Precious Kashmir

330 violators fined in Awantipora: Police

City

11/01/2022

Srinagar: To restrain further spread of Coronavirus and to bring awareness among general masses, Police in Awantipora launched an awareness drive in Sub Division Tral, Pampore and Awantipora, urging people to ensure implementations of Covid-19 SOPs.

While acting tough against the violators of Covid-19 guidelines, 330 violators were also fined across the Police District. During the drive, face masks were also distributed among the general public.

Moreover, general public were informed about the necessity of Covid-19 guidelines/instructions. They were given sensitized about maintaining proper hygiene, social distancing and wearing of face masks. Besides, they were also advised to follow Covid-19 SOPs.

Community members have appreciated and applauded the role of Police in rendering such services to the general public.

Decade on, PHC in Chadoora awaits completion

City

Precious Kashmir

11/01/2022

Work will be completed soon: CMO Tajamul

By: Naveed Ul Haq

Budgam: Residents of Kralpora in Chadoora area of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district are up in arms against the health department for not paying interest in construction of the PHC center for which work was started in 2012.

Locals said that people living in the area have to travel several kilometres to visit other hospitals as their nearby PHC center has no facilities available and closure of the under construction PHC building pushes them to face more problems.

“Amid the Omicron threat everything is being closed, but because of the health department’s negligence, whenever we get sick, we have to visit another crowded health center to get treatment,” said a resident Waseem Ahmad.

“If there is an elderly person, pregnant woman, a child or an emergency, what will we do at that time,” locals said. “The current PHC is running in a small room where all kinds of facilities are not available for the patients.”

“We appeal to higher authorities to take immediate action on this matter and start work so that people will not suffer more,” they said.

Dr Tajamul Khan Chief Medical Officer Budgam, said that the work on the PHC will be started once the weather is fine.

“The building is almost ready and work will be started soon for the final touch before it will be opened for the general public,” he said. (KNO)

Jamia Masjid gutted in Malangam blaze

City

Precious Kashmir

11/01/2022

Bandipora: A Jamia Masjid was damaged in an overnight fire incident at Malangam village of Bandipora in northern Kashmir.

Officials said that fire broke out in a Jamia Masjid in Malangam village during the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, resulting in the damage of the Masjid.

They said that with the help of locals and fire tenders, the devastating fire was prevented from spreading further to nearby structures.

The officials, however, said that there was no loss of life during the incident while the cause for the fire is yet to be ascertained. (KNO)

Locals aghast as R&B fails to construct 3-km road stretch in Gbl

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

11/01/2022

By: Raja Syed Rather

Ganderbal: The residents of Birandara Chattergul area of Kangan in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Monday staged a protest against Roads and Buildings (R&B) department for failing to complete the construction of three-kilometer Birandara-Chattergul Bala road stretch.

The protesting residents said that the work on the road stretch started in the year 2016 and it is still incomplete. “We are baffled by the indifferent attitude shown by the Roads and Buildings (R&B) department. It has resulted in further damage to this road stretch, making it unsafe for the general public especially during rainy days and winter months,” they added.

They demanded that R&B Division Ganderbal should complete the road so that the residents could heave a sigh of relief.

“We have brought this issue into the notice of concerned authorities several times but their repeated promises proved a hoax on the ground,” they said.

“We request the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to look into the matter so that the long pending issues will be resolved,” the protesters said.

An official said that the department has framed a DPR in this regard and forwarded to higher authorities for administrative approval. (KNO)

PCPG meetings facilitated in Sopore, Handwara

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

11/01/2022

Srinagar: A series of Police Community Partnership Group (PCPG) meetings were facilitated by Police at Sopore and Handwara. These meetings were held while following social distancing & necessary Covid protocols.

A police spokesman said that at PS Sopore, the meeting was chaired by SDPO Sopore Shri Furkan Qadir-JKPS. Besides, SHO PS Sopore and other police officers were also present. The meeting was attended by respectable citizens, members of Auqaf committees, trader’s federation and various market associations.

At PS Tarzoo, the meeting was chaired by SHO Police Station Tarzoo besides, In-charge Police Post Putkha was also present on the occasion. The meeting was attended by Chowkidars under the jurisdiction of Police Station Tarzoo.

Meanwhile at PS Handwara, the meeting was chaired by ASP Handwara Shri Irshad Hussain-JKPS besides SHO PS Handwara was also present on the occasion. The meeting was attended by the members of traders federation and transporters of Handwara.

During these meetings, the participants raised various issues pertaining to Police and civil administration. The chairing officers assured them that their genuine grievances pertaining to Police will be resolved on priority while as the issues pertaining to civil administration will be taken up with concerned authorities for their early redressal. The participants were also requested to co-operate with Police and administration in maintaining law & order in the area and in identifying anti-national & anti-social elements. The participants were also briefed about the apprehensions of spread of Covid-19 and were requested to spread awareness among masses to follow Covid Appropriate Behaviour (CAB).

The participants in these meetings assured their full co-operation to Police in tackling social evils and also appreciated the efforts of Police in facilitating community interaction meets where participants express their opinions freely.

IEC Campaign

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Oped

Precious Kashmir

11/01/2022

Omicron variant of the coronavirus, scientifically classified as the B.1.1.529, is spreading rapidly and setting alarm bells ringing. It is not the only worry. Overall covid-19 graph is rising.

While cases rise, Jammu and Kashmir lacks a coronavirus genome surveillance system and like other parts of India has already seen the damaging implications of its inadequacy. If the government knew a more transmissible and strong virus had taken hold, restrictions and increased testing could have been implemented in advance .

Taking steps early has been the most important pandemic mitigation strategies and the Governments across India have already learned this lesson the hard way.

The Chief Secretary of J&K had during the second wave directed the Health & Medical Education Department to install certified laboratories in J&K for genome sequencing of Covid samples for early detection of mutant virus strains. Progress on it is not known fully.

The virulence of the Omicron variant, declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a ‘variant of concern’, is proving to be a major cause of concern globally. It is the major reason behind the surge in Covid-19 cases in India presently. This variant is said to be highly transmissible.

People and government also need to be particularly sensitive to trends in outbreaks, and make sure there was no let-up in covid-19 appropriate behavior.

It is also imperative to ensure the multi-sectoral response based on test-track-treat besides vaccination to prevent subsequent spread of infection especially in the wake of mutant strains of the virus.

Presently, the number of infections is getting bigger and bigger every day. Unless the administration is prepared, this could take a huge toll on the healthcare infrastructure. The facilities at the hospitals still aren’t enough to take the brunt of an all-encompassing Omicron wave. Any further increase in the cases could trigger chaos. Here both people and the government must act fast. Hospitals could run short of beds and patients could once again scramble for oxygen cylinders, medicines and equipmenst like oxygen concentrators.

Before the situation comes to such a pass, there is a need for massive awareness and sensitization of the people about the unfolding grave situation.

Rightly also, the Lieutenant Governor and chief secretary has asked the department to undertake an extensive information Education & Communication (IEC) campaign to promote Covid appropriate behavior and healthy habits to contain the pandemic. The administration has started it but it should be quickened up.

England white-ball expert Tom Curran out for four months with injury

Sports

Indo Asian News Service

11/01/2022

England white-ball expert Tom Curran out for four months with injury

London: England bowler Tom Curran has suffered a stress fracture in his lower back and will be out for around four months, missing the start of the T20 Blast.

The Surrey bowler will not befit before the start of the T20 Blast, expected to begin in early summer, the BBC reported on Monday.

Curran, 26, has recently figured in the Big Bash League in December during which he suffered the injury. Scans confirmed the extent of the injury.

Curran has already been left out of England’s 16-player squad for the Twenty20 series against West Indies, which starts later this month, the BBC said in the report.

Tom, who has been a regular in the England white-ball squads in recent years and has played 28 one-day internationals and 30 T20s.

Tom’s brother Sam Curran had missed the T20 World Cup and the white-ball section of the Ashes with a stress fracture in his back.

PM reviews Covid-19 situation, asks officials to accelerate vaccination drive

Front

Indo Asian News Service

10/01/2022

PM reviews Covid-19 situation, asks officials to accelerate vaccination drive

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday instructed officials to accelerate the vaccination drive for adolescents in “mission mode” during a high-level meeting to assess the Covid-19 pandemic situation in the country.

During the meeting, he also reviewed the ongoing preparations of the health infrastructure and logistics, status of the vaccination campaign in the country and the emergence of new Omicron variant of the Covid, and its public health implications for the country.

A detailed presentation highlighting the surge in cases currently being reported globally was given by the Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, followed by the status of Covid-19 in India highlighting various states and districts of concern, based on the surge in cases and high positivity being reported.

Further, various efforts taken by the Central government so far in terms of supporting states to manage the upcoming challenge were highlighted.

Various predictive scenarios of peak cases were also presented. The support to the states to upgrade health infrastructure, testing capacity, availability of oxygen and ICU beds, and buffer stock of covid essential drugs under Emergency Covid Response Package (ECRP-II) was also presented.

The Prime Minister stressed on the need to ensure adequate health infrastructure at the district level. He asked officials to maintain co-ordination regarding this with the states.

The presentation brought attention to India’s consistent efforts towards the vaccination campaign, with 31 per cent adolescents aged 15-18 years having been administered with the 1st dose so far within 7 days.

The Prime Minister noted this achievement and urged the officials to further accelerate the vaccine drive for adolescents in mission mode.

After a detailed discussion, the Prime Minister directed that intensive containment and active surveillance should continue in clusters reporting higher cases and required technical support be provided to states which are reporting higher cases presently.

He highlighted the need to ensure effective usage of masks and physical distancing measures as a new normal to control the spread.

The Prime Minister further exhorted the need for effective implementation of Home Isolation for mild/asymptomatic cases and to disseminate the factual information to the community at large.

He further highlighted the need to ensure continuity of non-Covid health services while managing Covid cases presently.

He also spoke about the need to leverage tele-medicine to ensure availability of health related guidance to people in remote and rural areas.

While conveying his gratitude for the relentless services provided by healthcare workers in managing Covid-19 so far, he suggested to ensure that the vaccination coverage through precaution dose for healthcare workers, front line workers should also be taken up in mission mode.

The Prime Minister also spoke about the importance for continuous scientific research in testing, vaccines and pharmacological interventions including genome sequencing given that the virus is evolving continuously.

The meeting was attended by Amit Shah, Union Home Minister; Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Health and Family Welfare; Bharati Pravin Pawar, Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare; VK Paul, Member (Health) NITI Aayog; Rajiv Gauba, Cabinet Secretary; AK Bhalla, Home Secretary; Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary (MoHFW), Secretary (Pharmaceuticals), and others. (IANS)

Amid spurt in Covid cases, war rooms to be activated across J&K

Front

Precious Kashmir

10/01/2022

Amid spurt in Covid cases, war rooms to be activated across J&K

Will start administering booster vaccine dose to eligible population from Jan 10: LG

Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Sunday reviewed the COVID-19 situation across Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir during a high-level meeting with members of Covid Task Force, DCs and SSPs wherein he directed for activating War rooms immediately.

The Lt Governor directed the district administrations to gear up preparedness and provide all assistance to healthcare teams.

The Lt Governor also directed for activating War rooms immediately, besides ensuring effective functionality of Covid help-lines and keeping joint enforcement teams on the job.

The Lt Governor instructed the Nodal officers to ensure smooth coordination in providing Covid kits and other assistance to people in need.

We should be fully prepared to tackle the surge in cases. Existing decentralized system at the Panchayat level should be made functional for immediate medical attention, observed the Lt Governor.

Explicit directions were passed to the Divisional & District Administrations for optimum utilization of testing capacity, besides declaring micro-containment zones & hot spots in areas registering increase in cases, and to avoid crowding at public places. “Any laxity in enforcement of CAB will not be tolerated”, said the Lt Governor.

The Lt Governor further called for conducting IEC campaign at divisional and district level to highlight threats from highly transmissible variant and encourage people to follow Covid Appropriate Behaviour.

“From tomorrow, we will start administering the booster dose of the vaccine to the eligible population (healthcare and frontline workers, and those over 60 years of age with co-morbidities). All necessary arrangements should be made for walk-in and registered eligible population”, the Lt Governor asked the officials.

The Lt Governor also urged the police personnel, health workers, government employees to take all precautionary measures while serving the people.

Vivek Bhardwaj, Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department gave a detailed briefing on the district-wise analysis of Covid-19 situation & threat level, status of testing, contact tracing and vaccination across the UT.

He informed the chair that the vaccination drive for the 15-18 year age group is going on smoothly across the UT.

J&K is in a better position as compared to other States/UTs in terms of Vaccination, with 99% coverage of second dose for population above 18 years, it was informed.

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; Shaleen Kabra, Principal Secretary to the Government, Home department; Shailendra Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Government, Public Works (R&B) Department; Pandurang K Pole, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; Mukesh Singh, ADGP Jammu; Dr Raghav Langer, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Vijay Kumar, IGP Kashmir; Dr. Saleem-ur-Rehman, Director General, Family Welfare, MCH & Immunization; Choudhary Mohammad Yasin; Mission Director NHM; Deputy Commissioners and SSPs, attended the meetings, in person and through virtual mode.

‘3rd wave knocks’ as cases record spike in J&K

Front

Precious Kashmir

10/01/2022

3 die, 687 test positive in UT

Srinagar: In telltale signs of a third wave of Covid infections, rises in virus cases continued in Jammu and Kashmir as 687 of them were confirmed in last 24 hours while three persons succumbed to the pathogen during the time, officials said on Saturday.

437 of the fresh cases were reported from Jammu division and 250 from Kashmir, taking the overall tally to 344652.

There were three deaths, all from Jammu division, due to the virus during the last 24 hours, they said. So far 4540 persons—2206 in Jammu and 2334 in Kashmir—have died due to the virus, they said.

Giving district-wise details, officials said that Srinagar reported 131 cases, Baramulla 42, Budgam 50, Pulwama 10, Kupwara 2, Anantnag 3, Bandipora 4, Ganderbal 5, Kulgam 3, Shopian 0, Jammu 292, Udhampur 7, Rajouri 12, Doda 12, Kathua 39, Samba 16, Kishtwar 1, Poonch 8, Ramban 25and Reasi 26.

In last 24 hours, they said, 135 patients—52 from Jammu and 83 from Kashmir. So far 336581 patients have recovered, leaving active case tally at 3531—2032 in Jammu and 1499 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 52543 doses of covid-19 vaccine were administered during the time in J&K.

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