MODI REVIEWS FLOOD SITUATION IN VARANASI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday spoke to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Varanasi city unit chief Vidyasagar Rai and took stock of the flood situation in the district, said the party’s Kashi region spokesperson Navratan Rathi.
Varanasi is the prime minister’s parliamentary constituency.
Rathi said that the Prime Minister also asked Rai whether the water level of Ganga river was stable or increasing and sought to know the status of relief work being carried out by the party to help the flood-affected people.
PM Modi assured all possible help to the flood-affected people, Rai said. He added that the PM said, “In case of any need, please inform me. All possible help would be given.”
The Central Water Commission said the water level in the Ganga was rising continuously in Varanasi. The Ganga was flowing at 72.08 metres in the city on Wednesday and this level was above the danger mark of 71.262 metres, the commission said.
VARANASI:
Indian biotechnology company Bharat Biotech has repurposed its Chiron Behring manufacturing plant in Ankleshwar, Gujarat, to scale up production of its anti-covid vaccine, Covaxin, said people familiar with the development. The Chiron Behring facility was established in the 1980s to manufacture anti-rabies vaccines. In 2019, Bharat Biotech acquired it from pharmaceutical major Glaxo Smithkline.
“The decision to manufacture Covaxin at Ankleshwar, Gujarat, was taken several months ago with planning and preparatory activities. Facility preparations and production activities began in June. Vaccines will be available for supply in September,” said a person familiar with the matter on condition of anonymity. On Tuesday, the Centre had announced its approval of Bharat Biotech’s manufacturing facility at Ankleshwar to produce Covaxin.
NEW DELHI:
World Health Organization assistant director-general for vaccines Dr Mariangela Simao said the assessment of Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin was “quite advanced”, adding the agency expects to make a decision next month on an emergency authorisation for the vaccine, which is yet to get nod from any Western regulatory authorities.agency
GENEVA: