Thousands of people were evacuated from low-lying areas along its western coast as a powerful Cyclone Tauktae is expected to make landfall in the state of Gujarat.

IMD DG Mrutyunjay Mohapatra informed that cyclone Tauktae is very likely to cross the Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva in Bhavnagar district around the early morning of May 18.He further said that heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected to occur in coastal areas of Gujarat on May 18.

In the wake of cyclone Tauktae, Vistara and IndiGo on Saturday issued travel advisories stating that some of their flights are likely to be impacted.

As per the advisory issued by Vistara today, flights to and from Chennai, Thiruvanathapuram, Kochi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Goa and Ahmedabad might be impacted till May 17 due to the adverse weather conditions expected over the Arabian Sea triggered by cyclone Tauktae.

The central government will supply 19 million vaccine doses to states in the next two weeks (from May 16 to 31) free of cost for the vaccination of 45-plus age group, health care and frontline workers, the health ministry said in a statement.

Of the total doses, 16 million will be that of Covishield and almost 3 million of Covaxin.

The World Health Organization Chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, issued a grim warning on Friday, saying that the Covid-19 pandemic is on track to be deadlier than 2020.

We're on track for the second year of this pandemic to be far more deadly than the first, he said. In January, I spoke about the potential unfolding of a moral catastrophe, Tedros said in a press conference.

The first batch of 10,000 doses of 2DG medicine for treating COVID-19 patients would be launched early next week, informed Defence Research and Development Organisation officials on Friday.

The official informed, The first batch of 10,000 doses of 2DG medicine for the treatment of COVID-19 infected patients would be launched early next week and will be given to patients.

The Delhi Cabinet on Friday approved Rs 5,000 financial assistance to drivers and permit holders of autorickshaws, e-rickshaws, taxis, Phat Phat Sewa, eco-friendly Sewa, Gramin Sewa and maxi cabs in view of the financial hardships they might be facing due to the COVID pandemic.

The Delhi Cabinet on Friday okayed Rs 5000 financial assistance to all individuals holding Public Service Badge (Drivers) of para-transit vehicles and permit holders of para-transit public service vehicles.

Witnessing a decline, India on Saturday reported 3,26,098 new Covid cases and 3,890 fatalities in the last 24 hours, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said.

In the past 23 days India's daily Covid tally has plateaued over the three-lakh-mark and over 3,000 casualties for 17 days.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday released the 8th instalment of PM-KISAN income support totalling over Rs 20,000 crore to 95 million farmers.

Under the scheme, a financial benefit of Rs 6,000 per year is transferred directly to the bank accounts of eligible farmers, payable in three equal four-monthly instalments of Rs 2,000 each. The scheme was launched in February 2019 but was implemented with effect from December 2018.

Global investment banking major JP Morgan Chase has increased its COVID-19 support to the country manifold, taking the total planned aid to close to $16 million, of which $3.8 million is for supporting its over 35,000 employees in India.

The head of the Wall Street major Jamie Dimon had on April 30 had committed an upfront $2 million financial aid along with an appeal to its over 2.5 lakh employees globally to chip in which would be matched by an equal amount by the company.

The low-pressure area over the Arabian Sea near Lakshwadeep has intensified into a deep depression, said the Indian Meteorological Department on Saturday. According to the IMD, this depression will intensify into a cyclonic storm over the next 12 hours.

Deep Depression intensified into a Cyclonic Storm Tauktae (pronounced as Tau`Te) over Lakshadweep area and adjoining southeast and east central Arabian Sea: Cyclone watch for south Gujarat and Diu coasts, informed IMD in a tweet.

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