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TOI : PUNE: As the wait for an H1N1 preventive vaccine continues, a serological study conducted at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) has revealed that 15 to 20 per cent of the city’s population is likely to have developed immunity against the pandemic virus. The first phase of the study had said that around 7 per cent of the population had developed antibodies.

“There is no denying the fact that extensive exposure to the H1N1 virus has led to immunity. We have collected over 6,000 blood samples from a cross-section of the society to assess the immunity of the city’s populace. The findings so far have revealed that 15 to 20 per cent of the city’s population is likely to have developed antibodies against the virus,” said NIV deputy director Mandeep Chadha.

Asked whether the exposed people could still get infected at a later stage, Chadha said, “They may not get infected with the specific strain to which they were exposed for a long time.”

When contacted, microbiologist Siddharth Dalvi said, “Since a large number of people in the city were exposed to the H1N1 influenza, they must have developed immunity in the form of antibodies and cytotoxic cells.” He said there were two types of immune responses antibody-mediated and cell-mediated. “Antibodies are special proteins that react specifically with a particular foreign target for example, proteins of bacteria or viruses. Antibodies are produced after an individual encounters a foreign protein. Depending on several factors, the antibody remains in the system for a few weeks to several years. In the case of certain viruses, the antibody may survive through one’s life,” Dalvi said.

The influenza virus has 10 types of proteins and antibodies are produced against most of these. “However, only those antibodies produced against the surface proteins (hemagglutinin and neuraminidase) provide protective immunity. On the other hand, antibodies produced against internal viral proteins do not provide…More

TOI : PUNE: The Pune railway division has proposed to construct a new terminal for electrical multiple units (EMU) at the Pune railway station. Also, looking forward to expanding its railway services, the division has submitted a proposal to the headquarters for remoulding the Pune yard.

The proposal includes construction of a new EMU terminal for suburban trains with one high-level platform, coaching terminus for parking trains and provision of three foot overbridges (FOBs) to connect the new terminal to other platforms at the station.

The divisional railway manger Prabhat Sahai on Friday said, “The proposal also includes extending the existing platforms for catering to 24-coach trains and construction of three stabling lines for 24 coaches each.”

Though Sahai was unable to give a timeline for the completion of the remoulding work, he said that the proposal has been sent to the headquarters for further modification and suggestions. “The work would be carried out in phased manner,” he added.

The plan has been chalked out keeping in mind the rising number of commuters and inter-city and long route trains. Improving train operations and passenger amenities will be our area of focus, Sahai said.

He added that the space identified for the EMU terminal is on the western side of the existing station, towards Shivajinagar. The EMU terminal will have one high-level platform for dealing with 15 car rakes in two lines. We have also proposed the construction of three FOBs, each 12 metres high and five metres in width, for access to all other platforms and to coaching terminals.

Sahai said that in order to facilitate the running of 24 coaches trains, platform number three at the Pune station, along with the platforms at Urali, Kedgaon and Khadki, will be extended.

Integrated security systems are being deployed for Pune and Miraj stations. Topics: Pune railways Electrical multiple units More Stories from this section ‘Deported…More

TOI : LONAVLA: A series of events have been organised at the naval training institute INS Shivaji to celebrate the silver jubilee year of the course on ‘Naval Engineering’ that the institute offers.

The celebrations will begin with a special run on Saturday, said Cammodore D M Deshpande, commanding officer of INS Shivaji, the leading naval training institute in the country, while addressing the media.

Deshpande said the Naval Engineering Course offered at the INS Shivaji in Lonavla is celebrating its silver jubilee in November. Various activities has been planned to mark the occasion. As part of the celebrations, Lonavla Run, 2009′ will be held on October 31 at INS Shivaji campus at 7 am.

“Through this run, we are aiming at creating awareness about environmental protection among students and the public in general. All schools and colleges and training institutions around Lonavla will participate in the run,” Deshpande said.

Other events include a cycling expedition which will cover areas in Konkan Kollad, Srivardhan, Murud, Alibaug, beginning November 3, and will return to INS Shivaji on November 7. A camp fire has been organised on November 20, while an air show and sky diving display has been organised on November 21. More Stories from this section MIDC starts process for engg, textile SEZs near Satara, Solapur Employer responsible for safety of staff Special force to get training at INS Shivaji Pune railway division proposes new EMU terminal Studen…More

TOI : PUNE: The Vishrambaug police on Thursday claimed before the court that Mohiniraj Kulkarni, a suspect in the rape and murder of a 10-year-old girl, had committed the crime inside his bungalow, destroyed the clothes worn by the victim and washed out the blood stains.

The girl was found dead on the terrace of Kulkarni’s bungalow on October 14. Kulkarni and the mother of the victim were arrested on October 24 after investigations pointed to their involvement in the murder. They had been sent to police custody till Thursday.

The police on Thursday produced the suspects in the court to seek further police custody. Judicial magistrate (first class) B.B. Panatawne extended their police custody till November 2.

Senior inspector Motichand Rathod told the court that the suspects had shown the place where the incident happened. “The incident took place in a room just below the terrace. During interrogation the suspects revealed that they had washed the blood stains by using caustic soda and two bottles of liquid disinfectant. The police have seized the bottles.

Rathod claimed before the court, “The suspect is a retired official from Hindustan Antibiotics and has good knowledge of use of chemicals. He also managed to dump the piece of cloth used for cleaning the scene of the crime and even the clothes of the victim. We are yet to find the clothes.”

Rathod also said that the suspect was not co-operating with the police in the investigations.

Assistant public prosecutor Swati Dandekar sought seven days police custody for the suspects for recovering the clothes of the victim.

Opposing the police custody, Kulkarni’s counsel Suhas Jadhav told the court that, Kulkarni’s bed-ridden wife needed 24-hour attention and there was no one to take care of her. Topics: Pune Rape and murder case More Stories from this section ‘Deported foreigners return to other cities’ Activists flay plan to cut trees…More

TOI : PUNE: The work on re-installing 50 bus shelters along the 14-km long stretch of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Pimpri-Chinchwad is expected to begin in a few weeks.

These bus shelters were removed by the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) three years ago to facilitate widening of the highway. Though the highway widening is complete, the PCMC is still to re-install the bus shelters and the delay is causing inconvenience to bus commuters.

“We plan to re-install the bus shelters soon on a build, operate and transfer’ basis. We have installed two models of bus shelters at Vallabhnagar. The Pune Mahangar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) will finalise one of the models,” municipal commissioner Ashish Sharma told TOI.

The engineering department officials said that the PMPML has identified 44 spots on either side of the highway for installing the bus shelters.

The PCMC will invite bids from private contractors for installing the bus shelters. As per the tentative plan, the contractor will be allowed to put up advertisements on the bus shelters and earn revenue. In return, he will have to erect separate toilet blocks for men and women and install a telephone booth at the bus shelter. In addition, the contractor will also be asked to maintain the lawns and shrubs planted on the road dividers and the trees planted along the highway.

Speaking to TOI, Anita Shinde, a commuter from Nigdi, demanded that the PCMC should install the bus shelters at the earliest to reduce the inconvenience of commuters who have to stand in the open braving the sun and rain.

Pravin Jadhav of Pimpri said, “Waiting for the bus without any shelter is painful, particularly for the senior citizens.”

Ramakant Bhokare, chief of the advertisement department, PMPML, admitted that commuters are facing hardship and said the transport body will demand the PCMC to expedite the process since the road-widening work is now…More

TOI : PUNE: The University of Pune (UoP) will conduct a probe against the Narhe-based Phoenix Institute of Management and Research (PIMR) following allegations that the latter unauthorisedly used the university’s name for admitting students to its management course.

The move comes in the wake of late Wednesday night’s development when the Bharati Vidyapeeth police arrested three of the PIMR’s top officials on an FIR lodged by a student from Uttar Pradesh that he was granted admission to the master of marketing management (MMM) course at PIMR on assurance that the course was affiliated to UoP.

Director of UoP’s board of college and university development (BCUD) Pandit Vidyasagar told TOI that the complainant, Pradipkumar Algu Ram, had approached the university authorities nearly a week ago and informed that he was misled by the PIMR. “We were investigating the matter, but the police action happened in between,” said Vidyasagar.

Vidyasagar said that the PIMR was neither an affiliated institution of the university nor it had obtained a no-objection certificate (NOC) for offering a regular course of any other university. “We will investigate afresh and report the matter to the government for suitable action,” he said.

The PIMR does not figure in the UoP’s list of 126 affiliated management institutions located in and around Pune city. The university offers 19 courses for diploma, degree and post-graduation in management sciences. Topics: University of Pune Phoenix Institute of Management More Stories from this section ‘Deported foreigners return to other cities’ Activists flay plan to cut trees for road-widening ‘Dance should reflect social issues, contemporary life’ Pujari was killed to keep crime under wraps: Cops Strict police action make…More

TOI : PUNE: The anti-narcotics cell of crime branch, Pune, have recovered three country-made pistols, 12 live cartridges, a mobile phone and some cash, together worth Rs 50,350, following the arrest of two suspects at Swargate chowk near Natraj hotel on Wednesday afternoon.

The police have identified the suspects as Nilesh Deore (21) and Anil Chaudhary (20) both of Dhule.

Acting on a tip off received by constable Pradeep Shinde, a police team led by inspector Satish Deore laid a trap near the hotel and took the duo into custody when they arrived at 2 pm.

During interrogation, the suspects revealed the name of the weapon supplier Bhaiya Chaudhary of Dhule. Police have dispatched a team to arrest Chaudhary and are now investigating if the suspects are linked to any gangs in the city.

The cell has registered a complaint against them under the relevant sections of the Arms Act and Bombay Police Act.

Inspector Satish Deore of ANC is investigating further. Topics: Pune Pistols More Stories from this section ‘Deported foreigners return to other cities’ Activists flay plan to cut trees for road-widening ‘Dance should reflect social issues, contemporary life’ Pujari was killed to keep crime under wraps: Cops Strict police action make…More

TOI : SATARA: The case of assault on former MLC and NCP candidate Sadashiv Pol from Maan in Satara took a new turn after the police booked Pol’s son and two of his nephews under section 307 for attempting to murder police constable Kundalik Tembare of Dahiwadi police station.

The police booked Pol’s son and nephews after recording Tembare’s statement on Tuesday. Tembare is currently recuperating at the Command Hospital in Pune.

Sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Vasant Jadhav said, “After recording Tembare’ statement, we booked Manoj, Sunil and Abhay Pol under section 307 for allegedly attacking Tembare. Further investigations are going on.”

On October 25, police constable Tembare, who was deployed at Pol’s residence, had allegedly opened fire in the air. After hearing the news, Pol’s supporters severely assaulted Tembare, who sustained severe injuries in the attack and was later shifted to Pune for the treatment.

Meanwhile, superintendent of police Vithhal Jadhav suspended Tembare and another police constable Ibrahim Mulani, who was also present at the time of the incident.

The police also booked Pol’s opponent and newly-elected MLA Jaykumar Gore and others for their alleged involvement in the attack.

Special inspector general (Kolhapur range) Ashok Dhivare has clarified that the police would take action after recording Tembare’s statement.

Tembare, who gained consciousness on Tuesday, gave his statement to police sub-inspector A K Patil of Wanowrie police station in Pune. He stated that he had to open fire in the air for self-defence as Pol’s son Manoj and nephews Sunil and Abhay Pol were allegedly attacking him, following Pol’s defeat in the assembly elections. Tembare also stated that Pol’s son had snatched his rifle and broken it into pieces.

Meanwhile, Gore’s supporters met Tahasildarat Dahiwadi on Wednesday and demanded thorough investigation in the case. Speaking to mediamen, Gore said, “My opponents have falsely implicated me in the case. To bring out the truth…More

TOI : PUNE: A nine-year-old student of Sopanrao Moze school in Charoli, Pimpri was among the five people who tested positive for the H1N1 influenza on Thursday.

“He has been quarantined at the YCM hospital in Pimpri. Other students of the school will be screened as a preventive measure,” said Ashok Mehta, joint director of state health services.

Around 5,650 people were screened across the district on Thursday, of which 418 suspected patients have been administered Tamiflu tablets. Nearly 34,693 people have been given Tamiflu so far, while around 6.36 lakh people have been screened across the district, Mehta added.

As many as 18 patients are being treated at the isolation ICUs of various private and government-run hospitals in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. Of them, six are critical and have been put on ventilator, Mehta said.

“On Thursday, forty-eight patients were discharged,” Mehta added. Topics: Pune Sopanrao Moze school More Stories from this section ‘Deported foreigners return to other cities’ Activists flay plan to cut trees for road-widening ‘Dance should reflect social issues, contemporary life’ Pujari was killed to keep crime under wraps: Cops Strict police action make…More

TOI : LONAVLA: The Sagar Prahari Bal’, a special security force being formed after the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai to protect country’s coastal areas, will undergo training in INS Shivaji, Lonavla.

“The members of these force will take training on engineering aspects here,” said Commodore D.M. Deshpande, the commanding officer of INS Shivaji, the leading naval training institute in the country. He was addressing the media on the occasion of the silver jubilee of the institute.

The defence minister had announced in March 2009 that the navy will create a new force called the Sagar Prahari Bal (SPB) to protect naval bases and coastline areas. The SPB will consists of 1,000 personnel and will have 80 fast interception craft for sea front patrolling.

When asked about details of the training and the dates of formation of the force, Deshpande said that many things are yet to be finalised. “The other works related to formation of this force at taking place in Cochin. So I can’t say anything more,” he said.

According to the officials at INS Shivaji, the institute’s role is to impart quality training in engineering and marine technology to both officers and sailors. The spectrum of officers’ training encompasses cadets training, professional graduate level training at the Naval College of Engineering and post-graduate marine engineering specialisation course at the Centre of Marine Engineering Technology. A post-graduation programme, leading to master’s degree in technology, has been commenced at the Naval College of Engineering in June 2004 in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai. The Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Defence and Damage Control School conducts a wide range of courses in nuclear, biological, chemical defence and fire-fighting.

Deshpande said that the cadet training will be shifted to the new naval training academy in Ezhimala, Kerala. “The batch that was started around three months ago will be the last one of cadet training. It will…More