分类： bharat

Locusts have reportedly descended on East Africa, devouring crops, trees, and pastures as they move in swarms that look like storm clouds.

Locusts have been around for a long time, and are mostly associated with the deserts of Central Asia, the Middle East, and the Horn of Africa region.

Now, as the second wave of locusts threatens to invade East Africa, scientists are looking for some environmentally-friendly ways to get rid of them.

And they suggest eating them, poising them or driving them to cannibalism with a peculiar scent.

Locusts are usually controlled by spraying pesticides but the chemicals can damage other insects and the environment.

So scientists at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) are experimenting with biopesticides and the use of locusts as human and animal food as they look for environmentally-friendly extermination methods.

ICIPE researchers were part of a group that discovered an isolate from a fungus, Metharizium acridum, could kill locusts without harming other creatures. The isolate is now being used across East Africa.

At least 31 people died in lightning strikes in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh on Thursday, while the flood in Assam claimed one more life and inundated crop fields, even as Mumbai braced for extremely heavy rainfall.

However, the national capital sweltered under a stifling heat with no rains. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted dry weather in the city for the next two days and rains on the weekend.

Most places in the city recorded the maximum temperatures between 39 degrees and 42 degrees Celsius.

In Bihar, 26 people were killed on Thursday after being struck by lightning, officials said. More than 100 have died in lightning strikes in the state in the last one week, they added.

According to the state disaster management department, the casualties were reported from eight districts — Patna, Samastipur, East Champaran, West Champaran, Sheohar, Katihar, Madhepura and Purnea.

Samastipur accounted for the highest number of seven deaths, followed by Patna (six), East Champaran (four), Katihar (three), Sheohar and Madhepura (two each) and West Champaran and Purnea (one each), the department said.

On June 30, 11 people were killed by lightning strikes in five districts, while 83 such deaths were reported from 23 districts within a span of 24 hours on June 25.

Expressing grief over the latest fatalities, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ordered a payment of Rs four lakh as ex-gratia to the next of kin of each deceased.

In the neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, five people died and 12 others got injured in incidents of lightning strikes in Ballia district.

The dead included a 70-year-old retired Army man, Babulal Singh, and villager Nirmal Verma, 43, who were struck by lightning while working in their fields in Babu Ka Shivpur village of Dokati area, police said.

With an increase of 20,723 new Coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, India’s Covid-19 count soared to 6,17,833 by late Thursday, PTI news agency reported.

However, the Health Ministry said 19,148 new coronavirus cases were reported in the last 24 hours.

According to the PTI tally, based on the data provided by various state governments, the death toll across India due to Coronavirus has reached 18,204, with 365 new deaths reported in the last 24 hours.

Of 6,17,833 Coronavirus cases, 3,77,945 have been discharged or cured.

With 434 deaths reported from across the country, the death toll due to the disease has gone up to 17,834.

The Health Ministry said there are 1,32,912 more cured and discharged patients than active COVID-19 cases in the country.

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has said that around 91 lakh COVID-19 tests have been conducted across India so far and soon this figure will touch one crore.

Urging people not to panic, he said that the recovery rate has been improving and the doubling rate was 21-22 days. The recovery rate at present is 59.52 per cent.

Maharashtra continues to have the largest number of coronavirus cases. The state’s count stands at 1,80,298 including  79,091 active cases, 93,154 cured patients and 8,053 deaths due to the disease.

Maharashtra government had earlier extended lockdown till July 31 to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Tamil Nadu with 98,392 reported cases, including 41,047 active cases, is the second-worst affected state.  The state has seen the death of 321 persons due to the disease.

Delhi has reported 92,175 cases with 63,007 patients cured and discharged and  2,864 deaths due to the disease.

Karnataka saw 1,502 new COVID-19 cases till 5 pm today taking the total number of cases in the state to 18,016.  Nineteen persons lost their lives due to the disease in the state according to figures for the last 24 hours released on Thursday.  

Punjab’s COVID-19 case count has reached 5,784 with 120 new positive cases reported today.

Uttar Pradesh has 6,709 active cases while 16,629 patients have been cured and discharged so far. The state’s COVID-19 count stands at 24,056 with 718 deaths reported due to the disease.

Madhya Pradesh has reported 13,861 COVID-19 cases of which 10,655 have been cured or discharged and 581 persons have died.

Gujarat’s count of cases stands at 33,232 with 24,030 cured and discharged patients, 7,335 active cases and 1,867 deaths.

Haryana has reported 14,941 COVID-19 cases with 10,499 patients having been cured and discharged. The number of active cases in the state stands at 4,202 with 240 have died due to the disease.

In Rajasthan,  14,574 patients have been cured and discharged. The state has 3,317 active COVID-19 cases and 421 persons have died due to the disease.