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More precious treasure was recovered from Emar Mutt situated in front of the 12th-century Jagannath Temple in Puri. As many as 47 silver bricks were recovered from the mutt on Saturday, just a day after some silver and bronze items were recovered. The silver bricks were recovered from room number 4 of the mutt.

A baby elephant was rescued by the Odisha Forest Officials from an abandoned well in Bisusola village under Deuli Forest Range of Mayurbhanj district on Saturday (April 10).  The rescue operation took several hours. The Forest Officials had to work hard to rescue the calf as the well’s opening was very narrow with a width of merely 3 feet while it was around 15 feet deep.

Students of SCB Nursing College opposed the closure of the institute and hostel alleging that their studies will get severely affected due to such a move by the authorities. The students protested in front of the Superintendent’s Office, against the administration’s order to shut down the college on Saturday (April 10) on account of rising COVID19 cases. The orders also state that all the nursing students have to vacate the hostel premises, failing which, they will be evacuated with the help of the District Administration. Claiming that they are already vaccinated and there have been no COVID19 infections in the college, the students said that they should be allowed to continue their studies which have been badly hampered over the past 1 year.

Cinema halls in Odisha sealed for violating COVID19 guidelines. As the State continues to grapple with the next wave of COVID19 pandemic, the Gajapati district administration sealed two cinema halls at Paralekhamundi on Saturday (April 10). The halls were shut after they were found flouting the Covid-19 norms. ‘Jai Maa Cinema Hall’ and ‘Laxmi Cinema Hall’ were sealed until further orders by the concerned local administration. Sources said Telugu movie ‘Vakeel Sahab’ starring Pawan Kalyan had released on Friday (April 9). This had caused a huge rush of moviegoers at the cinema halls. The administration sealed the cinema halls indefinitely, since neither of the units had necessary documents or permits. The police had to resort to lathi-charge to bring the crowd under control while sealing the halls.

With 152879 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, India registered the highest single-day spike in daily infections since the beginning of the pandemic on Sunday. As many as 839 deaths linked to COVID-19 were reported during the period. Meanwhile, Odisha reported 1000-plus Covid cases for the third consecutive day. The State witnessed 1379 new cases in the past 24 hours, the biggest single-day spike this year, of which 808 cases in were in quarantine, while 571 cases are local contacts. India reports 152879 new n-CORONAVIRUS cases in last 24 hours. This is the HIGHEST India has recorded in its Covid-19 HISTORY. As many as 839 DEATHS linked to COVID-19 reported. For the 3rd consecutive day, ODISHA reported 1000-PLUS Covid cases. Odisha Sees 1379 NEW CASES in the last 24 hours. BIGGEST Single-Day Spike In Odisha This Year. 808 cases in QUARANTINE, 571 LOCAL CONTACT cases. SUNDARGARH Tops List With 317 cases, Khordha 158 cases. Sambalpur 86 cases, Nuapada 90 cases, Nabarangpur 71 cases, Bargarh 68 cases. Cuttack 56 cases, Bolangir 54, Mayurbhanj 49, Puri 43, Jharsuguda 42. ACTIVE Covid-19 Cases In Odisha Rise To 7979.

In a major disappointment for the State Police, notorious gangster Sheikh Hyder serving life imprisonment in connection with murder and other offences, escaped from SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack on Saturday. The gangster was undergoing treatment at the hospital where he managed to give the cops the slip. Hyder escaped from ward No 5 of the surgery ward of SCB after reportedly overpowering an Armed Police Reserve Guard who was on his security duty. The gangster was lodged in Sambalpur circle jail and was shifted to SCB hospital a couple of days back after undergoing preliminary treatment for some illness at VIMSAR in Burla. Twin City Police Commissioner Saumendra Priyadarshi, held a closed-door meeting last night with senior officials and said that a core team has been constituted to nab the gangster. Odisha DGP Abhay also held a high-level meeting in Bhubaneswar where Police Commissioner, Central Range DIG, Crime Branch ADG and other senior officials were present. As per reports, Cuttack DCP, Kendrapara SP and Jajpur SP are supervising the search operation to recapture Hyder. Meanwhile, Sambalpur SP B Gangadhar has suspended 6 police personnel including a Havildar and 5 Constables, who were on security duty. Targeting the ruling-government and the administration over the incident, BJP state general secretary Lekhashree Samantasinghar alleged that escaping of gangster Haider from SCB is an indication of the deep rooted compromise of Odisha police with the political bosses. In 2011, Hyder and seven others were sentenced to life for killing Sheikh Chuna alias Malik Hanan, the brother of gangster Sheikh Suleiman. Later in 2015, the Court of Additional District Judge-2 in Bhubaneswar had handed life imprisonment to Hyder and two others in connection with the kidnap and murder of mine owner Rashmi Ranjan Mohapatra. On 2nd May 2017, Hyder was transferred to Sambalpur jail from Jharpada jail in Bhubaneswar due to security reasons following reports of gang war with Dhalasamanta brothers.

In an unfortunate incident, a couple was killed and their 8 year old daughter suffered critical injuries after their motorcycle was hit by a speeding truck near Neulpur on National Highway-16 in Jajpur district on Sunday (April 11). The deceased have been identified as Lakhmikanta Matia and Manjulata of Badadeuli village under Karajia Block of Mayurbhanj district. The couple’s eight year old daughter Gayatri, was rushed to Dharmasala Community Health Centre for treatment. According to sources, on Sunday morning, the three were travelling on their motorcycle when a speeding truck hit them on the NH. Manjulata died on the spot while Lakhmikanta and his daughter Gayatri were immediately taken for treatment. Unfortunately, Lakhmikanta passed away on his way to the hospital. Gayatri is stated to be in a critical condition. Following the mishap, vehicular movement was disrupted in the area as locals blocked the NH-16. The agitating locals are demanding immediate arrest of the driver and compensation for the kin of the deceased. Upon receiving information, Dharmashala Police reached the spot and brought the situation under control.

Amid rising cases of Covid-19 in the state, Odisha Mass Education Minister Samir Dash on Sunday (April 11) said that the decision regarding conducting examination for students of Class 9 will be taken only after the schools reopen, probably on the 30th April. Dash also urged the private schools which have not registered under the RTE-Paradarshi portal, to complete necessary formalities to provide admissions to the economically backward students. On April 7th, Odisha government announced suspension of classes for Standard 9 and 11 in all schools across the State, keeping in view the sudden surge of Covid-19 cases. However, the classes for 10th and 12th students will continue till April 25 as per the schedule.

This is your forecast for April 12-18 : Know What This Week Has In Store For You

In a press conference on Sunday (April 11), Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that the state government was not in favour of imposing lockdown in the national capital, but ‘if the health system collapsed then lockdown would be the only option’. While discussing the new restrictions imposed in Delhi during its fourth wave, the chief minister urged the people to follow Covid appropriate behavior and the prescribed guidelines. He stressed on opting for home isolation if the Covid case is mild. Kejriwal also elaborated on the strong health care system at Delhi, stressing that Delhi is ready to tackle the next wave with the co-operation of the people and health care workers.

A video purportedly showing a man and his wife, scuffling with each other near the office of Sambalpur District Collector has gone viral on various social media platforms. In the video, the woman can be seen thrashing her husband in full public view with her sandal while hurling abuses. The man in the video also retaliated while saving himself from the physical torture. A few onlookers shot the incident on their mobile phones. Some of them tried to pacify the disgruntled pair but to no avail. As per reports, Prachipadma Panda of VSS Nagar under Hirakud Police limits in Sambalpur district alleged that her husband Akshay Sutar, who is a Political Science lecturer at Hirakud College, illegally married her despite the fact that he was already married. She alleged that he and his family members harassed her for dowry for several years and that she had filed eight cases against Akshay at the Hirakud Police Station. However, Akshay stated that the woman had tricked him into marrying her. Akshay alleged that she had an illicit affair with some other person. Akshay also stated that he had filed cases against Prachipadma and did not want to stay with her.

Ahead of the high voltage Pipili by-polls set to take place on April 17th, BJP Assam in-charge and party's national vice-president, Baijayant Jay Panda hit the campaign trail for BJP candidate Ashrit Pattanayak at Delanga block in Puri district on Sunday (April 11). The senior BJP leader said that his party will win the upcoming by-elections in Pipili owing to Ashrit’s popularity in the area. Jay Panda said that Ashrit possesses strong leadership qualities and he will work for the development and well-being of the state.

Often, we come across incidents where elephants either sustain grievous injuries or succumb to injuries after being run over by speeding trains. A few of them escape death by a whisker. And then there is this. On April 10th, a wild tusker had strayed on to the railway tracks somewhere between Chalsa and Nagrakata in West Bengal, unaware of what's coming from the opposite direction. Loco-Pilot Rajeev Kr and Assistant Loco Pilot GK Das, the alert crew members on the Siligudi – Dhubri Intercity Special Train, spotted the tusker on rail tracks and immediately applied the emergency brakes to save the wild animal. The train was stopped in the nick of time. The tusker changed its path and disappeared into the forests. The video of the incident was shared by Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of the Alipurduar division of the Northeast Frontier Railway zone.

With Odisha witnessing a second wave of Covid-19, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has now increased surveillance at the Bhubaneswar Railway Station, with the help of the railway authorities.  The entry and exit routes to the station have been changed. As per the BMC authorities, the passengers coming to the station will now enter from Master Canteen bus terminus side and exit will be from Reliance Fresh side. The BMC authorities checked the arrangements made at the railway station on Sunday (April 11). The civic body has made it mandatory for everyone arriving from other states to produce a Covid-19 negative report (obtained prior to 72 hours) or provide a vaccination completion certificate at the BMC kiosk, set up at the station. In case, any passenger fails to produce either of the reports, they will have to complete a registration process to facilitate the necessary tracking and follow up action by the health authorities.

Amid a continuous rise in daily Covid-19 cases, Odisha recorded another high with 1,741 coronavirus infections in the last 24 hours. As per the information provided by the State Health and Family Welfare (H&FW) Department, 2 people from Nuapada have succumbed to the virus during the period. This is the fourth consecutive day when Odisha has recorded more than 1,000 Covid-19 cases in a day. Sundargarh led the virus race with 268 cases followed by Khordha with 204 new Covid-19 cases. Next in the chart is Balasore with 158 cases, Sambalpur with 121 cases, Kalahandi with 114 cases, Bargarh with 97 cases, Nuapada with 96 cases, Bolangir with 93 cases, Nabarangpur with 80 cases, Cuttack with 58 cases, Puri 54 cases and Keonjhar with 53 positive cases. Meanwhile, Jharsuguda and Angul recorded 43 positive cases each followed by Mayurbhanj with 39 positive cases, Jajpur with 38 cases and Rayagada with 35 positive cases of novel coronavirus. Out of the total 1,741 cases, 1015 were detected from quarantine while 726 were local contact cases. Currently, with the addition of the new cases, the total number of active cases in the state rose to 9,259 while the total positive cases have breached the 3.5 lakh mark. So far, 3,40,062 people have recovered from the disease in the state.