Precious Kashmir

Amid snowfall, pregnant lady evacuated to hospital in JCB in Anantnag

Jammu & Kashmir

07/01/2022

By: Jahangeer Ganaie

Srinagar: Amid massive snowfall and snow accumulation, a woman writhing with labour pain was shifted to hospital in a JCB in Kapran area of Verinag in Anantnag district.

A woman from Trajan village in Verinag hamlet developed labour pain in the dead of night and her family members were finding it very difficult to take her to nearby hospital due to accumulation of snow and continuous snowfall in the area.

Officials said that the distressed family contacted PMGSY officials and contractor of the road leading to the area namely Javaid Ahmad.

They said that first they offered them the light motor vehicles on phone, however, the family was reluctant as they were aware that light motor vehicles won’t reach due to heavy accumulation of snow on the road.

“Whenever we found that no other option would work, contractor Javaid Ahmad contacted JCB driver Aarif Ahmad Sheikh of Gorinad Verinag at around 4 am,” they said.

Officials said without wasting any time, Aarif along with JCB reached Trajan and took the pregnant lady to nearby hospital in Qamar area of Verinag from where she was shifted to MCH Anantnag.

Aarif said that there was heavy snow on the road and without a JCB, no other option would have worked in such a situation.

“We covered around 15 kilometers while a pregnant lady and a few people sat near the driver’s seat and his relative in a bucket of the JCB to reach the hospital,” he said.

Aarif said that whenever such conditions arise, he is ready to take risks and evacuate patients of his area to hospital.

Peer Mohammad Sultan, assistant executive engineer PMGSY Anantnag said that snow clearance always remains a challenging task and they always try to clear the road as soon as possible.

He said that on the intervening night of 5-6 January, the department received a call from Trajan and accordingly arrangements with the help of contractor Javaid Ahmad were made and the lady was safely evacuated to hospital.

Officials said that lady is fine and has given birth to a healthy baby. (KNO)

Centre forms committee to probe lapses in PM’s security

National

Indo Asian News Service

07/01/2022

Centre forms committee to probe lapses in PM’s security

New Delhi: The Centre has constituted a committee to probe the serious lapse in the security arrangements of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Ferozepur, Punjab, on Wednesday.

In a social media post, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Home Affairs said, “The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has constituted a committee to enquire into the serious lapses in the security arrangements during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Ferozepur, Punjab, on January 5, which led to the exposure of the VVIP to grave security risk.”

On Wednesday, the Prime Minister’s rally in Ferozepur had to be cancelled due to a security lapse after some protesters blocked a route and forced his convoy to spend about 20 minutes on a flyover. The Prime Minister was enroute the National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala when the incident happened.

The three-member committee will be led by Sudhir Kumar Saxena, Secretary (Security), Cabinet Secretariat, and will comprise Balbir Singh, Joint Director, Intelligence Bureau, and S. Suresh, IG, Special Protection Group (SPG). The committee has been advised to submit its report at the earliest, the MHA said.

Earlier on Thursday, Union Minister Anurag Thakur had said that the Home Ministry is collecting information on the security breach of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will take tough decisions in the matter.

On Wednesday, Home Minister Amit Shah had tweeted: “The Ministry of Home Affairs has sought a detailed report on today’s security breach in Punjab. Such dereliction of security procedures in the Prime Minister’s visit is totally unacceptable and accountability will be fixed.”

Dean Elgar spearheads South Africa’s series-levelling win over India

Sports

Indo Asian News Service

07/01/2022

Dean Elgar spearheads South Africa’s series-levelling win over India

Johannesburg: Dean Elgar spearheaded a record chase of 240, helping South Africa clinch a series-levelling win over India in the second Test at the Wanderers here on Thursday.

After rain washed out on-field action of the first two sessions, rain gods relented for 34 overs of play to happen. That was enough for Elgar, unbeaten on 96, to finish off the chase of 240, which is also South Africa’s highest successful chase at this venue.

South Africa’s batters batted fantastically and stitched partnerships on a tricky pitch as India’s bowlers had a rare off-day with the ball. The seven-wicket loss also meant that India’s record of not losing a Test match to South Africa at the ‘Bullring’ came to an end, just a week after the tourists breached Fortress Centurion.

The hosts’ were also helped by the fact that India conceded 11 wides, six leg-byes and one no-ball on day four.

Jasprit Bumrah began the proceedings with a jaffa to square up Rassie van der Dussen. But Elgar, who took lots of body blows on day three, continued his gutsy stay at the crease by drilling Ravichandran Ashwin through left of mid-on to raise his half-century.

Bumrah and Shami got some deliveries to kick up and trouble the duo of Elgar and van der Dussen. After van der Dussen leant into an extra cover drive off Bumrah, the ball was changed. But it did little to give India respite as van der Dussen hit Shami for successive boundaries on both sides of the wicket followed by giving the same treatment to Shardul Thakur.

Eventually, it was Shami who broke the 82-run partnership off 160 balls, taking out van der Dussen with the one moving away and the right-handed batter, trying to defend and edged to Cheteshwar Pujara at first slip.

Despite losing van der Dussen, South Africa steadily marched towards the target with Elgar being rock-solid at the crease. India almost had Temba Bavuma’s wicket if Shardul Thakur hadn’t dropped a return catch off his own bowling.

After drinks break, Elgar continued to deal in boundaries, hitting Shami for back-to-back fours as the tension started to ease on the hosts. Temba Bavuma joined the run-making spree by driving Bumrah twice through covers.

Elgar then launched a stunning onslaught on Mohammed Siraj, smashing him for three boundaries through mid-on, point and backward point. Bavuma’s splendid pull off Thakur over backward square leg before Elgar finished off the chase with a whip through mid-wicket off Ashwin to push the three-match series into a winner-takes-it-all decider at Cape Town from January 11.

Brief scores: India 202 & 266 in 60.1 overs lost to South Africa 229 and 243/3 in 67.4 overs (Dean Elgar 96 not out, Rassie van der Dussen 40; Ravichandran Ashwin 1/26, Shardul Thakur 1/47) by seven wickets.

Mujdajan Tral residents rue lack of basic facilities

Jammu & Kashmir

Jahangeer Ganaie

07/01/2022

Tral: The residents of Mujidajan Narastan area of Tral hamlet in Kashmir’s Pulwama are up against the government for failing in providing basic facilities to the area.
The people of the area said that they have been facing a shortage of drinking water for decades but no attention is being given towards the issue.
“We are forced to drink contaminated water in absence of potable water and our repeated pleas to concerned officials are falling deaf on their ears”, they said
They said that there is no proper road connectivity to the area due to which they are suffering. Locals said that it has been 40 years since they have been demanding construction of three kilometer road to the area but nothing has been done.
They said that they are forced to take all their essential commodities on their back and during emergencies like delivery cases, they are suffering a lot. They said that they have brought these issues in notice of higher ups several times but to no avail.
“Our area has been neglected for the last 70 years. We don’t have any hope now, for decades the promises made with us are proving a hoax on ground,” they said.
“Despite meeting top officials, even advisors of LG, DC Pulwama several times but no improvement was witnessed on the ground,” they said.
Locals urged LG administration and district administration Pulwama to look into the matter and provide basic facilities to the area so that they too can live in peace. (KNO)

Govt signs MoU with LuLu Group to set up food processing, logistics hub in Sgr

Front

Precious Kashmir

06/01/2022

Govt signs MoU with LuLu Group to set up food processing, logistics hub in Sgr

Says historic agreement will further expand JK-Dubai collaboration, JK-LuLu Group partnership

Dubai: Jammu and Kashmir Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with LuLu Group to set up a food processing & logistics hub in Srinagar, in the presence of Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha and LuLu group Chairman, Yusuff Ali MA.

This historic agreement was signed by Principal Secretary, Industries & Commerce, J&K UT, Ranjan Prakash Thakur and Ashraf Ali MA, Executive Director, LuLu Group.

Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha also inaugurated Jammu & Kashmir promotion week at the LuLu Hypermarket, Dubai.

The Lt Governor said the MoU with LuLu group will further expand Jammu Kashmir-Dubai collaboration and Jammu Kashmir-LuLu Group partnership.

“Relations between India and UAE are long-standing & deep rooted. People-to-people contact and trade have seen momentum in the recent years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” the Lt Governor said.

“The world-famous GI tagged saffron has been launched at LuLu Hypermarket, which I see as a major step towards boosting Jammu Kashmir and Dubai partnership. LuLu group is already importing apple from Jammu Kashmir and with saffron, we are adding Kashmir’s finest spice to the basket. I am certain this new beginning will take our trade to unprecedented levels,” the Lt Governor further added.

“Trade between Jammu & Kashmir and Dubai has remained steady, despite Covid-19 challenges and it reflects the resilience of our deep economic linkages. The MoU will further expand Jammu Kashmir-Dubai collaboration and Jammu Kashmir-Lulu Group partnership,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

It is pertinent to mention that Jammu & Kashmir is number one in the production of Saffron, Apple, Walnut and Almond in India. The MoU with the LuLu group will help the UT to reach out to shoppers at 190 LuLu Hypermarkets across the GCC and Egypt.

COVID-19 cases record surge, 418 test positive in J&K

Front

Nadeem Nadu

06/01/2022

COVID-19 cases record surge, 418 test positive in J&K

Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir has recorded surge in Covid-19 cases on Wednesday with officials saying that 418 people have tested positive in the last 24 hours in the Union Territory while there was no death due to the virus in the last 24 hours, officials said.

311 of the fresh cases were reported from Jammu division and 107 from Kashmir, taking the overall tally to 342419.

There was no death reported due to the virus during the last 24 hours, they said. So far 4530 persons—2199 in Jammu and 2331 in Kashmir—have died due to the virus, they said.

Giving district wise details of the fresh cases, the officials told GNS that Srinagar reported 52 cases, Baramulla 13, Budgam 16, Pulwama 8, Kupwara 9, Anantnag 0, Bandipora 3, Ganderbal 4, Kulgam 1, Shopian 1, Jammu 109, Udhampur 15, Rajouri 5, Doda 3, Kathua 10, Samba 3, Kishtwar 3, Poonch 6, Ramban 1 and Reasi 156, most of the students of a SMVD university.

Moreover, 140 Covid-19 patients recovered during the time, 28 from Jammu Division and 112 from Kashmir, they said.

So far 336070 patients have recovered, leaving active case tally at 1819—894 in Jammu and 925 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 83611 doses of covid-19 vaccine were administered during the time in J&K. (GNS)

Night curfew imposed in J&K

Front

Precious Kashmir

06/01/2022

Srinagar: The government on Wednesday ordered imposition of night curfew across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, saying that there is complete restriction on non-essential movement in the Union Territory from 09 PM to 06 AM.

“In continuation to the Covid-19 containment measures Ordered under Section 24 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, vide Government Order No. 01-JK ( DMRRR) of 2022 dated 02-01- 2022 and in reference to the meeting held under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary, J&K (Chairman State Executive Committee) along with the ACS (Health and Medical Education) and other senior Health functionaries on 05.01.2022 regarding the increase in number of COVID-19 cases in the entire J&K it is hereby ordered that there shall be a complete restriction on non-essential movement in the entire UT of J&K from 9 pm to 6 am till further orders,” the order issued by the government reads.

CS reviews COVID-19 situation

Front

Precious Kashmir

06/01/2022

Asks health deptt to ramp up facilities, prepare for catering to surge in cases

Jammu: Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta Wednesday chaired a meeting to review the public health response to COVID-19 in Jammu and Kashmir and asked the Health and Medical Education Department to scale up testing to reach a target of 2 lakh tests per day with a proportional increase in RtPCR tests.

Administrative Secretaries of Health & Medical Education, Director SKIMS, MD, National Health Mission, Director General, Family Welfare, Director Health Kashmir, Principals of Government Medical Colleges, and other concerned officers participated in the meeting.

Reviewing the quality of health services being provided to COVID patients in the Union territory, the Chief Secretary impressed upon the Health Department to explore the avenues of implementing the ‘Treating Physician’ concept in the public sector health facilities.

The department was further asked to ramp up medical facilities and prepare for catering to any surge in reported cases of infections. The Department was also asked to stock up on medical supplies and keep all equipment, machinery, and infrastructure in a state of readiness.

The Chief Secretary reiterated the need of promoting COVID Appropriate Behaviour- masking, social distancing, and crowd management; COVID SoPs and protocols among the general masses and directed the enforcement agencies to ensure adherence to the laid down guidelines.

Moreover, the Chief Secretary asked the Departmental HoDs to establish direct communication channels with the medical teams /professionals and undertake an on-ground assessment of the situation and mitigation measures, besides raising awareness through interactive sessions and programmes on electronic and social media.

To closely monitor the rapidly evolving COVID- 19 situation in the Union territory, a Crisis Management Group under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary has been meeting regularly and taking appropriate preventing and mitigating measures for preventing infection surges in Jammu and Kashmir.

DAY 2: Snowfall continues in Kashmir, 37 flights cancelled

Front

Precious Kashmir

06/01/2022

MeT predicts ‘heavy- very heavy’ snowfall on Jan 7-8; Sgr-Jmu highway closed

Srinagar: Kashmir Valley received season’s major snowfall on Wednesday with world famous Gulmarg recording a depth of nearly 3 feet, forcing closure of Jammu-Srinagar highway and cancellation of most flights at Srinagar International airport.

“Widespread rain/snow with heavy to very heavy over higher reaches occurred since yesterday,” said a meteorological department official here said.

“Expect another (heavy to very heavy) spell during January 7-8th,” he said, adding, “People are once again requested not to venture in avalanche prone area as our data shows that most avalanches are triggered during Intense heavy snowfall.” He also urged people to follow traffic advisory and maintain proper ventilation of rooms.

He that weather will be “favourable” for flight operation on Thursday and Friday but no so on weekend when it has forecast heavy to very snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir.

The poor visibility at Srinagar airport led to the cancellation of 37 flights even five others operated, officials said.

Meanwhile, the official said Srinagar recorded rain and snowfall of 1 cm during the day till 5:30 hours today.

The summer capital of J&K, he said, recorded a low of 0.8°C against previous night’s 0.6°C. It was 2.9°C above normal for this time of the year, he said.

Kashmir is presently under the grip of 40-day long harshest period of winter, known locally as ‘Chillai Kalan, which started from December 21. It is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai Khurd’ and a 10-day-long ‘Chilla Bachha’.

Gulmarg had 84 cm (nearly 3ft) of fresh snowfall during the time and the mercury settled at minus 4.0°C against minus 5.0°C on the previous night at the world famous resort, he said.

Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, had 13cm of snow during the time while as it recorded a low of 0.8°C against 0.8°C on the previous night, he said.

Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, had 37.1cm of snowfall and recorded a low of minus 0.4°C against minus 1.2°C on previous night, he said.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, had 7cm of rain or snow even as it recorded a low of 0.1°C against minus 0.4°C on previous night, the official said.

Kupwara town in north Kashmir, had 19.5 cm of snowfall and recorded a minimum of 0.0°C against 0.2°C on the previous night, the official said.

Reports reaching said that Bandipora-Gurez road remained closed amid fresh and continuing snowfall. Main Bandipora had 3.4 inches of snow, 2.0ft at Razdan top, 2ft at Tulail and 1.5ft at Dawar, they said.

Reports said that there was 1.5ft of snowfall recorded around Sonamarg in Ganderbal district.

Also Machil, Karna and Keran roads have been closed as higher reaches of Kupwara received 2.0ft snow.

Jammu recorded a low of 11.6°C, down by two notches from the precious night and normal of 7.3°C for the J&K’s winter capital during this time of the year, he said.

Ladakh’s Leh recorded a low of minus 7.3°C against last night’s minus 7.2°C while Kargil station recorded a minimum of minus 5.9°C , the official added.

Meanwhile, a traffic department official said the traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar highway was suspended as a precautionary measure due to shooting of stones and slippery conditions of the road in Banihal area of the Ramban due to snowfall and rains.

“The situation will be reviewed later and a decision whether to allow the traffic on the highway will be taken, depending on the condition of the road,” he said. (GNS)

CAT-II ILS being installed: AAI

Front

Precious Kashmir

06/01/2022

Srinagar: Authorities on Wednesday announced that the process for installation of CAT-II instrument landing system (ILS) at Srinagar ‘International’ Airport will commence in April this year and will be completed by November.

ILS is a radio navigation system that provides short-range guidance to aircraft to allow them to approach a runway at night or in bad weather. ILS

“Hopefully, next winter, our visibility requirement will reduce from 900 M to 500 M,” Airports Authority of India (AAI) said in a statement.

At least 37 flights to and fro Srinagar airport were cancelled due to poor visibility today. 42 out of the 44 flights were cancelled at the airport on Tuesday. (GNS)

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