Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet all chief ministers virtually on Wednesday, March 17, amid a surge in Covid-19 cases in several states, forcing them to impose restrictions on movement of people to check further spread of the virus.  Official sources said Modi will hold a video conference to discuss the issues with chief ministers, an exercise which he has been holding regularly since the outbreak of the pandemic.

Modi's last interaction with chief ministers was in January before the vaccination roll-out. He had announced that the Centre will bear the expenses of vaccinating nearly three crore healthcare and frontline workers in the first round and suggested that public representatives, a reference to politicians, should not be part of this initial exercise.

The drive has now moved on to next round to cover people over 60 years of age, and those aged above 45 years and having comorbidities. India recorded 26,291 new Covid19 cases on Monday, its highest single-day spike in 85 days, taking the country's infection tally to 1,13,85,339, according to Union health ministry data. Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu continue to report a surge in Covid-19 daily cases, accounting for 78.41 percent of the new cases, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday.

BJP's Rally: Bengal to reach political temperature on March 18, 21 and 24

CM Ashok Gehlot confesses for 'tapping Congress MLA's phones'

South Central Railway extends service of 30 special trains till June