Coronavirus scare: Probe initiated against 'fake' WhatsApp post in Mizoram
Aizawl: A probe has been initiated against a "fake" WhatsApp post which claimed that a coronavirus-infected person was detected in the state, police said on Tuesday.
The message also said that the person has been placed in quarantine at a hospital here.
C Lalruaia, the superintendent of police in Aizawl, told PTI that "a suo-motu FIR was lodged against the fake post" on Tuesday.
"The WhatsApp post is a complete lie as no case of coronavirus has been detected in the state," he said.
According to the SP, a person can be booked under various sections of the IT Act and the IPC for posting and circulating fake news on messaging apps and social media.
"A probe has been launched to find out who is responsible for spreading the fake news," he added.
Mizoram has sealed its borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar in view of the coronavirus scare.
The state government has set up a quarantine camp at a tourist lodge in Lengpui near Aizawl to isolate suspected people who have entered the state by air.
It has also readied isolation wards in Zoram Medical College near here, district hospitals and community health centres.
The Mizoram health department on Monday said at least 67 people have been put under home isolation as a precautionary measure although they did not show any symptom of coronavirus.
The state government has also instructed all commercial vehicles plying within and outside the state to maintain records of passengers.
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No unannounced load shedding in Kerala, outages due to overload, says Minister
Palakkad (PTI): Kerala Electricity Minister K Krishnankutty on Saturday said there was no unannounced load shedding in the state, attributing recent power interruptions to temporary overload caused by high consumption.
Clarifying concerns raised from various parts of the state, the minister said the disruptions are not deliberate but occur when demand peaks, particularly between 10 pm and 11 pm.
"It is not being done intentionally. Power consumption has risen sharply, and when there is excessive and indiscriminate usage, the system experiences overload, leading to natural supply interruptions," he told reporters here.
His remarks come amid complaints that several areas have been witnessing frequent power cuts, often lasting around 15 minutes and occurring multiple times during the night.
Krishnankutty said the state's power demand has crossed 6,195 MW, putting pressure on the supply system. He added that around 70 per cent of Kerala's electricity is procured from outside, and existing power banking arrangements have been exhausted.
"We have approached the Regulatory Commission seeking permission to purchase more power. However, this will come at a higher cost," he said.
The minister said the government is trying to avoid increasing electricity tariffs and urged consumers to exercise restraint in usage to help manage the situation.
Responding to opposition criticism over the ruling LDF's earlier claims of a decade without power cuts, he said the current situation is not unique to Kerala.
A power crisis is emerging across the country, he said, and sarcastically asked the Opposition to take note of the role of natural factors in this.
Krishnankutty expressed confidence that the situation would improve within two days, while cautioning that long-term energy security would depend on enhancing in-state power generation.
He also warned that future generations could face serious challenges if adequate electricity production capacity is not developed within Kerala.
