CM Yediyurappa directs Ministers to camp in districts for COVID-19 prevention work
Bengaluru, May 5: With Karnataka witnessing a steep increase in COVID-19 cases, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Wednesday said he has directed his cabinet colleagues to camp in the districts and focus on efforts to curb the pandemic.
Further, in an apparent reference to more stringent curbs, he said "we have to implement the decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi."
"We are also waiting for his directions. Based on it, we will take a decision in the evening," the CM told reporters here.
The Prime Minister will take a decision in the backdrop of Supreme Court's recent recommendation, which would be binding on Karnataka as well, he said.
Concerned over the surge in COVID-19 cases in the country, the apex court had on Sunday said the Centre and state governments may consider imposing a "lockdown to curb the virus in the second wave in the interest of public welfare."
Replying to a query, Yediyurappa said he has directed the state ministers to camp in the districts they are in- charge of and work there to control the spread of the pandemic.
They have been briefing him about the virus situation on a daily basis but henceforth the ministers would work in a more focused manner, he added.
Karnataka has been witnessing an exponential rise in the daily new virus infections, despite a lockdown that has been clamped from April 27 to May 12.
The state has been reporting over 44,000 cases and 200 fatalities daily for the past few days, raising concerns.
As on Tuesday, Karnataka had a little over 4.64 lakh active cases, while it witnessed 44,631 new infections on May 4 which also saw 292 deaths.
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Hormuz Strait disruptions have caused huge economic impact, energy instability in region: Navy chief
Mumbai (PTI): The Strait of Hormuz disruptions have caused severe economic impact and energy instability in the region, Indian Navy chief Admiral D K Tripathi said on Thursday amid the war in West Asia.
Speaking at an event where INS Sunayna, an offshore patrol vessel, set sail from Mumbai as Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar, the admiral said competition at sea has no longer remained confined to oil and energy.
It is now expanding towards resources that will shape future growth - such as rare earth elements, critical minerals, new fishing grounds and even data, he said.
The West Asia crisis began on February 28 after a joint attack by the US and Israel on Iran.
Iran's strikes on its neighbours along with its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted the world's energy supplies with effects far beyond West Asia.
"With the conflict in West Asia well into its fifth week, the disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have caused severe economic impact and energy instability in the region," Tripathi said.
There is significant increase in the marine survey, deep-sea research activity, and Illegal Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUU), often encroaching upon the sovereign rights of littoral nations and exploiting gaps in monitoring and enforcement, he said.
Alongside these, threats such as piracy, armed robbery and narco-trafficking backed by unimpeded access of advanced technology to non-state actors, have also become more complex and challenging to counter, the Navy chief pointed out.
Last year alone, the Indian Ocean Region witnessed a staggering 3,700 maritime incidents of varying nature, the admiral said.
Additionally, narcotics seizures in the region exceeded USD 1 billion USD in 2025, highlighting the persistence and spread of such challenges in the region, he said.
