HMPV Virus News Live: HMPV Virus not new, confirms Health Minister JP Nadda as India reports 5 cases

A weak sun failed to provide much warmth after three days of abnormally high temperatures, and Monday's temperature in Himachal Pradesh plummeted by four to seven degrees as chilly winds rushed over the area, according to the weather office. While Shimla had light showers under a cloudy sky, there were isolated spots of light rain and snowfall in the upper hills and tribal settlements. Over the next twelve hours, the local weather station predicts mild to moderate rain and snow, along with isolated thunderstorms and lightning in the districts of Shimla, Kullu, and Mandi. It stated that isolated locations in Lahaul and Spiti, as well as Kinnaur districts and upper Kullu, are likely to have light to moderate snowfall.

Ramesh Bidhuri, the BJP's senior leader and Kalkaji candidate, made contentious statements about Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday. The party said politicians should refrain from making remarks about gender or family. Bidhuri faced criticism on Sunday for his claims that he would build roads in Kalkaji that would resemble "Priyanka Gandhi's cheeks" and for snubbing Atishi's last name. The Congress attacked Bidhuri, claiming his remarks reflected the BJP's anti-women mentality, even as he apologized for the controversy surrounding his remark about Priyanka Gandhi.

On Monday, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu gave the Health, Medical & Family Welfare Department authorities instructions to take precautions and be vigilant against the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV). The Chief Minister was told that there were no HMPV cases in the state during a teleconference with officials and Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav to assess the situation. Naidu instructed officials to "keep an eye on newcomers into the state and wherever there is a suspicion, conduct tests comprehensively," said an official press release.

The state health department stated on Monday that the two Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases that were reported in Tamil Nadu were stable and under observation. Additionally, Supriya Sahu, the Additional Chief Secretary to the Health & Family Welfare Department, stated in a statement released here that there has been no notable increase in the typical respiratory viral viruses found in Tamil Nadu. According to the announcement, two HMPV cases—one from Chennai and one from Salem—were reported, and both patients' conditions were stable. They were being watched.

A minor hockey player was allegedly raped by her coach in Uttarakhand, officials said on Monday. After the girl's father filed a complaint against the coach, Bhanuprakash (30), who was preparing players for the state's upcoming National Games, he was taken into custody and is being questioned, according to SIDCUL police station in-charge Manohar Bhandari.

South Western Railway (SWR) announced on Monday the operation of a special one-way Kumbh Mela Express Special between Bengaluru and Prayagraj on January 8 to cater to the increased passenger demand. Train No. 06577 Kumbh Mela Express Special will depart from SMVT Bengaluru at 23:50 on January 8 and arrive at Prayagraj at 17:15 on January 10, reported PTI.

Two children have tested positive for Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) and are currently undergoing treatment, a health official said on Monday. These two are the first cases to be reported from the city from two hospitals, reports PTI. Meanwhile, officials of the state health department held a meeting to discuss the measures to be taken to screen for HMPV and the precautions to be put in place to contain its spread.

HMPV Virus Live: Watch: We are closely monitoring the situation, says Union Health Minister JP Nadda

"Health experts have clarified that HMPV is not a new virus. It was first identified in 2001 and it has been circulating in the entire world since many years," JP Nadda said. "HMPV spreads through air, by way of respiration. This can affect persons of all age groups. The virus spreads more during the winter and the early spring months. On recent reports, the cases of HMPV in China, the Health Ministry, the ICMR and the National Centre for Disease Control are keeping a close watch on the situation in China as well as in the neighbouring countries. WHO has taken cognisance of the situation and will share its report shortly with us."

After two HMPV cases were found in the state, the Karnataka government on Monday urged people not to panic as the virus is not as transmissible as Covid-19. Emphasising that the respiratory virus primarily affects children, causing infections similar to the common cold, the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) said in a release that hospitals have been instructed to report influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Mumbai's civic body, said no Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) case has been found in the metropolis. In a press release, the BMC said the Union and Maharashtra governments have assured that the HMPV strain found in China does not pose a significant concern and necessary precautions are being taken to prevent its spread. "The public has been reassured that there is no need for unnecessary panic. Not a single case of the HMPV virus infection has been found in Mumbai. The Directorate of Health Services, Pune, has already issued a set of guidelines on January 3 outlining preventive measures after the reports of an outbreak of HMPV in China surfaced in the media," it said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said citizens must not panic amid the detection of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases in some other states and asserted his government will soon issue a comprehensive advisory on the situation.

Additional Professor for Internal Medicine at AIIMS Delhi, Dr Neeraj Nischal says, "Let's not compare this (HMPV) with Covid-19 because that was a completely new virus and none of us had immunity against it... HMPV has been described since 2001, and even based on evidence, it dates back to the late 1950s... By the age of 10, the majority of the children develop immunity against this."

Contractual employees of the state-owned Punjab Roadways and the Pepsu Road Transportation Corporation began a three-day strike on Monday to press for their demands, including regularisation of jobs. The strike left many commuters stranded at various bus stands around the state. According to the protesters, around 2,800 buses of the Punjab Roadways and the Pepsu Road Transportation Corporation (PRTC) stayed off the roads.

AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Monday raised concern over the HMPV and urged the Centre to act swiftly to prevent a potential health crisis. Kejriwal said in a post on X, "The outbreak of the HMPV virus calls for immediate attention from the Centre. Drawing from our experience with Covid, it's crucial to contain such cases early and be prepared to tackle what could potentially become another health emergency." The Union health ministry said a three-month-old female infant with a history of bronchopneumonia was diagnosed with HMPV after being admitted to Baptist Hospital in Bengaluru.

Delhi News Live: Watch: CM Atishi breaks down during press conference over BJP leader Ramesh Bidhuri's remarks targeting her

Naxalites blow up vehicle carrying security personnel in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, reports PTI. Casualties feared, say officials.

The Ministry of External Affairs on Monday condemned Pakistan’s airstrikes on Afghanistan recently which claimed over 40 lives in the Paktika province and said that it is an “old practice of Pakistan to blame its neighbours for its own internal failures”. “We have noted the media reports on airstrikes on Afghan civilians, including women and children, in which several precious lives have been lost,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X. “We unequivocally condemn any attack on innocent civilians. We have also noted the response of an Afghan spokesperson in this regard,” he added.

A delegation of protesting farmers at the Khanauri border, located between Punjab and Haryana, is set to meet the high-powered committee appointed by the Supreme Court at 3 pm today.

Among the protestors is 70-year-old Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on an indefinite fast for the past 40 days.

His deteriorating health has raised concerns, prompting the Punjab government to remain vigilant, with the Supreme Court closely monitoring the situation.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the Punjab government, informed the bench of Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh that efforts were made to persuade the protesting farmers to meet with Justice (retd) Nawab Singh, who heads the committee.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarked, "A few days ago, I watched a video of the new sleeper version of the Vande Bharat train running at 180 km/h during trials. It fills me with pride, and I’m sure it’s the same for everyone. This is just the beginning, and the time is not far when the first bullet train will run in our country."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for several key railway projects virtually.

The inaugurations will include the New Jammu Railway Division, the Charlapalli New Terminal Station in Telangana, and the foundation stone for the Rayagada Railway Division Building under the East Coast Railway.

These projects are part of the government's ongoing efforts to improve rail infrastructure, boost connectivity, and support regional development.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has granted the state government six weeks to address the disposal of Union Carbide waste in accordance with safety guidelines.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna has recused himself from hearing petitions concerning the finalisation of the constitutions of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

In a significant encounter in the Abujhmad region of Chhattisgarh, security forces have recovered the bodies of five Naxalites, including two women, according to IG Bastar P Sundarraj.

Among the deceased are senior cadres of the DKSZC PLGA Platoon No. 32, whose identities are being verified.

A large cache of weapons, including automatic firearms such as AK-47s and SLR rifles, has been seized.

The operation, which involved intense gunfire, is ongoing as security forces continue their search in the area.

Tamil Nadu's Raj Bhavan has further expressed strong disapproval after the state anthem was played before the national anthem during a session of the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

A mild earthquake with a magnitude of 3.7 struck Palghar district in Maharashtra early this morning, according to officials.

The tremor, which occurred at 4:35 am, was centered in Dahanu taluka, as reported by the district's disaster management cell chief, Vivekanand Kadam.

The tremor was felt by residents in the Bordi, Dapchari, and Talasari areas of Dahanu taluka, though there have been no reports of casualties or property damage.

Delhi continued to experience cold weather conditions on Monday, with parts of the city receiving light rainfall and the temperature settling at a low of 9.6°C, according to the IMD.

Morning visibility on the roads improved as the fog cover gradually thinned out.

Dense fog earlier in the week had severely impacted visibility, with zero visibility recorded on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, leading to flight cancellations, diversions, and train delays.

In a statement issued by the Raj Bhavan, Tamil Nadu Governor, RN Ravi, expressed his "deep anguish" and disappointment over what he described as a "brazen disrespect" to the Constitution and the National Anthem during a recent session of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.

Governor Ravi, who was present for the session, left the House in protest, citing the disrespectful behavior exhibited by certain members.

A building has collapsed in the Sector 17 market area of Chandigarh, reported ANI this morning.

BPSC aspirants are staging a dharna at Gardanibagh in Patna, calling for the immediate release of Jan Suraaj chief Prashant Kishor, who was detained earlier in the day.

Raj Kumar, one of the protestors, spoke out against the police action, stating, "Our protest was continuing in a democratic way near the Gandhi statue in Gandhi Maidan. Traffic was not affected by the protest. The police forcefully picked up Prashant Kishor and we have heard that the police have also beaten up some students as well as Prashant Kishor. We will continue our protest. We are not going to stop."

According to a report by Yonhap News Agency early today, the South Korean government has decided to extend the closure of Muan International Airport until January 14.

The decision comes after a Jeju Air passenger jet crashed at the airport.

Authorities are continuing their investigation and working to ensure safety measures are fully implemented before operations resume.

The Charlapalli New Terminal Station in Telangana’s Medchal-Malkajgiri district has been developed as a modern coaching terminal at a cost of Rs 413 crore.

Equipped with state-of-the-art passenger amenities and a second entry point, the eco-friendly terminal aims to ease congestion at the city’s existing stations, including Secunderabad, Hyderabad, and Kacheguda.

According to an official statement, the creation of the Jammu Railway Division addresses a long-standing demand of locals, enhancing connectivity between Jammu and the rest of India.

The division is expected to spur employment, boost infrastructure development, promote tourism, and drive socio-economic growth in the region.

The division will cover a total route length of 742.1 kilometers, including:

>> Pathankot-Jammu-Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla (423 km)

>> Bhogpur-Sirwal-Pathankot (87.21 km)

>> Batala (excluding)-Pathankot (68.17 km)

>> Pathankot-Joginder Nagar (narrow gauge section, 163.72 km)

With this new addition, Indian Railways will increase its operational divisions from 68 to 70, spread across its 17 zones.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch several railway projects today via video conferencing, including the new Jammu Railway Division and the Charlapalli New Terminal Station in Telangana.

He will also lay the foundation stone for the Rayagada Railway Division building under the East Coast Railway.