Centre launches Octa Med Drone for aerial delivery of vaccine in J-K and other hill states

Several countries are putting travel restrictions back especially from South Africa, where the Omicron variant was first detected.

Image credit: Pixabay

New Delhi: Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Saturday (November 27) launched Octa Med Drone, developed at National Aerospace Laboratories, for aerial delivery of vaccines in hilly states like J&K, Himachal, Arunachal.

Addressing the media after the launch, Union Minister said: "It has been launched in a region located at the border where several drones had come from Pak in the past few days. Perhaps a message will go out that this is the difference - drones from Pakistan carry explosives & our drone will carry 'sanjeevani booti."

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27 November 2021

23:13 IST

Prime Minister Mann Ki Baat will address the 11th Mann Ki Baat of 2021 on Sunday (November 28). "Tune in at 11 AM tomorrow. #MannKiBaat," tweeted PM Modi. The programme will be broadcast on the entire network of AIR and Doordarshan and also on AIR News and mobile app."Mann ki Baat" is the Prime Minister`s monthly radio address, which is broadcast on the last Sunday of every month however, this time the programme will be broadcast on the second last Sunday of the month.   (ANI)

21:52 IST

Germany reports suspected case of COVID-19 with new Omicron variant.

21:44 IST

Karnataka government makes RT-PCR testing mandatory for international arrivals originating from South Africa, Botswana and Hong Kong.

International arrivals originating from South Africa, Botswana and Hong Kong shall compulsorily undergo RT-PCR testing for #COVID19 and only after testing negative, be permitted to leave the airport/port of entry: Government of Karnataka pic.twitter.com/GbXSlfvwTn

— ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2021

21:44 IST

Karnataka government makes RT-PCR testing mandatory for international arrivals originating from South Africa, Botswana and Hong Kong.

International arrivals originating from South Africa, Botswana and Hong Kong shall compulsorily undergo RT-PCR testing for #COVID19 and only after testing negative, be permitted to leave the airport/port of entry: Government of Karnataka pic.twitter.com/GbXSlfvwTn

— ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2021

20:33 IST

584 pax had come to Bengaluru from 10 high-risk nations. Out of them, 2 who returned from South Africa (Indian nationals) tested positive for COVID on 11 & 20 Nov respectively. We sent it for sequencing & came to know that it's Delta variant: Bangalore Rural Dist DC. (ANI)

20:04 IST

Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu calls a meeting of Leaders of various political parties tomorrow, November 28, ahead of the Winter Session of Parliament. 

19:28 IST

Two loco pilots from Kerala responsible for killing four elephants yesterday in an incident of train hit, booked under The Wild Life (Protection) Act: Chief Conservator of Forests (APCCF), Coimbatore, Ramasubramanian. (ANI)

19:25 IST

According to SEB Joint Director Satish Kumar, the Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB) officials and police in a joint action arrested five persons for supplying cannabis through Amazon.

18:08 IST

Indian Railway constructing the world's tallest bridge pier in Manipur which is a part of 111 km long Jiribam-Imphal railway project.

Imphal | Railway is constructing the world's tallest bridge pier in Manipur which is a part of 111 km long Jiribam-Imphal railway project

Sandeep Sharma,Chief Engineer of the project said, "With the completion of the project the 111 km of distance will be covered in 2-2.5 hrs." pic.twitter.com/Q358A9H1TC

— ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2021

18:07 IST

"All the schools in Delhi will reopen from 29.11.2021 for all classes," tweets Delhi Deputy CM and Education Minister Manish Sisodia

17:06 IST

Centre launches indigenously manufactured Octa Med drones for aerial delivery of vaccines and medicines in the undulating landscape of Jammu and surrounding hilly states.

Developed at National Aerospace Laboratories it can be used in hilly states like J&K, Himachal, Arunachal where transportation isn't easy & it's difficult for health workers to transport vaccines: Union Min Jitendra Singh on Octa Med Drone launched for aerial delivery of vaccine pic.twitter.com/c0Gxj08KMn

— ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2021

16:20 IST

Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury writes to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla requesting him to initiate the process of appointment of the Deputy Speaker "as it would help you (the Speaker) in the smooth conduct of business in the House."

16:02 IST

ICG officials on Saturday (November 27) confirmed that two merchant vessels, MV Aviator&MV Ancient Grace, collided with each other in Gulf of Kutch. Prima facie, it appears the collision took place due to navigational error. Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is monitoring the situation for preventing any possible oil spill.

Two merchant vessels, MV Aviator&MV Ancient Grace, have collided with each other in Gulf of Kutch. Prima facie, it appears the collision took place due to navigational error. Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is monitoring the situation for preventing any possible oil spill: ICG officials https://t.co/98sLHjhCCv

— ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2021

15:48 IST

An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 hit Champhai in Mizoram on Saturday (November 27), informed National Center for Seismology

15:47 IST

Maharashtra Govt issues fresh COVID-19 restrictions & permissions. All travellers into the state from any international destination shall be governed by directions of the Govt of India in this respect. Domestic travellers shall either be fully vaccinated or carry RT-PCR test valid for 72 hrs.

#COVID19 | Maharashtra Govt issues fresh restrictions & permissions.

All travellers into state from any int'l destination shall be governed by directions of Govt of India in this respect. Domestic travellers shall either be fully vaccinated or carry RT-PCR test valid for 72 hrs. pic.twitter.com/rSQBik6aPQ

— ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2021

14:21 IST

PM highlighted the need for monitoring all international arrivals, their testing as per guidelines, with a specific focus on countries identified ‘at risk’. PM also asked officials to review plans for easing international travel restrictions in light of the emerging new evidence: PMO

14:20 IST

Officials briefed PM about the new Variant of Concern ‘Omicron’ along with its characteristics and the impact seen in various countries: PMO

13:44 IST

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami has instructed the chief secretary, DGP & health secretary to ensure compliance of COVID appropriate behavior in public places & make all necessary arrangements in hospitals in view of the new variant of COVID: Chief Minister's Office

13:43 IST

Go First flight from Bengaluru to Patna was diverted to Nagpur due to a faulty engine warning in the cockpit which necessitated the captain to shut down the engine as a precautionary measure. Thereafter, the captain landed safely at Nagpur airport: Go First Spokesperson  (ANI)

12:15 IST

Sri Lanka will ban entry to most travellers from six southern African countries from Sunday, after a potentially more contagious new coronavirus variant called Omicron was identified in South Africa earlier this week, healthcare authorities said here on Saturday.   (PTI)

12:14 IST

Australia`s Health Minister Greg Hunt Saturday announced that the government would implement additional precautionary border security measures in response to the new Omicron COVID-19 variant.  (ANI)

11:17 IST

Maharashtra: Rampath Yatra special train was flagged off from Pune to Ayodhya. (ANI)

11:16 IST

Resident doctors of Lady Hardinge Medical College observe strike called by Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA) over the delay in NEET-PG counselling 2021.   (ANI)

11:15 IST

PM Narendra Modi chairs a meeting with top govt officials on COVID-19 situation and vaccination. Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, Principal Secretary to PM, PK Mishra, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan and NITI Aayog member (health) Dr VK Paul are among the attendees.   (ANI)

09:56 IST

Delhi's AQI slipped to 386 in the `very poor` category. Gurugram and Noida recorded AQI of 355 and 391 respectively.

09:55 IST

PM Narendra Modi will chair a meeting with top government officials on the COVID-19 situation and vaccination at 10:30 am.

09:55 IST

A number of countries including the US, Saudi Arabia and Brazil have announced travel restrictions on southern African countries.   (ANI)

09:54 IST

A slew of European countries have restricted travel from southern Africa amid concerns over the new Covid-19 variant.

09:53 IST

Amid the spread of new COVID strain `Omicron`, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on Saturday postponed the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12), that was set to take place in Geneva.   (ANI)

09:52 IST

The discovery of a new coronavirus variant named Omicron triggered global alarm on Friday as countries rushed to suspend travel from southern Africa and stock markets on both sides of the Atlantic suffered their biggest falls in more than a year.  (Reuters)