AMARAVATI, September 4: National-level experts have praised the innovative and comprehensive measures being implemented by the Andhra Pradesh Government to control and eliminate malaria in the State.

The expert teams appreciated the State’s efforts in disease surveillance, early detection and management of cases, expansion of healthcare services in tribal areas, community participation and coordination between the government and private healthcare sectors.

The experts specifically noted the use of the Chief Minister’s Dashboard, AWARE system, drone technology, feeder ambulances, ‘Friday–Dry Day’ campaign, Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) and distribution of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) as notable initiatives.

Malaria programmes reviewed in four States

As part of preparations for the National Strategic Plan for 2027–2032, national-level expert teams are reviewing malaria control programmes in Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Odisha.

The expert teams visited Andhra Pradesh from September 1 to Friday and conducted field-level assessments in Alluri Sitharama Raju district, which has a relatively high malaria burden, and Dr B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district, where the incidence is comparatively low.

During the visit, the teams examined healthcare services available at health centres, case detection and treatment mechanisms and measures being taken to prevent and control malaria.

Review meeting with Health Commissioner

Following the four-day field visit, the expert teams held a review meeting with Health and Family Welfare Commissioner Chakradhar Babu and other officials at the APICC office in Mangalagiri on Friday night. Several experts also participated virtually.

Prof. Dr Kamini Mendis, Dr Nirmal Jo, Dr Lokesh Kori, Dr Arya Rahul, Dr P.K. Sen, Dr Pranab J. Bhuyan and Dr Badri Thapa were among those who participated in the discussions.

The experts appreciated the use of the Chief Minister’s Dashboard for monitoring disease surveillance and the AWARE system for assessing the status of malaria cases and tracking their management.

They noted that Andhra Pradesh was making effective use of technology in public health programmes to strengthen disease surveillance and control measures.

Drone services in tribal areas

The expert teams examined the use of drone-based technology to support diagnosis and treatment in remote and difficult-to-reach tribal areas.

The deployment of feeder ambulances to transport patients from remote locations to nearby hospitals was also appreciated. The experts observed that such measures could help bridge gaps in access to healthcare services in geographically difficult areas.

‘Friday–Dry Day’ initiative appreciated

The teams also appreciated the ‘Friday–Dry Day’ initiative, under which potential mosquito-breeding sites are identified and eliminated while awareness is created among the public about malaria, dengue and other vector-borne diseases.

The distribution of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) in malaria-prone areas and efforts to educate communities on their proper use were also highlighted by the experts.

Experts suggest further strengthening of programme

The expert teams observed that the comprehensive approach adopted by Andhra Pradesh was contributing to improved malaria control outcomes.

They recommended further strengthening early diagnosis, timely treatment, disease surveillance and mosquito-control measures. They also called for greater community participation and improved coordination among different government departments.

The experts stressed the need to continue focusing on extending healthcare services to remote areas and ensuring early detection and timely treatment of malaria cases. 

HYDERABAD, September 4: A Nampally court has granted the Jubilee Hills police permission to take two key accused into custody for two days for questioning in a case involving the alleged trapping and blackmailing of minors from affluent families through Instagram.

The accused, Koduri Meena Kumari and Vineel Chaudhary, were taken into police custody after the court granted the investigators’ request. The police are expected to question the duo about the alleged network and its financial transactions.

According to the police, the gang targeted minor children from wealthy families by establishing contact with them through Instagram. The alleged kingpin, Arjun alias Koduri Chandrasekhar Azad, reportedly befriended minors from affluent families and gradually gained their trust by making promises and developing close relationships with them.

The police allege that the accused subsequently coerced some of the girls and recorded private videos. These videos were allegedly used to threaten the minors and their family members and extort large sums of money.

Investigators suspect that financial transactions linked to the alleged extortion were routed through the bank account of Arjun’s mother, Meena Kumari.

Jubilee Hills police arrested Meena Kumari and Vineel Chaudhary in Rajasthan on August 11 in connection with the case. The investigators later approached the Nampally court seeking their custody for further questioning.

With the court granting two days’ custody, police are expected to question the accused about the alleged victims, financial transactions, digital communications and other members who may have been involved in the network.

Investigators believe that the questioning could provide further leads and reveal additional details about the alleged operation.

NEW DELHI: HarperCollins India is set to publish the memoirs of senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, ending a long wait for the book that is expected to offer an account of her personal journey and years in Indian public life.

The memoirs were earlier being considered for publication by Penguin Random House India. However, discussions reportedly did not lead to an agreement after the publisher sought changes to certain portions of the manuscript.

HarperCollins India has now acquired the publishing rights to the book. The memoir is expected to shed light on Ms. Gandhi’s life, her entry into Indian politics and her experiences at the centre of the Congress party during several important political developments.

Ms. Gandhi, who served as Congress president for several years, has remained one of the party’s most influential leaders. She was also the chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), which led the Union government for two consecutive terms from 2004 to 2014.

The book is expected to provide insights into her personal experiences and her political journey, including her association with former Prime Ministers Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi and the Congress leadership during her tenure.

The publication of the memoirs is likely to attract considerable interest in political and literary circles, given Ms. Gandhi’s central role in Indian politics over the past several decades.

Further details, including the title and publication date of the memoir, are expected to be announced by HarperCollins India.

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KATHMANDU: Two workers trapped inside a hydropower project tunnel in Nepal were rescued alive on Thursday, nearly 10 days after flash floods cut off access to the site, officials said.

The workers had been trapped inside the tunnel after heavy rains triggered flash floods and landslides in the area. Mud and floodwater reportedly blocked the tunnel, severing communication with the outside world and leaving the workers stranded in darkness.

One of those rescued was 30-year-old Sanjay Shah, a resident of Saptari district. He had been working in the control room of the hydropower project when the floods struck.

For days, rescue teams faced difficulties in reaching the trapped workers because of the accumulation of mud and water inside the tunnel. The rescue operation continued despite challenging conditions, with teams working to clear the blocked passages and establish access to the workers.

The survival of the two workers for about 10 days has been described as remarkable, given the conditions inside the tunnel.

Nepal has witnessed several incidents of flash floods and landslides during periods of intense rainfall, particularly in mountainous and hilly regions. Hydropower projects are especially vulnerable to such weather-related disruptions because of their location and extensive tunnel networks.

Authorities are continuing rescue and relief operations in areas affected by the recent floods and landslides, while efforts are also under way to assess damage to infrastructure.

NEW DELHI, September 4: The El Niño weather phenomenon, known to influence global temperatures and trigger extreme weather events, is likely to persist through February 2027, according to the latest assessment by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).

The WMO has warned that El Niño conditions could strengthen in the coming months, raising the risk of significant changes in weather patterns across several parts of the world. The phenomenon is associated with unusually warm sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean.

A stronger El Niño could contribute to extreme heat, droughts, heavy rainfall and flooding in different regions. The effects could also be felt across sectors such as agriculture, water resources, fisheries, energy and public health.

The WMO has stressed that El Niño does not produce the same weather conditions everywhere. While some regions could face reduced rainfall and drought, others could experience unusually heavy precipitation and flooding.

For India, the development is being closely watched because El Niño can influence the southwest monsoon. However, its impact on the Indian monsoon is not uniform, and other climate factors, including the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), can also influence rainfall patterns.

Weather agencies are expected to continue monitoring the evolution of the Pacific Ocean and its possible implications for regional weather conditions. The persistence of El Niño into early 2027 could make advance preparedness particularly important for agriculture, water management and disaster response.

Climate experts have also emphasised the need for timely advisories and preparedness measures as the likelihood of extreme weather events increases in different parts of the world.