These are the top stories from the northern region at 8.45 pm.

These are the top stories from the northern region at 8.45 pm. . DEL71 JK-CORONAVIRUS-LD VAISHNO DEVI Coronavirus:Vaishno Devi yatra closed, all interstate buses banned in JK Jammu: A day after banning the entry of foreign tourists to the Valley, Jammu and Kashmir administration on Wednesday suspended the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage and all interstate bus services to the Union territory in a bid to stem the spread of coronavirus. .

DEL119 CORONAVIRUS-RJ-LD EVACUEES 195 Indians brought back from coronavirus-hit Iran, kept at Army facility in Jaisalmer Jaisalmer: A batch of 195 Indians stranded in the coronavirus-hit Iran was brought back by a special plane on Wednesday evening, an official said here. . DES5 RJ-HC-CORONAVIRUS COVID-19: All Raj courts to take up only urgent matters till Mar 31 Jodhpur: In view of the coronavirus pandemic, the Rajasthan High Court will function for only two hours a day till March 31 and take up matters that require urgent hearing during which the accused will be exempted from appearing in person before the judges. .

DEL43 UP-CORONAVIRUS-LD-DOCTOR Jr resident doc catches infection while treating corona +ve patients: KGMU Lucknow: A 25-year-old junior resident doctor of the King George Medical University here has tested positive for coronavirus after coming in contact with two patients undergoing treatment for the disease at its premises, a hospital spokesperson said on Wednesday. . DEL96 PB-CORONAVIRUS-INMATES Coronavirus outbreak: Punjab mulling release of 5,800 jail inmates Chandigarh: The Punjab Jails Department has mooted a proposal to release around 3,000 drug peddlers and 2,800 petty criminals lodged in various jails in the state to curb prison overcrowding and contain coronavirus outbreak. .

DES27 CORONAVIRUS-HR-GURGAON Gurgaon's shopping malls, weekly markets, bars closed till Mar 31' Chandigarh: Gurgaon district administration on Wednesday ordered closure of all weekly bazaars, shopping malls and lounges and bars in the millennium city till March 31 as a precautionary measure to curb the spread of coronavirus. . LGD69 UP-HC-PROPERTY File response on plea challenging constitutional validity of law to recover losses to properties during protests: HC to UP govt Allahabad: The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to file its response to a petition challenging the constitutional validity of the recently promulgated Uttar Pradesh Recovery of Damages to Public and Private Properties Act. .

DEL111 UP-2NLD ADITYANATH Succeeded in changing people's perception, led UP on path of development, trust in 3 yrs: Adityanath Lucknow: Setting a record of being the first BJP chief minister to complete three straight years in office in Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said that his government has succeeded in changing people's perception of the state and led it on the path of development, trust and good governance. . DES15 HP-RS-INDU BJP's Indu Goswami elected to Rajya Sabha from Himachal Pradesh Shimla: Former state president of the BJP's Mahila Morcha, Indu Goswami was on Wednesday elected to Rajya Sabha from Himachal Pradesh. .

DEL109 RJ-RS-POLLS Keen contest imminent for 3 RS seats from Rajasthan Jaipur: A tough fight for the three Rajya Sabha seats from Rajasthan became imminent on Wednesday with none of the four candidates for the biennial March 26 polls for the Upper House withdrawing their nominations on the last day for it. . DES10 UKD-RAWAT Corruption-free govt possible without Lokayukta: U'khand CM Rawat Dehradun: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Wednesday said providing a corruption-free and transparent government is possible even without a Lokayukta. .

PAR20 LS-JK-REDDY J-K open for tourists, shut for terrorists: Union minister New Delhi: The government on Wednesday rejected claims of opposition parties in Lok Sabha that Jammu and Kashmir has been converted into an "open jail", asserting that the newly created union territory is open for tourists and shut for terrorists. PAR17 LS-JK-SHIV SENA Cong was 'silent spectator' when jawans were killed by terrorists in Kashmir: Shiv Sena MP New Delhi: A Shiv Sena member in Lok Sabha on Wednesday accused the Congress, its ally in Maharashtra, of being a "silent spectator" when jawans were killed by terrorists and the national tricolour was burnt in Jammu and Kashmir. . PAR16 LS-JK-MASOODI Picture being presented of J-K quite different from ground reality: NC New Delhi: National Conference MP Hasnain Masoodi on Wednesday said the picture that was being presented of Jammu and Kashmir was quite different from the ground reality and made a plea to the government that the situation in the union territory should be examined afresh.