‘Testing, Tracing, Treatment, CAB will continue to be our strategy to fight pandemic’

Precious Kashmir News

Jammu, Jan 28: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Friday asked the officers to ensure availability of oxygen and ventilators. He also reviewed the Covid-19 situation across the UT in a series of meetings with the members of Covid Task Force, DCs & SPs.

During the meetings, the Lt Governor reiterated the importance of Tele-consultation, expanding the services to far-flung areas and efficient monitoring of those in home isolation.

He also underlined the importance of involving Community in awareness campaigns to sensitize people on mask usage and Covid protocol.

“We need to protect healthcare personnel, patients and communities, and accordingly our focus should remain on ramping up healthcare infrastructure, availability of oxygen, ventilators, essential medicines, etc”, the Lt Governor said.

The Lt Governor stressed that Testing, Tracing, Treatment, Covid Appropriate Behaviour and Vaccination will continue to be our strategy to effectively fight the Covid-19.

He impressed upon the officials to ensure proper implementation of Covid Protocol and CAB among the people to effectively break the chain of transmission.

The Lt Governor was briefed about the Covid containment measures at the district level including functionality of War rooms, Covid help-lines, IEC campaign regarding Covid Appropriate Behaviour, distribution of Covid kits, besides facilities for extending assistance to people in need.

The chair also took stock of the vaccination drive for the 15-18 years age group and the precaution dose vaccination for healthcare & frontline workers and those over 60 years of age with co-morbidities.

Deputy Commissioners and other concerned officials were directed to widely publicize the COVID helpline numbers and other emergency contact numbers.

Vivek Bhardwaj, Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department gave a detailed briefing on the district-wise analysis of Covid-19 situation, status of testing, contact tracing and vaccination across the UT, besides the status of bed occupancy in the designated hospitals.

It was informed that five districts – Kulgam, Shopian, Anantnag, Ganderbal and Poonch have completed the 100% coverage of 1st dose of vaccination in the 15-18 years age group, besides 70% of the total targeted population in the 15-18 years age group has been inoculated with the first dose across the UT.

The chair also took stock of the implementation of directions passed in previous meetings.

Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to the Lt Governor; Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary; Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary, Finance Department; Shailendra Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Government, Public Works (R&B) Department; Nitishwar Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Lt Governor; besides Senior officers of Civil and police administration attended the meeting, in person and through virtual mode.

Srinagar, Jan 28: Jammu and Kashmir reported decline in covid-19 cases for the third day in a row with 4354 fresh infections confirmed in the last 24 hours while five persons succumbed to the virus during the time, officials said on Friday.

They said 1440 of the cases were confirmed from Jammu Division and 2914 from Kashmir Valley, taking the overall tally to 424085.

Giving district wise, the officials said, Srinagar 916, Baramulla 290, Budgam 229, Pulwama 90, Kupwara 618, Anantnag 329, Bandipora 109, Ganderbal 42, Kulgam 262, Shopian 29, Jammu 763, Udhampur 111, Rajouri 43, Doda 103, Kathua 68, Samba 104, Kishtwar 30, Poonch 91, Ramban 106 and Reasi 21.

Regarding the deaths, they said, three were confirmed from Jammu division and two from Kashmir Valley, taking the total fatality count to 4647. 2268 of the deaths were reported in Jammu division and 2379 in Kashmir.

A number of fresh cases were confirmed at GMC Srinagar associated diagnostic labouratories, GMC Anatnag and District Hospital Pulwama.

The cases confirmed at GMC Srinagar associated diagnostic laboratories include male (36) from Awantipora, female (30) from Bemina, male (27) from Awantipora, male (21) from Shopian, female (16months) from Assam, male (20months) from Pattan, male (82) from Sgr, male (26) from Sgr, female (25) from Shopian, male (28) from Sgr, male (45) from Sgr, male (40) from Pampore, female (39) from Budgam, male (22) from Sgr, female (48) from Sgr, female (44) from Budgam, male (21) from Sgr, male (36) from Peerbagh, female (58) from Sgr, female (80) from Tral, male (66) from Barzulla, female (65) from Barzulla, male (22) from Barzulla, female (68) from Chanpora Sgr, male (50) from Budgam, male (80) from Sgr, male (33) from Sgr, male (37) from Budgam, male (34) from Kokernag, female (38) from Nawakadal, female (40) from Bemina, male (60) from Dalgate, male (47) from Sanatnagar, male (32) from Bemina, male (60) from Peerbagh,female (01) from Sgr, female (55) from Batamaloo, male (30) from Bemina, female (40) from Bemina, female (65) from Habakadal, male (50) (NA) from Keegam, female (45) from Sgr, male (27) from Batamaloo, male (31) from Khayam, female (27) from GDC Girls Hostel, male (30) from GDC Boys Hostel, female (20) from Lalbazar, female (70) from Chattabal, female (50) from Chattabal, female (26) from Lalbazar, male (65) from Tral, male (30) from Sgr, female (26) from GDC Girls Hostel, male (30) from Kulgam, male (65) from Kupwara, male (27) from Hyderpora, female (26) from HMT, female (25) from GDC Girls Hostel, male (50) from Hyderpora and female (25) from Hyderpora.

The GMC Anantnag cases include male (63) from Noonmai Kulgam, male (50) from Buchroo Kulgam, male (72) from Frisal Kulgam, male (28) from Sadoora, male (56) from Akhran, male (45) from Qazigund, male (22) from Vessu, male (33) from Doda, male (47) from Nussu, male (45) from Kilam, male (28) from Tral, female (33) from Kulgam, female (16) from Redwani, male (46) from Wanpoh, male (26) from Kupwara, male (35) from Qaimoh, female (30) from Bhan, male (60) from Ashmuji, male (50) from Redwani, male (20) from Malipora, male (50) from Hablishi, male (30) from Agroo, male (40) from Gund, female (40) from Vessu, male (26) from Srinagar, male (59) from Damjan, male (45) from Verinag, two males (32, 35) from Anantnag, female (78) from Mominabad Ang, male (51) from Kulgam, male (28) from Phalgam, female (62) from Mir Bazar, male (42) from Srinagar, male (43) from Sarnal, male (28) and female (28) from Krangsoo, two females (41, 50) from Anantnag, female (29) from Lazibal, female (14) from Bijbhera, male (28) from Lal Chowk, male (45) from Sangam and female (30) from Akingam.

The cases from DH Pulwama and include female (21) from Rajpora, female (30) from Karimabad, female (40) from Ruhmoo, female (40) from Sankherpora budgam, female (50) from Chewakalan, female (32) from Kulpora, female (32) from Gongoo, female (30) from Maspuna, female (42) from Chandigam, female (30) from Litter, female (33) from Tral, male (60) from Karimabad, female (40) from Mirgund, female (32) from Moole, female (36) from Sirnoo, male (35) from Pulwama, female (32) from Aripora, female (32) from Karimabad, female (35) from Reshipora, male (50) from Dalipora, male (30) from Karimabad, female (49) from Murran, female (39) from Pakherpora budgam, female (29) from Imam sahib shopian, female (28) from Batpora tral and female (45) from Agricheck.

Besides, they said, 5850 Covid-19 patients recovered during the time—1918 from Jammu Division and 3932 from Kashmir. So far 374282 people have recovered, leaving active case tally at 45156—11110 in Jammu and 34046 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 33999 doses of covid-19 vaccine were administered during the time in J&K. (GNS)

Srinagar, Jan 28: Authorities on Friday afternoon imposed restrictions on the non-essential movement of people across Jammu and Kashmir as a 64-hour lockdown began in the J&K in view of upsurge in covid-19 cases, officials said.

Reports said that police vehicles fitted with public address systems announced the restrictions at several places across the Kashmir valley in the afternoon.

Shops and other business establishments in Srinagar and elsewhere in the Valley which had opened this morning were asked by police to close in view of the restrictions, they said.

Similar reports were received from Jammu district and other parts of the Jammu region.

Amid unabated upsurge in covid-19 cases, the government ordered the 64-hours weekly lockdown beginning Friday 1400 hours till further orders.

“There will be complete restriction on non-essential movement in the entire J&K from every Friday 2.00 pm to Monday 6.00 am, henceforth,” Chairman State Executive Committee and Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta said in an order, amending the previous order issued last week.

“Pregnant Women Employees will be exempted from physical attendance. They shall be allowed to work from home,” the order reads further, adding, “These directions shall be applicable till further orders.”

The SEC underlined that Enforcement of Covid Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) was critical in determining the need for additional restrictions. (GNS)

New Delhi, Jan 28: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday warned against the “dangers of misinformation” in digital age and asked NCC cadets to counter it with awareness campaigns.

Addressing the National Cadet Corps Rally at Cariappa Ground, the PM said, “Today on the one hand there are good possibilities related to digital technology and information, on the other hand, there are dangers of misinformation. It is also necessary that the common man of our country should not fall prey to any rumour. The NCC cadets can run an awareness campaign for this.”

The PM asked NCC cadets to combine their aspirations and action with the development and aspirations of the country.

He said that the cadets should come forward to engage with school dropouts and try to remove their obstacles to ensure education to them. There is another area which needs our attention – deteriorating imbalance in virtual and real life, NCC cadets can work in this direction, he said.

The Prime Minister stressed that drugs should not reach the school/college where there is NCC or NSS. He advised the cadets to be free from drugs themselves and, at the same time, keep their campus free from the menace.

He stressed that the students should help their non NCC-NSS friends to give up this bad habit. The Prime Minister remembered with pride his NCC connection and credited his training as an NCC cadet for giving him the strength to carry out his responsibilities towards the nation.

He talked about the steps being taken to strengthen the NCC in the country and said that a high-level review committee was set up in the country and one lakh new cadets were created in the border areas of the country. He noted the presence of the large number of the girl cadets in NCC and termed it to be a symbol of changing attitude of the nation.

“Daughters are taking admission in Sainik Schools and women are getting major responsibilities in the Indian Army. The daughters of the country are flying fighter planes in the Air Force. In such a situation, it should be our endeavour that more and more daughters are included in NCC,” he said.

“No power of the world can stop a country whose youth starts moving ahead with the thinking of ‘nation first’. India’s success in the playfield and the startup ecosphere exemplify this very clearly,” the PM said.

The Prime Minister paid tributes to Lala Lajpat Rai and Field Marshal Cariappa for their contribution in nation building as both have birth anniversaries on Friday.

In the beginning, the PM inspected the Guard of Honour, reviewed March Past by NCC contingents and witnessed the NCC cadets displaying their skills in army action like slithering, microlight flying, parasailing etc. The best cadets also received medal and baton from the Prime Minister. (UNI)

Dehradun, Jan 28: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday recalled the surgical strike conducted by India against neighbouring Pakistan and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a message to the world that anyone who intrudes our country’s territory will have to pay a heavy price.

“After Narendra Modi ji became the Prime Minister, Pakistan committed a mistake as it thought this government is same like the previous Manmohan Singh’s one and attacked in Uri. The Narendra Modi government ordered a surgical strike (in 2016) in their own territory and took revenge of our martyred soldiers. Modi ji gave a message to the world that if anyone intrudes into our territory they will have to pay a heavy price,” Shah said, while addressing the ex-servicemen in Rudraprayag as he appealed them and the people of the state to vote BJP to power again in the forthcoming Assembly elections.

The Home Minister said the BJP government was committed to the country’s security and welfare of the soldiers. “Country’s security and welfare of the soldiers are the top priority of our government,” Shah said.

Talking about ‘One rank, one pension’ scheme, Shah said, “In 2014 general elections, in our manifesto, we vowed to implement ‘One rank one pension’ as Congress party did nothing in this regard. After the Narendra Modi government rode to power, we implemented it.”

Accusing the previous Congress-led UPA government of neglecting the Defence sector, the Home Minister said, “In Defence Budget, during Congress’ 10 year regime, it witnessed a decline. But, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji it increased drastically. We have taken various initiatives to make the Defence sector ‘self-reliant’.”

Remembering country’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, who hailed from the Himalayan state, Shah said Late Gen Rawat devoted his life for the country and added that his contribution cannot be forgotten.

Attacking the previous Congress government in the state, the Home Minister said,”During Harish Rawat’ s government there was only corruption, but in BJP’s tenure there is no allegation of any corruption against it.”

He also demanded that Rawat should give an account to the people on what he had done for the state’s infrastructure during his tenure as Chief Minister. Assembly elections in Uttarakhand will be held in a single phase on February 14. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.

Srinagar, Jan 28: Cyber Police Station Kashmir on Friday said to have saved Rs 30 lacs invested in fake online trading.
A police spokesman said that Cyber Police Station Kashmir received a complaint from a senior citizen of Srinagar City, stating therein that an amount of Rs 11 lacs has been fraudulently withdrawn from his bank account regarding which he has no knowledge.
Accordingly, Cyber Police Kashmir started investigation promptly into the matter.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the said Rs 11lacs were transferred into the bank account of complainant’s nephew.
Accordingly, after verifying the facts from the complainant’s nephew, he disclosed that he came in touch with scammers over social media sites and they motivated him to invest in online trading to receive hefty returns and direct credit to his bank account.
He further disclosed that apart from the said amount of Rs 11lacs, he has also withdrawn an amount of Rs 19lacs from his father’s bank account and invested the same in online trading/investment resulting in huge financial loss of Rs 30lacs.
The Cyber team coordinated with the Bank authorities to ascertain the details of these transactions, where from it was revealed that the said hefty amount has been transferred through Unified Payment Interface (UPI) and Internet Banking into different online payment gateways. The matter was further taken up with the gateway authorities to ascertain the transaction details.
Acting swiftly, the investigation team was successful in tracing all the transactions in different online payment gateways which were being used to exchange into foreign currency and whole amount of Rs 30lacs was blocked and further refunded back to complainants’ bank accounts. It’s pertinent to mention that, Cyber Police Station Kashmir Zone also saved an amount of Rs 7lacs during the month of January-2022.
On the directions of IGP Kashmir Zone, various awareness campaigns and programmes have also been initiated by the Cyber Police Kashmir, wherein general public is made aware about various contemporary online frauds and scams etc.
Community members have hailed the prompt action of Cyber Police Station Kashmir Zone Srinagar in tracing and saving the hard earned money of public. General public is once again advised not to fell prey to the fraudsters contacting them in the name of investment/trade advisors and promising undue profits within short periods.

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Jan 28: Kashmir University on Friday announced that all pending exams of the varsity will be held in “offline” mode and date sheets will be issued soon.

Reacting to the demand of some students including Nursing Students’ who are seeking “online” exams, Controller of Examinations, KU, Prof Irshad A Nawchoo said that all pending and recently-postponed examinations shall be held in “offline” (pen-paper) mode. “No examination shall be held in online mode.”

The University is already in the process of redrafting and issuing datesheets for various pending examinations, which shall commence soon after the pandemic situation eases, he said.

“The University is closely watching the situation and shall possibly issue all datesheets at the earliest to ensure timely declaration of results/ completion of degrees,” he said as per a statement.

“Students are advised to ready themselves for offline examinations in accordance with the necessary guidelines, policies in vogue,” he said, adding, “Covid Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) shall be strictly adhered to during the conduct of said examinations.”

He said students, in their own interest, must frequently visit the University website to know their datesheets, as and when these are uploaded.

“The University is committed to work in the best interests of students, who are our primary stakeholders, keeping in view their future prospects without compromising, in any manner, the sanctity of Examinations,” he added.

Srinagar, Jan 28: With ‘Chillai Kalan’, the 40-day long harshest period of winter ending in couple of days, the minimum temperature plunged across Kashmir Valley as the world famous Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 11.8°C on Friday.

An official of the meteorological department here said that Srinagar, the summer capital of the J&K recorded a low of minus 3.6°C against last night’s minus 1.3°C.

Kashmir is presently under the grip of 40-day long harshest period of winter, known locally as ‘Chillai Kalan’, which started from December 21. Its exit does not mean end of the cold. It is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai Khurd’ and a 10-day-long ‘Chilla Bachha’.

Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 10.4°C against minus 10.0°C on previous night, he said.

The temperature was nearly 2.9°C below normal for this time of the year in the famous resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 4.0°C against minus 0.2°C on the previous night, he said.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 4.9°C against minus 4.3°C on the previous night, the official said.

Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 11.8°C against minus 10.9°C on the last night, he said.

Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 4.6°C against 3.4°C on the previous night, the official said.

Jammu recorded a low of 4.7°C against previous night’s 5.5°C. The temperature was 4.0°C below normal for the J&K’s winter capital during this time of the year, he said.

Banihal recorded a low of minus 0.2°C, Katra had minimum of 4.5°C while Bhaderwah recorded a low of minus 2.6°C, the official said. Weatherman has forecast cloudy weather in J&K for next two days. (GNS)