No need for negative RT-PCR report to enter state from Kerala & Goa: Karnataka govt
Bengaluru, Feb 17: The Karnataka government on Thursday lifted the condition of a mandatory negative RT-PCR test report of passengers coming from Kerala and Goa.
"Passengers coming to Karnataka from Kerala and Goa, through all modes of transportation, no longer need a negative RTPCR report," Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar tweeted.
He added that this waiver was given to passengers from Maharashtra last week.
However, vaccine certificate is mandatory for the passengers coming from these states, the minister said.
Following the third wave of COVID-19, which started from the last week of December 2021, the government had imposed restrictions and made a negative RT-PCR test a must along with the double dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
"Following declining cases, less hospitalisation and less fatalities compared to the first two waves, the government took this decision", a health department official said.
The state had reported 1,894 fresh COVID cases and 24 deaths on Wednesday. The active cases stood at 23,284.
Passengers coming to Karnataka from Kerala and Goa, through all modes of transportation, no longer need a negative RTPCR report. This waiver was given to passengers from Maharashtra last week. Vaccine certificate is however mandatory. #COVID19 #Karnataka #Kerala #Goa pic.twitter.com/lnI16CohL6
— Dr Sudhakar K (@mla_sudhakar) February 17, 2022
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Drone recovered near India-Bangladesh border in Assam; Security agencies on high alert
Guwahati: A drone was recovered in an abandoned state near the India-Bangladesh border in Assam's Charbazar area, close to Sribhumi town, prompting a high-level security investigation. The incident occurred just hours after the Indian armed forces conducted precision strikes on terror camps across the Line of Control in Pakistan, adding to the already heightened regional tensions.
The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was spotted by local residents in an open field and was reported to the authorities. Law enforcement officials arrived immediately, secured the area, and transported the drone to the Sribhumi police station for technical analysis.
A senior police official suggested that the drone may have originated from across the Bangladesh border. Though the investigation is ongoing, initial assessments point toward the possibility of cross-border surveillance or illicit activities such as smuggling or espionage.
Given Sribhumi's proximity to an international boundary, the area has witnessed similar security concerns in the past. Police have launched a full-scale investigation to determine the drone's origin, flight path, and intended use. Technical experts are examining the device for data and other forensic evidence.
The timing of the drone's discovery, closely following India's military operations in Pakistan, has raised concerns, though officials have not established any direct connection between the two events. Nonetheless, security forces remain on high alert.
Additional patrols and surveillance measures have been deployed across the border region. Authorities have also urged local residents to report any unusual or suspicious activity.
