India News
COVID-19: Centre urges states, UTs to send as many positive samples for genome sequencing
In the letter, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan wrote that such an activity would enable prompt detection of any newer variants circulating in the nation and would facilitate the implementation of necessary public health measures for the same.

The Centre on Tuesday has urged all the states and Union Territories (UTs) to speed up the whole genome sequencing of positive cases in order to track the new variant after China reported a spike in Covid-19 cases.
The Health Ministry has written to all states and UTs stating that it was essential to gear up the whole genome sequencing of positive case samples to track the variants through Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) network as a sudden spurt of cases is being witnessed in Japan, the United States of America, Republic of Korea, Brazil and China.
In the letter, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan wrote that such an activity would enable prompt detection of any newer variants circulating in the nation and would facilitate the implementation of necessary public health measures for the same.
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The Health Ministry has instructed the states and UTs that in this regard, all states, UTs are urged to ensure that samples of all positive cases, on a daily basis, are sent to the designated INSACOG Genome Sequencing Laboratories (IGSLs) that are mapped to the states and UTs.
In order to identify and contain outbreaks of new SARS-CoV-2 variants, the ‘Operational Guidelines for Revised Surveillance Strategy in context of COVID-19’ published by the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in June 2022 calls for early detection, isolation, testing, and prompt management of suspected and confirmed cases. Accordingly, it is vital to keep an eye on the tendencies of the current versions, according to the letter.
With a focus on the five-fold test-track-treat-vaccinate strategy and adherence to COVID Appropriate Behaviour, India has been able to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus and now reports about 1200 cases per week. COVID-19 continues to be a public health threat worldwide, with almost 35 lakh instances reported weekly, the health ministry letter reads. The letter continues by stating that the Health Ministry applauds the ongoing effort made by all states and UTs in this area and will keep providing all states with the necessary support.
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India News
Bank holidays April 2023: Banks to be closed for 15 days next month, check state-wise bank holiday list here
With the new financial year starting on April 1, major changes are anticipated as these changes are connected to money and banks.

April is just a few weeks ago and with the new financial year starting on April 1, major changes are anticipated as these changes are connected to money and banks.
As per the Reserve Bank of India’s calendar, all public and private banks will remain shut for 15 days in April 2023 for multiple festivals and occasions including Mahavir Jayanti, Good Friday, Tamil New Year’s Day, Biju festival, Bengali New Year’s Day, Ramazan Eid, Himachal Day, Jumat-ul-Vida, and others.
State-wise bank holidays list for April 2023
Date | Occasion | Region, Nation Specific |
April 1 | On the occasion of banks’ closing of accounts | Banks will remain closed across India except in Aizawl, Shimla, Chandigarh, and Shillong |
April 2 | Sunday | Across India |
April 4 | Mahavir Jayanti | Ahmedabad, Aizawl, Belapur, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Chennai, Jaipur, Kanpur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Raipur, and Ranchi |
April 5 | Babu Jagjivan Ram’s birthday | Hyderabad |
April 7 | Good Friday | Banks will be closed in Aizawl, Belapur, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Dehradun, Gangtok, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Imphal, Kanpur, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Panaji, Patna, Raipur, Ranchi, Shillong, and Thiruvananthapuram |
April 8 | Second Saturday | Across India |
April 9 | Sunday | Across India |
April 14 | Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanti, Bohag Bihu, Cheiraoba, Vaisakhi, Baisakhi, Tamil New Year’s Day, Maha Bisubha Sankranti, Biju Festival, Buisu Festival celebrations | Agartala, Ahmedabad, Belapur, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Dehradun, Gangtok, Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad, Imphal, Jaipur, Jammu, Kanpur, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Panaji, Patna, Ranchi, Srinagar, and Thiruvananthapuram |
April 15 | Vishu, Bohag Bihu, Himachal Day, Bengali New Year’s Day (Nababarsha) | Agartala, Guwahati, Kochi, Kolkata, Shimla, and Thiruvananthapuram |
April 16 | Sunday | Across India |
April 18 | Shab-l-Qadr | Jammu and Srinagar |
April 21 | Id-Ul-Fitr (Ramzan Eid), Garia Puja, Jumat-ul-Vida | Agartala, Jammu, Kochi, Srinagar, and Thiruvananthapuram |
April 22 | Eid-Ul-Fitr, fourth Saturday | Belapur, Bhopal, Chennai, Dehradun, Guwahati, Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad, Imphal, Jaipur, Jammu, Kanpur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Panaji, Patna, Raipur, Ranchi, Shillong and Srinagar for Eid and across India for fourth Saturday |
April 23 | Sunday | Across India |
April 30 | Sunday | Across India |
India News
Video of man singing Atif Aslam’s Bakhuda Tum Hi Ho in Metro goes viral, users laud the singer | Watch
The singer and the guitarist continue to serenade the crowd as the passenger enjoy the live concert. Few passengers can also be seen pulling out their phones to record the singer. The singer can also be seen fervently singing and grooving to his singing.

A video resurfaced on the internet where a man can be seen singing and serenading the crowd inside the metro. The video shows the singer accompanied by his guitarist friend who turned a boring old metro ride into a live makeshift concert.
In the video, the singer can be seen asking the passengers if he can sing this song, and after getting a nod from the passengers, the singer stuns everyone with his soulful voice as he sings Atif Aslam’s Bakhuda Tum Hi Ho and nails it. The passengers can also be seen hooting for the man.
The singer and the guitarist continue to serenade the crowd as the passenger enjoy the live concert. Few passengers can also be seen pulling out their phones to record the singer. The singer can also be seen fervently singing and grooving to his singing. A few passengers can also be seen following suit and grooving and singing along with the man.
Watch video here:
User’s reaction
After the video went viral, many users rushed in to add their laud to the singer and guitarist in the video. One user wrote and said that as soulful the voice is, the guitarist’s skill matches it. Another user also wrote and praised the guitarist for his skilled guitar skills.
One user wrote and asked which metro is this and how come the metro he commutes in doesn’t have such instances. One user wrote that they would have emptied their wallet just to be a part of such a performance.
One user humorously questioned and asked where such an empty metro comes from, implying at the heavy surged metro hours that most passengers face, much less get to witness a live music performance.
One user wrote and highlighted how every passenger’s feet started tapping as soon as the singer started tapping, implying how everyone was overtaken by the passion for music.
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India News
Video of people saving man after coming in contact with live wire in Uttar Pradesh goes viral | Watch
The women in the video can also be seen in a state of shock and turmoil as they collected themselves from the incident. The video also shows smoke coming out of the clothes of the man due to the electrocution.

A hair-raising video surfaced on the internet from Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut where a live wire broke and fell on a man leading him to get electrocuted. As per the reports, the man, after being saved, was shifted to a hospital and is in critical condition.
In the video, a man along with several women can be seen standing on the side of the road, however, in a sudden turn of events, a live wire fell on the man and electrocuted him. The man after coming in contact with the live wire, collapsed to the ground as the live wire was still stuck to his body.
Upon witnessing the incident, several locals rushed to the scene as they tried to save the man by pulling away the live wire. Many people came forward with a stick-like-object to separate th e live wire from the man. As few failed to succeed, one man bravely darted toward the scene and separated the live wire from the man.
The women in the video can also be seen in a state of shock and turmoil as they collected themselves from the incident. The video also shows smoke coming out of the clothes of the man due to the electrocution.
See video here:
Twitter reactions
After the video of the incident went viral, many user’s came forward to add their take on the incident as one user wrote and praised that the skullcap wearing man who relentlessly and bravely went all in and separated the live wire from the man.
One user wrote and prayed that no one goes through a similar scenario as it looked very horrific. The user further wrote and highlighted the wires to be covered.
One user also wrote and highlighted the agony of watching someone you love suffer right in front of you, implying at the horrific incident.
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