020

When asked as to how she was looking after her baby while handling work, Srijana said that her lawyer-husband and her mother were her pillars of strength as they are providing her with ample support amid the nationwide lockdown.

à¤Â•à¥Â‹रà¥Â‹ना सà¤Â‚à¤Â•à¤ÂŸ मà¥Â‡à¤Â‚ à¤ÂÂÂ…पनà¥Â‡ à¤Â•रà¥Âतवà¥Âय à¤Â•à¥Â€ पà¥Âà¤Â•ार पर à¤ÂÂÂ…पनà¥Â‡ 1 माह à¤Â•à¥Â‡ बà¤Âšà¥Âà¤Âšà¥Â‡ à¤Â•à¥Â‡ साथ à¤Â—à¥Âरà¥Â‡à¤ÂŸर विशाà¤Â–ापà¤ÂŸà¥Âà¤ÂŸनम à¤Â•à¥Â€ नà¤Â—र à¤Â†यà¥Âà¤Â•à¥Âत शà¥Âरà¥Â€मतà¥Â€ सà¥Âƒà¤ÂÂÂœना à¤Â—à¥Âमà¥Âमाला वापस डà¥Âयà¥Â‚à¤ÂŸà¥Â€ पर लà¥ÂÂÂŒà¤ÂŸ à¤Â†à¤Âˆà¤Â‚।
भाà¤Â—à¥Âयशालà¥Â€ हà¥Âˆ यह राषà¥Âà¤ÂŸà¥Âर à¤ÂÂÂœहाà¤Â‚ à¤Âसà¥Â‡ à¤Â•à¥Â‹रà¥Â‹ना यà¥Â‹दà¥Âधा हà¥Âˆ। à¤Â•रà¥Âतवà¥Âय निषà¥Âठा à¤Â•à¥Â‡ à¤Â‡स à¤ÂÂÂœà¥Â€वà¤Â‚त à¤Â‰दाहरण à¤Â•à¥Â‡ लिà¤Â à¤Â†पà¤Â•ा हà¥Âƒदय सà¥Â‡ à¤Â†भार।#NoCoronaPolitics pic.twitter.com/7md7CxKRp2

— Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (@gssjodhpur) April 12, 2020

Srijana also said that she was aware of her responsibilities and that her service was of utmost importance during the coronavirus crisis. The 2013 batch IAS officer also states that the district administration is working in tandem in order to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Young #IAS Officers leading #fightagainstcorona.
GVMC Visakhapatnam Commissioner, Ms Gummalla Srijana @GummallaSrijana
joined back on duty with one month old baby without maternity leave to serve the City.#CoronaWarriorshttps://t.co/DyP3s0uU2z pic.twitter.com/2HlpvZU9pC

— IAS Association (@IASassociation) April 11, 2020

Srijana's inspiring story was shared by hundreds of netizens who lauded her efforts and her commitments towards the country amid the coronavirus crisis. Twitter user Chiguru Prashanth Kumar shared Sirjana's story and said that it was truly inspiring story for all coronavirus warriors.

She is the real SHERNI !!
India is proud of her🇮🇳
History is witness that whenever our Nation has faced crisis, the Sanatan Women have always come forward to fulfill their responsibilities.@NAN_DINI_ @Aabhas24 @prettypadmaja #CoronaWarriors https://t.co/k7y5OFd8Zf

— Sanatan Women (@SanatanWomen) April 12, 2020

While the IAS association through their Twitter handle said that Sirjana joined the duty with her one month old baby without maternity leave in order to serve the city. Twitter user Sanatan Women hailed Srijana as the real SHERNI while another user said that the country was lucky to have such corona warriors.

I salute Mrs.Srijana Gummala who is the Municipal Commissioner of Greater Vishakapatnam & is the
mother of a 1 month old baby.
She has returned to work, with her baby in her arms, because of COVID19 crisis. Yes, she has given up her maternity leave to serve the Nation.
🙏🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/usYi95hVGb

— Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) April 12, 2020

Filmmake, producer and social activist Ashoke Pandit also showered heaps of praises on IAF officer Sriana. Pandit said that he salutes Srijana Gummala, who returned to work, with her baby in her arms and also gave up her maternity leave to serve the nation.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 10 AM on April 14, the last day of the ongoing nationwide COVID-19. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 10 AM on 14th April 2020," PMO India tweeted.

Prime Minister @narendramodi will address the nation at 10 AM on 14th April 2020.

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 13, 2020

In his last address to the nation on March 24, the Prime Minister had announced the 21-day lockdown in the country to contain the spread of coronavirus. During a meeting last week, several Chief Ministers had suggested to the Centre that an extension of the lockdown may be considered amid surging coronavirus cases across the country.

India's tally of positive COVID-19 cases rose to 9,152 following an increase of 796 cases in the last 24 hours, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Monday.

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On April 9, Odisha became the first state to extend the 21-day nationwide lockdown in the state till April 30. But two days before the extended lockdown was announced, a 20-year-old youth from Odisha, who was working in Maharashtra's Sangli district before the lockdown returned to his state after cycling for around 2,000 km.

The 20-year-old youth identified as Mahesh Jena left Sangli on April 1 and reached Odisha on April 7 after he cycled around 2,000 km for seven days. Jena took the bold decision when the factory where he worked was closed when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown to combat the spread of the global pandemic.

While speaking to Hindustan Times Jena said, "When the factory was closed we were told that it would not reopen for the next five months. I figured out that if I continued to stay then I would run out of money quickly. So the only option was leaving the place at any cost."

In order to reach Odisha, Jena bought a bicycle for Rs 1200 and spent another Rs 500 to replace its tyre and tube. Jena, who began his journey on April 1 at 4.30 a said that his original plan was to reach his village in 15 days.

Talking about his journey he said, "When I started, I did not want to stop, I rode during the daytime and carried on till 12 in the night. I would then look for a temple or roadside dhaba to sleep." During his journey, Jena ate at roadside dhabas and at places where local police or NGOs would offer free food. During the journey, Jena not only replaced his cycle tyres but his phone was also conked off.

Speaking about how he planned to reach Odisha Jena said, "When I first arrived in Sangli along with my village friend 7 months ago, I had hazy idea about the route. On April 1 when I started from Sangli, I thought I could cover about 120-130 km a day on the cycle and reach home. But when I started, I did not want to stop, I rode during the daytime and carried on till 12 in the night. I would then look for a temple or roadside dhaba to sleep off."

Upon reaching Sholapur, Jena rode towards Hyderabad and then towards Vijayawada. Post which he rode his bicycke to Vishakhapatnam and Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh before entering Odisha at Ganjam. From Ganjam he then cycled to Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and finally Jajpur on April 7 evening.

Upon reaching Jajpur on April 7, Jena was stopped by the police at a check post installed where the police personnel stopped outsiders from entering the district. Talking about Jena, police inspector Ashish Kumar Sahu said, "With a rucksack on his back, he was cycling. After lockdown was announced, the factory in Maharashtra where he worked as a daily labourer was closed leaving him and several others in great misery. He somehow managed to get a rickety bicycle from a local there and started cycling to his home in Odisha."

Following lockdown procedures, Jena was first screened at the district headquarters hospital where he was found without any COVID-19 symptoms. Post which he was sent to a government quarantine centre, where he would be kept in isolation for 14 days.

"I was worried about being picked up by police during my journey. I was stopped twice by police on Andhra-Maharashtra border and Andhra-Odisha border, but I was allowed to go,"recalls Jena, who was stopped by the police on two occasions.

The 20-year-old migrant worker has spent over seven days at the quarantine facility. Speaking about his time at the quarantine centre, Jena said that the meal which comprised of rice and a boiled curry of lentil and vegetables was getting too boring for him. Speaking about the food, he stated, "How long can you eat the same food twice a day? After I am discharged from the quarantine centre, I plan to go back home and have a nice meal. Once the factories reopen, I would again go back."

Lauding the youngster on his inspiring journey, Odisha's Jajpur block development officer Sourav Chakraborty said that it was incredible the way he cycled to his home. "His journey would make a very good script for a movie."

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The penultimate day of 21-day lockdown saw the number of coronavirus cases in the country reach 9352 with 905 new cases reported in the last 24 hours. The government's action plan to contain the spread of COVID-19 has stared yielding results in 25 districts across 15 states which have not reported any case in the last 14 days

Fifty one people died in the last 24 hours taking total toll 324. As many as 25 staff members of Mumbai's Bhatia hospital tested positive for coronavirus and number of cases in the city has reached 1549. The number of those who have died has reached 100 in the city. Maharashtra with 2,064 cases continues to be the worst affected followed by Delhi with 1,154 cases and Tamil Nadu with 1075 cases. The number of containment zones in Delhi has been increased to 47.

New cases have been reported from several states including Kerala, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Nagaland reported its first COVID-19 case following which several localities and a hospital in Dimapur hve been sealed. Uttarakhand Health Department said that no new positive COVID-19 case emerged in the state for the fifth day in a row.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 10 am on Tuesday and is likely to talk about the further course of action to deal with the crisis posed by virus. Union ministers and senior officials returned to work in their offices on Monday and work was done by following social distancing norms.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said 2,06,212 COVID-19 tests were conducted till yesterday. "The pace at which we are conducting tests today, we have a stock with which we can conduct tests for the next six weeks easily," ICMR's head scientist Dr Raman R Gangakhedkar said at the daily media briefing on COVID-19 situation.

He said consignment of COVID-19 kits is expected to arrive from China on April 15 In Delhi, traders at Delhi's Azadpur Mandi have been told to follow the odd-even rule according to their shed numbers to maintain social distancing. There will be staggered time for sale of vegetables and fruits in the mandis.

In Mangaluru, a case has been registered against two minors at East Police station after they violated the lockdown norms. They will be produced before the Juvenile Justice Board. A 17-year old was caught trying to sneak his friend out of his apartment complex using a suitcase.

"A17-year-old resident of Orchid Apartment Balmatta invited his friend, a resident of Motisham Apartment, Pandeshwar to stay with him on April 11, " said PS Harsha, the Commissioner of Police, Mangaluru. The friend wanted to return back to his apartment in Pandeshwar the next day but due to strict security put in place, he got inside a large trolley suitcase.

Based on the suspicion, security personnel alerted the residents of the building and opened the suitcase from which they were shocked to find a boy stepping out.

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Twenty-five districts across 15 states which had detected COVID-19 infections earlier have contained the spread and reported no new cases in 14 days, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday. The ministry asserted that the government has enough stocks to conduct tests for up to six weeks and over two lakh samples have been tested so far. Addressing a press briefing here, Health Ministry Joint Secretary, Lav Agarwal said 796 new COVID-19 cases and 35 deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 9,352 and deaths 324.

"Twenty-five districts across 15 states which had reported cases earlier have contained the virus and have not detected new ones in 14 days. This is a positive development," he said. The districts are Gondia (Maharashtra), Raj Nand Gaon (Chhattisgarh), Davangiri (Karnataka), South Goa, Wayanad and Kottayam (Kerala), West Imphal (Manipur), Rajouri (J&K), Aizwal West (Mizoram), Mahe in Puducherry, SBS Nagar in Punjab, Patna, Nalanda and Munger in Bihar, Pratapgarh in Rajasthan, Panipat, Rohtak and Sirsa in Haryana, Pauri Garhwal in Uttrakhand and Bhadradari Kothagudem in Telangana.

Agarwal also said that the Core Strategy Group on COVID-19 was working on rapid and economical diagnostics as well as new drugs. "The group has been formed, based on a detailed review of COVID-19 research, undertaken by Union Health Minister, Harshvardhan along with CSIR and its 38 labs. The group is working on digital and molecular surveillance, rapid and economical diagnostics, new drugs, repurposing of drugs and associated production processes," he said.

324
Total no. of COVID-19 deaths in the country

125
No. of cities where Swiggy has enabled grocery deliveries

Nation fights to regain normalcy

People throng Palayam market to purchase fruits and vegetables on the eve of Vishu festival, in Kozhikode, on Monday. Pic/PTI

. The Delhi Police Crime Branch (CB) is all set to nab Maulana Muhammad Saad as sources said that a CB team might question the Tablighi leader and other people named in the FIR on Monday or Tuesday.

. Small retailers whose shops have remained closed during the current lockdown have appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately announce an economic package under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana to compensate the losses suffered by them.

. In a representation to the government under the aegis of the Federation of Retailer Association of India, the body of about 4 crore micro, small and medium retailers urged that the hardships being faced by them be appreciated and they be allowed to open their shops.

. According to the Prime Minister's instructions, all ministers of the Narendra Modi cabinet went back to their ministries on Monday physically, to resume work that was so far being done from home through video conferencing, in wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.

. The Indian Council of Medical research has sought letters of intent from institutions with necessary equipment and infrastructure to participate in a clinical trial to study safety and efficacy of therapeutic plasma exchange in COVID-19 patients, subsequent to necessary approvals and clearances.

. A man from Nagaland has tested positive for the Novel Coronavirus, the first case reported from the state, an official said on Monday. The man with Coronavirus-like symptoms was admitted to a hospital in Assam's Guwahati, where he tested positive for COVID-19, the official said.

. With the beginning of Ramzan just about 10 days away, Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali, the chairperson of the Islamic Centre of India and the Imam of Aishbagh Eidgah has issued an advisory to people on how to observe Ramzan during the lockdown.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on Tuesday at 10 am, the Prime Minister's Office said. The 21-day nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of Coronavirus ends on Tuesday and the PM is likely to talk about its possible extension. "Prime Minister @narendramodi will address the nation at 10 am on 14th April 2020," the PMO tweeted.

Last month, the PM had addressed the nation twice – on March 19 and March 24. On March 19, he had called for resolve and restraint to fight Coronavirus. He had also announced a 'janta curfew' on March 22, a Sunday. On March 24, he had announced the 21-day nationwide lockdown to check the spread of the deadly virus. In a video message on April 3, Modi had urged people to switch off the lights at their homes and light up lamps, candles or mobile phone torches for nine minutes at 9 pm on April 5 to display the country's "collective resolve" to defeat the Coronavirus.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the nation on Tuesday, extended the nationwide lockdown till May 3.

In a televised message to the nation the prime minsiter said that the main focus will be on the hotspots and the government will impose stricter measures to fight covid-19 outbreak. The PM said "Till 20th April, all districts, localities, states will be closely monitored, as to how strictly they are implementing norms. States which will not let hotspots increase, they could be allowed to let some important activities resume, but with certain conditions." 

He thanked and paid a debt to gratitude to the citizens for fighting a courageous battle against COVID-19 despite facing their own personal challenges. He praised everyone and said that everyone is well aware of the situation and has fulfilled their responsibility.

Prime Minister began his address to the nation by saying India is doing well to tackle the coronavirus outbreak. He thanks people on the frontline of the COVID-19 battle. "Our fight against the novel coronavirus pandemic is progressing with strength," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his speech invoked Dr. BR Ambedkar and acknowledged the courage shown by the people of India during the COVID-19 lockdown. "In our constitution, 'We the People' is written and the power of 'We The People Of India' has been seen in the country during the lockdown. This is the best respect we can pay to Dr BR Ambedkar on his anniversary." he said.

He also said that rules would be stricter in order to curb the spread of novel Coronavirus. "Till April 20, each district, each state will be monitored closely to see whether the lockdown is being followed. Then we can decide on relaxing the restrictions," said the Prime Minister. Prime Minister Narendra Modi says that whatever relaxations granted during the lockdown to some areas will be upon conditions and even if one such case is reported, the relaxations will be taken back.

Talking about daily wage workers, PM Modi said that the new guidelines will be made keeping their interests in mind. Rabi crops cutting is on, and the measures will be taken to reduce their problems.

He asked for the unity and support of India on seven issues where he spoke about taking care of elders in the family, supporting the healthcare workers among others. He issued a seven-point appeal to the citizens and asked for:

• Take proper care of the senior citizens of your house, especially those with underlying problems.
• Lockdown and social distancing should be properly followed. Home-made face covers and masks should be used.
• Increase your immunity by following directions given by Ayush Ministry.
• To help curb coronavirus spread, download the Aarogya Setu application.
• Wherever possible, help poor families.
• In your businesses, help your coworkers, including those working under you, don't downsize people.
• Respect the Coronavirus 'soldiers' -- doctors, nurses, sanitation workers and other essential service workers.

He added that India did not wait for the problem to increase but it foresaw the problem and made an attempt to control it. Modi added that compared to other nations, India is at a better position.

He ended the address by asking people to be very vigilant and wished everyone good health.

It was Narendra Modi's fourth televised address to the nation in less than a month. Last month, the Prime Minister had addressed the nation twice – on March 19 and March 24. On March 19, he had called for resolve and restraint to fight Coronavirus. He had also announced a 'janta curfew' on March 22, a Sunday. On March 24, he had announced the 21-day nationwide lockdown to check the spread of the deadly virus. In a video message on April 3, Modi had urged people to switch off the lights at their homes and light up lamps, candles or mobile phone torches for nine minutes at 9 pm on April 5 to display the country's "collective resolve" to defeat the Coronavirus.

On Monday the number of COVID-19 cases rose by 1,253 to 10,444 cases. Nearly 10 states, including Maharashtra, Odisha, West Bengal, Telangana, Punjab had already announced an extension of the lockdown until April 30.

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Soon after the announcement of COVID-19 lockdown extension by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Indian Railways on Tuesday stated that it is suspending all passenger services till May 3. "Indian Railways extends suspension of its passenger services till May 3," informed Rajesh Dutt Bajpai Executive Director(I&P) Ministry of Railways.

Indian Railways extends suspension of its passenger services till May 3: Indian Railways Officials pic.twitter.com/QAoZYHnIbv

— ANI (@ANI) April 14, 2020

"All passenger train services on Indian Railways including Premium trains, Mail/Express trains, Passenger trains, Suburban Trains, Kolkata Metro Rail, Konkan Railway etc shall continue to remain suspended till the 2400 hrs of 3rd May," he added.

However, freight movement will continue to carry essential commodities across the country. Informing about the cancellation of ticket booking, Bajpai stated that all booking counters of rail journey tickets for reserved/unreserved travel at railway stations and outside railway station premises will also be closed till May 3.

Earlier, the railways had also ordered the closure of all rail museums, heritage galleries and heritage parks as a preventive measure to control the spread of the deadly virus. So far, India has reported 10,363 COVID-19 cases. Out of the total, 1036 have been cured and 339 have died due to the infection.

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Jyoti Amge, the world's shortest woman, has appealed to the people here to remain indoors amid the nationwide lockdown enforced to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Dressed in pink top and black boots, Amge, who is just 62.8 centimetres tall, was seen making announcements on the loudspeaker pertaining to the preventive measures to be taken to fight COVID-19 while standing on the bonnet of a police vehicle on Monday.

Maharashtra: World's smallest living woman, Jyoti Amge along with Nagpur Police spread awareness on #Coronavirus and appealed people to stay indoors. (13.4) pic.twitter.com/W1bzeXnfA4

— ANI (@ANI) April 14, 2020

Amge, who was wearing a face mask, was accompanied by a couple of policemen during the awareness drive. Amge has a form of dwarfism called achondroplasia and is the world's shortest woman, according to the Guinness World Records.

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Soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the extension of lockdown, the Ministry of Civil Aviation informed that airline operations of all domestic and international flights will remain suspended till May 3.

All domestic and international scheduled airline operations shall remain suspended till 11.59 pm, 3rd May: Ministry of Civil Aviation pic.twitter.com/dJaOJfVMzJ

— ANI (@ANI) April 14, 2020

"All domestic and international scheduled airline operations shall remain suspended till 11.59 pm, 3rd May," the Ministry said. Earlier today in his address to the nation, Prime Minister Modi announced that the country will remain under lockdown till May 3 to contain COVID-19 cases. The 21-day lockdown, which was announced by the Prime Minister last month, was slated to end today.

Odisha, Punjab, Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry have already announced the extension of lockdown. India's total number of coronavirus positive cases has climbed to 10,363 including 8,988 active cases, 1,035 cured/discharged/migrated and 339 deaths, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said today.

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After his address to the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi changed his profile picture on Twitter. He used a picture where his mouth was covered with a cloth, thereby spreading awareness.

Narendra Modi has often emphasized on the need to cover face, wash hands and practise social distancing to curb the spread of novel Coronavirus. His new profile photo with his face covered aims to spread awareness among people on covering their faces with homemade masks and other solutions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also wore a mask when he held a virtual meeting with the chief ministers from various states. In his address, Modi extended nationwide lockdown until May 3 and said that detailed guidelines will be brought out on Wednesday in order to ensure that the virus does not spread.

India has reported 10,363 cases of the virus infection and 339 deaths so far.

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While checking our bank accounts and our stocked fridges this week, have felt a moment of gratitude for the economic security nets that we have, that will help us tide over the next 21 days untill 30th of April 2020, as announced by the Indian government for breaking down the chain of COVID-19 i.e Coronavirus.

But there are also many who don’t have this net, and now do not have the option of stepping out to earn their daily wage and henceforth they are needy.

Some organisations & Individuals are helping the fortunate former reach out to help the latter. Meet Palan if one of the individual helping the poor society during the lockdown.

To help you aid these initiatives, Volunteers for Meet's team has put together a list of verified Non-Government Organizations, charities and institutions, which are working towards this cause in Rajkot, Gujarat.

For instance, Meet's & his team has successfully called for contributions and have donated more than 270 kilograms of rice with more than 235 kilograms of dal which is the basic staple food in india. Congratulations to Mr Meet Palan and all the best to him for his good deeds.

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New Delhi: With 1,211 fresh cases of coronavirus reported in the last 24 hours, the total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country has reached 10,363 including 339 deaths, said Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, here on Tuesday.

As many as 1,036 people have recovered from the disease so far, said Aggarwal during the daily media briefing on the coronavirus. "In one day, 179 people were diagnosed and found cured," he added.

"A total of 10,363 confirmed cases have been reported in India including 339 deaths and 1,036 people, who were COVID-19 positive have recovered. Out of the total deaths, 31 deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours," said Aggarwal.

Aggarwal said that an evaluation of each district and city will be done till April 20.

"An evaluation of each district and city will be done till April 20 in which it will be evaluated what measures did that authorities take in these cities and districts to combat COVID-19," he said.

"Based on the results of this litmus test approach, permission will be granted for some selective activities to those districts and cities which controlled the situation effectively. Detailed guidelines will be issued soon," he added.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Tuesday morning that the lockdown would be extended till May 3. The announcement, though expected after looking at the surge in the Coronavirus cases in India, saw people reacting in different ways.  On Twitter, the hashtag #Lockdown2 topped the list of trends with many users describing their situations in form of memes that doesn’t disappoint.

Be it introverts, extroverts or ambiverts, the lockdown has affected everyone. During the 21-day lockdown placed last month, several incidents of animals were also reported, giving the Twitterati that the creatures will be seen again.

Here are some hilarious memes you can share with your friends and have a hearty laugh!

For the late-boomers

#Lockdown2
à¤Â˜à¤° रहà¥Â‡ सà¥Âà¤°à¤Â•à¥Âà¤·à¤¿à¤¤ रहà¥Â‡à¤Â‚।।
Modiji extended lockdown till 3 May ...
Me who get up at 1 pm pic.twitter.com/PbNgRqz2Rs

— Aniket Vijayvergiya (@aniketvijay09) April 14, 2020

For those who were planning to go on a trip soon after the lockdown only to face disappointment.

Pic-1: When You Are Ready To Go Out Thinking Lockdown Will Be Lifted.

Pic 2- When You Heard Lockdown Extended Till 3'May. #Lockdown2 pic.twitter.com/WPIdEWnjNj

— Bá´Â‡á´¡á´Â‹á´Âá´ÂÒ“ Lá´Â€á´Â…á´Â‹á´Â€ 💭 (@bewkoof_ladkaa) April 14, 2020

Extroverts after the lockdown till May 3 was announced.

#Lockdown2

Smokers, Alcoholics and Extroverts right now: pic.twitter.com/ViFmD1dZZC

— Vinay (@a_gyani_pandey) April 14, 2020

Some also praised Modi's decision to extend the lockdown with this meme.

#Lockdown2
My family members to me
Me to my family members pic.twitter.com/4yKCcrzCK0

— SARCASTER 🇮🇳 (@sarcaster_) April 14, 2020

What do you think about these memes?

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New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday called up Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and expressed concern over the gathering of a large number of people in Mumbai's Bandra area in defiance of the ongoing lockdown, officials said.

Shah stressed that such events weaken India's fight against coronavirus and the administration needs to stay vigilant to avoid such incidents. "The home minister spoke to the Maharashtra chief minister and expressed concern over the large gathering of people in Mumbai's Bandra area," a home ministry official said. Shah also offered his full support to the Maharashtra government in dealing with the situation, the official said.

About 1,000 migrant workers who earn daily wages gathered in Mumbai's Bandra area on Tuesday demanding transport arrangements for them to go back to their native places, hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the extension of the coronavirus-enforced lockdown till May 3.

A police official said the migrants were dispersed two hours later and have been assured that they will be provided accommodation and food till the lockdown lasts. In viral videos, police personnel was seen using mild cane-charge to disperse the migrants, who had gathered near the Bandra railway station in suburban Mumbai.

Daily wage workers have been rendered jobless ever since the lockdown was announced late last month to stem the spread of COVID-19, making their lives a constant struggle.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asked people to follow seven steps in the coming days to help the government in its fight against Coronavirus.

The seven steps which the PM asked people to follow included taking care of the elderly as they are more prone to infection, keeping their faces covered while venturing out and taking care of the poor and the needy who have been effected by the lockdown.

"... if we continue to be patient and follow rules, we will be able to defeat even a pandemic like Coronavirus. With this faith and trust, I seek your support for seven things," he said in his address to the nation.

Health workers spray disinfectant at Nawabpura in Moradabad, on Tuesday. PIC/PTI

Modi on Tuesday announced that the lockdown across the country will be extended till May 3 to fight the pandemic, saying the measure has produced a significant outcome in containing the infection.

The first step was to take special care of the elderly, especially those who have chronic diseases. "We have to take extra care of them, and keep them safe from Coronavirus," he said.

The second step, Modi said, was strict adherence to the 'Lakshman Rekha' of lockdown and social distancing. "Please also use homemade face-covers and masks without fail," he said. He also urged people to follow the protocol issued by the Ayush Ministry to enhance immunity.

"Regularly consume warm water and 'kadha'," he said. The PM also stressed the need to download the Arogya Setu mobile app to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus infection.

"Take as much care of poor families as you can ... try to fulfill their food requirements ... Be compassionate towards the people who work with you in your business or industry. Do not deprive them of their livelihood," he said.

Finally, he said people should pay utmost respect to Corona Warriors – doctors and nurses, sanitation workers and the police force.

Railway services suspended till May 3

The Indian Railways on Tuesday extended the suspension of all its passenger services till May 3, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to extend the nationwide lockdown amid the COVID-19 threat. It also said that full refund of fare would automatically be provided to its online customers for trains cancelled up to May 3, while those who have booked at the counters can claim the refund till July 31.

Gujarat police book Bhushan, Gopinathan

The Gujarat police have booked lawyer and activist, Prashant Bhushan and former IAS officer, Kannan Gopinathan for their social media posts on Sunday. While Bhushan has been charged for allegedly using an objectionable tweet against the Ramayana, Kannan Gopinathan has been booked for using government orders on social media to mislead people. The FIR was registered at Bhaktinagar police station, Rajkot city. Later, the investigation was transferred to the special operations group.

Airlines refuse to refund tickets

With the Centre extending the lockdown to May 3 and subsequently the suspension of all commercial passenger services also till then, domestic airlines have again decided not to refund the customers in cash for their cancelled flights and instead offer them rescheduling of tickets for a later date without any additional fee. India had imposed a 21-day lockdown from March 25 to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Consequently, all flights were suspended for the period.

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