Of the total new Covid-19 cases reported, 78 per cent are from four states – Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

More such flights are also being readied by the authorities to facilitate other Indians as part of the Operation Vande Bharat - A homecoming', India's massive repatriation operation to bring home its citizens stranded abroad.

The conditions of six of these migrants is reported to be critical. Those seriously injured have been referred to Prayagraj. Police has also informed the affected migrants' families of the mishap.

The petition, filed by Madurai resident KK Ramesh, has alleged that Covid-19 has been "deliberately created by China as biological weapon against India".

Gautam Buddh Nagar recorded 202 positive cases of coronavirus till Thursday evening, and official figures for Friday were awaited.

The petition contended that while the police force is, by and large, discharging its duties in an exemplary manner, there are several instances which would be a 'blot' on the police machinery.

The Commission of Railway Safety said that all-out efforts must be made to prevent recurrence of such incidents in future.

The response from the Health Ministry came after a sudden spurt in the number positive cases in the past few days when the tally crossed the 3,000-mark each day.

India's financial capital has so far reported 11,219 positive cases and 437 deaths and is one of the worst-affected cities in Maharashtra.

A police team rushed to the quarantine centre and launched an inquiry into the death of the migrant worker while the body was sent for post-mortem.

Thackeray also admitted that while the spread of the virus has been contained, the state has not succeeded in breaking the chain of infection yet.

The government said medicines included hydroxychloroquine, paracetamol and other drugs which are immediately required to fight the pandemic.

Shah chaired a meeting of the DGs of all Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) where he appreciated the commendable work done by these forces.

The total number of patients who have recovered and been discharged from hospitals is 3,470.

The high court bench issued notice to the Centre and Haryana government on a petition challenging the order of Sonipat authorities on restriction activities.

The company will now tie up with hospitals for clinical trials so that the drug could be tested on patients suffering from COVID-19. Approval from patients will be necessary as per the protocols, the Director-General said.

Clashes erupted in the Shahpur locality of Ahmedabad when police and paramilitary forces tried to enforce the lockdown, asking people to stay indoors.

Coronavirus Pandemic LIVE Updates: Tamil Nadu today reported 526 fresh cases of the coronavirus as well as four deaths. At least 279 of the new cases were reported from state capital Chennai.

The worry for India remains that despite the stringent lockdown, the curve for ‘new cases’ has not flattened as it has in some other countries that also enforced lockdowns.

The court directed the state government and prison department to take appropriate steps. The bench noted that there were several inmates above the age of 60 and others who suffered from ailments.

Maharana Pratap died of an injury received while tightening the string of a bow for hunting in the year 1597.

Maharashtra remained the worst hit state with a total number of cases rising to 19,063, followed by Gujarat which has reported 7,402 cases.

The 47-year-old, who was a qualified ophthamologist, was rushed to a hospital when he fainted soon after ingesting the chemical component.

While many other districts across Tamil Nadu, even ones which saw an initial spike, have managed to reduce cases, Chennai firmly remains in the red zone with 2644 active cases.

INS Jalashwa, participating in Indian Navy's "Operation Samudra Setu" to bring home Indians stuck in foreign countries due to COVID-19 pandemic, has departed from Male port for Kochi with 698 Indian nationals on board on Friday night.

A 25-year-old man with serious injuries fell unconscious after the accused attacked him, alleging that he was a 'coronavirus carrier'.

The labourers had managed to reach the temple town of Tarapith from Purba Bardhaman district during the lockdown and started on foot from there towards neighbouring Jharkhand on Friday night.

Kishor, who earlier worked with the BJP but turned into its strident critic of late, reacted with indignation, saying he would retire from public life if the allegations were proven true.

Eight constables who tested positive for Covid-19 were posted in West Bengal, while one was stationed in Odisha.

Senior BJP leader and Union minister Prakash Javadekar said the entire country is together in fighting the coronavirus but the Congress is busy "fighting" Modi and the government.

Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac said that while aimed to collect Rs 2,000 crores, the state government could raise only Rs 250 crores in April.

"UP has stopped testing for the past two days and should start testing on a large scale, while adopting transparency in this regard. Hiding data and the truth can prove fatal," Priyanka Gandhi said.

Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said the government should rethink on lockdown measures as the country cannot have the 'lockdown of people and lockout of the economy'.

His remarks came two days after Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund voluntarily decided to wind up its six debt schemes due to liquidity issues amid the coronavirus crisis.

BJP leaders Debasree Chaudhuri and another MP, Sukanta Majumdar, alleged that they were served with quarantine notices by the local administration so that they could not step outside to provide ration and other relief material to the masses.

Be it businesses, offices, education institutes or medical sector, everyone is adapting to changes in the post-coronavirus world, PM Modi said.

The Samajwadi Party chief also questioned why the ‘Kutumb Shakha’ of the RSS is being held despite a nationwide lockdown.

The death toll due to Covid-19 in Uttar Pradesh rose to 27 with two more fatalities, while 177 fresh cases were reported on Saturday taking the total number of cases in the state to 1,793.

The people of the state are paying a heavy price because of the poor response to the crisis by the Shiv Sena-Congress-NCP alliance government in the state, the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly alleged.

Kumar’s Twitter feed revealed that the MLA has been at it for a few days now, earlier, he even reached out to BJP MLA Ramesh Bidhuri asking help for patient living in his constituency.

Chowdhury said that a large portion of the migrant labourers are from the minority community and urged that the government feed these people during the month of Ramadan owing to their hapless condition.

Bhagwat, who appeared hopeful of the pandemic ending soon and lifting of the lockdown, said the world will take time to fall in order after the big upset but the way ahead depends on self-reliance and being indigenous.

The letter written by the Agra Mayor was also tweeted by Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

With Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari yet to give his nod to appoint Thackeray to the Legislative Council, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut targeted the BJP central leadership for the delay.

Fadnavis, leader of the opposition in the Assembly and former chief minister, was accompanied by Pravin Darekar, leader of opposition in the council, senior leaders Ashish Shelar and Vinod Tawde, as well as Mumbai party unit chief Mangal Prabhat Lodha.

On Monday, the cabinet made a fresh recommendation proposing Chief Minister Thackeray's nomination to one of the two vacant seats in the Council in the governor's quota.

Thackeray will cease to be the Maharashtra CM if he is not a member of the legislative council by May 28, when he completes six months in office.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan told BJP party workers that the committees would be formed at every panchayat level in the rural areas and ward level in the urban areas.