Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir reported 54 fresh Covid-19 cases even as there was no death due to the virus in the last 24 hours, officials said on Sunday.

They said 38 of the fresh cases were reported from Jammu Division and 16 from Kashmir Division, taking the overall tally to 452955.

Giving district wise details, the officials said, Srinagar reported 9 cases, Baramulla 3, Budgam 0, Pulwama 0, Kupwara 2, Anantnag 0, Bandipora 2, Ganderbal 0, Kulgam 0, Shopian 0, Jammu 30, Udhampur 1, Rajouri 0, Doda 3, Kathua 2, Samba 0, Kishtwar 2, Poonch 0, Ramban 0 and Reasi 0.

There was no death reported in the last 24 hours, they said. So far 4748 persons have succumbed to the virus—2325 in Jammu and 2423 in Kashmir.

Besides, they said, 137 Covid-19 patients—79 from Jammu and 58 from Valley— recovered during the time. So far 447419 people have recovered, leaving the active case tally at 788— 450 in Jammu and 338 in Kashmir.

They said there was no new confirmed case of mucormycosis (black fungus) reported today. So far 51 black fungus cases have been confirmed in J&K, the officials said. They also informed that 729 doses of covid-19 vaccine were administered during the time in J&K.

Kupwara: Kupwara police here on Sunday successfully helped in saving an elderly person in need of medical assistance by timely evacuation and admission to the local hospital from snowbound Jabdi village of Karnah Sub division.

A police spokesman said that at about 09:45, Police Station Karnah received a distress call from forward Jabdi area of Karnah that a critically ill patient namely Alif Din son of Habibullah , 80 year of age, needs immediate medical attention.

“As the road leading to forward Jabdi is closed due heavy snowfall in the area, police party was rushed by SHO Karnah, Inspector Mudassir Ahmad to the village to evacuate the ailing person to make him reach the hospital.”

Without losing any time, the police team reached the village and lifted the patient on shoulders with the help of locals to Charkungi where the official vehicle of J&K Police was pressed into service to shift the patient to Kona Gabra where the hospital ambulance was already waiting.

The patient was then shifted to Sub District Hospital Tangdhar for medical treatment where doctors were able to save the ailing patient.

Local people of the village and medical professionals have appreciated the timely action of police which proved fruitful in saving a life.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kupwara Yougal Manhas also applauded the personnel for timely action.

Meanwhile, it is pertinent to mention that the power supply to village Jabri Bijaldar was snapped on 22nd of February 2022 due to heavy snow fall and consequent faults on 11 KV Jabri Tapline.

The power supply to the said area could not be restored till date due to avalanche warnings of Danger Level 3.

The restoration party cannot venture into the Kopra-Toli range until the avalanche warnings are downgraded to danger level 2. While village Jabri is located at a distance of about 36 Km from Tangdar Receiving Station and the HT line passes through a high altitude, avalanche prone and through hilly terrain.

The power supply to the said area also remained affected from January 05 – 12 due to heavy snow fall and resultant faults on 33KV Kralpora-Tangdar line and 11KV Kopra-Toli-Jabri Tapline.

A DG set of 125 KVA capacity along with an FRP structure for housing the DG Set and containing live in space is also included in the District Capex Budget 2021-22.

Moreover, the road is currently blocked due to heavy snowfall which occurred till yesterday. Both road and electricity will be restored as soon as the Avalanche warning is downgraded, as per the officials from concerned departments.

Srinagar: Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad’s nephew Mubashir Azad joined the BJP on Sunday and said he was “influenced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s developmental works at the ground level”.

Mubashir Azad, the son of Ghulam Nabi Azad’s youngest brother Liaqat Ali, also said his uncle was “disrespected” by the Congress leadership which hurt him and led to him parting ways with the grand old party.

He, however, claimed that he did not discuss the plan to join the BJP with his uncle.

Mubashir Azad and his supporters were welcomed into the party fold by Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina and other senior leaders, including ex-MLA Daleep Singh Parihar.

His joining the saffron party was described Raina as a “turning point” that will pave the way for more young activists from the Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts of the Chenab Valley region to join the party.

“The BJP is growing fast with the joining of political leaders from opposition parties, social workers from all communities whether Hindus, Muslims, Gujjars, Bakarwals and Paharis,” he said.

In April 2009, Azad’s brother Ghulam Ali had also joined the BJP.

Mubashir Azad said, “The (Congress) party is marred in infighting… while under the leadership of Modi the work for the welfare of the people is taking place on the ground.”

“The way the Congress treated (Ghulam Nabi) Azad, one of the charismatic leaders of the party and former chief minister, has hurt the sentiments of the common masses.

“He was praised by the prime minister for his service to the nation but was sidelined by the party, Mubashir said.

Azad was part of the G-23, a group of dissenting Congress leaders who wrote to party president Sonia Gandhi in August 2020 demanding an organisational overhaul. (Agencies)