Srinagar: Kashmir University postponed all exams scheduled for Saturday due to the inclement weather, officials said.

“It is notified for the information of all the concerned that due to inclement weather conditions, all UG/PG/Professional exams of Kashmir University scheduled on January 8, 2022 stand postponed.

Fresh dates for postponed papers will be issued separately”, Prof Irshad Ahmad Nawchoo, Controller of Examinations, said. 

Srinagar: The Srinagar-Jammu highway, the only surface link connecting the Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country, was again closed for vehicular traffic following fresh landslides at Cafeteria Morh on Friday, officials said.

The highway reopened on Friday morning for light motor vehicles to ply on either side after the debris which had accumulated due to overnight landslides and shooting stones were cleared.

“Fresh landslides triggered at Cafeteraia Morh in Ramban sector following heavy rains closed the highway again,” a traffic police officer said.

He said about 1,000 trucks were allowed to move to their destinations on Thursday after the debris was cleared.

The Mughal road connecting Shopian district in south Kashmir with Rajouri in Jammu division remained closed for vehicular traffic due to heavy accumulation of snow.

The road was closed on December 23 following heavy snowfall. Snow clearance operations could not be taken up due to the slippery road conditions.

Many far-flung roads in the Kashmir Valley also remained cut off due to heavy snow. (UNI)

Srinagar: Three Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants were killed in an overnight gunfight in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district, police said on Friday.

This was the fifth gunfight this year. A total of 11 militants have been killed so far. The latest gun battle erupted at Zowla Chadoora on Thursday evening when the police and Army launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) following information that three Jaish militants were present in the area.

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) joined the operation after the encounter broke out, the police said.

Inspector General of Police (Kashmir) Vijay Kumar said the fighting continued throughout the night and the three Jaish militants were killed on Friday morning.

“One of the slain militants is Waseem, a resident of Srinagar. Most probably the other two are foreigners,” Kumar said, adding three AK 56 rifles, eight magazines and documents were recovered from the site. He said Waseem was involved in several cases of killing civilians.

“After the death of Waseem, there is only one resident militant Moomin in Srinagar who became active recently,” Kumar said, adding they have neutralized all the listed militants of Srinagar.

Eleven militants including top commanders of Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish have been killed in Kashmir. In the last nine days, the Pakistan-based Jaish has lost 15 militants including top commanders in different operations. (UNI)

By: Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar: For the third consecutive day, Jammu and Kashmir recorded higher number of cases with 542 of them confirmed in the last 24 hours along with one death due to the virus, officials said on Friday.

288 of the fresh cases were reported from Jammu division and 254 from Kashmir, taking the overall tally to 343310.

There was one death reported, from Jammu, due to the virus during the last 24 hours, they said. So far 4534 persons—2202 in Jammu and 2332 in Kashmir—have died due to the virus, they said.

Giving district wise details, officials said that Srinagar reported 137 cases, Baramulla 48, Budgam 20, Pulwama 2, Kupwara 17, Anantnag 5, Bandipora 3, Ganderbal 4, Kulgam 18, Shopian 0, Jammu 176, Udhampur 16, Rajouri 14, Doda 15, Kathua 23, Samba 7, Kishtwar 4, Poonch 6, Ramban 0 and Reasi 27.

A number of these cases were confirmed at CD hospital’s diagnostic centre and it include male (21) (NA) from Hazratbal sgr, male (30) from Chanpora sgr, male (69) (NA) from Rajbagh sgr, male (70) from Natipora sgr, female (70) from Habakadal sgr, male (23) from Shopian, female (31) from Safakadal sgr, male (40) (NA) from Bagi mehtab sgr, male (13) (NA) from Khaniyar, male (28) (NA) from HMT sgr, male (30) (NA) from Balgarden sgr, male (30) from Bemina sgr, male (23) from Rawalpora sgr, male (65) from Balgarden sgr, female (60) from Balgarden sgr, male (30) (NA) from Karanagar sgr, female (58) (NA) from Pulwama, female (01) from Balgarden sgr, male (52) (NA) from Sgr, female (65) (NA) from Udipora langate, female (35) (NA) from Udipora langate, male (40) (NA) from Pandithpora kralgund, male (30) (NA) from Puhroo peth, female (25) (NA) from Trech Hant, male (70) (NA) from Harill sheikhpora, female (30) (NA) from Maidan chogul, male (52) from Rajbagh sgr, female (37) from Zakura, male (60) from HMT sgr, male (29) from Pulwama, female (57) from Sonwar sgr, male (34) (NA) from Baghat, male (41) (NA) from Bishamber nagar, female (07) (NA) from Bishamber nagar, female (41) (NA) from Bishamber Nagar, male (28) (NA) from Pulwama, male (30) (NA) from Hawal.

So far 336284 patients have recovered, leaving active case tally at 2492—1318 in Jammu and 1174 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 84507 doses of covid-19 vaccine were administered during the time in J&K. (GNS)

Srinagar: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Friday said that it is deeply concerned at the spike in Covid Positive cases in Jammu & Kashmir.

In a statement, KCCI spokesman said that an analysis of the spread of 3rd Covid Wave in Jammu and Kashmir can be directly linked to ignoring of prescribed protocols by certain individuals amongst us.

“Now, after the previous lockdown stands squandered away and Kashmir is in a worse situation than ever before,” said the KCCI spokesman.

“The society is now facing the threat of 3rd Covid Wave: The need of the hour for the society is to now collectively and sensibly fight for 3rd Covid Wave. The past few days in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the Government has decided to impose complete restriction on non-essential movement during the night to tackle the rise in the positive cases,” he said.

“The fight against 3rd COVID Wave rests now on the shoulders of the civil society and the general public. The civil society including mohalla committees, Masjid/Gurudwara committees and have played a stellar role in supporting, feeding and helping lessen the sufferings of the people,” he added.

“The general public have displayed exemplary patience and cooperation despite heavy odds and deep stress. It has to be borne in mind that the business community is presently undergoing the 12th month of a lockdown which has inflicted heavy damages to the economy,” he further added.

The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry urges the administration to keep the livelihood of the business community in mind before taking any future decision and tackle the situation in consultation with the traders/business community.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that more than 90 per cent of India’s adult population has received single dose of Covid-19 vaccine.

The Prime Minister was speaking after virtually inaugurating the second campus of Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute in Kolkata.

He said that today, more than 90 per cent of India’s adult population has received single dose of the vaccine. “Within just five days, more than 1.5 crore children have also been administered the first dose,” he said.

Dedicating the achievement to the entire country and every government, Modi especially thanked the scientists of the country, the vaccine manufacturers and the people in the health sector for this achievement.

“The new campus will go a long way in providing affordable and state-of-the-art care to the people of West Bengal, especially to the poor and middle class families. In the journey of the pledge to make the best medical care available to each and every citizen of the country, we have taken another strong step,” the Prime Minister said.

He mentioned that the country started the year with vaccination for children in the age group of 15 to 18 years. At the same time, India is also achieving the historic milestone of 150 crore – 1.5 billion vaccine doses, in the first week of the first month of the year itself.

“A total of 150 crore doses in less than one year is a significant achievement and symbol of the will power of the country. It denotes the country’s new confidence, Aatmnirbharta and pride, he said. As cases are rising due to the Omicron variant, this shield of 150 vaccine doses becomes all the more important,” Modi said.

So far, he said, about 11 crore doses of Corona vaccine have been provided free of cost to West Bengal by the government. “More than one-and-a-half thousand ventilators, over nine thousand new oxygen cylinders have also been provided to Bengal. A total of 49 PSA new Oxygen plants have also started functioning in the state,” the Prime Minister mentioned.

The Prime Minister said today Ayushman Bharat scheme is becoming a global benchmark in terms of affordable and inclusive healthcare. “Under PM-JAY-Ayushman, more than 2 crore 60 lakh patients have received free treatment in hospitals across the country. Estimates say that in the absence of the scheme, patients would have ended up spending 50 to 60 thousand crore rupees. More than 17 lakh cancer patients also benefited under Ayushman Bharat scheme,” he said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Union Ministers Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Dr Subhas Sarkar, Shantanu Thakur, John Barla and Nisith Pramanik were among those present on the occasion. (IANS)