Bantwal: Bantwal taluk has been completely sealed down after a woman from the Bantwal died of COVID-19 at Wenlock Hospital in Mangaluru on Sunday.

The deceased, a resident of Kamat Lane near Venkataramana Temple in Bantwal Taluk, died on Sunday morning and the reports of her samples returned as COVID-19 positive in the evening.

Five-kilometer surrounding area near her house on Kamat Lane has been classified as containment zone, inner buffer zone, and buffer zone.

The 500 meter radius around the deceased woman's house has been flagged as containment zone and has been sealed down. 

The 1 kilometer range around the deceased woman's house has been identified as the Inner Buffer Zone, and the Health Department staff will visit every house in this zone to check the health of every resident. 

Besides this, Asha workers will be visiting all the homes in this range and will be keeping a close watch and create awareness about the coronavirus.

The third is the buffer zone, which is the radius of 5 km from the house of the deceased woman. Coronavirus is more likely to spread in these areas, so all orders to avoid spreading the virus, including social distancing, are strictly enforced in the vicinity.

The administration has also warned people of initiating legal action in case any resident is found to be violating the instructions.

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Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister M B Patil on Tuesday chaired meetings with industry representatives from the aerospace and defence, machine tools, auto/EV, and green energy sectors to discuss sector growth and government support measures.

The meetings were attended by leading industrialists and their representatives, with some participating virtually.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister for Large and Medium Industries said Karnataka is at the forefront of the country’s aerospace and defence sectors.

He noted that Suzuki and Toyota plan to launch aerial taxi services in Japan by 2028, with Bengaluru-based Sasmos supplying electrical equipment for the project.

Industrialists suggested introducing similar “fly-taxi” services in Karnataka through an appropriate policy, which Patil said would be examined seriously.

The minister highlighted the need to establish testing centres and Common Facility Centres for the aerospace and defence industries and assured that these facilities would be provided.

Suggestions were also made to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for sector growth.

Karnataka has urged the Central Government to approve Defence Corridor projects in the Bengaluru North–Kolar–Chikkaballapur and Dharawada–Vijayapura–Belagavi regions.

Industrialists also suggested a corridor between Bengaluru and Mysuru, Patil said.

He said Karnataka aims to become a hub for defence electronics manufacturing, with plans to establish a 200-acre Defence Electronics Park and a 100-acre Avionics and Sensor Park.

These projects will be implemented once the Special Investment Region is operational, and land availability will not be an issue.

On the machine tools sector, Patil said the industry has recorded an annual turnover of Rs 36,500 crore and is witnessing steady growth.

Large-scale exhibitions have increased demand, and the state must strengthen its capabilities to develop control systems for heavy machinery. One testing unit is already operational in Bengaluru, with another planned for Tumakuru. Expansion of vocational training institutes in industrial areas is also underway.

In the Auto and EV sector, Vision Group members highlighted the need for a network of dry ports and more EV charging stations across the state.

Patil noted that the Tata Group is manufacturing EV buses in Dharawada for nationwide supply. Plans for mini excavator production and export facilitation were also discussed, along with the establishment of a testing facility for two-wheeler EVs.

For the Green Energy sector, the group emphasised the need for a suitable policy on battery-based energy storage and the establishment of data centres.

Patil assured that the government will seriously consider all suggestions and respond positively.