Compulsory Covid tests, physical checks of tourists being considered by Karnataka govt
Madikeri: Compulsory COVID-19 tests and physical checks of visitors to tourist destinations in Karnataka are among the guidelines being considered to prevent the spread of the virus, Medical Education Minister Dr. K Sudhakar said here on Tuesday.
"Instructions have been given to officials to introduce new and improved guidelines to ensure that Coronavirus does not spread due to people visiting tourist spots in the state," he told reporters.
The Minister was speaking after reviewing the COVID-19 situation in the district headquarters town of Kodagu and the steps taken by the administration to prevent its spread.
"Guidelines like compulsory COVID-19 tests and physical checking of tourists, with the help of police, health and revenue department staff at tourist spots, are under consideration for framing new guidelines," Sudhakar added.
To a question on reopening the school as per the Centre's guidelines, he said the state was not considering it now in view of the surge of infections in Karnataka.
On the COVID situation in the district, the minister there were certain shortcomings in the health services, which would be sorted out.
Referring to the mortality rate in the district, it was earlier in the green zone but was now in the red zone due to an increase in COVID-19 deaths after unlocking relaxations.
The minister directed the officials to ensure that the that a death audit is conducted every day.
He also recommended that local people be inducted in the booth level task force committee.
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NEET student hangs self in Rajasthan's Sikar
Jaipur (PTI): A student preparing for the NEET examination allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in a rented room in Rajasthan's Sikar on Friday, police said.
According to the police, the student allegedly hanged himself from a ceiling fan using his sister's scarf while one sister was attending coaching classes and the other was in the bathroom.
He had appeared in the NEET UG exam 2026, which was cancelled due to paper leak, they said.
Udyog Nagar SHO Rajesh Kumar said that the deceased, identified as Pradeep Meghwal, was a resident of Kanika ki Dhani village in Jhunjhunu's Gudha Gaudji area.
He had been living in a rented room in Sikar's Jaldhari Nagar area with his two sisters while preparing for NEET over the last three years.
His elder sister later found him hanging and informed the landlord and police after bringing him down, officials said.
The SHO said the body was kept at SK Hospital mortuary, and a postmortem had not been conducted.
The student's father, Rajesh Kumar Meghwal, told police that Pradeep's NEET examination had gone well and the family was expecting him to score around 650 marks.
Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot expressed grief over the incident and linked it to anxiety among students after reports of irregularities and paper leaks in NEET 2026.
Pilot said repeated paper leak incidents and cancellation of examinations were affecting students' mental health and demanded a time-bound investigation and strict action against those responsible.
