Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 5 (ANI): Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has found hygiene-related lapses in a five-star hotel in Bandra and sealed the store of its kitchen.
The action was taken following a routine inspection at the hotel under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) norms on Thursday night.
The FDA has sealed the store and the hotel has stopped its kitchen activities for the time being.
Further details are awaited. (ANI)

New Delhi [India], March 5 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to former Odisha Chief Minister Bijayananda Patnaik, popularly known as Biju Patnaik, on his 105th birth anniversary on Friday.
Biju Patnaik served twice as the Chief Minister of Odisha. He died on April 17, 1997. His son Naveen Patnaik is the current Chief Minister of Odisha.
“Tributes to Biju Babu on his birth anniversary. His futuristic vision for India, emphasis on human empowerment as well as social justice inspires us all. The nation is proud of his efforts for Odisha’s progress,” Prime Minister said in a tweet.
Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief Naveen Patnaik also paid tribute to his father.
“My humble tribute to Biju Babu, the great Jananayaka and former Chief Minister, a symbol of Odia self-respect. He dedicated his life to making Odisha a leading state and serving the people. We are committed to building a new Odisha by respecting his Odia’s self-esteem and values,” he tweeted (translated from Odia). (ANI)

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 5 (ANI): After 10 staff members of Radhakrishnan restaurant on Mumbai’s SV Road tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, the restaurant was closed for two days.
Speaking to ANI, a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official said, “10 out of 35 staff members have tested positive at Radhakrishnan restaurant on SV Road, hence it is closed for two days.”
“After sanitisation and new staff deployment, the restaurant will be allowed to operate,” the official added.
The restaurant staff, who tested positive for coronavirus, have been shifted to Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) Jumbo Covid Centre.
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Maharashtra has 86,359 active COVID-19 cases, 20,49,484 recoveries and 52,340 deaths so far.
Meanwhile, India has a total of 1,76,319 active cases with 1,08,39,894 discharges. The death toll stands at 1,57,548. (ANI)

New Delhi [India], March 5 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday extended greetings to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on his birthday.
“Happy birthday to the energetic BJP leader and Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chauhan. He has given new heights of development to the state under his leadership. I wish him a happy, healthy and long life,” PM Modi tweeted.
Taking to Twitter, Shah said: “Wishes to Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan on his birthday. With such dedication and dedication, you should continue to work for the welfare of the people and the development of the state. I pray to God for your good health and long life.”
BJP national president Jagat Prakash also extended greetings to Chouhan.
“Greetings to Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh and senior BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan on his birthday. During your tenure, the state is constantly on the path of development. I pray to God for your good health and long life,” Nadda tweeted.
Chouhan planted a sapling at his residence in Bhopal on the occasion. (ANI)

New Delhi [India], March 5 (ANI): Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Railways has termed the hike in platform ticket rates as a “temporary measure” in the interest of the safety of passengers and to prevent overcrowding at stations.
This comes after the Indian Railways in a notification reportedly announced a hike in platform ticket rates at most stations.
Issuing the clarification, the Ministry said that regulation and controlling of the crowd at stations is the responsibility of the Divisional Railway Managers (DRMs).
“It is a temporary measure and field activity undertaken by the railway administration in the interest of the safety of passengers and to prevent overcrowding at stations,” Ministry said in a statement.
“Deterring more persons to visit the station, the platform ticket charges are increased from time to time after assessing the ground situation. The power to change charges of platform tickets has been delegated to DRMs due to field management requirements,” it added.
The Ministry said the measure is in practice for many years and is used occasionally as a short-term crowd control measure and “there is nothing new about it.”
In February, the Railways had announced the “slight hike” in the ticket fares of short-distance passenger trains to discourage people from unnecessary travel. (ANI)

New Delhi [India], March 5 (ANI): As many as 16,838 new COVID-19 cases and 113 deaths were reported in India in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry informed on Friday.
With 13,819 new discharges, the cumulative recoveries reached 1,08,39,894.
The country’s coronavirus tally has reached 1,11,73,761 including 1,76,319 active infections while the death toll has mounted to 1,57,548.
According to the health ministry, a total of 1,80,05,503 people have been vaccinated against COVID-19 so far.
Maharashtra continues to remain the most affected COVID-19 state in India with 86,359 active cases, followed by Kerala with 44,734 active infections.
A total of 21,99,40,742 samples tested for COVID-19 up to March 4, 2021, of these, 7,61,834 samples were tested yesterday, as per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). (ANI)