Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) State Youth Secretary Arif Laigaroo Thursday expressed deep concern over non-clearance of roads and water logging in city parts.
Following heavy snowfall on Wednesday Habba Kadal and other parts of city centre ended up as a stagnant pool of water and uncleared roads.
He said that most of the roads in Habbakadal and other parts of city are still under snow, adding that there is no denying the fact that the successive governments have failed to construct a proper drainage system in Srinagar, which would cope well with the heavy rains.
“The people also share the part of the blame for not being able to take care of the drainage system which belongs to them and it is them who have to decide as to how it will behave during a heavy rainfall,” he said.
“I do not expect them to be so naïve that they cannot tell the difference between ill-preparedness and ill-mechanism. We have no right to criticize the administration,” he said, adding that the administrative apathy has unleashed miseries for the people of city.
Laigaroo concerned over non-clearance of roads in Habba Kadal
Revision of voters likely in J&K after Delimitation exercise ends
‘UT excluded from 3 special summary revisions’
By: Ibni Maqbool
Srinagar: The Election Commission of India (ECI) is likely to order a special revision of voters in Jammu and Kashmir after the ongoing delimitation exercise is wrapped up.
Sources told The Precious Kashmir that the poll-body is likely to order a special revision of voters for inclusion/correction/ deletion of names in electoral roll of the Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory.
“The exercise is likely to be ordered as there has been no revision of voters in Jammu & Kashmir after its reorganization into two Union Territories,” they said, adding that J&K was excluded from all the special summary revisions ordered by the poll-body. It was not part of the special summary revision in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
According to them, the states/UTs, where delimitation exercise is underway, are excluded from the special summary revision.
The delimitation exercise is presently underway in Jammu & Kashmir. It is likely to be concluded by or before May 5, 2022 as the Government of India on Tuesday granted it extension of only two months.
Set-up on March 6, 2020, the delimitation commission is mandated to fix boundaries for 90 assembly segments and five Lok Sabha seats of J&K. It has already shared its draft report with five members of parliament from J&K, who are its associate members.
The commission is expected to soon unveil its draft report for feedback from different stakeholders including general public and political parties.
It is worthwhile to mention that Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said that elections in J&K would be held within 6-8 months after the delimitation exercise is wrapped up.
Heart travels 3000 km from Kashmir to Chennai, saves life of woman
Chennai: A heart from an 18-year-old brain dead donor was transported over 3000 kilometres to Chennai and provided a fresh lease of life to a 33-year-old Kashmiri woman, who was suffering from terminal heart failure.
Shahzadi Fathima, a patient from Srinagar, had worsening heart failure symptoms due to Restrictive Cardiomyopathy (RCM), a condition where the chambers of the heart become stiff over time.
She became terminally ill and her only hope of survival was an early life saving heart transplantation.
With her condition worsening, on December 31, 2021, she was admitted with sign of severe heart failure. Doctors at MGM healthcare a Chennai soon treated her with isotropes and other medications.
On January 26, 2022, a suitable brain-dead donor was identified in a private hospital in Trichy.
The heart was soon rushed to Chennai through a green corridor and high-risk heart transplantation was carried out on Shahzadi.
She made an uneventful recovery after the procedure and is ready to begin a new life in Kashmir.
Fatima an unmarried woman from Kashmir lives with her brother, a daily wage earner, who was not able to meet her medical expenses and the cost of the transplant.
Seeing the plight of this woman, Aishwarya Trust, a non- profit HEALTHCARE organisation that supports the medical expenses of deserving patients decided to support the entire cost of the transplant at MGM Healthcare.
Chitra Viswanathan, the founder of Aishwarya Trust said it was a meaningful way for Aishwarya Trust to celebrate Republic Day by funding the lady’s heart transplant on 26th January 2022.
For its part, MGM Healthcare carried out the transplant at a subsidized cost.
Dr K R Balakrishnan, Director – Institute of Heart and Lung Transplant & Mechanical Circulatory Support of MGM Healthcare, who led the surgery, lauded the efforts of the victim’s family in generously agreeing for organ donation in the face of great personal tragedy and Transtan which oversees the organ donation activity in the state.
Such life saving transplants need coordination and support from several people and is a true team effort, said Dr Suresh Rao, Co-Director Institute of Heart and Lung Transplant & Mechanical Circulatory Support.
Dr. Ravikumar R, Sr. Consultant & Clinical Lead -Cardiology & Heart Failure Program, MGM Healthcare said heart failure is an under recognized problem in India. “The quality of life and longevity of end stage heart failure patients who are not responding to conventional therapy can be improved by advanced procedures like heart transplant and Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD).”
Snowfall paralyzes Kashmir
Roads shut, flights hit, exams deferred
Srinagar: Moderate to heavy snowfall disrupted normal life in the Kashmir Valley on Wednesday.
It shut the only road link connecting the valley with the rest of the country and also hit the air traffic.
41 flights from the Srinagar Airport were cancelled due to bad weather, officials said.
“Our snow clearing operations is underway on the runway…,” a Srinagar airport official said.
The Srinagar-Jammu Highway has been shut for traffic after snowfall triggered fresh shooting stones incidents.
The national highway is the northernmost segment of NH 44. It runs from Srinagar in the Kashmir Valley southward to the city of Jammu. The 295-km long highway is one of the two road links that connects the valley with the rest of the country.
Disaster Management Department Director Aamir Ali said it is raining heavily on the NH44 from Udhampur to Banihal.
“Shooting stones at Cafeteria Morh, Maroge and Panthyal, have halted the traffic.
“Navyuga Qazigund (has been) closed due to snow on the Qazigund side. Around 300 Kashmir-bound trucks are stranded at Banihal,” Ali said, adding no fresh traffic is being allowed from either side.
Fresh snowfall and rains were recorded throughout the valley during the night.
Several regions on high altitude witnessed heavy snowfall as Srinagar city too received fresh snow.
According to Srinagar Meteorological Department, moderate to heavy rain and snow occurred at most places of Jammu and Kashmir with one to two feet of snow at high altitudes.
“Srinagar reported 7.5 inches of snow till 8.30 am today,” a MeT official said.
The MeT said there was likely to be significant improvement in the weather from evening onwards.
“Overall improvement is most likely from Thursday onwards though.
“After this spell, there is no forecast of any major rain or snow till February end,” he added.
Due to bad weather, Kashmir University postponed all undergraduate, post-graduate, and professional exams scheduled for Wednesday.
Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission also postponed prosecuting officer (Main) Examination due to the inclement weather conditions. (UNI)
6 houses damaged, 2 women injured
Srinagar: Nearly half a dozen residential houses and two sheds were damaged while two ladies also suffered injuries due to heavy snowfall in Kashmir that started last evening.
Reports said that several families had a narrow escape today; the residential houses collapsed due to heavy snowfall today.
Two ladies from South Kashmir’s Pulwama district identified as Arifa Banoo (45) wife of Mohammad Shafi Dar of Achan and Jana Begum, wife of Abdul Rehman Dar of Lelhara Pulwama in separate incidents.
The duo was injured after the sheds collapsed, the official sources said, adding that Arifa was cooking in a shed when it collapsed and thus sustained injuries while Jan was also in the shed when it collapsed today.
Moreover, nearly half a dozen residential houses—one in Srinagar, others in Southern districts of Kashmir were damaged due to the fresh snowfall.
The houses belong to Manzoor Ahmad Gojri of Chatterhama Hazratbal, Mushtaq Ahmad Sheikh in Tral, Gh Mohammad Mir in Kanjilor Shopian, Riyaz Ahmad Bhat in Batapora Ladoo Pampore.
A few of the residential houses were also damaged in Keller area of Shopian, official sources said.
According to the details collected, a family at Gulzarpora village of Awantipora Tehsil in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district had a narrow escape after a walnut tree fell on their residential house today morning.
A shed belonging to Showkat Ahmad Dar, son of Ghulam Ahmad Dar of Wandena Malhoura was also damaged after a tree fell on it, officials said, adding that there was no loss of life, but the belongings in the shed were completely damaged.
Pertinently, Kashmir received heavy snowfall since last evening while the local Meteorological department here has predicted improvement in the weather conditions from tomorrow. (KNO)
7 houseboats, 6 Shikaras submerge in Dal Lake, Chinar Bagh
By: Sheikh Danish
Srinagar: At least six houseboats in Dal Lake and one at Chinar Bagh were submerged on Wednesday after a fresh snowfall across Kashmir.
Official sources said that six houseboats including HB New Simla, HB Honey Moon, HB Bangkok, HB Young Marmandie, HB Holly Wood and HB Kings Throne got submerged at Dal Lake.
They said that a houseboat at Chinar Bagh belonging to Fayaz Ahmad Darma, son of Abdul Aziz Darma of Chinar Bagh was partially submerged.
Moreover, several Shikaras got submerged at the world famous Dal Lake amid heavy snowfall in Srinagar in the early morning hours.
Reports said that at least half a dozen Shikaras got submerged at Dal Lake due to heavy snowfall in Srinagar.
In the incident, no loss of life or injury has been reported, they said, adding that the locals as well as officials are on job to dewater the Shikaras.
Moreover, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Mohammad Aijaz Asad toured Dal Lake areas here to oversee the damages caused to the houseboats and Shikaras due to overnight snowfall.
On the occasion, the DC directed the Revenue officials to assess the damages and furnish the details at an earliest.
Asad assured the affected house-boat owners and Shikara walas that all possible assistance will be extended to them from the Administration/SDRF Team.
Essential services being restored on war footing basis: Div Com
Says 70% roads cleared under priority Phase-I
Srinagar: Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole Wednesday said that all the essential services are being restored on a war footing basis for the convenience of the general public.
He informed that plain areas of South Kashmir received 2 to 3 feet snow while Central Kashmir received 1 to 1.5 feet snow and North Kashmir 0.5 to 1 feet besides hilly areas received 2 to 4 feet snow which affected normal life and services.
Div Com said that the Mechanical Engineering Department completed 70% snow clearance under priority Phase-I while PWD cleared snow from all the roads falling under its jurisdiction.
Besides, Div Com informed that apart from 5 to 6 percent water supply lines which have been affected, all other Water Supply Schemes are functional. He said that the affected WSS will be restored soon for which men and machinery has been put on work.
Div Com further informed that no casualty has been reported till now due to the snow and said that all the hospitals are functional while entire medical and paramedics staff is available in hospitals to render their duties and services.
He said all the essential services are being restored on priority and on a war footing basis.
Meanwhile, he appealed to the general people to keep patience and support the administration to restore affected services.
He also appealed to people not to park their vehicles on the road sides so that the Mechanical Engineering Department, PWD, SMC and other departments will not face any hindrance during snow clearance.
Besides, he further appealed to people not to throw snow of their lawns on the streets or lanes as it creates difficulties for the people and snow clearing teams.
While showing pleasure for snow fall, he said that snow plays a very important role for prolific yield in Agriculture and horticulture which form the backbone of the economy in the valley.
He said a good snowfall is also pivotal for irrigation canals, irrigation system besides resuscitating our springs which ensure constant supply of drinking water to various areas through WSS.
School re-opening preparations deferred
By: Bhat Imran
Srinagar: In view of heavy snowfall, the concerned authorities of Srinagar district on Wednesday deferred preparation of reopening of schools in Kashmir valley.
The authorities earlier had asked the concerned school authorities to start preparations for reopening of schools from February-24.
The official has said, “The Heads of all schools of district Srinagar were advised to start advance preparations for re-opening of schools.”
“However, due to the prevailing weather conditions, the exercise of preparations may be deferred by one day. But the HOIs are directed to ensure preparations in advance well before 28-02-2022,” the official said. (KNO)
Committed to goal of health for all: LG
Lays foundation stones for various state-of-the-art health infra projects
Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Wednesday laid foundation stones for various state-of-the-art health infrastructure projects at GMCs, DHs, CHCs & PHCs across the Union Territory.
In presence of Lt Governor, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Tata Memorial Hospital and Government Medical College Jammu for technical expertise and academic support for developing modernized cancer care facilities.
The Lt Governor launched a social security scheme for employees under the National Health Mission and also handed over ex-gratia cheques of Rs 10 lakhs each to the NoKs of the deceased employees of NHM.
The Lt Governor said that the augmented facilities will contribute towards further strengthening of the healthcare system.
J&K Government is committed to the goal of health for all. We are determined to ensure that the new health facilities in various districts promote social equality and its benefits reach our brothers and sisters living in far-flung areas, added the Lt Governor.
The MoU with Tata Memorial Hospital for academic & technical collaboration will help in developing ultra-modern tertiary cancer care facilities & technical expertise to faculty, paramedical staff and integration of State Cancer Institute into National Cancer Grid, Tata Memorial Centre, the Lt Governor observed.
Expressing his gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi for transforming the health sector of Jammu and Kashmir, the Lt Governor said that the healthcare infrastructure has changed dramatically since 2014. Earlier, a privileged few were enjoying medical care facilities in big cities and abroad while the majority of the population did not have access even to ordinary health care facilities. With the commitment to public health, we ensured high-quality healthcare for all, he added.
The Prime Minister gave seven new medical colleges, two AIIMS, 10 Nursing Colleges and Rs.7,700 Crore worth projects to create best medical institutions in the UT. Earlier, there was no health insurance scheme in the UT. PM rolled out SEHAT scheme and brought every citizen under the health care safety net, the Lt Governor further added.
Before 2019, there were only 129 health and wellness centers across Jammu and Kashmir. 1275 new health and wellness centers have been set up in two years, the Lt Governor said.
In the backdrop of global pandemic, research, human knowledge and technical intervention in healthcare is increasing at an explosive pace that was unthinkable even a decade ago. We are devoting greater attention to medical education and 1897 medical education seats have been increased in the last two years, the Lt Governor observed.
To effectively confront the challenges of human resources in the health sector, we are also setting up 10 new nursing colleges. This will go a long way in overcoming the shortage of nurses, he added.
The Lt Governor said that the new health infrastructure at CHCs and PHCs will strengthen rural public health infrastructure, creation of human resources in the UT, and help the health department to provide quality health care to the doorsteps of common people.
Additional AYUSH Health and Wellness Centers are being set up to meet the increasing demand for Ayurvedic and other Indian system of medicine facilities in rural and urban areas, the Lt Governor further added.
Today, J&K is one of the best performing regions in the country in terms of health facilities. This itself shows the commitment of the administration towards strengthening the healthcare sector in J&K, said the Lt Governor.
By collaborating with world-renowned healthcare companies like Tata Memorial Hospital and Apollo Hospitals, we are introducing fundamental changes to ensure the best healthcare to the people of the UT, the Lt Governor observed.
We are also moving ahead to provide facility for online appointments and digitization of medical records of the patients, he added.
The Lt Governor paid his heartfelt tributes to all health workers who sacrificed their lives while selflessly serving others. We stand with their families. Request has been made to the Central Government regarding the compensation to the remaining families of NHM employees, he added.
We are grateful to our doctors, nurses, paramedics, ASHA & Anganwadi workers and vaccination team on the ground who are working relentlessly and sincerely in the fight against global pandemic. I believe their efforts will continue with renewed energy and focus, the Lt Governor added.
The Lt Governor urged the medical fraternity to complement government’s efforts to make J&K Nasha-Mukt, and also raise awareness about healthy lifestyle.
On the occasion, the Lt Governor announced NHM Employees Welfare Fund and also launched S.H.I.F.A (Stimulated Health Information Facilitation Assistant), a whatsapp based integrated technology extension to 104 centralized health helpline, and Asha Gullak App for tracking and monitoring of ASHA payments and performances.
BEMMP Guidelines Booklet and UNICEF DGA (District Gap Analysis) were also released by the Lt Governor.
Speaking on the occasion, Chander Mohan Gupta, Mayor, JMC said that the new initiatives will strengthen J&K UT’s health services and help in improved handling of health challenges.
Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to the Lt Governor reiterated Government’s commitment to provide better access to healthcare facilities to the people of the UT.
Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary said that the administration is working on the principles of People first policy. We have linked public services to the feedback system bringing more transparency and accountability in the functioning of government-run hospitals and departments, he added.
Vivek Bhardwaj, Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department informed that the administration is making dedicated efforts to fill the gaps in the health sector, besides ensuring quality health facilities to meet the medical needs of the people.
Choudhary Mohammad Yasin, Mission Director National Health Mission gave a detailed briefing about the new health projects initiated today. Dr. Shafi Koka, Nodal Officer, NHM presented the Vote of Thanks.
Health infrastructure projects for which foundation stones were laid today include 2 Paediatric Centres of Excellence; 28 maternal ICUs; 20 Paediatric Hybrid ICUs; 15 Paediatric wards in Government Medical Colleges and districts of J&K.
Bharat Bhushan, DDC Chairperson Jammu; Anshul Garg, DC Jammu; Dr. Shashi Sudhan Sharma, Principal GMC; Dr. Shakti Gupta, Director AIIMS Jammu; Dr. Ashish Gulia from Tata Memorial Hospital; Dr. Dara Singh, Medical Superintendent; Doctors, nursing staff and people were present on the occasion at SMGS Hospital, Jammu. While health officials from across the UT joined through virtual mode.
Beware of ‘seasonal leaders’: PM Modi
Kaushambi (UP): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday termed leaders of the opposition parties as ‘seasonal leaders’ and cautioned the people of Uttar Pradesh to remain alert from them.
Addressing a rally at Manjhanpur, Modi said, “You must have seen some seasonal leaders during this corona period. When corona came, they disappeared, when corona got controlled then they returned. When elections came they came out, when elections were over they went abroad. When people were facing problems during the pandemic, they were missing. When elections came, they came out of their houses.”
“These people kept provoking the people of UP against taking the vaccine. And when their turn came, they took the jab secretly. The people of UP have fully recognised such seasonal leaders,” he said. He also slammed the opposition parties for not giving respect to Sardar Patel.
“The dynastic politicians have a problem with everything associated with the honour of the nation. After independence Sardar Patel strengthened the country. In his honour we have made the biggest statue in the world. People from across the world come to see the Statue of Liberty. Even people from UP also go there in large numbers. These dynastic politicians have time to travel abroad, but they do not have time to bow before Sardar Patel,” he said.
He alleged that during the previous government the ration mafia used to usurp the ration meant for the poor. “During the previous government, ration meant for the poor reached the ration mafia. The poor didn’t know when the ration came and when it was distributed,” he said. Modi said, “Brokers of the dynastic politicians used to loot the poor. Even their ministers, MPs and MLAs were involved in this. The BJP government has put an end to all these games of dynastic politicians.”
He said that technology was used to ensure that ration reaches the poor. “By using technology we ensure that a deserving person gets ration. To ensure that the poor do not face problems, the BJP government made ration cards portable. We introduced the facility of ‘one nation, one ration card’,” he said. The PM said that dynastic politicians used to exploit people.
“BJP chose the path of service. They used to build their own houses, we constructed houses for the poor. They looted in the name of jobs and the Yogi government gave jobs to five lakh youths without any partiality,” he said.
He said, “During their regime scam galore – mining scam, food scam, ambulance scam and river front scam. Today every penny is being used for the welfare of the people. During their regime transfer-posting became an industry, today talent is being honoured.”
Modi said that the history of dynastic politicians is a witness that UP’s security cannot be given in their hands.
“During their regime terrorists attack took place one after another. Unfortunately, instead of giving hard punishment Samajwadi Party (SP) government left no stone unturned to favour the accused of the terror attacks,” he said.
“They are the one’s who put blindfold before the terrorism. They compromise with the security of the country for the sake of votes,” he said. Modi said, “If any country or state has to move forward then it needs to remain united. Staying united for the fast development of the country and UP is very important for the bright future of all of us.” (UNI)
