Haryana

• 31 Jul 2024

Shaheed Udham Singh Martyrdom Day

Why in News?

Recently, The Haryana government has announced that July 31^st will be a gazetted holiday in honor of Shaheed Udham Singh Martyrdom Day.

Key Points

• Holiday Declaration: The Haryana government has declared July 31^st, as a gazetted holiday to observe Shaheed Udham Singh Martyrdom Day.
• School Closures: This declaration results in the closure of all government and private schools throughout the state, including in Gurgaon and Faridabad.
• Public Holidays Announcement: In December of the previous year, the Haryana government announced the public holidays for 2024, which included the closure of all public offices, schools, and colleges on July 31, 2024, to honor Shaheed Udham Singh and other martyrs.
• Significance of Shaheed Udham Singh: Shaheed Udham Singh is recognized for avenging the Jallianwala Bagh massacre by assassinating its mastermind, Michael O'Dwyer.

Udham Singh

• Born in Sunam in Punjab’s Sangrur district in 1899, also referred to as Shaheed-i-Azam Sardar Udham Singh which means ‘Great Martyr’.
• He is regarded as one of the foremost revolutionaries of the Indian Freedom Struggle.
• Following the Jallianwala Massacre on 13^th April 1919, he got profoundly involved in revolutionary activities and politics. He was deeply influenced by Bhagat Singh.
• He joined the Ghadar Party in 1924 to organize overseas Indians with the purpose of overthrowing colonial rule.
• In 1927, while returning to India with associates and weapons to carry out revolutionary activities, he was arrested for illegal possession of firearms and sentenced to five years in prison.
• On 13^th March, 1940, Singh shot Michael O’Dwyer instead of General Dyer at a meeting of the East India Association and the Royal Central Asian Society at Caxton Hill.
• He was sentenced to death and was hanged on 31^st July, 1940 at Pentonville Prison in London.

Punjab, Gujarat, Haryana Lead in H1N1 Deaths

Why in News?

Recently, Punjab, Gujarat, and Haryana have reported the highest number of H1N1 deaths in India, with 41, 27, and 26 deaths respectively.

Key Points

• Total Cases: India has recorded over 7,000 H1N1 cases so far.
• Top States for Cases: Delhi (1,563), Gujarat (1,049), and Rajasthan (1,008) have the highest number of cases.
• Health Ministry Guidelines: The Health Ministry has issued guidelines on screening, categorization, laboratory diagnosis, infection control, home care, and clinical management.
• Prevention Measures: Public awareness campaigns emphasize hand washing, covering the mouth while coughing or sneezing, and avoiding crowded places.
• Vaccination: Vaccination is highlighted as the best preventive measure against influenza.

H1N1

• H1N1 influenza causes a respiratory illness that can affect the respiratory tracts of pigs.
• Humans are at risk of swine flu, a zoonotic disease, through close contact with infected pigs.
• Swine influenza viruses can infect humans if their antigenic properties change due to reassortment with other influenza strains.
• This genetic shift can improve the virus's ability to replicate and spread, making it easier for human transmission.
• Such changes have led to pandemics, as seen in 1918 and 2009, when the virus gained the ability for efficient human-to-human transmission.