New Delhi/Jammu: Border Security Force (BSF) DG Pankaj Singh on Sunday said that “the BSF is committed to maintain the sanctity and integrity of our borders to thwart designs of anti-national elements”.

He also said that the force has deployed security surveillance systems and all BSF personnel deployed at border areas are experts of handling these surveillance systems.

“BSF troops are competent enough to tackle any nefarious designs by the anti-national elements. He also briefed that drone threats is the biggest challenge in the present scenario and the BSF has been handling this challenge very effectively and anti drone systems are being installed at the International Border,” Singh further said.

BSF Director General who was on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir also interacted with the troops and applauded them for their commitment towards the safeguarding of International Borders with professionalism.

He also applauded the troops for their dedication and continuous efforts of making the Retreat Ceremony fascinating.

During the visit, Singh also participated in the security review meeting chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah at Raj Bhavan in Jammu on Saturday.

BSF Deputy Inspector General Surjit Singh Sekhon also briefed DG Singh about complexities of management of the border area under prevailing current security scenario and also informed him about recent threats being faced by the BSF on the Jammu International Border.

Shah on Saturday reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and laid emphasis on proactive operations against militants and choking their logistical and financial support systems.

The Home Minister directed that the security grid should be further strengthened to ensure zero cross-border infiltration and to eliminate militancy completely in order to achieve Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a peaceful and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir. (IANS)

Srinagar:Health department would conduct a survey of iodine deficiency disorders (Goitre) among the children in the age group of 6 to 12 years in four districts of Kashmir valley, officials said.

They said, the Government Medical College Srinagar through its nodal department of Community Medicine (SPM) is conducting iodine deficiency disorders survey among the children in the age group of 6-12 years, studying in government and private schools.

The survey would be conducted in four districts of Bandipora, Ganderbal, Kupwara and Shopian in the valley under the principal investigator of the survey Dr. S. Muhammad Salim Khan Professor and Head of Department (HOD), Community Medicine, Government Medical College Srinagar, a statement said.

The teams from Community Medicine department of GMC Srinagar shall be visiting thirty clusters, each covering 90 boys and girls in pre puberty age groups, covering 2700 children per district.  A total of 10800 children shall be enrolled in four districts in Kashmir.

Every child enrolled in the study would be examined for any goiter that is enlargement of thyroid gland in the neck as per classification by World Health Organization (WHO).

In addition salt samples shall be taken from every fifth enrolled child while urine samples will be collected from every tenth enrolled child to estimate iodine content as salt and urine respectively.

Directorate of School Education, Kashmir has already given the permission for the survey while addressing all concerned chief education officers of respective districts for necessary cooperation and support.

The survey is financed under National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Program (NIDDCP) and was delayed due to COVID pandemic which forced closure of schools for almost two years. Training of field staff has been given by senior faculty from Department of ENT, GMC Srinagar.

This study would tell us about the prevalence of iodine deficiency among the vulnerable population of 6-12 years which has been addressed through universal iodization of edible salt decades back. Some population groups and strata are still found consuming rock salt which is devoid of iodine content making people vulnerable to iodine deficiency as water and soil are the main natural sources.

However due to rains and snow, the iodine is lost in erosion of upper layers of soil. Further faulty cooking practices also cause loss of iodine in foods, said Dr. Khan. (UNI)

Srinagar:Parts of Kashmir valley received rainfall with the overcast sky in Srinagar and its adjoining areas as the weather office forecasted isolated to scattered light rain or traces over Jammu and Kashmir during the next 24 hours, here on Sunday.

A Meteorological Department office forecast predicted isolated to scattered light rain or traces with mainly dry weather in Jammu and Kashmir.

Reports of rainfall were received from several north Kashmir areas including Kunzar, Tangmarg and the ski resort of Gulmarg.

The sky is overcast in Srinagar and its adjoining areas with the minimum temperature recorded at 8.2 degree Celsius against the 10.7 degree Celsius recorded the previous night. It also received 0.3 mm of rainfall during the 24 hours till 0830hours on Sunday.

Ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir recorded a low temperature of 1.8 degree Celsius and it also received 2.8 mm of rainfall till 0830hours on Sunday.

Tourist resort of Pahalgam in south Kashmir recorded a low of 2.9 degree Celsius, Qazigund 5.8 degree Celsius, Kokernag 5.2 degree Celsius while frontier Kashmir district of Kupwara recorded a low of 8.2 degree Celsius on Sunday. (UNI)

Srinagar:After remaining shut last week as a precautionary measure the authorities have allowed vendors to put up their stall in the weekly traditional “Sunday Market” in Srinagar amid tight security arrangements.

The “Sunday Market” remains shut last week and vendors were not allowed to put up their stalls by the authorities as a precautionary measure.

On March 6, a hand grenade was lobbed by militants near the busy Amirakadal road when large number of shoppers had thronged to the “Sunday Market” resulting in injuries to 38 people including a cop.

However, two persons including a 20-year-old girl later succumbed to their injuries in Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital in Srinagar.

However, Police on March 9 had arrested two persons in connection with “Sunday market” grenade attack incident at AmiraKadal.

Hundreds of vendors selling all daily items, have set up their stalls from the Tourist Reception Centre, Residency road, LalChowk,  Amirakadal and Hari Singh High Street on Sunday and the area was abuzz with shoppers.

Security forces were deployed in strength from Tourist Reception Centre to Hari Singh High Street at various vulnerable points were checking luggage and frisking shoppers to ensure that no untoward incident takes place in the weekly market.

People in large numbers from all across the Kashmir valley use to throng the weekly Sunday market from early morning in Srinagar to make purchases of their choice. (UNI)

Electricity snapped in Dal Lake area

Srinagar:Electricity was snapped in the tourist hub area of Dal Lake, following the sudden fall of Poplar trees and electric poles near the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Complex (SKICC) at Boulevard Road on Sunday, officials said.

Poplar trees fell on electric wires that crumbled the poles to the ground near SKICC on Boulevard Road in Srinagar, snapping electricity in the tourist hub areas of Dalgate, Gagribal, Tangbagh, Buchwara, Drugjan and Abi Dal Lake areas, houseboats and several hotels.

Traffic was also blocked due to the fall of trees and electric poles on the road, causing inconvenience to the tourists and public.

A Power Development Department official said, “Men are at work and trying hard to restore the electricity at the earliest”.

The Traffic department advised the motorists to use the foreshore road, instead of the Dalgate-Nishat in view of a road blocked near SKICC. (UNI)