National

Indian capital Delhi, with a single-day spike of 17,282 cases, on April 14 has surpassed Mumbai to become the worst affected city in India. Delhi also recorded over 100 COVID-19 deaths in the same period. Reportedly, the city has witnessed a 234% increment in new cases from April 4-13. Delhi will currently undergo a weekend lockdown from 10 pm on April 16 to 5 am on April 19. 

With rising Covid-19 cases in Delhi, the Ministry of Home Affairs has put forth a work-from-home option for 50% of its undersecretary level officers on April 16. But deputy secretary and employees above that rank will have to report to the office anytime between 9 am to 10 am to avoid rush during the commute. Employees from containment zones have been exempted from coming to the office.

Following the death of Nirwani akhada's Mahamandaleshwar Kapil Dev Das, who died at the age of 65 due to COVID-19 on April 13, Niranjani akhada announced to exit the Haridwar Kumbh Mela, from April 17. The decision was made after the drastic increase in COVID-19 cases among the saints in Haridwar. According to a health official, 68 top seers of Haridwar have tested positive for Coronavirus between April 5 and 14.

The Delhi High Court's Justice Pratibha M Singh issued an order allowing 50 devotees to offer Nawaz at the Nizamuddin Markaz. If all the other religious place in Delhi are functional, then Markaz should also allow to offer Nawaz, says Delhi HC. Earlier, the Delhi Wafq Board had initially requested to permit 50 people each on all the three floors.

The Delhi Court has granted bail on April 15, to ex-JNU student and activist Umar Khalid under a riot case in Delhi. According to Delhi crime branch, Khalid, a 33-year-old was with a part of group that organised meeting at Shaheen Bagh few weeks before the riots. The court said, "Khalid cannot be permitted to remain behind bars on the basis of such a sketchy material against him."